Epilogue

Twilight let out a long yawn, trying to keep her eyes open and focused the papers before her. Being a princess sounded like a lot more fun when she was younger. Now, as a full Alicorn princess, it had turned into little more than a never-ending mountain of paperwork. Day after day, no matter how much time she spent filling out forms, authorizing documentation, or outlining decrees, the pile never got smaller. If anything, it always seemed bigger. She had even moved from Ponyville to Canterlot in the hopes that being closer to the government center, with more ponies experienced in these tasks, would help stem the never-ending tide of paperwork. Alas, it seemed as though they contributed more with her being in the seat of power.

Hence why she scheduled days like today, where she would lock herself up in her room to spend the entire day attacking the horde of papers. She longed for the days when her duties involved travelling across Equestria to save the day, teaching about friendship, and solving disputes. Most of all, she missed being with all her best friends.

Twilight’s eyes drifted from paperwork before her to the framed pictures on her desk. There were pictures of family, special occasions, and other such events; but the one closest to her heart sat in the middle of her desk. It was by far her favorite and was centered on every surface she worked on; the morning after that fateful Summer Sun Celebration all those years ago, when she met her best friends.

She sighed as she looked at that picture, longing for all those days she spent with her best friends, going on adventures, throwing parties, or simply hanging out. They seemed like a long-forgotten dream. Had she known earlier the full effects of becoming an Alicorn, she would have tried to make those moments last.

Nearly a century had passed since those days, and she was all that was left of that circle of friends. They had all met that special somepony, had families of their own, and achieved those life-long goals that they had when they had first met. Twilight strived to stay connected to their families, but it felt odd to be around ponies so young, and yet growing more and more removed from her with every day. How long until she became a great-great-great-great aunt, if not a forgotten family friend altogether? Twilight choked back a pained chuckle at how strange it would be for her to visit the distant relatives of her friends that only knew her as, “Princess of the Realm.”

In her youth, she would often wonder why Celestia only kept business relationships and never seemed to strive for more meaningful connections, or even that close of friendships. The Solar Princess had seemed content to maintain a comfortable distance from those around her.

Enlightenment came to her in a cruel and harsh way: the more you love, the more you lose. Now, she had taken her mentor’s unspoken lesson to heart, keeping relationships strictly business. An especially hard endeavor when one was the Princess of Friendship, though it kept the pain of loss further away, a compromise she was more than willing to make.

Twilight’s eyes drifted to another picture on her desk, of a Hearth’s Warming from decades past that showed her cuddled under the tree with the one scaly exception to that rule: her oldest friend/former assistant/little brother/son/“does-it-really-matter?” Spike visited often from his home in the Dragon Lands, but he had his own family to worry about. After his life with Rumble, Princess Ember had been there to help him through his loss. The two had a clutch of their own now, and Twilight took occasional pleasure in teasing him about when he had so confidently come out as gay. “Okay, okay! So I was only half-right,” he would mutter. Still, Spike was an ever-present rock to lean on through the years, a single constant in her life.

That warm feeling faded when the next picture came into focus: a happy young family, headed by the one pony who had been there for her before even Spike. Even without the picture, she could see his easy-going, goofy grin in her mind, hear that dorky laugh, and almost feel his strong presence.

Twilight physically shook at the memory. Blood relation be damned, Shining Armor had been the first true friend she ever had. And he was gone.

She didn’t want to even imagine the pain that Candace must have gone through as her love aged day-by-day, knowing that there was little she could do to slow down the process. Having to watch as his strength disappeared, his mane turned gray, and his once-boundless energy slowly stole away by the grips of time. Young Flurry Heart had taken it especially hard, watching her daddy wither while she aged much slower than her peers. While not truly immortal, as a naturally born alicorn, she too would endure an exceptionally long life. But in the end, even she would leave. That was the main reason why she never sought a relationship with anypony. She didn’t know how Cadance could deal with that pain, but Twilight was sure she couldn't handle such a thing.

She wasn’t sure how he could handle it.

At the thought, her eyes drifted to the largest picture of them all. They had taken it in front of the barn at Sweet Apple Acres. It had been the only place where all of them could gather that could accommodate them all. All of Twilight’s closest friends and their families. Twilight’s lips tugged into a smile looking at all the happy faces, the love of friends and family that was gathered that day; when she was still so young and the terrible truth of the future was still so far away.

Twilight flicked her mane with a sigh and turned back to the paperwork before her. It wasn't going to get done with her head in the clouds. The droning sound of quill scratching on parchment soon dominated the room as Twilight filled another zoning authorization, or whatever it was. All she cared about was where to sign. At one time she would have read the document word for word, but now she trusted her advisors who read before her to know what she was signing.

“Princess Twilight, you have a visitor!” Twilight nearly jumped at the sudden shouting of one of her Royal Guard. Twilight turned to him with a glare that would have been worthy of Nightmare Moon, but the guard just stood there, standing in the doorway of her room, saluting her in rigged military attention.

Most of the Royal Guard had been inoculated to death glares of the princesses, having seen them at their worst more than once. When the Princesses were needed, the Guards had to fetch them, no matter the time or what they were doing. She had heard stories about the Royal Guards having caught Celestia reading some rather steamy novels, Luna prancing around her room while singing some Neighpponese pop sing into a hairbrush, and other ridiculous tales. If a former Royal Guard ever published a tell-all book, Twilight would bet it would be a top seller.

Twilight groaned at the guard. Even if she wanted to see somepony today, she was in no shape to do so. “Tell them to go away,” she mumbled, bringing her mug of coffee to her lips. “I made it clear that I didn’t want any visitors today.”

“I know, my Princess,” the guard said. “I told him that, but he said you would see him. His name is…” the guard looked down at a slip of paper he brought with him, “Macintosh Apple.”

A cloud of coffee spittle flew from her mouth. “Big Mac?! Why didn’t you say so?!” Twilight jumped up from her desk, excitement overcoming her. “Send him in right away!” At that moment, Twilight stepped on the hem of her robe, nearly falling over in the process with an ‘oof’ of expelled air. “Wait!” she called out, after regaining some of her composure. “Give me five minutes to put myself together,” she said, taking a good look at herself in one of the many mirrors in her room. She frowned.

Having planned to spend the day doing paperwork, Twilight hadn’t bothered to make herself look all that presentable. Or at all. The most she had done that morning was brush her teeth. She had a serious case of bed mane, she was only wearing a robe, and hadn’t even bothered to shower that morning. “Better make that fifteen,” Twilight mumbled, just loud enough for the guard to hear her, before she darted into the bathroom.

Part of her knew it was silly. He had seen her in much worse condition. She was a princess, though; there was a certain expectation that needed to be met, and it had been a while since she had seen the large stallion.

How long had it been? Three years? Ten? Twilight’s mind pondered as she turned on the shower. She took in a deep breath as she forced her head under the water, she had no time to stand around and wait for the water to get warm, not when she had such a guest waiting for her. A small giggle escaped her lips at the idea of it all, how she was getting ready as though she was preparing for a crush.

As she began to use her magic to scrub the soap into her mane he mind could not help but drift to her string of past lovers. She had only been on a few dates in her long life, and nothing ever came of them. There was of course Flash Sentry, the first stallion she had ever had a serious relationship with. He had been such a kind and passionate soul, and just well-read enough to keep her interested. The fact that he somehow managed to ooze “bad boy” charm despite being so clean-cut probably helped, too. They had gone on picnic dates, sat in the garden and just watched the world go by. It was with him that she had her first time, but that was as far as they have ever gotten. She had broken things off when the ‘L’ word started to come to mind. There were days she regretted her decision, but it was for the better. He had found love with another, and she kept a picture of him with his family in her room to remind her of him and what she would have lost one day.

Since then, Twilight has had a string of lovers, more a way to work off the stress that came with her duties than anything else. Mostly they were Royal Guards, or other stallions who tended to be on the large side. If Rarity or Rainbow Dash were still around, they would have probably made a connection to the stature of the ponies she pursued and two particular stallions she had known in her life. She briefly cranked the water to ice cold to rid herself of the awkward blush that followed.

Hopping out of the shower, Twilight set to work putting on her “Princess look.” Brushing out her mane and tail, she opened her dresser with her magic. She located her golden slippers, slipping them onto each hoof she placed an amulet around her neck that declared her the Princess of Magic. Finally, she levitated her crown onto her head, adjusting it till it sat perfectly.

Looking herself over in the closet mirror, she just smiled at herself before putting on the practiced, beatific smile of a princess. Nodding at her own reflection, Twilight spun away from the mirror with her head held high, ready to call her guard back in to allow Big Mac into her room.

“Makin’ an awful big fuss over me, ain't ya?”

Twilight shrieked, nearly falling out of her silver shoes. Whipping around, she spied a familiar shape coalesce in the darkest corner of the room. He just stood there smiling at her as though standing in the room of a princess—univinted—was something any pony could do.

“Big Macintosh!” Twilight shouted in a combination of shock, joy, and annoyance. “You should know better than to come in uninvited! You startled me!”

The large stallion just chuckled, stepping out of the shadow. “Beg yer pardon, yer majesty,” he said, bowing before Twilight once he was close enough, even adding in a roll of his hoof like a noble. “Ah had just assumed that the offer ta come and go as Ah please was still open.”.

Despite the welcome familiar face, Twilight couldn’t help the slight tinge of unease as she looked at him. He still wore an eyepatch over his right eye from that night so long ago when he fought Blackheart. She, along with the other princesses and the best medical and magical experts in the world, had tried to repair the damage. Sadly, the dark magic that had inflicted the injury was too great for them to heal.

However, it was his left eye that gave her pause. For years it had been the same bright green so common in the Apple family. Now, it had faded to a gray hue, like a newly fallowed field. To any other pony they would see it as just a normal eye, but to Twilight the change was nothing less than chilling.

Just as quickly, Twilight recomposed herself. “To clarify, the offer is to come and go as you please, from the suite we have prepared just for you, not the chambers of the Princesses… though Celestia or Luna probably wouldn’t mind a visit, Sir Macintosh.” She took a small amount of satisfaction as the large stallion flinched at her words. It was no secret that both sisters had found Big Mac quite an... appealing stallion. He was handsome, considerate, strong, and not without wits, something that any mare would find attractive. The fact that, like them, he didn’t age only made the Sister’s flirtations with the stallion even more aggressive.

“Ah’ll have ta give that a hard pass” Mac said with a slight shake of his head. He made to speak, but was cut of as Twilight nearly flew across the room and took him into a fierce embrace.

“It’s great to see you again Mac,” she whispered into his neck. “I’ve really missed you.”

Big Mac didn’t hesitate for a second to wrap a foreleg around Twilight to pull her into the hug, resting his head on top of hers, careful to avoid her horn. “Ah missed you too, Your Highness,” Mac said, a chuckle in his voice.

Twilight let out a groan and lightly shoved him away. “How many times have I told you not to call me that?” she teasingly chastised him. Mac just chuckled. It looked awkward to her, like he hadn’t laughed in a long time and was still trying to remember how to. She knew life was much harder for him than her own life. He spent so much of his time in darkness, she wondered when the last time he had let himself see the light?

"What brings you here anyway?" Twilight asked, setting aside the crown, amulet and the other apportments of her authority. Mac was right, she didn't need them when around friends.

"Same reason you didn't want to see nopony, I reckon. Anniversary of Braeburn and Fluttershy's wedding." Twilight frowned as he reminded her why she had been so moody just a few minutes ago.

One of the more unlikely couples of the group, Fluttershy and Braeburn had been not only the happiest, but arguably the cutest couple. That wasn't to say that the other girls’ relationships had failed; they all went on to live happy lives. Braeburn and Fluttershy were just something else. They were always happy together, patient, caring and loving. They didn't even fight like a normal couple. Braeburn had once proudly told Mac that they never went to bed angry... or as angry as Fluttershy could get.

When Braeburn died of old age, Fluttershy took it hard, though they wouldn't end up being apart for long. Barely a week later, Fluttershy passed in her sleep to join her husband once again. Their only child, Spartan Apple, said it was bitter sweet. Losing both of his parents in such a short amount of time was beyond heartbreaking, but so was imagining them spending many years apart. They had a love that most ponies went a lifetime never knowing, and he was happy that they had shown him that.

Their anniversary was particularly difficult because it had taken place during a time of such profound change for them all. Applejack and Soarin had just had their second foal—a filly named Windy Day—of what was to be their family of eight children. Rarity attended the wedding with Thunderlane, her newest, and as it turned out last, coltfriend. The two ended up having two foals of their own. Pinkie had been seeing Caramel off and on for the last few years and had made it official at the wedding in a very “Pinkie Pie” way, namely her dragging him around all night like a filly carrying around her favorite stuffed toy. The last of the happy couples were of course Rainbow Dash and the returned newly Big Mac.

Bringing Big Mac back from the dead had been disturbingly easy, mainly due to Agent Bentgrass offering to “selectively edit” several pieces of official paperwork. The official statement was that Big Mac had been blown away by a tank of kerosene exploding during the barn fire, and that he had gotten amnesia from the incident and spent his time wandering around Equestria.

It wasn’t until he ended up in a hospital did anyone figure out that he was suffering from amnesia at all. It took a few years to figure out where he came from but once they got him home all the memories started to come back. From years of being Wild Blaze, Mac knew how to lie, and lie well, which his sisters found much to their dislike but there was not much they could say on the matter, as the truth was far crazier than the lie. Mac had balked at the story. Nopony in their right mind would even consider such an absurd story, until Bentgrass reminded him that it was nearly four full years after Nightmare Moon when ponies outside of Ponyville began to recognize the Elements of Harmony. “Given the choice, most ponies will accept nearly any tale, no matter how absurd, so long as it doesn’t involve them,” the agent had remarked.

Twilight noticed that Mac was looking at a photo on her desk, and she knew which one without even having to look. Several years after Fluttershy’s wedding, he and Rainbow had tied the knot, before the twined apple and pear trees on Sweet Apple Acres. In the picture Mac looked so happy, clad in a smart tuxedo, standing next to Dash, who wore the frilliest dress she would ever wear. He looked much happier than any time she had seen him since. They had one son, Zapp. He had very much been his mother’s son, headstrong and loyal, and even made Captain of the Wonderbolts for many years before retiring to the Apple Farm to help his cousins.

Throughout his time with Rainbow Dash, Big Mac had used the magic granted to him by the Ghost Rider to change his appearance. A simple illusion for the rest of the world to see, to make it appear he was aging right alongside her. He hid his life as Ghost Rider from everypony that wasn’t directly connected to that night when Blackheart attacked, including his own son.

He kept aging himself, right along with Rainbow Dash, growing old with the pony he loved. They lived out Rainbow’s whirlwind days as a daredevil, teaching her son all her tricks. They watched their son fall in love and start a family of his own, becoming grandparents to the next generation of Apples, spoiling them rotten like any good grandparents. That was till the day that both he and Twilight had dreaded for years.

The day Rainbow Dash died, she was surrounded by her family. Applejack was there along with Soarin and many of their children. Zap was standing besides his wife, tears running down his face as he comforted his own children. Twilight had been there that day, and let the tears freely fall from her eyes as well. She was sad to see her friend go, but the majority of her tears were for Big Mac.

He sat right beside her the entire time, never leaving her. He looked like the old pony he had turned himself into. When the moment came, Rainbow looked around the room one last time, before locking her magenta eyes on Mac and beckoned him close. With her final breath, she whispered something to him that nopony in the room heard. When he pulled back, she flashed her signature cocksure grin, laid her head back down, and with a sigh, breathed her last.

Big Mac remained with his family for a few more years before “dying.” He had simply stopped breathing and went into a half trance, something he and the Rider had cooked up for that day. She was also part of the plan, teleporting Mac out of the coffin before they buried him. Mac didn’t want to have to dig his way out of a grave, saying that he had once before and it was not something he wanted to relive.

Though that wasn’t the last trial he had to face due to his choices. He had to watch from afar as his son grew old and died, his daughter in law, and his grandchildren. After they had passed, along with his sisters, his namesake, brother-in-law, and more, Mac didn’t spend much time near Ponyville, or in Equestria at all, spending a majority of his time as the Ghost Rider.

Twilight didn’t notice she had tears in her eyes until Mac gingerly wiped one from her cheek. “Ah miss them too,” he said softly. “But Ah know fer a fact they are in a much better place,” he said, grinning at the picture.

Looking up at him, Twilight could only see the eyepatch that covered his eye, but his lips were lifted in the corners of his mouth. “I wish we could see them though,” she said, sighing as she did.

“Oh, Ah’m glad I can’t,” Mac said, causing Twilight to pull away from him, shock in her face. “If Ah could see em’ that means they went ta Hell. Ah don’t want nopony in mah family goin’ ta Hell,” Mac said, grinning at Twilight.

“Sun and Moon, I hate you!” Twilight laughed, hitting Mac’s shoulder. She joined in his laughter, leaning against him. They laughed for several minutes. It felt good to laugh, and she suspected that he needed this release as much as she did. When their laughter died down, they were both looking at the photo of the wedding.

“Mac, I’ve always wanted to ask you something,” Twilight said, her mouth not checking in with her brain at all, as the question found its way to her lips. Mac just grunted, eye still on the picture, though probably more on Rainbow and Applejack than anything else. “What did Rainbow Dash say to you? Just before she… well…”

“Died?” Mac supplied, eye still on the picture as Twilight mentally kicked herself. She had always wondered about it, but it was so intimate; the last words between two lovers that may never see each other again. “She said, ‘This isn’t goodbye. No matter how long it takes, I’ll be waiting for you up there. And if you spend the rest of your life moping and grieving over me, I swear to Celestia I will claw out of my own grave and kick your demonic ass’.”

Twilight blinked. Looking up at Big Mac and just stared at the side of his face she could see. “No,” she said, her voice just above a whisper. “She didn’t.”

Mac grinned, finally meeting her eyes. “Eeyup. Every word. That filly was full of so much piss and vinegar that she could keep a literal demon in check to her dying breath.” He shook his head and chuckled. “Ah miss her terribly, but Ah won’t let it weigh me down,” he said, placing his hoof to his neck, to the necklace that held he and Rainbow’s wedding rings. “At least, not too much.”

Still looking up at him, Twilight could see the fight in Mac’s face to try to stay positive, to not let those feelings take control of him, but she knew that hurt all too well. The days of not being able to face anypony, the fear of losing anyone close again. The endless loneliness of being from a different time and place, surrounded by those who had no idea how short life truly was. All those memories that just weigh down on one’s very soul of all those moments you could never get back. She knew Mac’s pain all too well, for it was her own. She extended one wing and wrapped it around Mac’s back. He stiffened at the touch, but quickly relaxed and leaned into the embrace.

“I miss them too, Big Mac. I miss them too,” she said, her voice just above a whisper. They sat like that for several moments, in a most comfortable silence, letting old memories flood their minds, remembering those who they had loved and missed.

“Any closer to getting back to normal?” Twilight finally asked, not looking up at the larger stallion. She knew for the longest time Mac had been trying to find a way to separate himself from Ghost Rider, the demon that lurked inside of him. Or spirit of a long-forgotten alicorn, she wasn’t too sure.

When she and Mac had come to Celestia and Luna about the existence of Ghost Rider, and the alicorn Pendragon, both of them had faint memories of the alicorn. Celestia could just remember a pony that fit the description of Pendragon; a caretaker of sorts that always seemed to be around. She could remember a large gray stallion that helped look after them whenever their mother was away. He was never directly responsible for their care, but was always around in the background. At times he would leave without a word, and return as though nothing had happened. Then one day, he just disappeared for good. Luna could only remember his orange eyes. She had thought they were only a dream till they had given her the description of Pendragon.

Neither knew where he had come from, only that he appeared one day and vanished without a word. Even with that knowledge they couldn't find any trace of the mysterious stallion. The only clue they found about him was in an old Guard registry that listed a pony by the name of Pendragon but was said to be an Earth Pony.

Big Mac gave out a sigh, his one eye still locked on the picture. “None,” he said. “Ah doubt Ah’ll ever be free of this curse,” Mac said, as he looked down at Twilight, his smile painfully forced. “Looks like ya got company fer a long time.”

Twilight could only look at him. For the longest time, she knew it had been Mac’s mission to separate himself from Ghost Rider, to reunite with his family and friends. For years he had rode all over Equestria and beyond to find answers. He had researched into magic that she herself didn’t dare get too close to in fear of what those dark arts might possess. He had spent years going after that knowledge.

And now he had seemed to have given up.

“Why?” Mac’s gray eye looked down at Twilight, her own eyes felt as wide as saucers. After all that time, why was he now giving up on this mission to reunite with his family?

“Can’t be done,” Mac said matter-of-factly. “Discord held one part of the seal, the Devil has the other, and there ain’t no way he’s gonna release it”

“Why not?” she asked, pulling away from Big Mac. “After Discord broke the first seal, you werefreed from the Devil’s command, right?” Mac nodded. “Then why would he want to keep the other seal? You can’t do his bidding anymore, and your powers are unrestrained.”

“But Ah’m still a weapon ta him,” Mac said. “Ah know he’s manipulated things ta get me involved over the years, and it ain’t like Ah can rightly ignore them either,” Mac said, cutting off Twilight who was about to ask another question. “There’s always gonna be evil, always some creature or whatever in need of punishment... of vengeance. Lettin’ them walk free, Ah just can’t,” he said, his gray eye flashing orange for a moment, the Spirit of Vengeance asserting itself over Mac, “Literally.”

The voice that came out of Mac’s mouth was weirdly modulated, it had elements of Mac’s voice but it was that of another being entirely, the Ghost Rider.

Since that day Discord had broken the seal that held part of Ghost Rider’s power, the Spirit had been able to influence Mac’s life, coming out even when Mac was in his flesh form. It wasn’t all that often that the Rider would meddle with Mac’s life —Mac had said that Rider found the time Mac spent with friends and family boring to his taste— but he would appear from time to time just to needle his host.

Mac gave a shake of his head, his eye shutting for a second, opening again to show the frosty gray of Mac’s eye. “Damn bastard,” he grumbled as he came back, snorting out as he glared at Twilight’s mirror. She could only see Mac’s reflection, but she knew that Mac saw not his reflection, but Ghost Rider.

“So, you really don’t think you can pass on?” Twilight asked.

“Reckon Ah can only if Ah transfer Rider’s spirit to another,” Mac said, taking his eye off the mirror and looking back at Twilight. “But, Ah don’t want ta share this curse with anypony” he said. Twilight couldn't help but hear how Mac stressed the word curse. Even though he and Ghost Rider had been united for centuries, the two still didn’t always see eye to eye.

“Are you going to come out about it?” Twilight asked. “Make it public that you are the Ghost Rider? I’m sure that Celestia and Luna would be more than happy to make you an honorary Alicorn.”

Mac barked out in laughter at the suggestion, making Twilight’s cheeks turn warm, diverting her eyes from the bigger stallion. “I don’t see why you think that is funny,” she said, as Mac kept on laughing.

“Ah’m sorry Twilight,” Mac said, still biting back a few laughs. “It's just that, even with most of mah victims bein’ known criminals, Ah’m probably the single most acompished serial killer in the world,” Mac said, laughter still in his voice. “And that ain’t gonna be changin’ anytime soon.” Twilight sighed. It was true, after all. Even if she gave Big Mac a royal pardon, he would still be out there killing, and it would link the rest of the Apple family to his crimes. It was better if he was to stay in the shadows.

She leaned up against Mac instead, her eyes resting on the pictures of their friends once more. Memories danced in each one of their minds of days that had passed so long ago, times that they would never get back, or experience again. Still, as painful as it was to lose them, she wouldn’t change a single thing given the chance. Sure, Twilight missed them all, but she still had family around her, even if it wasn’t by blood.

“Well,” Mac started, “Ah better get goin’. Duty calls.”

Twilight frowned up at Mac as he started to rise. “Is everything alright?”

"Don't know," Mac said, shaking his head. "Just a... feelin' I'm gettin' from the Frozen North, just south of the Crystal Empire. Better safe than sorry." Twilight just nodded, a wry smile playing across her lips as she watched Mac.

“I won't insult either of our intelligences by offering to send some Royal Guards with you." Big Mac turned to her, and the two shared a brief chuckle. There was no way in Hell that either one of them could explain to the Royal Guard what their mission was, or expect them to keep the secret of Ghost Rider secret. Nor would they be of any real use to Ghost Rider anyway.

As the laughter died down, Twilight moved to Mac again, wrapping her forelegs around his massive neck. “It was great seeing you again Big Mac” she whispered into his neck.

He squeezed her in return. “Same Twi.”

Pulling back from the hug, Twilight smiled at him. “Remember, you are always welcome here. In your room, not mine.” Big Mac just smiled at her as he took a step back from her, breaking off the hug.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” he said, adding another bow. Twilight just rolled her eyes as the big stallion walked back to the darkened corner of the room. Stopping just short, Big Mac looked back at her, flashed her one final warm smile, then melted into the darkness, vanishing before her, leaving her once again alone in her room.

Twilight stood in the empty room, her eyes on the spot Mac had vanished from, another trick he had picked up from Rider. She knew she should return to her paperwork, to get back to the grind of things, but that could wait. Instead, she walked over to the balcony and pushed open the doors. Stepping onto the grand stone, she looked over the kingdom. Ponies were going about their day, living their lives. The sun was high and warmed her face gently. There was darkness and sadness in the world, she knew, but there was always a light, and friends there to see you through it.

Turning to her desk, she looked back at all the pictures on her desk. The darkness never lasted long. She smiled, a genuine one that touched her eyes, before looking back over her kingdom. The paperwork could wait. Life was calling still.

--

Mac sat on his motorcycle, idling on the road just outside the Apple Family cemetery. From where he sat, he could just make out Rainbow Dash’s grave. He didn’t bother to conceal himself as Wild Blaze. The only ponies who knew his relation to the Apples were miles away. He just sat there, looking up at her headstone, enjoying the slight warmth across his heart, until a stake of ice cold shot through him. There was work to be done. He inclined his head towards his beloved wife, and revved the engine of his motorcycle.

Fire erupted from the tailpipes as he tore down the old country road, dirt spraying out behind him. He didn’t slow, picking up more and more speed. Fire billowed out from the tail pipes, as flames began to engulf the wheels of the motorcycle, the paint changing as it was licked by flames.

With another rev of the engine, the motorcycle’s front wheel came off the road, the motorcycle lifting into the air. Hellfire burned behind Big Mac’s eye as he revved the engine again, he and the bike consumed by Hellish flame.

Innocent blood was being shed. Somewhere up north, among the cold and snow, a wicked pony was inflicting suffering upon those who didn’t deserve it. That pony didn’t know it, but their days were numbered. For upon a flaming steed of metal, wrapped in chains and leather...

Vengeance was coming.

The End

Author's Note

After years of delay, I actually finished this story... holy crap, what a ride.

This story has been one of my favorite I have ever written and was just as sad as all of you when I lost motivation in it. Thanks to some good friends I was finally able to finish it, and the fact that I'm out of a job due to the virus... lots of free time.

Thanks to as always Arbarano and Jake the Army Guy for all of their help in making this final part the best as it could be.

I hope that this does satisfy you all, this had always been the original ending to the story with just a few other parts added. I wanted to make it that Mac does keep being the Ghost Rider as it does give opportunity for him to show up again either in my own stories, or others if people want to use the character. Writing Big Mac as the Ghost Rider was a joke at first that just kept growing and growing till I had to write a story about it. Of course it needed to have MacDash in it, because that is my weakness.

Thank you all again. I hope to finish Auction in time as well.

Again, you have all been amazing and I'm so thankful I got to share this work with all of you.

Captain Unstoppable.
The OC Doctor