1500 hours; December 19, 2016; one mile outside of Ponyville, Equestria

Alex and his friends gathered outside of Ponyville to say their final goodbyes.

A teleporter had been placed on the outskirts to act as an gateway to and from Equestria, now that Public Dimensional Transportation was beginning to become widespread. The crowd of almost 30 had been grouped around, conversing among themselves. None of them could believe the biggest adventure of their lives thus far was drawing to a close.

"So... Have you decided on what you're going to do?" Kat wondered.

"As a matter of fact, I have," Alex began, "I'll spend the next week or two working at Sugarcube Corner in Pinkie's stead while she recovers in the hospital. Then, Oz finally got around to finding someone willing to train me until I go to Beacon."

"Who did Ozpin convince to train you?"

"Oz never really gave me any of the details, but he did say that they'd be a pain in the ass." Alex shrugged.

"Did he actually say that?"

"Nah, just paraphrasing." Alex admitted.

Alex took a moment to listen to other people's conversations.

"You know, Rubes. You're actually really cool to hang around. Maybe we can play the new CoD together if they somehow get online to work at Remnant." Vanoss smiled.

"Aww! Thanks, Evan!" Ruby hugged the owl-masked Canadian.

"Ow.. You're crushing my lungs..." He gasped.

"Heheh.. Sorry.." Ruby smiled sheepishly.

"Hey, Keep in touch, okay?" Twilight asked Weiss.

"Of course, Princess." Weiss nodded respectfully, both bowing to each other.

"So, hey. If you want, I can probably get you guys Wonderbolts tickets. I was finally accepted in the hospital room!" Rainbow Dash smiled happily.

"Ooh, dude! Nice!" Wildcat congratulated.

"I'm happy for you, Dash!" Yang ruffled Rainbow's mane.

"Ah! Don't do that!!" Rainbow batted her wings to move Yang's hand.

"Why, is that your pet peeve?" Yang smirked.

"Aaaaahhhh!!" Rainbow screamed, irritated.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Rarity asked Mako.

"I'm going back to Earth. Someone has to clean up Hunter Smith's mess." Mako shrugged, referring to the new Chancellor of the North American Federation.

"Ah, yes. I assume Revolution is a tedious thing to clean up after. At least Princess Celestia was able to bring Ponyville back to it's former glory after 3 weeks of Red Star occupation." Rarity figured.

"Alex..?" Blake asked.

Alex stood up off the ground to face the Faunus of Team RWBY. He knew that Blake didn't necessarily approve of his methods and tactics, even to the point of comparing him to Omicron. He privately wondered what she would have to say about his sentence.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't be comparing you to.. You know who, but.." Blake stuttered.

"Blake, listen. I know we may not always see eye-to-eye about these kinds of things. And that's fine. I really don't mind who or what you compare me to. You do you, and I'll do me," Alex explained, "Just... promise me that if I ever end up like any of them, try to be the second or third to try and get my shit together."

"I understand.." Blake figured.

Alex raised his hand, which Blake held and, with a hint of uncertainty, shook. A sign of mutual respect between the two.

"It was an honor fighting alongside you, Ms. Belladonna. Godspeed." Alex nodded.

"Good luck." The two eventually broke off and went their separate ways.

Twilight flew to Alex, landing next to him and wrapping a wing around his back.

"Hey, Alex.. I'll miss you, you know.." Twilight wing-hugged him.

"Relax, Twi. I still have community service at Sugarcube Corner." Alex smiled.

"Oh... Oh yeah.." Twilight remembered.

"Hey, Alex!" Rainbow flew over to Alex, crashing into him.

"Ow... Hi, Dash.." Alex rubbed his forehead.

"Hey! So, uh... I was wondering, There's a Wonderbolt show up in Cloudsdale next month, I was wondering if you wanted to, maybe you could come.." Rainbow figured.

"I'll be training by then, but I'll bring it up with my mentor. I'm sure they'll understand." Alex nodded.

"Okay, then. Here's two tickets, in case he, or she, wants to see it too." Rainbow handed him the tickets, which he slid into his back pocket. Alex shook her hoof.

"Thanks, Dash. For everything." Alex nodded, pulling her into a hug.

"A-Ah!" She gasped in surprise

"Hey, don't forget who got you your gun and your armor!" Vinyl ran over to Alex, hugging him.

"Oh, right! Hi, V!" Alex greeted, hugging her back.

"By the way, this is Octy. She's my roommate." Vinyl introduced a brown earth pony with a black musical note as a Cutie Mark.

"Hello, Admiral.." She greeted.

"It's Captain, now." Alex reminded.

"Oh, right.. The trial.. I can't imagine how you must feel.." 'Octy' shuffled her hooves.

"Meh, the war's over. The title's practically meaningless now." Alex shrugged.

"I see.." Octavia nodded.

"Heads up!" Yang yelled from across the crowd as Ruby tackled him.

"A-Ah!" Alex screamed.

"Oh my gosh! I'll miss you, Alex! Promise me you'll keep in touch!!" Ruby stammered.

"Woah! Hey! Easy! Of course I'm going to talk to you guys! Who else can handle my effed-up head?" Alex shrugged.

"Thanks, Alex!" Ruby hugged him again, handing him a rose-colored card with a few scroll numbers written on it with the words 'Xiao Long/ Rose' written on top.

"See you in a couple years!" Alex waved.

"Seems like she likes you, too." Kat mocked.

"Kat. Stahp." Alex blinked.

"See you in a few years, Alex!" Nora latched onto his back like a spider monkey.

"Get off me!" Alex screamed in shock.

"NORA!!" Ren yelled, dragging her off of Alex.

"Thanks, Ren." Alex gasped.

"Someone has to keep her in line." Ren stated.

Alex stood up, scarcely breathing when Yang finally tackled him and pulled him into a kiss. The kiss lasted only a few seconds until Yang finally allowed him to breathe.

Alex gasped for breath and when it seemed like his breathing had finally settled, he spoke.

"What is up with you people and tackling me?" Alex puffed.

"Oh, lighten up. This might be the last time we see each other for a few years." Yang smiled at first before looking disappointed and almost sad.

"Hey. I promise we'll keep in touch. I'll call every chance I get without raising your bill." Alex promised.

"I'll hold you to that." Yang glared.

"Of course." Alex smiled.

Alex pulled her into a kiss, even more passionately than Yang had started with, this time, lasting much longer.

"There are children present!" Twilight shouted.

"Screw the children! We're in the middle of something!" Alex broke off for just that moment before... Yeah, you get the idea..

"Okay, okay! We get it! Long distance relationship shit!" Delirious yelled.

"Delirious!" Rainbow shuddered.

"Come on! I don't want Ruby to be the next me!" Delirious yelled.

"Haha! Classic CaRtOoNz!" Vanoss remembered.

"Actually, I think it's too late!" Lui said, pulling a picture of Ruby wearing a hockey mask during the Halloween party on the ship.

Both charged at him, screaming and hollering,

"Get back here!!" Ruby screamed in mock anger.

"F**k you, little monkey bitch!"Delirious yelled.

"All eyes are on them.." Yang smiled deviously.

"What- OH GOD-!" Yang forced her lips against Alex's one more time before finally breaking off, leaving his mouth tasting like strawberries.

"Welp. Best thing ever to come out of this shit show..!" Alex huffed. Pulling himself up.

"All aboard for Geo Vector 0-1!" The Controller yelled.

The Controller was the pony who would coordinate which dimension one would go, when he called up the dimension of choice, the attendees would step through the portal.

Kat hugged Alex before repeating this with everyone, whereas Mako resorted to simply shaking everyone's hand, or hoof.

Vanoss and crew said their goodbyes, and when everyone was ready, twelve people stepped through the portal to Earth.

"I'm going to miss those assholes." Alex nostalgically reminisced.

"We're up next.. We should at least make it count.." Yang smiled.

"I'm with you there. I'll miss you." Alex smiled back.

Alex and Yang hugged, Alex himself a bit upset that he needed arm replacements, instead of being able to actually feel any of it. Yang didn't seem to mind, and when Alex attempted to move in order to feel more at ease, she moved along with.

Ruby eventually joined in, not out of intimacy with Alex, but just for the sake of being with her sister. Alex respected the thought, and shuffled for room between him and his partner.

"All aboard for Oum Alpha 0-12!"

Yang and Ruby stood up, with all of them saying their goodbyes before stepping a few feet away.

Yang instantly spun around, running to hug Alex in what would be their last embrace for at least another 2 years. With one last parting kiss to the cheek, Yang followed her teammates into the portal. Alex waved goodbye as he saw more of his friends leave for their homes.

The portal finally closed, as no other entrances or exits were being scheduled for today, leaving Alex and the rest of the Ponyville Party to return to their homes.

----

*December 24, 2016; 2300 hours*

Alex had finally sold his house.

It had been a rough couple of weeks, but he had successfully managed to sell it to Skirmish, who had been having some difficulty find a suitable place. He sold it for pretty cheap compared to what it was actually worth. He just wanted to sever his ties to this place, as he found this method the least painless. He still thought about how Yang's severance had affected him. He couldn't put Twilight and the others through something similar, but he at least had the decency to write a letter to Twilight explaining his disappearance, which he demanded Skirmish deliver herself the next day. But truthfully, he still felt horrible about leaving in the dark of night like this.

"Ticket?" The Controller asked.

Alex handed him the small card, with his name, age, and his destination listed on it. The Controller took the card, stamped it, and kept it under a desk before opening the portal.

"Interesting choice of dimension. I can't imagine it would be any good living there." The Controller nodded.

Alex stepped to the portal, sighing sorrowfully.

'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I bid you adieu, Equestria.' Alex thought, stepping through the portal.

Author's Notes:

I hate goodbyes.

Actually, it isn't goodbye yet. There's still the epilogue.

And a Sequel.

And various unaffiliated one-shots i figure I should write to keep in practice.

Now to brainstorm other 1000-2000 word stories just to say I'm still active on this site!

-The Destoyer