Pony POV Series
Shining Armor
Epilogue: Dawn
Three Months Later
It still feels like a new world every day...Waking up every morning knowing that there's not going to be a wolf chasing me was good, knowing that I was engaged to marry the most wonderful pony on the planet was even better!
True, it wasn't officially announced, though we had informed our parents and Cadence's aunts. Twinkle Shine and Minuette also made sure the press were aware we were now at least an official couple. It was keeping the papers nice and busy as they chased up every sort of rumor they could - both our own media and the world's media. We'd had to detain about a dozen Columbian tabloid reporters trying to breach embassy security since Mesotrotamia...And about five times that number of Equestrian ones!
The right things stayed the same and the right things had changed. Minuette had been both pleased and surprised to discover that she was now no longer adopted - but had a slight conundrum in that she now technically remembered three different timelines and apparently wasn't sure how the Wolf's actions would 'effect somepony like her' (she said we were better off not knowing, and I believed her). Still, her parents were now her biological parents.
There was also the fact her and Audience began dating seriously. Honestly, I think we missed an opportunity to have needled her on the 'just friends' thing but there's always Twinkle Shine if she starts hanging around with somepony a lot...
We did have one official announcement within the flotilla - Gag had proposed to Garnet just this morning. Probably not quite the birthday present she'd been expecting but she certainly didn't seem to be complaining about it!
Tomorrow morning, we'd arrive in Mosroe. A year and a half ago this had been hostile land, and I had expected the worst. Now, and for the past twenty years thanks to the mess that is alternative timelines, it was the land of friends of Equestria and a friend of ours. And Mother Deer was a friend of mine and Cadence's, assuming she remembered like I expected.
Tonight, though, it was just a bloody big country to cross. I was on the deck of Invincible, getting some air, enjoying the setting sun, and looking at the city of Tselinoyarsk some ten miles away from us. It was nice to see some visible signs of what had changed, partly thanks to us ensuring the timeline was fixed. A few helicopters were buzzing around some farms nearby, but they were carrying reindeer to help move some clouds away. I'm pretty sure some of the shapes ploughing the distant fields were old tanks converted to tractors.
In fact the only sign of the once-vast military forces in Roedina that was still armed had been passing by a fort this morning and a Kasatka-class Corvette that had said hello by radio just after lunchtime - I don't think we got within twenty miles of it. It had been reduced to about a tenth of the post-Dragon War Hooviet forces and in recent years had been shifting heavily towards peacekeeping and equinitarian...sorry, cervitarian duties.
It seemed fitting. Here was another peaceful nation that had once lived in fear with so much to look forward to, and here was me. Feeling peaceful and knowing there was much ahead for me even as our trip around the world had only about twelve more weeks left.
"Shining?"
I turned to see Cadence behind me - my princess, my friend, my fiancee.
"Hello, Cadence. Just enjoying the view...It's got a bit better though, something really pretty just showed up," I grinned.
"You're still pretty bad at that and I still don't care," She grinned back.
"Care to join me or am I needed for something?"
"Well, the birthday-slash-engagement party is starting shortly in the auxiliary hangar and I'm not planning on going alone. But we've got a bit of time before that."
We stood together for a short while until Cadence spoke again.
"When do you think we should officially announce it? I think the girls are about ready to explode keeping it a secret..."
"Well, I was thinking, it's the Grand Galloping Gala later this week, and the Roedinians celebrate the Spring Equinox as well, right?"
Traditionally, Spring Equinox saw Deer couples announce their engagements. Despite the best efforts of the previous regime the tradition had held strong.
"Aha, good idea...We announce it here, Auntie can announce it there? I think Mother Deer would be pleased if we announced we were engaged as part of the celebrations."
"We'll need to tell the important ponies first though. Anyway, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the party, Princess?"
"I asked you earlier!"
"Ah, you merely said you weren't planning on going alone, for all I know you could have hoped to invite Thunderchild!" I smirked.
"Fine, fine, I'll go with you if you insist, Captain..." She mock-rolled her eyes.
We made our way back below decks.
"A lot's changed on this trip..." Cadence noted, as we nodded at a Royal Marine saying good evening.
"Yeah...Most for the better, but..." I thought of Sunset and Ranger.
"They'd want us to be happy, Shining. I know they're together themselves. They're going to be with us when we get married, even if we weren't able to get to their wedding," Cadence read my thoughts.
"Yeah. Everypony is with us and we're with each other. That's one thing that hasn't changed."
We shared a quick nuzzle and kiss, before we entered the party - together.
+++
I'm told that as the Gala was drawing to a close, Luna and Celestia had been planning to make a speech anyway. It seems that they'd been about to praise the actions of a fair few ponies in recent times, though one of the groups they were praising had declined to attend the Gala that year as, well, the last time Twiley and her friends were there it went a bit wrong apparently. Celestia let Luna handle it - it appeared the Alicorn of the Night was better at annoucements, or at least, she had more fun doing them.
"Finally, we are pleased this evening to proclaim an additional acknowledgement of most happy news - our niece, Mi Amore Cadenza Equestria, has announced her engagement to Captain Shining Armor Sparkle of the Harmony Guards regiment!"
Obviously I wasn't there in Canterlot, but I was present as Mother Deer's Spring Equinox speech reached the important part...
"...It gives me great pleasure today to also announce that two friends of the Roedina, and two ponies that I am proud to call my personal friends, are engaged to be married - Princess Cadenza Equestria, Daughter of Blue Song, and Captain Shining Armor Sparkle, Son of Moonshine Sparkle."
The applause of the Roedinian crowd, and the applause of our own ponies (even if Gag hadn't been able to translate since he was drowned out in applause and distracted by a nuzzley Garnet) sealed it as official. And somehow made it all feel that little bit more real, to start getting the letters of congratulations.
I was somewhat taken aback that Blueblood of all ponies seemed to be the one making the most blatant 'if you hurt her I hurt you' overtures in his letter, and even more taken aback that his letter wa co-signed by his marefriend...Perhaps there was another royal wedding in store a couple of years from now? Regardless, it was a bit surprising.
Of course, our parents knew, but they sent letters anyway. I could practically see Dad going overboard about his little boy getting married...yes, Dad, not Mom. Mom lets him handle the emotional outbursts by mutual consent of the whole family. Mom's probably going to put her emotional outbursts into writing her next novel like most authors do. I might actually read that one.
Perhaps it was just the volume of letters, but in amongst it all, we failed to notice that Twilight hadn't sent us a letter. We figured maybe it had been lost in the post (I'm pretty sure she may not actually know how to operate a stamp thanks to Spike), or we'd just misplaced it in the pile.
"It's probably not a problem. She'll know we're getting married surely, it's gotta be headline news back home," I reassured Cadence when we realised this.
Remember what I said about thinking about things like that?
+++
Huh? What's this dream? Where is this? This place looks familiar! Mom? Dad? Is that her wedding dress?! Dad's carrying her across the threshold? They're nuzzling each other and going up to the bedroom. That calendar on the table...This is...this is their honeymoon? But...how? If what I'm seeing is real, I'm not scheduled to be born until eleven months later from this point in time!
Wait... Eleven months...?
"Ready, darling?"
"Are YOU ready, my sweet?"
Oh nooooooooo!
(Friend's Notes (Dawn): And it's done. He's concrete. His beginning is set in stone.)
(Friend's Notes (Noon): So is his present.)
(Friend's Notes (Dusk): And the future is finally waiting for him to catch up to it like it should have all along.)
(Friend's Notes (Dawn): So when we see him in our 'today' it'll be his today too!)
(Friend's Notes (Noon): So...now what?)
(Friend's Notes (Dusk): There exists a saying that comes from the Second Age, when ponies were influenced by humans. For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
For want of a shoe, the horse was lost;
For want of a horse, the rider was lost;
For want of a rider, the message was lost;
For want of the message, the battle was lost;
For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
This saying fits the world, our actions perfectly. One life, one action in that life, can make all the difference in the world. A brother born or not being born. A Princess being in the castle one day or in Cloudsdale for a flying competition. A little filly choosing to sleep in or get up and watch out the window. A pegasus deciding to play a prank on her friend who'd had nightmares to cheer them up instead of sleeping soundly in bed. This is why each life, each choice is so important. From here on out, his choices will branch out and continue to effect the world.)
(Friend's Notes (Dawn): Hehe, you sound like momma.)
Dusk blinked, looking down at the soapbox she was now on and blushed.
(Friend's Notes (Dusk): ...Remind me to make sure I don't forget that when we leave.)
(Friend's Notes (Noon): So, by the time he gets to our present, he'll just be living his life?)
(Friend's Notes (Dusk): Yes. There's no such thing as a side character. Even if the camera is no longer on him, his story will continue, just like all of us.)
(Friend's Notes (Dawn): Everycreature is the hero of their own story.)
(Friend's Notes (Noon): Truer words were never spoken...I guess this is goodbye for now. We've got to get back to where we left, or else time might not like that so much.)
(Friend's Notes (Dawn): I'll miss Shiny...)
(Friend's Notes (Dusk): So will I, sister, but I'm sure our paths will cross again. This is only goodbye for now.)
(Friend's Notes (Noon): Yeah...And big sis?)
(Friend's Notes (Dusk): Yes?)
(Friend's Notes (Noon): Don't forget the soapbox.)
Dusk blushed again.
Dawn kissed her sleeping big brother on the forehead.
(Friend's Notes (Dawn): Goodbye, Shiny. Your beginning is there now, and happy as can be...You made grandma really happy, be proud of that.)
Noon smirked and kissed him on the cheek.
(Friend's Notes (Noon): Shine, be careful. Take every day one step at a time. Don't be like grandma and obsess over the future or like some people who keep asking 'what if' and are so focused on the past, they forget the present.)
Dusk gave Shining a gentle nuzzle and kissed him on the other cheek.
(Friend's Notes (Dusk): For now, Shining, rest and enjoy the future you've earned.. For now your story is over. But a character's life isn't over just because the camera isn't on them. Enjoy your time out off-screen, if anyone has earned it, it's you.)
(Friend's Notes (All): Goodbye, B.B.B.F.F. We'll see you in the future.)
~Fin
Well, we can be sure nothing will surprise him at the wedding!
A fitting end.
And poor Shiny always has to endure stuff like that.
Especially if Madmax's comics are to be believed.
Best fic. Yeah, one of the best
ponyfics ever.148 Chapters? Yeah, no.
3924613
Oh there's a lot more to go. And that's not counting all the recursive works done by other writers who wanted to explore the fates and lives of other characters in this fic verse.
3924594
THanks dude.
3924518
If he's in condition to be surprised by anything.
3924531
At least he has the best wife he could possibly ask for.
3924518 Beyond 'your wife has actually been replaced by a shapeshifting insectoid emotion-eater who wants to conquer Equestria', which should shock anyone.
3924687
You know, you're right, the whole Chrysalis thing is almost trivial compared to the reality-warping stuff!
Okay I recognize the Dashverse reference but not the other two.
3926261
The first one refers to the reality where Applejack became Orangejack.
The second is a reference to Shady Lines Of Fate. http://itsfrompeople.deviantart.com/art/Shady-Line-Of-Fate-300014343 Where Discord's relationship with his pony birth mother takes a different turn due to a certain pony Surprise!
3926293
Tada.
Now I just need a cool title image for the wedding arc.
3924685 Too long for me, this isn't a fic, it's not even a book, its a series of books.
3924694
Indeed. Anyway...
Somewhere in a white void,a video game console sits unattended once again,the credits to yet another game rolling across the screen as stills of the adventure stack up next to the text,snippets of boss introduction cutscenes playing in some of the pictures.
3927445
Some people like that sort of thing.
3927294
HAPPY TO KNOW THE JOKES WORK! :-D
It seems sometimes the sublime jokes are the best.
3927450
Pinkie Pie in heaven, "Well that was fun . . . these games are LOOOONG thought."
(I LOVE THAT BTW!!!!)
WOW. 148 chapters. Going take a while to read. But I will get throught it
3928993
Just you wait. Things get crazier and crazier! :-D
3928391 I thought it'd be more along the lines of:
Watching the screen through her blue eyes, the pink mare cried softly at the world she never knew, the life she never lived. She was happy with her foals in the afterlife yes, but she wished they could have all lived peaceful and happy lives, even if it meant she'd never have met them.
But your way sounds more like Pinkie.
3929486
I imagine both. Since she could no longer hold the Element of Laughter in dark world (or Anger).
and that's a wrap! Great as always alex,
question thought, are the new blue blood chapters from deviantart still in this "season" or are they from a new one?
I ask because when I initially started reading this on DA I read it in one long marathon, not realizing there were set beginings and endings, as serial as they are.
thanks once again
3931247
I'm thinking I'll add them in as pat of the wedding season, since that's where they have the most importance. But I can't find a good image to have as the wedding cover pic.
3928363
It's an ongoing story. One should be following it as it updates, to prevent insanity from slipping in.
By the way, I thought from reading other comments that 'back cover' was the end of this chapter. it's still marked incomplete though?
3928363 I love long stories, it's just hard to get into, and fanfiction isn't really my favorite type of story, but I've seen a few that I love.
Absolutely wonderful. A happy ending as promised, and a great final boss just before that. Favourite part of the last two chapters? The reuniting of SA and Cadance with that song. Can't wait for the next season!
3950734
Thanks dude! Right now I'm just trying to find some decent art for the wedding arc.
3955690 You're very welcome! And I wish you luck on your quest for wedding arc art.
4052383 You took such an incredibly long time to respond to my comment that it's making me wonder if you're not one of these critters.
cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/7/70/079Slowpoke.png
Seriously, I already finished the Dark World arc on the day that it was completed.
4042307 Wait... the Valeyard is in this now?
Oh god, now suddenly Doctor Who crossover too.
The Valeyard exists nowhere else but in Doctor Who canon. Which means now the Doctor would be fully justified in showing up and fixing everything by reversing the polarity of the zetron energy field or something like that.
4054399
Actually, he can't, because he's the Valeyard now, not the Doctor.
4051807
I like the way you think.
4054926 Actually, going from TV series canon, he never was the Doctor.
That was only in the novels, which must now be considered alt-universe since they cannot be fit into the continuing TV canon.
So, William Hurt, David Tennant, and Matt Smith show up and kick his ass.
4073934
Ask on the deviantart pages, since there are lots of readers there. Or the trope page.
And yeah, the dark world went through more loops than will likely ever been known, even Discord and Eclipse have likely forgotten how many.
It was enough for Discord to grow tired of being evil, to come to care for Fluttercruel like how a father should care for his child, and for Eclipse to have to COPY AND PASTE events from previous timelines just to keep him in character as the evil overlord who was defeated by the heroes endlessly and then the game is reset for the heroes to fight Discord again, Discord experiencing defeat and the loss of his daughter over and over.
4076214
Sadly. Yes. Which IMHO makes it even worse.
4095275
Of all the nightmares, she's remained my favorite.
4096595
I can imagine. The truth had go come out eventually, besides, I think she telishes the idea of being punished for her crimes so she can finally put being a Nightmare behind her.
4055043
My pleasure.
4096598
Don't be silly, oh, what's the fun in not being silly?
4102105
I am VERY PROUD of this finale!
4103683
Fluttershy took Fluttercruel as her own after Fluttercruel was defeated during Dark World.
And it's possible this Fluttershy who died in this version of dark world become an aspect of Princess Gaia (her Alicorn self) who Fluttershy possibly became during one of the many cycles.
This chapter was to establish how Fluttercruel still had things to answer for.
4115047
Must run in the family, or at least between him and Twilight.
4115100
Perhaps.
4103767
Beautiful isn't she?
4104054
I am VERY PROUD of this chapter.
So do I read the series in this order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, zero, then 6.
or is it zero to 6.
What order.
4122393
0 to 7, and DON'T forget season 5.5 "7 Dreams/NIghtmares."
4117314
Yeah, I'm not perfect when it comes to lyrical adaption at all.
And Cadenza really hates the idea of being consider the villain here. Considering all the stories and settings were the elite use magic to keep the lower class as their dogs.
4117352
Indeed. I felt this needed to be done to 'balance things out.' But the same time, Princess Amicitia had to avoid becoming a dues ex machina, and had to appear within the narrative as the conscience or voice of reason of the pony in question. Otherwise she'd be as bad as Nightmare Eclipse.
4133540
It was rather cool wasn't it?
4137126
Yeah. This chapter was a throw back to the classic introspection pieces.