Author's Note

Due to popular demand, regarding the cliffhanger ending, I decided to make and release this, a chapter that may shed some light as to exactly happened to Jake, and what his future may hold. Keep in mind, I strongly dislike straight-out giving out the answer to things, so take from this chapter what you will.

Extra Ending

I was floating. Or maybe floating would be the wrong word, for I no longer had a body in which to call my own. This fact should have shaken to me to my very core, yet I was as calm as I could possibly be. It was like nothing could ever cause my mind worry again. Everything was simply… perfect.

Perhaps it was that I no longer had a body in which to contain me which felt so freeing. I was like the wind, soaring above the clouds, and through the lands at my every whim.

Under me was Canterlot, the wondrous city that I had once called my home. It stood on the mountainside, like a shining beacon to all of Equestria, shining hope and prosperity out onto the land. It was a true beauty, and I had never before truly appreciated it like I now could.

A thought was all that was necessary, and my view shifted, causing Ponyville to come into view. No effort was necessary, it was like breathing, like I had always done so and been like this.

The quaint, little town had not changed a bit. The Apple farm was still as large as it had been, or perhaps it had grown a bit. They were always expanding, the Apple family never did anything without putting one hundred percent effort into it.

Granny Smith entered my mind for a spell. I knew that I should have felt ashamed, worried, horrible... But I did not. I could not. I knew that I should feel worried about this, but just like before, I could not.

It was free, in every sense of the word. And I could see everything.

A thought was all that it took and I could see every tree in the Everfree Forest. Every river that stretched throughout the land, and all the fish that inhabited them. I could see every strand of grass that filled the endless fields of Equestria, the bugs that lived among them, and the worms that lived under.

I was free, and it felt like nothing else ever could.

I looked back to Ponyville and saw that it had changed. More buildings had appeared, like they just had sprouted up like the grass that surrounded them. Forests had disappeared, and rivers had been shifted.

I glanced back to Canterlot, and saw that it too had changed, though not nearly as much. The roads had been smoothened out, cobblestone now filled the streets where only dirt was before. The homes had changed too, though the castle itself remained the same. It was a never changing symbol.

I blinked and everything had changed again. Roads appeared where forests once had been, cutting through them like a snake did as it chased its prey. Other settlements had sprung to life too, popping up like dandelions throughout the land.

What was once small, quaint towns were now huge, wondrous cities, teeming with life and industry. Ponies were running through the streets, each and every one of them filled to the brim with ideas and hope.

I blinked again, and some of the settlements had disappeared, only ruins left in their wake. Where some had flourished, others had perished. It was the way life worked.

Though, none had flourished such as Ponyville had.

The orchard had almost tripled in size, and the town itself was twice the size it once was too. Foals ran through the streets, laughing like children should, without a worry in the world.

Everything was changing, and at the same time, nothing truly was.

As I drifted up above the clouds, I could see how familiar everything still seemed. Towns had grown, cities had flourished, and others had died. Rivers and streams had found new pathways, creating beautiful patterns throughout the land. But despite it all, Equestria was still what it once was and would hopefully always be. A home to those within it, hope to those that needed it, and a chance to those that strived for it.

It was beauty like nothing else. Perfection could be found within its flaws. I could not understand how I had never truly seen it for what it was before.

“Jaaaaake.” A voice brought my out from my thoughts as it echoed around me.

It was like nothing I had ever heard before, yet, it felt so familiar at the same time. I could not tell if it belonged to a man or a woman, only that it filled me with a warmth like I had never felt before.

“Jaaake.” It called out again, and I wanted to answer, I wanted so with all of my being. But found myself unable to do so.

“It's time to wake up Jake.”

Wake up? Was I sleeping? And did I even want to wake up if that was the case, if it meant leaving this freedom, this perfection behind?

“You are young, where I am ancient.” The voice spoke again, and I could feel myself drawn towards it. “You have too much more to see, so much more to do. That is why, you can't remain like this.”

His words had wisdom in them, and they struck my core like a hammer. True and hard.

Perhaps he was right, and after all, I had been able to witness this perfection, and I would always keep it with me. Treasuring it for what it was, for what it would always be.

I could not tell you why, but I trusted the voice. I felt… knew that he spoke the truth, and that he wanted what was best for me. He was right, it was time.

“We will speak again in time, Jake.” I was ready. “For now, greet the world.” Light started shining all around me, consuming everything in its path. Yet it was not blinding, but comforting and warm. I welcomed it.

“Wake up!”