Author's Note

And we're back! Did you miss me?

First, this chapter contains no spoilers for anyone who's seen even the trailers. If you'll recall, most of Endgame is unnecessary after Elements of Infinity. (And if you're just starting my series, which I know some of you are, this is the point where you stop reading Interlude and start reading Elements, then come back. Sorry for making the timeline weird.)

Second, there's another story coming up, but it's taking way longer than it should. I finished the first draft at the end of last year. After nearly four months of this year, how much have I written of the second draft? A chapter and a half. The first chapter needs a few more edit, but as soon as I can, I'll get it posted and we can get the ball rolling on a new adventure!

This chapter takes place a few hours after the end of Elements of Infinity.

Endgame

Hey, Twilight. I'm sure you're probably busy with cleanup and everything, but we have this teeny tiny little problem up here in space. See, that planet we were on? It's kinda a really long way from Earth. The other guys from space, the "Guardians of the Galaxy" or whatever, they say there aren't enough "jump points" in the right places. It would take us weeks to get back to Earth, if we didn't run out of fuel first. And with how many people are on this ship, the food and water won't last weeks. Like I said, I'm sure you've got a lot going on, but when you get the chance, could you maybe give us an assist?

Did Tony put you up to this? Tell him it's not funny. Then get your tails down here. Pinkie Pie is going to explode if she has to wait too long to throw the "we saved the world" party.

It's not a joke, Twilight. There are ten people on a ship that usually holds six, and Thor took part of their supplies already. We've got enough for maybe a few days, and we can't get back to Earth in that time.

Twilight sighed and closed the book. A part of her wanted to reply sharply--"I revived half the universe and you can't even get a spaceship to earth?"--but she knew harsh words wouldn't help anything. She had to think.

The range of teleportation was only a few hundred miles, and that was assuming a very powerful spellcaster. Teleporting without line of sight was already hard enough. Yet, just a few hours ago, she'd teleported a much farther distance than currently separated her from Rainbow Dash and the others. Not just within the galaxy, but actually into the galaxy from another--and from what she'd heard, even the most advanced space travel available couldn't cover that distance.

But that had been with the full power of the Elements of Harmony, and so much energy flowing through her veins it threatened to overwhelm her senses. And teleporting a whole ship would be much more difficult. She didn't want to experience that again.

Her eyes drifted over the Gauntlet, with the Elements still locked into place. And the second Gauntlet--or the first, really--with the Infinity Stones. If she'd thought using all the Elements of Harmony at once was awful, that was nothing to when she put on the Infinity Gauntlet in addition. While the Elements had overloaded her mind, the Stones had assaulted her body. She could still feel their power burning through her hoof, though it left no visible marks. And when she'd used the two of them together, the strain had nearly torn her very body apart. Hers! The body of an undying alicorn!

The two Gauntlets were still lying on the ground where she'd flung them immediately afterwards, when she'd torn them from her hooves in anguish. She didn't want to use either of them again. But what choice did she have?

She made her decision. Her horn flared to life, reaching for the Infinity Gauntlet. A pink glow surrounded the purple stone and ripped it from its casing. She'd have to return it to wherever he'd gotten it from, she supposed. She'd have to return them all. If they were spread out far enough, no one could follow in Thanos's footsteps. But that would all have to wait.

The red stone fell to the ground next to the purple. The orange and green followed them. Last of all, she pulled the yellow Mind Stone from its position in the center. "Hey, Vision!"

"Yes, Twilight?" He glided towards her, across the bodies of the aliens scattered all over the plain. Another thing they'd have to work on cleaning up. For another time.

"I'm guessing you want this back?" She passed it into his hands.

He pressed the stone into his forehead. "Thank you. I could live without it, but it's confusing... trying to understand who I am without it, whether I'm really me. Thank you."

"Of course." The Gauntlet had only one stone in it now, but she only needed one. "I'll be right back, okay?"

The journal had gone silent. Maybe Twilight was busy. There must have been a lot that needed done, Rainbow decided, after that battle. She still barely knew what had happened down on Earth--especially considering she'd been a little bit dead at the time.

Rainbow sighed. This was boring, and taking forever. At least on the way out to Titan they'd been able to work on a plan--which had fallen apart when the Guardians attacked them and then joined them, but it had been something. Now the only entertainment was Tony's determined efforts to teach the Guardians "finger football," which she couldn't join in on, for obvious reasons.

There was a whooshing noise, and a swirling blue portal opened in front of her. She sat bolt upright, her mind panicking beyond logical thought at the memory of the last time she'd seen that type of transportation. But the only purple creature that came through was Twilight, smiling and wearing a Gauntlet with only one Stone. "Hey, everyone. Ready to go home?"

"Heck yes I'm ready!" Rainbow Dash blurted. "Space is either boring or terrifying. There's nothing in between. And so I would like to get out of space as soon as possible."

"Aww, space is fun!" Scootaloo called from the bridge. "Look how cool it is out the window!"

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, kid. Twi, let's get out of here."

Twilight trotted up to the bridge. "Where's the captain?"

Starlord left the table (where he'd been beating everyone) and headed up. "You need me to steer somewhere?"

She stomped, and a huge portal opened in front of them. "Yeah. In there."

He shrugged. "Works for me."

"Quickly, please," she added. "This thing kinda hurts to wear. And that portal is bigger than it usually does."

He pushed a lever forward, and Rainbow felt herself flung back against the wall by the acceleration. It lasted only a few seconds, and as abruptly as it had started, it stopped, dropping her to the floor. "Maybe a 'fasten your seatbelt' warning next time?" she suggested dazedly.

The ship touched down, and the bay doors opened. Rainbow didn't make it two steps out onto the grass of a place she could only assume was Wakanda before being tackled into a weapons-grade Pinkie Pie hug. It was futile to resist.

Starlord was looking around at the planet with a strange expression on his face. It was his first time on the planet since he was a child, Rainbow knew. She wondered what must be going through his head. Was it emotional? Was it confusing?

"Man," he said. "I wish we could travel like that every time!"