Canterlot Academy Trials

After everyone had gotten some rest over the next few days, a ceremony was held in honor of all their hard work. During which, Blue, Mist, and Thiasus were all given ceremonial robes and medals by Chang to show his and his citizen’s gratitude for all that they did.

“...god this is awkward as shit,” Blue muttered through a forced smile as he waved at the crowd of cheering primates.

“Agreed. Being showered in praise for such horrid work is a bit alien to me,” Thiasus commented with a sigh.

“That and I actually hate crowds--”

Meanwhile, Mist had a more solemn tone in her voice. “Argh...I really don’t deserve this. I laid waste to an entire city and now I’m bein’ labelled a hero?”

From nearby, Chang would offer some of his own words of wisdom. “Consider that if we did not act, more children would have been put in danger. I’m not saying that you should revel in the destruction, but you should feel proud of yourself for completing such a difficult task that I put you up to in the first place.”

“...suppose that’s true, yes,” Mist relented and agreed. The praise from the audience would still take some getting used to, but so long as she could come to terms with her past, she was more than willing to accept it for now.

Several hours later, at Lee’s family manor…

“I want to personally thank you all for your assistance,” the primate woman bowed to them, “You’ve essentially saved my home, and helped me realize what I need to do with myself.”

“We did?” Blue tilted his head.

“You did. I’m afraid I won’t be returning to Equestria with you because I have an obligation to my own kind.”

“That’s understandable,” Thiasus nodded, “You have a duty to fulfill as a noble to your people. I don’t blame you.”

“Ye…ye wanna make up for what ye did in the past,” Mist added sympathetically, “Trust me, I know how ye feel.”

Before they would leave, Lee would go around and give each of them a tight hug to show her gratitude. “I won’t forget the time we’ve spent together,” she assured them all, “And be sure to return at any time you wish. I will ensure your visits will be handled with the utmost care by my most esteemed staff members.”

“Appreciated,” Thiasus replied. “I’m more than interested in conducting more diplomatic relations between the deer and monkeyfolk.”

“Yeah uh, I’ll be making sure no more slave-trade fuckers bring anymore dragons through here,” Blue asserted with a grin, “Otherwise, yeah you’ll def see me back here.”

“Someone’s gonna hafta make sure to water the grass for ye,” Mistwalker commented with a snide tone, indicating that she knew she’d have to come back at some point to pay her respects. “I’d be honored.”

As they made their goodbyes, generals Ban and Tai would appear to see them off with bows and waving as they left.

The operation was complete.

Meanwhile, back at the university in Canterlot…

“Yo, Nebula,” Luster Dawn knocked on his dorm room door and called out to him, “I’ve received word from the East.”

“Eh? How are things down there?” Nebula answered the door and walked outside of his room, not allowing the mare to see inside.

Dawn raised a brow but chose not to question it. “Everything’s been contained according to our spies. We can officially start relaxing for Winter Break and Hearth’s Warming.”

“Good,” Nebula replied as he started trotting ahead, “I’m kinda tired after that whole Canterlot invasion. It’s a shame--had Grimrose been there, she would’ve stopped them much quicker.”

“Huh?” Dawn looked at him out of confusion. “Wait, where is she anyway?”

“Off on a diplomacy mission to a tribe of unicorns on another continent. Apparently she’s going to meet with someone named Oleander.” He sighed. “Things are way more boring with her not around, but it’s understandable. Gotta make money somehow.”

Dawn would sneer at the stallion and tease him. “Awww…looks like somepony’s missing his marefriend,” she stuck out her tongue.

“Oh piss all the way off,” Nebula replied with an eye roll, then pouted, puffing out his cheeks.

“Kidding, kidding,” she cleared up her intent. “You two seem like you’re made for each other, but I get why detaching might be a little tough.”

Nebula shook his head and had a grin on his face. “It’s fine. I know you were just playing around. Besides, I’ve been focusing my attention elsewhere in the meantime.”

‘Is that why you didn’t let me see inside your room?’ Dawn thought to herself in silence.

“Oh?” she spoke aloud, “What are you thinking about, Nebula?”

“Well ever since that incident with the hippogriff I couldn’t save…I’ve had some time to think.” His voice became rather solemn for a moment as Dawn glanced at him with a sympathetic frown.

“I see…what are you going to do?”

Nebula’s voice turned stoic and determined as he glanced ahead to the band hall of the university. “...I’m going to put on a show that this city won’t forget.”