> You've Got to be Foaly Kitty Me: Should Equestria Be Home? > by Josh Crapo > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > August 17, 2015 (Josh) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's been a full week since I've been in Equestria. I've enjoyed it so much here. Now, I'm an official Wonderbolt complete with the suit, gloves and goggles. I've been living perfectly fine in my house at Ponyville. Now I can get to Twilight and her friends in no time. I've still got about a thousand bits on me from Saturday, which helps. It's amazing how far I've come in only a week. If someone told me I'd be living like this about three months ago, I'd tell them they'd be crazy. I fly over to Tail Flight's to meet with her. As I get settled, one question of many I wrote on a blank sheet of paper last night pop up in my head. I figure I might as well ask Tail Flight when we have lunch. I put a knife on a segment of paper towel on the table. As I put away the zap apple jam, I come back to the sandwiches I made. Peanut butter and zap apple jam. The closest combination to what I used to make at home. Hadn't had anything this close to it since I left for Equestria. Tail Flight finally comes in seeing that I made a couple of sandwiches. Somehow, it didn't give her a deja vu. It probably wasn't that likely anyway. I shrug it off. "Hey Tail Flight." Tail Flight looks at me. "Just wondering if you remember anything from this year with me prior to that senior prank." "Well, I do remember being taken in by your mother. I didn't seem to mind being laughed at when I was having a roughhouse around the house. You guys were very overprotective of me, except for you, though you did seem to try get me off that table a lot whenever I got on there. I loved plenty of the music that you and your middle brother played. I think there was this one time where I jumped high in the air and you and your mother were baffled for a little bit. I do remember that I carried a lot of items when I was first there. I do remember going to the vet a few times too. Pretty much, that's all I remember." Now I'm astonished. Tail Flight still remembers all that, and it was two and a half months ago and so much more. I just hope it's the same for Wind Rust. Traveling from Baltimare to Las Pegasus was time consuming, but I handled it just fine. I competed in a race before with a full outfit on, and all that happened was that I had a slightly shorter breath. Landing on the other side of Equestria is like a short flight for me now. When getting to Wind Rust's house, Wind Rust seems to be home. "Hey Wind Rust." "Yeah Josh." "I'm just wondering. Do you remember anything from prior to the senior prank?" "Hm... Back almost four years ago, was the earliest time I saw you. I'm confident that I moved into Greg's two years later. It was a lot better from what I remember over there because there weren't any other animals besides me and Iso- I mean, Sugar. But Sugar left to live at your house. I remember visiting a few months later, but Isolate- I mean, Sugar, still appeared to have something against me. Maybe it was just that she wanted some attention. For the most part afterwards, you were visiting rather consistently over the next year or so. Maybe even some house sitting once in a while." "Wait, who's this Isolate you accidentally mentioned?" "Isolate Mercy. She's a pony that I met during the comedy night at Jo's Bar and Doughnut. A pony with an apparently very strong digestive system. So strong so, that she told me that she once accidentally swallowed a part of her mother's cat's food." "And what happened to her?" "Absolutely nothing. Her system is so strong, she's able to eat a sliver of meat and it won't do any digestive damage. I know Sugar didn't really like me and all, but somehow, I see her whenever I see Isolate." "Probably because of how nice Sugar was to me. Where does Isolate Mercy live?" "Ponyville." "Does she live far from me?" "No. Although she's a bit closer to Carousel Boutique than some other ponies." When I get home from Wind Rust's house, I decide to head to Carousel Boutique. On my way there, I look around the houses to see where this Isolate Mercy lives. "Pst." I can see the lights still on in some of the houses. "Psst!" Who's that? "Josh!" How's that voice know my name? I turn every which way to see where the noise is coming from. "Over here!" I finally see the whispering figure, a somewhat small pegasus with a back-streak mane. I come closer to the pegasus see more of the details. All white, with lime eyes. At her normal tone she points to the room behind the main entrance. "Come on in." I enter the house which feels so much cooler than outside. "Good thing I saw you there, although looking at you now, you look oddly familiar. Do you know Lightning Rider?" Look who's talking. That pegasus looks an awful lot like Sugar, except for the hooves and wings. I shake my head. "Oh, well you look a lot like him." "Let me guess... another pegasus." The pegasus nods. "I heard you were at comedy night on Saturday." "Oh, yeah. I was even at the race that day. You did amazing there." I blush. "I never really got a good look at you because you had that outfit on during the race." "I get 'you did amazing' or something like that jazz all the time. Thanks anyway." "Yeah, during comedy night, I ran into another pegasus. I think his name was Wind Rust." "You know Wind Rust?" The pegasus nods again. "So, you must be Isolate Mercy?" Another nod from her confirms my assumption. "I will admit that Isolate's just fine." My mind wanders to who Lightning Rider is. "Okay, so who's this Lightning Rider pony that I somehow resemble?" "Very fast, just like Rainbow Dash. Except he's actually going to be a senior at the Wonderbolts Academy, nearly ready to become a Wondertbolt." "Well, I'm a Wonderbolt now." Isolate looks shocked now. "You are?!?" "Oh yeah. I think that now I'm going to live here in Equestria for quite a while until I retire." "I don't doubt it. Say, how about we visit the castle?" "Twilight's castle? If that's so, then I'm fine with that, Isolate. Lead the way." Isolate leads me to Twilight's castle as I thought she would, so I decide to see if Twilight's home while Isolate just looks for Spike. "Twilight?" "Oh hey Josh. What do you need?" Twilight appears as I open the corridor to the throne room. "Oh nothing really. I just wanted to learn a little bit more about Isolate Mercy. She has a very striking resemblance to a cat I used to have named Sugar." "Got you covered. Pinkie Pie's home of course so you could really get a lot of information out of her. She knows every pony in Ponyville." "Thanks Twilight." "No problem Josh." > August 17, 2015 (Pinkie Pie) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As I walk up the stairs after turning off the kitchen lights, Some knocking comes from the front door. Opening the door at the entrance, Josh appears to be the one behind it. "Hey Joshy! How's it bakin'?" Josh just smiles. "It's baking well." "So, what brings you to Sugar Cube Corner at this hour?" "I just met this pegasus that bears a high resemblance to a cat I used to have, Sugar. All white, lime eyes." "Oh, you're talking about Isolate Mercy! It's been a while since I've seen her, but she sure is a nice pony." "Yeah, just like how Sugar was. The only differences Sugar and Isolate have that I can see are that Isolate doesn't crave attention and that she hasn't met Wind Rust like the long term relationship Sugar had with Rusty." "I see. Isolate Mercy is like Sugar, but not exactly. Oh, and congratulations on becoming an official Wonderbolt, by the way. I'm sure everypony where you're from would be so proud of you." "Yeah. But I expect a little envy on Rainbow Dash's part." "Hey, don't think anything of it. She's in the reserves, remember?" "Yeah, but that means she'll act as a stand in, not an actual Wonderbolt." "Say, maybe a pastry will make you feel better." I zip into the kitchen and come back out with a pastry in my hoof. "Thanks Pinkie." "Not a problem." As Josh walks out, I close the door behind him. It's a good thing nothing had separated him from his little pastry. Walking back in the kitchen I turn out the light again. Walking upstairs, I make sure I do so quietly not to wake the cakes. I finally get to my place and flop on the bed. I sigh. "Another satisfied customer." > August 18, 2015 (Wind Rust) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- If it weren't for being woken up by Rainbow Dash at about nine the morning, I probably would miss breakfast. I wake up from my dream to a big fling in the air almost ramming my face into Rainbow Dash's. As I safely back away to the other end of the bed, I see that her face is very tense. "Where's Joshua?!?" "I don't know. I just woke up, damn it." "Do you at least know if he's a Wonderbolt or not?!?" "Yes I do know. He is." "So, he got free admission to be one then, huh?" "Not really. He was originally going to be a stand in for you while you were gone at the Him-a-neighin's, but he overlapped the Wonderbolts in a race, one and a half times through a lot of training. That's how he became a Wonderbolt." "Ugh! If you see him, tell him I've got a message with his name on it!" Rainbow Dash zips out of the house as I watch out my window. "Well somepony's in a very bad mood right now. I better call Josh." I walk to the kitchen and grab my UCD. I go on my contacts and tap Josh's number. "Ooh, come on, pick up the UCD. Pick up the UCD. Pick up the UCD." I hear something. "Wind Rust?" "Yeah it's me. I'm just here to tell you that Rainbow Dash is not thrilled with you." "I thought Pinkie Pie told me not to think anything of it. I knew Rainbow Dash would act that way." "Well, what do you think Pinkie is, the element of honesty?" Josh doesn't say anything. "Sorry about that." "Nothing to be sorry about. I'm just thinking." "Okay carry on." Another long pause with 'him's and 'haw's from Josh's end ensuing. "Okay. Yes, Pinkie isn't the most honest pony in the universe but she is very much considerate of her friends. She told me that Rainbow Dash wouldn't really care." "She was even angrier than Millie Motive-" Josh stops me. "Wait, I recognize what you said." "What, Millie Motive?" "Just Millie. It sounded like a japanese word." "What's the word?" "Mirai." Is that part of the title of a song? I think it is. Time to ask. "Oh, like Mirai Start?" "Yeah!" No wonder it sounded familiar. "Well, I gotta go. Practice starts soon. Bye." "Bye." I hang up the UCD and put on the living room table. Suddenly, I think a bit. I walk to the bedroom taking a right at the corner of the living room and taking a left at the start of the puny hall. My... God. It's just like at Greg's house. Only, there's some differences. I look around the house again. At my bedroom, there's a closet next to the entrance to the bedroom as well as two windows. One opposite to the closet, with a bed under it pointing towards the closet, and one perpendicular, which as opposite to a dresser, clockwise to the other window. The only thing missing is a poster. The next room I enter is the guest room. Unlike the bedroom, the guest room has two closets that are perpendicular to the entrance to the room on the left as I enter. There are also two windows. One opposite to the closets, and one near opposite to the entrance. Two beds lie in the corners of the room facing the closets. I walk back to the living room and examine what is different from what I remember of Greg's house. No curtains are blocking the beautiful sunlight on this Monday morning. Again, two windows appear as I enter. One opposite to a couch sprawled to the wall separating the entrances to the hall and the kitchen, and one opposite to another closet which is adjacent to the main entrance. In front of that window is the living room table that I set my UCD on. I enter the kitchen next, which looks almost identical to the one at Greg's house. The only difference is that the washer and drier are replaced with a bucket of soap-water and a mobile cupboard next to it, filled with towels and washcloths. Suddenly I think of Josh. I hope Rainbow Dash won't be hard on Josh. > August 18, 2015 (Josh) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Another day, another meet with the Wonderbolts. At Cloudsdale, I seem to get perfectly along with all of the Wonderbolts. "Okay Wonderbolts, warm up a few minutes. Josh and I will join you in a few." Spitfire and I sit down as the rest of the team warms up. "So, how's everything coming along in Ponyville?" "Pretty well." "I imagine that it's going to be a while before you retire." "Yeah. Hey, ever met Spike?" "Not sure. Wasn't he the one who blew the horn signifying the pegasi to start up that jumbo tornado?" Oh, crap! I can't say that that was from Friendship is Magic in front of Spitfire. I might as well tell them that I've heard of it. "I remember hearing about that when I first met Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. But yeah, he apparently was." Spitfire seems to buy it. "That's pretty cool. So, is he Twilight's assistant or something?" I nod. "Well, you sure know a lot about Equestria for someone who's been there for about a week. I'm generally impressed." "Thanks." "Now how about we get to flying?" "I'm in." Spitfire and I join the rest of the team warming up. My aerial coordination has been vastly improving like Rainbow Dash said it would if I just jumped to fly instead of imitating Mario. Now with being with the Wonderbolts as one myself, I'm using that improving aerial coordination to start performing tricks. The first thing I try is the double inside-out loop. A Wonderbolt actually recognizes it immediately. "What was that you were doing? I don't think anypony was ever successful pulling that off on their first try! Not even us!" "Hey Surprise, I know what it is." Blaze flies over to Surprise and I. "It's the double inside-out loop." "SURPRISE!!! BLAZE!!! JOSH!!!" "Lightning Streak?!?" all three of us say in unison. "Somepony sent a letter saying that a friend of his needs to get back 'home'. He said to send it straight to you, Josh." Lightning Streak gives me the letter. "Who's this somepony, Lightning Streak?" Spitfire comes between Blaze and I. "Here's the letter Spitfire. I can barely read the common Equestrian alphabet that well. At least Princess Celestia's writing I can read." I hand Spitfire the letter which she promptly reads. "Got it. 'Dear Joshua, I just encountered an unexpected visit from Tail Flight who seems to be in emotional distress as I'm writing this. She says that Rainbow Dash had yelled at her asking where Josh was. She said she didn't know but I'm not sure if she even belongs in Equestria with you around. I went to Twilight's castle with Tail Flight and Twilight may have a solution to this, saying that she'd deal with Rainbow Dash. Come as soon as you can. Maybe we can figure something out. Wiretap.' Well, it sounds like you have some friends that need you. We have over an hour and a half of practice time left. But the letter does say to come as soon as possible. You should really go. What friend would you be if you weren't there for Tail Flight?" "Thanks Spitfire." I dash out of the stadium and get to Twilight's castle. It didn't take much time. When I get to the throne room, Twilight is there already. "Hey Josh." "So, you've seen Tail Flight and Wiretap?" Twilight nods. "Yeah, what a nice way to be of early dismissal from practice." "Tail Flight and Wiretap went back to Marechias." I face palm and lip sync a bomb. I groan. "I'm sorry, it's just I needed to let something out and now I feel so good that I did." "Oh it's quite alright Josh. I can relate." "Well, I've got to go now. Bye." I wave goodbye to Twilight dashing off to Marechias to get Tail Flight and Wiretap. > August 18, 2015 (Tail Flight/Wiretap) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After eating lunch, I decide to nap a bit, a little like I used to do in my feline memory. But of course, after preening my wings. I really have such a full belly after some peanut butter and zap apple jam and a soda. I think back to what I said I remembered back yesterday. I don't remember half of what I said. All I remember is telling Josh that I was taken in back in January and how he was an exception to being overprotective. But that's it. Foal! Maybe I'll remember more when I wake up. I have almost one hour of sleep before I hear a door slam. I shoot awake. "Hey, you happened to see Josh anywhere?!?" "No." "Do you at least know whether he's a Wonderbolt or not?!?" I start to whimper. "Um, yeah?" "IS HE?!? "Yeah?!?" "UGH!!! OKAY, DO YOU ALSO KNOW WHERE HE SHOULD BE THEN?!?" I burst into tears now. "NO!!! I DON'T KNOW!!! I DON'T HAVE ANY SCHEDULE!!!" "AAAARGH!!!" I endlessly gallop over to Marechias sobbing along the way. I finally get to Wiretap's house after an extra hour and a half. I hear Wiretap over my crying. "TAIL FLIGHT!!!" I ram straight into Wiretap feeling his forehooves sandwiching my wings. "What happened?!?" "Rainbow Dash!" I'm still sobbing so badly, I can hardly control what I'm saying. Wiretap quietly shushes me to calm me down. "Tail Flight. If I know anything about this, I say we go to Twilight's castle." As we enter the castle again, Tail Flight and I go straight to the throne room, where Twilight is. "Tail Flight, Wiretap. I'm glad you came over. I'm back from another cute-ceañera, and I've been meaning to get back to work. So what's going on?" "Well, I think Rainbow Dash was under a little distress which put Tail Flight under some too." "Well, Wiretap, if Rainbow Dash comes here, I'm sure that I could talk some sense into her." "Thank you Twilight." Tail Flight runs over and hugs Twilight as if she were her mother. "No problem Tail Flight." Twilight wraps her wing around Tail Flight, who still has tears down her cheeks. "What leader would I be if I weren't to help you? Want me to write a letter to Josh?" "Sure thing Twilight." I clear my throat as Twilight levitates one of the scrolls and quills on Spike's throne. "Dear Joshua, I just encountered an unexpected visit from Tail Flight who seems to be in emotional distress as I'm writing this. She says that Rainbow Dash had yelled at her asking where Josh was. She said she didn't know but I'm not sure if she even belongs in Equestria with you around. I went to Twilight's castle with Tail Flight and Twilight may have a solution to this, saying that she'd deal with Rainbow Dash. Come as soon as you can. Maybe we can figure something out. Wiretap. "Got all of that?" Twilight nods. "One final request. Make sure that this letter goes straight to Josh." "You've got it Wiretap. Anyway to help you is good enough for me." > August 19, 2015 (Josh) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's after midnight, so this still counts as August 19th. I decided to stay with Tail Flight in case Rainbow Dash came back. So far, hadn't seen her since last week before she was called to the Him-a-neighin's. All that changes when I hear a loud burst through the door and a crash in the living room. I immediately jump into the air and zoom straight to the living room. What was once a clean living room is now very messy with Rainbow Dash under the fallen items. I chuckle a bit. "I know that's you RD." "Hey Josh!" Rainbow Dash does not hesitate to come out of the rubble she made. "You know why I'm here!" "I remember what Wind Rust said on the other line when he called me on my UCD." "And what did he say?!?" "He said you weren't in the best mood at the moment. I thought back to when Pinkie told me you'd be alright with me being a Wonderbolt." "Wait, how'd you know what I was here for?" "Pinkie Pie." "Of flying course!" "I sure was hoping for the best until I had to get out of practice early to go to Twilight's castle." "Well, I was lookin' for you all day! So, I heard this morning that you're an official Wonderbolt!" I nod. "Well, it's been my dream to be an official Wonderbolt for so many years. Right now, I'm very close to becoming one. After the spring of 2017, I'll be a real Wonderbolt, well, because of being a fresh-mare in the spring last year at Wonderbolts Academy." "I thought the term was freshmen." "Potato potato." I chuckle at the sudden pronunciation comparison of potato that Rainbow Dash makes... I'm a sucker for that kind of humor. "So how'd you achieve becoming a Wonderbolt so quickly?" "If Wind Rust hasn't told you, I was a stand in on a race at the derby that you missed. I was selected by Spitfire herself to have me compete to see if I was up for the challenge." Suddenly I hear Tail Flight behind me. "Josh, what's- OH NO!!!" Rainbow Dash comes over and tries to comfort her. "Little filly. It's not what you think that's happening. I'm just having a casual conversation." "Josh!!! Get to the bedroom!!!" I turn around. "Relax Tail Flight. Rainbow Dash's calmed down." "Come on Josh!!! We've got to get back to the bedroom!!!" I feel something on an ankle of mine. Why does this feel so familiar? I have no idea why Tail Flight is starting to act exactly like how Eve would. If this actually were Eve, I'd just move my leg as if the doctor were to use that reflex hammer during a physical. That would normally back Eve off a bit. But this is different. This is Tail Flight. An Equestrian counterpart to Eve. One that speaks the very language that I do as we speak. What should I do? I know exactly. I sit down and pet Tail Flight, still hugging my ankle, and then pick her up and hug her. "I'm not going anywhere outside this place before we sleep. I have no idea what got you so worried. Does it have to do with Rainbow Dash?" Tail Flight nods much to Rainbow Dash's shock and hugs me tightly back, burying her face in my chest. "I knew a cat once that had this kind of distrust." Tail Flight looks at me. "And I met a pony that's possibly the Equestrian counterpart to her. The cat's name was Sugar." "Well, who's this Sugar feline?" Rainbow Dash asks. "Was... Sugar was all white, with lime eyes." "Oh. Hey, I know who you're talkin' about! Isolate Mercy! Wasn't she in the academy too? I know my cousin is senior. That's for sure." "So, you're cousin is classmates with Lightning Rider?" "Josh, my cousin's name is Lightning Rider. I can definitely see a little of him in you, though." "Really?" "Well, sure!" "Thanks RD." "Anytime, 'cousin'." "Josh?" I look down to see Tail Flight looking at me. I nod. "Are we going to get to sleep now?" "Why not. Hey, Rainbow Dash, I'll catch you later. Gotta get to bed." "Bye Josh." I wave goodbye until the door closes. "Now, how about we get some sleep for later this morning? I'll be with in a little bit. I'm getting a little parched, and I've still got my shower to get to." "Sure thing. I'll meet you in the bedroom." I watch as Tail Flight walks back across the hall to the second door on the left. I turn around to walk into the kitchen to get a bottle of water to chug down from the fridge. I put the empty bottle once done in the bag of other empty water bottles. I walk to my bag of clothes I brought with me and talk out a change of shorts, a shirt, socks and briefs. After my shower, I come to the bedroom. It looks like Tail Flight is asleep before I even get to bed, turning on some music for her to enjoy. However, as I get into bed with her, I feel Tail Flight moving onto her back as I turn laying on my left side facing the table lamp that is on. Then to top it all off, she moves onto my side and preens her wings eyes closed and all. It's so adorable that it detonates my heart, twice. I turn off the lamp on the table next to the bed and tuck that arm under. I feel like I'm in a heated room in the winter with Tail Flight hugging my side. Things start to float around me but I don't seem to care. "What's going on?" "I don't know. Maybe we ought to let this sequence continue. Stuff like this doesn't happen in the real world where objects defy gravity on their own." I start to feel my hands which are normal temperature, and the head, which feels the warmest its been since last time I had to miss school. "Wait. Do I have a fever? Well, that would explain how I've been getting headaches whenever I wake up each morning since Sunday. Ah! My HEAD!!!" I keep my hand on my head, which I lower. Now, my hand starts to feel hot from conduction. I take it out replacing it with the other hand which has the same effect. I gasp and open my eyes to a huge headache and not feeling anything on my sides. I hear some crying on the floor. I look at where the crying is coming from. It's Tail Flight. "TAIL FLIGHT!!! What happened?!?" She sniffles. "I was... sleeping... but... suddenly... I was... floating!" "What happened after that?" "I crashed!" I hug Tail Flight picking her up back onto the bed. This time, I hold Tail Flight to make sure she doesn't float like that, which was so weird. How something can float without any levitator? "I don't know how you could've floated. Has there been any other time that you were floating like that?" "I can't say. I don't remember telling you half of what I think I said." "What?!? What the heck's going on here? First I thought I was going up to see Sydney and Sugar, and now, you're losing Eve's memory?!?" I need to see if Wind Rust is encountering this." I instantly get up and look for my UCD. After five minutes, I think to myself, Flow it. I'll just use Tail Flight's. She probably won't mind. "Hey Tail Flight. I can't find my UCD. Mind if I use yours?" "Go ahead. I don't mind." "Thanks." I call Wind Rust who probably is asleep by now. "Hello?" "Wind Rust. I have to ask you something." "Shoot." "Do you remember anything you told me about your life." "All I remember is everything about Sugar and you. That's it." "Oh, no!" "Well, who knows, maybe I'll remember more when I wake up." "That logic doesn't sound that far-fetched. And by the way, not only have I been getting these headaches whenever I wake up, but I was sleeping with Tail Flight and she was apparently floating around and then crashed before I woke up." "Do you think Tail Flight crashing on the floor from floating around the room might have anything to do with your headaches?" "I don't know. I can't think straight because i just woke up." "Well, I gotta get to sleep. It's still early in the morning." "Okay. Bye." I hang up the UCD and get back to bed getting back to holding Tail Flight tight in my arms to make sure she doesn't float around again. "Will I float again?" "Not under my arms." Tail Flight hugs me back in my response of her security. I find myself in that same room we were previously in. So far, nothing seems to be floating. Now, I don't really seem all that surprised once something does. However, as it does, it swells as well. A sudden burst causes me to hold Tail Flight even harder. However, when looking in the area from where the object burst, a blue pony takes its place. I know her! I don't know how I didn't think through the fact that this pony goes through ponies' dreams. "Princess Luna!!! I'm so glad you're here. I have so much on my mind right now." "Well, not to worry, Joshua. I know you through my sister. I am sure that when I hear everything on your mind, you won't have anymore questions for me to ask." "So, Tail Flight told me that she doesn't remember much of what she said about her feline memories. I remember everything that Eve's been through but how did Tail Flight forget? She has both memories of herself and Eve. Same goes for Wind Rust with Rusty." "Perhaps these two cats, Rusty and Eve may be somewhere that nopony has known yet." "From what I remember, Celestia told me that Rusty and Eve were both gone and that I could never get them back. I've achieved every one of my dreams Luna, but now that problems are arising here in Equestria that I'm not in control of... I'm afraid that I might not be able to save what's left of Rusty and Eve, their memories." "Fear not, Wonderbolt. There is indeed a way to save these cats once and for all." "And what's that?" "Take Tail Flight and Wind Rust to your world. If they are in a world where those memories were once held, Rusty and Eve's memories will not just be preserved but restored. Tell me Joshua. Have you been feeling any homesickness?" I think back to what was of my life back before I went to LeMoyne. A mix between the growing relationships between me, Tail Flight, Wind Rust and even Wiretap and my computer. But now, I think about the UCD I have now. I can listen to the songs I have on YouTube and on the UCD itself. "I've been feeling fine here in Equestria. I may not be in my world anymore but I'm feeling great where I am now. 'Everything that I need is right here with me.'" "There is not a doubt that if you want to preserve and restore the memories that Eve and Rusty once had, that trip home has to be within three hundred and sixty hours that Tail Flight and Wind Rust have woken up for the first time in Equestria after their return here." "You mean that I have to bring Tail Flight and Wind Rust home within the fifteen days that they woke up in order to return all of Eve and Rusty's memories? But if they're losing those memories, then Wiretap and Caregiver may lose the memories that belong to Dexter and Mama Kitty! Tail Flight, when did Caregiver and Wiretap wake up for the first time upon arriving in Equestria?" "August 6th for Wiretap. I'm not sure about Caregiver." "That means I have only two days when I wake up! I last fell asleep at about two thirty in the morning after another dream I had with Tail Flight." "Today and tomorrow, I'll make a real visit before you go." "But if you go back home, that means you'll have go to school!" "No it doesn't Tail Flight. I know a little trick that got me into Equestria the first time, and now I can do it as long as it's when I'm home at noon. Besides, I got my UCD with me. I'll keep in touch." "As a side note Josh, anypony who goes to any other realm will still have their memories here. For it is where they really were. Nopony could stop or plant, in Tail Flight and Wind Rust, their Equestrian memories from growing as long as they were here." "Well, I know at least one pony who might be able to get us back home." "I have to go now, for this dream may come to an end, but before I go... I just wanted to say, good luck. I wish you the best of it." "Thanks Luna." I crack a huge smile knowing that Princess Luna is going to be visiting. I close my eyes which somehow mutes every single echo that I've heard from when I was with Luna. I must be awake now. > August 19, 2015 (Twilight Sparkle) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I lay in the library with Spike. "So, how was the derby?" "It went well. Josh not only won the race by a long shot but he's-" "...an official Wonderbolt!" "How'd you know?" "I saw Josh yesterday with his own fit of the Wonderbolts outfit. I guess he came straight from practice." "Hey Twilight, look!" Spike points in my direction but in my lower body. I support myself with my forehooves sitting up looking at my cutie mark. "I wonder where the map is directing us this time." I gallop with Spike at my side over to the throne room where everyone else meets, including five fillies. "Hey everyone. Just so we're clear, raise your hoof if your cutie mark was glowing." Everyone's hooves shoot up except for two. "Really, even the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Everyone nods. "Well, whatever it is, I'm sure the map will send the nine of us to someplace out of Equestria. I've noticed that lately, especially when these ponies were called to the Him-a-neighin's this past weekend." Suddenly, the cutie marks of me, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo all rise near the roots of what was once the Golden Oak Library as the map shifts from Equestria almost down to the south pole. As the cutie marks reach the map, they land near what looks like an icy island. I groan. "Another call to one of the coldest places in the world." "At least we know that ponies live there. That at least makes sense. It's very cold there, so it must mean that there's most certainly a friendship problem." "But Sweetie Belle, we're bein' called too. Does that mean that there's also a personal problem we can fix there?" "You know what? I'd say so." "It's time w'put our talents to use!" "YEAH!!!" Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo all hoof bump, soon interrupted by Applejack looking worried. "Yeah, but, what about the farm?!? Applebuck Season starts tomorrow!" "Don't worry Applejack. Silver Spoon and I got you covered." "You go on to the south pole. I know how long it could take to get to these kinds of places." "Yeah, ex- wait a minute. Just wondering. Were there any windigos at the Him-a-neighin's?" I nod at Diamond Tiara. "Darn it. If you went for them first, they probably had enough time to escape and got straight for the south pole seeing how it can take so long to get to the other side of the world." Spike suddenly shoots his eyes wide open. "Hold on a second guys." Spike dashes out of the room only to be back within ten seconds with these little tablets. "You're going to need these." "Thanks Spike. Maybe it may not be the case this time around. I'll call you when we get there." "So, who's ready for a road trip?!?" Rainbow Dash jumps in the air maintaining flight in the process. "I sure am!" Scootaloo follows with a hoof bump in the air. "You guys go. I'm stayin' to talk with Luna for a bit when she gets here. Josh should be comin' soon." "Alright. See you Spike." Spike waves goodbye as I levitate the corridor closed. > August 19, 2015 (Josh)(Daytime) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Princess Luna told me that someone may be available that can send me home. That must be Twilight. She knows practically every spell in the book. After gathering Wind Rust and Wiretap with Tail Flight right by my side the whole time, we are on our way to Ponyville, before dropping the three off at my house that is. As I arrive at Twilight's castle though, I see two fillies walking out of it. One with a pink coat and a tiara on top of her lavender mane with a streak of white in it and one, wearing a necklace and a pair of glasses, with a grey coat and a silver mane. I know just who they are. "Silver Spoon! Look!!!" "Who's he?" "He's the newest Wonderbolt there is. Became one just this weekend." "How do you know about him?" "It was in the Foal Free Press. Those stories are juicier now than they ever were in Ponyville history." "Oh, hey." "Hi Josh!!!" Diamond Tiara waves to me as I do so to her and Silver Spoon. "I guess I got some fame here in Ponyville. First, Isolate Mercy. Now, you? Thanks for the recognition." "Any time Josh. I read on the Foal Free Press that you were a Wonderbolt." "I sure am. I was just coming to Twilight's throne room to see if she's available." Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon start to have a nervous smile. "Hate to break it to you, but Twilight was called to the south pole." "What? So basically the only pony who can help me take a few ponies back to my world to restore their memories is nowhere near Equestria?!?" Diamond Tiara nods very nervously. "Ah! Fly!" "Is there any pony else who can help you with going to your world?" I think for a bit. Trixie? Maybe. I could test this out. I should. "Say, do you happen to know about a pony named Trixie?" Silver Spoon seems to look disgusted at the mention. "Oh, you mean 'the great and powerful Trixie'?" Suddenly, Diamond Tiara starts to talk in a different kind of voice, almost in a british-american hybrid accent. "'Oh, you think I should know the names of my enemies? I see how it is.'" I do that same hybrid accent in response, not before realizing who I was impersonating. "'Oh, so with a cross of british and-' wait a minute I know who you were trying to do." I smile and point at Diamond Tiara for referencing such adult oriented animation. I didn't think that what I said wouldn't stop Silver Spoon from doing that same accent too. "'Very clever Diamond Tiara.'" Silver Spoon proceeds to laugh. "Great, now you got me doing that." I chuckle with Silver Spoon. "Okay. Is there anyone good at magic that you know of, here in Ponyville?" "Not that I know of. Sorry Josh. Maybe the pony you're looking for doesn't have to come from Ponyville." "Diamond Tiara. I think you might be right. I heard about a few others that are good at magic. I need to go get Spike." "Okay. If you need us, we'll be at Sweet Apple Acres." I speed inside and get to Spike's room, which Spike is in. "Hey Josh. 'sup." "I just need to get to Canterlot with Tail Flight, Wind Rust and Wiretap. Maybe you can join along." "Oh. I can help you with that." At Canterlot, Spike, Tail Flight, Wind Rust, Wiretap and I arrive at the train station as I take out my UCD. "Is there anyone in mind that is good at magic in Canterlot now that we arrived?" I ask Spike. "Hmm... oh. Moon Dancer!" Tail Flight, Wind Rust and Wiretap look confused. "Moon what?" I look at the three, then back at Spike. "Moon Dancer. I think I know about her." "She's a bookworm just like Twilight, although it's been almost a year since she's opened up back to friendship." "I admit, I think it's going to be pretty easy to find her." I think back to an episode of Friendship is Magic where Moon Dancer opened up to friendship, before getting back on track. "Say. I wonder if Moon Dancer has researched the magic of cutie marks." "Why, you want to learn more about them?" "No Spike. It's just that I remember seeing a pipe as a cutie mark." Tail Flight has something in her now. "Oh, as in plumbing?" "No." Spike tries to guess what I was referring to. "Does is have to do with a bubble pipe?" "Well, yeah. The cutie mark is a bubble pipe." Well, there goes that. "Okay forget that. It's probably for the best I don't get injected with an IKC." "Oh my gosh! Josh, is that-" I turn around and see none other than Moon Dancer right there. I wave hello. "Hi. It's rather unexpected to notice me, but, I'm Josh." "My, it IS you! I heard that you were selected by Spitfire herself to race, so I went to see the race, and there you were at the starting line, couldn't miss it!" "Wow. First, Isolate Mercy, then Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, and now you?!? So, you were at the race, huh? No wonder I saw a tan figure at the edge of the bleachers during the race. Uh... Moon Dancer right?" She nods. "I also heard that your father's in a band!" "Really?" "Yeah, though its name sounds similar to A Single Demographic." "That's because my dad's band is named An Audience of One. And I've listened to a few songs from A Single Demographic, and they sound so much like something my dad would make. Say, I was coming to you because I needed to see if you knew any spells that take others to different worlds. I've got to arrive back home before Friday." "Are you gonna be back here?" "Of course I will." I pat Moon Dancer on the back, which she doesn't react kindly too. That's my cue to stop. I start to sweat almost as if I flew across Equestria and back a dozen times. "Huh? When'd you start sweating there?" I start to breath heavily pulling my shirt back and forth. "I don't know... It just happened... I haven't sweat... that heavily... since I last jogged... over to... a friend's house... from mine in... eight minutes." Suddenly, my sweat evaporates but I still breath heavily to a tingle in my chest. "Oh, no! I hope you're alright!" Spike comes over to my leg and looks up. "Ah. I'll be fine. So, Moon Dancer, do you know any spells that send me, Tail Flight, Wind Rust and Wiretap to the world I'm from?" "Well, if you all come with me, I could probably look to see if there's a spell for that." Well, there's Twilight's old library from the pilot episode of Friendship is Magic. I start sweating again as we arrive, but quickly disappears. "I know why I keep sweating, but I'm starting to wear out here." "Just be patient. After we're all done with this, I'm sure we could bring you to see a doctor about this." Moon Dancer unlocks the door and opens it as everyone else enters. "Ah, the great memories of when I was the assistant of a student." Spike spins around for a few seconds and drops to the floor. The rest of us go up the stairway up to the main platform. "Okay, where's that spell book?" Moon Dancer levitates books back and forth on all of the shelves. Well, she would've if she didn't find it within about fifteen seconds. "Aha! Here it is. Spells, Summons and Sets of Sciences. Just what I needed." I start to chuckle a little, which Moon Dancer notices. "What's so funny?" "Never mind, you probably won't get it." "O-kay. Let's see what's in here." Moon Dancer looks in the table of contents and finds the subject matter she needs within seconds. "Ah! 'From swirling light to a lift off the ground, a body connected to the target will be under this as well. This swirl and lift will send the target home and all of those connected to it.' Okay. Here it goes." Moon Dancer's horn glows as Tail Flight, Wind Rust and Wiretap wrap their hooves around my lower back, two of which does it with ease, since they're flying. Suddenly, I'm inching higher into the air without using my wings, which means the spell's working. I can't open my eyes much because of the brightness around me. Now, I can't open them at all. Suddenly I feel like I'm falling with the three ponies' hooves still wrapped around me until that split second. What I expect is to land on the floor of a tile. But the landing we have is somewhat soft. "Ugh... what happened?!?" Tail Flight is the first to get up. "Is everypony alright?" I just get up without opening my eyes. "Since when did the loft floor have an earthy- wait a minute. We're outside. Does this mean-?" I open my eyes. "Oh my gosh! Moon Dancer's spell worked! We're home!" I look around, cheering along the way. Everything is exactly the same as it was when I got home from LeMoyne. I fly up on the balcony and get inside my house with Tail Flight and Wind Rust, holding Wiretap by the hooves. "Hello?" Tail Flight gallops ahead all across the apartment. "Whoa. This looks so much like it was when we left in July." "Say, what time is it?" Wiretap walks into the living room. Wind Rust flies up to the clock on the kitchen wall above the sink. "Uh... It's 12:07." I chase Tail Flight around the apartment coming back to my computer, completely untouched since I left for Equestria. Even the Items I arranged are exactly how I left them. Mom didn't bother to notice this feather? Well, Tail Flight does, signified by her gasp. "My feather!" I stop her. "I need to leave it the way it is. I'm going to leave tomorrow. I just need everything where it is right now before you do anything." "Oh. Sorry." Tail Flight hangs her head in sadness. I take her under my left wing now. "Hey. Don't take it wrong way. It's your feather. Here." I reach for the feather and give it to her, which she instantly takes and cuddles with it. It's so adorable, my heart detonates. Suddenly, I feel something uncomfortable in my wings. I stand up and fold my wings, which now sting. I think I know what's happening. They need to be preened. "Hey Tail Flight. Just wondering. Do you know anything about wing preening?" Tail Flight shakes her head. "Maybe Wind Rust may know. He's much better at flying than me." I try to get off the ground, but i only go mere inches. That'll have to do. That is until I land on the ground. I decide to do what I haven't done in so long. Walk down the stairs. I haven't walked like that for over a week. Suddenly, I start to sweat again. And just like that, it disappears again, leaving behind the heavy breathing I had last time it happened. Wait a minute. I wake up with the kind of headaches that is absolutely heavy. Tail Flight was floating. And I've been having these headaches ever since the night after comedy night. Could I levitate? I walk to the living room and test whether or not I could levitate something. The item I test my levitation with is the Mac mouse. And it works. "So that's why I was having those headaches. I can levitate now. Wind Rust?" My attention turns to Wind Rust who comes into the living room from the kitchen. "Yeah?" "I learned that I could levitate. I still could have trouble preening my wings though." "Oh I could do that." I walk into the living room, lay down on my stomach and spread my wings for Wind Rust to clean. After feeling Wind Rust on my back, suddenly, it almost feels as though it's Rusty and not Wind Rust cleaning my wings. I almost fall asleep to the feeling of my wings getting preened. I get a couple of prickly startles out of Wind Rust preening my wings, but nothing bad. "Let's hope that doesn't happen again." Wind Rust rubs his wings to mine, in which the feeling made my heart detonate again. It's as if a blanket was on my wing when I was trying to get to sleep. As soft as it felt, Wind Rust's left wing lift off my right. I get up and see if I could fly, which works. "Hey, I have to get Wiretap over to Maine. I think I know what to do to get there too." Wiretap walk over to the living room from the hall. "Hey, uh, what about me?" "I'm going to take you home. You've missed the Burkes, right?" Wiretap nods now looking to his right, rubbing his right hoof and closing his eyes. "Well, if this works, I think you're in luck." I decide to test whether I could teleport or not, much like Rushing Fire did when I made Crazy Maze. My mind concentrates on what's upstairs, what I arranged. I close my eyes. Suddenly, I feel a slight sting in my eyes and loss of balance but I feel alright. That is until i hear some gasping downstairs, who sound like Wind Rust and Wiretap. "Josh!!! Where'd you come from?!?" I open my eyes. I'm upstairs. It worked. I can teleport. "Come down. I think you might find it amazing that I can do this." I fly downstairs with Tail Flight behind me. Tail Flight turns towards Wiretap as I levitate the UCD's I put down into my left pocket. "Wiretap, I wish I could've told this earlier, but thanks for noticing what was wrong before Josh came to Equestria." Wiretap nods and rubs his cheek to Tail Flight's. "And Josh. Thanks for being there for me when I needed it most. I probably would've met Sydney and Sugar for the first time if my separation anxiety continued." "Anytime little filly," I say. I proceed to stand on my knees and tuck Tail Flight under my wing again, to which Tail Flight responds with a tight hug. "I'll be right back." I get back up and close my eyes again. With the sting to between the sideburns, I start to lose my balance again. I quickly regain it again though. Okay, is this going to be a thing? Me ending up outside whenever I get somewhere else without walking or flying? Regardless, when I open my eyes, I see that I'm at Cole's house. "There you go, Wiretap." "Thanks Josh." I levitate the UCD's out of my pocket I put them in, giving one to Wiretap. "Goodbye." I wave goodbye before imagining the front part of an uncle's house. I close my eyes, but I hear someone else calling. I open my eyes again. "Who's out there?" The person calling gasps. "Josh?!? Is that you?!?" I turn around. It's Missy at the front door. "Yes! It's me!" "What's happened? How did you get those?" "Get what?" "Those things on your back. How did you get 'em?" "Oh, my wings. I got them as a result of drinking one of Zecora's potions." Missy looks confused. "Zecora is a zebra from Equestria." "Oh, Equestria. I know what you're talking about." "I gotta go. I really would like to stay and see Cole, but Tail Flight's waiting." "Bye." I close my eyes again as I imagine the living room I was in prior to teleporting over at the Burkes' house. My eyes sting again for a split second, but I don't lose my balance at all. Opening my eyes again, I'm right back where I was as if I didn't even teleport. "Hey Josh! That was so cool! How could you teleport?!?" "Perhaps it was me wearing that Wonderbolts costume. Remember how Rushing Fire had gotten inherited mind magic?" Tail Flight nods. "Oh, I get it. So now, you can just use your hands as sign language?" I nod. Tail Flight hugs me in response to my nod. "Our final night together will fall in in a few hours. Plus, you won't have just me to sleep with." "Who?" "Mom." "Oh yeah." "Plus, I'm going to sleep upstairs. So, you could also just sleep with me." "Okay." > August 20, 2015 (Tail Flight) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- How long has it been since I slept like this? Since the tenth of July. I haven't slept here for five and a half weeks. If it's not counted that I woke up on the eighth of this month, that would be almost two weeks. Not only last night did I get to sleep with Josh, but I slept with him in his house. Wind Rust comes here early to see if Josh is ready to go back to Equestria, which wakes me up. "Oh, Wind Rust." I yawn. "How're you today?" "Fine. I'm just looking for Josh." "Wind Rust, it's only seven in the morning. If you need to, come upstairs and sleep with us." "Oh, I'm wide awake. Had a little cold water to get me up." I chuckle a little. "I just got up." Suddenly a voice comes from the living room groaning. "Josh, is that you?" "Got to go, hold on." I come into the living room. "No, it's just Tail Flight and Wind Rust." Creaking occurs upstairs. "Great. I didn't need everyone up." I fly upstairs to see Josh indeed got up. "Tail Flight? Where were you?" "Downstairs. Wind Rust came in the door and your mother woke up to our conversation and thought it was you." "Next time we sleep like this, if ever, we've got to do it in the loft." I look up above the closet. There it is. The one place I remember. It's easy to get up and down there now that I've been able to fly. Now that I think about it though, I do remember having to use that ladder to get up there as a cat. "Hey Tail Flight?" I look at Josh. "Do you know where your feather is?" I rub my hoof on my chin as I think. Perhaps, I put it in the loft. I fly there to check. Right next to the bed, there's a bunch of stuff, but it's anything other than a feather. As I look harder in the little pile, I notice something small and black, what looked like a black dyed praying mantis. I touch it to check if it's soft or stiff, in which it's soft... and a little tickling. Then it hits me. That's my feather. Now i remember what happened last night. I have to tell Josh. "I found it!" "Good. Bring it down." I grab the feather and hold on to it until Josh levitates it out of my hoof onto the floor. I look to Josh, who is still looking to see if the feather is placed just right. "Perfect!" Josh gets on the computer, presumably ready for something a little trip of memory lane as it seems. When he gets on program that looks like its icon is a blue carton, I don't know what he's going to play. "Never thought I could actually listen to this once again." What's he talking about? Suddenly, as I assume that he loaded something he saved, I see something I've never seen before. "Hey Tail Flight, I might want to be downstairs for this. If you want to play the song, press enter on my keyboard." Josh flies downstairs out of my view. I look on the keyboard and see the word "enter" on the middle right of the main group of buttons. I press the button that says "enter" just after getting Josh's headphones on. What the result is is listening to something truly beautiful. I've listened to music like this before, but not to this good of quality, nor has it been something that Josh made himself. Before I know it, I start to cry at the beauty of Josh's work. This has never happened before until now. I know Josh's work is good, but it has never made me burst into tears like this. These are warm tears too. Not like the ones when Wind Rust woke up. After the song ends for the seventh time, I decide to stop it, but just restarted at a certain spot. Well, I'm just pressing "enter", but then I see another button that's the longest. I press it, and the music stops. Josh flies up the stairs again and lands near his computer. "Heard you crying from all the way in the living room. That wasn't just your reaction to that song I made." I see a tear in Josh's eye. Suddenly, he picks me and hugs me, which I respond to by hugging back. I hear a knock on the door, which Wind Rust responds immediately. "Coming!" As he opens the door though, a greeting comes from a very familiar voice, almost as if it came from a dream Josh and I had. Josh gasps. "Luna!" Josh flies down the stairs with me tight in his chest. "Ah! Joshua! It seems you've made it home. I figured this would be where your siblings live." "Well, this is where I've lived before going to Equestria. I'm just staying here because I was waiting until noon today before I went back." I think to when I was looking near the corner of the screen where there was a clock. It said somewhere near 11:15. "Do you know what time it is now, Josh?" "I do. I'm confident that it's quarter after eleven. Josh's computer said it was 11:13 or 14 or whatever." "Lucky for Josh, there's going to be a choice. Either I can get him to Equestria if he wants to go now, or he can use the method from last time he ended up in Equestria to get there." "I'll go with you, Luna. But before we go..." Josh puts me on the floor, looks at his wings and starts to have a weird look on his face looking to his right. Perhaps there are more feathers on the right than there is on the left, but just by one. As it looks like Josh is thinking about my right wing, something floats to his right out of his right wing, a small, blonde feather. He turns around to face me and Wind Rust. "Tail Flight, Wind Rust, let this feather remind you of me. I'm sure it will." I come to Josh and hug him in his left leg. "Thanks Josh. We wouldn't be where we are now if it weren't for you." "Don't thank me. Thank those who pulled the senior prank back eighty days ago. The senior prank is almost as impactful as it was when I played Sim City for the first time. Days like that are almost impossible to come by with the average person. If it weren't for the senior prank, I would not've had you all in my life, I would not've become a Wonderbolt. Heck, I would not've even grown wings because of this." Luna levitates the door open. Oh god. I'm tearing up again. I know what's going on. Just as Josh helps open the door, without hands mind you, I let go of his legs as memories with me and him overflow around me. I could still hear all the music we listened to at night playing in my head. I could still smell the odor of Josh coming back from his jog from so long. I could still see the light on at the neighbor's house as I laid between Josh's legs. I could still feel the very rhythmic motion I felt when I slept on Josh's stomach. I could still taste the sandwiches Josh made us all back before we went to Maine to meet Wiretap. I turn away having so many tears run down my cheeks, even when Wind Rust tucks me under his wing. "This is not goodbye. We could always talk with my UCD on me. You guys can have my phone. I won't mind." I see the door sliding closed as Josh and Luna lift off the top of the staircase. I feel wet in the shoulders now as the door closes before us. All that remains of Josh is this blonde feather that lays in front of Wind Rust. I still feel the wing behind my back as Wind Rust raises a hoof off the floor. Suddenly, I feel that same hoof on the back of my neck. I sniffle a bit. "Goodbye, Joshua... Crapo." I proceed to hug Wind Rust getting hugged back. > August 20, 2015 (Josh) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the last time, I close door to my apartment that I'd lived in. Looking past the closing door, I see Tail Flight under Wind Rust's wing and hoof starting to cry. I look away as I myself feel tears rolling down the bottom of my eyes. I hear the door close as I lift myself off the floor at the top of the staircase. Outside, I keep up with Luna to see where she's going. I see almost all of southern Geneva, all the way down to the American Legion pool I used to swim at so many years ago. Holiday Manor, flooding with memories of back when I was starting with Sim City, then Rollie Pollie Ollie, the play of Narnia, those times I woke up early to play myself on Uno, Super Mario All-Stars, Junior, that very vivid nightmare about Crockey and Simba turning into a legit crocodile and lion respectively, and Hammy. I'm so flooded with memories, I start having tears rolling through my eyes again. Luna seems to notice me looking down at the ground. "Is there anything that's caught your mind? I noticed you looking down." "Oh, I was just thinking back to where I lived over a decade ago. It's amazing time's gone so fast." "Quite. Before you know it, we'll be 'fast' into Equestria." I crack a smile on my face. "Also, over a decade you say? Well, let's see if you could handle memories from over a millennium ago." I start to chuckle under my breath. I'm not sure about the rules of comedy, but I think Luna's gotten a grip on that. I've learned that if I'd make fun of anyone, it might as well've been myself. Any subject, I'm sure I could think of something golden out of. I close my eyes for a second, last flying just below the base of clouds. Suddenly, I feel a huge rush on my hips. I open my eyes again. What was once a plain with scattered residential zones had become a valley with an entire town up ahead. Luna stops, which gets me to look at her. "Think you could get to your new house from here?" "Oh, I don't think so. I know so." "That's good. I have to get back to Canterlot. I'll see you later." I wave goodbye as Luna flies away from me. I start to sweat again, this time with pain in the torso and the abs. I start to fall, but just as the pain eases, I concentrate on just flying, which raises me back away from the ground. But the pain comes again, causing me to fall again. This time, I'm not successful in avoiding a crash landing. I crash chest first on the floor. I start to moan as even more pain crosses my chest. I crawl for a while before a pony finds me on the ground as I stop and flop onto my face. "What the heck? Josh! Is that you?!?" I somehow manage to belt out something with my face on the ground. "How do you know me?" "Josh! It's me!" "Who?" I barely look up and see a set of white hooves. "Oh, Isolate Mercy." "Quick! Let me see your chest!" I roll onto my side with my left wing touching the ground. Isolate Mercy looks carefully and rolls up the bottom of my shirt. What she sees seems to worry her. "We have to get to the hospital, right now." Now I'm worried. I have no idea what she's talking about. Isolate Mercy grabs me by the arms and picks me up, rising in the process. Now, I feel like I'm about to fall asleep. "Isolate. Grab anyone you know and have them come to me. I may know some of them." Suddenly, closing my eyes, reopening them led me to see that I'm in a room instead of just outside Ponyville. Several ponies are in front of me of where I lay now. Bulk Biceps, Isolate Mercy, Thunder Lane, Rumble, Moon Dancer, DIamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, but then, a light gray male pegasus with a blonde mane. He's got orange eyes and his cutie mark is a single yellow lightning bolt. "What happened?" Thunder Lane looks at Isolate Mercy. "Well, now we know he's not in Heaven yet." "What's going on?" "Hey Josh." "Isolate Mercy? Didn't I just see you?" "To be honest, you fainted." "Fainted?" Bulk Biceps comes to me now. "But don't worry big man. We gotcha covered." "What time is it?" Isolate Mercy looks up above the door adjacent to the window. "It's eleven at night." "ELEVEN O-CLOCK?!?" Moon Dancer starts to look at me. "Yeah, you were out cold for a little while. Just be thankful it was just on a scale of hours." Diamond Tiara jumps onto the bed beside my feet. "When Silver Spoon and I were at Sweet Apple Acres and heard you fainted, we followed Isolate Mercy the entire time before coming here to visit you." "Exactly. We're not letting a Wonderbolt faint on our watch." Silver Spoon joins Diamond Tiara at the end of the bed. Rumble jumps onto the bed beside my head and rubs his cheek in mine. "Better?" I nod. "Yeah. Still a little drowsy though." The grey pegasus comes to me now. "Wonderbolt or not, we care about you. We don't normally see ponies in this condition, but since you're in it, it's you who we're sticking by." "Thanks everyone. I especially thank Isolate Mercy. If she hadn't found me when I needed it most, I'd probably be seeing Sydney and Sugar by now." Isolate Mercy comes to me now. "One more thing Josh. There's a few ponies who'd like to see you." Clearing my view of the door under the clock, I see four ponies enter. Celestia, Luna, Soarin' and Spitfire. Spitfire walks over to me with Soarin'. "Hey Josh. Heard you fainted today. We wanted to see how everything's going over here, so in case we don't have you up yet, practice is cancelled tomorrow." "Spitfire and I examined you before we got the princesses, and the results were heartbreaking." "What's going on?" "It turns out you have a dysrhythmia that is unknown to us, but it must've come from you losing your gut so fast. Either that, or it must've been from the ton gum plants." "In turn, the dysrhythmia had gotten worse when you fell onto your chest." Spitfire comes to a projector and shows what looks like my chest. It looks like the middle of it was cut open. It is at that moment that I realize what happened. I split my chest skin open when I fell to the ground. "Wait a minute, Rainbow Dash said that ton gum plants were only used on me because I was a human with wings. Could you take a look at my wing for a moment? I know the outward coverts go at seven for a normal pegasus." Princess Celestia pulls out my blanket, revealing that I'm in a patient's outfit with the Wonderbolt symbol on it. She looks back and forth from my wing and Spitfire's. "It seems you have that same number too." No way in heaven. I have pegasus wings. That means, I'm part pegasus. "I think I know what's been happening. The ton gum plants will cause a moment of death to a pony, and since I had pegasus wings when I had Zecora's ton gum brew, it recognized some of the cells in my body. That's probably why I lost the weight so fast, not the training I did. And with losing the weight so fast, my heart didn't get to get used to it, and with that and the possibility to have been passed down to of what my father has, I might have a combination of dysrhythmias. But why do I keep having the sweating fits?!?" Spitfire comes to me. "Same reason you lost all that weight." "You mean the ton gum plants killed my sweat gland cells too?!?" Soarin' nods. "That means, I could start sweating bullets just flying home!" "And the worst part, not only will you have the inability of exertion during the sweating fits, it could affect your lung performance. We'll see what we need to do tomorrow. At worst case scenario, we might need some samples for one of the ingredients for our pipes here in Equestria." "Well let's hope I don't get injected with an IKC." Spitfire shakes her head. "We'll see." Soarin' and Spitfire leave the room and leave me and the other eight with Celestia and Luna. "We wish you the best of luck, Joshua. We will hold strong, and we will help your life stay in Equestria." Celestia proceeds to wrap me in her extremely large left wing. I'm slid over near the end of the bed with Celestia rubbing her cheek in mine. It's adorable when Rumble or Tail Flight does it, but Celestia?!? Now ponies are just trying to kill me with glee. My heart detonates, three times. I can't help but wrap my right arm over Celestia. I sadly sigh. "If only Tail Flight, Wind Rust and Wiretap were here." Celestia takes out my UCD that I haven't seen since my first departure from Equestria. Only now do I know that I'll be departing again relatively sooner to what I original thought. "Is this yours?" "Yes. It is mine. But how'd you get it from my house?" Princess Luna draws closer. "Joshua, it wasn't in your house. It was in your pocket. You're very lucky it went unscathed." I levitate the UCD closer to me. I dial my phone to see if Wind Rust or Tail Flight would pick up. Ten seconds later, someone actually picks up. I gasp. It's Tail Flight. "Hi Tail Flight... I didn't say I'd call you right away when I got home... I know it's late... Because Princess Celestia gave me my UCD back and said that I was lucky to have unscathed... It was in my pocket when I fell onto the ground... I fell onto the ground... I'm with twelve ponies... I, uh, know, right?... Oh, it's nothing... Tail just don't worry about it..." I sigh again. "Nothing happened my either line... I might want to get going... Okay." I hang up the UCD and put it on the table next to the bed. I have no way of knowing what will happen to me tomorrow. All I can do is hope for the worst and expect the best. > August 21, 2015 (Josh) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- My next visit in the hospital with the Wonderbolts is today at 10:30 in the morning. As I wake up, I get a light headache. I'm thankful that I can levitate, otherwise, I might still have those heavy headaches that I had when I first became a Wonderbolt. Spitfire comes in with Soarin'. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. "Good morning Josh. Let's get to the results." Quick much? "So, good news and bad news. Bad news, it's at the point where your body is can't be restored to before you got the wings. The sweat glands are actually causing you dehydration right now and giving you water will only make you sweat more. And you were spot on about the arrhythmia combination. We could've done something if dealt with earlier, but now after over a week of ton gum plants in your system, it's done enough damage that it's irreplaceable." "And the good news?" "Celestia and Luna are here to get Tail Flight, Wind Rust and Wiretap back into Equestria." "Okay." I look to the ground. I think about who I'm going to see when I'm neither home or in Equestria. Both my grandmothers, grandpa Fay, Sugar, Sydney, OJ, Nicole, Chester, Junior, Hammy, Speedy and even Nu-nu. The ponies I've met in Equestria? Isolate Mercy, Moon Dancer, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Rumble, Thunder Lane, Bulk Biceps, that one other pony, Spitfire, Lightning Streak, Soarin', Fleet Foot, Surprise, Misty Fly, Blaze, the mane 6, Spike, Tail Flight, Wind Rust, Wiretap, and even Caregiver. That's twelve to twenty six. It's definitely not going to be worth staying with my childhood pets and family. But it has to be done. I grab my UCD from the table. I call my phone again. Tail Flight picks up. "Tail Flight... Yeah... I don't need anything, but I do have results to share... Well, my body is beyond restoration apparently... But Celestia and Luna have decided to take you here to see me before I go... a-are you there?... Hello?... Tail Flight?" I hear sobbing in the background, which is probably Tail Flight. Then the dial sounds loudly in my ear. I hang up my UCD and put back on the table. Can't imagine what Tail Flight is going through. The thought of it makes my tear up. I look and see Luna and Celestia. "So many things that might be running through Tail Flight's head." I feel a wing hug me around. Celestia. "I'm sure Tail Flight will meet you again at some point. I will grab Wind Rust, Wiretap and her for you." Celestia's horn starts to glow. Suddenly I see a flash of light and she's gone along with Luna. "Hey Josh. I'll be right back. I'll go get your shot." Spitfire leaves the room. All that remains in the room is Soarin' and I. "So, must be pretty nice you have an expansive amount of friends." "Well, most of them, I knew about. Except for that one with the grey coat and blonde mane." "Oh, you mean Lightning Rider? Yeah, he'll be a senior next spring at the Wonderbolts Academy. He's looking to be a Wonderbolt too." "Wait. That was Lightning Rider?" Soarin' nods. "I've heard about him." "Yeah. I can actually see some of him in ya." "Really? 'cause that's what Rainbow Dash said." Soarin' nods again. While on the topic of similarities, I wonder who Sydney's counterpart in Equestria would be. > August 21, 2015 (Tail Flight) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I slept in late, because when I woke up, it said 10:31. Now, I really hope Josh is going to be okay. Last thing we need is an instant kill chemical to be injected into his body. After a little thinking, I hear a little tune. But I don't know where it's coming from. But now, I notice the sound of a vibration. It's Josh's phone. I quickly pick it up. I think this is Josh. "Hello?... Josh, is that you?... What do you need?... Okay. What are they?... WHAT?!?" I slowly set down the phone in thought of not being able to see Josh again. I start sobbing at that fact. "IT'S NOT FAIR!!!" I hang up the phone and continue sobbing. Poor Joshua. Suddenly, through my loud sobbing, I hear someone going up the stairs, and then opening the door. "Hello? Mom you alright?" That someone comes up the stairs. This is where I am right now. Looking at someone who looks quite a bit like Josh the last time I saw him. "Oh. So, it wasn't Mom who shouted that it's not fair. What's not fair?" "The fact that I won't be able to see Josh again!" Oh now I remember this guy. It's Chaileb, Josh's oldest brother. "What do you mean?" "Josh's body is beyond the ability to recover even with medical assistance! It's just not fair!" I hug Chaileb almost as if it were Josh, which in return, he hugs me back. I sniffle a few times durning our hug still thinking about how Wind Rust or Wiretap might react. A knock on the door stops us both. We let go. "Coming!" Chaileb runs down the stairs and opens the door. I have no idea what is on his mind because I have so much web vision from sobbing so much. Suddenly, I have flashbacks. I remember the first time I was sent back to Equestria, but this time, I know what's coming instead of realizing when I get to Maine. I'm going back to Equestria. "A few of your kind would like to see you." It's not just one? I fly down the stairs to see who it is, albeit in a rather blurry sight. Celestia, Wind Rust and Wiretap. I start to realize, they're my only hope to see Josh one more time. I'm awestruck right now, which clears my vision of tears. "May we come in?" "You know these guys?" Chaileb looks at me. "Uh-huh." "Then please, come in." Chaileb walks into the bedroom while I walk back into the stairs and sit. No one moves. "Now where're you guys from?" "That would be Equestria. I assume you're Josh's brother, right?" Chaileb nods at Celestia. "One of two. And the oldest." Everyone gathers around, including me. "And now that Tail Flight, Wind Rust and Wiretap are all together with me, we must depart." Celestia performs a spell that stings my eyes for a few seconds, but this time, I don't fall unconscious like I did returning to Equestria the first time around. Opening my eyes again, I see that we're back in Ponyville. At the Ponyville Hospital, Nurse Redheart guides us to Josh's room. On the way there though... "Hello? Tailly is that you?!?" "C-caregiver?" I think a while back, then it hits me. I can't believe I'm saying this, but sweet shit! It is Caregiver! I haven't seen her since I stayed in Maine with Josh's grandfather. She looks so much like she did when she was in Maine. "Caregiver!!!" I run to hug her until I get frozen. "Hold on there youngster. Seein' ya here in Equestria is a pretty sight for me, but it's a little unfathomable to see you here again. Ah thought you went back home." I'm landed onto the floor now. "I did." I look to the floor in front of me and rub my front right leg. "Ah, who'm Ah kitten!" Suddenly, I get lifted off the ground straight into Caregiver's two front legs. I finally hug Caregiver for the first time in almost two months. "Reunited at last." "Kept in touch with Josh yet?" I look at Caregiver, who shakes her head. "Now is probably that last chance you could see him again." "How come?" "You'll need to find out when we get in there." Ever so slowly, the five of us arrive at Josh's room, thanks to Caregiver, which I don't mind in the slightest. "Josh! Since when'd ya get so thin?!?" "Since I had a ton gum plant remedy. Wait a minute. Oh my gosh! It's Caregiver! I'm so glad everyone could make it here. With my body beyond medical assistance here to recover, and predicted to get worse overtime, I got injected with nicotine. It's the strongest common IKC found here in Equestria. I realize for you all 'to stay, we had to break away' eventually." "Ah really hoped this day would've come so much later that Ah wouldn't have to see you like this." Caregiver runs over to Josh and hugs him. "Thanks Caregiver. Say, do you remember any memory as Mama Kitty?" "Of course not. Mostly to my age though." The room falls quiet on Caregiver. She looks a little confused. "What're y'all lookin' at me for?" "I'm pretty sure Luna said that a pony who's gained otherworldly memories will lose them after fifteen straight days of their presence in Equestria." "Exactly. I prevented that from happening by bringing them back to my world." "Well, all Ah remember is wakin' up in Equestria before any of you three did." "Yeah, I can't pinpoint it exactly, but she's been conscious in Equestria, even before August started." "Well, Wiretap, I actually don't find that surprising seeing how elders don't usually need nearly as much sleep as people, or in your case, ponies our ages. I just would've hoped to've seen everypony I've met again." "Oh you will on our watch..." I turn around to look behind me, as does everypony else, and we see the six ponies and Spike. "Spike? Twilight? Pinkie? Rarity? Applejack? Fluttershy? RAINBOW DASH?!? You're back?!?" "Yep. But not just us." Rainbow Dash kicks the door open to reveal a full crowd of ponies. "Josh! You know all of these ponies? Who do you see?" Wind Rust looks at Josh, who looks at the crowd of ponies just to correctly state their names. "Let's see... The Cutie Mark Crusaders, who I see have their cutie marks (very proud of you), Babs Seed, who I also see has her cutie mark (again, very proud), Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Pipsqueak, Featherweight, Rumble, Moon Dancer, Twinkle Shine, Lemon Hearts, Lyra Heartstrings, Isolate Mercy, Thunder Lane, Bulk Biceps, Sassy Saddles, Stormy Flare, Spitfire, Soarin', Fleet Foot, Surprise, Lightning Streak, Misty Fly, Blaze, Cheerilee, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, Zecora, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and last, but certainly not least, Lightning Rider." Pinkie Pie nearly drops her jaw. "Wow! That's impressive! How'd you know all of those names?" "Either I met them in the flesh, I saw them in the crowd at the derby, or I've heard about them." "All but one, though, Joshua. You haven't said my name." Discord appears above Josh and teleports him in between both arms and hugs him. Josh does not look happy. "You know Discord, if I had to choose between having a 'stiff jaw' and having a double arrhythmia, I'd choose having a 'stiff jaw'." "Why, whatever do you mean?" "Don't "what do you mean" me! It's clear to me that you've heard about me through the fact that I had mouth cancer. If that's the case, then you should've also heard that i had pegasus wings. Because no one realized I had pegasus wings, including me, everyone thought that ton gum plants were safe because I was just a human with wings." "Well, excuse me for not noticing your wings when I first saw you." "But you should've known at the very least that I had wings. You'd better be the pope of my reception that'll come in a few hours. You're not going to help me only to hurt me like you did with the ton gum plants if i'm already with Sydney and Sugar!" "Well, I think I've already done that three times for you. First time, I gave you the ability to walk on clouds. Second time, I gave you the Wonderbolts outfit. Third time, I gave you your money." "Yeah. Because you noticed that I didn't have my Wonderbolt attire and that I didn't have my bag of bits before i could say anything to you. What happened to that about the wings?!? You're master of chaos after all." "I may be the master of chaos, but even a master at chaos isn't always limitless. I didn't notice your wings even when I saw you for the first time." "Discord! Do I-" "Josh, just stop it." Twilight levitates Josh back to his bed. "Discord has a point. Everypony has their limits. And Discord has them too. Just because he can make Ponyville into the chaos capitol of the world doesn't mean that he can sense non-magical events." Josh looks at Twilight rather oddly. "But how're you siding with Discord?" "I said he had a point. I never said I'm siding with him. I understand you're upset that he knew that ton gum plants were toxic to ponies. But I also understand that he didn't realize you didn't have pegasus wings." "Oh. Well, Discord. I apologize for my misunderstanding." "Apology accepted. And I'm sorry about my reckless understanding of your circumstance." "I understand." Discord relocates Josh again and hugs him to which Josh hugs back. "Wiretap?" Wiretap looks at Josh. "Do you think you can run the reception?" "Don't worry about a thing. I got you covered." "So, I see you've met my cousin Josh." Rainbow Dash flies up to Josh, which he nods in response. "Isolate Mercy, thanks again for saving what little life I have in me." An all white pegasus wipes a tear out of her eyes that'd come up in response to Josh's thanks. "I know it won't completely save my life. But I at least give you credit." Now that white pegasus rushes over to Josh and hug him tight. "Anytime my friend." Wind Rust wipes a tear off his eyes now as he walks over to the crowd. "Everypony, Me, Tail Flight, Wiretap and Caregiver are all the first four to've ever met Joshua. None of us came to Josh's world purely by accident. It was because of a senior prank that occurred. That senior prank has caused all of this to happen. If the prank was any different, none of us would've known about him, much less meet and see him in the flesh." I stop Wind Rust. "Try and let Wiretap do that." "I don't care whether or not you let it out when I'm alive. Even if I weren't, that the most beautiful speech I've ever heard. Come over here you three." Wiretap, Wind Rust and I all get on the bed and rest by him. All of us get misty eyed as we hug him. Josh looks at me and pats his non existing gut. I get up on Josh's belly and start to feel that same rhythm I'd once felt when I slept with Josh for the first time on the night of June 5th. It feels so comfortable that I could completely concentrate on my wings, which I spread out to preen. I look at Josh again. His smile has never been so wide even with little energy keeping it up. I clean myself a little bit and start to feel drowsy. But I keep moving to another direction and looking at Josh, who is still smiling. I stop focusing on Josh and just focus on getting to sleep. But then, at one spot, something feels off. That is not good. There's no rhythmic motion on Josh's belly that I had just felt. Did I seriously take that long just to get a comfortable position? Has it really been hours of me tossing and turning? When I realize that his belly was not moving, my cheeks get flooded with tears. Two fillies, one pink and one grey, come up to the bed. "Tail Flight. I know Josh was important to you. So why don't you stay there during the service?" I look at the two and nod with tears ready to drip on them. "Thank you." I uncover a little part of the blanket to see Josh's wing. I snuggle under it, still very misty eyed, and cover my eyes, listening for when the service starts. From the sound of it, everypony gets into the room and takes a seat. That's when I hear Wiretap. "Fillies and Gentlecolts, in the past few hours we've witnessed the last of Josh's life. He has predicted that he'd be with some of his childhood figures throughout his time. Nobody here from Equestria never knew him until the day of June first of this year. It was the day after a senior prank came underway. Those somebodies were Tail Flight and Wind Rust. "We've known Josh for much longer than that because of having memories of three cats that may no longer be physically with Josh's family, but we will keep their memories safe. The feline memories Wind Rust, Tail Flight and I all have are respectively from Rusty, Eve and Dexter. We will honor them as we will honor Josh. "Josh was the best companion anyone could ever ask for. Josh had many things going for him unlike any other, human or pony. He came from another world. He met what were thought in Josh's world to be fictional characters in the flesh. He grew pegasus wings. He became a Wonderbolt. He even obtained magic equivalent to a unicorn somewhat advanced at magic. "It may've been a dream come true, but the reason why things ended up the way they did was because of that one day. On the night of Wednesday, August twelfth, Josh was given a potion, a potion that contained a plant known as the ton gum plant. While it near instantly helped the ball rolling, he'd grown from a thick gut to near underweight and having severe sweating fits. "His condition left him with a double arrhythmia, one from the rapid loss of his fat cells causing the heart to pump unusually fast activating the other that was obtained from his father, the lead singer of a christian band named An Audience of One. The condition came as a surprise to him because he'd never been in the condition before. Is there anyone who'd like to comment on what being with Josh was like, sharing it with the rest of the audience?" The room is now filling with sniffles throughout the speech. As I listen in on it, the question arises, getting me to look at Wiretap, who points at me as he saw me hear the question. "If the senior prank were to take place on any other day, it should've been the day I was taken in. I really wished I could've talked with him longer. I've known him for about seven months now. He was the best friend I've ever had." "Exactly, Josh was someone we wish we'd met longer. He kept a smile on his face even when it was hard. Josh, we will remember you You've care about us in our time of need. Tonight, when we sleep, you will be the shadow cast on every single one of our walls. What little time we've had with you was never in vain. And because of your status as a Wonderbolt, I request that we hold, a moment of silence." I stop sniffling when I hear that phrase. The room is now completely empty of sound as everyone stops sniffling. Instead it fills with Josh’s symbolic presence. Suddenly, I feel like I’m in these settings from before I was even born. A-am I gaining Josh’s memory?!? I have images of Holiday Manor, a little church in Cortland with a mess hall next to it, LeMoyne, and even Court Street Apartments. It's such memories I've never had before. "Thank you." I look up for the first time and see Wiretap smiling as I have been since I've gained Josh's memory. He walks over to me. "You going to be alright?" "Yeah. I just had these flashbacks from before I was born, and I think I know who they were of." "I had them too, and I know who it is as well." I think a little bit. With Josh gone, I guess I have to get used to sleeping without any of the cozy motion or warmth that Josh once had. I'd have to supply to myself. "Does this mean that I'd have to sleep by myself again?!?" "Absolutely not. You can sleep over with me whenever you'd like." "Thanks, Wiretap." Wiretap and I hug each other. > August 21-22, 2015 (Omniscient) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joshua finds himself over a large cloud. He doesn't move. He still has his pegasus wings as his previous location, but now he doesn't have to use them to fly. He looks above in the sky, a light lavender with a beautiful orange glow atop the clouds around him, only for him to see a blinding light straight above him. He hopes it's not confirmed that he's up by checking his torso. No Tail Flight. That can only mean one thing. He's about to see all his childhood figures throughout his life from prior to arriving in Equestria. The first mammal he sees is a small rodent that is all brown. It runs to a spot behind a cloud and gives a slight chirp. "Hammy? I-is that you?" The rodent peeks out again to nods. When walking towards Josh, behind Hammy is another rodent, this one with white on its head and back. "Speedy! There you are!" Speedy and Hammy fly up and nuzzle Josh's left cheek. Josh smiles and chuckles. "It's great to see you again." Speedy chirps and looks behind Josh, who turns around in response. Ten cats appear before Josh and the two hamsters. "Hey everyp- err... everykitty. I figure that since most of you guys have been up hear, you guys have learned my language from my grandparents here." The humongous cat nods. "Yeah. Junior and I can talk just fine. OJ and Nicole, some. Sugar is starting to learn some as well." For the one ancient dream that comes to mind at that moment from back when Sydney lived with Josh the last years of his life finally comes true. Sydney can speak. "Hey Junior." "Joshy!" Junior jumps and tackles Josh to the top of the cloud before headbutting him. "We knew that one day you'd come, but this soon?" Josh clears his throat. "How long has it been since you were here? Eleven years?" "Well, it was a lot sooner than I expected. I don't know, like I would be with Junior without you for what? Eighty nine years?" "Eighty seven," OJ adds. "Eighty six." Nicole raises her paw. "Are you three saying, that I would've had to wait ninety three years to see Josh?!? Sheesh! Talk about time cut!" "The important thing though is that I'm here, and you have to wait no longer." Josh kneels to Junior and pets him much like he used to over a decade ago. It's one moment that brings him back in time. One that he won't forget. He smiles. Night falls now and Josh looks over a cloud hedge using his floating abilities to see two familiar figures. He smiles again and looks back at all the cats as well as Hammy and Speedy. Tail Flight and Wind Rust take a walk to where Joshua had once lived. What was going to happen to that house? Will it be condemned? Will someone else own it? One way to find out. Go see Twilight. However, that same pony steps in front of Tail Flight and Wind Rust. "Hey you two. I'm willing to bet you miss Josh already." Tail Flight looks to the ground and starts to hug Twilight, who doesn't know what to say now. "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess the cat got my tongue." Tail Flight lets go and start to smile a bit weirdly. So does Wind Rust, who calms down shortly after. "Thanks for cheering her up. Any mention of someone whose memories we got today and Tail Flight will start to become depressed." "Well, I got some good news. I just got to go get Wiretap before you hear it." Twilight proceeds to teleport out and back with Wiretap present in the end. "The good news is that you three will stay together here in Ponyville, in this very house." The other three get shocked in unison. "Really?!?" "Mhm." Twilight nods. "And best of all, it'll be just as if the one who'd lived here this past week is there." Tail Flight happily hugs Twilight now. "Thank you Twilight!!! Thank you!!! Thanks so much for giving us this home!!!" "Don't thank me. Thank Lightning Rider. It was his idea." Lightning Rider lands next to Twilight, Wiretap, Wind Rust and Tail Flight. "Hey everypony." When Tail Flight notices him, he can't help but think of Josh. However, she's not depressed this time. She feels almost as if Lightning Rider is Josh. As Tail Flight runs to Lightning Rider to hug him, he hugs back. "Thank you," Tail Flight says. "No problem little filly. Now, I've got Isolate Mercy waiting for me." Lightning Rider flies off and waves goodbye. "Goodbye, Lightning Rider," Tail Flight slowly utters. As Twilight leaves, Wind Rust, Wiretap and Tail Flight all enter their new shared home.