Chapter 17

They were soon able to open their eyes and when they did they noticed that the portal had now stabilized completely and the ground had ceased crumbling all together, as if it was placed on pause.

"So… did it work?" Paco finally asked.

"Yes… I think it did!" Edwin realized.

"It worked? It worked!" Pinkie cheered.

Everypony then started cheering and jumping for joy, relived and excited that they had finally succeeded and that the crisis had been averted. There was a lot of hugging and nuzzling and even tough ones like Rainbow and Paco hugged before realizing what they are doing and backing away blushing embarrassed.

"You guys did it!" Cadance beamed.

"Way to go, sis." Shining added. "All of you. If it weren't for all of you the Empire would have been destroyed."

"Not just the empire, but the whole world too!" Cadance added.

"Aw, it was nothing…" Twilight said, blushing embarrassed.

"Yeah, it's what we do." Rainbow Dash added, proudly.

"But the land… it's still damaged…" Cadance observed, looking at all the destroyed buildings and crystals.

"Oh yeah… that's a bummer…" Paco remarked.

"So how do we fix it?" Darla questioned.

"By getting you all back home." Twilight stated.

"What?" Tommy asked, surprised.

"Ah yes, the Princess did say that in order to undo all the damage we must return to our world." Edwin remembered.

Right now?" Felix asked.

"Well, no time like the present." Mary said.

"Yeah… I guess you're right." Darla said, sadly.

They all stepped uneasily toward the portal, but the kids all stopped to look back at the pony gang pleadingly.

"Please, is this really goodbye?" Mary asked. There was no answer. "Won't we ever see you all again?"

"That is not for me to say… but if we are fated to me again, we will." Twilight assured him.

"Aw… and I didn't even have time to throw you a welcome or a goodbye party…" Pinkie said, sadly.

"I'm sure it would have been great, Miss Pinkie." Tommy smiled.

"Yeah…" Darla agreed, sadly.

"Can't believe I'm saying this but… I'm gonna miss you crazy ponies." Paco admitted.

"Yeah, me too." Felix added.

"Yes, you were indeed an interesting group to be with." Edwin nodded.

"The best." Mary nodded. Everypony smiled at them, fondly.

"The same goes for all of you and thank you for your help." Twilight told them.

"You're welcome but… is this really the end? Will we ever see you guys again?" Tommy asked. With a sad face, Twilight walked over to them to look them in the eye, particularly Tommy.

"I'm sorry everypony, there isn't time, you have to go…" Twilight told them. "But… I hope we do see each other again… someday"

"Goodbye children, We'll miss you." Fluttershy smiled, tenderly.

"BYE KIDS!" Pinkie exclaimed as she waved at them with tears flowing down her face.

"Yeah… see ya, kids." Rainbow muttered, slowly and sadly.

"Take care, young'uns" Applejack said, tipping her hat to them.

"Farewell, children, until we meet again" Rarity added with a sweet smile. Shining and Cadance nodded in agreement and smiled.

"Ok… goodbye…" Tommy said to Twilight teary eyed while she kissed his forehead and bumped her forehead against his before they hugged, along with the other kids as well.

Twilight then took a few steps back to join the rest of the pony crew, the last thing the kids see as they moved into the black gateway. It closed behind them once they all walked through and winked out in a flash.

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Author's Note: Sorry this one is so short, it's just that it's one chapter away from being done and I'd like to finish it soon, hope none of you are upset by this.