A/N: a short chap but big meaning so hope its an ok update and there are only two chaps left before i must take a break from this story. it will be a half end. i plan to write more for it but it will be a kinda ending/open ended so it can continue it later after the sem is over
Chapter 28: A Choice Made
Royal sat there looking into the way to the human world. He was lost in thought when he was addressed by a voice he had only heard in his dreams. Luna had arrived with the others and asked if he was ok. "I am fine Luna, thanks for asking. Just thinking about my past." Dan stood up and turned to look at the group that had shown up. It was Celestia that asked the next and important question. "So this is the portal to your home? How do you know it leads there?" Royal turned and stuck his hoof near the portal once again, and it turned into his hand. "Because it cancels the magic you placed on me and turns me into my old self when I get close."
The other girls gasped at the sight of Dan's old hand attached to Royal's new pony body. The princesses just nodded in understanding before Celestia spoke again. "Then we must close it off before anything in this forest goes into that world." Dan entered and finished her statement. "Or any more humans get stuck here." The princesses nodded and so did three of the six elements. It was AJ that asked the dreaded question that was on four mares minds. "But what side will you be on when it is closed off?" Royal froze at the question for a mere second before he turned with a smile to his mares. He removed his hand and it turned back into a hoof.
"What do you mean what side? I had little there and I think my past should stay there. You are my future, not going back to a life I no long have nor care for. So lets shut this thing off and never think of it again, like I had planned to do long before this day came." Royal smiled at the four mares that were smiling brightly being happy to hear the choice that the one they love had made. He had chosen them not just because he couldn't go home, but because he wanted to be with them so much that his old life meant nothing to him. Royal walked up to them and hugged them one at a time. "I am going nowhere but home with you three to talk about something with Star." Then he turned to the princesses. "So lets close this thing once and for all."
Celestia nodded and looked to her sister that was beaming with the same happiness that Royal's mares were. Royal saw this and wondered if there was something more he was missing about the mare that always seemed to visit his dreams. More so then she did with anypony else. 'I wonder why she always seems to be with me every night.' Something was nudging at the back of his brain and chest once again, but he had to brush it off so they could handle the business at hoof. The princesses looked to the portal and used magic Royal had no clue over and the waves started to slow, and then stopped.
Royal could sense the portal was closed and gone. His way back to the humans was gone, his past locked away. And he was fine with that, happy even. Now he could keep moving forward. Royal moved forward to test that it was really gone. He stuck his hoof out and it stayed a hoof. He smiled to himself and nodded to each of the royal sisters. "Thank you both for this chance. I am glad you let me stay and that this won't happen to others." Dan turned to look at his mares with a smirk. "Though in the end it was worth it for me." The four mares blushed and smiled happily. Celestia put a hoof on his shoulder and gave him a nod.
Dan turned to Luna just in time to be wrapped in a hug. "I am glad you chose to follow your heart and are happy here." then Luna let go and backed up with a blush from being embarrassed about her happy outburst. Royal returned the hug and happy smile. "Thanks Luna. I am glad I have had the chance to come here in the first place so I could find my heart again and then follow it. and I plan to follow it for the rest of my life. No matter where that may lead me. Now let us all go home and relax after an eventful morning. I will tell Star's team to go back into town, then I will meet you all at Sugarcube corner." The others nodded and Dan walked off after kissing each of his mares. Each happy knowing that this day, a choice had been made.
