At The End

“Lou ?”

“Yeah ?”

“Why are you home ?”

“If only I knew…”

“You left me…”

…

“You left me now I’m dead.”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry Tomy.”

Behind me, I could hear the sound of a plane. Its engines whirling around as it fell from the sky. It kept getting louder. Tomy was standing beside me. Looking at me as blood poured from his guts.

I didn’t understand? Tomy didn’t die in a plane crash… did he?

“Help me Lou.”

I turned to him. It wasn’t Tomy.

Who was it. I was forgetting… why was I forgetting ?

“Who?”

“Help me Louis! Oh god please help me!” Around me were so many faces. Each one fading from recognition. Each one becoming blank.

“Oh god.” I made to move away from the bodies. My leg caught on something unseen, I tripped. Falling onto my back I was forced to look up. The aircraft was crashing down upon me. Huge, loud and terrifying.

I wanted to move but something stopped me. A boot was set of my wounded shoulder. Looking down at me was Romain. His face was twisted in rage. He knelt down to whisper something into my ear.

“You don’t deserve to live happy.” His face disappeared, the aircraft was so close now. My breath caught as I chocked back a whimper.

He was right.

XXXX

I awoke with a start, my heart pounding and my eyes watering. Looking around, I saw that I was in the library. I was cuddled up to Mark and Jack, both were restless, they too were having their own nightmares.

I didn’t have a nightmare every night. Some times I would dream about our fun times. Or maybe about being a superhero. I had dreamed of Twilight once or twice, maybe even fantasized once of a life together. That was one weird dream, but nicer than these other nightmares.

Just as I was about to lie back down, I heard a click. My ears swivelled towards the door.

It was open slightly. Not surprising seeing as I had knocked the lock right off. I would have to apologise to Twilight when we finally found her.

Mark stirred slightly.

“Mwhat’s going on?” He asked, still asleep.

“I’m sure I shut the door.” I said, getting up from our pile, I adjusted my cloak and holster around my leg. I probably should have removed them but I was just far too exhausted from all the walking.

“I’ll go and get it.” I mumbled. My paws pitter-pattered on the wooden floor as I pushed the door shut. I was in mid yawn when the door flew towards me.

I fell to the floor in a daze. My ears were ringing.

All I saw was a large figure dressed in spiky armour rushing over me and putting a sword to my throat. What was going on?

Mark and Jack were quick to act. Both were up and yelling at the intruder, their revolvers at the ready. Whoever it was who was holding me let go and retreated. I was quick to get to my paws and shake myself off. Maybe we could talk with whoever attacked me. I was in no mood for a rough fight.

Looking up, I struggled to see who it was. The armour glinting in the moonlight. Soon my eyes adjusted to the darkness and I finally saw who it was. Those eyes! That hair! There was no way I could ever forget those features.

I was bewildered. I thought that it would take us ages to meet up at the mountain city.

“Twilight?” I asked hesitantly. Afraid to make a move in case things spiralled. She looked awful, her once radiant eyes no longer seemed to hold the spark that they once did.

At my question, she seemed to have lost it. Her sword clattering to the ground. A deathly silence filled the room as she took a slight step back, her ears splaying backwards.

“Lou?”

I swallowed thickly, nodding my head, her eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed wordlessly. Her gazed lowered as she continued to mutter to herself. I was a bit worried, it only took a few moments as I made a few steps towards her. I stopped when her head snapped up, her gaze stern and unwavering. She looked mad, but there was something else.

After a moment of just staring, her horn charged and a large smile split her face. Within a flash she was atop of me, hugging me with all her might. She was crying, tears of joy ran down her face as we hugged. The others joined us in the group reunion, no words were spoken as we rejoiced in our ‘retrouvaille’. It was lovely and I was so happy.

“Oh my gosh, it’s you!” She sniffed, wiping away her tears with her magic, she looked at us in turn. “You’re all here!” She said once more before looking at Jack.

“Jack?” He nodded, then she looked at Mark. “Mark?”

“Who else?” He laughed, smiling broadly. He was very happy to see a familiar pony face. We all were.

“Twilight?” A voice called from the door way. We all turned to look at whoever was interrupting this lovely moment.

At the door was a small creature, scaly like a lizard but with a tail. Twilight turned only her head and greeted the creature. Her smile never leaving her face. She recognised the creature so I had no feeling or need to take action.

“Spike!” She called and made her way towards ‘Spike’.

“What’s going on, who are these ponies?” The voice sounded quite young, hard to tell if it was male or female.

Twilight approached the Dinosaur and ushered it in. The others and I held ourselves high, not really sure who this was. We were a little cautious, but not enough for us to draw. If this creature was with Twilight, then that was fine.

“Spike, these are my friends from Earth!” She began. “When the Shadow sent me through the mirror, these are the ones who found me.” She explained before gesturing in at each of us in turn.

“This is Lou, Mark and Jack.” She said before looking back from us to Spike. “Guys, this is Spike. My number one assistant and adopted baby dragon brother.” So he was a dragon!

“Hi, nice to meet you.” He said as he approached us, a claw raised at me. Raising my paw, I grasped his rather clumsily and shook it.

“The pleasure is ours.” I said, the others nodded and smiled down at the drake. After releasing, I quickly realised that Twilight was staring at me with an increasingly intensifying scrutiny. Something had caught her attention. She was staring at my paw.

“Is that a paw ?” She asked, looking at all of our paws with a disbelieving look.

“Uh yeah, I was going to ask what species are? Couldn’t remember you saying if ponies had paws or not. The wings seem a little over the top too.” I explained, flexing a wing out from under the cloak. Twilight and Spike froze, their eyes widening as they looked at each other in obvious disbelief. Both Mark and Jack did the same. Twilight seemed almost ready to faint.

Then suddenly, she had a huge revelation. Or something like that, because after a few seconds, she raised her head and began to bounce up and down the room. With swipe of her magic, her armour clattered to the ground as she continued to bounce around us repeating her mantra.

“Ohmygoshyou’reAlicorns!Ohmygoshyou’reAlicorns!Ohmygoshyou’reAlicorns!”

Spike seemed a little lost for words but at least he kept some form of composure. I was pulled out of my train of thought as my right hind leg was raised without warning. I almost fell on my face had Jack not caught me.

I turned my head to see Twilight studying me attentively. Grasping my wings and going into full inspection mode. I felt a bit self conscious, especially since she was very close to where my large calibre was.

And that it also happened to be placed near to my erogenous zone. I had been quite surprised when I had seen my ‘new’ junk, but it sure wasn’t easy to have a piss.

After her thorough check up, Twilight appeared in front of me and gave me some of the biggest eyes I have ever seen.

“This is incredible!” She squealed. “I must take notes!” She declared running around us and grabbing pieces of paper and writing utensils.

This was weird, maybe she had always been like this? I couldn’t remember, but I was tired and so were the others. She may be fully awake, but we weren’t.

I turned my attention to the young drake who was watching the whole scene unfold.

“This often happen?” I asked, he just shook his head. A resounding no then. Looking over at Twilight who was now rummaging through a desk under the staircase, I made my way over to her.

“Twilight it’s nice to see you and all but-” She cut me off by grabbing my mouth and taking a look at my teeth.

She appeared to be making a mental note of everything that was happening. Everything about me. I was tired and I also wanted to go to sleep, and she was waaaay too excited.

As she turned to make notes, I grabbed her by the tail with my magic. I then yanked her back towards me. She squealed and landed on her rear right in front of me. She turned her head looked up at me with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry.” She whispered “B-but this is incredible, you’re all ponies! Alicorns no less!”.

“Twilight it’s lovely to see you and all but we’re tired. I know you have questions but we’re exhausted, and you look it too.” Helping her up, I gave her my best smile. Realisation came over her and she gave the others an apologetic squee’.

“Sorry, you’re right, but I have so many questions…” She trailed off. I knew that she wouldn’t be getting much sleep, and I was certainly going to be struggling too.

“Twilight lets get some rest, we’ll talk in the morning.” Turning around, my friends already settling down on the floor, I began to settle down only to have Twilight rush to my side and stopping me.

“W-wait, there’s a bed upstairs!” Mark snorted, chuckling while Twilight looked at him confused.

“You want to take the captain to bed now?” Jack laughed too.

“I-I what? No! I mean-” I silenced her with a paw and gave her a thankful look.

“I appreciate the thought, but that’s your bed and we’ve already set ourselves up here. Just go to sleep Twilight we can talk in the morning.”

Lying down, I watched a Spike whispered into Twilight’s ear and made his way up the stairs. Twilight sighed and moved to the door to close it.

“Night night all.” Jack mumbled as he closed his eyes. As did I, until something soft and fluffy pressed itself into my side. Opening an eye. Twilight looked at me as she curled up and pressed herself into our circle.

“Uhm?” I asked, a brow raising in confusion.

“I know what you’re thinking, but I have been wishing for this moment, to see you all again.” She sighed and pressed her head into my side and sighed. “I don’t want this to be a dream. I’m staying with you. So don’t go anywhere.” She was very stern on that last part. “Please.”

Something had obviously happened to her. Something bad. Maybe had we met again on Tarawa or Okinawa, I would be like her, desperate. And she was desperate for us to be real.

“We’re here Twilight.” I assured her.

“Then don’t leave me.” She mumbled, as she drifted off into the realm of sleep. She still looked as adorable as when we had first met her, a little faded maybe. We all had questions, but those would have to wait.

XXXX

It couldn’t have been more than two hours later that I awoke again. I couldn’t sleep. There was a feeling of sickness in the pit of my stomach. I needed some air.

As I opened my eyes, Twilight stirred next to me. Her eyes opening as she turned to look at me. She almost seemed worried, before her eyes settled on me. She smiled, and moved her head to bring her muzzle up to my neck.

I stiffened as she nibbled at my fur. My wings shifting slightly under my cloak from the contact. I could hear her mumble something, the words lost in the fluffiness of my fur coat.

“I need some air.” I muttered, rising to my feet. Twilight was quick to get up too, following me as I made my way to the front door.

The air outside was cold, fog rose from the ground as white mist escaped from my every breath. The moon was still high in the sky, the pale light was far more beautiful than anything I had seen on Earth. Everything seemed so peaceful, tranquil almost. Twilight followed me out, closing the door behind herself.

Even in the moonlight she was incredibly beautiful, the way her eyes shinned even in the faintest light was almost jaw dropping. Mine probably would be on the floor right now had I not been feeling so tired.

So I just sat there, Twilight standing there for a while before coming to join me under the stars. A cold breeze blew lightly through the streets of this medieval looking town. I could hear the sound of trees swaying off in the distance. A few clouds blew fast overhead, but other than occasional sound of a shutter banging open and shut from one of the nearby houses, everything was still.

The town seemed dead, deserted. As if life had been chocked from its inhabitants.

My thoughts were interrupted by a wing draping across my back.

I looked down at Twilight who was looking up at me with a sad smile, she then leaned into me. Nuzzling my neck again like she had when I had awoken.

The action of having someone do this to me was strange. I had never had a lover before, no girlfriends, just good friends at school. Twilight certainly was a strange addition to my life. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head to the side to rest on top of hers.

It was a lovely moment for the both of us. In each others company, it felt like most of the stress I had within just melted away. I think Twilight felt it too. She had been on edge when we saw her tonight, now she was Twilight.

My Twilight.

“For a Thestral, you are really good lookin’.” She hummed, I lifted my head to give her one of my best confused looks. Or maybe it was an incredulous look? Either way, I tried my best. All I got in return was giggle.

“Oh! Please tell, what is it about this ‘Thestral’ that makes you like him so much?” I didn’t really need a factual answer. She was a native to this world, of course me becoming an equine is going to be rather appealing to her.

“Oh I don’t know, it could be those fangs! Or the bat wings! Or maybe…” She then began to list off everything about me, from head to toe, or paw… or maybe claw? I lost track of what she was saying after point number fifteen. She was excited, and I honestly couldn’t blame her.

“Or… it could just be that you’re actually next to me. Here, talking to me.” I had no idea that multicoloured ponies could actually blush red to such a degree. It was cute and god damn adorable.

“I’m glad that you can see me like that. My family don’t think that I am much of a talker any more.” I looked down to see that Twilight had completely stopped, she just gawked up at me. I sighed, lowering my gaze to look at something else.

“It’s not like that. I mean my parents, my sister, my--” I cut myself from continuing. She had not known Romain. She didn’t need to know, not now.

“I don’t have anyone in my life yet, I haven’t really been looking much.”

Twilight eyed me cautiously for the next few moments, hesitating about what to say. Twilight then turned her head to the stars, looking up at the moon. She sighed, weariness starting to kick in.

“I haven’t found my special somepony yet.” She then turned her attention back to me, nudging me so that I would look at her again.

“I didn’t want to think about it. Not when I had no idea if you were still okay or not.” I chuckled, earning me a wing to the side and an angry look from her.

“Don’t you dare laugh! You and the others were my friends. After all we have been through, I thought me and you would make it work.” That part got me a little off guard. While our relationship had been… how should I put it? Romantic? Loving? I also knew that it would not last. We were from two different worlds. She had to be returned to hers and I had obligations to mine, not pursuing the relationship seemed reasonable.

“I haven’t looked either. It’s been awhile Twilight.” I sighed, I knew what I wanted, but I also knew what that would mean.

“Three years since we met. Almost four now.” I then reached into the pocket of my cloak, retrieving my wallet and removing the print that was held inside. Passing it to her within my magic.

“You’re actually pretty good with that you know?” She took the print and squinted to see what was on it. Was it really that dark? I could just see fine.

“Good with what?” Grabbing my flash light, offering that to her as well. “Do you want a light? You seem to be struggling there.” She took the offer, continuing to squint at the picture with almost all her concentration as she fumbled around with the torch in her magic.

“Unlike you, my eyes aren’t designed for darkness. Seeing in the dark is more of a Thestrals speciality.” Finally lighting on the torch, I raised a paw to shield my eyes. Damn, so I can see in the dark now? I hadn’t paid any attention to it before now.

“And I was talking about your magic.” She turned towards me, giving me an approving nod. “I know Unicorns that struggle to levitate objects, yet you did it with absolute ease.”

I smiled sheepishly, rubbing my paws together nervously. I hadn’t really paid any attention to the use of Magic before now. It wasn’t hard.

“I don’t know about using magic. It just seems so easy.” Turning my attention back to her, I could see the tears. Her eyes were becoming red as she looked at the picture. After a few moments, she turned to me, handing me back the items.

“I wish I could ask to keep it so that I can make a copy. Its painful but that was one of the good memories.” She said, watching as I placed my wallet back in my coat with the torch.

“Maybe once we’ve figured everything out. We still need to figure out with the others how to help you out.” Nuzzling her head, I spread a comforting wing across her back.

“What?”

“Me and the others aren’t here by accident Twi.” I watched for her reaction, she seemed all the more confused. Her mind obviously trying to tie the dots together.

“For me, it started a few days ago. I don’t know about the others, but suddenly we started having these abnormalities appear on us. The next they show up at my house, a strange woman appears and brings us here. Turns us into “imperial ponies”, gives us magic then fucks off.”

“You mean to tell me you were brought here? On purpose?” She was actually hopeful about that. She wanted us to be brought here.

“The demi-goddess said that we were here to help you, nothing much more to it than that.” I shrugged. Twilight on the other hand seemed to be ecstatic. Her eyes shinning in the moonlight, more tears forming in her eyes. Before I could say any more, she had wrapped herself around me and planted her lips against mine. Not for long as she seemed to be trying to kiss me all over my face. Her murmurs were filled with sounds of joy.

“Oh thank Celestia!” She breathed as she regained her composure, removing herself from me. Though keeping out faces only mere inches apart.

“Sorry.” She added, trying to look away sheepishly. Now it was my turn to lean in and give her a peck in the end of her nose. I’m pretty sure she turned red from that, but what I had noticed was how much her coat had regained in vibrancy. Her coat had seemed rather faded and dull earlier, now she was practically radiant.

“I’m not sure what we’re suppose to do here to help you Twilight. But me and the others are pretty much stuck here for no other reason than our obligations to you.” I gave her another bop on the tip of her nose, smiling as she continued to shrink in on herself.

“That and none of us know how to get back to Earth on our own otherwise.”

“You want to go back to Earth?” She squeaked, as I rested my head on top of hers again as I had done earlier, closing my eyes and giving myself a moment to rest my eyes. I didn’t reply. In all honesty, I didn’t want to reply.

“Why don’t we talk about you?”