“Well, I suppose this is it, Twilight,” you say, pulling your muzzle out of your saddlebags after one last check. “Thank you again for the opportunity to work under you! I’m glad that our data on the frozen flu was published.”

“I am too,” Twilight nods in concurrence. “I’m sorry we had to leave the north suddenly when I got sick. I can’t shake the feeling that we were really getting close to the source of the outbreak; that would have been a groundbreaking scientific paper!”

“If if’s and but’s were candies and nuts…” you sing-song back to Twilight.

She covers her mouth with a hoof and giggles. “Alright, smartflank, you know what I mean!”

“Even if we missed a big break, it was an honor to work with you regardless, Princess Twilight.”

Twilight nods to you as she opens the front doors of the castle for your exit. “And it was a pleasure to work with you and get to be your friend!”

Marching up to her, you smile and offer your hoof in hope of a hoofshake.

Twilight scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Come on, don’t be like that!” she chides, throwing a hoof around your neck and pulling you into a tight hug.

Closing your eyes, you hug her back.

“Don’t be a stranger, okay?” she whispers. “Come and visit. It’s going to be lonely around here without another genius to talk to.”

In response, you let out a deep chuckle and squeeze Twilight briefly before ending the hug. “Will do. Until we meet again, Twilight.”

As you trot along to the train station, you can’t help but get lost in your thoughts about Twilight. You felt something tug at your heart when she hugged you; do you like her, perhaps? More importantly, does she like you, or does the Princess of Friendship just hug anypony that stays at the castle?

You stare out at the countryside from the train station platform as you ruminate these questions, until her parting words echo through your skull a second time.

Don’t be a stranger, okay? Come and visit. It’s going to be lonely around here without another genius to talk to.

You smile as your train approaches. You’ll be lonely too until you meet Twilight again, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be lonely forever.

OK ENDING 1

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