Chapter 83 - Epilogue
Many moons later…
I was sitting outside, in a field of moonflowers, which made it seem as if I was sitting in a field of almost pure white. Here and there you could make out the ground underneath them, and the expanse of the field was occasionally broken by the large apple trees that dotted the landscape. It was warm outside, the moon was full, and the whole world seemed to have fallen silent.
So much had happened. Applejack and I, of course, are still together, though our relationship has now progressed far beyond the mere high school sweethearts we once were. She recently got back with Apple Bloom from the rodeo in Appleloosa, where they had something of an adventure. I still live with the Apples and help on the farm. I still look after Apple Bloom when I can, and Big Mac and I are still close friends. Granny Smith is still with us too, as is Winona.
I have the occasional magic lesson with Twilight, though now I am far closer to her level of understanding. She even sometimes asks to bounce ideas off me for spells she is working on.
I also of course, drop by to see the other girls whenever I have a chance to. I have to go and see Rarity soon. Applejack and I have been invited to this year’s Grand Galloping Gala; I’m tagging along as her plus one. Ponyville’s fashion expert is going to give me some advice on styling and so forth. I thought I might dye my mane perhaps, maybe go for a silver colour to give me some maturity.
Then, of course, there is my little sister, Lizzie. Like me, she has managed to find love in this new world. She and Dewdrop have been going out for a couple of months now. With both mine and my father’s blessing I might add; I like the guy, he’s certainly no Flash Sentry. She managed to get Dewdrop a spot on the patrol, just as Dash had done for her, and the pair now regularly manage weather patterns around Ponyville. They aren’t living together yet; Lizzie is still living with Fluttershy, whilst Dewdrop is saving up for a larger house. They are both doing well; Lizzie even met Spitfire not so long ago when she went with Dash to see her train with the other Wonderbolt reservists.
My old man still has his job as Celestia’s legal advisor, though sometimes I think his remit may have come to extend a bit further. He’s presided over a couple of criminal cases since Trixie’s trial, as well as helping out with the search for the elusive Starlight Glimmer. He’s also still good friends with Discord, who has now completely reverted to his usual self, though he doesn’t annoy me quite as often now. Dad continues to commute every day up to Canterlot and comes back home at night. I still see him whenever I get the chance, often my mother will send him to fetch stuff from the market, and we will have a chance to talk.
And speaking of my mother, she’s been going steady at the elementary school. Cheerilee and her have been talking about creating a second class in the school to make the workload and student numbers easier to manage. And also possibly as a way to keep Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, and the Crusaders apart. There haven’t been any major incidents, but occasionally Apple Bloom comes home a little annoyed. Dinky has continued to impress everypony, even Time Turner, with her affinity for knowledge. The old Timelord has even begun to teach Derpy a little about his own various experiments; last I heard the two of them were working on a new kind of firework.
Finally, I suppose I ought to mention Strong Shield. After just under two months off, he was reinstated and cleared as fit for duty. He was more than happy to be back yelling at the new recruits. He and I write to each other every now and then. Hopefully, I’ll be able to see him at the Gala.
I smiled as I looked out over the landscape. Equestria does indeed have flowers that bloom only at night. But I know for a fact that it does not possess the moonflowers you would find on Earth. In something that has become quite a familiar sensation to me, I felt a presence at my side, and the world around me solidified as my dreaming mind became lucid.
“Hello, Blade Star,” Luna said as she settled down beside me.
“Good evening, Luna,” I replied, touching the brim of my hat in a half-hearted formality.
“I thought that it had been long enough since we last spoke. How have you been?” she asked.
“Oh, ya know, gettin’ by. Ah thought Ah might come here to relax a little. Ah’d forgotten just how tough things can get come Applebuck Season.” Luna’s ears perked up.
“If I recall correctly, it was just before Applebuck Season when you arrived here.”
“Yep,” I replied contentedly. “Another year gone, Luna. Our first in Equestria.” I laughed a little to myself.
“Something amusing?” Luna enquired as she used her magic to correct a couple of mistakes I had made in rendering the night sky.
“Ah was just thinkin’ is all. How much things have changed over the year.” I felt a comforting wing rest itself on my back.
“Indeed, Blade Star. You have matured into a fine young gentlecolt. So strange to think that when we first met, you were a wannabe guardsman, and something of a fanatic towards me, who only saw his stay in Equestria as a temporary thing.” I cringed inwardly and facehoofed. If I could go back in time (again), I would definitely need to knock some sense into, or failing that, six bells out of, my past self.
“Yeah, Ah was a bit of an idiot when Ah first got here,” I admitted as my vision stabilised and I steadied myself. “Readin’ too many of those damn stories.” I still, to this day, cringe and lie awake at night as a consequence of my actions in those early days.
“Still, you have learned many lessons have you not?” the princess continued, relenting a little. “I recall you were, for a day or two, the talk of the town in Canterlot’s fashion circles after your time with Rarity. And there was that ‘incident’ with that reporter, of course.” Now that was a good memory; my hoof hurt like Tartarus at the time though.
“Hay, it was that night Rarity talked some sense into me an’ got me to realise how much AJ liked me.”
“And yet you still managed to avoid that issue for what, three months?”
“In my defence, Ah’d never had something like that happen before. We’ve both still learning as we go, regardless of what your adoptive niece says. But Ah will admit, bein’ in Equestria has allowed me to open up a bit more. Ah can’t say the same thing would’ve happened back on Earth.”
“And then of course,” Luna went on. “There was your experience with one my sister’s guards; Captain Strong Shield, correct?”
“Now he, Luna, has taught me a lot. And Ah don’t just mean all the protection magic either. Whether he meant to or not, he made me realise how prejudiced Ah could be; another left over from Earth.” I snorted irritably.
“That is not necessarily so, Blade Star. Equestria may be peaceful, but it is not without its inequalities. Your willingness to step back and evaluate yourself is most admirable. Between you and me, even my sister was initially livid when she heard of her guard’s true nature.” Now that was a scarce event. I had thought only Discord could really annoy the usually composed Celestia. But, given her experience with them, it was understandable that she too might harbour some irrational anger.
“You know, Ah reckon it was the idea of Applejack seein’ me like that, which convinced me to drop it. Ah liked her back then, and Ah sure as hay knew she liked me. Ah couldn’t stand to imagine what she’d think of me. It all pushed me toward love instead of hate.”
“I believe Cadence had something of a role in your final acceptance though, did she not?” I shot Luna a faux-angered look. I still can’t stand Equestria’s Cupid for love nor money.
“Perhaps,” I admitted, a little sullenly. “Though sometimes Ah reckon Discord had just as much a hoof in it as anypony else. And, of course, as if that weren’t enough, come April Fools, Ah end up with wings.” Luna burst out into laughter again.
“Yes, Discord told me about that. I am surprised you didn’t elect to keep them. It has been a long time since there has been a male alicorn after all. Who knows, perhaps we might have even made you a prince?” I could quite easily tell she was humouring me; royalty was not something I desired anyway.
“And it wasn’t a week or so later you kindly agreed to link up Applejack’s dream with mine for our little getaway. That was pretty much what sealed the deal after all.”
“Yes, just as you let love into your life, you also made a final peace with its counterpart. Whilst I have always distrusted time travel spells, it certainly brought home the seriousness of your feelings.” I nodded, remembering what I had done in Canterlot, a few years before I arrived in Equestria. That was something that would stay with me for a long time.
“And then there was the family reunion, and after that, the celebration. So, we find ourselves here.”
“Indeed, Blade Star,” Luna replied. “You have had many adventures, of sorts, over this past year. Tell me, what have you taken from it all?” I smiled as I thought to myself. I had learned so much, it was difficult to sum it all up in… I looked over to Luna, who was smirking to herself, as I realised what she was asking.
“Princess Luna,” I said, smiling slyly. “You want a friendship report, don’t you.” The wise lunar diarch smiled.
“It is something you have wanted to do since you got here, is it not?” she replied. I wondered how long she had been sitting on that one. She was right though. On occasion I had written one or two back on Earth. I thought for a moment, about how best to sum everything up.
Furrowing my brow, I tried to think of something. With all I've done and with what the people and ponies around me have done, what one thing have I learned from it? I thought of my family, the changelings, the ponies I knew from the show and the ones I've come to meet here. Then the image my family with the Apples all gathered around that campfire came into my mind. I saw my sister playing with Apple Bloom and Winona, Big Mac and Granny talking to my parents back at the farmhouse, and Applejack smiling as she looked my way when I first came back from Canterlot. With that I began my first report. From some unknown location, the familiar clarinet solo began to play.
"Ah've learned that simplicity is one of life's biggest accomplishments. As nice as it is to have a goal and strive for something great, simplicity is by far the greatest of all. It's a sign that you've done what you can, that there are no more great challenges, that you're finally done. When life becomes simple, you can feel proud of that fact and relax. 'Cause that’s it; ya did it."
"Hmm,” Luna replied, placing a hoof to her chin on thought. “I was expecting something more along the lines of 'revenge and grudges corrupt' or 'life in a new world can be a good thing' or perhaps 'new experience can be a catalyst for improving yourself'." I pushed my Stetson a little way back on my head
"Well, Ah thought of those as well, and Ah reckon Ah’ve learned those lessons too. But those can be learned along the way. You can't understand simplicity until the end."
“So, this is the end of your adventure then?” Luna asked me. I smiled and shook my head.
“No, this is not the end, Luna. This is just the beginning.”
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Well.
That worked.
well I just don't really know what to say this story has ben a super story from word one.
Harts Fire
the thing I find impressive is this is your first story and it is just so touching a perfect slice of life.
I will be watching you Blade Star to see what you trout out of the stable next.
with
For us this might be an end, but for Bladestar it's only a new and wonderful beginning of further chapters in his life.
I can't help but hear this playing in the background.
6136885 Perhaps Equestria is what I would see if I ended up in the Nexus.
6136567
6136475 There there, guys. *hugs*
6136786 It will probably be a while before I do anything new, but I do have some ideas in the works.
6136855 Glad you enjoyed the story.
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all good things...
Murr... I hate endings... Even good endings... It's all too final.
Goodbye, my friends...
6149008 It is to be completely honest. I still look back on this early stuff and shudder, particularly the Canterlot arc. If you would like to skip ahead to where the story picks up, skip to Chapter 16 -Time. All you'll miss is the typical meet the princesses cliché. That is by far the lowest point. From Chapter 16 onwards, it begins to improve.
You did a beautiful job with this story and i loved it , and yet i'd love to read a part 2
6155174 Dictionary: A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage, for the components of its diet.
A Omnivore is an animal that eats a variety of food of both plant and animal origin.
The reason why some deer eat meat, is because their ancestors around 30 million years ago, had more carnivorous behaviours. Because of this Deer that eat meat are no longer herbivores, they just prefer plants and stuff. So, its you that don't know shit.
oh god I'm crying... I've been here since the beginning and I'm both sad and happy to see these character go off into the night... thank you for introducing me to these great character.
6228764
I was specifically talking about how it seemed to me like the author's personal desperation to be accepted in real life was bleeding through his writing. It seems weird to me that you're conflating internet points with not being lonely.
You call me a troll, but perhaps I just don't like the story?
6233600
I honestly think its gone mising cause I never have the filter on
6458581 As I understand it, angels feed upon a being's temporal energy in a similar manner to how a changeling feeds on love. They take the potential energy you would have had from living your life. Where you end up seems quite random. It may possibly be beyond the angel's control, merely a side effect of the draining process.
As far as self inserts go, this has actually been a very enjoyable read. I'm surprised a few things didn't come up sooner or later but at the same time, I have to admire a story that takes romance somewhat realistically (even if frustrating for the readers sometimes). Overall, this is a good story and I added it to my favorites. I hope future readers enjoy it just as much.
6460179
Hmm. Maybe, but it's... beyond the realm of coincidence. It's happened with character after character we see the angels send back. From Rory to the original Kathy from the episode Blink. Each time we run into an Angel victim, they die on the 'same' day they're sent back.
6460909 Glad you enjoyed the story.
What were you surprised didn't come up? I'm always interested in feedback.
6461362 Oh just a few little things. Questions he might have asked to confirm or deny like the existence of Snowdrop, which came to mind.
6461376 That is an interesting idea. I'm planning to write up to three spin offs to this story after I complete 'Remember the Moonflower'. They'll focus on each of the other family members, one fic for each. I might pop that into one of those.
Fantastic story 69/10
6550692 Thank you.
Once I'm done with my current story, I'm planning to do some spin offs to this, each from the perspective of a family member from the interludes. I've done a short blog about it if you want more info.
6697586 Actually, it's not as AU as you might think. The portal Discord opened and the one connecting to the EQG world are all still 'in-universe' as it were. The quote refers to 'realities'. The portal that brought the main characters to Equestria crossed realities, a much bigger leap.
And besides, Discord never said he couldn't give them a way home. He was never asked.
In Chapter 13 he merely states that such an action would be very unsafe, not that he wouldn't do it.
Well that was a fun run. Sad to see it end... Any plans for any future installments?
6698132 Indeed there is. I plan to do three spin off/sequels. While I don't think I can take the main character's story any further, I do have some ideas. If you recall, there were some interludes, which acted as a sort of story within a story, focussing on the other three family members. I'm going to do a story for each, set during season 5. Here's a link to a blog post of mine about it:
http://www.fimfiction.net/blog/512515/a-sequel-to-my-family-and-other-equestrians
As for a timeline, I have already begun writing the first one, set in Canterlot. I'll begin publishing it after 'Remember the Moonflower' is done. So expect it to appear sometime in late January, or early February.
6698180
~yaaaaaaay~
6698554 The bath was on a sort of raised platform in the corner of the bathroom. 4 year old me managed that just fine. Somehow, I managed to overbalance on the rim of the bath. I don't remember too much, since I was so young and my mind blocked out a lot of it. I've still got a few scars though.
6698855
......
You're not going to stop, are you? 
6700530 The only scar I have is from when I sliced open the skin between my two middle fingers on a corn stalk, had to get stitches for that!
I really enjoyed this story, and I look forward to the sequel when it comes out!
6712466 I am... unsure. It was a while ago that I wrote this comment, but yes, that was the moment I was referring to.
6714778 It was only a couple of lines, mainly for continuity. I just needed to get rid of all references to that stupid Lunar Guard headcanon.
6714937 The one I was referring to is called Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony. It's a mix of that animation and interviews with some people from the fandom. You can download it, but it is probably on YouTube somewhere.
Wow. That was one of the top 10 HiE stories I've ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm kinda sad to see it end, actually. The writing quality was high, there was actual character development (in an HIE fic??? GASP!!!) and the dialog and character interactions were well thought out.
Please keep up the great work!
6718701 Glad you liked it. A lot of people have commented that, at least the main character, wasn't that well developed. So I assume the revised chapters have helped a little. As for sequels, well...
http://www.fimfiction.net/blog/512515/a-sequel-to-my-family-and-other-equestrians
I've been reading this fic if yours on and off now for the last few months, and then blitzed the last 60 chapters over the last 2 weeks. This has been buried in my "Read Laters" for the longest time and I'm now that I've reached the end I just wanna say this fic has been, to quote the 9th doctor, "fantastic!"
Seriously. What I love about this is how slow-paced it is, and how much you developed the world of Equestria. Blade Star and his family, Strong Shield's backstory of being a changeling, the Thestrals as being fanatically devout followers of Princess Luna. The slow pacing and the length of this story meant you got to flesh everything out. This truly felt like a world and a year from Blade Star's eyes.
I rememember tagging this ages ago on my "Read Later" list because Brony comes to Equestria with his family. Ok, mildly interesting twist on the HiE genre. If I'd known just how much was waiting for me (and ignored my sense of archive panic) I would've caught up months ago
6750807 I'm glad you enjoyed the story. The slice of life style isn't for everypony, a lot of negative comments tend to say something to the effect of 'there's not enough action'. But I find real life and the everyday, can be just as entertaining as any adventure. I've read loads of HiE stories on here, and too many start as a slice of life, but then begin to change into an adventure or rushed romance. I tried to write this as pure slice of life. Yes there was action parts, and adventure parts, and a sort of romance arc
, but I don't think it ever departs from the slice of life tag.
Anyway, as I said, glad you liked it. Hopefully, since you liked this, you'll enjoy the sequels I'm working on.
6776133 is a auto rating system i put in place to by pass my DSP from playing up in my feed back since my chapter read rate is like 1 to 10 a day on average and after some chapters i'm like what am i reading agen.
6788075 Blade Star's views on changelings are not the same as my own. I wouldn't have employed a changeling proofreader if that was the case.
And he will come around in time. Having said that though, sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. 
6905253 and over harf of them won't bother and or do anything about posting comments the rest will most likely be the sort that know what i'm doing there and don't need to go there or most likely a troll.
ps: that what the internet has tolled me so far....
6907348 Does it really matter? I've been looking through the comments section, and you've been going on and on about damnaion's rating system. While it may not suit you, it works for damnaion, so I ask you to let things drop.
6915597 Your right, I'm going to edit that. Give that they've been in Equestria for a fair while at that point, they should have come across Spoiled Rich. She'll definitely be appearing in on of the spin offs.
I'm going to have to be honest, this story fell apart about half way through, and I just stopped reading it for the following reasons:
One, the main character asking to referred to by the name of his OC rather then his birth name is pretty creepy and makes me suspect he's being brainwashed.
Two, he's an obnoxious brown-nosing twit. He never misses an opportunity to suck up to the diarchs in the hopes of acquiring power and status. This has the effect of making him almost completely unlikable, because nobody likes a brown-noser. In contrast, Daisy Jo Martinez, the protagonist of All American Girl, is a US citizen, a Catholic, doesn't really care for Equestria, and is happy with her life. The Big Guy, the protagonist of Cultural Artifacts, is a WW2 veteran, a former NASA engineer, thinks that he's in an ironic hell, and is pretty unimpressed at the effects of a thousand years of Celestia's rule.
Three, the main charter is an complete idiot. He never notices Equestria's caste system which sharply limits how high somebody can rise. Alicorns are at the top as the rulers. The nobility is comprised of unicorns, and if one has sufficient magical talent, then they can apply to Celestia's School for Gifted Uncorns (members of other tribes are SOL for the most part). If one is especially skilled, then Celestia can taken them as a student. Pegasi have the Wonderbolts if they have ability, but other then that they get jack. Even if they do something like performing a Sonic Rainboom, (without which the mane six would have gotten their cutie marks later, if ever,) Celestia still only allows unicorns as her students. Earth ponies get nothing. And the cattle? They're basically slaves. Even the language, with words like "everypony", "anypony", "somepony", and "nopony", promotes the idea the non-ponies are not people. If a building collapsed and three donkeys were injured, one can truthfully say that "nopony" was hurt. Hell, when Spike went through his greed fueled growth spurt, Twilight had to take him to the vet. The protagonist completely fails to notice this.
That's why I gave up on this story.
7336329
Yeah but I wish I could find a British accent to have something to go on for how he speaks with a southern one too.
And sorry about the spam.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljz6AGunHWc
7340377 Yeah, the one big point you missed if you skipped the Canterlot arc is that Blade Star is something a fanatic when it comes to Luna.
7341773 Done and dusted, just a phrase you hear in the UK, meaning something's fully completed.
7409980 Sometimes, I just go full Twilight at bad science... It happens IRL too.
"No get those potatoes, these ones are not organic."
"... ALL BIOMASS IS ORGANIC, YOU SIMPLETON!"
7409275 It was a little dub vid. Somepony took the end of Grand Galloping Gala when the Mane Six and Celestia are talking, and spliced in the opening scenes of Reservoir Dogs where Mr. Pink talks about tipping.
7482688 That's quite an interesting take on the subject. It's a shame RealityCheck isn't here to debate it.
7485404 Here in the UK there seems to be an inordinate amount of 'special needs' children. Don't get me wrong, some of them are perfectly legitimate conditions that affect the way a child learns and interprets the world. ADHD may even be a thing. But there seems to be an almost instinctive reaction now to label a kid rather than find out why they're behaving badly. Not all ADD/ADHD kids are badly behaved. Too many kids in my high school were just evil buggers from the rough end of town that learnt to play the system. It wasn't until one of them tried to stab somebody with a knife he took from the cafeteria that they began to consider the idea of punishment.