Author's Note

Potential feels inbound. I cried writing a good chunk of this out. It's best to listen to this song whilst reading. First time I linked a song in the author's note for this kind of thing. And with that, this tale comes to an end, so I figured it was fitting to have a sort of tear-jerker here. :')

~Dragon

Epilogue

“Yes, you may.” Celestia answered with a nod. “What is it you’d like to discuss?”

“I was thinking that, rather than keep the altered pony in confinement…” Raki trailed off, glancing to the ceiling briefly, “we...hide her away where ponies would least expect.”

“Why say that?” Celestia asked, brow arched.

“Your sister said she had unimaginable power that could very easily be invoked, given how broken her mind is.” Raki started. “Sooner or later, rumors will start, and ponies could seek out that power.”

“You mean...seal her?” Luna asked, eyelids slanting.

“Not quite. She still needs to be healed, after all.” Raki answered, sighing. “But she will need to be watched almost 24/7.”

“What would you propose?” Celestia asked.

“Well...only us, Discord, and Twilight know five of my friends were transformed.” Raki answered, unknowingly using a hoof to ruffle Tenmei’s mane. “As in we keep watch over her.”

Celestia’s eyes widened. So did those of Kaguya and Takashi. “Are you sure?” They asked in unison.

“Yes. If you used royal guards, she’d probably break free after a while. That, and any place with royal guards patrolling 27/4 houses something important or dangerous, from what I’ve seen at any rate.” Raki answered, a sort of sad smile on her face. “They wouldn’t expect six foreigners keeping watch over something dangerous, after all--let alone a unicorn and five disguised alicorns.”

Luna blinked, and she and her sister let the unicorn’s argument sink in for a moment or so. “So...it would be best if...you hid away as well, just to ensure the safety of us all?” She asked.

Raki nodded. “Of course, we’ll still visit on occasion.” She answered. “Once a week for all six of us.”

The throne room fell quiet for a few moments before the unicorn...began shedding tears. “It’s…” She began, wiping her tears away with her hoof, “a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

The sisters glanced at one another. Luna then looked back at the unicorn. “But, your friends still haven’t mastered their new abilities.” She pointed out.

“Then...they’ll be trained to do so.” Raki rebuked. “It’s only taken them three weeks to master the basics, I’m sure...they can do it again.”

Kaguya began shedding tears as well, and she was smiling. “They’ve grown up so much…” She whimpered.

“Yes. They have.” Takashi agreed, also with a sad smile on his face.

Mimi and Mimu trotted up to Raki and held her foreleg. They were shedding tears uncontrollably. “But we don’t want you or the others to go…” They whimpered in unison.

The unicorn looked down at them. “I’m sorry, but it’s for the best. We’ll still visit, if that’s alright.” She replied, using her other hoof to wipe their tears away.

“If she says it’s for the best, I’m all for it.” Rekka stated with a nod of his head.

“I second that.” Koto said, eyes twitching as tears began welling in her eyes.

“I’m sure gonna miss my time in Ponyville. But hey, every dog has his day, right?” Tenmei asked, blinking.

“Yeah. We’re all grown up now. I kinda wish I didn’t have to leave, but the prospect of a once-a-week visit will ease everything.” Yuuki agreed, her wings shifting a bit.

Nagare said nothing. His silent, saddened smile only served as further testament to what he thought.

“If that is what you wish, then it is something we can arrange.” Celestia said at last. She walked up to the group and tenderly nudged the fillies with a hoof, causing them to look at her with sad looks. “They must move on now. I know you don’t want them to leave--I’ve known that loss too, time and time again. But if they choose to make this decision, then I cannot stop them.”

“But they’ll still visit, right?” Mimi asked, shaking.

Celestia nodded. “I’m sure you have their word.” She answered.

“Guards,” Luna began, causing the two armor-clad ponies who remained to look at her. “Could you prepare them a carriage, and another for the altered mare in confinement?”

The guards exchanged glances with each other, then looked back at Luna. “Are you sure, Your Majesty?” One asked, blinking in disbelief.

“Yes. When I think about it, solitary confinement isn’t the best place to let time heal wounds.” Luna answered with a nod.

The guards nodded back and trotted out in short order.

The young disguised alicorns hugged the elder ponies, and embraced the young fillies whilst saying their final goodbyes.

The unicorn guards came back a few moments later. “The preparations have been made, Your Majesty.” They said in unison.

“Alright. Help them to their carriage.” Celestia replied with a nod. The guards hefted the six ponies in their magic and trotted with them in tow. The remaining four and two princesses followed them to a balcony, where everything was ready.

The ponies were loaded into the vehicles, and the pegasi began flapping their wings for takeoff. As the carriages departed, the earth ponies waved, and those in the carriage waved back.

“Please keep your promise!” Mimi cried out.

“We will!” The group called back.

“Where to?” Asked one of the pegasi.

“Head to our house in Ponyville. We need to pack up.” Nagare answered curtly.

“Roger.” The pegasus replied, and he and his companions kicked their wings into gear. As soon as they landed, the group went into the house and came back in short order with nothing but their weapons and saddlebags, which had the Gala outfits inside. The carriage took off again, circling the skies until Koto spotted what looked like a gorge.

“There,” She said, pointing it out to the pegasi.

“Are you nuts?!” Asked a pegasus.

“Only pegasi and alicorns can get in and out of that thing, unless they’re at the very bottom! I say that’s a good place to hide!” Yuuki pointed out. “Besides, we could make a cave there and nobody would suspect a thing!”

“She’s right.” Stated the other pegasus with a nod. “If they want to hide there, then we take them there.”

~Fin~