Chapter 7

My time in this world, if I’m being honest, was not a pleasant one despite the bittersweet ending. Things got more out of hand than I care to admit and sometimes punch myself in the gut for not handling the situation better. My time in prison will always stay with me for as long as I live, a hard life lesson indeed. Celestia was still a little depressed even though I forgave her, the torture she put me through is a mistake she’ll most likely carry with her for the rest of her life. She still puts on a warm smile for her subjects, but deep down her guilt has taken a heaven toll.

Luna is also a bit stricken with guilt after the whole situation was over and done with. Now that I’m free, we’ve spent more time together as good friends but I notice she still feels responsible for Blueblood’s death. Luna even offered me to walk with her city, which was a much needed thing to do and let me tell you, I’ve never felt more alive when I took my first breath of fresh air from the outside world. True to her word, Luna had brought in some of the best engineers and inventors from across Equestria in order to create the first game system. It amused me how passionate she was for wanting something she enjoyed immensely in my dreams. I tried to warn her not to get addicted if they were able to make a game system, but she just brushed it off saying she won’t get addicted. Judging by how she was playing in my dreams, I doubt that very much.

Shining Armor and I have been hanging out a lot as well, he even invited me to go out drinking with him but I said I’d go along for the company since I wasn’t much of a drinker to begin with. To this day, he still gives me hard time how stupid I was for thanking the fall even though there was no reason to do so in the first place. Even the other guards were teasing me about it and started calling me selfless hero as a means to mock me since they saw it written on my cast. Shining even told me that if I had stayed a little longer he’d be happy to appoint me as a fellow guardsman under his command. I told him I wasn’t much of a soldier type to begin with so I would’ve turned him down anyway.

Speaking of, it’s been a little over two months since I was released from prison and my body has made a full recovery. Gotta hand it to that healing magic stuff, it’d work wonders for modern medicine back in my world. I no longer have a cast covering my leg and it doesn’t hurt anymore whenever I walk on it. It’s a good thing I was able to heal so quickly, not sure how I would explain how I broke my leg and it healed completely so fast when I return.

…

That’s right…my world, I completely forgot. It feels like I’ve been gone from my world for years yet it’s only been a span of months. When I talked to Celestia about it, she said she and Luna have been working on sending me back via portal and with the power of these things called the Elements of Harmony. She also said she’d send me back on the night of this event called the Grand Galloping Gala which was in a few days. I was both happy and anxious to be able to go back home. Were my family and friends still looking for me? After all this time of me being gone, would they think I’m dead? The last time I ever spoke to anyone was when I told them I was going out for a fishing trip. I just hope I can return home and be with everyone again.

Another good surprise while staying in Canterlot is I was visited by those six mares I met when I first arrived in this world. They were all happy to see me and were glad I was ok. Pinkie Pie, the pink mare, gave me a big hug and said she knew all along I’d never do something so bad as to take a life. The others were all equally glad I was proven innocent and the white mare, Rarity I think her name was, was still in slight disbelief of what she heard about Blueblood. Guess she had a bit of a thing for him, which was a little unexpected since I didn’t think anyone would see him in that way. We had all spent the whole day together and they were all a bit saddened that I was to return home in a few days at the gala. Pinkie Pie was especially sad because she never got to throw me a welcome party but I reassured her it was fine if she didn’t. The colorful haired mare, Rainbow Dash was her name, kept boasting to me how much 20% cooler I was for being able to put up with the torture and beatings. I tried to tell her it was nothing to boast about since I was to blame for my own imprisonment but she brushed it off by saying I was being modest. The country mare, Applejack, told me she too didn’t believe I would be as bad a human as she was told. She still remembers the day she caught me stealing apples from her stand and admired how honest I was when I apologized to her. The timid mare, Fluttershy, told me she had always worried about me in prison and wished she could’ve visited me. Like Pinkie and Applejack, she did not believe I was capable of taking a life and was happy I was doing well. Twilight, the librarian, wished I could’ve stayed just a little longer so she could learn more about humans but I told her there wasn’t really anything interesting about us to take note about. All in all, things were looking up and in a few days, I would be sent back home.

A Few Days Later
Night of The Gala

I was standing in my old guest room, dressed in the clothes I first wore upon arrival. They were cleaned and tailored to look brand new, courtesy of Celestia. I walked over to the bathroom to slash water on my face and gazed at myself in the mirror. When I first left prison, I let my hair and face grow out considerably long. I had a bit of a beard all over my chin and neck and my hair had grown out almost to my shoulders. It was as if I was staring at a stranger who hadn’t even heard of what a barber shop was. But thanks to a trip to the actual barber, I received the cleanup I deserved. My dirty blonde hair was short and styled neatly, my pale white skin in my face and neck was smooth to the touch after a close shave, and my forest green eyes had a bit more life in them as I smiled at my own reflection. There was a knock at the door, signaling it was time, so I exited the bathroom and walked over to the door. When I opened it, Shining was there, dressed in his armor, to greet me with a smile and a handshake.

“Hey there, you ready to go?”

“Just about, so this is it huh?”

“Guess it is, hard to believe this’ll be the last time we see each other.”

I nod and rep out the door and glance one last time at my guest room before closing the door.

“You know, it’s a shame you’re leaving tonight and can’t stay just a little longer.”

“Yeah? Why’s that?”

“Cause I’ve got some good news.” Shining said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box and opened it to reveal a very beautiful Diamond ring. “I was planning to propose to my marefriend next month and was hoping you would attend.”

“Woah, seriously? Well congrats man, I hope the wedding goes well for you and your bride-to-be.” I said.

“Thanks.” He said s he tucked the box back in his pocket.

“So who’s the lucky mare?”

“Somepony who used to foalsit for my little sister back when she was a filly. Another regret is not being able to introduce you to her, I’m sure you two would’ve gotten along just great.”

“I don’t doubt it, but it is what it is.”

“Agreed. You know, you could always stay just a little longer. I’m sure everypony would still like to have a chance to get to know you better.”

“That’s kind of you to offer, but I’m afraid I’m gonna have to decline. I still have a life to live with family and friends who are probably worried to death about me. I’ve been gone a long time and I don’t want to keep them waiting any longer than they already have.”

“Fair enough, you have your life to live and so does everypony else.”

“It’s a shame, you know, I was hoping to try and milk the whole hero thing and try to get free stuff or something.” I tease.

“Oh, you wouldn’t dare.” Shining chuckled.

“Wouldn’t I?” I shot back, earning a playful punch to the arm.

We both laugh as we near the entrance to the ballroom where the gala was being held. The guards at the doors salute us both and open them for us. We were then greeted by a huge crowd of ponies and the calming classical music from the band. Celestia, Luna, and the six mares were all waiting for me as they stood in the center of the crowd. Each of the six mares were dressed in their own pretty dresses and had on these special looking necklaces, each one with a certain symbol, excluding Twilight’s since she had on a crown. Shining bowed to the Princesses and stepped back, leaving me by myself as Celestia cleared her throat.

“Mares and gentlestallions, I welcome you all to another night of the Grand Galloping Gala.” Celestia said, earning a round of applause.

“I would like to begin tonight’s event with a warm send off to our human guest here. Though the circumstances were drastic and his methods were unorthodox, his efforts proved to be very beneficial for our kingdom against those who wished to do us all harm. And I confess, that I too played a part in his unfortunate experience during his confinement, but his heart did not deter and he was able to grant me his forgiveness. For which I am eternally grateful for and hope I can one day accept it. But for now, it is time to bid our guest farewell.”

Celestia nods to the six mares and they all gather around in front of me. Twilight closes her eyes, along with the others and they all begin to glow. The Elements they have on shine brightly and from behind them, the Princesses’s horns glow as well. I could actually feel the immense amount of magic being displayed felt a little overwhelmed as the light began to shine brighter and brighter. Then, all at once, a bright beam of rainbow light shot upwards and came down right in front of me. A swirling rainbow portal hovered just before me as the light from the six mares and Princesses died down and they walked around to stand beside me.

“So…this is it.”

“Indeed.” Luna said. “This portal shall send you back to your home world. And do not fret, we made sure not to send you back in the middle of the body of water you described when you first arrived. If our calculations are correct, you should arrive just at the coast.”

“Well that’s a relief-oof!”

Something jumped up from behind me and a pair of pink arms wrapped around and squeezed me tight.

“I’m sure gonna miss you!”

“Heh, yeah, me too Pinkie.” I said as I turned around and returned the embrace. The others followed suit and each said their farewells until it was the Princesses and Shining.

“You take care now, you hear?” Shining said as he gave me one last bro hug. “Don’t go taking the blame anymore from now on, or I’ll come to your world and kick the crap out of you.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t do something stupid like that anymore.”

Shining chuckled and stepped back as Luna stepped forward as tears formed in her eyes.

“Words cannot describe how thankful I am for all you have done.”

“Eh, I didn’t really do much if you think about it.” I shrug.

“Be that as it may, I am still thankful to you.” Luna said as she embraced me in a hug. “I shall never forget you, my friend.”

“Me either Luna, it’s been my pleasure. Make sure you brush up on your gaming skills once that system gets built, ok?”

“I shall be the best gamer in all the land!” She boasts, making me laugh.

As Luna stepped back, Celestia was frowning and looking away. I smiled at her as I stepped towards her and gently grasped her hand.

“I gotta say, it’s been quite an experience.”

“I know, and I’m so sor-”

“Hey now.” I said as I pulled her in for a hug. “No more apologies. If I can forgive you, then you can forgive yourself.”

“But am I even worthy of forgiveness?”

“Yes, cause I know you are, so no more beating yourself up, ok?”

Celestia sniffles and nods as I pull away and smile at her. I sigh and turn towards the portal and step towards it. I take one last look over my shoulder and the group all wave goodbye to me and I return it with a wave of my own and a warm smile. With that, I face the portal and step through, back to the world I was born in.

I sighed as I put my pen down and flipped through the pages of my journal. I then start to think about all that happened in Equestria and contemplate if all that had happened was real or not. When I arrived back in my world, I was back at the beach where I left with my boat. As expected, when people heard and saw I was back, there was a huge uproar at my return. I ended up on the news, getting interviewed, and my family and friends were all extremely happy I was alive and well. When people asked me where I was and how I was still alive, I couldn’t bring myself to tell them where I was since it was highly unlikely they’d believe me. I simply told them that I had no recollection of my disappearance and it felt like I was only gone for a few days. Miraculously, they all believed me and after a month of publicity I was back to my old life.

I often think about what’s been happening in Equestria since I left. Hard to believe it’s been two whole years since I disappeared for my world and I still remember all that had happened. I still have the scar on my stomach from when Rain Claw stabbed me which was more than enough proof that my time in Equestria was real as can be. Guess all there is to do now is live my life as usual.

“Walter! Walter Morgan, come down now! We’re going to be late!”

“I’m coming mom!” I call out.

I sit up from my chair and grab my jacket and wallet. Before I left my room, I glanced over at my journal before leaving the room.

“Hope you’re all doing well, everyone.” I said as I ran down the stairs with a smile.

I made it to the bottom of the stairs where my mom and dad were waiting for me.

“What took you so long, son?” Dad asks.

“Oh, just reminiscing about something.”

Author's Note

And so ends my first official story! Wow, I did NOT expect this to be so popular. Thank you all so much for reading this short tale! Maybe I’ll write another short story in the future.

Thanks again!

~WurkyWilk has left the building…