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Journey to My Imagination

by DeiStar

Chapter 23: Any Way the Wind Blows

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Epilogue: Any Way the Wind Blows
*****

“T-Twilight…” Lauren looked at Twilight.

“Please, don’t go… I don’t want you to leave.” Twilight had tears leaking from her eyes, whimpering between words. Everypony couldn’t help but look at the unicorn with surprise.

“Twilight, please understand. Lauren must go back to her world. She does not belong in here,” Celestia said, trying to snap some reason into her student. However, it seemed futile as Twilight shook her head in denial.

“No! You don’t have to go! You can stay here! The library is big enough for me, you and Spike!” Twilight dragged her front legs and rested them on her shoulders. “We can be friends forever… just… don’t leave me.”

“Twillight, I…” Lauren gulped. She gave a quick glance to everypony. She didn’t know what to do. She really wanted to go back home, though. But with Twilight’s sudden disapproval, that decision seemed to be on hold for now.

“Do you… do you really want to go back?” Twilight asked. Even though the chances were microscopic, she was hoping for the correct answer. Anypony could dream, right? She didn’t look anywhere else but to Lauren’s big, blue eyes, however, she closed her eyes and buried her face on Lauren’s chest, awaiting for the inevitable answer.

A few seconds of silence passed without Lauren giving an answer. She stood there, motionless, looking as how Twilight’s tears ran through her cheeks, dripping to the floor. Obviously, nopony was going to answer for her. She had to decide right in that instant. She had two options; stay with Twilight in Equestria, the land she created and loved, or she could go back home, where she had been living her whole life, with her family, friends and loved ones.

“Yes. I want to go back.”

Twilight opened her eyes right after those words echoed in her head. She slowly raised her head and looked at Lauren. “What…?” She should’ve known better. It was obvious that she was going to say that, and Twilight knew it. But she couldn’t deny the fact that deep in her heart she was expecting the words ‘No, I want to stay’ to come out of Lauren’s mouth.

“Twilight, forgive me, I’m deeply and truly sorry, but I want to return home. My family and friends must be worried sick about me. I have a life back there that I must resume. It has been a pleasure to be here and meeting you all, but I have to go back. I… I miss my beloved ones.” Lauren looked down at the crushed unicorn. “Sorry.”

“No… please…” Twilight wasn’t going to give up yet, even if she knew her begging wouldn’t make Lauren change her mind.

“Twilight, darling,” Rarity interrupted. “I don’t want to be ‘that mare’, but weren’t you the one who was determined in helping Lauren go back?”

Rarity had a strong point within her words, and Twilight knew it. She was the one who told Lauren she’d do anything in her power to help her find her way back, but it was different now. She totally had forgotten about that promise, and it was replaced with her own wishes, the simple wish to share another daisy sandwich with Lauren.

“Twilight Sparkle, please excuse me if I sound rude, because that’s not truly my intention,” Luna added. “But what you’re doing right now is a strong act of selfishness.” The stares were directed at the Princess of the Night. She expected them, though. “Forgive me, but it’s true. You’re disrespecting Lauren’s decisions only to satisfy your desires. You can’t choose if she stays or not. That choice can only be made by Lauren, and she already did it.”

Twilight felt guilty now. Now even her own friends were complaining at her for asking Lauren to stay, but they were right. Luna was right. She was no one to keep Lauren from the rest of the world, and even less from those loved ones she had back in her world. She did wrong and now everypony was looking at her with disappointment. Twilight looked up at Lauren, tears still shedding from her eyes. “S-sorry… they’re right…”

“Twilight…”

“I don’t know what came over me… sorry… I shouldn’t have told you those things… forgive me,” Twilight sniffled. A faint smile appeared on her face, breaking the frown she had has since Celestia informed everypony about Lauren’s return. “I will miss you.”

Lauren returned the smile. A sudden motherly sensation ran through her body. Without thinking about it twice, she wrapped her front legs around Twilight and embraced her in a tight hug. “And I’ll miss you too, Twilight.”

“Thanks for everything, I will never forget you.” Twilight returned the hug, resting her cheek on Lauren’s warm chest. She found herself in peace, as if every single of her worries were washed away from her mind.

After Twilight’s words, Celestia bowed her head and looked at the floor.

Lauren broke the hug, still offering her warm smile at Twilight. She raised a hoof and wiped away one of her tears. “It’s not the farewell. I can still visit you anytime I want. I just have to close my eyes and imagine about us going in adventures!”

Twilight giggled, raising a hoof to wipe the tears from the other side of her face. “That’s true… and I can do that too. I can’t wait to see what kind of adventures we’ll have together in the future.”

“Looking forward for them.” Lauren nodded, looking at everypony else in the room. “And I’ll miss you all too, my little ponies.”

Celestia, who was still looking at the floor, raised her head and looked at Lauren. Her expression didn’t seem to be too cheerful or happy. “There is one thing before you go, and it really pains me to say…”

“Huh, what is it, Celestia?” Lauren asked. The tone of her voice didn’t sound like if she were joking at all. Her face also showed certain disconcert.

“I am really sorry to say this… but…” Celestia bit her lower lip, closing her eyes and looking away from Lauren. “You won’t remember ever coming to Equestria or meeting us… I’m sorry. You will simply not remember this whole thing ever happening.”

The gasps from everypony echoed at unison, especially Lauren’s. What did Celestia just say? Nopony was willing to believe it.

“W-what!? You’ve gotta be joking! I won’t remember anything about ever coming to Equestria!?” Lauren exclaimed. That statement caught her off guard. She couldn’t believe what she heard. Not only she’d go back to her world but she wouldn’t even remember ever going? That was so unfair.

“P-Princess! What do you mean? She won’t remember ever coming to Equestria or meeting us? W-Why!?” This time, Twilight was the one who complained.

“As you know, Lauren is the creator of this world. Therefore, our existence depends only upon her. She just can’t be conscious that this world in fact exists. She still has to believe that is all a story, nothing else. She must not be aware of our existence, since that could not only affect us but her as well,” Celestia explained.

“Does that mean that won’t remember being our mother, Celestia?” Luna asked. The only answer she received was the downcast stare of Celestia. Luna didn’t say any other word. She had understood now what was going to happen.

“And we won’t remember her as well,” Celestia said, immediately making everypony to respond with a unison and powerful ‘what!?’, which she was expecting.

“It’s the same deal. We are not allowed to remember Lauren. We are only characters in her story and nothing else. No characters should ever be able to be aware of their creator. It can affect the balance of our world and the balance of our own sanity. That’s why as soon as Lauren leaves, everypony will forget that she ever existed. We’ll go back and resume our lives.” Celestia didn’t have any mercy at spitting those words.

“No, no! Anything but that!” Twilight yelled. “No, you can’t make me forget Lauren! I don’t accept it! Why do we have to forget about her? It’s not fair!” Twilight’s eyes started leaking again, as if they didn’t have enough leaking for one day.

“I understand,” Lauren said, almost as if she ignored Twilight’s outburst. “If it has to be done, so be it.”

“M-mother, but what about us?” Luna intervened. “I don’t want to forget about you!”

“Luna… I understand, but Celestia has a solid logic to back up her claims,” Lauren replied. “Believe me, I don’t wish to forget about any of you either, but there’s no choice. If I have to go back home, that’s the only way available.”

“But… but…” Twilight was crushed now. Not only Lauren was going to leave, but she was going to forget about her as well. “I…” She couldn’t be selfish again. If that was the only way Lauren could be happy, then she was going to agree with it, like it or not. “I understand,” she whimpered.

“I am sorry, Twilight, but this is for everypony’s sake.” Celestia looked at Lauren. “Mother. It has been a pleasure and a true honor to meet you. Even though neither of us will remember this ever happening, you’ll always live in our hearts.”

“I know, Celestia. And you’ll all live in my heart forever.” Lauren stood up and walked towards the Elements of Harmony. She approached Fluttershy and smiled at her. “Fluttershy, try to be a little more outgoing, okay?”

“Um… y-yes…” Fluttershy blushed, offering a weak smile at Lauren.

Lauren moved to the next pony. “Applejack, I’m sorry I never got a taste of your famous cider, but save those skills for your business. I’m sure it will become a success.”

“Aw, shucks. Thanks, Ms. Faust.” Applejack took off her hat with a hoof in sign of respect and held it on her chest.

With a smile, Lauren turned and moved on to Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow, sorry I couldn’t attend our flying lessons. I’m sure you’d be an amazing instructor, and I’m sure you will join the Wonderbolts pretty soon.”

“You bet I am! Don’t worry about the flying lessons; I’m sure you can take some back home.” Rainbow offered a smirk, waving a hoof around in the air.

“Good luck with that,” Lauren said as she approached the next pony. “Rarity, I loved your dresses. You should keep on making those awesome styles, and I’m sure you’ll be the next sensation in Canterlot.”

“Why, thank you very much, dear,” Rarity said, running a hoof through her mane. “When you get back home, make sure to wash your mane. It looks dreadful!”

“Will do, Rarity, will do,” Lauren chuckled. As soon as she turned to talk with the next pony, Pinkie jumped in front of her, bouncing on her hooves as if she called dibs on Lauren. “Whoa, Pinkie!”

“Hey, is it my turn yet? Because I couldn’t wait any longer for my turn, sorry! What is it gonna be? Pinkie, you’re a great baker? You’re so fun? Your parties are always the best? Huh huh huh?”

“Wow, slow down, Pinkie,” Lauren chuckled. “Just… keep on making everypony smile, all right? That’s what you do the best, right?”

“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie grinned and jumped her way back to her spot. It was an easy task for her to make, anyway.

“Spike,” Lauren turned her head this time to the little dragon. “Take good care of Twilight, okay? And don’t ever give up in her. I know that someday, you two will be sharing a milkshake together in the park.” She winked at her, tilting her head a little towards Rarity.

Spike leaned closer and covered his mouth with his claw. “Hey, uh… do you think maybe you could make it work with your powers?”

“No, no, that’s cheating,” Lauren snickered. Besides, you don’t need me to make it work. Someday you’ll make her yours, trust me.”

“All right, if you say so. “ Spike smiled. He felt a little disappointed, but Lauren was right, though. There was no fun in making Rarity fall in love with him if he didn’t earn it. He would have to work hard to make that happened, and he even had some ideas for the future that would surely make him win some points with her.

“Luna,” Lauren faced her daughter. “Even though parting hurts, I couldn’t be any happier with what you have become.” She rested a hoof on her shoulder. “It hurts me to leave my daughters like this, considering you just meet me and all.”

“Oh, no. Don’t concern yourself with it, mother. I fully understand that you must leave, even if neither of us will remember this.” Luna leaned closer to Lauren and wrapped her legs around her. “Goodbye, mother. I will look forward to the day where we meet again, someday.”

Lauren accepted Luna’s hug and returned it, gently stroking her blue mane with a hoof. She couldn’t help but picture herself as the loving mother she was, consoling her daughter. “Bye, Luna. Be a good mare and obey your big sister, you hear?” Both Lauren and Luna shared a short laugh before breaking their hug. Lauren nodded one last time before walking towards Celestia.

“Celestia, thank you for everything you’ve done,” Lauren said, extending a hoof.

“No, you have no reason to thank me about anything. I am the one who is grateful.” Celestia extended her hoof and shook Lauren’s. Both alicorns looked at each other before pulling each other into a tight embrace. “I wish you a life filled with happiness and joy, dear mother.”

“I wish you the same thing. Everypony is lucky to have you and Luna as their ruler. Take care, Celestia.” Lauren said as she broke the hug. Celestia nodded in response. It seemed like it was time now. “Well, one last thing before I leave…” She turned her head and walked towards Twilight. “Think I forgot about you, Twilight?”

“I was afraid you were going to for a second,” Twilight said with a silly smile on her face.

Lauren extended her leg and pulled Twilight closer to her. “Aw, come here, you little unicorn.” Both ponies hugged, chuckling together pleasantly. “Thanks, Twilight, for everything you’ve done since the beginning. For accepting me in your home, for introducing me to your friends, for agreeing to help me, thanks.”

“Thank you too, for being a wonderful friend,” Twilight said. “It is sad that you have to go and the fact that I’ll never remember you, but it’s all right. I’m happy to see you finally reached your objective, which was to get back home in the first place.”

“And it’s all thanks to you. Love you, Twilight.”

“Love you too, Lauren. Goodbye.”

With those words, both ponies kept hugging for several seconds until they agreed to break the embrace. They looked and smiled at each other. It was time to part. Finally, the adventure was over.

“It’s time to go, Lauren,” Celestia announced. Lauren nodded and stepped in front of her.

“All right, but… how am I exactly going to go back?” Sure, Lauren was cool with everything now, but the question remained. How was she going actually go back home? What method would Celestia use? Teleport? That question was now bugging Lauren.

“Close your eyes for me, please, and do not open them until I tell you to do so, okay?”

Lauren did as instructed. She wondered if Celestia was going to do something to her. Not tickling, she hoped, since she was very ticklish. “Okay, now what?”

“When you open them you’ll be back home,” Celestia said, her horn glowing. “And as for everypony in here, when Lauren leaves, all your memories of her will disappear.”

Lauren gulped. She was nervous about what fate had prepared for her, but she was ready now to face anything. She took a deep breath, waiting for whatever Celestia was going to do. Suddenly, her body felt lighter, as if she were floating in the air. She wanted to open her eyes to check, but
Celestia had told her to keep them closed.

“And in the end,” Celestia’s voice rang in Lauren’s head. “Love will always keep us together.”

Lauren wanted to answer back, but she wasn’t able to. She couldn’t react or feel her body. It felt almost like when she fell through the window and arrived to Equestria. However, it felt somewhat different and pleasant. Gentle warmth ran through her entire body. It felt so good, almost like a very warm bed. Lauren let the sensation take over her, and with that, she fell asleep.

“Goodbye, Lauren. Until we meet again.”

*****

Twilight blinked. The last thing she remembered was a bright burst of light blinding her for a few seconds. She looked at her surroundings and looked at her friends standing there, with oblivious plain expressions on their faces, as if they had just woken up. “Huh? Why is everypony in the library?” Everypony looked at each other, but no one answered.

“Good question. What are we doing in here? How did we arrive here in the first place?” Rainbow asked. She looked around, but she didn’t notice anything unusual save for the two Princesses standing there. “Huh? What are the Princesses doing here?”

“Huh?” Twilight turned her head and looked at both Celestia and Luna, who were looking at everypony with the same stares of confusion. “Princess Celestia? Princess Luna?”

“Twilight Sparkle? “ Luna looked at her sister. “Celestia? What in Equestria are we doing in Twilight Sparkle’s library?”

“Huh? I thought we were discussing about going to Sugarcube Corner for some treats and snacks, weren’t we?” Celestia said.

Everypony looked at Celestia with even more surprise than before. First they appear in Twilight’s library like out of nowhere and now Celestia says they were going to Sugarcube Corner? What the hay was going on?

“What in tarnation is goin’ on? Sugarcube Corner? How did we arrive here in the first place?” Applejack asked. However, it didn’t seem like anypony had an answer.

“Maybe we can discuss it on our way there,” Celestia suggested. “Why don’t we leave now?”

“But, Princess, I… I mean, you two, I don’t even…” Twilight gave up. The whole thing was too confusing and she didn’t want to tire herself. “If you say so, Princess. Come on then, girls?” Twilight walked towards the staircase to head downstairs.

Everypony looked at Celestia, then at Twilight. They weren’t sure what was going on, but for now they could play along and follow Twilight’s lead. Everypony, Spike and Luna followed her, still unsure of why they appeared out of nowhere in the library. Maybe they were renting books or something? Or maybe they were just tired. Yes, that had to be, only exhaustion, which a good nap could easily fix.

Celestia, however, didn’t move. She looked as everypony headed downstairs. She looked around and smiled. “Well, one last thing to do,” she whispered to herself. “Bye, Lauren.” A flash of light illuminated the room for less than a second. Luna turned her head due the light and looked at Celestia.

“Celestia? Are you not coming?” Luna asked.

“Huh? Going where?” Celestia blinked, looking at her sister.

“Didn’t you tell us we were going to this place called Sugarcube Corner?” Luna tilted her head.

“Did I? Oh, all right then, I suppose?” Celestia walked towards her sister and walked downstairs with her, still unsure what was she blabbing about. For that matter, what was she doing in Twilight’s library?

Downstairs, Twilight had opened the front door and everypony was starting to leave one by one. “Oh, hey! That’s my camera!” Pinkie said, noticing her purple camera resting on one of Twilight’s desks, but nopony seemed to pay attention to her. Pinkie grabbed her camera and noticed there was a photo stashed in it. “Huh? I don’t remember ever taking a picture. I wonder what it is?” Again, nopony paid attention to Pinkie. She pressed the ‘reveal’ button of her camera and a photo slipped out of it. “Huh? What’s this?” She grabbed the photo and examined it. In there, she spotted herself and her seven friends. It was nice to see a picture of them looking so happy.

“Wait. I don’t have seven friends…” Pinkie did the math in her head. Five of her friends were the rest of the Elements of Harmony, and the extra one was Spike. But who was this mysterious seventh friend she was talking about? She looked closer at the picture and noticed the cream colored alicorn at the middle of it. She had blue eyes and a straight, red mane. “Oh, now I remember! We took this picture at the welcome party of La-mph!” Pinkie shut her mouth and looked at the door. For her luck, everypony was already out. “Oh, right. I’m supposed to not talk about it, silly me.”

“Pinkie, you coming?” Twilight said from outside the library.

Pinkie chuckled and hid the photo deep within her mane. “Don’t worry, Laury. It’s our secret!” she whispered to herself as a smile formed on her face.

“Pinkie!”

“Coming, Twilight!” Pinkie bounced her way out of the library, closing the door behind her.

A gentle breeze blew through the deserted library which had gone through a lot of things lately. It hosted an alicorn, which turned out to be the creator of Equestria. Nightly talks and revelations. It was the place where everything started, and now, it was the place where everything finished.

*****

The heavy raindrops struck against the office window, hail pummeling down as well. The storm seemed nowhere near to end or even to settle down a little. Lighting struck as well, reminding everyone about the power of nature.

A gentle, cold breeze ran through the office. The small gap in the window allowed the wind and some raindrops to crawl in, as well as an occasional pebble of hail. The whole room was pitch-black, caused by the storm cutting off the building’s power. The only light was the dim light from the hallway that trickled through the office door. Backup lights illuminated some of the hallway, in case of a blackout.

Lauren was deeply asleep on the office’s couch, with one arm under her head and the other one resting on her belly, her legs crossed. The pleasant winter breeze ran through her face, down to her cheeks. “Uh…” Lauren’s fingers twitched, as well as her eyes. The breeze that came from outside the window grew stronger, blowing harder against Lauren. “Hmm…” Lauren moved her head to one side in reflex to keep the breeze from cooling her face. However, lighting struck, causing Lauren to immediately open her eyes due the potency of the lighting.

“Uh… what?” Lauren dragged her hands to her face and rubbed her eyes. She gave a huge yawn and stretched her arms and legs. Her office couch wasn’t as comfortable as her bed, but it was great for naps. “I… think I fell asleep.” She scratched her head and moved her legs, acquiring a sitting position on the couch. She let out another yawn before sighing in exhaustion. “Uh, feels weird.” Lauren slowly stood up, giving her body last stretch before looking around her gloomy room. For whatever reason, she felt weird standing up and moving her fingers, but she didn’t give much thought about the matter.

A stray pebble of hail alerted Lauren to the opened window. She walked towards it and closed it, not before peeking outside. There wasn’t much to see except for the pole outside. “My, it’s still raining cats and dogs,” she muttered. “What was I doing before I fell asleep?” Lauren closed her eyes and thought about the last time she was conscious. It didn’t take long until she managed to recall the events from a while ago. “Ah, right. John told me he was going to look for George so we could leave together.” She walked towards the door, bumping on her desk. “Ow, stupid thing.”

“Jeez, thinking out loud again, Lauren?” a voice said from the hallway. Two figures appeared just outside from the office door.

“Shut up, John. It’s too dark and I can’t see a thing!” Lauren step closer to the door until the lights were clear enough to reveal the faces of the visitors on the hallway. “Ah, evening, George.”

George raised his hand, waving it quickly and giving a quick smile. “Hey, ready to go?”

“Sure, let me just grab my purse.” Lauren walked back to the couch and grabbed her purse, almost tripping on her way back. John and George stepped back to allow Lauren to leave the office. She stopped, glancing back at her office one last time. Strangely enough, she felt as if she had forgotten anything. She shook her head, walking outside the office and closing the door behind her. She took out her keys from her jacket and locked the door. “Okay, ready.”

“The weather’s pretty ugly, so I don’t think it’s safe to drive my old car,” George said. This caused Lauren and John to look at him in confusion. “Relax. I’ve got Paul’s van keys. He said it was okay for us to use it. He often leaves his van here, so it’s all right.”

“Well, if you say so,” John said as he started to walk down the hallway. George walked behind him. However, Lauren didn’t move. Her eyes were fixed at one of the lamps.

“Feels weird,” Lauren said. John and George stopped and turned their heads. A unison ‘huh’ came from both their mouths. “Eh, nothing, never mind me.” Lauren waved her arm and walked behind them. Both men shrugged and resumed their way out of the hallway. “By the way, I don’t know why I have these ideas for the season finale so suddenly. I’m thinking about an impostor, and maybe giving Twilight a brother!”

“Hmm, that’s actually not a bad idea,” John said. “Let’s discuss more about it on the road, shall we?”

Lauren nodded in agreement. She couldn’t explain why she had all that burst of new ideas, though. What could have happened for her to be inspired like that? Maybe it was that short power nap she had. Perhaps she could try having them more often.

As they walked downstairs, Lauren kept thinking about this weird sensation she had been feeling ever since she woke up. She couldn’t explain it. It was some sort of urge to eat something dry, and sweet. She couldn’t help but think about it. It was like if her body demanded to be fed with that aliment. Suddenly, Lauren had the craziest of thoughts. So crazy that it made her chuckle a little.

“Okay, call me crazy, but this is just too weird. Why do I feel the sudden urge to stuff my face with daisy sandwiches?”

~The End~

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