A Twinkle of Hope

A Twinkle of Hope - Epilogue

A week had passed since Canterlot fell a second time. Rainbow Dash and her friends returned to the ruins of Ponyville, intent on rebuilding their shattered home. Spike, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were all rescued and brought back with their older siblings, after a very...interesting...adventure. The children were fine, unharmed. The zookeepers caring for Spike were especially benevolent. But he was glad to be free.

The few stallions that survived came back, including Big Macintosh. Some ponies though did not come back. For them, the pain of losing not only Ponyville, but their loved ones along with it was simply too much. They had found new lives in the cities they were deported to. They once again found happiness.

Ponyville now was a town littered with homes under construction, with exposed frames and pipes, wires and insulation. Everypony did their part. Wealthy ponies reclaimed their fortunes confiscated by the Premier, and donated much of it to towns just like Ponyville, trying to rebuild a home.

Though the ponies of the town would never be the same, and the blight of war would remain within their minds, the ponies moved forward. They did not wish to forget the war.

In the town square, where a statue of Celestia once stood, was another edifice. The Princess gave the town her blessing, and a new memorial was erected; the bronze form of that unicorn shot and killed by Republic soldiers. It was a monument to her courage, and the sacrifice of all those who perished fighting. The mare did not have a name as far as the statue was concerned; she did not need one.

For the Mare of Liberty stood not just for herself, but the very spirit of freedom. She stood to remind everypony of those that would not bow to a tyrant, or accept the shackles of servitude. That unicorn was testament to the ponies who would not go quietly into that good night.

Hammering and drilling filled the air as a pegasus descended on the town. He flew over to ask another pony on the whereabouts of his friend.

She was a cerise earth-pony, and struck the pegasus as the kind to always have a smile on her face. "Excuse me ma'am. Do you know where I might find a pegasus named Rainbow Dash?"

"Oh certainly sir. She's by Sweet Apple Acres. It's not far, just a mile or so that way." She pointed in the general direction.

He was thrown off by the sound of her voice. It was...very familiar...almost like... "Thank you miss...uh..."

"Cheerilee"

He nodded and went off to where he was directed. Below him came the freshly tilled fields of the farm, and a new barn rising, just a skeleton of wood right now. Scanning the acres, he spotted the mare he was looking for, flying low over some beams she was hammering.

Swooping down he met with Rainbow Dash. "General! So glad you could make it!" She placed her hammer in her tool belt.

"Well I wouldn't miss an opportunity to meet one of your friends." He smiled, picking up a board. "Though it seems you have some work. Mind if I help?"

"No sir, it's our break anyway."

The two floated down to the ground. Applejack called everypony in some ice cold apple juice. Cloudrunner cantered, followed by a flying Rainbow. She notice though he wasn't limping. "General, what's going on, you aren't...well...you're walking..."

"Huh? Oh...yeah! They did a little work on my hip. Now I can run now." He glanced at Rainbow's knee. "Seems like you've recovered."

"Not exactly. I don't have to where the cast, but the doctors have told me not to put any weight on my leg for a week or so."

"Injuries can be a pain." They giggled as his terrible pun, and proceeded to enjoy a cup of apple juice. Shortly after Rainbow rushed off to fetch a little orange filly pegasus. She led her up to a large dark grey stallion. His mane was a dark blue, and wore an eye patch. On his flank was a lightning bolt stylized to look like an arrow.

He leaned down closer to the filly. "Hello there. You must be Scootaloo."

"Uh...yes that's me. Are you the General? Rainbow's told me a lot about you. But she didn't say you were so...big."

"I wasn't always so big, neither were my wings. In fact, when I was your age, my wings were so small they couldn't carry me for more than a few seconds."

"Really? 'Cause all the foals say I'll never fly. They say I'm different from other pegasi." She gave a sad look, and looked at the ground.

"Sometimes, we different pegasi bloom later than others. But don't worry. If you're anything like me, you're wings'll catch up." He spread his out, his wingspan on par with Luna's. Scootaloo's eyes sparkled at the great pegasus.

Rainbow was worried her biggest fan would replace her. "Alright enough showing off. How about a race to see who's fastest. And to add insult to injury, I'll beat your record while beating you!"

Cloudrunner's face grew determine. "You're on!"

An hour later a rudimentary starting line was drawn in the dirt. Applejack came with a crude flag in her mouth. The two adult pegasi got into position. Applejack set the flag down. The four other elements of harmony and their siblings were watching from the sidelines.

"Alright, ya'll. I want a good, clean race. Go from here, around the hills, and come back. And General? Try to keep Rainbow from cheatin'."

Rainbow shot the farm pony a dirty look. Applejack picked up the flag. Each of the racers started breathing slowly, anticipating the race. After what seemed like hours, Applejack waved the flag, and all that remained at the starting line where two clouds of dust.

Racing a breakneck speed, the two were head to head. the hills were a fair distance away, and yet they reached them after a few minutes. Rounding about, both began to build up a massive amount of speed. they were going so fast Rainbow noticed a cone of air form. She smiled and started to dart ahead. But then she noticed the same cone in front of Cloudrunner.

"Haha you think you're the only one, kid?" In truth the General was panting somewhat trying to keep up.

“You may have done it first, but I perfected the trick!” Rainbow Dash too was a bit tired.

She was deterred, and continued to accelerate. Still neck and neck, the finally burst came as the very air shattered, and the two propelled themselves nearly simultaneously. One left a trial of rainbow, the other a trial of lightning. The resulting shockwave shook the ground, amazing everypony, Scootaloo most of all. She stood, her wings flared out in part excitement and part subconscious desire to join in. Her eyes were filled with the most awesome sight her beheld by any pony anywhere ever: a double sonic rainboom.

The finish came in hot. Twilight had set up a camera to record the winner. The spent pegasi made their way back from the stopping point several hundred yards away. Both eagerly awaited the results. Twilight and others examined the photo for a long while, drawing impatience from Rainbow Dash and Cloudrunner.

Finally, after much arbitration, debate, and even some geometrical measurements. A final verdict was made:

The race to determine the fastest pegasus to ever grace the clouds, had ended in a tie.

The End