“We meet again, human.” It feels weird to hear my own voice with that posh accent again. It seems like I'm in the void state where I met the real Ignis for the first time.

“Why am I here? I thought this could only happen when I was in a trance?”

“I’m not sure either. If I had to guess? It’s related to that message we saw. Soul and body synchronization increased. This is good though, I wanted to speak to you, Lucas.”

The elf takes a few large steps toward me in this white void space and puts a hand on my shoulder. “You have my blessing.”

“For what? Or is this like a passive buff you’re applying to our body?”

“You have my blessing to stay here or return to Earth. While we’re still separate enough to have differing personalities I just wanted to let you know. As far as I’m concerned I already died 20 years ago. If you ended up finding a way for us to leave this realm but found yourself torn between Earth or the Feywild, you can go home, Lucas. You don’t need to take my memories and feelings into consideration. I know you’re quite torn, so I thought perhaps this would ease your burden, if only a little. I’ll also throw in my opinion on your whole ordeal, if you would like that?”

“Yeah. You’re the only other one around me that can directly relate to my situation.”

“I agree with the pink princess. Disregard any guilt you feel when making your decision. It is your life and your choice to make, as it always has been. That pegasus you’ve taken a fancy to, she was right as well multiple weeks ago. Be selfish. This choice impacts the rest of your life, you have to live with whatever outcome is decided, not the ponies, not your friends, not even your parents. It is your life.”

“It’s… our life. Why can you so easily cast aside your own home and family? Why resign yourself to go quietly into the night?”

“Because I could feel it. When the synchronization improved I felt more hazy, weaker. We’re truly merging now, and it’s probably a good thing. You’ll never be able to reach your full potential if we’re fragmented like this. Our personalities though, that’s the bad news. I can tell from how much weaker I am now, it’s like I’m fighting to stay awake after 3 days of continued labor. Once we fully sync…most of myself will likely be gone.”

“But this is your body?! Why do you refuse to fight? You can retain more of yourself!”

“You saw the same new memory I saw, Lucas. Our soul was forcefully astral projected and crammed into another vessel. Once that happened this…system, downloaded my memories and personality and took those things away from you. That’s all I am, I’m just a downloaded ego. This body is yours, this soul is yours. I’m just data and it was always my purpose to be stored until you were ready, and I guess you’re close now. It’ll be soon, I can feel it.”

“Father was right, you are far too kind Ignis.” I can feel my eyes well up. “If this was the other way around, if I was just data you can bet your ass I wouldn't be as amicable as you. Is this really okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay. If you think about it I’m not even really going anywhere, I’m just going back to where I came from. You. If we don’t have a chance to talk once more before I slip away, just know that I’m proud of you. Mother and Father would be proud of you too. Just keep moving forward.”

Everything goes dark and when I blink I’m back in the sitting room, alone, where I was talking to Cadence earlier. “I know this will sound weird cause we’re technically the same person, but I wish I could’ve talked with you more. I wish we had just both been brought here in our own bodies. I wish....we could’ve been friends. We would’ve been good friends, I think.”

After I finish talking to no one in this empty room, I wipe my face and rub my eyes. I know a while back I told Luna I would only leave here if I could return to Earth, but this entire time I’ve still been thinking of the Feywild. I didn’t even remember making that declaration, the Feywild has been one of the things I was considering, purely because I think my odds of getting there are better than Earth.

When he gave me his blessing I was so surprised at how….relieved I felt. Once I stand up it hits me that I feel much less sluggish now. Almost like lifting that weight from me has reenergized me a bit. Let’s go back to the ballroom, but let’s take the scenic route. I want to go outside.

“Applejack, did you just trip that guy?”

“What the blazes?! Where’d you come from fella? I uh… I wouldn’t say I tripped him, it’s more like I used a fancy marketing technique to get his attention.” After she says that her mouth is closed in a funny looking way and her eyes keep darting back and forth. I just give her a deadpan stare and raise an eyebrow. She hangs her head in shame and admits it. “Yeah I tripped em. I’ve been out here for hours and only had one customer the whole time, Ignis! ONE!”

“Wait customer? You’re charging people?”

“Well yeah, how else am I supposed to stay in business?”

“AJ. Applejack. They have catering inside. Free catering. Why would they buy an apple or whatever if they can get free food inside?”

“What? They have enough food for everypony in there and it’s free? I didn’t even go inside once I got here, I just came straight out here and set up my stand. I can’t believe it…”

“Ohh, bless your heart.”

Applejack apparently knows what that means and it apparently means the same thing as it did on Earth, because her head snapped around to look at me and she just squinted at me. “How do you know that saying? I say that to my friends sometimes, but they think I’m sympathizing with em.”

I must’ve had a smug expression since she didn’t even have to ask if I meant it in the condescending way. “It’s a saying back where I’m from as well. For what it’s worth I am halfway sympathizing with you. I’m surprised Twilight didn’t mention anything to you about it since I’m fairly certain she’s been to this before. I guess she just didn’t even think about it?”

“Yeah I reckon I’d say the same thing if I was in your position. Twi’ was probably just too excited about gettin to talk to the princess to even realize I was intending to sell my stuff here.”

“Well, the Gala still has a couple of hours left. Last time I saw them, Twilight and a few of your other friends were all sitting together with Celestia. Why don’t you go look for them? Your night would probably be a bit better if you were with your friends.” I give her a soft smile and her mood seems to improve a bit.

“You’re right, that’s what I should’ve been doin from the start. Imma go hunt em down, thanks Ignis.”

“Yep, no problem.”

I think that just leaves Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. I didn’t talk to her but I noticed Pinkie had joined their little entourage when I saw them in the garden, and that’s where Fluttershy is too. I wonder what she’s been doing in the garden this whole time? Ah whatever it’s probably fine, I got my own problems to work out.

What do I want? Let’s just start there. If this was a perfect world and I could have anything I wanted, what exactly would be my ideal solution here? I want a reliable way to go back and forth between all 3 realms that also allows me to bring Luna.

Why can’t I do that? Time. I want to make at least some kind of decision tonight. As things stand this solution isn’t possible. If I find something that enables this solution in the future, however, I would take it in heartbeat no matter what I decide tonight. That’s easy, so no matter what, if I find a way for all of us to travel between the realms then I can go home and meet with my family regularly.

It currently isn’t possible though, so why is that the ideal solution? What about that instinctively checks all of my boxes? It lets me visit both of my homelands and keep in contact with those I don’t want to lose. Visit? Why would I only visit my home if that were possible?

Because I would live here if I had the best of both worlds and was allowed to freely travel between them, this is where I’d live. Is that what I want then?

Why do I want to visit home to begin with? Let’s stop reacting to things with my gut and think about it. I want to keep in contact with my friends and family. My job doesn’t matter, my future doesn’t matter. I was working a dead end job that would’ve grinded away at me until I retired in my 60s or died. There’s no places in particular I would miss. I just don’t want to lose my friends and family.

Okay. If I found a way to go back to my home, but it’s a one way trip. Why do I want to stay here? Until recently I’ve been happy. Far happier than I ever was on Earth. I’ve had troubles and I’ve gone through some shit, but I’m fulfilled. I feel like I matter here. I… have people I don’t want to lose here too.

It’s easy then right? I mean laying it all out there, logically, staying here is the easy choice. Emotionally however, it’s complicated.

Why is it complicated? I have people I love on Earth, but I don’t have anyone here that I love. Right? That doesn’t sound right, it feels wrong. But, the whole reason there’s even a debate is because I don’t want to love anyone here unless I know I’m staying, so that means there’s no one like that here.

It’s getting derailed, back to the beginning, with everything we’ve laid out. What do I want?

My train of thought is interrupted when my head bangs into something hard. I walked into the large wooden door to go back inside. Some random pony must’ve heard the knock because the door opens and I absentmindedly walk into the ballroom.

“Did you see the back of his jacket? I could never wear my special somepony’s cutie mark so emblazoned onto my clothing like that.” I hear a whisper somewhere to my left side, behind me.

“Well he is her knight, maybe it’s more like a symbol of which guard he belongs to. You don’t really think she’d be marking him like that right?” This second voice isn’t quite as aware of her own voice as her friend. She’s a decent bit louder than the first voice.

“I mean I think it makes perfect sense. The freak and the outcast? It’s like they’re made for each other.” It’s after hearing this third voice that my slow paced walk comes to a stop. “There’s no way he heard us right?”

“Shh, quit staring at him before he turns around. If you aren’t obvious he won’t be able to pick us out of the crowd.”

I slowly turn and look straight at where I’m fairly certain the voices came from. It’s one of the ponies Fleur pointed at when she asked me to join her. There’s a primal rage bubbling up, but for some reason I just can’t bring myself to even get mad. They’re just not worth getting so worked up over. I should still say something, though. I close my eyes and give the most subtle smile I can before I speak. “What’s the point of saying things like that? Are you just trying to boost your own self image? If not then it doesn’t make sense, it costs you nothing to be kind.”

The nervous and somewhat fearful look the noble had as we maintained eye contact fades away. Now she just looks…embarrassed? Ashamed? It’s one of those but either way, she can’t maintain eye contact anymore as she just stares at the table she’s seated at. I guess I’m satisfied with the lack of response, so I turn away and continue aimlessly walking around the ballroom.

“You seem a bit lost, Ignis. Are you not enjoying your time?” I look over and see Celestia lounging on a bench.

“I guess I am a bit lost. It’s an alright night so far, had its ups and downs, but right now I just have a lot on my mind. Where’d Twilight and her friends go? I’m surprised you’d be sitting around by yourself.”

“I could say the same for you. It’s odd to see you without my sister. To answer your question though Twilight and the girls went to find the rest of their group. Why don’t you take a seat? A bit for your thoughts.”

There’s enough room on the bench for me to take a seat as well so I take her up on her offer and sit down. I go over all the things I listed out earlier and summarize the conversation with Cadence. When I finish going over everything I look over at her and see a small smug smile on her face. “What is that look for?”

“Nothing, nothing. I was just amused to hear you say something in particular. I’m not going to explain what I found amusing because I think it’s more beneficial for you to figure it out on your own. I’ll tell you that for the most part you’ve laid everything out very well. I think you just need to think through a couple of those details again.”

“Really? I thought I did a pretty good job picking that apart.”

“Truly? Well, you’re not my student so I suppose there’s no reason to not give you some help. Especially with how things have been for you lately, you probably feel like you’re in a lose-lose situation here, huh? In my opinion I think you’ve already found your answer. I’d just maybe reconsider some of those “facts”.”

Celestia gets up and walks off, leaving me with my thoughts again. After running through everything a couple of times I look up and realize the ballroom has mostly emptied out. Where did my squad disappear to? I haven’t seen any of them ever since I walked away with Cadence.

“Oh there you are! You must be like the hide and seek champion or something! We’ve been walking around trying to figure out where you went and at first I was all like “What if he had an existential dream and ended up just wandering around?” but they were like “No he wouldn’t have stayed here if he was going to find somewhere to think.” and then Applejack was like “Well last I saw he was outside near the fountain, so maybe he’s downtown somewhere?” and then we checked some room with Princess Candy and then we checked your room and then we checked Princess Luna’s room. Then we checked all the rooms. Finally they decided to go get some donuts before the shop closes up and then we’d look for you in the walkways downtown, but then my ear twitched and my nose tickles and my back right leg vibrated so I knew you were still here. Everypony is waiting for me in the lobby so do you wanna get some donuts with us?”

I just stare at the pink earth pony and give a slow blink in response. She’s a crackhead. “Yeah sure I’ll come with you guys. I kinda feel bad you all wasted your time looking for me though.”

While I follow the pink crackhead to the lobby I quickly go through everything one last time. Oh there’s one question I never asked myself. My mom on Earth, what would she say to me if she were here? She’d probably tell me to do whatever makes me happy. There’s no way that’s what Celestia was thinking of when she told me to reconsider some of my facts.

We reach the lobby and I see Celestia, Twilight, the other elements, Cadence, and Force. Everyone says their greetings, asks me where I was hiding at, and makes some comments about being invisible. I just nod and give short answers until they’re done and then I ask my question. “Where’s Luna and Moonie?”

“They said there was one more place they wanted to check, but that they’d meet us on the way.” Force answers me.

“Oh. Well let’s go then, yeah? Honestly I didn’t know you guys had donuts here, are they good?”

“This spot is actually a longtime favorite of mine. The owner is an exceptional baker. Did you think about what I said?” Celestia answers me then immediately puts my brain back into thinking mode.

“I did, but I just don’t understand what you think I’m missing here.”

She sighs and rolls her eyes before leaning over and whispering a question in my ear. Wait, that's the part she wanted me to reconsider? I mean it did sound wrong the first time I went over it, but it wasn’t even part of the things I reconsidered. Who-

“There you are! I’m glad they were able to find you, Ignis. Are you okay?” Luna and Nightmare land in front of us as we’re walking and Luna immediately weaves through the elements to give me a hug.

“Yeah I was just going through everything again. You know I just realized technically the Gala is over now, right?”

“Indeed it is. Were you able to find the answer you were hoping to have by the end of tonight? If not it’s perfectly fine, I actually really want to apologize for some of the things I said earlier. I was completely out-”

“It’s fine. Really it’s okay. Thanks to your sister I think I actually did manage to realize something.”

Celestia gains a knowing smile, Force, Cadence and Luna look extremely surprised. Nightmare seems a bit worried, she probably thinks I shouldn’t have made a decision this fast and is worried I’ll regret whatever I say next.

I open my mouth to start explaining my decision, but no words come out. I’m a bit confused until suddenly I hear a chord of music play. Oh no we’re doing this again?

Here's the last song of Season 1!

Smiling through the lose-lose days of confusion~
You picked me right off the ground, then dust me off as we dance on nonchalantly~
I’m realizing the answer I’ve already found.

I remember sitting in the Ponyville library, talking with Twilight and I casted my first Equestrian spell, Light. “Personally we still find it moderately impressive.” The first interaction I ever had with Luna was that mundane comment that startled me. The next couple of weeks around the castle flash through my head.

Never-ending days wore on. I was aimless, and yet focused.

All those days blended together and then I decided to do a trial run as her knight. I really was aimless back then.

The oxy-est of morons, I know, stuck deep coming ghost hits.
Fist to the desk, then next the sky.
Well aware of the dangerous heights and falls, back then trusted nobody at all.

I remember we were heading to the castle in the Everfree and the cliff collapsed. Applejack tried steering me in the right direction, but I did what I thought was best and got caught falling by Rainbow.

I was all bark no bite.
Fighting with God when it got dark at night.

My feet start to move on their own and when I mention fighting with God I point at Nightmare.Then I put my right arm around her and my left arm around Luna. Gesturing Force over she joins the group and leans against Nightmare, with my hand resting on top of her head.

Outta nowhere, now at my side, standing 4 strong.
Back then we saw nothing wrong.

Lost. The dreams we had gathered here to find…

I swore to protect her, and performed a divine ritual with her. I’ve tried to bolster her power and re-establish her into Equestria’s power dynamics. She helped me regain my memories in the dreamscape and we’ve ended up mostly protecting each other, haha.

…Turned into the blind leading the blind.

Today it hurt again. We bandaged bruises, who gives a damn if they’re right?

All of the shit those threstral councilors tried to blame her for, that noble calling us the freak and the outcast.They were right about one thing though.

I’m smiling through the lose-lose days of confusion~
I was well on my way…

I pull away from the group and hold out my hand for Luna to grab onto.

To diving, all alone, thinking “Damn, I miss home”
To rolling eyes and deciding to stay.

Luna places a forehoof in my hand and her eyes go wide as she hears the last two lines.

Trusting, choosing allies wasn’t my style till you picked me right up off the ground!

That’s exactly what she does as suddenly with a flap of her wings we’re both flying straight up. I don’t have wings, but I’m still floating along as I hold her hoof.

Then dust me off as we dance on nonchalantly,

I rotate a bit and grab her other forehoof forcing us to look at each other, we start to dance in the air but this time I’m leading our movements.

I’m realizing the answer I’ve found.

We stop dancing and she still has this surprised wide eyed stare like she can’t believe what’s happening. Her eyes only open wider and they become a bit glassy as she listens to the lyric. When I pull her closer she squeezes her eyes shut and she has a big smile.

If I got you…

Looking at her, it feels like the right time for this, and on my own I rub my thumb across her cheek causing her to open her eyes from the sudden touch. As soon as her eyes open the lyric finishes and I take both hands and put them behind her head.

I just might stick around!

Her eyes shoot wide open as I push my head forward and pull her towards me. Our lips meet and the wide open eyes close. The instrumental plays and she tilts her head a bit as she leans further into the kiss.

I can’t fall in love until I decide if I’m staying or not, but Celly helped me realize it’s too late. At some point during these last couple of weeks I fell hard for this girl.

Got in a fight with myself again, and I lashed out no surprise.
Try as I might, look a saint can’t sin at least in everyone’s eyes.

We slowly go down and land back in the street of downtown Canterlot. Once we land I look over at Force and Nightmare.

Broken pieces, my life, now a puzzle on a dusty floor
and right on time when I feel that I can’t get by, I getcha knock on my door.

With Luna in tow I pull the other two close so we’re all 4 together again.

Y’all say it “it ain’t all bad” talk me down slow, cheer me up and take my hand.
Find somewhere to go, we laugh and chat away. Nothing remains,
That little cloud from today.

Force is shifting her eyes left and right as I stare at her. I raise my eyebrows questioningly as I sing the lyric about chatting away. I point at her with the same questioning expression and she realizes I’m trying to ask her if she’s jealous of Luna and wants the same treatment. She gives me a shy nod, and glances away as I let go of everyone and grab both of Force’s forehooves.

I go through the chorus one more time as we stay on the ground and I lead us on a series of quick steps and twirl her around like they were doing to me earlier. Until we get to the end of the chorus and I put my hand on her back and lean forward, forcing her to lean back, putting us in a classic dip pose.

If I got you I just might stick around.

She barely even lets me finish the last line of the chorus before flapping her wings and forcing us back into a straight, neutral position. Until she continues beating her wings and flies up a couple of feet and claiming a kiss of her own. Mirroring Luna’s kiss she puts her forelegs around my neck instead of the other way around.

I jump back over to the group and grab both Luna and Nightmare as I point up at the night sky. Both of their moon shaped cutie marks start to pulse with light as I gain my own silver glow. With both of them together like this the heart song is able to make full use of their well of divinity and all of the stars come down out of the sky again.

Permanent markers run…
White colored pencils don’t leave impressions…
We took this canvas,

I point both of my palms at the empty night sky.

We painted landscapes, all in our OWN shade of truth!

I spread my hands out as if I was pressing my hands against the night sky and as my hands move across the sky, in their wake there’s a much more detailed night sky. Entire galaxy’s and millions of stars decorate the sky with an aurora borealis to boot.

I hear the elements behind me make some kind of “oooo” sound as the sky is decorated. As the sky continues to be populated with more and more stars I go into the chorus for the final time.

Time and time again I can prove… That I’m smiling through the lose-lose days of confusion.
Sure I was well on my way! To diving all alone, thinking “Damn, I miss home”
To rolling eyes and deciding to stay.

Trusting, choosing, allies wasn’t my style till you picked me right up off the ground.
Then dust me off as we dance on nonchalantly, I’m realizing the answer I’ve found…

I pivot on my feet and turn around to look at all 3 of the mares.

I’m gonna smile and make…
You guys… proud.

I’m damn near tackled by Luna and Force as soon as the heart song finishes and I hear a bunch of commotion from the other ponies we were with, but my eyes are focused on Nightmare. She’s standing there looking at the ground a bit disappointed. “Moonie, what’s wrong? You seemed insistent on not being in the same boat as these two so I just gave you a friendly hug.”

“Y-yeah, it’s not like I wanted a kiss too or anything.”

“Come here you little tsundere!” Moonie flaps her wings and moves up to hover in the air in front of me. She’s still being super shy and looking off to the side, so I just use my hand to turn her head towards me and lean in for a quick peck. When I pull away from the peck she makes an annoyed face for half a second before grabbing me and pulling me back in.

After that I can’t help but to start laughing as I’m quickly overwhelmed with emotions. I know this is still going to be painful, I’m still going to often find myself missing home. I also decided that I won’t give up on looking for a way to achieve my ideal solution. A reliable method that works both ways and lets me bring everyone else too. For now though, this is good enough. For tonight, I can just be happy and lean on these mares. For now… this is home.

Quest Completed!

Main Quest - Get Home!
Completed: You are home.

Author's Note

Aaaaaaaand that's a wrap. I didn't actually expect to finish this chapter, but I kept typing and realized like hey this is it.

Bro, I tried to wrap this shit up as cleanly as possible, as realistic as possible, I know the decision is likely too rushed, but this is always when the decision was supposed to be made. I fucked up by not having Ignis start to seriously think about the decision earlier in the story.

Overall though? I'm happy with it.

There's going to be 1 or 2 more chapters. 1 for sure is going to be an epilogue that also acts as a teaser for season 2, but I might also throw in the first NSFW Chapter between this and the epilogue. It'd basically be the main cast deciding to ditch donuts and go back to the castle <.< Either way, if the next chapter you see is the Season 1 Epilogue then that means I backed out on the NSFW chapter for w/e reason, most likely cause I'm going to die of embarrassment when trying to edit/skim proofread the NSFW Chapter. We'll see.

Thanks for reading <3, sorry if the S1 finale kinda fucked up the story for you. :( Hopefully most of you are as happy with it as I am though.