Unintentionally Yours

Epilogue (Alternate)

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Twilight Sparkle rose late the next day, true to her new routine established six weeks ago. Her studies had not suffered as a result, though the emptiness of her life seemed forever punctuated by the presence of Spike laying unconscious in his new bed. Today, however, felt unusual. She felt the urge to rummage through her storage closet and retrieve his old basket, if only to look at it. She could not reason as to why she did, she only followed her instinct that eventually led her right to the discarded wicker bed. It was at it always had been: tidy, compact, and adorable.

Why had she decided that today of all days was perfect for lingering nostalgia was unclear, the answer fleeting away before her reason could capture it.

Then, a loud knock on the door snapped Twilight out of her stupor.

“Visitors? Already?” Twilight tilted her head and opened the door with a friendly greeting smile upon her tired visage.

That smile turned into blank stare, which twisted into an abrupt frown of familiarity and concentration.

“A very odd way to greet library-goers, Twi.” A hearty laugh accompanied the deep, smooth voice that flowed from the tall purple creature that sat in front of her. The being was built as a strong stallion, at least a hoof or two above Big MacIntosh and he—she was sure it was a he with a silky voice like that— seemed so startlingly strange, yet familiar to her. it was the unchanged emerald eyes that jogged her memories. The answer to Twilight’s fresh batch of questions hung before her, though her rational mind simply concluded that her mental state combated for a response between panic and utter mirth. Only one could win and be elicited from the young unicorn’s expression.

“I think you may have overdone it, sugarcube.”

“Look at her face! Bwa-ha, hah!”

“Guess who’s back! I bet you can’t guess! Oh, if I were you I’d guess anyway because guessing is half the fun and what’s the point of guessing if –”

“Darling, you look absolutely fatigued! Here, let me get my emergency morning kit!”

“Um, I hope Twilight’s going to be okay… she’s stiff as a board.”

Panic had won the duel, though mirth was close behind. As result, Twilight simply collapsed. When she came to, she saw the familiar faces of her best friends and fellow Elements. “Oh, you guys!” she began, “I had the most strange and wonderful dream! Spike was back and all grown up, and very handsome too, I might add, and you were there… and you were there…

“Why am I on the floor?”

Applejack giggled and offered a helping hoof up off the hardwood, “This good dream pretty real t’me, Twilight.”

The unicorn looked over where the orange earth pony was standing and mirth won by a landslide. Before words could even be exchange, she tackled the wall of purple scales and immovable muscle. Still, he received her warmly in a tight embrace.

With tears unleashed, Twilight Sparkle squeezed the past three years out of her little brother.

“Heh, I missed you too, Twi.” Spike gently smiled as she looked up at him with large glinting eyes and a sniffled snout.

Then, without warning, she stepped back and delivered a single, unexpected and ultimately ineffective punch to his arm. “Three years with no letters, no note, no Celestia-damned postcards!”

“Twi…” Spike raised his claws defensively.

“No arrow scrolls!”

“Twi.”

“No rocks with tribal inscriptions!”

“Seriously? If you let me-”

“No crop circles!”

“Twi!”

“Absolutely no correspondence whatsoever!”

Spike did the only thing he could think of then, and that was to envelope his sister into another hug, hopefully muffling her outrage so he could speak. It worked and she calmed down.

“Twilight, there was no parchment for me to write on. The Dragonlands are somewhat uncivilized, so to speak. The other options you shouted were… also nonexistent.”

Twilight loosened herself from Spike’s grip and looked at him with leveled eyes. She spoke, saying, “But how can you record your time and experiences? I want to be able to hear and read them all, since we have so much to catch up on.”

“All in here, Twi.” Spike tapped a claw against his forehead. “I just need some time and a lot of scrolls, although. -”

“Good!” beamed Twilight, excited at the prospect of studying with her number-one assistant once more. “I have more than enough spares over here, although I need to double-check the ink wells, which is something I should have triple-checked on the double-checked check list.”

As her friends watched the ridiculousness unfold before them, Spike and Applejack tried to get their unicorn friend’s attention, but to no avail. Or so it was until Rarity tapped Twilight on the shoulder, “Twilight, dear, please listen carefully, because I know you’re excited and all; believe me, we are too – but there are more pressing matters that require –”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake: THEY ARE GETTING MARRIED!” Rainbow Dash hung in the air above Twilight.

The studious mare’s ears perked and she glanced up toward the cyan pegasus, “Who is getting married?” Twilight glanced from Rainbow Dash to Fluttershy to a widely grinning Pinkie Pie to an unimpressed Rarity, all of whom pointed a hoof in one direction.

Spike stood tall and proud as a smile snaked across his face. Applejack flushed an apple red hue and nuzzled her head against Spike’s shoulder. Twilight did not notice at first, but upon her left hoof sat a perfectly fitted gold and diamond-set band, light refracting elegantly along the surface. What dragons lack in formal writing skills and materials, they made up for in beautiful treasures that adorned their hoards.

“Oh,” Twilight felt faint once more, but was held up by an enthusiastic Rainbow Dash. They shared a laugh as the unicorn righted herself and dove into Applejack’s arms with gleeful facilitations. She gave Spike another strike to the arm for leaving her as the last pony to be informed of the proposal.

“Does this mean that Pinkie has already planned –”

“A party!” the pink pony interrupted with wide blue eyes, “Duh!” Bouncing in Pinkie Pie fashion, she led the congregation toward Sweet Apple Acres where the Apple Family barn had been painstakingly prepared for yet another prestigious Pinkie Pie party.

The Library had been closed and sealed for the day and no pony could enter through conventional means. The doors were locked and the windows shut, save for a lofty skylight left purposely ajar. This entrance served as the conduit for a certain brown-feathered owl of uncanny intelligence and of whom held special value to the librarian he belonged to. Of his many tasks, the owl served as a part time letter retriever for all regular postage that had not arrived via Spike’s magical flame.

Of late, the dragon’s duties had been transferred wholesale to the clever owl, who flew with timely dedication.

On this special day, the owl had but a single roll of parchment, modestly sealed and plainly inscribed.

It read:

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

It feels strange, writing to you for the first time in the many years that we have known one another. But, I assure you that I write with purpose and sincerity!

Her Royal Majesties, Princesses Celestia and Luna have encouraged me to look proudly back upon my years of servitude as well as to officially store my armour. It is then, with great hesitation, that I announce my retirement from the ranks of the Honour Guard and my resignation from the post of Officer Commanding.

I feel that it is only appropriate that I write to you and your family that I have officially handed my office over to none other than your honourable brother, Shining Armour. He is a very capable stallion who commanded a forward position at the Citadel’s battlements and would have been the first to repel the dragon invaders had they the audacity to strike. He is a safe choice for my replacement, whole-heartedly endorsed by the Regents themselves, peace be upon them.

As mentioned above, I have chosen to write both you and your parents of these events. To your most noble family, I end their letter here.

To you, Miss Sparkle, I extend a less formal epistle:

It appears that my sacred trust exists only on parchment and upon the words of silver tongues. The vow of my life for the protection of the Dual Thrones is now moot and I cannot look back on my years with pride when my remaining years forward have seen the failure of my integrity, the discarding of my vows.

Yet, I obey my Princesses, for their words are Law. Like my armour, I am to be stored away in a keep of my choosing to live the last of my days in quiet sanctuary. My life upon the edge of a spear would seem a fitting end to the days and service of Captain Clegmane!

Alas, I am no longer Captain, but simply: Clegmane.

The hall that I have chosen as my last is the empty estate of my late wife’s family. Long since abandoned for the lofty heights of Canterlot, it is the site of my marriage and the last resting place of my beloved Vidalia.

The estate is called Oignon Downs and it rests upon the hilltop overlooking the town of Seasaddle, nestled Northeast of Canterlot, along the coast of the Pintocific Ocean.

It is a cozy little village - a radical change from the bustling Citadel! I may run for mayor, should I be so fortunate. Although, I am blessed with enough spare time to actually pursue one final campaign….

If you should so desire to pay a visit to a grizzled warhorse, I shall be there spending my days occupied with the restoration of these old Oignon halls.

I shall not return to Canterlot for any reason, lest my Princesses summon me, but I welcome a familiar face to help pass my many long hours. I can predict that no excitement shall match the threat of a pending dragon invasion, but I already crave a changing of pace.

Will you grant this discarded warhorse at least a single visit, perchance, before the winter settles?

If you are unable, I understand completely. I would rather suffer the Night Watch than suffer to demand of you something that you do not wish. Be warned that I am used to entertaining the polish of my armour or a nigh-bottomless list of duties, not esteemed colleagues or… old friends. Please forgive my forward nature, for it has been all too long since I’ve written so informally.

I look forward to hearing from you, Twilight.

With best wishes and affection,

-Clegmane, Captain (ret’d).

Until we meet again.