You purse your lips as you try to contain your own emotions. “I-I guess it is.”

Twilight leans forward so that she can hug you. “You won’t forget about me, will you?”

The train lets out a screech as it halts and the doors open.

“Of course not, Twilight. Thank you, for everything.” You lay a soft kiss on her cheek.

“I deserve more than that,” she protests, standing on the tips of her hooves to give you a kiss on the lips, which you happily return.

Breaking the kiss, Twilight falls back to her hooves. “Goodbye.”

“I’ve never liked that parting wish,” you muse. “What about ‘Until we meet again’?”

Several tears wash down Twilight’s face, and she nods emphatically at your suggestion.

Smiling once more at her, you turn and enter the train with your saddlebags. The train is largely empty, and you are able to sit in the same car. Letting your saddlebags fall to the ground between the seats, you take a seat and gaze out the window at the platform as the doors close.

Twilight is still standing on the platform, obviously crying but stoically standing straight and suppressing her sobs regardless. She blows you a kiss.

Placing a hoof on the window to catch it, you then place your hoof against your heart. Using the other hoof, you blow a kiss to Twilight, who returns the gesture as the train begins to move.

Twilight trots after the train until the platform ends, where she stops and waves to you. You wave back at her for as long as you can, stopping only several seconds after you can no longer see her.

Sighing roughly, you collapse into a rather unceremonious posture on the bench. Your heart feels like it’s having palpitations as you think about the mare you love walking home from the station, alone. Life, it seems, has a habit of getting in the way of happiness from time to time.

Scratching your muzzle with a hoof, your thoughts drift to seeing Twilight again. A smile plays at your lips as you imagine her arguing with a roomful of academics after giving a lecture. Maybe she’d let you take her out to dinner, afterward?

You conclude that she would. Life, it seems, has a habit of offering up happiness from time to time.

“Excuse me, sir?”

You look toward the aisle of the train, where a Celestrack employee stands with a metal cart full of various concessions.

“Would you like to purchase a drink?”

Your reply is emphatic. “Yes, I would.”

BITTERSWEET ENDING

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