Sprawling Light

As she arrives, she sees Pinkie and Amy trying their best to keep up with the blazing speeds of the hedgehogs and Dash. She trots up to Applejack, who is panting and barely able to track the fight with her eyes, Applejack grimaces, “He’s too much… That Hyper form they got is draining fast, but this Mephilzo bastard ain’t budging. Not to mention Shadow… he’s too hurt.”

Mephilzo backhands Sonic, before tossing Rainbow at the ground. Mephilzo fires a ball of energy at the ground, it blows up and rumbles the ground with a white explosion, but Rainbow Dash flies back up undeterred. Shadow tries to flank, but Mephilzo punches him right in his still bleeding wound, Shadow winces in pain.

Seeing this, Twilight’s horn glows white and extends to the length of a lance, as her eyes flash with energy. She crouches down and puts as much strength into her wings as she physically can.

She booms off the ground, leaving a violet streak in her wake. The Princess of Friendship aims this lance of light at Mephilzo. Shadow feels something approaching, he bashes Mephilzo in the face with his forehead, and then he steps out of the way just before a dazed Mephilzo is skewered. The momentum slows for just a moment before Twilight rockets with the dark hedgehog through the upper atmosphere.

Twilight screams out with righteous fury, as her enhanced horn starts to rapidly rotate as if it were a drill, and it sprays black blood in a vortex. Then she opens her wings, increasing her drag, and slowing her down enough that Mephilzo slips off the blood slicked lance, flying forward.

The energy that created the lance recoalesces into a ball of white light on the end of Twilight’ normal sized horn. Mephilzo looks at Twilight with a look between surprise and disgust. With her eyes wild Twilight snarls, “You pushed me to this! Mephilzo!”

The ball on her horn condenses to a pin prick.

“Now get off my planet!”

The pin prick of energy decompresses and engulfs Mephilzo. It clears the darkness in the sky for miles as Mephilzo is propelled into a large chunk of moon rock.

He digs his claws into the stone as he stands up. He pants as he feels the wound in his chest. Healing far slower than it did before. He grimaces at the implications and stares forward.

Mephilzo looks up on a ridge overlooking the area where he landed.

Over the ridge walks, Twilight, Shadow Sonic and Rainbow Dash. Their Hyper forms illuminating the area of space around them. Mephilzo frowns deeply upon seeing Twilight, “Of course. I can’t create Super Emeralds, despite one of my halves being born in a Master Emerald but the pony Princess of Friendship, who’s only had a Master Emerald for less than a day, is able to.”

Mephilzo groans but then his grin returns. “But now that we’re off-planet. I can let lose a little more, I didn’t want to ruin my playground too badly. Besides, if it’s just you four I’ll be fine. If there was a fifth Hyper Form? Now that may do me in… too bad Fluttershy’s still wasting time with the time traveling hedgehog.”

Sonic looks over and sees Twilight still resolute and full of power, his eyes glance to Shadow who is taking a knee and holding his wound. Sonic frowns, “Damn, Shadow’s really hurt. It wouldn’t be a good idea to do that with him, but…”

Sonic looks at Rainbow Dash, “Dash, I have a really stupid idea, but it has to work.”

Rainbow looks over, “Hit me with it, Blue.”

Sonic grins nervously, “How good are you with Chaos Control?”

Rainbow Dash looks over knowing exactly what he means, “How would that even work? We don’t have the same… anything?!”

Sonic responds with a smile, “We may look different but there’s no doubt we have the same heart beatin’ freedom in our chests. No offense to Shadow but this fusion is bound to last longer than Shadic. I just got a feelin’. Are you with me, Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow Dash looks at Sonic in his eyes, she first feels a wave of self-doubt pass over her which is then followed by a surge of self-confidence, “You bet, Sonic the Hedgehog! Let’s show this guy we mean business!”

Mephilzo looks at Twilight before scanning over to Sonic and Rainbow Dash, he shrugs, “It won’t matter. Fuse. Grovel. Cry. Pray. The end will come all the same.”

Sonic and Rainbow Dash both level out their power, then they both yell out “Chaos! Control!”

The moment their energies combine they both become a mass of bright white light, highlighted by an aura of waving rainbow fire. As the ball solidifies and condenses in a silhouette, two glowing blue eyes appear in the light.

This new being is bright white, and has a Mobian hedgehog head, the middle of their head has a line of rainbow-colored mane that flows upwards and has the colors flow backward, they have Sonic’s hands and gloves a bit of rainbow color flows up to the elbows. The lower half is hooved and has a rainbow-colored tail, there are also wings on their back replacing where the back quills would be. On their flank is a Cutie Mark of a rainbow-colored Chaos Emerald superimposed a cloud shooting rainbow colored lightning.

Twilight and Shadow look on in amazement as the unified beings to stretch their legs, Mephilzo then asks, “What is it you think you’re doing?”

Their voice booms out, multitoned like two people talking at once, “What’s it look like, genius, I’m stretching my legs.”

Mephilzo then retorts, “Whatever makes you comfiest in your coffin... What do you call yourself?”

“I’m Hyper Sonic Rainboom orjust Sonic Rainboom. You’ll get to know me in a few seconds just wait.”

Rainboom then beams smugly “Done!” and takes off swinging gut punching Mephilzo so hard and fast, the follow through sends him farther away from Equestria.

Rainboom looks back at Twilight. “Stay here, Twi. I got this guy covered for now.” They then disappear, catching up to Mephilzo in an instant, they grab the back of his head, then accelerate him deeper and deeper into space.

Rainboom lets go and sends Mephilzo into a gas giant the size of Jupiter. As they watch him plummet, they smirk until they see the gas giant turn black and explode in seconds. From withing the scattered remnants of what used to be a celestial body, Mephilzo bursts at Rainboom with a trail of darkness behind him.

Rainboom smirks and does the same, leaving a fiery rainbow trail behind them. They both punch each other in the face at the same time, the force of the attack collision bursting a multitude of moons in the former gas giant’s orbit.

Mephilzo takes Rainboom’s arm pulls them close and goes for a straight jab for their face. Rainboom leans backward to avoid the punch then twists their other leg up, to rock Mephilzo in the jaw with their hoof.

Mephilzo spins around from the kick. Then his claws alight with darkness as he yells out, “39 Lashes!”

Rainboom gets caught in the onslaught of slashes, until they close their wings around themself. The wings glow, and the slashes stop causing damage. Under the wings Rainboom smirks.

Then they vanish with a Super Chaos Control.

They then appear below Mephilzo. deliver a upside down double kick to Mephilzo’s chin, landing two hooves squarely to Mephilzo’s jaw.

With a crack he flies upward, as blood shoots out from his mouth it floats in zero gravity.

Rainboom pivots their body to face Mephilzo. their wings glow, then flex out. Rainboom exhales focusing their energy. Then their eyes gleam, and they buffet their wings, causing two multicolored Cross Slashes to slice through the emptiness toward Mephilzo.

As the beast rights himself, both of his arms are sliced off, his eyes widen as he sees his arms float away from his shoulders. Rainboom bursts forward, spinning in above Mephilzo. They stop spinning with the perfect amount of momentum built up. They clap their hands together into a fist and fully charged with bright white energy.

Rainboom then yells, “Freedom Comet!” and smashes Mephilzo in the head so hard that his body rainbooms through space, his eyes spin in his head as he plummets through Mephilzo slams though a moon in another solar system. He floats in space for a moment as he stares through the hole where he just came from.

Mephilzo laughs, “I am impressed! So very impressed Sonic Rainboom! You will be remembered throughout time!”

His body alights with a sickening black aura, he takes off and destroys this other moon completely as he blasts through it with his speed and power. Mephilzo shoulder checks Rainboom at incomprehensible speeds, getting back to the unified creature much faster than they anticipated. They cough up blood, as Mephilzo drives an elbow into their diaphragm.

As they reach another solar system, Mephilzo stops, lets Rainboom fly forward, then spin kicks, them in the side of the head aimed at a blue planet.

On Mephilzo’s follow through, Rainboom slams into the blue ocean planet. They extend their wings and despite lighting on fire from entering the atmosphere, they stop just above the water. Rainboom starts breathing heavily as they look up and they see a massive black ball hurdling toward them.

They say smirk, “Wow. This guy really isn’t holding back. Good thing this planet isn’t populated.”

Their ears flatten against their head as they look behind themself to see an alien species’ city on the water.

“Oh. Oh crap!” Rainboom immediately focuses, and they open up their palms and charge as much energy as possible.

They hold the energy above their heads, their hybrid rainbow quills start alternating colors even faster “Hyper Rainbow Wind!”

Rainbow slashes down diagonally, sending out a shimmering arc of white energy that collides with the black orb, it resists against the slash, pushing it back higher out of the atmosphere. When it’s at a safe enough distance, Rainbow clenches their fists and the arc sharpens, cutting the orb clean in two.

Both halves detonate harmlessly in low orbit. The arc continues and it hits Mephilzo vertically, passing through his body smoothly before the energy explodes behind him. His body sloughs into halves for a moment but he slams his hands on his head and pushes the halves of his body back together.

He breathes heavily as his evil flesh reseals. Rainboom appears a smug look on their face, while also breathing heavily.

Mephilzo becomes irate and yells out, “Let’s settle this.” His eyes glance to where Equestria is lightyears away, his grin stretches across his face. As if he had an epiphany. As he Super Chaos Controls away, Rainboom follows suit, their face becoming concerned with where Mephilzo is going.

Sonic Rainboom appears on the ground Ponyville at their back. as Mephilzo, has been in the air for a second before Rainboom got there.

The beast holds his hands to the sky, “I commend your efforts, Hyper Sonic Rainboom. I know what I must do! I’ll shatter both worlds! I’ll find some other sapient race in the universe, one that will embrace freedom. Or die!”

What was left of the blackened sky swirls down and twists itself into a ball of energy in Mephilzo’s hands. It grows and grows as the beast’s eyes become crazed, “This is your end, and my beginning.”

The ball pulses with energy and condenses. Then Mephilzo puts it between his palms “Genesis!” he aims his palm at Rainboom.

Rainboom starts to sweat as they put their hands together. High pressure air swirls and twists in their palms. It sparks with rainbow colored energy and lightning.

A few civilians watch the start of the battle in anticipation mixed with awe. Rainboom hears some of the guffawing behind them. With a look of anger, they look back, “What the hell are you gawking at! Get to cover, now!”

The ponies, now frightened, run to their homes.

They look up at Mephilzo, focusing all the power they can muster into their hands. The Cutie Mark on their flank starts to glow brightly. With a booming yell, Rainboom shouts, “The way you think about freedom is so twisted and warped! Freedom doesn’t mean you get to do whatever you want! Everyone and everypony deserves to be happy! They deserve to make their own decisions without fear of someone killing them or torturing them! This attack is gonna thrash you with real freedom!”

Their blue eyes burn brightly as they scream, “Freedom’s Breath!”

Sonic Rainboom fires a white blast of wind charged with positive energy, surrounded by a light of flaming rainbow, it roars through the air causing rainbow static to erupt in the sky.

Mephilzo grins, his green pupils vibrate in his eyes, he pushes his hand toward Rainboom and fires a beam of darkness that bends light around it. As the black beam sheers though the air, the planet reacts violently to the appearance of this incredible amount of mass.

Their beams clash and it breaks every window in town, cracks trees, and shakes the houses.

Mephilzo sees Rainboom’s power waver, he capitalizes on it and pumps more energy into the beam.

It pushes Rainboom back, their hooves grinding against the ground, but they find their footing and push back. It’s not by much but they’re at a standstill. Their heart sinks as they feel their fusion fading fast.

Mephilzo laughs, “This is the end!”

Before Mephilzo’s beam could disperse the winds of freedom. Hyper Fluttershy and Hyper Twilight appear next to the unified being.

Twilight yells out, “Let’s do this Rainboom!”

Fluttershy also yells out. “He won’t win!”

They both put their energy into the blast, Mephilzo continues screaming as he plunges his whole being into the Genesis.

Then a Chaos Spear and a Party Favor hit him at the same time, one piercing his hip from the left and the other slamming in his head from the right.

Super Pinkie beams, “Hey! Why don’tcha pay attention to your blast!”

Hyper Shadow pants but he yells, “This spot will be your grave, Mephilzo!”

The explosions from both attacks knock him off kilter.

But he’s fully thrown off balance by a blazing hammer slamming into his back from, causing him to be smashed into his own attack.

“Now!” Amy yells out, ducking low to get out of the way other energized wind.

The three hyper formed heroes scream out, pouring their souls into Freedom’s Breath, as the blast completely obliterates Mephilzo’s Genesis. The wind and positive energy scorches his body and shreds his body.

The heroes keep pushing, but the resilient beast keeps regenerating. His body has no arms or legs, but he stares down at the three, “I’ll survive this! When my body regenerates, I’ll rip all of you in half!”

Then he feels something grip him telekinetically and condenses crushes him still. Silver smiles as he clenches his fists making sure every bit of Mephilzo burns away in the light.

Then Shadow drops next to Twilight, and Pinkie drops behind Rainboom. Applejack warps in at the same time Amy does, as they all put their hands and hooves out to add their own energy to the now gargantuan blast.

Mephilzo struggles against his invisible restraints, but he glares at Silver, “This is not the end! I will be back! When I come back, I’m going to mount your-“

Silver clenches his other fist, forcing Mephilzo’s mouth shut, he looks at Mephilzo with disgust, “Save it, monster, you’re never hurting anyone ever again!”

Mephilzo feels his body be fully destroyed every particle of his evil being burns away in the intense wind and light. The beam of energy roars through the sky causing swirls of energy to paint the very atmosphere with rainbow.

Silver feels what he’s holding with his mind get weaker. And weaker. Until eventually every particle in his grip is completely destroyed,

As the beam disperses, the ponies and hedgehogs stumble, nearly collapsing. Everyone except Fluttershy powers down.

Sonic and Rainbow Dash unfuse and are in their base forms. Both clearly hurt, they look at each other Sonic smirks, “That was tight, Dash! We nailed it!”

Rainbow smirks back, “You're damn right it was! That was so freakin’ awesome! I can’t believe I was on another planet!”

Shadow falls to one knee he looks down at his wound, “This is definitely going to scar.”

Silver walks over, “Tell me about it, mine’s already scarred, see?” Silver points to a scarred wound on his chest that Fluttershy healed.

Shadow glances to Silver, “You had me concerned for a moment Silver. I thought you were killed.”

Silver looks down and smiles, “Well I was close, but Fluttershy saved my life.” He glances at Fluttershy for a moment as she walks over to Shadow and places a hoof on her.

Shadow then notices her Hyper form, Fluttershy’s mane is pink like her base form but has streaks of red and magenta and her coat is white like the other Hyper Forms.

Shadow smiles lightly, “You were very formidable Fluttershy. You should be proud.” As his wound heals over, a slash scar remains going up his torso.

Fluttershy smiles gently, “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without you Shadow, I’m glad that you’re my friend.”

Twilight remains in her Hyper Form and looks onward into the middle distance, “We still need to find the Princesses. I’m scared to think where they could be.”

Sonic then looks over, “Safe to say they’re both in the Void, Twi. I don’t know how Mephilzo was able to do it, but he managed to capture them. If only we had a way to get there.”

Twilight then thinks for a moment, “I can improvise something, I’m sure.” She steps away from everyone as her eyes gleam, and she channels dark magic into her horn. She produces a long black gemstone blade not dissimilar to Fist’s blades, which grows overtop her horn.

Twilight focuses and makes a quick swipe with her horn blade. The blade fractures and falls apart as space-time opens up like a wound, revealing an inky black vortex.

Twilight looks back, “Who wants to come with me?”

Sonic and Rainbow are healed enough to move comfortably by Fluttershy as they stand up, Amy summons her hammer and nods. Shadow and Silver sit on the ground, too tired to go anywhere. The others are too tired to press on, including Fluttershy who powers down the moment everyone is healed.

Twilight, Sonic, Rainbow, and Amy step through the black wound.

As they feel everything around them warble, they open their eyes, they can only barely see a metal corridor with black slime streaking down the walls. They hear what sounds like arguing down the hallway, two voices, Twilight and Dash recognize the voice of King Sombra while Sonic and Amy get a shock down their spine hearing Dr. Eggman’s voice.

They follow the sounds and they all gasp as they see Sombra trapped in a glass tube, as well as Dr. Robotnik, still crucified on a wall, disemboweled and only half his face remaining. Their personalities clash as they argue about anything and everything. Across from them is a device that secures the Scepter of Light in place, this artifact is also the only light in the room.

“I feel my magic return to me but, I simply cannot escape this glass prison.” Sombra grimaces.

“Could you quit yammering on and on, if I’m stuck in here for all eternity I want silence.” Eggman growls out. Then they both turn their heads, Sombra snarls seeing Twilight, while Eggman looks at Sonic with contempt. Twilight sees Sombra in surprise, while Sonic stares daggers at Eggman.

Sonic walks forward and looks up at Eggman’s mutilated state. “Guess Mephilzo really took his anger out on you, huh Egghead?”

“He did. That wretched beast tortured me like he was the devil himself.” Eggman looks down at Sonic.

Sonic looks up, “I don’t say this about a lot of people, but if there were any scumbags on Mobius that deserved this, it’d be you.”

Twilight walks up to Sombra, but Sombra speaks, “I wasn’t here as long as the human, but I was made… subservient. He ripped my magic from me.”

Twilight then looks at the tube he’s in then looks back at the dark unicorn pointedly asks, “If I let you free from this place, what will you do?”

Without a second glance Sombra sneers, “I will take back my kingdom. Even battle you and that dragon of yours again.”

Twilight brightens the room as her Hyper energy intensifies, “Look at me, Sombra, you aren’t winning that gamble.”

Sombra then notices the wings and the mane, “You look a miniature Celestia, fitting I suppose,”

The dark king smiles mockingly, “What will you even do? Kill me? Please.”

Eggman then cuts in, “If you at all value your pathetic life, I suggest you stop talking.”

Sombra snarls at Eggman, “Silence Human!”

Eggman stares into the eyes of everyone in that room, “The creatures before us, just killed the closest thing either of us could ever equate to Satan himself. Why do you think this place feels less… oppressive?”

Sonic smirks, “Finally realizing you lost Eggy?”

Eggman leans his head back, “What else am I to do in this situation? This is my last spare body. My main facility was obliterated, and I am crucified on this wall in my own hidden complex in another dimension. This is the most I have ever failed in my life. So, hedgehog, why don’t you do us both a favor, kill me or leave. Like I told the petulant horse, that I loathe to spend eternity with; I would rather spend my eternal suffering in silence.”

Sonic looks up at him, “Between killing you and leaving you up there. I think I’ll just leave you up there. This place is like the best prison for you anyway.”

Amy eyes Eggman as she walks toward the scepter, “Call it a hunch, but I think the princesses are in here.”

Twilight walks over to the scepter and lifts it from the device with her magic.

Rainbow looks up at Eggman, “You’re the guy who terrorized Sonic’s home. You sure aged like milk from your resignation letter, egghead.”

Eggman coldly stares, “I would have roboticized you into a bomber-bot, you would have dropped gas bombs on unsuspecting people. You drove my brother insane. He was weak, an embarrassment to the Robotnik name. if G.U.N. didn’t send him to Equestria, I would have roboticized him into a coat-rack.”

Rainbow looks over at Sonic, “This guy has some serious problems.”

Sonic responds, “He sure does but this place is starting to really rub me the wrong way,” Sonic turns to Twilight, “We ready to get outta here?”

Twilight nods, “We are, but what about them? Should we just leave them here?”

Sonic then smiles, “Hold on they need some entertainment while were gone.” He walks up to the monitor and starts playing all the footage from the beginning then sets it to loop. “There. Maybe if they watch you and your friends for a while, they’ll learn something.”

Eggman’s eyes widen with hate, “You damnable hedgehog, turn this preschool drivel off!” Then the four walk off, ignoring the screaming man on the wall, Twilight looks back at Sombra who stares at her with unfathomable hatred.

They leave the Void with the Scepter in Twilight’s magical grip, everyone looks in awe as Twilight smashes the Scepter onto the ground and the forms of Celestia and Luna stretch out of the light, with their return. The sun returns to its rightful place in the sky.

They both look shake their heads and looks around, Celestia looks at Twilight in astonishment as she closes the portal and powers down. “Twilight, my dearest pupil,” then she eyes the others, “and her pony and hedgehog friends, I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. Luna and I must travel back to Canterlot, it will take time and resources but, fixing what has been damaged and destroyed is our top priority.”

She looks over at Luna who looks for the moon but can’t feel it. “Sister, the moon has been destroyed, is there a way to fix that as well?”

Celestia laughs a little, “I’m sure there’s a way to- “, Celestia comprehends what her sister just said, “Did you say the moon was destroyed?”

Luna nods a bit of sadness in her voice, “Yes, it’s in pieces.”

“Pieces you say?” Celestia then looks at the ten heroes. “I’m sure our esteemed heroes can help us fix the moon. Anyway, it is time for us to return to Canterlot. Once we set up some temporary homes, there will be a grand celebration!”

The princesses fly back to Canterlot and then Sonic turns to look around, he sees uprooted trees, broken houses, and deep canyons in the ground. Sonic frowns, “Man we did a number on this place.”

The new heroes of two worlds go to their respective homes and where they’ve been sleeping, to rest their aching bones. After a few weeks of rest and relaxion, Sonic got to tell Tails and Knuckles about what happened on Equestria as Twilight finds a way to interface an Element Emerald to the portal, Sonic throws all the Chaos Emerald and Master Emerald through the portal, a little too haphazardly. Knuckles barks angrily through the P.D.A. that the Master Emerald had just been launched through the portal.

Knuckles and Tails pass over to finally meet the ponies they’ve only met through a screen and a massive party is held in Canterlot Castle, even though the city is only partially reconstructed. The banquet also acts as an unveiling of a new mural in the hall of friendship.

Twilight is given the opportunity to speak at the end, “Ponies of Equestria, my name is Twilight Sparkle. Equestria has faced a hard ship these past few months on a scale far larger than anything we have ever dealt with.”

She stares up at the moon, “While I have sworn to fix the moon, there is something that we all have lost. Ponies we care about and love.”

Twilight looks down, then she sees Cadance in the audience and gives a small smile, “But rather than remembering them for how they died, we should remember them for how they lived.”

Her eyes scan over Sonic, Silver and Shadow, “Let’s also celebrate the brave hedgehogs who came to our world as strangers but ended up putting their lives in danger to save us. Becoming true friends to all of us.”
Twilights eyes become more resolute, “The Elements of Harmony and the Tree of Harmony may never go back to normal and there could be more things that lurk in the dark. Monsters that crawl out from nowhere. No matter what, we are going to be steadfast to defend this place, our home, and the world of Mobius, if it needs to be saved.” There is a loud applause of hooves.

After the speech, Sonic leans on a railing. The blue blur drinks some punch and looks out at the frames of houses and construction that is on hold. Rainbow Dash trots up behind Sonic. They both stare out from the castle. Rainbow Dash looks forward, “Hey, so… Just want to let you know, I’m sure they’re proud of you. the Freedom Fighters I mean.”

Sonic looks over with a smile, “Thanks Dash, and I’m confident your family would be proud of the fact they raised the coolest pony around.” Dash smiles back at Sonic and holds up her glass, they clink glasses and drink.

Dash then continues, “So when I come back to Mobius, we need to race or have some other kind of contest!”

Sonic sighs with exhaustion, “Honestly Dash, when I get back to Mobius, I might just take it really easy for a while. Equestria’s been fun, but everything else has been pretty rough. Say, we could go to a sunny beach, set up our hammocks and just snooze for a while.”

Rainbow gets excited, “Oh my gosh a beach on another planet! That would be way beyond cool.”

Shadow has his arms crossed and sticks to the corner of the party as Twilight approaches him, “Shadow the Hedgehog being a loner at a party hosted by the Princess of Friendship, I’m offended.” Then she laughs, “Kidding, of course.”

Shadow smirks, he scans the party. He then speaks, “You would be the type to approach anyone who looks lonely.”

Twilight tilts her head, “Well, yeah. It kind of comes with territory. Are you enjoying the party?”

Shadow looks up at the night sky, a faint smile on his face, “I am. It’s good to see the people of this world without worry. To see them with hope. A type of peace I have strived to achieve for a very long time on Mobius may be possible now.”

Twilight smiles but looks forward, “When we first met, I won’t lie, for a while I thought you hated us. Then you put so much time into building Fluttershy’s confidence, you lead our training… I pieced it together pretty quickly that you are a really good person. I’d give you a hug, but I get the feeling you aren’t the touchy-feely kind of guy.”

Shadow sighs “You get one.”

Twilight looks over, “Are-are you sure?”

Shadow repeats himself and holds up one finger, “Just one, Twilight, you get a singular hug.”

Twilight beams, flies up and hugs Shadow tight, “Thank you so much Shadow.” She blushes a little.

Shadow looks forward, not expecting the tightness of the hug. He gives a small hug back and his voice softens, “Don’t mention it, Twilight.” It hardens again, “I mean really, don’t mention this to anyone.”

Twilight winks, “Okay, Shadow, I won’t ruin your tough guy persona.”

As Twilight walks back to the crowd of ponies, Shadow remains alone but he also remains smiling.

Silver levitates some fillies around, to provide some entertainment, as he flips them around in the sky, he hums carnival music. Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack come over as they see Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom getting spun around.

Applejack smiles, “Well ain’t that nice of ya Silver, playing with the kids like this.”

Silver tosses another kid into the air, “Yeah, with what the kids were going through, y’know all this crazy stuff happening, I felt like they deserve a little time to have fun. It’s… rough growing up too fast. I would know.”

Fluttershy tilts her head and smiles, “Aw, that’s so sweet of you Silver.”

Rarity looks at him and then glances to the tables that have been set up, “Darling, aren’t you going to enjoy the party yourself, I’m sure the kids wouldn’t mind if you took a small break.”

Scootaloo interrupts, “C’mon Silver just a little longer, I wanna go even higher!”

Silver then looks at Rarity with a shrug, “Well, clearly my hands are tied. Up you go!” and he levitates Scootaloo higher up in the air.

Applejack frowns sadly, “Well we were just wonderin’… When ya get back to Mobius. Are you gonna go back to your own time? Y’know since your Chronos Control is workin’”

Silver then looks over and starts to feel guilty, “O-Oh! Well, I wasn’t thinking about leaving for a week or so. Besides, I’ll be back. I’m sure some other time-anomaly will rear its head.”

Rarity smiles with her eyes carrying a bit of sadness, “Since we knew you were leaving, the girls and I made you something.” Then Rarity levitates a small silver box wrapped in a neat yellow bow, to the time-traveling hedgehog. Silver looks over, he becomes curious, and slowly starts to put the kids on the ground, despite their whining.

Silver takes the box in his hands opens, he unties the bow, and he opens it to see a scarf stitched with six squares each a color that represents the Mane 6, Orange, White, Pink, Purple, Cyan and Yellow, each square with a corresponding Cutie Mark embroidered into it. Rarity continues waiting for Silver’s reaction, “We didn’t want you to… forget us, and I’m sure that the future gets very cold.”

For a moment Silver is speechless. His eyes well up with tears and they start to streak down his cheeks. Silver sniffles, “I’d-I’d never forget you guys. This is so nice of you. I’ll cherish it always.” Silver wraps the scarf around his neck, and he beams, tears still pouring down his cheeks. He gives each of them a hug.

Fluttershy hugs Silver tightly and has a few tears in her own eyes, “We’ll miss you Silver and my cottage is always open to you when you come back.”

Silver lets her go and pulls back, smiling wide while drying the tears from his eyes, “T-thank you, Flutters. Being here is always going to have a special place in my heart.”

The party winds down a bit and the Canterlot survivors clear out leaving the twelve of these heroes to converse amongst themselves for a good way into the night. The next day all the Mobians would be going home to spend some time with a few people who didn’t get to walk through the portal the first time it was created.

Knuckles and Applejack carefully move the Mirror portal outside so that Twilight could make her library feel a little bit more normal. The pair place the Crystal Mirror down and it stands right next to the door to the Golden Oak Library.

Applejack looks at Knuckles, “How’s it feel to be on this side of the portal, Knux?”

Knuckles looks around, a slight hint of weariness in his expression, “I’m not the biggest on travel, and it seems nice, but I’d much rather be on my island. Not that you ponies aren’t good hosts, but I get nervous when I’m not there nowadays.”

Applejack nods, “Oh I hear ya, I’m patrolin’ my orchard so much I can see my own hoofprints goin’ in circles.”

Knuckles looks at the mirror portal, “I should probably get out of here. Whole island to protect and repair.”

“You ain’t gonna say bye to anypony other than me?”

Knuckles scratches the back of his head, “That was my plan… until you said that and made me feel bad about it.”

“Well, I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad or nothin’, just sayin’ maybe you could find a few more ponies to talk to.”

Knuckles mulls the words around, “I don’t know… but hey, I’m sure I’ll need some adventure and come on over here. One of these days.”

AJ smiles, “You’d better Knux.”

Knuckles smiles back and heads through the portal.

Sonic, Shadow and Silver step into view with Tails and Amy behind them. They had just come from down the road.

Sonic looks at AJ, “Yo AJ!”

“How’re you all doin’ this mornin’?” AJ Beams.

“We slept pretty dang good last night, man, we were so tired.”

Silver wears the multi-sectioned scarf he was given. It covers his mouth, and his sad look is still visible.

Amy looks at Silver, she nudges him. The kind hedgehog looks over and Amy gives him a gentle smile.

Silver smiles back, “I’ll be okay Amy.”

Shadow crosses his arms as they all approach the portal. He looks at Silver and his scarf then looks away, holding his tongue on a sarcastic comment.

Tails zooms ahead to look at the Mirror. On the top of the mirror’s frame stands affixed is a purple star-shaped Element Emerald. It faintly thrums with energy. Tails flies there and admires the craftsmanship.

Twilight and the others join AJ outside, filing out from the library.

Twilight scans the group of heroes before her, “You all saved our home, I’ll be forever grateful for that, and it was a wonderful experience to be friends with all of you. While these past few months, were fairly traumatic, I’ll never forget the good times we all shared.”

Sonic gives a thumbs up, “Hey, It’s no problem, we should really be thanking you! If it wasn’t for you guys being so understanding with my uh… situation when we first got here, this could have been a completely different story.”

Tails flies up and waves, “Well. Bye you guys, It was awesome meeting you! Maybe Twilight and I can come up with some way for the portal to not need a Chaos Emerald or Element Emerald.“

Twilight nods, “We sure can try! Bye Tails!”

Tails blips through the mirror.

Amy looks at the ponies, “If any of you gals want to go shopping in New Mobotropolis do not hesitate to find me. Hanging out here with all of you has been a blast.”

Pinkie jumps up pointing at Amy, “Amy! You had better come over here to visit us too, you promised me we’d have some monthly meet ups!”

Amy giggles a little, “I haven’t forgotten Pinkie. Besides, I can’t break a Pinkie Promise!”

Amy winks at Pinkie as blips through the mirror.

Silver stands in front of the mirror. He looks down then turns around. “I know I talked about it in Canterlot but… I-I promise I’ll come back.” He gives one last hug to everyone. “I think even with this scarf I’m gonna miss you guys.” A tear forms in his eye, but he wipes it away quickly, “Heh, can’t cry in public again.” he turns toward the portal and walks through it.

Shadow walks toward the portal, he’s about to leave without saying a word. But he stops with his foot on the pedestal. He turns his whole body back, the scar from Mephilzo’s slash attack still visible through his fur. His voice is low, “I didn’t hate my time here. You’re all strong. Protect this world with everything you have and keep up with your training.” There was a sense of melancholy behind his words, but before he could express it, he walks through the portal.

Sonic turns to the ponies, “Well you gals, guess this’ll be it for a little bit. Wanna run around Mobius before the next bad guy comes around.”

Rainbow Dash flies up, her face covered in worry, “You said you are coming back. Right?”

“Of course I am! What kind of a pal would I be if I let the ‘Fastest Flier in Equestria’ go on without a proper speed rival.” Sonic smirked.

Rainbow smirked back, “Oh yeah? Next time we race, I’m gonna smoke you, ‘Fastest Thing Alive’!

Sonic holds out his fist, “I’m countin’ on it Dash.”

Rainbow bumps his fist, and smiles at him.

Sonic turns to Mobius through the mirror, and steps through. Awaiting whatever challenges come his way the next time Harmony has any Discord.