Choices and Consequences

After the activities and excitation of the sleepover, the pressure has dropped. The yawning began and the little company fell asleep one by one. Too tired to sleep properly, some of them were lying on the others. But even in the mishmash of sleeping bags and ponies that the room had become, two people were still awake. The purple winged unicorn, lying like a cat on the bed with the young man, asked him the reason of his awakening.

''Francis? Is something wrong?'' She said, looking up to him. ''If you need to talk, I'm here you know.'' He was staring at the ceiling, silently, when he finally answered.

''It's not the fact that I had a sleepover with a magic winged unicorn pony princess and her friends, but, I'm not used to have... 'friends'. I mean, if you knew all I've been through, you'd probably understand.''

She regarded him a little moment. ''Speaking of which, I've been thinking about something during the sleepover...''

He turned to Twilight. ''Yes?''

''What are you planning to do after your recovery?'' The question hit him like a snowball in the face. It's true that he thought about it, but not much.

''So, you want to know if I'm gonna go back to my world and do my usual stuff, that's it?''

''Basically, yes.''

''Well'' He took a deep breath and explained her his thoughts. ''I would like to stay here, but it doesn't feel right. But at the same time, going back to my place seems like abandoning my new friends... And you probably have some authorities that won't accept me to stay; I heard that you have some royalty here, so, we should probably ask first if you really want me to stay... I hope this answer your question.''

''It does answer my question. I learn lot of things about you during this evening, but you're right, you might have friends waiting for you...'' He giggled. ''What is so funny?'' she asked with a smile on her lips.

''I don't have friends waiting for me, beside Veronica, and she has her family and everything...'' His cheerfulness faded and he glanced down. ''And me.... I have nothing left...''

''Not true.'' Francis felt her hoof on his leg. ''You got us now.'' those words comforted him, as a tear came down along his cheek.

''Thanks you... Once again.'' Both got back to their sleeping position.

''Sleep well, Francis.''

''Sleep well, Twilight.''

Dawn was breaking over Equestria as everypony, and Francis, were waking up, ready to face a new day. In the Ponyville Hospital, our seven fellow friends found themselves tangled on each other. Some kicks and helping hooves later, the little group has packed up their stuff and returned home. The pony princess, however, has stayed with the human.

''You should be able to walk again in 2 days, if the doctor is right, but you can still leave the hospital.'' he was surprised by what the purple winged unicorn said.

''2 days?'' I thought that I was in a worst state.

''The healing spells are working really good on you, better than usual.'' He wasn't accustomed with those new things.

''Still amazing for me.'' He cracked his knuckles. ''What do we do?''

She thought about the activities planned for today and took her schedule. For the first time in several years, the page was blank, marked with a large red TAKE SOME TIMES FOR YOU!!!. She looked at her partner and answered him.

''Nothing special...'' She ruminated a little. The thread from the last night came back in her mind. ''Oh! I know!''

The young man headed for an explanation, armed with his best asset: a smile. ''So?''

''I'm gonna take you with me to Canterlot and we'll ask the princess together!'' The idea seemed wonderful emerging of her mouth, but Francis was not of the same opinion.

''Whoa.... Wait a minute. You are telling that I'm going with you to the magical ponies Headquarters to ask Queen Horsita if she wants me in her kingdom?''

''Princess C.E.L.E.S.T.I.A, and if you hide or if she learns it from someone else, you lose the advantage.'' It was the second time he was beaten in an debate in three days. He sighed and asked for his clothes.

The trip wasn't really long. The view was amazing: the whole surrounding was full of forest, rock cliffs, waterfalls, etc... A real photographer's paradise. Sitting on a wheelchair, the young man had all the time to contemplate it in the train, the only way for non-flying creature to access Canterlot. The city was more modern than Ponyville, and the population more... Sophisticated. They was starring at him. A lot. But he wasn't here to be admired; he has to ask the permission to stay and he was going for it.

''Here we are.''

The palace was really impressive. Hanging on the mountain, the white walls adorned with gold were bursting the sunlight. The few waterfalls coming out of the rocks ended their run into large pools, connected to the terrace. Huge towers were scattered, like the backbones of a reptile. He remembered that, during the middle-age, kings built the largest castles, to prove their power and influence. It made the construction even more epic.

''Woow.'' He said, close to the stiff neck. ''And she lives in that?''

''You should ask her.'' She replied, jokingly.

''Let's do this!''

They entered the large purple painted wooden door.

The corridors were a real maze, but his four-legged friend knew the way to throne room. The stained glass windows dotting the hallways, reminiscent of ancient pivotal moment of the Equestrian History, increased the greatness of the place.

''Wow.... all those events... This civilization sure had encountered difficulties...'' He said, facing the creatures 'frozen' in the glass.

''Those are just the ones the princess have lived. More happened in the past.''

''Do you mean that.... How old is she?... If it's not too intrusive.''

''She's here for millennia now...''

''Really? How is it possible? Is she immortal?'' He was like a child, his head swarming of questions. But he had to wait for answers. One last door, watched by two royal guards, stood before them. They opened it up, not without taking some precautions.

The room, more decorated that the whole castle itself, was bathed in a pure and white light, so bright that your cornea would burn if you looked too closely at it. that light emanated from the back wall, where the princess was standing. After a brief bow, the discussion began.

''I heard that you had come here, Francis the human, to fetch something from me. I'm listening.'' The young man had like a lump in the throat, but there was no other choice but to act.

''Indeed, your highness, I have something to ask you.'' He could feel the sweat on his forehead, his hands were shaking, he felt unable to utter a word, yet they emerged for themselves. ''Is it possible for me, to stay in your kingdom?''

A profound silence soars through the hall.

''It's not something simple to ask, Francis the human, so I'd need some... Arguments, if you see what I mean.''

''Oh... Euh... I...'' He considered the most obvious reasons to let him stay. ''First, I could be very useful. I know a lot of things that I learn in my world and.... It could help.'' She slightly nodded and starred, pleased, on of her counsel.

''And... I won't cause any troubles... Because... I... I have no reasons to and... I don't wanna go back.'' She bent over him.

''I hope so.''

Glup...

''And finally... I made more friends here in 5 minutes than in my entire life here. I... I could start a new life from ashes. I... I mean... Please...'' He hung up at the last possible argument and betted on the trust, with a pleading eye.

''I see...'' She demanded the opinions of the few people present, including the two guards and Twilight.

''We don't know him and we don't need more felons. He should go away.''

''His knowledge could serve the kingdom. But I don't trust him, we should lock him up and wait.''

''He is surely a spy, we should interrogate him!''

None of them were on his side, except his new friend.

''He saved my life and I offered him a friendship that he accepted. We should give him a chance. He gave way more than he received.''

Affected by these words, the young man shed a tear, which also made its effect.

''As a result of this discussion, very gratifying, I entrust the monitoring and rehabilitation of Francis in our world to the princess of friendship, Twilight Sparkle... At the end of the season, he must prove his progress and propose something that will change our lives, making him a part of our history. You are free to go.''

And leaving the room, he knew that all of this was only the beginning, of a great friendship.

THE END

Author's Note

Hon-hon-hon! End of this magnificent story. Not really full of suspense, hue? Well, I had (Had?! You again?!) problems recently, like the death of my grand-mother, so I wanted to wrap this up quickly and to tell you this: This isn't the end of Francis' adventures! But I'm making a break about it, to write an other kind of stories. Stay tune for more! I hope that you liked my story as much as I loved to imagine and write it!