It felt like an eternity passed in an instant. So many memories ripped from his mind. So many pains ripped from his heart. So many emotions stripped away from him. The thousands of years of torment and pain and anger he had held within his heart suddenly disappeared. All in an instant, he was free from his sorrow and anger. His hatred faded fast, and his mind soon cleared. Feilbach smiled a smile of genuine happiness. He stepped slowly through the plains, taking in the sight of his childhood home. The tree he had labeled as home now covered in the sorrowful souls of the soldiers from the war, he didn’t dare approach it.

Amber’s melody saved him from those angry souls. She gave him his life back, for the second time now. He had no intention of wasting it again. He had his sanity back. The ponies stood aside and watched as the stallion examined the area with interest and nostalgia. When he finally approached them, he smiled happily.

“This…was my home. I spent my entire life by this tree. My mother and father made this tree in the hopes that it would end the war and unite the Triad once more. They also created the orb to save my life. Using their own souls, they created the blue gem that entered my body. They gave me a limited life at the cost of their own. I see now that I was wrong about this being a prison.” He sighed deeply, looking around once more. “It was a safe haven. While I was forced to be around this tree, I never had to face to evils of the world. The greed and lust and anger of other ponies. I never had to see another war like the one that killed them…”

None of the other ponies spoke. They watched and listened to the stallion, who mere minutes ago had been a monster dead set on ending the world and appeasing the souls he now avoided. The melody Amber had sung in the tree still rang in their heads. The melody was familiar, but none of them knew why. The moment Feilbach had been restored, the white figures that represented his past disappeared, and no answers were given.

Feilbach laughed a happy laugh, “I was always safe here. Even before Amber came along, I was safe. Once she showed up, I was happy and safe. The filly that gave you the opal…It was Amber...” He turned to look Fluttershy in the eyes.

She bowed her head. She didn’t know what to say to him. “I can see why you were immune to the Shadows. You and she are exactly alike. You two are both friendly, forgiving, kind…and you even look the same.” He took a deep breath. “She said she couldn’t hate me. Just like you did.”

Fluttershy raised her head. She spoke softly, “You think we’re alike? But…”

Feilbach turned away, stepping toward the tree a few steps, “When the tree died, so did I. She gave her life to me, and I became a monster. Even after all that, she still loved me. In the end, it was her that freed me from those wretched souls.” He stared at the black cloud engulfing the tree.

The silver orb still sat where it had before. It let off a faint glow. Feilbach answered the glow with a smile. “I think it’s almost time to go home, ponies. This isn’t where your tales end. Alas, my tale ended millennia ago…” The orb lifted itself into the air, the glow becoming brighter.

Celestia called to him, “So you’re just going to stay here, by yourself?”

Feilbach answered her, “Of course. This is where I should be. Ten-thousand years ago, this is where I died. If Amber had let me die, my soul would be wandering this realm still to this day. Of course, once my soul begins its rest here, the orb will fade away.”

Twilight asked gently, “Why will it fade away? Has it been waiting on you?”

Feilbach smiled, a tear falling from his left eye, “My mother and father gave me life with this orb. They sent a crystal to revive me. Once my soul merges with this orb for good, the crystal will return here. The orb will be complete, and its job will be finished. The Shadows I have plagued your world with will disappear for good.” He raised a hoof as another pony tried to speak. “There is no need for pity or words. The souls of my loved ones gave all they had to help me recover. Even if I never see them again, knowing that is enough for me to be happy here. I’ll just have to remember to avoid the tree.”

Fluttershy took a few steps forward smiling as she cheered, “I know you’ll see them again! I’m sure of it!”

The orb’s glow grew brighter. Feilbach smiled at it, yelling, “Okay, okay! I’m hurrying as fast as I can!” He looked back at the ponies. “You’ve all done more that you can imagine. I don’t know why, but the place where I was imprisoned held gemstones specifically for restoring you from the Shadows. None of us may ever understand why the gems responded to you, but I’m lucky they did.” He laughed.

Rainbow stepped up, “You sure do have a lot going on in that head of yours, don’t you? Some things just aren’t meant to be understood.”

Applejack agreed, “I ain’t sure why the gems saved us. It looks like Fluttershy did all the work here! But y’know, sometimes you just ain’t s’posed to know.”

Luna giggled, “I really can’t say what the gems wanted with us. Whatever it was, we probably disappointed them!”

Pinkie Pie chimed in, “It was fun though, all the cool lights and magic and stuff!”

Rarity muttered, “It almost seemed like a waste of time, really. We didn’t do anything to stop you, it just happened.”

Cadence lightened the tone, “I don’t think it mattered that we were here. I think we were meant to witness how Amber’s love saved him!”

Twilight nodded in agreement, “For the second time in a month, we got to see the power of love save the day!”

Feilbach chuckled, rubbing his hoof through his mane, “Maybe. Like I said, I don’t know why they saved you, but they did. I’m grateful to every last one of you.” The orb’s glow shined brighter, this time changing from white to silver.

Fluttershy started walking toward the orb. “It’s time for us to go now. Come on everypony, let’s get this over with…” She stopped short of the orb, hanging her head low.

The group of ponies walked slowly toward the orb, knowing that once they left, Feilbach would be alone for an undeterminable amount of time. He smiled at them as they touched the orb one by one, being sucked back into the real world. Fluttershy hesitated, turning instead to look at him.

She spoke gently, “When you see Amber, tell her I said thanks.”

Feilbach raised an eyebrow, “Thanks for what?”

“For saving me in the castle. For leading me to the gemstones. For giving me the courage to save my friends… And most of all, for helping return you to normal.” She smiled widely, then turned back toward the orb.

Feilbach sighed, “I’ll gladly give her your message. Thank you, Fluttershy.”

She looked back at him, “For what?”

“For not hating me. After everything you’ve had to go through because of me…you still don’t hate me…” He blushed.

Fluttershy laughed, “Of course not. I can’t hate someone who isn’t himself.”

The orb flashed once, and Fluttershy knew it was time to leave. She touched her hoof to the orb, and for the last time she was sucked through back to the real world.

Feilbach sat in grass, staring at the orb, the image of all the ponies fading from its surface. A tear fell from his eye again, and three white balls of light appeared beside him.

Welcome home, son…

Next Chapter: Chapter 22: How the Tale Ends Estimated time remaining: 7 Minutes