The room was dark, still, and deathly quiet. Only the faintest of light trickled in from the window which was currently covered by window blinds. The air was cool despite it being a late summer afternoon.

The door to the small apartment opened and Trixie sighed depressingly to herself as she entered the small apartment, closing the door behind her. She had failed, again, and was now on the run. She went from motel to motel in hopes of evading the authorities… well actually in hopes of evading the one she feared most who she knew would kill her outright if he got the chance.

She flicked the light switch on and turned around to proceed into the small living quarters. She let out a stifled gasp as she saw me sitting in a fine office chair. She had locked the door before she left this afternoon to get herself something to eat but I had let myself in without the need of a door.

“Is Trixie surprised?” I asked calmly. She gulped. “Sit down.” But she didn’t listen and instead slowly took a step back. I pulled out my Desert Eagle and leveled the sights on her head. “SIT DOWN!” I yelled sternly.

She gulped, nodded and then did as I demanded. She slowly and cautiously took a seat on the couch across from me. I stood up and tossed the photo onto her lap. It was ‘The photo’.

“You don’t know who they were but you were responsible for their deaths. If Celestia hadn’t stopped me that day I would’ve blown your head clean off” I told her coldly. She was breathing heavily and erratically in total fear.

She picked up the picture in her right hoof and brought it closer to her face so she could better examine it. “I’m… so sorry… I know that doesn’t mean anything coming from me but I swear I never meant to do what I did to you” she apologized. Her words were touching but didn’t change my mind. I knew what I had to do.

I took another step towards her so that we were merely a few feet away. She looked up to me with a solemn look. “Go ahead… do it… prove that you’re an animal… but please make it quick” she pleaded. I cocked back the hammer on the massive handgun manually with my thumb.

Tears came to her eyes as she looked death right in the face with fear stricken all over her… she looked me right in the face. Almost like she was looking deep into my soul. It didn’t matter though, if I let her go then in another few years she’d do this all over again. I squeezed the trigger and the Desert Eagle thundered in the room, its gunshot echoing off the walls. The .50 caliber AE round slammed into its mark perfectly.

* * *

Fleur’s perspective:

I stood there waiting for Dale to return. The others were here as well. Dale stepped out of the small motel room and three royal guard ponies entered as soon as he left. The gunshot had been over an hour ago and Celestia was the only pony to talk to him since.

He approached Applejack and myself but Applejack spoke first. “You didn’t kill her?” she asked curiously.

“No” he replied bluntly and Applejack raised an eyebrow in shock.

“I’m surprised.”

“Why? Think I’m an animal?”

“No, not for that reason… I suppose you have no regrets?”

“None. You?”

“No… well yes. I’m sorry Dale. I should’ve been more considerate of you. You’ve worked harder than any of our family yet we’ve treated you horribly. If you can ever hear me out then please understand that from the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry for the way we treated you” she apologized. There was a deafeningly long silence that seemed to drag on forever.

Dale smirked. “I forgive you… just don’t bring it up ever again” he replied and the reply took us all off guard.

“That easily?” she asked curiously and he nodded but she must’ve understood why he accepted her apology so easily because she didn’t ask why.

In the background Trixie was pulled away. Her horn was missing and blood trailed down her face. Applejack raised an eyebrow. “I don’t suppose you know anything about that?” she asked and Dale simply shrugged.

“Wish I could help” he replied and there was another bit of silence.

Applejack started another conversation. “Chrysalis has become a hero… apparently she’s working out a peace treaty with Celestia and Luna” she told Dale who simply nodded.

“Then I guess everything worked out in the end” Dale said and began to walk towards me. He placed his arm around my neck and I snuggled up tightly against his side.

Applejack called out to Dale. “Dale… Big Mac wants you back at the farm” she informed him. Dale stopped and so did I. He turned his head slightly so he could make eye contact with her.

“I never left” he replied and again we both began to walk away. Dale dropped something but I couldn’t see what it was. It jingled and sounded kind of like his dog tags. Suddenly a familiar pony in fine dress attire came racing around the street corner.

“Oh Fleur… oh Fleur I’m so happy to see you’re alright. I came as soon as I heard” Fancy Pants gasped.

“As soon as you heard or as soon as you were done with Cactus Lily?” I asked and Fancy Pants gulped.

“How do you know about her… I-I-I mean… who’s Cactus Lily? Who told you these ludicrous stories about her and I? We never did anything like that!” he exclaimed and I raised an eyebrow.

“I didn’t say you did anything with her. So it’s true. You’ve been cheating on me this whole time! Well it’s over Fancy, I’m leaving you!” I told him sternly.

He sneered, “Oh yeah? For who? No-pony would take you, you’re a snooty bitch!” he commented with a cruel laugh but never got to finish his cruel comments. A powerful blow across his face knocked him out cold.

I looked in shock at Fancy’s unconscious body and then to Dale who simply shook his hand in minor pain and shrugged. “Meh… he was an ass” he chuckled then put his arm around me again. I felt content… loved… and lucky to be alive. In only a very short time I had fallen in love with someone who wasn’t my species and didn’t really like me right off the bat but somehow things had worked out. I snuggled my cheek against his chest. He gave me a quick kiss and we walked off into the beautiful setting sunset.

Author's Note

I think I liked that ending. Into the sunset. Now before anyone goes asking "Why would a soldier toss away his dog tags?" At some point in the story he commented on how it was his way of remembering who he was. So this was his way of moving on. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed the story. Kudos to all you readers and big thanks from Burdy (That's my nickname I got in from the rest of the football team)