Epilogue

Cyburst awoke to find the tip of a barrel nudging his nose. The orange pony holding the rifle  had narrowed eyes.

“Who’re you and what in tarnation are you doing in ma’ house?!”  The mare asked.

“Oh, you’re awake. My name is Cyber Burst, and I was- wait, don’t you remember me?” Cyburst said.

“No,  ah’ don’t remember ever layin’ eyes on ya’ before now.” the earth pony said.

“Yesterday, you challenged me to a drinking contest.” The unicorn said, “Ring any bells?”

“No.” She said, lowering her gun, “ ‘Though you aren’t lyin’, I can tell by your eyes.”

“Good. You kind of fell on me, so I brought you to your home.” He said, “The door was open though, so I stayed to make sure nopony was here.”

The Earth pony sighed, looking down, “The door is always open.”

“Why?” Cyburst asked.

“So if Granny Smith or Big Mac ever come home, they’ll be welcomed right in.” She said.

“That’s right. You were there.” Cyburst muttered, then said. “Applejack, I really wish I could help get them back, but they’re gone.”

“How do you know that?” Applejack asked, raising her gun, “I don’t recall tellin’ you ma’ name either.”

“You told me your name yesterday.” He said, raising his hooves, “I can’t tell you why I know they’re gone.”

“Ah don’t know how to counter ya’.” Applejack said, lowering the rifle, “If ya’ don’t want to tell me, ya’ don’t have ta’.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, I do, I just can’t because it’s a secret I can’t indulge you with.” Cyburst said.

“Ah’ know some ponies like that.” She said, “Ah just hope someday Ah’ll know why.”

“So, I see that your orchard needs a few more trees, and I, believe it or not, need a place to stay.” The red stallion said, “Is it okay if I stay and help you run the orchard?”

“Well, Ah do have an employment offering down at the town hall, but Ah’ guess Ah’ll let them know to take it down.” the orange mare said, “Ya’ look like you could actually help.”

“I’ll be outside.” Cyburst said as he walked out the door.

Cyburst looked at the landscape. The ground was fertile and well-tended. It looked as if Applejack knew what she was doing. There were plenty of places to plant any number of seeds. Cyburst looked to the horizon and chuckled

“Of course it’s dawn, I wouldn’t expect any less from a farm pony.” He said.

“...You control the dawn anyway, seeing that you don’t want to alarm anypony...” Phoenix thought, “...Why don’t you fly anymore, it’s boring on the ground...”

“You know why we can’t. I’m using all our power just to move the Sun.” He thought, “ I can’t just transform like I used to, it would cause a panic.”

“...True...” Phoenix thought, then was quiet.

“What are ya doing out here?” Applejack said, walking up to Cyburst.

“Just plotting out the land.” Cyburst said, “Where’s the closest florist's shop?”

“Well, Roseluck’s is just around the corner, they have a lot of flowers.” Applejack said, “Ah got some of ma’ rare seeds there.

“Rare seeds, you say?” He said, “They should have what I need.”

Without a notice, Cyburst teleported to the front of the shop and tried to open the door. The door was locked, of course. He should have known nopony would have a shop open at the crack of dawn.

“Do you need some flowers?” A voice said from behind Cyburst.

Cyburst teleported to the air right above his assailant, dropping onto the pony and unsheathing Silverbolt.

“Who are you!” He yelled at the pony under him, blade on their neck.

“R-roseluck.” The pony sputtered.

Cyburst instantly got off her and helped her up.

“I’m so sorry! I’m very on edge today, and the PTSD doesn’t help.” He said to Roseluck, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It’s okay, no harm done right?” She said, “I’m the owner of this flower shop.”

“I guessed. I heard that you have rare flowers.” Cyburst said, sheathing Silverbolt. “Am I correct?”

“Yes you are!” Roseluck exclaimed, “In fact, I was coming here to drop off my newest bundle of black roses.”

“Black roses?!” The stallion said, surprised, “Only the best florists can cross-breed those.”

“You flatter me.” She blushed, “Let’s go inside to talk about the price.”

Roseluck pulled a key from her saddlebag and unlocked the door. This was the first time Cyburst got a good look at her. Her white coat reflected most of the sun’s rays. Her two-toned mane was rather fitting to her name. A pink and lighter pink. Almost as if she crushed up petals and dyed her hair. Her  Cutie Mark just emphasized her love for flowers, a rose. She’s, to say the least, gorgeous.

Once they were inside, they went over to the cashier's table.

“So. How many are you buying today?” She asked,  her grassy green boring into his soul.

“J-just one.” Cyburst said as he peeled his eyes away.

“Oh, usually Stallions buy more for their mares.” Roseluck said.

“What?! I-I’m not buying it for somepony.” Cyburst sputtered, “Well actually, that’s a lie. To be more precise, I’m not buying for anypony who’s alive.”

“O-oh, just the one then.” She said looking down.

“You know what? Scratch that. I’ll buy three.” Cyburst said.

“Are you sure?” She asked.

“Most definitely.” The unicorn said, his eyes ablaze with determination.

“Okay then.” Roseluck said, punching the numbers into the register. “That comes to a total of three hundred bits.”

Cyburst’s jaw dropped to the floor. “Th-three hundred?! That means it’s one hundred a pop!”

“Right you are.” She said, “Well, how will you be paying?”

“What a buisness pony you are.” He said, rummaging through his saddlebag. “Encouraging me to buy more than charging a hoof and a leg.”

“I’ll take that as a complement.” The mare said, giggling.

“Here you go.” Cyburst said as he placed the bits on the counter.

The earth pony giggled some more.

“I was just kidding, they’re actually fifty bits each.” Roseluck said as she pushed half the bits back.

“I’d have gone for it too.” He said, placing the bits in his saddlebag, “Why’d you stop me.”

“Because I like you.” She said as she placed the three flowers in front of him.

Cyburst laugh shook the building “Sorry, but I’m taken.”

“O-oh...” The white mare said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back.” He said, holding her a rose.

“Wh-what are you doing.” She asked

“Handing a beautiful mare a present.” The Stallion beamed.

Cyburst used his magic to place the black rose in Roseluck’s mane. He teleported to the front of a gloomy looking gate. The sign for the yard didn’t raise his spirits.

Zephyr Cemetery

He walked into the graveyard. The tombstones seemed to go on forever. He looked at the plaques of every stone he passed until he found the right one.

Mirage

“The only pony to ever come close to my pain.” Cyburst said to himself as he placed the rose.

He looked to either side of the tombstone. Nopony lay beside Mirage. Cyburst quickly picked up a large rock and quickly carved a name and placed in next to Mirage’s.

Candy Corn

“You reminded me that there’s one who’s in my exact position.” He said, placing the last rose, “Only Vinyl has a foal to look after.”

Cyburst teleported back to Applejack’s house and surprised the mare.

“Ya’ nearly gave me a heart attack!” She stomped, “What are ya’ doing?”

“Just getting some things fixed.” The Stallion said, grinning.

“Well, there’s just enough seeds ta’ plant another row of trees.” Applejack said, “We should get started.”

“Okay.” Cyburst said, walking towards the barn.

Bob was just wiping off the last glass. His Bar was nearly full, as it should be. It was one of the nights where they had a live band, but tonight was even more special. A mare was singing tonight. She was one of the most beautiful mares he’d ever seen. Her  dark blue coat gleaming in the dim light. Her turquoise and golden mane blowing ever so slightly in the breeze created by a nearby fan. Her light blue eyes staring at him seductively. The only thing even slightly odd was her cutie mark, which sort of looked like the head of a lion, if it was an emblem.

The lights flickered to signal that she was about to start. The guitarist started to play a slow- and steady song. The Mare started to sing, her voice echoing of the walls as if they were made of crystal. The song itself seemed to be slightly sad.

Youtube Video

Once she was done, the crowd cheered for her, throwing flowers and an occasional bit or two. She waved and blew kisses to the audience. When she waved, a small anklet jingled. It looked as if it was her Cutie Mark, but at the top most edges, it had wings.