Epilogue

Tranquility sighed as she stared out at the wrecked battlefield of the valley that had been Equestria’s grounds of triumph a little over one week earlier. A lot of the grass that had been on the field had been kicked up and killed with so many ponies and changelings fighting about it, most of the valley left dead and stripped of its green hue. The pegasi and earth ponies down in the previous battlefield, still, were walking through the destroyed, but recovering, fields. Planting grass, picking up weapons and armor the soldiers had misplaced before, and overall trying to bring the life back into the valley, their progress was beginning to show, though it was very little. The river cutting the valley in half had already been put up to its optimal cleanness, the water falling from the mountains above Canterlot constantly providing fresh and clear water. With the changelings finally defeated and the war over, Equestria began to rebuild what had been damaged and recover what had been lost, but one heart wouldn’t seem to be healing anytime soon.

Her vision coming across the headstone down by the river in the valley, Tranquility closed her eyes and rested her chin on the edge of an overlook in Canterlot. Salvation’s funeral didn’t take long to be set up and attended by half of Canterlot and what seemed like the entire Equestrian defense forces. The other lives lost during the war weren’t ignored, however, as headstones were placed throughout the valley in respect of those who had fallen to the changelings. Civilians, royal guards, honor guards, military ponies, none of them had been forgotten.

The lavender mare standing at the edge of one of Canterlot’s outside overlooks of the valley slowly lifted a hoof up to her face and covered her eyes, trying her best not to let the tears gathering in them out again. The memories of Salvation, of Ponyville, of Frost, of everything that she hoped would never leave filled her dreams ever since she was taken out of her cocoon. Tranquility was grateful that Salvation had gone through so much to save her, but she never stopped thinking about what could have been if he didn’t. Equestria would be run by changelings, Ponyville would be lost, and Tranquility’s home would be gone forever, but at least Salvation would still be alive. The thoughts never seemed to stop running through her head, and images of Salvation didn’t end, and didn’t have an end in sight. Tranquility’s love would never die for Salvation, even if he wasn’t there with her anymore. She knew that.

Tranquility quickly wiped her eyes as she heard hoofsteps approach from behind, the lavender mare backing away from the edge and turning around to look at who was walking by. At the sight of Tranquility’s eyes glistening and a frown on her face, Twilight Sparkle stopped abruptly and lifted a hoof up limply.

“Oh, uh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were...” Twilight began to apologize.

“No no... it’s alright. You don’t have to go.” Tranquility replied calmly as she wiped one last tear from her eyes, sniffling before she gave Twilight a smile. “Is there something I can do for you?”

Twilight Sparkle slowly trotted over to Tranquility’s side and they both looked out at the valley. “No, nothing. I saw you standing here just thought I would come over and have a little talk. If that’s okay. I don’t want to-”

Tranquility giggled lightly. “It’s fine, Twilight. You’re not interrupting much. How did the talk with the princess go?”

“It went as her congratulations usually do. Bringing Equestria back to its full potential must be a lot of work for the princess right now, so I suppose she couldn’t have talked with me for too long.”

“What did she say about Cloudsdale and Ponyville? Are they bouncing back?”

“A lot of the ponies that were put out of their homes are being filed back into Ponyville and are getting their homes back. Cloudsdale still has some reconstruction and cloud gatherings to rebuild what was damaged, but progress is coming out of the whole cause.”

“I see. How is your brother?”

“He’s recovering back in the hospital right now. After the physically able royal and honor guards went out to retrieve the ponies that were still trapped in The Hive, they found him down in a crater near the mountains on their way, along with some of the other soldiers that were harmed during the ambush. His hind legs are hurt pretty badly, but he’s resilient. I’m sure he’ll be back up in no time. Things seem to be looking up now that the war is over.”

Tranquility let her ears flatten against her head and she rested her chin back on the raised edge of the overlook. “Yeah... they seem to be.”

Twilight looked at Tranquility out of the corner of her eye for a second, biting her lip as she conjured up a question she hesitated to ask. “So... how are you holding up since... the end of the war?”

Her eyes closing, Tranquility took a deep breath in before she responded. “I’ve been better. The only thing that has been bringing me down is that... that Salvation’s not there to bring me back up. He used to take me into his hooves and say everything would be alright, and remind me of my mother’s words. He made everything seem like it would be okay, even if he knew it wouldn’t.” Tranquility squeezed her eyes tight, stopping a few tears building up. “And even in the end, he told me that everything would be okay.”

Twilight slowly put a hoof on Tranquility’s back. “Was he right?”

Opening her eyes again, the lavender mare holding back her tears looked back out into the valley. “In a way, yes. Equestria is coming back from the repercussions of the war and things are actually looking good for once. But... it’s just that he’s not here to reassure me that anymore. I miss him... and I don’t think I ever won’t, but I know I’m going to have to let go some day.” Tranquility stood up straight and smiled at Twilight. “We all will. Not just about our loved ones, but about what happened. Thank you, for asking. You didn’t cause any harm, I assure you.”

Twilight Sparkle nodded. “I was hoping I didn’t.” She looked back further into Canterlot and came across a post holding a lamp in one of Canterlot’s streets. “The train for Ponyville is leaving in a little bit.” Twilight said as she turned back to Tranquility. “Would you want to come with me? Pinkie Pie is throwing a reunion and celebration party back in Ponyville for whoever wants to come.”

Tranquility laughed quietly. “I would love to come with.”

“Great. Come on, the train isn’t going to wait for us.”

The two lavender mares quickly trotted away from the overlook of the valley from the edge of Canterlot and started off for the Canterlot train station. New beginnings were starting open up in the land of ponies, and for now, all Equestria could do was move forward.

______________________________________________________________________

“Valor, come on, just because the war is over doesn’t mean that you can just do whatever you want.” Platinum called out after his friend as he ran after the pegasus royal guard rushing through the Canterlot sculpture garden.

“Oh lighten up, Platinum! We can celebrate now! Aren’t you happy?” Valor asked as he slid to a stop on the gravel pathway, raising his front legs into the air and flailing them around.

Platinum weakly swayed back and forth. “Yay, woohoo, yipee. See? I’m happy. Now quit running around; we’re still royal guards, if I must remind you.”

Sighing and rolling his eyes, Valor walked back towards Platinum. “Fine, fine. You’re getting me ice cream later for ruining my fun, though.”

“Yeah, sure.” Platinum said as he and Valor started slowly down the path. “Now come on, the royal guards by the Chrysalis statue said the ponies around it were getting a little rowdy. You like yelling, don’t you?”

“One of my favorite things in the world. It’s useful when you want to potentially make somepony go deaf.”

“You’re acting like I’ve never seen you do it before.”

“Well you’re always acting like I’m not even there when I do things like that.” Valor leaned his head closer to the royal guard beside him. “How do I know when you’re listening to me or not?”

“Yeah, I like the sculpture garden, too.”

Valor chuckled and shoved Platinum. “Now you’re just being an ass.”

Platinum smiled. “I try my best. Keep it together, I can see the crowd around the statue.”

Valor and Platinum quickly shut their mouths as the tall stone figure came into sight over the unicorns and royal guards around it. The changeling queen remained still in her stone encasement, her eyes focused on the platform she stood upon. The new item in the sculpture garden was the main point of interest ever since Discord’s re-addition, even some of the nobles taking an interest in the statue that was formerly the changeling queen.

A unicorn royal guard separated from the crowd as Platinum and Valor grew close, the guard panting slightly. “I’m glad you two got here. Just in time, too.” The guard said.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Platinum asked.

“Some of the visitors from outside of Canterlot were trying to destroy the statue out of anger because they lost their homes in the raids. We’ve been trying to hold them back but they won’t leave and we’re not allowed to use force against them. I just need you two to watch over the statue as the three of us escort the ponies out of the garden. Can you handle that?”

“Yeah, we’ll take care of it. Go do your thing.” Valor said.

“Good. Thanks you guys.”

As the unicorn royal guard raced back to the crowd and began to move the ponies by the statue away and out of the garden, Platinum and Valor inched their way towards the stone figure. The ponies that had been standing in front of the statue gone from the area, the two royal guards looking up at Chrysalis took a moment to examine the item.

“I wonder what her last thoughts were before she completely went under.” Valor said, tilting forward to look past Chrysalis’s mane.

“I don’t know. I’d rather not even be here, honestly, but we have a job to do.” Platinum said, turning away from the statue and looking out at the rest of the garden.

“Why not?” Valor asked. “This place is pretty much an outdoor history museum. You like going to those boring things, right?”

“They’re not boring, they’re informative and interesting. Besides, I don’t have a problem with the garden. It’s just Chrysalis, is all.”

Valor walked to Platinum’s side as he was done looking over the statue. “What’s wrong with her?”

Platinum turned towards Valor and his face lit up. “Oh hi! Are you knew to Equestria? Here let me show you around!” He extended his hoof out to Chrysalis. “First of all, this is the statue of the creature that tried to take us over not only two weeks ago! Amazing isn’t it!?”

Laughing slightly, Valor pushed Platinum’s hoof back to the ground. “Alright, alright. I get it.”

Shaking his head, Platinum laughed along with Valor. “Sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

______________________________________________________________________

“Hey, you.” A deep and rough voice called out from across the sky.

A dark grey pegasus carrying a large box towards Cloudsdale stopped in his flight path as the voice directed towards him, the pegasus turning around and shaking slightly. “Uh... yes, sir? Is there something you want?” The stallion asked as he flew back towards the box cart suspended by two pegasi the voice had called him from.

A large and tough looking light brown stallion looked at the pegasus as he stopped near the back of the box cart. “Don’t you think you’ve worked enough for today? For Celestia’s sake, you’ve been rushing back between Los Pegasus and Cloudsdale non-stop with these supplies! Why don’t you let somepony else take Cloudsdale’s shift and you take a little break? You could use some rest.” The light brown stallion took his hat off of his head and shook it upside down, a pile of bits stacking onto his hoof. “Here, Zeal, take your pay for today and a little something extra and head back to the mail station in Los Pegasus so you can get some rest. You’ve earned it, kid.”

The dark grey pegasus eyed the bits in his hooves as his boss shoved the payment into him. “Th- thank you, sir. I’ll head back to Los Pegasus.” Zeal said quietly, slowly emptying his hooves of the bits into a pouch strapped around his left back leg.

“Don’t mention it. And you can stop calling me sir; that’s not needed in this type of business. Now head on back. You’ve done some good work today.”

Zeal nodded and began to fly from the outskirts of Cloudsdale to Los Pegasus, waving goodbye to the light grey mare with tilted yellow eyes as he passed the front of the box cart. He looked back at Cloudsdale for a short second before he took off as fast as he could. A small number of the buildings that had been destroyed because of the war were in the process of being reconstructed, and the supplies that Zeal had been bringing to the city provided enough materials to get the weather systems back up and running. Slowly but surely, Cloudsdale was being rebuilt into what it had used to be.

Growing out of sight from the city of pegasi, Zeal calmed his pace to a brisk speed as he began to fly over a mountainous region. Seeing a small clearing atop one of the snowy mountain caps as he scanned his eyes over the mountain range, the dark grey pegasus dived down towards the flatten area. Zeal moved his dark blue mane out of his cyan eyes as the wind blowing over the mountains picked up, the dark grey pegasus lifting a hoof to his eyes to shield from the snow and ice blowing through the air. Despite the cold, Zeal toughed through the slightly numbness in his hooves. With the spark of a bright green spell in his eyes, the dark grey pegasus sighed with relief as he returned to his normal form, the light and elegance of his insect wings lifting the burden of the heavy and feathered pegasus wings.

“Much better...” Devotion whispered to himself as he stared through one of the holes in his hooves. He quickly looked up from his hoof to look around the area. Nopony had seen him go into the mountains, and he hoped that nopony had followed him. As he made sure he was safe, Devotion took a moment to stare up at the clear sky as he sat down.

“You were right, Augury.” The changeling said out loud. “Equestria is one of the nicest places I’ve seen. Granted... I’m not very old, but this is a huge break from The Hive.” The small smile on his face faded. “I... heard what happened in the valley outside of Canterlot. I wish I could have been there to help if I knew what was going on. You wouldn’t have been the only changeling on Equestria’s side. Then again, I probably would’ve gone as well with all of the others.

“I’ve gotten a steady job in Los Pegasus with Equestrian Mail. The pay is good and the work is a little hard, but everything seems to be working out. It has been a little hard to not use my magic in my pegasus form, but I’ve managed to go on with my life as a pony so far without magic. It’s not that hard, honestly. I just find it a little weird that, when I do use my magic in private, it glows in my eyes instead of a horn now. I was frightened at first, but I’ve gotten used to it.” Devotion tilted his head back to the ground. “I wish you could still be here to guide me. I haven’t made any friends so far. I didn’t think it would be that hard, but some of the ponies are a bit more bitter than I had anticipated. I’m managing myself, though, so don’t worry about me too much... wherever you are.”

Devotion put a hoof up against his left eye. “The wound on my eye has healed, and I found it useful that I don’t have to wear my eyepatch when I change into my pony form. Even then, though, I can’t see out of it. I just tell the ponies that ask about it that it’s a birth defect. Safest route, I suppose.” The changeling chuckled to himself and shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll have any troubles being found out that I’m a changeling. It scares me a little whenever ponies approach me. I just feel that they already know, but they’re too scared to do anything. That’s just my mind playing around with itself, I’m sure, but I can’t get the thought out of my head that...” Devotion paused for a second. “Well, I’m the only changeling left.”

Devotion shook his head and looked back up to the sky. “I think I’m already losing my mind. This life is different from the one I had in The Hive... and I’m taking my time to talk to my deceased friend.” The changeling laughed to himself. “If you heard that, don’t take any offense. I didn’t mean any. What I want to say is, thank you, Augury. Thank you for giving me the chance to be one of the ponies. I’ll make the best of it.”

Taking a deep breath in, the changeling stood back up onto his hooves and tucked a corner of his mouth inwards. “For as long as I can keep my identity hidden, at least.”