Tale of Two Bronies

Tale of Two Bronies
A 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' Self-Insert Fanfiction
by milesprower06 and FenixTheFox93

Chapter 6
Like The Last Day Of Vacation

PONYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
THE NEXT MORNING

When Brady woke up the next morning, he heard a commotion downstairs. As his head cleared from sleep, he recognized it as Spike, along with repeated knocking.

“Twilight, just tell me what's wrong! You're starting to worry me a little here!” he said, continuing to knock on the door. With that, Brady got up and went down to investigate. “Hey Spike, what's going on?” he asked. “Twilight's locked herself in the basement, and she won't tell me what she's doing down there. She's been down there all night! I don't think she's even gotten any sleep.” Spike informed him. Brady came up to the door and gave it a few knocks. “Twi? Everything okay?” he asked. He got no response. “Well, we need to figure out what she's doing. Let's go get Rarity, she can unlock the door with her magic.” Brady said.

With that, Spike hopped on Brady's back, and they went out into the Ponyville morning. They were halfway to Carousel Boutique when Rainbow and I came down from the skies.

“Hey Brady. What's up?” I asked. “Something's not right. Twilight's locked herself in the library, and she won't tell us what's going on. We were headed to get Rarity to help with the lock.” Brady informed me. Clearly, this was cause for concern. We followed them to Carousel Boutique, where Rarity was freshening up for the day, and we immediately explained the situation to her. Before we knew it, we were back at the library, Pinkie and Fluttershy having joined us on the trip back.

“Alright, stand back, everyone. I've only done this once before, when Opal locked me out of the boutique.” Rarity said, and her horn began to glow. Several seconds later, the basement door's lock began to glow, and then we heard a click, and the glowing ceased. Spike tested the doorknob, and it opened, and we all trotted down the stairs, finding Twilight at a table with an assortment of glass beakers and tubes.

Also on the table, was a single, unfurled scroll. Twilight looked at us with tired, worried eyes.

“Twilight, what is going on here?” Spike asked. Twilight fumbled with her words. “I...I...” She finally gave in, her horn glowed and she levitated the scroll over to us so we could all read it.

My dearest, most faithful student Twilight,

I'm afraid I have troubling news. The gateway that Pinkie found, and subsequently brought Jake and Brady through to Equestria from, is closing. It will only remain open until the morning after next. I know this is not what we were hoping, and that they could spend more time here, but I'm afraid the time has come for them to return home.

I need you to prepare a potion that will transform them back to their original forms, so that they can return to their home in the same condition they arrived. I wish you the best of luck. Again, I wish things could be different.

Her royal Highness,
Princess Celestia of Equestria

Everyone's hearts collectively sank. Mine and Brady's, especially. “I didn't want to ruin your last day in Equestria, so...I kept this a secret. I'm...I'm sorry.” Twilight said. “It's alright, Twi. We both knew this would happen eventually.” Brady said sullenly. Rainbow remained silent, and without warning, turned and galloped out of the basement. “Rainbow, wait!” I called out to her, but she ignored me, reaching the front door of the library and took off into the morning sky. “Guys, I should go after her.” I told them from the top of the basement stairs. “It's alright. I haven't gotten the potion figured out yet. So please go enjoy yourselves.” Twilight said. I ran to the front door and took off after Rainbow. I figured she was going back to her house. Sure enough, by the time her cloud home got into view, I just manged to see her pop back into the front door. I flew up and sat on the front porch, if you could call it that.

“Rainbow...Rainbow come on out.”

“Go away, Jake!” she yelled agrily. Having spent several nights here, I flew around to the left side, to the bedroom window. I looked inside to see Rainbow laying on her bed.

“I said go away!” she said, immediately spotting me. “Do you really want to spend my last day cooped up in here?” I asked, trying to calm her down. Still angry, she glanced at me then laid back down. I took that as an invitation, so I squeezed through the cloud window and landed next to her bed. “I knew it was too good to be true. I finally had someone who shared my enthusiasm for flying who could come with me to an airshow, and now you have to go back home. I mean, I really, REALLY was looking forward to going with you. It's like nothing you've ever seen! And...and now you're not gonna be able to experience it.” she sorrowfully said. I sat down next to her bed. I had to entertain the idea.

“I could still go with you. I...I don't have to go back home.” I offered. “What?” she said, almost shocked at what I was implying. “I really don't know if I want to go home yet. I've loved it here, and I've loved learning how to fly with you. I don't want to leave that yet.” I said. “But who knows when the gateway to your world will open again? Who knows if it'll open again at all? No. No, I'm not going to let you walk away from your life back home just so you can go to an airshow with me.” she said. “I...I guess you're right.” I said, giving in. “But still, you don't want to spend today cooped up in here. I know you'll regret it if you do.” I said. “Yeah, you're right. Let's go get some breakfast. How about at Sweet Apple Acres?” she offered. “Sounds great.” I said, smiling.

PONYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
1 HOUR LATER

Brady sat in the basement, watching Twilight fiddle with the assortment of magical liquids. He noticed that her magical grip on the equipment was starting to wane, as the tubes and beakers wobbled in her grasp.

“Twilight, you've been up all night. You need some rest.” Brady told her. “I can't, not until I get this formula correct.” she countered. Brady approached the table, his horn glowing, and successfully wrenched Twilight's current beaker from her horn's grasp, showing further evidence of her exhausted state. “You're not going to help anypony if you're going to attempt to make potions while you're half asleep. Go get a short nap, and I'll go get some breakfast.” he said. Twilight considered objecting, but saw his reason. She smiled at him. “Thanks Brady, a nap would do me some good.” she agreed. “I'll be back before you know it.” he said, and walked up out of the basement, making sure the stubborn-minded Twilight came up to go lay down. He was about to walk to grab a quick couple meals from Pony Joe's when something else came to his mind.

“Oh no, the bookshelf!” he realized, and began galloping to Sweet Apple Acres.

SWEET APPLE ACRES
15 MINUTES LATER

Rainbow and I were sitting with the Apple family at breakfast. “Well gosh, talk about short notice.” Applejack mused, also surprised at the sudden news that we would have to be returning home tomorrow morning. “I really wish you didn't have to go. You've become a really great friend.” Rainbow said. “That's fer sure, you two have been a breath of fresh air to Ponyville, absolutely.” Applejack added in agreement. At that time, we heard galloping coming towards the house. Brady came in, and excused himself for interrupting.

“I just came to get the bookshelf I was making. Thought I'd give it to Twilight, even though it's not finished. Better than having it sit in your barn.” Brady said. “No need to apologize, Brady. We were just finishing up. You want something to eat?” Applejack offered. “No thanks, I'm not really all that hungry, to be honest.” I brought my plate and glass to the sink, and followed Brady out to the barn. We opened the door, and he went over to the right side, where his nearly-finished bookshelf rested on the workbench. All it was missing was the coat of finish, and sanding down the edges to give it a little design. And I had the feeling Brady would want to spend his last day here with Twilight, and not working on the bookshelf.

“I really, really don't want to go back.” Brady told me, not even trying to hide the sorrow in his voice. I relented to my subconscious, and brought the possibility forth yet again. “We could stay...Twilight could not get the potion ready in time.” I told him. “But, you have your job, and I have school. We have to go back. We have lives back there. Family, friends.” he countered, repeating what Rainbow had essentially told me just an hour earlier. “Yeah I know...” I said, again coming to the same conclusion. But still, that possibility still hung in the back of my mind.

“But...what if...what if we didn't?”

In hindsight, it didn't really matter to detail what Brady and I did that day. I spent the day flying with Raibow, enjoying myself as much as I could, and Brady kept Twilight company in the basement as she worked on the potions as best she could in her sleep deprived state.

We couldn't imagine better ways to spend our last day in what we considered to be paradise, than with the ponies we had become such good friends with.

PONYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
THAT NIGHT

Twilight came up from the basement with a saddlebag, and went upstairs. The sun had set an hour before, and Luna's stars and moon graced Equestria's night sky. The unicorn found her dragon assistant sleeping in his bed next to her bed, and she looked out at the balcony. There, she saw Brady at her telescope. She walked over to the patio door and opened it, stepping out into the cool, crisp night.

“Hey there Brady.” she greeted. He turned his attention away from the telescope's eyepiece to look at her, and he smiled. “Hey Twi. I take it everything's ready?” he asked. Twilight gently set her saddlebag on the patio. “Yep. Everything's ready. I just wish...” she trailed off.

“That we didn't have to go. I know. We've been feeling the same way all day. I was kinda hoping you wouldn't get the potion figured out, but everypony knows you're too smart to not do that.” he said, causing Twilight to blush lightly. “So what are you doing out here?” she asked. “Looking at the stars. I just realized today, that that's how we can remember each other. Our world and Equestria have the same sky.” he said. He turned back toward the eyepiece, adjusting the telescope. “Have any favorite constellations?” he asked, letting her look in it. Twilight took her place at the telescope and adjusted it a few millimeters.

“Well, thanks to the last few days, I think my new favorite would have to be...Orion.” she said. “It'll remind me of the time a human came to Equestria and became one of the best friends I'll ever have in such a short time.” Twilight said. Brady smiled. “Thanks, Twilight. You've become a great friend too. And...I have to admit. Even though I've been a pony for only a few days, I've...I've come to like you. A lot.” Brady said, not able to hide the red tint in his cheeks. “I know.” Twilight replied, smiling sheepishly.

“You do?”
“Sorry, Brady. But you're not very good at hiding it.” she told him, giving a soft giggle.

Brady smiled, his blush increasing, and his horn glowed as he looked down behind the telescope's tripod. He levitated the constructed but unpainted bookshelf into view.

“I wish I had time to finish this. But I wanted to spend today with you instead.” Brady said. Twilight took the shelf in her own horn's levitation, smiling. She set it down next to her, and came in and gave Brady a hug. “It's perfect just the way it is. Simple and practical. Just like me.” she said. Brady returned the hug. “So, what other constellations can you show me?” Brady asked. Twilight smiled and stepped up to the telescope. “We could be here all night.” she said. Brady smiled in return.

“Nothing sounds better to me.”

THE NEXT MORNING

Due to how fast we had to get moving that next morning, everyone spent the night in the library. Brady and I especially found sleep hard. Neither of us wanted to let this place go. And it was getting harder and harder as we all got up and saw a royal chariot waiting outside the library to take us up to Canterlot.

“Celestia says the portal back is in the throne room, where Pinkie originally came through to you guys.” Twilight told us. We grabbed a quick breakfast, and we tried to savor it. For whatever reason, it felt like our last meal. With that, the eight of us gathered in the chariot, and we were off. During the trip, I looked over at Rainbow, who was trying her best to hide how visibly upset she was.

I wanted the chariot ride to last forever, but we were in Canterlot before we knew it. We were dropped off at the castle gates, and we all went inside. The throne room doors were guarded by two guards, who opened them for us, obviously expecting us. The closer we got, the harder Equestria tugged on our hearts to stay. This just didn't feel right.

The doors parted, and there stood Celestia in the center of the throne room, next to an otherworldly portal. We could see our hotel room on the other side. The portal itself was just beginning to visibly destabilize. We approached the Princess and all simultaneously gave a respectful bow.

“Jake, Brady. I'm sorry your time here had to be cut off so abruptly like this. I wish it could be different. It is my sincere hope that you both have enjoyed your time here.” she told us kindly.

'Why can't it be different?' I thought to myself. “Twilight, do you have the potions?” the royal sister asked. Twilight nodded, not able to hide the sadness, and opened her saddlebags, and took out two beakers of the purple sparkling fluid. She set them down, and the six of them came in for a group hug.

“I really hope you guys have had the time of your lives.”
“Thanks so much for baking with me!”
“It was awesome f-flying with you.”
“I wish I had time to make you an outfit.”
“It was so nice meeting you.”
“Y'all take care of yourselves now, ya hear?”

Amidst the goodbyes, I was barely able to keep it together.

“Are you two ready?” Celestia asked, as Twilight brought forward the two potions.

Neither of us could answer her.

Twilight removed the corks off of both potions. Brady took his in his horn's magical grasp, and I took mine in my hoof. We slowly brought them up to our mouths...

...and in one last moment of doubt, we paused.

A/N:
From this point, there will be three distinct endings. None of the endings will be connected to each other. As each ending is posted, they will pick up exactly from this point.