Chapter 24
The sun was high on the horizon, flooding Cheerilee’s house with its rays. Most of the furniture was empty, its contents neatly packed in dozens of gray transportation boxes. She already checked and rechecked her heavy saddlebags for the necessities – bits, documents, and some clothes, everything needed to start anew in some other place. She was going over the last small cupboard when something caught her eyes.
It was a picture of her with her entire class taken at the end of the year. The smiling faces looked alien now. A distant memory she could no longer remember. The photo itself was twisted and scratched, and the glass frame was broken. Like a mocking reminder of what she had lost. With a sniffle and some tears in her eyes, she put it in one of the boxes. Looking at it hurt too much.
“Focus, Cheerilee,” she said, massaging her hurting head. “Your train leaves in an hour, it’s not time to get sentimental.”
But no matter how much she tried, the sorrow was there, whispering in her ear as she rummaged through the rest of the items. With this feeling of emptiness on her shoulder, the minutes it took to separate the trash from what she wanted to preserve, seemed like hours.
When she finally stood up and covered the box, a long exhale escaped her throat. It was a sigh of completion. It was done, all her stuff was packed for transportation, and she was ready to go. Before any melancholy could invade her head, she grabbed her traveling saddlebag and suitcase and went to the door.
But as soon as the warmth from the heated handle met her hoof, she stopped one more time and turned around, staring with empty eyes at what was her home for so many years. The once cozy, safe heaven, was now nothing more than a storage of boxes, or a spooky cemetery of memories.
With one more sigh and a tear in her eye, she locked the door and turned towards the train station…
***
“You sure, you didn’t forget anything?”
“Positive, Johnny!” James said, motioning at their suitcases. “Cash, clothes, papers, vodka, more vodka—”
“Yeah, yeah, I got the picture... I just hope this Crystal Empire is friendlier than this place.”
“Man, we’re gonna be staying at the five-star hotel. For the amount of cash we – or rather I – am paying them, they should treat us as fucking gods,” James smiled. “I heard they have a nice massage saloon there, if you know what I mean...”
“No! Just... NO!”
“Phew, I can see we’re gonna have so much fun, already…” James chuckled, getting an annoyed eye roll in return. “Look, the train should be here in twenty minutes, I need to disappear for ten.”
“Ah, a goodbye quickie?”
“Oh, you know me too well… I’ll be back, don’t worry.”
“Just... GO,” John waved him off, shaking his head, and James disappeared behind the station.
With nothing left to do, John’s eyes began to wander. With foals joyfully playing around, and soothing music of lyre coming from the nearby park, Ponyville didn’t seem like the dark and spooky town from before, but rather a place of peace and tranquility. Maybe it was the view, or perhaps the fact that he finally didn’t feel the stares of others gnawing him, but for the first time, he felt safe there. Too little, too late.
“Irony is a... Cheerilee?” His eyes widened in a positive surprise. Cheerilee was just walking onto the platform, carrying two gigantic saddlebags, and struggling with one even bigger suitcase behind her. “L-let me help you with that!”
“N-no need—” Cheerilee said, but John knew better. Before she could do anything, he pulled her luggage onto the platform, forcing some light blush on her face. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” John said with a smile, and Cheerilee smiled back. “So, where are you going?”
“Manehattan. I’ll stay with my sister until I can find a new job and some place. You?”
“Crystal Empire for now, but that’s probably only for a short time, to get some R&R.”
“Lucky! I always wanted to go there for a vacation. I heard they have a lot of attractions and great health resorts.”
“Couldn’t make the time, huh?”
Cheerilee smiled bitterly. “Couldn’t make the bits. That place cost a hoof and tail...” She noticed John’s eyes began darting from left to right. “Is something wrong?”
“Is it my imagination, or is a lot of ponies coming this way?”
With a quick glance, Cheerilee confirmed what he said. There were dozens of ponies all around the station, and more were approaching.
“I was really hoping to avoid that,” she let out a tired sigh. “They’re probably here with some farewell present or something.”
John wasn’t so sure. The cozy sensation he felt a moment ago vaporized in the blink of an eye and morbid thoughts began filling his mind.
“Or to beat the crap out of me again.”
“John...”
“Sorry, Cheerilee, but after what happened, I’m not sure what to expect around here,” the crowd was thickening with every second. “Damn it, where is James when you need him!”
“Right here, buddy,” James said, walking onto the platform, with Mayor Mare right behind him. “Don’t worry about the mob, I told my homies you owe me ten bits so they’ll leave you alone, for now.”
“What a relief. So what’s all about?”
James motioned at Mayor Mare. She cleared her throat and began. “Mister Wildman, as mayor of Ponyville, I would like to welcome you to our town.”
John smiled. “A little late, don’t you think?”
“Yes, it is, and I realize you already got a… warm welcome from some of our more headstrong citizens,” Mayor turned her squinted eyes towards the group of abashed looking ponies, her cold glance scolding them like a bunch of fillies. “As a representative of our community, I would like to apologize for that.”
“Apologies accepted,” John said, and with a snicker, added. “As long as the streets of Ponyville remain spotless, that is.”
“Both you and Cheerilee can be sure of that,” Mayor shot the group of ponies another glare. “However, I didn’t come here just to welcome you and apologize. There is someone who would like to have a word with you before you leave.”
She made a motion with her hoof, and a few moments later, Scootaloo began walking towards John, with two mares – one earth pony and one pegasus – right behind her. Seeing Scootaloo made John smile, but he also cocked his head in confusion.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“Well, let me introduce you guys,” James said. “John Wildman, meet Miss Holiday, and Miss Lofty. Scootaloo’s aunts.”
Two pairs of eyes quickly scanned John from top to bottom, making the air around him a little too hot for comfort. He wasn’t sure whether to expect a hoof to the face, or a warm hug.
“So, you’re the one who helped our little Scootaloo?” Aunt Holiday said.
“Um, well, maybe a little—”
Aunt Lofty interjected, raising her hoof. “Mister, Scootaloo told us everything. We know that you pulled her up out of that darn gulch, and almost died yourself.”
“What?” Cheerilee cocked her head and smiled. “I didn’t know that part.”
Biting his lip, John turned his eyes, but it was too late. The blush on his cheeks was for everyone to see. It was hot red, and quickly spreading, to the delight of smirking James and Cheerilee.
“I, um...” John grabbed his head with his hand and smiled sheepishly. “I don’t see how that’s relevant to anything...”
“It’s relevant to us. You, you saved her life. You saved our little girl...” Aunt Holiday said as some tears began rolling down her cheeks. “W-we just wanted to say, thank you, both of you.”
“It was a... pleasure—”
“Getting beaten up by a mob, almost having your biceps bitten off, and falling from a cliff is a pleasure?” James shook his head. “And they say, I’m a masochist...”
“I think what John meant to say is ‘you’re welcome,’ from both of us,” Cheerilee said. “And Holiday, Lofty, if you came here to apologize again, I already told you. I consider that matter closed.”
“And yet, you’re leaving,” Scootaloo said, gently shaking her head. “I thought that after this was all cleared up, you would stay.”
“Scootaloo, this has nothing to do with what happened between the two of us.”
“Except, it does!”
“Scootaloo...”
“Please, don’t... I may be a kid, but I can put two and two together,” Scootaloo shook her head again and added a sigh. “If I didn’t overhear that conversation back then, if I didn’t start stealing, if I didn’t lie that you hurt me, none of that would have happened.”
“Scootaloo, there is much more to that. You alone didn’t cause this.”
“Maybe, but I sure started it. And now, you’re both leaving and, and...” Scootaloo’s lips began to tremble, and a moment later, tears flooded her cheeks. “I’m sorry! Please, don’t go!” She buried her weeping face in Cheerilee’s side. “Please...”
Cheerilee expected a goodbye gift, maybe some farewell party, but Scootaloo crying her eyes out wasn’t high on the list. It took her by surprise, and she could already feel water accumulating behind the dam that was her eyes. With a sad smile on her face, she pulled Scootaloo closer, gently caressing her mane.
“Scootaloo, listen to me carefully. No matter what happens, this is not your fault, understand? I don’t want you blaming yourself. Sometimes, no one is to blame—”
Cheerilee was interrupted by the screech of the train. The booming sound made her and others flinch and cover her ears. When the locomotive finally stopped, and silence filled the air, the forest of eyes around her went to the floor in defeat. Except for one pair, which turned into an angry glance.
“Goddammit, Spike was right that this wouldn’t work,” James shook his head. His cold glare forcing some confusion on Cheerilee’s face. “You just cost me ten bits and forced us to do this... PLAN B!”
“Plan... What?”
Before she could utter another word, a bunch of fillies began walking out of the corner of the station. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara, and more. It was her entire class, along with their parents, plus Celestia, Twilight, and a few others. The banner with Cheerilee’s face and a big ‘Please stay!’ inscription was the icing on the cake, only adding to the awkwardness.
“Y-you Highness? What is t-this?”
“If I may?” James interjected, and Celestia nodded in agreement. “After you told us you were planning to leave because of the damn rumors, we came up with a plan to make things right.”
Cheerilee glanced at John. “Don’t look at me, I had no idea.”
“John is telling the truth, he was not informed,” Celestia said. “The point is that after Applejack and Scootaloo explained the whole misunderstanding, Twilight, myself, and Scootaloo’s aunts talked with each parent in Ponyville, clarifying everything. I do not believe you will find anyone spreading those nasty rumors anymore.”
“And,” James interjected. “There is someone who would like to say a few words... Don’t you, guys?”
Hesitantly, a few other ponies stepped out of the crowd. Cheerilee and John recognized them immediately. It was Bold Hoof and the rest of the leaders of the mob. Except this time, all of them weren’t so cocky anymore. With eyes locked onto the ground, they looked like a bunch of cardboard cut out tough guys, lacking the courage to even look John or Cheerilee in the eye.
As time passed, Celestia arched her eyebrow. “Well? Do you have anything you would like to say? How about you, Mr. Bold?”
Bold Hoof shamefully bit his lip. There was a forest of eyes around him, each one gnawing him to the bone. No matter where he looked, there were only stares of revulsion and anger. He was getting the taste of his own medicine, and he didn’t like it one bit.
“I... um. We... we would like to apologize,” he managed to stammer. “We shouldn’t have acted without evidence—”
“Wrong!” Celestia’s booming voice made him shrink like a snail. “You should not have acted like that, at all! Evidence or not, such matters are to be taken to the court of law, not handled by an angry mob of vigilantes!”
“I-I know, b-but—”
“And just to be clear. If during those few years, I hear you so much as litter on the street, your sentence will be unsuspended, and I will personally drag you and all of your co-conspirators to the dungeon myself! Do we understand each other?!”
“P-perfectly, b-but... If Scootaloo didn’t say they hurt her, then—”
“Shut it!” Applejack walked out of the crowd and stopped next to Bold Hoof, glancing him in the eyes. “Say that it was Scootaloo’s fault one more time...” She said with a glare that sent shivers up his spine. “I dare you! I double dare you! Say it one more time!”
He didn’t. After glancing into Applejack’s dead eyes, the brain-like contraption in his head was screaming for him to shut up, and for once, he listened. After a few more seconds of drilling him with her gaze, Applejack finally looked away, turning towards the crowd.
“Listen, y’all. This wasn’t Scootaloo’s fault or John’s fault. Heck, it wasn’t even the fault of those three pegasi idiots. It was our fault, and ours alone! Scootlaoo’s only a kid, and those three used her. But you’re all adults. You should have known better! I should have known better... We’re the ones who messed things up, and made Cheerilee and John pay the price.”
Some murmurs immediately filled the air, but no pony was brave enough to try to correct her. Or maybe, they just knew she was telling the grim truth.
James smiled. “Wow, harsh, Applejack. Getting back to your element, I see.”
“And she’s right,” Carrot Top stepped out of the crowd with an apologetic expression. “If Princess Celestia has the guts to admit to her past after so many years, we should do the same. It was all our fault. And... Cheerilee, Mr. John, I think I speak for all of us when I say – please stay.”
Cheerilee glanced at the crowd. The gentle smile that followed rekindled the glimmer of hope for everyone around her. Her glassy eyes were like a scream of her internal struggle.
“I must say I didn’t expect this. I don’t know about John, but I’m afraid I already resigned from my position.”
“Um, about that...” Mayor Mare interjected. “I kind of accidentally spilled some coffee on that resignation note of yours. I’m terribly sorry, but you’ll have to sign it again... If you still want to, that is.”
Cheerilee’s smile transformed into a glare that was colder than Applejack’s from a few seconds ago. “Mayor, this is, this is—”
“Extortion and manipulation. I like it! Why didn’t I think of that...” James’ snickering comment only intensified Cheerilee’s glare. “Oh, come on! That only shows how much we want you to stay.”
“Don’t you understand? I can’t stay.”
“Can’t, or won’t?” Apple Bloom stepped towards Cheerilee, making her iconic puppy face. “Do you really want to leave us?”
After so many years, Cheerilee had thought she was resistant to Apple Bloom’s secret weapon. But this time, the filly’s pleading stare wasn’t an attempt to excuse herself for failure to do homework. No, for the first time, Cheerilee could feel it was one hundred percent genuine, and it was beginning to generate pressure behind her eyes. She glanced away, only to see the rest of her class and parents with similar expressions. No matter where she turned, it was the same. The onslaught was coming from every direction, weakening her defenses.
“I c-can’t… I’m sorry, but I just... just—”
“Goddammit woman, do you really want to leave this place?” James said bluntly. “If you want to, then say it!” There was no answer, she just kept darting her eyes from left to right. “Well?” Still nothing. James squinted his eyes like a predator and asked one more time, with even more force. “Well?! Say it!”
But she didn’t. Instead, her dam broke, and some tears flooded her trembling face.
“Hey, that’s enough!” John’s angry voice echoed through the air. “You blind or what?! You’re hurting her!”
“Sometimes, a kick in the butt can do wonders.”
“Yeah? Then turn around, you seem to need one, you bastard—”
“Stop it,” Celestia interjected and turned to Cheerilee, whose watery eyes were locked to the ground. “Look at me. Please?”
It took Cheerilee a few seconds to reluctantly comply. She stopped crying, but the few moments were enough to turn her eyes puffy and her cheeks damp. Her whole face looked like a mask of despair.
“Cheerilee, I know that a lot happened to you, and even if you don’t want to admit it, you feel hurt, and rightfully so. While James’ methods might have been crude, I think his question still stands, and it may be the most important question you had to answer so far. So I shall ask it again. Do you really want to leave Ponyville behind, and start anew?”
Once again, there was no immediate answer. Instead, Cheerilee’s confused eyes went to the ground. Seeing her hesitate, Celestia continued.
“If deep down in your heart, you truly believe that you should leave, then we shall all respect that and wish you farewell on your new journey. However, after what you have seen today, ask yourself if you really feel this way.”
Cheerilee hesitated for a few more seconds, then slowly shook her head. “I don’t know... I, honestly, don’t know.”
“Then let me ask you, if this whole situation would have never happened, would you want to leave?”
“No. But it has happened, and now, I’m not sure if I want to stay, either,” Cheerilee let out a long sigh. “What about you, John?”
“It may be unpopular, but my mind is made up. I need to leave this place, at least for a while—”
“You know what?” James interjected. “After further consideration, I think you’re right. You should both leave,” his words started quite a ruckus and confusion. He waited a few seconds until the crowd was almost shouting and rose his hand. “AND, by that, I mean, you should both take some R&R for a few weeks and then get back here. May I suggest a little trip... To the Crystal Empire.”
With a smirk, James took out two neat looking reservations for the ‘Emerald Hotel’ and showed it to them. Blush filled their faces, and their eyes began nervously darting between the papers, the surrounding crowd, and each other.
“Are you insane?!” Cheerilee yelled, clenching her teeth. “You and your stupid, awkward ideas!”
“Awkward? Um, maybe, but stupid? I know you wanted to visit Crystal Empire for years—”
“And how would you know that? Were you eavesdropping on my conversation with John?!”
“Nope, someone let me know,” her arching eyebrow told him, he got her attention. “Remember those few days I was out of town? I didn’t spend all of them in Canterlot’s brothel. I also visited Manehattan looking for a certain… Mystery Mare.”
“Mystery...” Cheerilee arched her eyebrow. “You mean my—”
“Sister, yeah,” James said and rolled his eyes. “I swear, finding someone in Equestria is a pain in the ass. Anyway, after doing some more or less, legal activities...” His words got him a glare and an eyebrow from Celestia. “I finally found her, and we talked.”
“And both of you decided to play a matchmaker?! Ugh!” Cheerilee facehoofed ant turned to John. “I’m sorry, my sister, she... she’s always like this! Trying to find me a special somepony...”
“Um... I... think... I don’t know what to think...”
“I’m so sorry, John, this is so... awkward.”
“That’s good!” James put out another paper from one of the pouches on his armor and smiled. “See? It’s on the list!”
“What list?” Cheerilee glanced at the paper. “’Make them share an awkward moment.’ Twilight…” She squinted her eyes like a predator and locked them on the Princess of Friendship. Her gnawing eyes made Twilight gulp and smile sheepishly before a blush filled her cheeks. “Thank you very much, all of you, but especially you, Captain. Thank you for a stab in the back!”
“Yes, that’s what I do best, right guys?” A confirming murmur filled the air, making him frown. “You were supposed to say ‘no,’ damn it! Anyway, Cheerilee, the truth is, I went looking for your sister because Celestia’s right. Both you and John have been put through a lot. When I learned that you were dreaming about a vacation in the Crystal Empire, I began organizing the trip.”
“Hold on,” John said. “Are you saying you’re not going?”
“Well, if Cheerilee decides not to go, then I will, but wouldn’t you rather go with a friend you could talk to, tour the place, and do normal stuff?” His remark put an ironic smile on Cheerilee’s face. “Yeah, Cheerilee, a friend, nothing more. Separate rooms and everything. I would never try to play a matchmaker.”
“Then, why? Why would you do this? You barely know me, mister, yet you would spend hundreds of bits to organize this... insanity.”
“Actually, over a thousand bits, and you’re right, I don’t know you that well, but I do know that during the past two weeks, you were visiting John every day. The two of you were talking a lot in the hospital, so I thought you would enjoy each other’s company.”
“That’s all? Really—”
“Oh, come on!” Carrot Top interjected with a smirk. “The two of you were ogling each other nicely two weeks ago!”
“What?!” Both Cheerilee and John denied in unison, their blushing faces jumping from left to right like mad.
“Carrot, this is not funny!”
“Kind to think of it, you were smiling a lot in hospital...”
“Apple Bloom! This is not... Sweetie Belle! Both of you stop smirking!”
“And James and I also saw you snuggling,” Celestia added, smirking herself.
“This was not... like that!” John’s frantic denial only put more smirk on surrounding faces. “It was those damn bullies attacked her. She just needed a friend, you know!”
“Which you were more than happy to provide, huh?”
“Keep talking, man. I think I’m gonna test what that left arm of mine can do, starting with your ugly smirking mug!”
“By defending your girlfriend, you would prove my point, so...” James’ smirk widened. “Please, go ahead!”
An audible crack echoed through the air, as John’s shaking left hand clenched, along with his teeth. The grin on James’ face was screaming for a punch, and the murmurs were getting louder each second. Then, it all culminated, and he blew like a bomb.
“ENOUGH!” John yelled. His scream could compete with Celestia’s Canterlot Voice. “Look people, or ponies or... whatever. If Cheerilee were kind enough to think of me as a friend, I would be honored, but nothing is going on between us, understand?! And if you really want her to stay, then you approached it the wrong way! Anyone bothered to ask Cheerilee how she feels right now?!”
“I don’t mind.”
“See?! She doesn’t mind! ... Wait, what?”
Instead of a hurt pony John had expected to see, Cheerilee was smiling. The blush was still there, and with the hoof placed on her shaking head, it was apparent she was a bit annoyed, but not in pain. John’s lips curled in confusion.
“I’m sorry, John, it’s just...” Cheerilee let out a gentle chuckle. “If you lived in Ponyville for some time, then that wouldn’t really surprise you.”
“And you’re OK with that?”
“Oh, they’re completely crazy, but knowing Carrot, no matter what we say, we’ll be a pair for at least a month.”
“With the stuff you together pulled, I give you at least half a year,” James said with a smile. “You really wanna miss all that fun, Cheerilee?”
“I... I...” Cheerilee once again shook her head. “This is weird.”
“Wanna make it even weirder?” Once again, James showed her the reservations. “It’s all paid up, and I will throw in a few hundred bits for souvenirs. Come on, don’t make me beg you.”
Her expression told him that for the first time, she was considering it for real, but then she bit her lip and turned to one person no one bothered to ask.
“What do you think, John? Would you want to go with me?”
“Cheerilee, if that’s OK with you, then I would be honored, but I don’t want you to feel any pressure—”
“Let’s do it!” Her comment made his lips curled into an ‘o,’ and he froze up. “If that’s OK with you.”
“Y-you, s-sure?” This time, he was the one biting his lip and blushing like a schoolboy to his first crush.
He does look cute with that blush. She nodded with a gentle smile. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint the gossip girls, would I? And two weeks in the Crystal Empire really sound wonderful. So, what do you say… handsome?”
Whispers and murmurs coming from the crowd crescendoed into a roar of excitement, forcing even more red on John’s frozen face. For a moment, he just stood there, mouth opened and gaping like an idiot. Then he chuckled with a sheepish smile.
“Cheerilee, you’re crazy, you know?” She just winked in response. “Oh, hell with that, I’m in! Let’s do this!”
“Thank god... For a moment, I thought I would have to go.”
“You sound as if you wouldn’t want to?” Cheerilee said, and James nodded. “But... It’s Crystal Empire!”
“So? Why would I want to travel to the other part of the country, when I can just drink at home?”
“I see…” Cheerilee made big eyes and shook her head. “I do have one more question. Whose idea was it to organize this charade?”
“Hrmph! You think I’m going to expose my co-conspirators? Ha!” Her empty stare began melting his stupid smirk faster than a sundae in summer’s heat. “Ugh, fine! It was the CMCs, at least in the beginning, then I got involved, then Celestia and then a lot of other ponies!” James said and mumbled to himself. “I swear those eyes are like a goddamn Bat-glare...”
Cheerilee turned her eyes towards Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, who were smiling sheepishly. “Why, am I not surprised.”
“But, you’re gonna come back, right?” Apple Bloom said.
“We shall see...” Seeing the confusion on Apple Bloom’s face, Cheerilee added a wink and smiled, then turned to the rest of her class. “Oh, come here, all of you!”
The mob of fillies rushed her with bittersweet faces hungry for a hug. And hug they got, pushing a few tears of joy out of Cheerilee’s closed eyes.
“And you come back too!” Apple Bloom squeezed John tight, and the rest of the CMCs quickly followed her.
“We’ll see, Apple Bloom, we’ll see—”
“All aboard, for the train to the Crystal Empire!” A conductor’s voice echoed through the station. It was time to go.
“Let me help you with that,” James said, picking up some of the luggage and going to the train with John and Cheerilee. “One more thing. Your sister wanted me to pass a message to John.”
“Is that so?” Cheerilee arched her eyebrow. “Should I leave the two of you alone?”
“Nah, she just wanted me to tell John that, and I quote: ’If he breaks my sister’s heart, I’m gonna break his spine.’”
“Hrmph, sure sound like Cherry Blossom,” Cheerilee said, getting an eyebrow as a response. “What? You thought I’m the only crazy mare in my family?”
“Huh... I think, I better get those on the train, yeah...” John said, and left with a slightly disturbed expression.
“Cheerilee, take care of him, OK?” James said with some concern. “After what has happened here, I don’t think he could handle another stab.”
“I’m not planning to stab anyone, don’t worry.”
“Yeah, I guess. I’m just saying... And Cheerilee, thanks for agreeing. You won’t regret this.”
“I think it’s time to get seated,” John said. “The train is about to leave.”
“Fine, just remember about your injections, Johnny. Twice a day.”
“Yes, mom.”
“Wiseass... Miss Cheerilee, if John misbehaves, you have my permission to spank him.”
“I’ll... keep that in mind,” Cheerilee said with a chuckle.
“See you in two weeks, guys!”
They went inside, and a moment later, the locomotive let out a hiss.
“Oh, and, John! I put something you may find useful in your wallet!” James shouted through the window. Then smirked and began counting down. “Three, two, one—”
“YOU’RE A PIG!”
Jackpot. “I know, Cheerilee, I know! Have fun!”
The wheels began spinning faster and faster, and the train went off with a screech, leaving behind a puff of vapor that quickly vanished into the air. Just as the steam, the crowd began to dissipate too, getting back to their usual stuff.
“Do you think they will both be back?” Celestia said to James.
“I think so... Hell, if this goes well, then soon Miss Cheerilee, may not be a ‘Miss’ anymore. Time will tell.”
Celestia smiled. “I told you that romance is a beautiful thing.”
“Well, maybe, but vodka’s better.”
“Speaking of which,” Twilight interjected, with a frown. “Can any of you tell me how did Rainbow Dash land in the hospital, with alcohol poisoning?!”
Both Celestia and James smiled sheepishly, this would take some explaining...
I'll be damned. I actually did it! The story is done! 
I would like to say a few things:
1. Thank you, dear readers
! And I mean both people who liked the story, as well as those who gave negative comments. Believe it or not, but you gave me A LOT to think about for the future. And even if I disagree with some of the criticism, getting your feedback was very enlightening.
And allow me to add one more time, that if anyone felt that I was 'annoyed' by the criticism - I was not. It might have sounded like that because my personal views about some things are different than yours. I know some of you will find them naive, but that's OK. We don't have to agree on everything
.
For what's worth, I never intended to offend anyone, and if that has happened, then I'm sorry.
2. The bonus chapter I mentioned will happen, but it's 99.9% a standalone short one-shot story at this point (it should be coming in about two to four weeks IF everything goes according to plan).
3. Of course, I would still like to know what you think about the ending. I wanted to make it kind of 'eat the cake and have it,' so they're leaving Ponyville, but only for a while. Please, tell me what you think 
All in all, thanks for reading, and I hope you had a good time 
EDIT 2019-10-22:
- Added part where Celestia mentions suspended sentences
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Oh man! I thought it was going to be ongoing! But that doesn't mean that I didn't like the ending. Now I'm curious if there's going to be more than the bonus chapter.
I enjoyed this and actually hoping for a third story, why leave scientist out of the hi-jinx. Let him get up to some shenanigans around equestria.
epilogues are nice,
Kinda hard to care about anyone anymore.
Celestia performs a coup de tat on her overworked sister and covers it up? That's ok, we'll just ignore it because Nightmare Moon was a BAD SCARY MONSTER!
Celestia murders a doctor trying to help her? That's ok, Celestia can't do anything wrong.
Celestia covers up what the Nightmare Moon actually was? That's fine Celestia can't do anything wrong.
Celestia reveals she was a sex obsessed fiend? PLEASE TELL ME THE HAREMS REINSTATED LET ME JOIN!!1!!1
Luna being a timid nonconfrontational wallflower as to not be put on the moon again or imprisoned in Tartarus? That's fine. We don't need to see how she tries to reverse the non-existent damage to Celestia's reputation. Or if she cares. Or if she's even alive.
That's fine.
Tirek just wanted to give everyone hugs. it's fine. Chrysalis will reconcile with her mother because she's Celestia's and Sombra hatesexchild.
Well written chracters and story. Excellent execution. You camptured emotions, made them believable and not cringe. That was well-thought, amazingly told story.
Thank you.
In these sad times, when mlp ends, when there are not so much good stories, that are not in hiatus, this story stand out. Not only it was good read, it was updated regularly, and wasn't ended awkwardly.
One more time. Thank you. I enjoyed your work greatly. Your story brought relief in my sad life whenever this fic was updated.
I am sad that it ended, but I am happy that I experienced it. Overall I am satisfied.
"And they returned, husband and wife, for better or worse, for richer and poorer. And they made James their sitter, for when the children came, they were dubbed Legion, for they were many. The End."
This was one of the stories that has excited me the most since I started reading it, it has all action, romance, drama and an unexpected ending, I only would have liked to have more chapters, my congratulations for a very well written story and I look forward to the bonus chapter, and thank you for sharing it with the rest of us the readers
This story hit several wrong notes, but in the end I'm glad that John lived through it and may get SOME happiness out of it. I'm okay with the ending.
buddy, l think you need to make two bonus chapters, cause l would love to learn how RD ended up in the Hospital with A-P
Damn! I almost wish it didnt end, also I wished Celestia and James wouldve have something going by the end of it. Still good stuff though! Loved the story please keep writing!
I lived this story. It was very enjoyable. I really hope the characters get revisited sometime soon again soon.
9867682
Yeah, that describes my feelings perfectly. It was my most anticipated fic for reading and now I'm kinda bummed out that it's over, even if the ending is a great one. You can imagine my surprise when I thought this was just another chapter when instead it was the final chapter....and I noticed that when I read the author's notes.
Personally, this being over means that it's time for me to reread it along with the other 2. I honestly think you've got a great thing going with the James, John, Celestia and Cheerilee dynamic.
I'm not usually one for reading or writing comments so I don't know what people wrote after the other chapters. What I do know for sure is that I loved this fic and I should have probably said so earlier. Either way thanks for the awesome story
9867611
Ligit choked on that last bit.
A nice ending to a roller-coaster story. I mean literally roller-coaster. You wait for the start eagerly. Then it builds up, gathers height. Then it is released. There are ups and downs, fast turns and, some of them even make you feel unpleasant or a little bit afraid. But at the end of the ride, you leave with a smile on your face.
9868016
I'm also sad that this was the last chapter of the story and I would have liked it to continue, but I think everything good has to have an end
Loved the ending, now I want to see another in this series! Would be funny to have them come back hitched to be married!
....
Here at the end, the parts I remember most fondly were the interactions between John and Apple Bloom. John was a really nice guy who got screwed over, hard. He ended up being the last person I cared about in the story. I also greatly enjoyed the beginning of Chapter 21. That opening with Cheerilee and the nurse was nicely done IMO.
My take-away, however, is that the author's take on reconciliation merely requires feeling sorry and tearful apologies. I mean, it's not like what was done was all that bad, ponies are just a little crazy and there were some misunderstandings. It's almost like the trespasses, the pain and abuse certain characters had to endure, are downplayed by the bar set for resolving them.
But, as has been said before, it's fine. It's all fine. At the end of this story, that's all that matters.
It's fine.
It's fine.
9867541
9867654
9867682
9867977
9868010
9868272
9868304
As they say, all good things must end eventually (I'm looking at you, FiM
).
As for the sequels... ideas are there, but the first story needs to be fixed first. Then we shall see.
9867547
Thanks for the feedback. As for Kleiner... we shall see.
9867573
Nice as in 'this was good' or as in 'I'm glad this shit is finally over'
?
9867672
No children! What do you think James put in John's wallet
Not that it should be needed, I doubt a human could ingenerate a pony. I mean, what would be the outcome... an anthro pony or a... centaur 
?
9867756
Good to hear it.
9867833
Oh, I think it is easy to imagine:
Rinse and repeat
Honestly, when it comes to James and Dash, I would imagine them as sharing a lot of traits (much more then they would like to admit). Showing off how 'brave' they're would be one of them.
9868016
Like I said, if that story made anyone happy, then I'm happy too
.
Just keep in mind that 'Lonely Among Us' was the first thing I ever wrote, and it's much messier (and grim, and dark). I shall start rewriting it at the beginning of 2020 if everything goes well.
9868188
Well, I'm glad that you liked the ending
9867611
9868659
You know. Just a day or two ago, Amber Guyger was sentenced for 10 years for killing a guy because she accidentally went into the wrong flat. You probably know the case, but if you don't:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amber-guyger-sentence-former-officer-who-killed-neighbor-botham-jean-gets-10-years-today-live-updates-2019-10-02/
When our TVs showed it, what hit me, was that apparently everyone in the courtroom, including the victim's family, and the judge, knew that she was devastated for what she did. Hell, the victim's family hugged her and forgave her, something that according to a lot of comments I got, apparently should NEVER happen in the real world. And yet, it did (and frankly, I have the utmost respect for the family that they had the balls to do it).
Now, I ask myself... what exactly is the goal of putting her in prison when everyone agrees she learned her lesson
? It won't bring the victim back to life, nor will it teach her anything new. A deterrent? For those that accidental goes to the wrong flat? Hmm...
Can you answer that question for me? I realize it's the US law, but what's the LOGICAL point here? I'm asking this because frankly, I don't see one.
When I confront that with my story (where no one died, mind you), then in the real world, I have 10 years for killing a guy, and in the story, I have a few years of community service for beating a guy and Cheerilee up. You still claim it's unrealistic
?
And Celestia? Guys... did you ever heard of 'statute of limitations'? I know it's country dependent thing, but... 1000 fucking years? You really think Celestia should be held accountable for what she was doing back THEN? Yes, she's guilty of hiding the truth, but you know, maybe she was... oh, I don't know, afraid and ashamed (as any normal person would be)?
You can argue that I wrote it badly, fine. A few users pointed out to me that her making jokes at the end of the chapter when she confessed for the first time was a big mistake, and after re-reading that, I have to agree. But if you seriously believe Celestia should be held accountable for screwing around and neglecting her duties a 1000 years ago, when in the real-world statute of limitations even for worst crimes is usually something like 30 years, then I honestly don't understand this way of thinking
.
9869468
Nice as in "I demand an epilogue to know how John and Cheerilee fareafter their trip and if Ponyville learned their shit." kind of nice
9869509
By that logic rapist priests from 40+ years ago deserve to have no consequences either, either legal or morally.
I will agree that her crimes are so far in the past that ALMOST no one could or should punish her for it. Except...her crimes were against Luna, yet LUNA was punished for them. Now, supposedly Luna is back and STILL suffering from negativity from Nightmare Moon, because CELESTIA fucked her over.
Enough that she killed herself.
Celestia publishes a book and everypony is like "Neat." No one on screen seems to give a fuck beyond poo-pooing Her Royal Perfection and joining her harem.
I think this story suffers from the MLP Mythos especially hard. You can't exactly punish both ponies that can raise and lower the celestial bodies without dooming youself and the planet. So no one even tries. Not that you EVEN CAN, as the poor Doctor found out. So consequences for anything just...don't exist.
After all, if you can't punish the leader by example...
I don't care that Celestia can't face any legal repercussions for 1000 years ago(although personally I'd prefer if she abdicated her throne for Luna, ESPECIALLY if she's so wracked with guilt as she claims...but she can't do that because LUNA'S FUCKING DEAD!!! Seriously, not showing us Luna's reaction to all this, or even her ghost's past conversations with Celestia is GRATING). It's that if anyone DOES see her differently, it's only to pity her. No one gives a fuck how, because of her selfishness, LUNA SPENT ONE THOUSAND YEARS ON THE MOON!
Stop showing us ONLY good interactions.
9869509
Justice only works if it is doled out equally. Mercy only has power if you were actually at risk of suffering the consequences of your actions. In a relationship, this means that trust has to be earned (and the injured party isn't obligated to give it). It also means that the relationship may never be fully repaired. In regards to civil or criminal laws, it means that you have to serve your sentence whether you are remorseful or not. Part of taking responsibility for your actions involves accepting the consequences, regardless of how sorry you may be. Basing justice/punishment/discipline solely on how sorry you act misses the point entirely (and can be very subjective).
Now, I'm speaking about the average person. This becomes even more strict when applied to someone given power and authority. A LEO is held to a much higher standard than your average citizen. This includes, again, accepting the greater consequences for abusing that power, whether intentionally or accidentally. The amount of accountability a princess endowed with unimaginable power, the monarchy, and millennia-long lifespan would theoretically be even greater, but as your story has shown I guess not.
As I've said before, I no longer care about the story or it's characters. What you have done with it and how you have chosen to end it is fine. It's all fine, and any irritation/criticism on my part is rather irrelevant. I don't have an issue with the writing itself, and I have no say in how you choose to portray the people and situations in the story. I wish you the best in your future writing.
Huk this was one of the best stories i have ever read. I'm also John and Cheerilee together now. I cant wait for more if there is more.
Loved the story.I hope you write a third.I think John and Cheerilee's story is just begining.
Couldn't decide if I want to like it or not. Due to the fact that in the story the ending isn't what I thought going to happen. Bad guys got away from punishment (no jail time). Cheerilee couldn't decide if she wanted to stay or go away. Applejack got left 'unmolested' generally speaking. And theoretically speaking dropping the contract because of something James did felt like a cop out. It was like yeah whatever happy ending for everyone, that was really didn't feel like it should have been.
*Me reading and realizing that people were offended by a fictional story*
img.ifunny.co/images/e848f19ba6cde0d8ccae90aff6ae10b6df331dce4893a2a21c34640e4007e7f8_1.jpg
9869513
Ah, I see. Not planning on one, at the moment, sorry. Maybe in a sequel
9869564
9869664
I see that we could argue this to the end of eternity, and there would be no consensus. Maybe I will ask that question later on the broader forum, but for now, let's leave it at that. I will keep this in mind though:
This is one thing I think I do understand
.
9870140
9870285
I'm glad you liked it
, as for more... to quote myself: ideas are there, but the first story needs to be fixed first. Then we shall see.
9871002
I really don't understand why so many people insist that no-jail=no-punishment
. Over here, jail (or rather a prison) is the LAST resort. If something similar were to happen, then there is a high degree of probability that almost everyone would get suspended sentences + fines + community service (perhaps aside from Dumb Bell and his gang).
I really have a feeling that this 'justice need jail!' attitude is another 'made in the USA' thing...
And this was the downgraded version of a happy ending. The original draft was even more 'happy'
(I was tempted to post it so anyone could take a look, but I don't think this is a good idea anymore).
9873365
I don't think people were offended per se, some readers seems to have strong opinions about what justice is, as do I, so they clashed.
This may be a culture thing - most negative comments about the jail and justice seem to be coming from the USA people. Over here in Europe, we seem to have a different idea about when and how to use prisons than the US.
P.S.
I really love, how my comments and comments of other people praising the story got downvoted. It's so... mature
9874477
True true, thank you for replying to my comment with a calm reaction and I hope you have a nice rest of your morning/day/afternoon/night!
9874484
Same to you
I'm seeing far more upvotes than downvotes, even on the comments that were downvoted. In general, going by votes, people are spending far more time agreeing with commenters who share their takes rather than disagreeing with those who feel differently.
It's a good story, waiting for the sequel, seriously, Celestia and other have a high patience... While it's true they could do anything for what they did to Scootaloo, they could very well take them to jail for accepting stolen items, and I guess half of Ponyville for destroying the school as it's part of Ponyville not of Cherilee, so even if she don't want to go to trial, it go there. If they see that nothing is going to happen then they are going to do it again and again, just like the story of the boy who cried wolf.
9885703
When it comes to Dumb Bell and his gang, the problem would be proof. Even in the real world, it's possible to hide well enough and leave almost no traces. In Equestria, a place with no cell phones, internet, or any other means to trace individuals all the time, I think it would be extremely tricky to prove they accepted anything from Scootaloo, stolen or otherwise. I think a lot of people forget that Equestria doesn't have our tracking abilities, and witness memories fade quickly.
When it comes to the Ponyville population, then, one, I already said that in the previous comments, but that mob was somewhere around 10%-20% of ponies, not 50%. And two, what they did to the school was pretty idiotic on their part. As far as the show hints in the 'Crusaders of the Lost Mark,' the school is being founded by the Ponyville population itself, so they destroyed their own property
(I even had a scene with James making fun of them because of that, but it was cut).
Obviously, they will have to pay for the damages to both Cheerilee's house and the school, along with a few years of suspended sentence + community service. I wouldn't call that nothing.
After reading some stuff, I'm starting to have a feeling that maybe people from the USA are not moved by the whole community service thing, because (someone corrects me if I'm wrong) in the USA, people in prison are forced to work. If this is true, then that would explain a few things. In Europe, you can't force a prisoner to work. Frankly, it's the other way around - work in prison is a privilege for good behavior. On the other hand, in some countries, community service is designed to be annoying and somewhat degrading (you could be forced to wear a nice 'I'm cleaning the street because I was driving drunk t-shirt,' for example).
The suspended sentence + community service seems to function quite well here. If Bold Hoof or anyone else tried anything funny, their punishment would be unsuspended.
Did I write about suspended sentence + community service or just community service
? I'll have to check that tomorrow and if I forgot I'll make have to mention that. The idea, of course, was that Bold Hoof and the rest of the hotheads would get a standard mixture of suspended sentence + community service, not just community service.
Maybe that's why some people are pissed...
9885999
Not sure if the plan of Sunny and Moony could work, or if there is magic to see the past, or check memories or to see if someone lie, but even if all that go wrong, there could be some super truth serum made by the dear protagonist or the new assistant of Twilight, and if that also don't work and the only that could testify is Scootaloo, John and Cherilee were there and managed to see them accepting it, surely that could be enough to register their house searching for anything that could incriminate them. Even if they say that "they didn't know it was stolen items" they should ask then "Why did you accept the items?" or "why do you even have those items?"
With that aside, I guess I can agree with you with the rest. Except I'm not sure if you put in the fic if those in Ponyville ever had a punishment. And while it was 10 or 20%, if the other 90 or 80% is only looking while the others attacks that make them also criminals
9885999
Here in norway they would geT 1 fine for defaming witch is fines or 6months-2 years prison. If they had stolen goods 3 years and they would need to pay back the value and return item, (while knowing they where stolen 2 if not but stil return everything) and for attacking minimun supose to get 1 year with light injuries on the vitim more if they are serious.. Theese are just from the top of my head so might be wrong.
Also The ting is the punishment need to fit the crime. Hitting someone = comunity service. Planned murder= prison not comunty service.
9886009
In other words To quote someone "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
i hope u decide to do a sequel to this story
10035537
I would like to do that
But for now, I'm re-working the plan for 'Lonely Among Us.' It will take a while...
Welp. There goes every expectation I had. Goddammit.
It is rare i can u ironnically use this sentence but,
i preferred this sequel over the original.
Despite the dark theme, i had a blast reading it.
Hope to see more of James and the gang in the future
10057474
... I thought that happened around chapter 20
Still, glad you finished it though, even if you didn't like it 
10062599
Thank you kindly, but I'm not really surprised you liked it better
.
I wrote the original within a month, with zero knowledge, zero editings, and zero proof checking
. This was a completely different thing - written after I educated myself a lot, read a lot, and outlined it a lot (the incomplete outline itself had about... 12 000 words or so). And it took two weeks per chapter, so it was a lot slower than the first one.
Now, I'm trying to rewrite the original, but for now, I only have a rough outline. It will take time.
This was interesting read. I always have that morbid happy feeling when I read stories where the main character gets fucked so many times and thus depressed (now I do not promote suicide but these stories usually have it where they get stopped before they go through with it and thus ponies get life’s curl backhand)...must have something to do with that fact that the ponies usually never get life’s good ol bitch slap to the face there is just something oddly pleasing when they get that slap. Anyways besides that this was a very good read and I’m glad I found it. Keep giving us amazing reads.
10035537
yea that!!
10101081
You're not the only one, and that was kind of the point of the story
.
10129402
We'll see, guys, we'll see
This was amazing humor is the best
Although I wonder did James explore kinky side of Celestia by practice XD
Man, that was a roller coaster of emotions. Good shit
10855128
I agree with you until the very last paragraph. Discord is a "mad dog" going after everyone and everything. Celestia derangement is focused, on certain ones and certain things.
This is probably one of the weirder stories I’ve read so far but it has a lot of charm to it lol.
11276573
Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Every comment motivates me to sit back down and continue with the rewriting of the prequel to that story
.
11304716
Yeah, that's where it falls apart. The premise says the ponies doing all that is a BAD thing, yet in practice it seems to be a "good" thing in the story.
11411263
I'm on chapter 23 and I think it's been pretty good.
11412117
Well, I'm glad you liked it, then
It gives me the motivation to try to write more.