“Aw come on Melis! That story can't be true!” A drunk soldier laughed at the bard's story, dismissing it as a mere fabrication of the man's mind.

“Melis is a horsefucker! That's why he made up that shitty story!” A man with an eye patch and a trimmed beard responded to his friend.

“Come on guys! I told you it was real. You should believe me. I know the guy. He really is a unicorn” The young bard spoke laughing.

“I believe in you Melis. It was such a lovely story. Tell me. Did they get married in the end?” A muscular dwarf with thick red beard and braided hair responded in support of Melis.

“Yeah right! This is the part where Melis takes some sort of thing as proof of his story. What was the last time? Oh right! The head of that orc!” The drunk soldier laughed letting out a burp at the same time.

“Sorry guys. This time you'll have to believe me without much evidence. How about another story? One with less ponies and more ladies.”

The tavern was full of joy, Melis entertained his friends with his stories. Right when Melis took his lute to start his next tale, the door opened and a reptilian figure came through. The reptile was dressed with elegant clothes which did not match his rebellious personality. “Melis! You twisted bard! I have been looking for you! We are going to be late! Pony boy is waiting!”

“Sorry guys. I will leave this one for later.” Melis stood and left with his friend.

“Told you there would be some proof of it. That was Riv!”

“I still think he's a horsefucker!” The eye patch guy laughed.

“I don't care. I hope the pony guy married that filly.”

“Aren't you a bit sentimental for a dwarf?”

“I have killed more men than both of you together! And you can't even take a full mead mug without going all drunk!”

The three friends continued their party without Melis.

...

Melis and Riv finally arrived at their destination. A large valley with a lake in it, the moon light reflected on it's surface. There was a ring with portals leading to different locations, one of them was from which the two friends arrived, the others led to places considered safe by them and their friends. Closer to the lake stood a small cottage with light coming out of it's windows.

Inside the cottage there was a family preparing things for a celebration. The father was a purple unicorn pony with blue mane and green eyes, his cutie mark was a sword with a red trail. The mother was a young brown mare with dark pink mane, whose eyes were close in color to those of her husband, her cutie mark was a combination of scissors and an apple. Two younger ponies sat near a fireplace, one was a colt which was close to become a stallion, with a hide of dark blue color and a purple mane, his cutie mark was a teal four point star with a purple apple in the middle, the star was crossed by a blue ring with four triangular shapes over it, forming some sort of magic symbol. The youngest pony was a brownish orange filly with red mane, she had no cutie mark yet, but someday would carry a cutie mark showing a sword placed in cross position with an apple for hilt. Both young ponies inherited the green eyes of their parents.

“I'm getting tired of waiting. We should start without them.” The filly spoke, she was losing her patience.

“Patience Ambrosia. I think two of them are close already.” The father responded with a smile on his face.

“Is aunt Apple Bloom coming?” The colt asked. “I bet she could help Ambrosia get her cutie mark.”

“That's not how it works. She will find it on her own.” The mare responded with a smile.

“I know. But Ambrosia doesn't.”

“Shut up Winesap!” The filly yelled at her brother. “I know I will find it if I try everything. What if I become an adventurer just like dad?!”

“What do you think Midnight? Is she cut for it?”

“Well. A cutie mark means nothing when you go on an adventure. You turned out to be the best companion I could find after all.” The stallion responded and embraced his wife. “No matter where we are, we are home as long as we are together.”

Someone knocked at the door. Then a voice spoke from outside. “I am sorry to keep you waiting Pony boy. This stupid bard was too busy telling your story again.” It was Riv. Melis and him were the first to arrive for the reunion.

“It's open. Come in. You are the first to arrive I fact.” Midnight Edge responded. Riv and Melis walked in in response to his prompt.

“I think I saw the Apples coming through the Equestrian portal on our way here.” The bard spoke. “Should we leave the door open for them?”

“Sure. I can't wait to see my sister and my cousins.”

The End

Author's Note

Yo have finally reached the end of this long slow paced fanfic. I am pleased to know you had the patience to read so far. I hope you liked it. Thank you for reading.