epilogue

It doesn't take up long to get the damaged areas of the gnome kingdom cleaned up, and get the Frazits sealed back into their barrel. Without Discord's will to drive them, the gnome mages assure me, they will merely be harmless mischief spirits, should they ever escape again.

"We can't thank you enough!" The chieftain of the Dell Dweller's chieftain tells me. "Discord could have destroyed not only our city, but all of Ponyland, as well!"

"But what caused Discord to awaken in the first place?" I ask, confused.

"Ohhhh my my my ! It must have been the princess's approaching the cavern that did it." An elderly gnome wizard replied, walking over to us on his cane. "The approach of power of her order, acted like an alarm clock to a being of pure chaos."

"OH! Mr. Moochick!" I exclaim, noticing the old wizard. "What are you doing down here?"

"Visiting some of friends of mine back home, so to speak." He sighs. "I arrived just as you and the Princess were finishing things."

"Mr. Moochick, the Princess said she knew you once." I tell him. "She told me..."

"I know, North Star... thank you." He interrupts me. "Now if you'll excuse me, I- I think I have something in my eye..."

The old wizard hobbles off, leaving me more confused than ever.

...

I return to Dream Castle, to find the Queen has already departed for her journey. I also find another is preparing to leave, as well.

"Must you return to sea again, so soon?" I plead with Barnacle, barely holding back the tears that are leaking from my eyes. "You've only been back for a few weeks."

"I am sorry, my beautiful, sweet pony angel." He gently caresses my face with his hoof. "But when this voyage has come to an end, I shall return to ye again, on the new moon."

I bury my head against his chest. "I wish you could just stay here." I whinny sadly.

"Ye could come with me, lass." Barnacle replies, looking down at me. "I have invited ye to join me more than once. We could explore the seas...together!"

"You old pirate!" I tell him with a laugh, wiping the tears from. "Perhaps I'll take you up on that offer someday."

We share the embrace of love that night... and in the morning, he is gone.

It is not long after, that Masquerade comes to me once more. But this time, Wind Whistler is with her.

"A'llo, you two!" I greet them. "You won't believe what happened with-"

"-Luna in the gnome kingdom?" Masquerade interrupts. "We already know about that."

"Her spies excel at their craft, North Star." Wind Whistler reminds me. "You are well aware of that fact."

"No, I am here to talk to you about the treasonous earth mare, Truly." Masquerade continues. "And all the traitors who follow her."

"We know she talked to you about her plans." Wind Whistler told me. "And we seek to act on that information, expediently."

"Now wait just a bloomin' minute!" I snort in angrily, my accent showing more than I usually allow. "I turned those little blighters down! I ain't no traitor to our Queen!"

"Calm yourself, North Star!" Masquerade whinnied. "We are not here to accuse you! We are here to seek you aid!"

"What?" I ask, confused.

"We are all going to go along with this scheme, should Truly succeed in moving the nobility away from the castle." Wind Whistler explained. "Those loyal to Majesty will be seeded amongst the ranks of Truly's rebels, and when the time comes, we will turn the tables on those three!"

"We want to know if we can count on you, explorer." Masquerade asks me. "To stand with us, if the time is right."

Stopping, I think about what Luna has taught me, what she hoped for the future of Ponykind, and how I could help bring about that future. Turning to my two fellow Pegasus, I tell them, very eloquently;

"Mine fair ladies, this doth beith an offer that I cannot refuseth!"

-End-

Author's note; this is the end of this tale, but I suggest anypony who enjoyed this tale check out my other stories, which are set in the same universe. Reading the other stories is not nesscesscary to enjoy this one, but it will give you a clerar picture of things that happened here. Anyway, thanks again for reading!