Final Farewells...

Final Farewells…

“Hey!” “Howdy!” “Good Evening!” “Hello…” “Hiya, guys!” the five mares greeted in unison.

“What up, y’all.” “Hi, girls.” “Hey.” We also greeted in unison.

“How was your trip to Canterlot?” Rarity asked.

“It was… okay…” Twilight answered, showing a bit of disappointment in her voice.

“Yea… it ain’t turn out like we expected…” I added.

“’Okay?’ Why’s it just ‘okay’, sugarcube?” Applejack asked with concern.

“And what were you expecting?” Rainbow Dash interjected.

“Well I can tell ya one thing,” I began. “A lotta the ponies there are stuck up jerks… Other than that, the trip was amazin’ for me.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right,” Rainbow replied with a short laugh.

“The trip was fun for me, too! I even got to see Shining Armor and Cadence! It’s just that…” the purple unicorn hesitated on her words as she looked to the ground.

“What’s wrong, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

“We saw Princess Celestia and…”

“…she said that she wants me t’ leave… immediately.” I finished, shocking everyone but Twilight and Spike. “And once I’m gone… Twilight is forbidden to use the spell that brought me here ever again. For safety reasons…”

“Well that’s awfully mean of her!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“Yeah, that doesn’t sound like something Princess Celestia would do at all!” Pinkie continued. “Why would she just tell you to go back to your world without being able to come back?”

“Did you do anything to upset her?” Rarity asked.

“No… it wasn’t me or Twilight that did it. She had a fearful premonition put into her by a situation she was dealin’ with in some far-off countries in the east…”

“What in tarnation happened?” asked Applejack.

“She said somethin’ about a trade disagreement goin’ on between two countries over there. Apparently, the issue was caused by some stallion who was brought in from one country to the other. Turns out he was a traitor to both countries because he instigated the fight between ‘em in hopes of takin’ ‘em both over once they wore each other out.”

“Oh my… that just sounds dreadful,” began Fluttershy. “I couldn’t imagine what kind of horrible pony would do something so cruel… But what does that have to do with you and Twilight?”

“That situation put the fear in her. She said that some similar thing could happen should information about how t’ use Twilight’s spell be released, except on intergalactic levels because o’ shady individuals in either of our worlds possibly havin’ the intention of causin’ destruction in the other world— or both worlds. She doesn’t want Twilight t’ become a victim or a target, so that’s why she banned Twilight’s use of the spell once I’m gone. As for why I have to leave so abruptly, she basically doesn’t trust me to keep it quiet without accidentally lettin’ somethin’ slip. That, I didn’t fully agree with her on, but she made her points clear.”

“That’s horrible!” Rarity exclaimed. “While I do understand that Princess Celestia’s decisions are for the safety of Equestria, how could she just tear you two apart? Does she not know that you’re a couple?” I chortled nervously at her question.

“I uh… guess you could say that…” I answered as I sheepishly rubbed the back of my neck.

“Yeah, but I sure know,” Spike mockingly said as he shot glares at me and Twilight. I smiled apologetically at the dragon. He then started to smile mischievously at us, which made my smile drop into a wide-eyed begging stare.

“Don’t you do it, you little—!”

“On the way back, these two were all over each other! They were hugging nonstop, and they even ki— MMPH!” Spike was suddenly interrupted when Twilight hastily shoved her hoof into his mouth, scowling at him.

“Don’t feel so great, does it?” I jokingly asked the dragon. Unfortunately, it was too late as the endearingly quizzical looks on the other five mares’ faces showed that the damage had already been done.

“Whoa whoa whoa! Did he say what I think he was about to say?” Rainbow asked, grinning ear to ear with teary eyes.

“You and Twilight finally…?” Fluttershy began to ask, but trailed off.

“*sigh*… yes.” I admitted with defeat as I felt a wave of embarrassment take me over. I shyly looked to the ground, away from everyone to hide my face.

“D’aww, how wonderful!” Rarity proclaimed yet again. “And what better place to share such a special, beautiful moment than on a chariot in a romantic sunset? Twilight, I’m beginning to grow envious of you…”

“That’s absotively spectaculastic!” Pinkie Pie shouted. I had NO idea what she said. “It must’ve been so magical and romantic and giving you that funny feeling in your stomach like when you get hungry but you know you’re not hungry because you ate a humungous banana split twenty minutes ago, so you realize it’s your stomach being super-duper happy because it had the yummiest banana split ever and… *GAAAAASP* you see and kiss your special somepony, and that tickly feeling in your stomach becomes fifty kajillion times more tickly!” She ended her… monologue (?) with a trademark giggle.

“Uh… what?” I asked in complete confusion.

“She means that it must’ve felt really wonderful when you kissed Twilight,” answered Fluttershy. “And that you two must’ve had butterflies in your stomachs…”

“Oh…”

“BAA-HAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!” Rainbow erupted into a fit of laughter. “Oh man, the looks on your faces are priceless!” she added as she lay on her back cracking up, one fore leg clutched across her stomach as the other pointed at me and Twilight. I looked at the purple unicorn beside me to see her with her eyes squinted shut and her fore hoof over her face like she’d just seen something scary. Her cheeks were a bright red. Spike was stifling laughs of his own, clutching his mouth with both claws. “This is just too rich! Twilight with a special somepony!”

“Rainbow Dash… that isn’t very nice,” Fluttershy informed.

“Aw, come on, Fluttershy!” Rainbow shot back as she climbed back to her hooves, still laughing. “You can’t seriously be telling me you don’t find the idea of the egghead with a colt-friend funny!?”

“Well actually… No. I don’t see what’s funny about it… I think it’s very sweet.” The yellow Pegasus was ignored as the blue one continued cracking up.

“Ignorin’ the rudeness of Rainbow Dash here, I think it’s mighty nice-a y’all t’ be honest with each other about yer feelin’s…” Applejack said with a warm smile. “Hay, I’ll even bet Rainbow’s actin’ like this cuz she’s jealous,” she added as she winked at us. Rainbow stopped laughing immediately and angrily glared at the farm pony.

“Am not!” She shouted at the orange farm pony. “Why would I be jealous!? I can easily get a special somepony of my own! It’s just that uh… I don’t have time is all…!” Everyone got a good laugh out of Rainbow’s sudden apprehension.

“Now who’re you tryin’ ta convince here, sugarcube? Us or yerself?”

“…Aw, whatever!” Rainbow dismissed as she pouted. “Can we talk about something else now?”

“Sure, Dashie!” Pinkie responded. “So Twilight… how was it? Was it special or romantic or giving you the hungry butterfly feeling?”

“Not exactly what I had in mind, Pinkie…”

“I um… think we’re getting a bit off-topic now…” Twilight answered uncertainly as she regained her composure, dodging Pinkie’s intrusive question. “I do have to take Ty back home pretty soon… now, actually.”

“Oh, yeah…” Pinkie sadly said. “What a bummer. We don’t even get to throw you a going-home party or anything!”

“Or give ya one-a my special baked apple pies t’ take back with ya,” Applejack continued.

“Or show you who the Wonderbolts are. Hay, I would’ve even shown you a Sonic Rainboom so you could brag to your friends in your world about seeing it,” Rainbow added.

“Ahh, i’ss fine…” I assured, although I was sorely disappointed about what the three mares told me I’d be missing out on. “There’s always… oh… right…” I’d almost forgotten that there wouldn’t be a next time. I dejectedly stared at the ground at that realization. A sudden blur of pink rushed over to me and pulled me into a tight, yet mercifully warm embrace.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t give you anything to remember us by…” Pinkie said, surprisingly not in a hyperactive tone, but in a more... calm and soothing one. “...but look on the bright side… we still got to meet and make friends with each other, and we had some really fun times together. And the best part is that we don’t have to forget about those times… we can just reflect on them, and smile…” Her words opened my eyes greatly, especially because they were unpredictably wise coming from someone I’d assumed was nuts.

“Wow… thanks, Pinkie!” I said, rubbing a hoof on her back before we separated. “You’re right. We did have some pretty good ti— AGH!” she’d shoved another treat into my mouth. This time, it was a cupcake.

“Don’t forget to get your daily dose of sweets… y’know, for your Pica,” she advised with a heartfelt smile. I smiled back as I chewed and swallowed the delicious cupcake.

“I won’t… I promise.”

“Pinkie Promise?”

“I… don’t know what you mean…” She happily obliged in teaching me the Pinkie Promise, going through the motions of a silly little ritual while reciting the same phrase that Rainbow Dash had recited when I first met her.

“Now don’t you break that promise… because if you do, I’ll know… and I’ll getcha, no matter how far away you are!” she playfully warned, but followed it with a stern look that actually startled me. The seemingly hostile stare soon turned into an inviting warm smile.

“You have my word, Pinkie… So, anyone else want a goodbye hug?” The next pony to take me up on the offer was Fluttershy. She wrapped me almost as tightly as Pinkie did, but she felt softer.

“Thank you… for letting me know to be more comfortable with myself…” the yellow Pegasus said.

“Aw, you’re welcome. But I didn’t teach you anything you didn’t already know,” I said back as I rubbed her silky smooth mane.

“Yes… but it’s still nice to talk to another pony that’s had the same problem before… even if he isn’t from this world.”

“Good point…” I agreed as we separated. “It was definitely a great experience talkin’ t’ you, Fluttershy. Shame that I can’t learn more about you. I jus’ know there’s more t’ you…” At that, she responded with a cute little smile. As Fluttershy stepped back, Applejack came forward. I cringed in fear at the orange mare, still remembering the last time she “hugged” me. She chuckled at my nervousness.

“S’alright, sugarcube. I’ll be gentle this time…” I believed her, calming down enough to be able to hug her. However, she still wound up squeezing me tighter than the other girls did.

“Ahh-ow! Heh heh, I thought you said you’d be gentle…”

“I am. Guess I don’t know my own strength sometimes… But yeah, it was nice havin’ ya over fer breakfast yesterday.”

“Oh, it was my honor. Honestly, your cookin’ made me appreciate apples on a whole new level. I never tasted such delicious apple-related things before…”

“Aw, shucks… If only you’d-a got a taste-a the things I could make with some Zap Apples…” she said as we broke the hug. Before I could ask what a Zap Apple was, I was practically tackled by a white unicorn mare who seemed to be crying.

“Of all the worst things that could happen! This is The! Worst! Possible! Thing!” she melodramatically shouted through her tears. I laughed a little.

“As bad as this might be, and it’s VERY bad for me, I don’t think it’s the WORST thing t’ happen t’ anyone…”

“Oh, p-please forgive me…” she began, now (barely) under control of her emotions. “I’m just not able to handle such heart wrenching moments like this very well… I mean, Twilight finds herself a special somepony, and before you’re able to truly begin your relationship, you find yourselves being permanently separated from one another by a cruel act of fate! It doesn’t help that you’re also being torn away from all of us as well, never to return!” She then buried her head into my neck and sobbed uncontrollably for a prolonged amount of time. She seemed to be taking this much harder than anyone here, and I failed to understand why. Nevertheless, she was right. So I simply rubbed her back as she let her sadness out all over me like I was some sort of sopping wet safety blanket. I gave a puzzled look to everypony else, but even they couldn’t give me a clear answer for Rarity’s soap-opera behavior. Spike, however, was the only one to seem to have an idea.

“Hey, Rarity? I’m *sniffle* feeling a little sad, too… Can I have a hug?” Spike asked with what sounded like a feigned sense of despondency.

“Ohh, Spikey-Wikey!” the white unicorn practically screamed as she let go of me and quickly grabbed hold of the purple dragon to use as a walking handkerchief. I was actually relieved that he pulled that trick. I was sure Rarity would’ve never let me go if he didn’t. In any case, I looked towards a certain blue Pegasus with spiky hair of every color on the color spectrum. The instant we locked eyes, she turned away and scratched her head.

“Listen, I uh… don’t do hugs…” she admitted. “At least, not with stallions…”

“What?” I skeptically asked. “I’ss not like I’m gonna bite you or anything. I’ss jus’ a simple li’l embrace. Jus’ like if you was huggin’ anyone else here.”

“Yeah, I know… but… It’s kind of weird for me… Is it okay of we just… I dunno, touch hooves or something?” That suggestion hurt me a little, but I was intrigued that she didn’t want to hug me just because I was a male pony. It gave me a new series of thoughts about the Pegasus. Was she simply afraid of males? Or was she not very open about displaying her emotions around males other than Spike? Or maybe she didn’t want to display her feelings to a stallion in front of all her female friends? Or… she could quite possibly be a… no, it could be just her tomboyish personality that makes her not want to act all emotional and sappy… I didn’t suppose I’d ever figure it out. I wish I’d had more time to talk to her about it.

“Fine, come here,” I requested with a fore hoof held out towards her. Rainbow smirked as she approached me and touched her hoof with mine. She looked around with that smirk on her face, not noticing the one creeping across my own.

“You see?” she arrogantly began. “Now this guy knows how to say goodbye in a way that isn’t sa— WHOA!” I interrupted her as I grabbed hold of her hoof and yanked her towards me and locked her into a hug. “Hey! You jerk! You tricked me! Lemme go!” she objected.

“Not until you hug me back,” I calmly demanded. “You shouldn’t be afraid t’ be huggin’ anybody,” I added as I softly nuzzled her in an attempt to get her to warm up. She sure was quite the fighter, though. She kicked and squirmed and flapped her wings vehemently to escape my grasp.

“I said let me GO!!” she screamed as she haphazardly swiped a hoof across my face. I was stunned as I let her go to place a hoof on the cheek she slapped, gawking at her in shock. Everyone else collectively gasped.

“Rainbow! How could you??” Twilight berated.

“All he wanted was a hug… why would you respond by doing something so violent?” Rarity asked, seeming to have finally recovered from her tantrum.

“I… I didn’t mean it! It was just a kneejerk reaction, I swear!” The cyan Pegasus tried to defend herself, to no avail as she got only scolding glares from her friends. Her ears fell to her head as she looked to the ground in shame.

“Hey, that was my fault,” I admitted. “I shoulda respected your wishes when you said you ain’t want a hug. Heh, I kinda deserved that slap. I’m sorry…” I reached out a hoof to the Pegasus to give her a proper hoof-touch. She looked up at me with such an uncharacteristic expression of guilt that I almost wasn’t sure I was talking to the same Rainbow Dash.

“…if there’s one thing you taught me, Ty, it’s how to own up to your mistakes…” she began, starting to smile sweetly. “But this time, it was my mistake, so I’M sorry.” She apologized as she trotted towards me. But, instead of touching hooves with me, she wrapped her fore legs around my neck, which surprised everyone. Despite being caught off-guard yet again, I welcomed her embrace as I rubbed her back. Her wings felt so different from the rest of her body. Instead of fur, there were actual feathers on them. Her embrace wasn’t quite as strong as everyone else’s (given that she likely only hugged me out of guilt), but I swore I could hear her heart pounding rapidly in her chest. It was actually kind of cute that a pony as headstrong and confident as Rainbow Dash would actually be nervous about something as simple as giving a stallion a hug.

“You’re adorable…” I muttered to her. “I hear your heart poundin’ a mile a minute…”

“If you tell ANYpony, I’ll find a way to your world and personally make you regret it…” she whispered back. I let out a soft chuckle.

“Deal,” I agreed as we broke the hug. “You got quite a swing there, by the way. I’mma be feelin’ that one for a few days…” Rainbow giggled.

“Yeah, again, sorry about that…”

“No apologies necessary. Think of it as a way t’ get me back for the first time we met.” We both shared another laugh. “Now get over here, Spike.” The dragon obliged my walking up to me, holding out a claw. I put a hoof on his head and smiled at him. He smiled back. “We had a lot t’ talk about while we was in the castle. Thanks for the convo, man,” I finished as I took the hoof off of his head and placed it in his claw.

“Oh, the pleasure was mine. It was nice being able to get some advice from another guy for once, considering most of my other friends are girls…” Everyone shared a chuckle at Spike’s comment.

“You ready, Ty?” Twilight asked.

“*sigh*…no. But we can’t delay the inevitable much longer, so le’ss go…” I sadly answered as I walked toward the purple unicorn.

“I’ll be back, girls…” Twilight’s voice wavered a bit as she bid her farewell.

“I’ss been real, i’ss been fun, but most importantly… I’ss been real fun.” I added, choking back tears of my own. Twilight’s horn lit up in that familiar magenta glow as she powered up the spell she’d soon never be able to use again once she returned from her trip to my world.

“Farewell!” “See ya!” “Bye!” “Goodbye!” “Catch ya on the flipside!” “Peace!” the five mares and the dragon saw us off as they waved. I waved at them in return before I heard a *POOF* and from there, all of my senses were suddenly filled with emptiness in the form of being dematerialized as every part of me was suddenly moving at an incredible speed once again…

*POOF*

“Well, that was fast…” I murmured, but I looked around and realized that we weren’t at my house; we were in Twilight’s room with the lights off. “Wait a minute… I’m pretty sure Celestia wanted you t’ take me back to MY home, Twi…” I quipped.

“I know that… but there’s one thing I’ve got to do before we go,” she said as she removed her saddlebags and set them on the floor.

“And what might that be?”

“This…” she answered as she wrapped her hooves around my neck, pulled me in close, and locked her lips with mine once again. I was shocked at her sneak attack, but I soon found myself participating actively. Given that she didn’t have much experience, we kept it simply at pressing our lips together time and time again as we hugged. We kept it up for what felt like forever before I opted to part with her for air.

“Wow… what a lustful li’l trick you pulled there… you sure do seem t’ like kissin’, huh?” I asked with a smile as we broke the embrace.

“Yeah…” she blushingly admitted. “I don’t know what it is, but… it gives me such a wonderful feeling… something I don’t think I’ve ever felt before…”

“You mean like that hungry-but-not-hungry butterfly feelin’ Pinkie was talkin’ about?”

“Sort of… I can’t explain it, but whatever it is, I REALLY like it. It’s phenomenal… This is definitely something I’m going to spend some time studying…”

“Ha. And I assume you brought us in here t’ avoid the awkwardness of kissin’ in front o’ your friends?”

“You’re smarter than I thought,” she quipped. “But I think we’ve wasted enough time. Let’s go… for real this time.”

“Alright… but I have one question...”

“What?”

“Forgive me if this sounds kinda dumb, but… what if you, say… cast the spell while we…”

“We’d probably get stuck that way for all I know,” she joked. “Then we’d have a HUGE problem on our hooves.” We both shared a short laugh.

“Yea, prob’ly…”

“Yeah…” she said as silence overtook the atmosphere. I found myself staring at Twilight intensely as she stared passionately back at me. Eventually, she shook her head in an attempt to regain focus. “Okay, we REALLY need to stop horsing around. Let’s go.”

“Gotcha... I see what you did there, by the way…” I said, snapping out of my trance as she powered up her horn once again and with a *POOF*, we were going back to my world… for real, this time…