Every story has an end. Someday, we all must say goodbye
It had come to close for everyone involved. For some, they had accepted it. Others are in denial. A few more are relishing the time left. And a few more make do with what they can get.
For a pair of Pegasisters, this was one of their thoughts in those last days.
“Ah yes! I win again!” the male Pegasus infront of her cheered.
“You really aren’t called Wild Ace for nothing huh?” she asked, her in hand as she leaned over the table.
“Well, it’s kinda how I got my cutie mark” he pointed to the ace on his flank.
She smirked. “Then your maker must take you to every card game, I bet”
“He was very proud of me when I had it” he smiled at the memory.
“And he should. A good parent or maker is proud of their creation’s achievements, big or small”
“Spoken like a mother”
“I have four main OCs with my colleague-slash-sister. Not all are alive now, and they’re a challenge, but we’re happy to have them all”
He nodded. “Hey, it’s been a while since either of you posted something as a story. What happened?”
“Minor difficulties. Plus, Hazel’s under the weather” she then checked her clock. “That reminds me, I have to get going and check up on her”
He nodded, gathering up the cards. “Wish her well for me, okay?”
“I will. This was a fun game. We should do this more often”
“Yeah, bye, Hester”
“Bye, and let’s try Dragon Pit next time!” the Familiar smiled before running off.
Hazel didn’t work too well in times of extreme stress. If it was too much, she’d get sick, atleast when she’s here in Wonderland. Who could blame her? This place is a manifestation of everyone’s desires and dreams. The pieces that fall in your ‘territory’ would be affected by your mindset. Still, it helps if you’re working with someone else as that territory could still be healthy so long as atleast one of you is.
Hester knew she wasn’t well enough to go outside today when she saw that she seemed to be in great pain. She was able to make her rounds on their OCs and visit their friends. The ability to travel apart from each other was gifted by a new charm that Twilight made. They rarely ever use it. Besides, Hester needed to get the medicine.
She managed to visit the OCs and even stopped by to see how the Object-verse Children were doing. Then she made a turn to check on Sunny Shores, Anastasia, and Clementine Jr. at their tea party, met a young OC named Tenti made by a user called Bad Dragon, paid her respects to a few fallen Bronies and Pegasisters including Adam Smith, and picked up some meds from the asylum. Neither her or her Partner needed to take them as often as they did, but it was better safe than sorry.
Finally, she reached the neighborhood full of fellow Bronies and Pegasisters. All around, she could see familiar faces and new ones that just arrived. A few latecomers, but it was better late than never. There were some in Pony form, others in Equestria Girls, some had Familiars while others were with their versions of a Canon Character or even their OCs.
She looked up to the sky to see the familiar barrier covering right over them like a massive rainbow. A distance away to a point in which you would not be able to see it was Twilight’s Castle. Seems they were getting ready for another episode. It was nice to see how far she had come from being Lesson Zero Twilight and now managing her stress well. But it’s leaving her on edge to find out what will happen in the finale, even a suspicion of Windigos.
Fluttering in the air as delicate as ever were Snowdrop’s snowflakes. Surveillance had certainly been a necessity here. Can’t risk anymore Corruption, especially not after the last time. She was thankful that there were little casualties and those she knew came out intact. Then again, there’s always that resurrection spell.
Things had changed a bit since she was in that coma. Another Corruption, a big war that killed a lot of folks, Hazel going Corrupted herself after absorbing her Essence. She couldn’t imagine what the kids looked like. From the description alone of how they were, it was terrifying. Though, she couldn’t get it out of her head about her sweet, shy, little Partner becoming Captain of the army and bent on destroying every Anti she saw with little to no hesitation as she hid a bad eye with rough attitude that made people question if this was the same girl. The stories and files scared even her.
“Atleast she lived” she muttered her breath.
Now, everything was restored. No Antis in sight. Everything seemed fine. It was just the question of when the next episode of the show would come and how long do they have before the finale. And a few more questions that were yet to be answered that only the real Lauren Faust knew herself.
She soon reached the small house she and her Partner lived in. It seemed Derpy was here just now as she had a new letter and she could hear something crashing in the distance. She hoped the Pegasus would make her rounds safely, especially with Gabby the Griffon to help her now.
Taking the mail with her, she went up to the house, unlocked the door, and entered. “Hazy, I’m home!” she called out, setting her satchel and letter down.
She knew Hazel wouldn’t answer if she were in a mini-coma of sleep. But she swore she heard a whimper coming from their room upstairs. Going up, she found her in a surprising position.
Hazel was hunched over the bed, the top half of her black nightgown-clad body hanging off one end while the lower half remained half-covered by the blanket and stayed on the mattress.
“Hazel?”
Worried, she rushed over to her side to find her falling over the bedside, her arms just limp by her sides. Her pink skin was as pale as she gets when they get separated. Her brown hair was a mess. Her mouth hung open and her eyes were closed, as though she fell asleep in the middle of trying to get out of bed.
“Hazel” she sighed, trying to help her get back into bed.
She began to stir, opening her hazelnut eyes. “Hest…”
“Don’t struggle. You need to rest”
“I need the pen…”
“What pen?”
“I dropped…the pen…”
“I’ll get the pen if you get back in bed”
The girl was able to push herself back up and fixed into bed the best she could while the Familiar looked around for this alleged pen. She spotted it rather quickly. It was the same type of pen they would use when writing a story. But that’s crazy. They haven’t written anything in a while. Taking it, she went up to find her colleague curled up under the blankets like a dormouse in winter.
“Keep that up and you’ll beat Fluttershy at cuteness” she smirked, placing a paw to her forehead. “Your fever’s calming down. That’s a good sign”
“Do you have the pen?” she asked, eyes still half-lidded.
“Yes, but why do you have it? Last I checked, we weren’t writing anything”
Only now she noticed that Hazel was clutching something to her chest. Something solid and rectangular in shape. Reluctantly, the ill Pegasister parted it away from her and revealed it. It was then that Hester’s suspicions were confirmed. It was a story in the making.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think…it was real at first…”
“How long?”
“I couldn’t sleep…I didn’t know until…”
Gently, she pried the object away from her Partner’s grasp and opened up the pages to see the contents. Each one seemed to be still scraps, incomplete. No surprised there, she needed her to make the other parts, it seemed. Still, as she took a look into the pages, she could see that it wasn’t just one topic she was doing, it was all of them.
“I don’t know…if I can keep…”
“Hey” she placed the book away before going up to her Partner, placing a paw to her cheek. “It’s going to be okay. Next time, just tell me, okay? We’ll get through this”
“You’re not mad?”
“I could never hate my little Hazelnut”
The girl managed a weak smile. “I’m sorry…I didn’t want to alarm you…”
“Like I’m going to ever resist a piece like this. We work together, remember? It’s like the vow. But we’re much more than that to each other”
“How did I ever meet someone like you?”
“Just lucky, I guess”
She giggled. “You got sick and I looked after you. I get sick and you looked after me. The OCs call us parents. We work side by side. All we need now are rings, a car, a cake, and we can call ourselves a married couple”
The Familiar laughed. “You don’t think people ship us like that?”
“We’re mediocre in rank, especially since our last story was who knows how long?”
“Well, let’s hope no incest Shippers come banging on the door. If they do, I’ll snap them out of the neighborhood for waking you up”
“The only thing keeping me up right now is you”
“Then get some sleep”
Before the girl could comprehend, the Familiar took up an Equestria Girl form of her own. Yellow skin near fair skin like Fluttershy’s, crew cut hair blonde with a dash of orange on each ending strand. She wore a light blue dress with green on the ends. She removed the navy blue boots and set them down on the floor so it’s just her knee-length socks on. On her head was a familiar blue hat with the emblems from each of their main OCs.
She felt her head transferred to her lap like a pillow as the blankets were soon up to her chin once more.
“Sleep. I’ll be right here”
She knew she was tired and only offered a tiny smile before closing her eyes. Hester waited or her breathing to even out before she picked up the book and began to read. Yes, she could already see where this was going.
Taking a notepad out with a pen of her own, she began to think up the plans.
They knew that this day was coming. It would’ve taken a long time for it to happen, but she had hoped it would be that long. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Fluttershy had hoped that Bunny’s mission here in Equestria would take more time, but it seemed she would be leaving in her lifetime.
The Servant’s Mission had been fulfilled. Equestria had accepted Aliens and the Word of God as their own. It began because of another villain on and this was by far the worst they had ever encountered. In the midst of it all, Bunny had become part of the fight, especially after they were revealed the secret behind the being’s species to all who were present. Still, there was nothing to hide back now and she took the chance to help in the fight.
It was long a tough battle, but they had won in the end. In gratitude and witness to all that had happened, Servants were now welcomed into Equestrian society. News spread to E-arth and soon a troop of Servants arrived to meet and greet with the folk around. There were some that didn’t quite understand them and had doubts, but then again, nothing was perfect.
And in the final step, there was one thing left that had certainly marked the journey in Equestria as a journey the little Alien would remember forever. She had gained her cute mark at last. It was a glimmer of white light in the middle of pitch black, and the flower on her collar bloomed into a white holly, symbolizing ‘A Last Fateful Glimmer of Hope’
Yet, nothing lasts forever. According to the contract signed, once the mission was complete and Bunny had gained her cutie mark, she only had one week left in Equestria before she must return to E-arth. Now the week was up and it was time to say goodbye.
By now, all the other Servants had gathered into their ships and were now awaiting for their leader’s command. Several creatures, pony or any other species, were all watching from where they were. Those had made a close bond with one of them were just as sad to go. But none were as much as the leading one who was with her Mistress now.
A bit of a distance away was the rest of the group, having already said their goodbyes. Only now, they had two new additions. Flanked a bit of a distance was Poison Rose and Pinkamena, except now changed mares both in mind and body.
Poison Rose had resigned her name into Venom Rose, not that it made it any better. There was a smaller version of the resurrection spell and Fluttershy requested she be brought back to be able to get a second chance. Her mane and tail had turned magenta as a result and her cutie mark had changed into a rose with a vial of venom. The rest of her remained normal. Suffice was to say that the Mane Six were quite skeptical if she had indeed changed but proved it when she had to save them from Aero, how had survived. It was also revealed that it was her that dated Aero, but he kept mistaking her for her sister.
Pinkamena, now preferring simply Mena, was made from a regressed piece of Pinkie’s own mind that seemed to delve into depression and loneliness. For who knows how long this voice was shut inside of the pink mare’s head following the first Sonic Rainboom. With a spell, she was finally set free from Pinkie’s mind but chose to stay in Ponyville to find her own purpose. She and Venom began seeing each other and now had run off together to start anew. They did return for the weeklong left with Bunny to see how everyone was doing.
Venom and Mena had certainly come far from where they had been since they first arrived. Venom had become a young guard in the Crystal Empire while Mena had found she inherited Pinkie’s baking talents. They were sad to see Bunny go but thanked her for helping them especially with their second chances. She congratulated them for their upcoming marriage and hoped for the best she could make it.
Everyone had come so far from when they first met her. Rainbow and Applejack were now married. Twilight and Fluttershy went a few months after them. Spike had found new love in another young dragon his age and, suffice is to say, she is one of the good ones and a positive influence on him. Rarity and Pinkie were now seeing other.
It was just hard saying goodbye to everyone. Rainbow was a tough nut like Applejack, but she could tell that they were going to miss her. Pinkie outright began to cry and hoped she would not forget them. Rarity was hysterical and it took a while for her to finally calm down. Spike was really going to miss and he looked as though he wouldn’t let her go from the hug. Twilight stated how proud she was for her and hoped she would come back one day or make a new case somewhere. All that was left now was the Pegasus that started it all.
The pair had come so far from now. It was just painful for both sides to have to go after everything they had been through. They weren’t just a partnership anymore. They were friends. It even felt strange with Bunny in that white jumpsuit uniform that had dots connected to where her limbs were, giving most of her body the look of a constellation. But the addition of the cutie mark on her stomach was a reminder of what they were here for.
When Fluttershy knew about the week left, she had decided to make the most out of it. Everyone began to simply spend the most time they could with the Alien and a few others that were close to her. There were even slumber parties each night in Twilight’s Castle. They spent nearly every second they could, taking turns at what they liked doing the most.
Now the time was up.
“Hey now, chin up” she told the Pegasus gently when she saw her eyes water. “It’ll be alright”
“I’m sorry. It’s just…”
“I know. The parting is never easy”
“You’ve never done it before either, have you?”
She shook her head. “You were my second and successful one. But I’m glad it was you”
She managed a smile. “I know you have to go. I just don’t understand why”
“They need me back there with the others who have been successful. There is much more to be done other than spreading the word here”
She nodded.
“Just don’t think that for one moment I’m not still here with you. I’ll be watching you from there, making sure you’re alright. You need to go on and live your life as well. Can you do that for me?”
She sniffed a bit, but knew she was right. It was time to go on without her. She nodded.
“I need you to say it”
Taking a deep breath, she spoke up. “Yes, I can do it”
“There we go”
The pair stared at each other for a moment before climbing in for one final hug. She would always remember this hug that enveloped her, and she would remember this embrace that could only reach to her neck. They couldn’t’ hear the others sniffling or crying. It was just them.
Finally, both pulled away. One could see they both had shed their final tears to each other. Fluttershy could only watch as the Alien gave her a final parting smile before making her way up the ramp of her ship.
“Goodbye, Bunny”
As Twilight came up to comfort her, the truth rang clear in her head. She knew that would be the last word she would say to her for a while. There was no telling how long she would be away, or if she would even come back when the Pegasus herself would still be alive. But she knew it was for the best.
“No, this isn’t goodbye” she heard a voice call out and looked up to find the young Alien waving a paw as she walked up the final stairs and beamed at her. “See you later, Auntie!”
In her time spent here, Bunny had begun to call Fluttershy Auntie. She felt like she was family to her now. And the mare herself adored the gesture. Hearing it again, and those other words assured her of something else. She may need to leave now, but she may come back one day. She was still with her.
A smile graced her lips. “See you soon, Bunny”
Soon enough, the engine run and the ship took off into the air. Wind began to blow around and majority of the witnesses had to duck in order to avoid having a face full of mane or leaves. The Mane Six then watched as the whole fleet took off, one by one, until they all sailed for the sky above. But they kept their gaze on the sole one that was leading. And as the last one disappeared from their sight, they saw a bright glimmer of light in Luna’s night sky.
A last fateful glimmer of hope for everyone.
________________________________________
Bunny was making her rounds with several other OCs. She had a bit of tea with Clementine, Anastasia, and Sunny Shores at the Shipping Section. Then she played a bit with the Object-verse kids and ended up having to question if it made Candy Corn her Mistress’ Heir.
She had just met a nice Minotaur called Heartland Picker in the Everfree Forest as an undercover Conservation officer for the Equestrian government, keeping the non-sentient species populations in check as a hunter, especially towards predators. He was working there in secrecy, but here in Wonderland, everything was known. She was aware of his position here. It reminded her a lot of her own work in her piece of Wonderland.
Suddenly, she felt a rush of new information swirl around in her mind. It took her by surprise, to say the least, but she felt every last bit of it. A new story was being written by her makers, and from the looks of it, it was about her. Her mind filled with new memories from the words written down and it was starting to overwhelm her. Finally, it stopped, and she knew something else had happened to her as well.
“You alright, Bunny?” she heard Heartland speak to her.
She nodded. “My mother and mom just made a new story about me”
He chuckled before looking down and a proud smile came to his face. “Let me be the first to say congratulations”
She was confused at that for a moment before following his gaze and could now see why. The same cutie mark written down in the story had now come to her as well. She beamed, knowing she was finally marked. She finally had it.
Luna had known something was up when several ponies had gone missing.
For a long time back before she became Nightmare Moon, there was a lot of tales of those who would often fear the night. Not for the darkness itself, but for what it may hide. You never know what could be hidden under the cover of black.
But in this era from the thousand years she had been away, things had changed. People relished her night. Some even stayed up late to simply enjoy it. And some even watched the sunset to be the first to see the stars when they came out.
She didn’t think this would happen however. Several ponies had gone missing, but these weren’t the ordinary ones. These were the Mane Six, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Spike, Bunny, and a few others who may seemed rather small but their roles in the disappearance weren’t looked over as a small matter. The next thing she knew, even her sister had gone missing.
One moment, she was raising the moon as she lowered the night. The next thing, she was gone. She thought it was maybe some sort of silly prank to tease her a little, have some fun, or was simply at a meeting. Then it got worse and she thought it may have been a fight. She knew something was wrong when she was at her post to lower the moon but her sister was still nowhere in sight.
And Tia never missed out on her duties.
She knew how to raise the sun as well, but only in emergency cases like these. She had to make sure the citizens wouldn’t panic at first. But as soon as it was taken care of, the search began. It took quite a while to find out what had happened, but now she had her answers. They were the most frightening she could’ve conceived of.
Something had come in the form of a mirror and had taken those that had gone missing. It had somehow merged their souls with that of deceased Monsters from its own world and caused their merged forms to go mad and start causing chaos.
She didn’t think this could happen to them. Soothsayers, seers, and clairvoyants form the olden days could’ve have predicted this. But it all came true right before her very eyes.
She spied from afar, careful not to get involved lest they find her out. It hurt every single time she saw the damage each one could do. She was looking into a stranger possessing the bodies of those ponies who knew her, helped her, freed her, and loved her. Her own sister, most especially.
And in her observations, she had learned there was a chance to stop it. Every now and then, they would revert back to their former selves. It only reached for mentality and sometimes voices, but she could tell they were still in there. They just needed something to bring it back out.
She gathered whatever forces of help she could get. She gathered a representative that meant something very significant in their lives. She had to cast enchantment spells on each one in case this world tried to take them too. She then did so on herself. Finally, all were ready to confront what they were getting at.
Still, it felt like going to war with everything that they had to do. Night was the time these creatures were most active and for this, she had to make sure they were all adjusted to being nocturnal for a while.
For a moment, each one recognized their old friends and families. Each one’s eyes growled back to the calmer versions they had when they were their old selves. Each one’s voices softened back into the old ones. Each stared at them, yearning to be with them again.
But war broke out.
Now, she was stuck in this battle as were all of them. From down below, she could see how everyone else was faring. The former Mane Six, now called Elements of Insanity, were each battling against a member of the Pillars. Meadowbrook was against the formerly sweet and gentle Fluttershy, now changed into insane Fluttershout. Rarifruit was giving the elderly-looking Mistmane her all. Flash Magnus was forced to confront Rainbine. Rockhoof knew he had to battle pill-loving Applepills. Somnambula went against Pinkis Cupcake, dodging her every attempt to eat her. Starswirl, with a heavy heart, knew he had to stop Brutalight Sparkle, no matter how much there was left in her appearance of Twilight.
The Cutie Mark Monsters, former Cutie Mark Crusaders, went against Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Rumble, and Pipsqueak. The fillies and colts couldn’t believe what had become of their old friends.
Depigun went against Doctor Hooves. AssSpike and Bunochius were along side by side against Stygian and Zecora. Sunburst had no choice but to engage in a showdown against the remains of his old friend, Painset Shimmercakes. Magic Mare was going up and about with Maud Pie. And she could see many others in their own battles.
In the midst of the brawl, Flash Sentry had come around and when he was given the information as to what had happened, he reluctantly joined in the fight. It seemed his sword was the only thing that the Pony Freak were scared of. Bunochius glanced up to find the prophecy behind the weapon unfolding before she returned to her own battle.
She herself had to go against her sister, or what was left of her. She used to play jokes with her when they were fillies like painting tone another in the other’s color. Their mother had lost count of the amount of times she had to wash the dye out of their fur. Now, this was no dye job. This was real fur color, so long as that Monster shares her sister’s body.
Everyone had given it their all, and yet it still wasn’t enough. They were soon subdued, as they were more powerful than them. They had tried in vain to make them just like them as well, but each failed because of the spells. When it came to Luna’s own turn, it took another surprise.
Out of her body an old face emerged. The one she never thought she would see again. The one she was imprisoned with for a thousand years. The one that had stricken fear and terror into the hearts of many, haunting their nightmares, including her own.
“She’s already mine” Nightmare Moon declared.
Before their very eyes, the old villain gathered up all of the Monsters together into one large cluster. They tried in vain to sue whatever abilities they had now, but she proved far stronger. Her horn began to light up with a new spell and they were all caught off guard as they felt it seep in. Flash’s sword then was levitated over the cluster as the spell also entered it. It glowed brightly to pure white and she drew it over them all. That was when Luna and her army saw it.
Nightmare Moon was splitting the souls.
It was a painful process for the creatures from the looks of how each body was trying in vain to escape and let out wails of pain whilst at it. The souls fared no better as their friends were finally waking up from the holds of each ghost and contributing by fighting them off the best they could.
Luna then turned her gaze to her old demon, and felt fear and worry for her. Nightmare was using all her magic into this one spell and it was taking a heavy toll on her. She could see little droplets of blue coming from her eyes as she grit her teeth and forced herself to keep going.
Finally, the old manifestation looked up to her host, and for that moment, Luna could feel her at peace. She watched as her lips curled up into, not a sneer, grin, or smirk, but a soft smile.
“I’m proud of you, Luna”
There was a snap heard and it all went black.
When Luna regained consciousness, she could see that everything seemed the same. But then she spotted the familiar pieces of armor on the ground. The body holding it had dissolved, as if it never existed. She looked around to the rest to find them all unconscious, but unharmed, and her eyes traveled back to the monsters.
Everyone had been restored. They were back to normal. All that was left around to show proof that they ever were those creatures were the objects like hats that began to crumble or other possessions. Even Derpigun’s mechanical eye and Rainbine’s ear pieces had fallen off of Derpy and Rainbow Dash. And she could see that among them, Celestia was back to her old self.
And they were all back in Equestria too, it seemed.
The Night Princess looked up to find Nightmare Moon, or what had remained of her, floating right above. She was see through, with stars patterned around to give her the appurtenance of a constellation. Still, she gave off that same smile.
“Nightmare…I…” she fumbled for words. “…thank you…”
She nodded. And then, she was no more.
Luna could only stare as the constellation of her former self drifted up to the sky above and formed a new constellation. For once, she didn’t fear her monster. No, she had made peace with it.
________________________________________
Hester let out a sigh as she flopped down to her Partner’s side. Hazel had almost fully recovered by now and was simply taking another doze. The Familiar hadn’t felt this exhausted about making a story in a while. Then again, it had been a while since they picked up their pens. She knew the next one would require them both to be there like a tango and knew she had to be in good health just as well.
Placing the book down, and knowing Bunochius will be updated in a moment, she settled herself beside her sleeping Partner, placing a kiss on her forehead.
Autumn stood her ground as the Dollmaker above her let out a final, primal roar. For her another monster in Wonderland was something to remove otherwise it would taint the rest of the realm and those who roamed it. She had been initially hesitant with these duties, but now she had grown accustomed to such savageness. And while she had seen many things in this realm that couldn’t be possible in reality, this creature was the pinnacle of it all.
The embodiment of he who murdered her mother.
She couldn’t believe it at first when she first found out. But while she may try to deny facts, this realm knew everything. While it cannot give a direct answer, it can always hint, or represent it. And would even be reflected by those around her.
She had been called yet again back to Wonderland, even by accident. There, she had met with her old allies, and fought new foes. She gained new abilities, and new weapons, even Hazel’s Butterfly Doge was at her disposal. She had journeyed far and seen the worst damage she had even known, be it form her own experience or that of her mother.
Wonderland had truly fallen apart. There were these ink, porcelain doll-headed creatures called Ruin that were servants to something called the Infernal Train. It wasn’t like those cutesy ones her mother had drawn in the show, but something much more sinister. It’s main duty was to prowl each section of the realm, training and killing all its path comes across.
She had to fight some old friends, and even put an end to their lives, but could hope for the best that once the dust settled and the magic restores this realm, they would revive back into their old, cutesy forms.
Through her travels, it was discovered that the Dollmaker was the main culprit to a point that even the fallen Queen Faust had taken refuge in the ruins of the old kingdom to get away from him, taking whatever minions were hers to salvage and go into hiding. She, Anastasia, and Discord had each given out the truth behind what happened on the night Lauren was murdered.
Her psychiatrist in real life, Dr. Omni, had been using hypnotherapy in her recovery from the trauma. But his true intent was to turn all those children he treated into mindless prostitutes after he erased their memories completely. She was unable to forget when she insisted on holding onto it until she knew what was going on.
Dr. Omni murdered Lauren that night to try and put an end to the show on account of what it did to his own daughter. He hoped that by removing Autumn’s own memories of the night it occurred would seal the deal and keep it secret forever. Now, she had known the truth.
She saw many things that had been touched by Corruption. Sunny Shores and Clementine had succumbed and turned against Anastasia. Flim and Flam were torn apart when the train made it to their section. Discord had weakened to a point where he had to flee to survive. Queen Faust was in hiding. The Children of the Night had been driven mad, but still stable enough to keep themselves from getting harmed, Gari leading them to safety. Twilight and Snowdrop were killed, but their Essences were contained in a necklace Hazel was wearing for until everything was done.
It was then she confronted the Dollmaker head-on to free the realm. But as they fought, he constantly summoned various Ruin to set her off track. She couldn’t keep up, but had help from her friends when they stepped in and covered for her, so long as she battled him. With all their combined efforts, he was defeated.
She turned her head to the rest of the group. Twilight’s Essence, having used a spell, had taken control of Generation 1 Twilight’s body and was currently atop a melting Common Ruin. For someone who looked squishy and vulnerable, looks can be deceiving.
Snowdrop had taken her previous filly form and flew down the moment the Floating Ruins she was battling had dissolved. She still had her crown on, and highly resembled a child playing princess. She didn’t have her cataracts, and never a child looked so deadly covered in the inky mass and wielding a sword while her snowflakes surrounded her.
Hester uncovered Hazel’s eyes as their target reduced to a melted puddle. It was still a shock to Autumn when she visited one time to find that the Familiar had been raised back to life. She and Hazel looked the same, but both wore a choker on their necks with their crosses on each. As for why she had her eyes covered, some parts of the battle weren’t ‘safe’ for her Partner to witness.
All nodded to each other before the world went white.
When Autumn came to, she knew where she was. The underground train station that she and her doctor met up in tonight. She had already declared how she knew his intentions and crimes, hoping to enlist some form of fear from him. But he was proud and arrogant, even mocking her mother and friends. The worst was how he was holding that locket that once belonged to her mother, the one that was given to her after her first trip to Wonderland.
Dr. Omni appeared to be in his late forties, with a slim figure and broad shoulders. His face is very long and thin, with a pointy chin and defined cheekbones. His nose and hands are also very bony. His hair is dark brown, and is cut to the nap of his neck, and combed into a side parting to his right-hand side. He also has a full beard and mustache. His eyes are small and pale in color. He wore black trousers, a white shirt and a gray waistcoat with a red tie.
Autumn herself wore a lavender sweater and grey pants along with her matching purple shoes. She had dark rims around her eyes from crying and didn’t look too well. Her brown hair still flowed down, but looked as though it needed some care for the full look.
If her father had known where she had been roaming these days, he would’ve grounded her for being so reckless. She was only supposed to go to the store for medicine when she found herself staring at a white cat with brown spots playing with a brown butterfly. She went to go pet it when both began to run, and she decided to follow them. Now, that same cat and butterfly led her here to the station.
“I’ll see you charged. In prison, you’ll meet some brute who beats you to the ground and then you’ll get the electric chair!” she yelled.
“Really? A hysterical child, possible young lunatic, roaring outrageous accusations against a respectable social architect and scientist. Call me when the shuttle lands, Autumn”
She could hear the cat nearby hiss at him and the butterfly flutter wildly.
“Monster! Such evil will be punished!”
“By whom? By what? Your madness will be punished. Now leave. I'm expecting your replacement” he then showed the locket once more.
She knew deep down, he was right. No one would believe her story and if he went on, his work will continue. Who knew how many more were on the list? Her mother’s guides may have been in the asylum themselves, but that was different. The staff actually cared for them and let them be how they were. This man cared about nothing than himself. She couldn’t let him keep on going, but how? They were alone here in the station, and there was no weapon.
She calmly walked over to him, and snatched the locket from his hand, startling him. She had let the precious thing in his grasp for too long. She swore she could feel bits of her mother in the accessory, as if she were still in there, hiding and afraid for so long, but now so happy to be reunited with her daughter. Autumn felt her own strength increase and faced her demon.
He was shocked at the sight.
Autumn suddenly became healthy, well taken care of, lively, as if the trauma never happened. She gained a bright complexion, and the bags in her eyes were gone. Her hair went straight down with no tangles or damage. She wore her Wonderland attire of lavender dress with collar, purple boots, and mother’s locket. She didn’t have to look to her sides to know the cat was grinning, the butterfly smirked, and a sparkle of light and tiny, non-melting snowflake were at her side.
The doctor was stunned. Cats and butterflies don’t even smile. It’s not even dusk yet. And it’s middle of summer. He always thought that those were fantasies of her and her mother, non-existing, a delusion, a thing of the mind with no significance whatsoever.
He was wrong.
He began to backpedal, forgetting of the danger of falling off the train rails behind him as the girl started to walk to him. For every step he took backwards, she took one forwards. The cat, butterfly, sparkle, and snowflake stood at all sides, leaving him no exit. He took one look into those brown, glaring eyes and recognized a face.
That was all he saw before he was pushed off the platform and hit by the train.
From her perch, Autumn took deep, liberating breaths. She did it. She avenged her mother. And no one would be hurt by that doctor again, not even her friends. She looked down at the locket now attached to her neck, and swore she could feel just how Lauren felt when she wore it.
She turned her head to her group, only to find they had gone.
She made her way out of the station, and found a new world. It looked so much like Ponyville with their quaint little houses and nature pieces everywhere, but had scants of her own home. No one seemed to be around at this time, even though it was day. She spotted a familiar trail of pink mist and followed it up ahead.
Hazel and Hester were up on a high tree, the former standing on a thick, sturdy branch, using one hand to steady herself. The latter was curled around her, sitting on her shoulder. With them were the sparkle and snowflake. The pair who were still alive stared at her for a moment before regarding the new stained glass window ahead.
It was of Autumn herself, the Dollmaker destroyed beneath her. All around her were the weapons she had used in this entire journey. The Dollmaker’s surroundings even included the Ruin destroyed just as much as their maker. Twilight and Snowdrop were there, but seemed see-through, and had their cutie marks on their chests. Hazel and Hester were present as well.
________________________________________
“Can you put that pen down now?”
Hazel peeked up from the book she was writing in to find herself looking into the impatient look of her Familiar. They had been writing for quite some time now, but Hester took a deep breath and went to rest after the battle scene. Hazel then went on to make the ending. But it looks like she had been at it for a long time.
“I’m sorry, Hester. But you know what happens when I get into that headspace”
“I know, you lose track of time” she sighed. “I just fell asleep and you still have the pen”
“You took a catnap”
“Well, it felt like a long one to me” she stretched. “But come on, love. Put the pen down and the book away until later. It’s not as though you’re going to lose it”
“I might”
“Have you figured out the ending?”
They were trying to write another addition to the Wonderland series. This one was based off the video game Alice: Madness Returns. In this, Autumn was to return to Wonderland due to a new spreading corruption far worse than what happened before, even stated by a Child of the Night. Along the way, she would face deadly enemies crossed from the game enemies and the ones in the show. It was tricky these days as well, however.
And the problem wasn’t due to a lack of inspiration.
The girl fidgeted. “Not exactly. I can’t find the right words”
“Then take a break. You know what they say”
“‘Inspiration comes by chance, not by demand’” both said at once.
“Besides, we should get ready for the show”
“Oh, right” she sighed, getting up. “The last one, huh?”
“Last of the last, atleast for this generation”
The girl donned her boots, having taken a liking to them after the war. “Seems only yesterday we fell into that rabbit hole, huh?”
“It didn’t help it was Fluttershy” she smirked. “Adoration at first sight”
“I just thought she was cute! Then when we got to know her, I liked her more!”
“Can’t say I blame you. Now, are you ready? Speedy and the rest are probably there by now!”
She sighed, closing the book and tucking it away to be resumed later. She was right. She didn’t have the final words on it for now. Perhaps after the finale of the show, they’ll be just waiting to be written down. For now, she had to go.
The pair went down and only when they were out of the house did the Pegasister change into her Pegasus form and took to the air, her Familiar on her back.
Let’s face it. We knew this day was coming. It happens to every show and movie. There was no escaping it. Everything had an end and a beginning. And we had seen many beloved shows we grew up with and around for so many years. Phineas and Ferb, Adventure Time, even Steven Universe was recent. For fans everywhere, it was the ending of a Fandom and show they loved so much.
Now the time had come for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
When the news aired that this would be the final season, that the series was coming to an end, it set off Bronies and Pegasisters everywhere, young and old alike. For Antis, it was a dream come true. Yet, try as anyone could, there was no changing it. It had been decreed by Lauren Faust herself. All they could do was wait.
Today would be the day it aired. Today was when it ended. The final episode, and then it’s done. No more Canon Adventures. Many questions will be answered. Tears will fall.
In Wonderland, it was decreed that it would be best if everyone were to gather for the premiere and watch it altogether. At Knight’s signal, we will join with the other sides from Deviantart, Fanfiction Archives, YouTube, Twitter, and many other sites in the giant movie house set up for the occasion. The things a dream world could do. Luna would be proud.
Attendance was checked to its finest in this day. It was crucial everyone was present. Twilight had taken the liberty to triple check on attendance. Snowdrop’s snowflakes were at the peak of their work.
“Are Hazel and Hester here?” the lavender Alicorn called out to the winter Pegasus, who was currently listening to returning snowflake’s whispers.
“Wait…I can’t see…oh, they’re here!”
As soon as the pair had touched the ground, Hazel changed back to Pegasister form. She stumbled a little, trying to regain balance.
“Still can’t adjust the very moment we land, huh?” Hester snickered.
“You do the same thing when you hide!”
“Hazel! Hester!”
The pair perked up when they heard their names called. A blue stallion with matching blue eyes and a mane with light blue highlights approached them. You could see he was a Pegasus from afar.
“Speedy! Hi! How are you doing?”
“I’ve been great, what about two?”
“Right as rain”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world”
“Well, isn’t that nice to hear”
“Attention, everypony, gather around!” Twilight called out in her Royal Canterlot Voice, alerting all those who were present.
Apparently getting the portal doors from each site open all at once with so many people was a tricky thing to do indeed. In line with this, everyone was advised to go and sit in the chairs and gazebos that suddenly sprouted around. While some chose to go for the option, others pitched up a camp to the first in line, even though all will enter. Some of the younger ones ended up going about to play.
The Partner and Familiar ended up in one of the gazebos with the Brony. It was nice to be around and be able to talk at the same time. Normally, either one or the other spoke to the man, but now both could since they were both present.
“So, how’s it going with you two?” the stallion asked.
“Same old. Hazel got sick one day during a Friday” the Familiar pointed with a paw.
“So did you”
“Jeez, what happened?”
“I had the flu” Hazel raised her hand like a child.
“I came down with a migraine” Hester raised a finger.
“Slave’s Day really took it out on you two, huh?”
“You have no idea”
He sighed. “Enough about that. So, any ideas on a story? You guys haven’t really made anything in a long time”
The pair looked over each other for a moment before Hester spoke up. “We’re working on something big. These things take time, and I mean a lot of time”
Hazel could only nod. “We’re both working on it at our bests”
“Well, we’ll all see when it’s out, right?”
“Of course”
The pair hated to not say the whole truth. Actually, Hazel hated it the most. Hester was more willing. Still, they couldn’t deny what was going to happen once it was done. They could only hope it would turn out just fine.
When the show did begin, they all joined in. Everyone had a good seat where they could all see and hear what was playing. Some had even brought snacks and drinks. Then again, they magically appeared the moment they wanted, and in the flavor desired. Reactions occurred amongst them all as the episodes played on. When the end came, many ended up crying as it was the last ever.
The Partner and Familiar themselves were shedding tears as everyone else. But in the end, everyone had to go back to their homes and decide where to go from here. For the pair, however, they knew they had one last thing left to do.
They just wished it didn’t have to happen so soon.
“Oh, Autumn” Hazel spoke at last. “We can’t go home, again. No surprise there”
“Only a very few find the way. Some don’t recognize it when they do. Others don’t ever want to” Hester added, repeating those same words once used on Lauren.
Both eyed the sparkle and snowflake, holding them tenderly in hands and paws. “Delusions too die hard. Only the savage regard the endurance of pain as the measure of worth”
“Forgetting pain is convenient. Remembering it…” the Familiar paused, hissing and flinching, as if the thought had physically burned her. “…agonizing”
“But recovering the truth is worth the suffering” Hazel pat her head to comfort her, glancing to Autumn as well with a solemn expression. “And our Wonderland, though damaged, is safe in memory, for now”
For a moment, the child stared up at the pair, pondering what they were saying. Wonderland can’t go back to the way it used to be. Many changes had occurred over the years, but this one will make it permanent. Discord was right when he told her time changes us all. There are even changes that cannot be taken back, no matter how much we want them to.
She had grown, and Wonderland with her.
________________________________________
Hazel sighed, taking a deep breath to recompose herself as Hester dropped her pose. Whenever it came to writing, the writer themselves would feel a bit drained from finishing a new chapter to the story. At first, they all thought it was a mental thing, but then they found that it was actually a reflection of how they felt after making a story.
You give a part of yourself to a tale and it could take a bit from you. The stronger the emotion, effort, and passion placed into the chapter, the more drained you feel. It’s a two-way bond. Luckily, this draining of energy was temporary and short-term. Writers could even pause half-way if they feel themselves too tired to keep up.
Hazel soon had her breath back to normal and glanced over to Hester’ perch. “Are you alright?”
The Familiar nodded, dusting herself off. “I love it when we work together, but I just wish this draining didn’t always happen”
“Then we could write all we want without worrying about feeling like someone drained by Tirek”
“But everyone has to rest too”
The Pegasister managed a smile at that before dropping it.
The Familiar knew what it was about and nuzzled their faces together. “I know, my dear. It saddens me too”
“But how long did you think we could make it?”
“I’m not sure, but I was happy about the experience anyway”
“Like how we got in some trouble when we made the first ones?”
Hester chuckled at that. “We were younger and inexperienced”
“And you were edgy”
“You were so babyish!”
The pair shared a good laugh, recalling all that had happened leading up to this point. It was a really fun thing to have been able to be part of the Fimfiction world, participating and all that. They made a few good friends as well, even became a pair of proofreaders at one point. And while they weren’t the best story-writers, they were glad they atleast tried. Still rusty with room for improvement, but happy all the same.
The pair then knew the next thing they had to write down before this made its way to the publisher section. This didn’t take much energy out of them, but they wouldn’t have been able to feel it if there was something to drain them.
A bit of a while later, tears were shed and there was a lump in their throats. But it was done. Wrapping it up beside the book, right in the Author’s Note section, they sent it off.
Hester heard a mumble and turned to find Hazel giving her a look. At first, she thought she was mad at her or something else had upset her other than what they just did but then she recognized something from the look in her eye. She chuckled. “I know, I know. I keep my promise”
As soon as dinner was done and the OCs were tucked in, Hazel was waiting for Hester as she already laid curled up in bed. The Familiar then shifted to her Pegasister form and got in with her. The brunette then cuddled up to her, wrapping her arms around her neck while the blonde-orange haired one wrapped her arms around her, reaching to her back.
Cuddling was a comfort for both of them since they got to the Fandom world. And even out in reality, they did so. It was nothing much, just simply for the sake of being with the other. It helped on any bad day. And while Hazel’s mother found it rather weird at times, she allowed it. The pair thought nothing of how people would look at them for this, all that mattered was each other.
On Hazel’s part, she felt safe and protected by her loved one. On Hester’s, it let her know that she had not failed in keeping her adoptive sister safe. But both felt the same thing: Love towards someone and being loved back by that same someone in return.
And while Hester liked the position in where she was in her Familiar form and it would make Hazel look like she was hugging a plushy, she did enjoy this one more. It was easier to hold her back now that they managed to get her a Pegasister form of her own.
“You’re a lot leaner this time, you know” the Familiar told her Partner as she felt at a thin arm with muscle.
“Guess you could say I’ve been working out”
“Perhaps so, though next time, try to keep it down when you get Corruption in your system”
“I didn’t even know I had it. I was just…mad”
“I know” she chuckled. “I also know you’re upset”
She could hear her gulp.
“It’s not like we’ve leaving the Fandom, or here for that matter, it just means that we may not be writing anymore”
“We’re taking after Luna, huh?”
“Well, to be fair, we already thought about it after our long hiatus”
Hazel paused for a moment. “I hope no one gets mad”
“A little surprised, maybe, a bit down, for some. But we’re still here with them”
She nodded, nuzzling into her further. “We’ll be together forever, won’t we?”
Hester smiled, leaning down and kissing her forehead. “Forever”
The pair then drifted off to sleep, just as the book made its way to publishing.
Things would be different now, but that was the point of growing up and going through life: Change is constant. And sometimes, it’s for the better. You may not be the same as you were before, but it could make you stronger. And there were even some that remained the same as they truly are part of who you are, and no amount of time passed could alter that.