"Guard the entrance!" Strong Courage barked.
Several ponies rushed to the mouth of the cave and stood ready for any possible trouble. They still had as much of their attention, however, on the six pony mares that bravely led them into the battle. They stood up on a ledge high above the rest of the ponies. who looked up at them from ground level. Twilight Sparkle flew out and hovered above the ponies as she prepared to speak.
"Alright, everypony, please listen well," Twilight Sparkle called out, her voice echoing and reverberating all over the mine. "Now, you all may have heard me say this already or maybe you put it together when we led you to victory against the minotaurs. In case neither is so, let me make it clear that we didn't come here and free you just for the kicks. No, we did it with every intention to see that you were all truly free of the minotaurs and able to get back home to your families and live your lives again."
All the ponies cheered out loudly, all of them looking happier than school ponies at a candy shop. It did the Mane Six good to see all their fellow ponies look so joyful after they'd seen them all look so despairing before. Twilight Sparkle beamed as she looked down to the red Alpha Stone.
"Now, we're going to do that with this," Twilight Sparkle continued. "Using the Alpha Stone, we'll be able to easily teleport all of you out of here and right back to where you need to be."
Many ponies gasped and stared in wonder and awe while others looked to each other and spoke excitedly.
"Wait, what about the other stones?!" a pony from the crowd called out.
"That's right, we know these minotaur have at least two more," another pony said.
"They were all destroyed," Twilight Sparkle called out.
Many ponies gasped again before pelting the alicorn with questions.
"You heard right, the other three stones were blown to pieces," Applejack said.
"It happened when we attacked the kaiju lab before coming here," Fluttershy went on.
"This is the only one left," Twilight Sparkle said.
"And it's in our possession," Rarity said.
"We got it, we won," Rainbow Dash said.
"And now we're going to use it the right way by helping all you!" Pinkie Pie finished.
"But what about the rest of the minotaurs?!" a pony in the crowd called out. "You said there were probably more out there while we were still fighting."
"That's right and what about their monsters?!" another pony asked. "They could sick those vile beasts on us at anytime."
"Not to worry, my friends," Strong Courage called out. "Those monsters you speak of have been dealt with."
The ponies in crowd all started to murmur amongst their own masses, discussing what they'd just heard.
"How do you know that?!" another pony asked.
"Look, it doesn't matter!" Rainbow Dash said. "What does matter is that you can't stay here either way! You all have family, friends, and lives you nee to get back to whether there are monsters out there or not. If anything, that's more of a reason to get back to those ponies you love! Wouldn't you rather face something like that together instead of separated?"
The ponies were silent for a moment as they went over in their head what the pegasus mare said. Her words made more sense as time passed by with some either whispering to each other in agreement or merely nodding their heads.
"Good, glad to see we're all on the same level now," Applejack said.
"Nice work, Dashie," Fluttershy said as she smiled up to her friend, who responded in kind.
"Now, as for the rest of the minotaurs here," Twilight Sparkle said. "You're right, they need to be dealt with and they will be. Coming here it was always an intention to stop the minotaur threat immediately after we took care of you all."
"How you gonna do that?" a pony asked.
"With the stone?" another pony asked.
"No, with these," Twilight Sparkle said before her horn started to glow.
The others all watched as the magical aura got brighter until finally there was a large puff of smoke. When it dissipated everypony looked on in confusion, minus the Mane Six and Strong Courage. They all knew exactly what the full bags were. Twilight used her magic to pull out some of the items from the packs, which she had kept hidden during the whole fight in the mine.
"Using these explosives, we're gonna bring this whole place down," Twilight Sparkle said.
"The volcano?" a pony asked.
"No, just these caves," Pinkie Pie explained. "I mean, I think it'd be a little rash if we tried to destroy the whole volcano! Could you imagine what it could do to the island?! We'd be shooting ourselves in the hoof if we-"
"Anyways," Rarity said, cutting off her rapid mouthed friend who spoke five words a second. "Whatever these caves may have been before, they've been tainted by the minotaurs' evil acts. Plus, it's the only way to be sure to get rid of them all."
"We know that every minotaur on the island is in these caves right now," Fluttershy said. "This will probably be the only time we can be sure to stop them."
"And these explosives are the best way to do it," Twilight Sparkle said.
"Are you sure you have enough for the job?" a pony asked.
"More than enough," Rainbow Dash boasted.
"Now, are you all with us?" Twilight Sparkle asked.
Everypony thought about it for a moment, but they all quickly came to a collective agreement to follow the Mane Six. The positivity of the crowd boosted the Mane Six's optimistic spirits even higher.
"Great, then let's get to it," Twilight Sparkle said. "Fair word of warning, though. To all the ponies who lived in Willowbrook... I'm sorry, but you won't be able to go back there. It suffered a terrible attack that ripped it in half and made it uninhabitable for the time being."
Many a pony felt their hearts ache ever so slightly at the news of their home's fate. The somber tone was a small tremor, but not enough to break the ponies who were more so just happy they'd be out in the sun as free ponies again.
" So, because of what happened to Willowbrook, we're sending all of you to Seaside Hoof," Twilight Sparkle said. "All the other ponies on the island are there and it has been completely deserted, void of any minotaur life."
While there was some reluctance within the mass of ponies, they still agreed nonetheless.
"Looks like you got your answer, Princess Twilight," Strong Courage said. "We're with you all the way."
"Just Twilight, please," Twilight Sparkle insisted. "But thank you. All my friends call me Twilight." The alicorn mare then looked to all the other ponies. "Are you ready to truly be free?"
There were many enthusiastic whoops and hollers from the crowd.
"Alright then," Twilight Sparkle said. "Just remember to be careful of your eyes. They may need some time adjusting back to the sun."
"Totally worth it!" Strong Courage exclaimed.
The others all cheered in agreement as Twilight Sparkle focused her horn on harnessing the Alpha Stone's magic. In response, the glows of both Twilight's horn and the stone intensified. Many ponies in the crowd felt a tiny bit antsy, but more so they were all happy to finally be leaving and going home to all they loved. Some got emotional to the point that tears fell from their eyes, including Strong Courage himself. He even turned to the Mane Six and silently mouthed the words, "Thank you".
The spell was over in an instant, for just one bright flash of light later and all the ponies were gone, minus Twilight Sparkle herself. Suddenly a wave of warm comfort washed over her as if she were feeling the jubilation in the hearts of everypony in Seaside Hoof. If it wasn't happening right then and there, Twilight knew that soon all in the town would no doubt be in the mist of many a happy reunion. Twilight Sparkle looked at the bags of explosives she still held in her levitation spell, thinking of how confused her friends had to be.
"Sorry, girls," Twilight Sparkle said out loud. "But I'm not risking any more lives now that I don't have to." She then looked down to the Alpha Stone. "With this, I can do everything by myself without having to put any other pony in harm's way. In fact, since I do have the stone"
Twilight Sparkle used the Alpha Stone to help her replicate the bombs and even increase their explosive capabilities. Now with twice the bombs at double the blasting power, Twilight Sparkle placed them all over the mine. From top to bottom, wall-to-wall, and roof-to-floor, stretching all the way to the end of the mine, bombs were placed everywhere. Twilight Sparkle was careful in her placement, only putting a few bombs next to each other, otherwise picking places stretched out as far as could be. When Twilight was done, she examined her work and it seemed like the most essential places had been chosen to her.
"There, perfect," Twilight Sparkle said. "Now, just use the stone to make a magical barrier to protect myself, send out the signal to blow up the bombs, then teleport myself out of here. Then from there it'll be clear sailing all the way."
"No... wait," a voice just barely managed to call out.
Twilight Sparkle's eyes grew wide as she realized who the voice belong to.
"Surelious!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed as she turned.
There she saw him, the largest minotaur she'd ever beheld and one she had come to respect most above any others. Unfortunately he looked like he had seen much better days. Surelious appeared to be in the worse condition Twilight Sparkle had ever seen him or anyone else not kaiju-sized in. He was hurt so bad he could barely even stand, having to use his sword as a brace. Surelious barely managed to rasp out a breath, reaching out a trembling hand to Twilight Sparkle.
"Le... Let me..."
Surelious couldn't even finish his sentence before he lost all ability to keep his balance.
"Oh, no!" Twilight cried out as she watched Surelious start to fall. She caught him in her levitation magic and gently lowered him to a sit before she started to examine Surelious. "Oh, my gosh, look at you! Look at the shape you're in! You poor thing...
"Wait, I know! The stone! I can use it to-"
"No!" Surelious shouted out.
Twilight Sparkle looked to him in surprise.
"What?" Twilight Sparkle asked as she tried to comprehend what Surelious said.
"I... I said... no," Surelious managed to heave out between heavy breaths. "Don't... you dare waste another... ounce of magic... on me."
"But if I don't do it... you'll die," Twilight Sparkle said.
"I... would anyways," Surelious said. "We all... have to die... eventually."
"Yes, but it doesn't have to be now, Surelious!" Twilight Sparkle insisted.
"It would be... anyways," Surelious said.
"Wha... What do you mean?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "What do you mean you'd die now anyways?"
"Because... I'm... I'm gonna blow up... these caves," Surelious said.
This made Twilight Sparkle tilt her head a little.
"You're not blowing up the caves, Surelious, I am," Twilight Sparkle said. "Not stop being stubborn and let me-"
"No!" Surelious shouted even louder than he thought he could. Twilight Sparkle jumped like someone who'd just heard a gunshot for the first time. "Listen to me, Twilight, I cannot keep living like everyone else. Not after the horrible things I've done for so many years of my life. I regretted doing all those unspeakably and now I know, truly evil things, but I still did them.
I did them all and for what?! A cause led by a lunatic that I actually was gullible enough to believe?! Even if any of those I wronged in one way or another were willing to forgive me, which I'm not asking for, I could never live with myself. I could not and will not live on this same planet with so many wonderful beings knowing all the terrible things I've done, directly or indirectly. Everything I did today since leaving Isarem's chambers was not so I could redeem myself, but so that those who were wronged could have their lives back.
"I wanted to do at least one thing right with my life; something actually truly useful for a truly just cause... Now my life is nearing it's end, which is just what I want. I want this, Twilight, I want to die. But I don't want to die without at least doing one more right thing... I have the chance to do it by blowing this place sky high so you don't have to, keeping you safe as a result.
"Sure... with the stone you could probably make a barrier strong enough to protect you from the blast. But I'd rather not take that chance... You're... too important... Princess Twilight Sparkle... in more ways than one. You know I'm right... that this is the way it has to be. So please... grant my request... and leave now... so that you can go on living with all the other beautiful souls that are the ponies of this island."
Twilight Sparkle hesitated greatly, saying nothing as she looked on, conflicted as ever. A few seconds went by as she silently contemplated what decision to make. Finally she looked to Surelious, her face sad as could be, as she reluctantly nodded her head. This made the near death minotaur smile as though he were walking on clouds.
"Okay, Surelious... I'll do this for you," Twilight Sparkle said.
"Thank you, Princess Twilight," Surelious said.
"But... just call me 'Twilight', okay?" Twilight Sparkle said. "None of my friends call me 'princess'."
Surelious' eyes widened slightly as he looked on in surprise.
"I... I'm your friend?" Surelious asked.
"Only if you want to be," Twilight Sparkle replied.
A warm smile crossed the minotaur's face as he looked on at the pony with a heart of gold.
"I want to be," Surelious said.
"Then I'm happy to call you my friend," Twilight Sparkle said. "Is there anything you want me to do before I go?"
"Y- y- Yes," Surelious managed to say. "M- Make the bombs more easily combustible. That way... no matter w- what I throw at them... they will explode."
"Done," Twilight Sparkle said as she turned away.
Her horn glowed brightly, as did the Alpha Stone, both emitting a wave of light that washed over all the bombs. Then Twilight Sparkle looked back to Surelious as guilt and remorse at leaving her new friend behind rushed through her.
"Do not be sad for me, Twilight Sparkle," Surelious said. "I want it this way."
"I know... but I don't," Twilight Sparkle replied.
"Fair enough," Surelious said. "But you'll still let me?"
"Like you said... it's what you want," Twilight Sparkle said as tears started to welled up in her eyes. "Goodbye, Surelious."
"Goodbye, Twilight," Surelious replied. "Maybe we'll meet again, possibly... in the great beyond. I do still believe in Paradise... but I don't think the way we went about getting there was right... Nor do I think I'll actually go there... A guy can hope, though."
"Well... I know... I'd let you in," Twilight Sparkle said. Hearing the princess say those words made Surelious' face that much brighter, making him almost seem like he wasn't minutes away from the end. "While I can't speak for everypony else, I can speak for me... And I... I forgive you, Surelious."
The minotaur said nothing, but his face spoke all the gratitude in the world, the kind only two friends could share. That was all Twilight Sparkle needed, despite her still looking sad as she used her horn to harness the Alpha Stone's power and teleport out of the mine. Now alone in the dimly lit cave, Surelious felt like he was on a whole world all to himself... all alone. Depression came with it, but it was fought back by the good feeling Surelious had gotten from befriending Twilight. He planned to take that good feeling with him in his last breaths doing what he knew he had to do.
Surelious groaned as he felt every injury internal and external ache like crazy from him forcing himself to stand up. It felt like it took him forever to get up and even longer to get over to a bomb despite how many there were all over the mine. He still had to use his sword as a walking cane, for he was afraid if he didn't he'd fall and never get up again. Surelious knew he couldn't do that with one last, highly important thing to do.
I will not die a monster, Surelious said to himself. Rather, I'll be a monster slayer instead. I've been dying a little bit inside for the past several years, so this won't be a problem. I'll actually be glad it's finally over with. At least I'll be doing the world a favor while I'm going out.
Surelious kept on moving until there was a bomb laying right in front of him. He stared down at the explosive object for a moment, which turned out to be a moment too long. He heard steps coming towards him and looked to see several minotaurs come through the mouth of the giant cave. All of them looked as though they were staring at a wasteland of a war zone, which, technically, they were. They saw all the bodies strewn all over the places, all the wreckage and debris, everything, and it shook them to their cores.
Their shocked and somewhat horrified eyes eventually made their way to Surelious himself. They saw the condition he was in, what he was standing in front of, and how it was one of many similar devices all over the cave.
"W- What are you doing?" one of the minotaurs managed to let out. He looked around again, just to make sure he was seeing what he really thought he saw, before turning back to Surelious. "Wh- What's going on?... What has happened?!"
"Hey... we live... in a... volcano... don't we?" Surelious just barely managed to say. "So... I... I... I just thought... I should... turn up the heat."
Surelious tried to form even the smallest smile on his face as the lightest of chuckles escaped his throat. But then, out of nowhere, his face lost whatever expression it had left. It went completely blank, all the color instantly draining out of it as well. His eyes no longer saw, being barely more than blank dots with no vision left in them. His body had stopped trembling, stopped moving at all while his heart that had been beating so rapidly before no longer had a beat left to give.
Surelious had left the world of the living, which meant he could no longer balance his body in any sort of way. First his sword started to fall, but then his body quickly followed as it dropped forward... onto the bomb in front of him. All the minotaurs' eyes widened as they watched it happen. All the screams they tried to let out were instantly cutoff when Surelious' body fell on the bomb, igniting the first of what would be many explosions.
KA-BOOM!
It wouldn't take long for all the individual blasts to come together and form one giant wave of flames, force, and devastation that would spread throughout the whole channels of caves. It was almost guaranteed that if anything was still living inside any of those caves, they wouldn't be living for much longer.
ELSEWHERE IN THE CAVES, MOMENTS BEFORE DETONATION:
The minotaur soldiers all rushed as fast as they could into Isarem's quarters. Along the way they'd gone through many different tunnels where they saw the devastation that had been brought upon their brothers-in-arms. Given the information the squad had ahead of time, they could only assume all they had seen was a result of the intruders Surelious had mentioned. As capable as they knew Isarem was, seeing what these intruders were apparently capable of made the group of soldiers all the more concerned for their master.
Must hurry, Kira thought to himself
The minotaurs' concerns were validated when they and the timberwolves they brought along ran through the open door to Isarem's quarters. Those at the front of the pack were the first to see the sight of their master laying on the ground, his bottom half pinned under a gigantic rock. Eventually all saw and gasped in horror at what they considered to be the most tragic of sights.
"Lord Isarem!" Kira cried out before he and the others ran up to the pinned bull. He knelt down to Isarem's side and examined him as best he could. "Lord Isarem! Quick, get that rock off of him!"
Several minotaurs moved to do as they were instructed while Kira did all he could to try and awaken Isarem, who seemed to be out cold. All the while Kira looked down at Isarem like a lost child who had just found their father dead. He took notice that Isarem's hands seemed to be wrapped around his own throat, as if to give himself a way out of his situation. Kira felt as if he could cry at that moment. His heart ached in his chest as though he'd lost the greatest of loved ones.
Suddenly Isarem's eyes shot open as he sat up and shrieked out in anguish. Kira looked and saw the other minotaurs were rolling the rock off Isarem's legs. More than likely this was probably what caused the minotaur overlord's sudden awakening. The entire time Isarem screamed like he was feeling the pain of a thousand suffering souls in Tartarus. It only took a few seconds, but it felt like a lifetime to Isarem.
He turned his head away and shut his eyes, refusing to look at his legs.
"Lord Isarem, I-" Kira started to say.
"Quick, send me to ascension!" Isarem cried out.
"What?" Kira asked in bewilderment. "I- I-"
"Shut up and do it already!" Isarem demanded. "Do it so I may ascend and be reborn anew. I cannot continue on this plain in such a vulnerable state! This fragility and weakness is why we must ascend, so do it for me, now! I command you!
"Please! The pain!"
Suddenly a loud noise was heard, that being the 'boom' of what seemed like a massive explosion. The entire place shook aggressively, taking all the minotaurs that were standing off their hooves and making them all sprawl across the ground. The cave shook so hard cracks formed through all the walls, the ground, and even the cave roof. Chunks of varying sizes were taken out of the walls and top of the cave that fell to and rolled all across the ground. Isarem was so desperate to avoid the falling debris, he actually rolled on his belly and tried to force himself to stand.
He tried pushing himself up while also crawling/stumbling away from where he was laying. Of course, having broken legs in a room shaking so violently, he dropped back down before he could even get partway up. To seemingly add insult to injury, one of the smaller rocks dropped down right on the back of his head. Isarem screamed out as he grabbed at the area of his skull where he was struck, but something strange happened. The vision seemed to flash before his very eyes, starting with a montage of his past life leading up to that moment in the shaking and crumbling cave.
But then when there were no more memories to see, Isarem saw something else, something that put the fear of death in him that had been missing for so long. It was dark, pitch black, nothing could be seen, at least at first. It somehow felt ice cold as well, despite Isarem technically being inside a volcano. But then there were flashes of light as several different visions of many different environments and situations appeared before Isarem. Some showed cold areas where minotaurs were having ice pressed against their bare skin after having been shaved of their fur. They would even get hit with large chunks of ice or would be frozen themselves before being smashed out of their icy prisons to do it all over again.
Some minotaurs were held, whether by chains, hooks, or other such torturous mean, in places lit by a hellish glow of red. Some had actual fires, some were only stone, and some were both. Whatever the case may be, the stones and the fires were used to help torture these once mighty warriors now only shells of their former selves. There were other means used to torture the minotaurs, many of which were so unspeakable or even unthinkable in how brutal, cruel, and wickedly sinister they seemed to be. All the methods used to brutalize his fellow minotaurs were beyond anything Isarem could possibly imagine.
Then there were some means of psychological brutality that had every minotaur exposed to them screaming like raving lunatics. It made Isarem want to scream just being an outsider looking in on the terror. The worst part about this was that Isarem recognized a lot of these minotaurs, having known some in the past both personally and as a comrade in their shared cause.
"Impossible," Isarem let out as he looked on at the visions in terror.
Another thing that frightened him so was the sight of those who inflicted most of the physical and even some of the mental tortures on his fellow minotaurs. They came in many shapes and sizes, some standing even bigger and looking even stronger than the biggest minotaur Isarem had ever seen. These weren't minotaurs, though; rather they looked like wolves. Most of them had black fur, all of them had yellow glowing eyes, and all of them were very frightening and intimidating sights for any to behold, even Isarem. They looked mean as could be, almost like demons, but what was most intimidating was how casual they seemed to be about torturing all the minotaurs.
Everything Isarem saw chilled him to his very being, but the worst was yet to come. The one overseeing all this was a sight that Isarem never found intimidating before, but was very terrifying for him to look at in that moment. A pony watched over, and only occasionally joined in on the tortures the minotaurs were being put through. This pony was different in so many ways from anypony Isarem had seen before, even those that had bested him in his previous battle. This pony was all the more intimidating to look at even beyond his other worldly appearance and demeanor.
It was even worse when it seemed like the pony had looked directly at Isarem. Yes, though this was only some sort of bizarre, unexplainable vision, it somehow seemed like the white faced pony was staring directly at Isarem. This black leather and armor clad alicorn stallion appeared to be staring into Isarem's very soul with cold, unfeeling, unemotional red eyes. His hard, blank, expressionless stare sent tremors through Isarem like he never felt before.
"Checking in?" the alicorn stallion asked in a deep, semi-raspy, authoritative voice that would make the very mountains shiver in fear.
His horn lit up in a yellow glow as he used his magic to bring up a razor sharp black hook connected to a chain covered in sharp points.
"What have I done?" Isarem barely managed to say.
It would be the last thing he would say in that plain of existence, for a large burst of fire and force tore through the room and engulfed everything and everyone. They were only some of the many who felt the wrath of the mighty shock wave of explosive power that tore through the entire channel of caves and tunnels and passageways. Not a single living soul, minotaur, timberwolf, or otherwise, survived. Several different tunnels were torn apart by the massive blast. Though many stone walls would still be standing after the explosion was done, none of them would look the same, as would nothing else.
Death and destruction fanned out through the entire place with no area being spared, not even the minotaurs' laboratory. It had already seen it's fair share of explosive destruction that day, but it was in for far more, being one of the last places engulfed in the demolition. Any of those within the lab still living had cleared out long before the explosion... all except one. Within the confines of the gigantic kaiju generator, a restless, freshly born, yet full grown beast unlike any other stood. It did not wish to be held within the giant contraption that gave it life any longer, though.
Thus it acted accordingly, utilizing overly violent and aggressive tactics, including thrashing its body about in its tight surroundings in an gambit to break free. The massive and possibly mentally unstable giant of a monster let out all of the most unearthly cries. It called out over and over again as it threw itself about to free itself of its confining environment. It was confused, it was angry, it had violent urges only death and destruction could satisfy, yet it didn't know why. This only irritated the monster even further, making the creature hidden within the kaiju generator thrash about even more aggressively.
Normally there would be someone there to flip a switch that would open up the generator, allowing the kaiju to escape. However, there were no living souls left in the cave and the control console with the switch on it had been destroyed. This left the newly born abomination of unholy origins to try and free itself as violently as possibly. It seemed like all of the kaiju's ruthless aggression was about to payoff when one of its monstrous hands broke through the yellow glass-like casing of the generator. That also happened to be the time when the shock wave of the explosion reached and engulfed the lab in its terrible wrath.
The kaiju cried out in an almost psychotic rage, for it thirsted for the chance to wreak its own special brand of havoc. At that moment, though, it could only stand and witness the desolation that was not its own, which seemed to infuriate the beast all the more.
MEANWHILE IN SEASIDE HOOF:
TJ's pacing had become more like a slow jog as he moved all around the restaurant. Those with him inside the re-purposed establishment watched him with great unease. All his antsy movements made them all feel even more trepidation than they would have otherwise. The longer it went on, the more agitated they got. The doctors were able to ignore it for the most part as they looked over their patients.
The only thing that made them feel truly uneasy was that one of their patients they were examining was a minotaur. Even if he was supposedly on their side and had helped against the other minotaurs, they couldn't help it. It was hard to shake off so much bad blood built up over such a long time. Kerchek understood it and didn't say anything, having no hard feelings at all for the hesitations of the ponies around him. He did, however, get more unnerved by TJ's constant fast paced trot like everyone else was.
Kerchek, along with Muse, Moon Bright, and Firefly, kept getting more and more irritated as they heard TJ's hooves scrape against the hardwood floor as he paced on. They didn't blame him since all of them felt the same anxiety to varying degrees, but he wasn't helping them at all with what he was doing. It finally got to be too much for one pony who personified TJ's pacing as an annoying buzz in their head that got louder and as the seconds ticked on.
"TJ, will you stop that?!" Firefly exclaimed as she sprung up from the chair she was sitting in. "You're driving me crazy!"
The pink furred pegasus' sudden outburst made everyone else jump. They all looked to Firefly with surprised expressions, though they were actually glad someone said something. Then everyone turned to TJ to see how he would respond. He stood with a surprise, but still understanding look on his face. His frantic voice, however, would end up sounding less understanding.
"I'm sorry, Auntie Firefly!" TJ said as he put a hoof up to the side of his head. "I can't help it! They've been gone too long! They should've been back by now!"
TJ resumed his pacing, though he tried to control himself better while pressing his hoof harder against his temple.
"Yeah," Muse said. "Because sneaking into an evil fortress hidden in a volcano filled with all sorts of bad guys and monsters to blow it up is just like a walk in the park."
TJ stopped pacing and turned his sights to his younger alicorn sister. The dark look he gave Muse had no affect on her at all, being used to getting them from him during their sibling... debates. The Earth pony stallion let out a deep sigh, however, as his face and body language softened.
"I know, I know," TJ conceded. "I just can't help it." He trotted up to a window and looked out at the smoking volcano. "I'm just starting to think more and more that we shouldn't have let them go up there alone. I know they have each other, but I still think they should've had us, too."
The others all looked on thoughtfully, showing their own signs of concern in the process.
"A large part of me wants to agree with you, TJ," Firefly said. "My daughter is one of those ponies up there after all."
"Perhaps I should've stayed up there to try and assist them further," Kerchek said.
"No, no, Kerchek, you did fine," Muse reassured. "Honestly, you did more than I thought any minotaur was capable of. Guess it should go to show that just because there's a pretty big group that acts a certain way, it doesn't mean they're all like that."
"Thank you for such kind words, Muse, my friend," Kerchek said. "And, indeed they are truer beyond what you may think. The number of good minotaurs outweighs the number of bad. As a race, the mass majority of minotaurs honor a specific code, a lifestyle, a declaration. It has been in place for the masses since as long as any can remember.
"I know because before coming here I lived in Almythara, the minotaur homeland, for a good many years. I came to this island looking for a slight change of pace from what life was like in the homeland... I could've never imagined things would turn out like they did."
"How many years have you spent on this island?" Muse asked.
"Ten," Kerchek said. "And in all that time I allowed myself to be manipulated into doing things strictly against the minotaurs' warrior code of honor. I did... so many things that had been forbidden. I went against the morals I was raised on in hopes of finding my own identity. When I finally came to and realized how wrong everything I was doing was, I wanted so much to help stop this madness and make things right.
"That's why I helped your friends like I did. Now... I'm sort of wishing I'd helped them out more by actually staying by their side."
"No, Kerchek, Muse is right," Moon Bright finally said. "You did enough just being there for as long as you were. You sabotaged them whenever you could. You helped our friends inside. And you told us the truth about the cult.
"You risked a lot coming here the way you did and look how we welcomed you. No, you've done enough."
"Yeah, Kerchek," Muse agreed. "I didn't know how to feel about you at first, but... you turned out to be a stand up guy."
"Thank you again, Muse, and you, too, Moon Bright," Kerchek responded.
"Still... I'm starting to think TJ was right about one thing," Muse said.
""That's a first," Firefly said with a slightly amused smile. "You two usually never agree on anything."
"Well, we agree this time," Muse said bluntly. "We probably could've given them more help going up into those caves on the mountain. I don't mean us specifically, because I still don't think I'm ready for something like that. But we could've sent them up with more ponies."
"That's what I'm sayin'!" TJ exclaimed, his concern for their friend being heard loudly.
"I know what you're both getting at," Moon Bright said. "To an extent I actually agree. But they made the decision to have it just be them who go up there. They asked that we just let it be them and no one else. They asked that the rest of us to just relocate here.
"I know it seems wrong to leave all the work to them. It probably is, but they came here to help us and this was the way they decided to do it. The decision was theirs and theirs alone. They're our friends and our strongest allies and they've never let us down before. The destruction of Willowbrook can't be seen as, and absolutely isn't, their fault.
"Honestly, it almost seemed inevitable and maybe even should've been something the minotaurs could've done long ago. The fact that it happened when Twilight and the others came to help us has nothing to do with them. If anything, they helped minimize what could've been a whole lot more damage and death. If they can do that and if we can put so much faith in them that we actually bring them here to help, then we have to keep believing. They're our friends, they've come to mean a lot to us all.
"I mean, I know I sure love them with all my heart and I know you all do to. Some of you more than others." Firefly smiled warmly while TJ wore more of a slightly embarrassed grin. "So until they give us reason to think otherwise, we have to believe in the best of them."
The others were quiet as they took in all Moon Bright had said. But she could tell by the changing expressions on their faces they were getting what she was trying to say to them.
"Yeah, you're right, Mom," Muse said.
"Well said, Crescent," Firefly added.
"Your words are truly wise, Chief Moon Bright," Kerchek concurred.
"Yeah, I understand what you're saying, Mom," TJ said. "It makes sense... I just... I just wish we knew for sure if they were alright." TJ stared out the window at the volcano that spewed ever more black smoke into the sky. "I wish we had some sort of sign."
Suddenly the ground shook, catching everyone by surprise and nearly rocking them to the floor. At the same time the crackling of thunder rang out as a bright flash of light appeared outside the complex's doors. It all lasted for only a few seconds, but it still startled all who experienced it. Even when it was over, they all had a hard time getting past the strange phenomenon. But everyone forced themselves to get past it so they could check on Moon Bright.
They all gathered around her and helped the unicorn mare up to her hooves as they all clamored with words of worry asking her if she was okay.
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Moon Bright said with more annoyance than she meant to. "Jeez, I'm old, not a fragile glass vase. What the heck even was that anyways?"
"I don't know," TJ said.
"Me neither," Muse added.
"I was hoping someone could tell me!" Firefly exclaimed.
"I haven't the slightest idea," Kerchek said.
"The light... and the thunder... they all seemed like they were coming from right outside!" TJ said.
Everyone looked to one another before standing and making their way to the door. As they moved they heard a commotion start to breakout amongst the masses outside. It grew in volume with each passing second, peaking the group's interest to the point where some broke into a light jog. As they reached the door, a familiar black furred stallion stepped into view.
"Moon Bright, TJ, everyone!" Hard Rock exclaimed. "Come outside, now! You've got to see this!"
The excitement in his voice intensified everyone's curiosity to the point where they moved like a mob chasing down a crook. They all gathered outside the restaurant and piled up around on its porch. TJ, Firefly, Moon Bright, Muse, and Kerchek all gasped at what they found. Not only did it looked like the whole population of ponies had gathered outside, it seemed to have somehow doubled in size.
"Hey... I recognize some of those ponies," Firefly said in a stunned tone.
"Me, too," Moon Bright said. "But I haven't seen a lot of them in a long time."
"It's almost as if..."
TJ didn't finish his sentence, instead gasping again, as did the others while also looking to one another. They had all figured out what was really happening and it sent their hearts a flutter. Quickly the ponies of the group all rushed into the crowd while Kerchek stayed on the porch of the restaurant, being cautious about being around so many ponies. He watched happily as excitement and high emotions ran strong in the crowd. All the positivity irradiated off everyone and somehow seemed to make a greater feeling of ecstasy in the air.
TJ and the others got caught up in it all as they saw and happily greeted faces they had not seen in a long time. They were only a few of what was many ponies; from friends to family members, all of whom had been lost to each other for so long. All of these ponies had now been reunited. After being without those deep bonds and connections for so long, it felt absolutely rapturous to get them all back. All the love, joy, happiness, all the positive feelings this reunion brought were simply indescribable.
TJ and the others were beyond happy, not just to have back the ponies they knew personally, but all those who had returned after being lost so long. Yet all of them knew without actually saying it that they were looking for a particular group of ponies who meant more to them than could be imagined. Once the sounds of cheers broke out over all the other sounds of joy and rapture, they instantly knew where to go. TJ led the others through the crowd until they got to the very middle of it and saw those that received such praise. Not even noticing it was only five of the Mane Six there, TJ, Muse, Firefly, and Moon Bright rushed to greet them.
The majority of the ReMane Five were busy accepting the praise from the crowd when Pinkie Pie spotted their friends coming to greet them. She quickly pointed them out to the rest of the mares and they moved to meet their friends in what was another glorious reunion. Emotions ran as high as they did for any other ponies that had been reunited in the massive mob. Warm embraces, and many excitedly spoken words were shared amongst the group of friends that were only a few of many more happy ponies. So much was said at such fasts paces; most of the words got lost in a cloud of high volume voices all speaking at once, but the shared sentiments were well understood.
"Thank Celestia we finally have you back!" TJ exclaimed joyfully. "We were so worried about you! I can't begin to tell you all just how... just how glad I am to see you all again!"
"The feeling couldn't be more mutual, TJ," Applejack said before she and the stallion shared another hug.
Muse was still sharing a hug with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. But then she pulled back so they could see the gleam she had about her, which the two pink maned mares shared.
"I'm so glad to have all you girls back," Muse said gleefully.
"It's great to be back with you, Musey," Fluttershy said.
"Yeah, we were really missing our little Muser," Pinkie Pie said before rubbing her hoof through Muse's mane.
"Oh, you girls," Muse said.
Firefly and Rainbow Dash kept switching back and forth between hugging each other, smiling at each other, and telling each other how happy they were to be together again.
"Thank the alicorns above for you, Dashie," Firefly said. "I know it sounds silly... But I was starting to worry that I may not see you again... Any of you." Firefly looked around to the other mares. "But I can't help but be biased towards you, my little Dashie."
The other mares agreed Firefly's feelings were understandable.
"Oh, Mom," Rainbow Dash said more emotionally than she usually let herself sound. "It's great to see you again, too. I love you, Mom."
"I love you, too, Rainbow Dash," Firefly said before embracing her daughter tighter than ever before.
"Though I tried to keep up moral, a large part of me was worried about you all, too," Moon Bright said. "Just like everyone else here, your safety was always one of the biggest concerns on my mind. I kept telling myself you all knew what you were doing, but a pony can't help but stress themselves a little bit in these situations."
"Of course, Moon Bright, darling," Rarity said. "The truth is we were all worried ourselves while we were in there and for so many different reasons. We worried whether we'd be successful at all, if we would save all the ponies inside the cave, and most importantly, if we'd ever see our friends and family again. That includes all of you who we've come to know and love so dearly. In more ways than one, it was the thought of you all that helped propel us through the darkest of times."
"And I'd say it paid off all thanks to you," Rainbow Dash said.
"Just look what we were able to do," Applejack said as she waved a hoof.
TJ and the others took another look at all the happiness around them from all the joyous reunions. It made their hearts feel all the warmer as they looked on.
"You girls did all this because of how strong your hearts and souls are," TJ said. "While I would've liked to have been there myself, maybe in place of you, I have a feeling it wouldn't have been as successful as it was."
"Oh, there were... hiccups here and there," Rainbow Dash said.
"That's certainly one way of putting it," Rarity said. "It wasn't exactly smooth sailing."
"We got into quite a few pickles in there," Applejack said.
"But that's to be expected," Firefly said. "You girls still pulled through when it mattered the most."
"And we love you all the more for it," Muse said.
"I know I certainly do," TJ said.
"So do I," Moon Bright said.
"Make that four who love you more!" Firefly exclaimed brightly.
All of them exchanged individual hugs with one another again before sharing a single group hug. It was truly a fantastic moment had by all, but one that was still going to get better.
"Ooh, speaking of ponies ya love!" Rainbow Dash said as her eyes lit up.
The rest of the ReMane Five seemed all the more giddy as well, their friend's words reminding them of what was yet to be revealed.
"I do believe Rainbow Dash is right," Applejack said. She looked to TJ and the others with the most loving, yet serious of eyes. "There's a pony here waiting to see y'all."
"One you've been waiting to see yourselves!" Pinkie Pie squealed before she giggled giddily.
Instantly they all knew who the mares were talking about and it put more butterflies in their stomachs than they'd ever felt before. TJ, Muse, Firefly, and especially Moon Bright had rushed into the crowd with high hopes of seeing the pony the ReMane Five were referring to. Being reunited with their friends momentarily distracted them, however. But now there were no more distractions as everypony prepared themselves to meet, or rather reunite, with this pony. No amount of time or preparation would be enough, though, for just the mere mention had sent them all on emotional highs.
They tried to hold it back as much as possible as the ReMane Five moved away, Applejack calling out to a pony in the crowd. "Hey, Strong, they're all waiting for ya!"
Everypony shuddered as their emotional anticipation spiked. All their built up emotion was nothing compared to when they actually saw the white furred, brown maned Earth pony stallion coming towards them. He was exactly as they had all remembered him, yet for more than one reason he seemed to be even better. It was clear he was feeling just as emotional as his family was as he approached.
"Dad?" TJ let out in an emotionally shaky voice.
"Oh, my gosh..." Moon Bright said just as emotionally. "Strong Courage?"
"Hi, honey, I'm home," Strong Courage said with an emotional tone in his voice and a smile to match. "What's for dinner? Or do you want me to make it tonight?"
Everyone was so full of emotion to the point where tears freely fell from their eyes. It became too much to the point where TJ, Moon Bright, Firefly, and Muse all rushed up to Strong Courage to embrace him just as he did for them. Nopony wasted a word, instead letting the wonderful reality and compassion of the moment sink in silently. There were a few emotional gasps and exclamations let out from those involved in the large group hug. Besides the sobs TJ, Strong Courage, Moon Bright, Muse, and Firefly just enjoyed quietly being in one another's company as a full family once again.
The warmth and comfort of such an embrace was just as great as they had all remembered it being and they loved it.
"Daddy," Muse finally let out.
Strong Courage pulled back enough so he could look down at his step daughter, his eyes trembling.
"I've been waiting to hear that from you for such a long time," Strong Courage said. "It... This... All this here... It was all worth it."
They all shared one final group squeeze before they dissipated. TJ was unable to help but lunge for a hug just shared between him and his dad. While he wasn't expecting it, Strong Courage quickly recovered and returned the gesture to his son. After a few seconds, the two stallions pulled back and looked at each other for a moment in silence. Strong Courage wiped away some of his son's tears, but he was crying just as many, if not more.
"Dad... Uh- I..."
"I know, TJ," Strong Courage said. "Me, too."
The two shared another quick hug. Then Muse came up and shared a hug with Strong Courage, who ended it by kissing his stepdaughter on the head. Then Firefly stepped up to Strong Courage. The two exchanged smiles before clapping each other on the shoulder.
"Dang, Strong... you're looking better than you have in years," Firefly said before sharing a hug with him.
"Thank those fine ponies right there," Strong Courage said as he pointed to the ReMane Five. Everyone gazed lovingly to the group of mares, some of whom looked appreciative, one bordering on egotistical, and then there were those who looked flattered. "You guys couldn't have picked a better group of heroes. They gave me back my life."
"Yeah... they're something else," Firefly said. She then leaned in as she whispered, "But I'll bet you still can't beat my bench pressing record."
Strong Courage chuckled before saying, "We'll have to see about that later."
The two shared another quick hug before Firefly stepped aside and Strong Courage approached his wife. Moon Bright still looked as emotional as could be as she gazed in near disbelief at the stallion that was her husband.
"I... I can't... How..."
"It's like I told you, my little beam of moonlight," Strong Courage said, though he still sounded just as emotional as her. "We may get separated, but it'll never stick. You and I are forever, girl."
Moon Bright let out a few soft sobs before sharing a hug with Strong Courage. The two held each other in their embrace for a few seconds just swaying almost as if they were slow dancing. Everyone looked on as joyfully as could be as they continued on like that for several moments. Finally Strong Courage and Moon Bright pulled apart just enough to exchange a passionate kiss, the likes of which none of the other ponies had seen or felt before.
"Aww... mushy stuff," Pinkie Pie said between tears.
"It... It won't get to me and make me act sappy," Rainbow Dash proclaimed, despite her being just as emotional.
"Don't be lying, Rainbow Dash, we can all see you," Applejack said. "I know my eyes are pouring water like a broken spout during a storm flood."
"Just let out and roll with it, Dashie," Rarity added as she extended the handkerchief she'd been using to dry her own tears.
Fluttershy used it before extending it to Applejack, who then used it before extending it to Pinkie Pie. She then wiped her tears away before actually blowing her nose into it and then handing it to Rainbow Dash, who did the same. They then blew their noses together before Rainbow Dash handed the handkerchief back to Rarity. The purple haired unicorn held the little square cloth in her levitation spell a specific distance away from herself as she stared in disgust. She decided to crumple it up and throw it away before looking back to a sight she actually liked seeing.
Strong Courage and Moon Bright finished their make out session and followed up with Moon Bright laying her head on Strong Courage's chest. He held her close as he kept switching from looking to her to all the others around him. Seeing such friendly, familiar faces he adored so much made him feel all the more warm inside. He reflected on this even when Moon Bright stood up and looked deep into his eyes once again. The unicorn mare slowly looked to the ReMane Five as she wiped away her tears.
"You... You girls!" Moon Bright exclaimed. "Th... Thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart. You've made me... happier than I've been in years."
"That goes double for me," Strong Courage said. "Where did they find you? It most of been at the pearly gates themselves. You must be gifts from above."
"I certainly think so," Firefly said. "That goes double for my little Dashie."
Rainbow Dash blushed as she rubbed a hoof over the back of her neck.
"We're just some ponies from Ponyville who like to do the right thing and help out is all," Applejack replied.
"We really can't thank you enough," Muse said. "You gave us back our hope after it was taking from us for so long."
"You girls... are the best friends this island ever had," TJ said. "Th- Thank you so much."
"Thank you for letting us be your friends," Fluttershy said.
"You guys are awesome friends, too!" Rainbow Dash said.
"The very best!" Rarity and Pinkie Pie said at the same time.
"Aww," several ponies all said together as they came together for another group hug.
The moment seemed just about perfect to all involved. That was until they all remembered something was missing TJ particularly being the first to notice. His eyes shot open before he abruptly pulled out of the hug and started looking around. The others broke off the hug and looked to the young stallion with concern.
"TJ?" Strong Courage asked.
"Where's Twilight?" TJ asked, his eyes looking frantic.
It was like a cold wind had blown in, interrupting the good feelings and sending a shiver through everypony else. The other islanders had looks of realization on their faces while the ReMane Five wore expressions of deep regret. The mares all saw their friends looking at them and turned away to one another. They wore questioning looks, though they all knew very well what the answer was. The ReMane Five turned to Strong Courage who looked just as upset as they did.
"TJ... darling," Rarity began. "T- Twilight... Well, she-"
"She volunteered to place the bombs and set them off on her own," Applejack said.
TJ looked as if an arrow had been put through his heart.
"And you agreed to let her do it alone?!" the frantic Earth pony asked.
"We let her?" Rainbow Dash said in an offended tone. "Yeah, you can say that because you were totally there and saw how it all went down!"
"Rainbow, please," Fluttershy said as she moved to try and calm her flustered friend.
"You see, TJ, darling,"Rarity said, "we... didn't exactly let Twilight take on the task herself."
"She sort of, kind of... took the decision out of our hooves," Pinkie Pie said.
"She teleported us out with the island ponies without telling us she was gonna," Applejack said. "We figured she decided to just do everything by herself since she had the red Alpha Stone."
"Twilight Sparkle found the red Alpha Stone?!" Moon Bright exclaimed.
"Well, technically Pinkie Pie found the stone," Rarity said, to which her pink friend flashed an appreciative smile.
"But she was the one who used it," Strong Courage said. "And she did it very well, too. She used it to make us... well, to put it plainly, super ponies. It was like being reborn as a whole new pony, yet still being yourself at the same time; just the best version of yourself. It was incredible.
"It was thanks to the princess we all got out and were given our lives back. It was thanks to her we were able to overcome and stop the minotaurs for good... She's just like the rest of our Equestrian friends here. That Twilight... she's something else."
"I know she is, that's why I don't like this right now!" TJ said. "I don't like her being there alone with no one to help, Alpha Stone or no Alpha Stone! Somepony needs to be there for her! Somepony needs to be by her side!"
"You mean somepony... like you, son?" Strong Courage asked.
TJ paused for a moment looking a bit surprised. Slowly a serious look crossed his face as he said, "You bet your flank somepony like me. In fact, not somepony like me, me!"
Strong Courage smiled, as did a lot of the other ponies. He then walked up to his son with Moon Bright right alongside him. He then put a hoof on TJ's shoulder.
"Well, son, I'm gonna tell you right off that I get it," Strong Courage said. "Really, I do. You meet a pony in your life that you want to do anything and everything for. You want to give them the world and do the best to see that they have it, but only so long as you're there to shield them from the harsher parts of it. I met my special somepony like that a long time ago."
Strong Courage looked to his wife and shared a quick kiss with her. "But you also got to trust them enough to make their own decisions and even to be strong enough to brave the harshest of storms by their selves. I know that sounds hard, especially with how you feel about them. But never forget that they were a strong pony before you and they can be just as strong of a pony with you. And while I can certainly see what you see in her and why you'd want to be her knight in shinning armor, don't forget... this filly can obviously take care of herself."
TJ smiled as a light blush came across his face. He remained quiet as he let his dad's words sink in. Slowly a look of understanding crossed his face as he nodded.
"Yeah, you're right, Dad," TJ said before giving him a quick hug. "Twilight's a very resourceful, amazing pony... It's just that... she's so amazing that... I want to be with her all the time. Such an awesome pony deserves having someone watch their back... I hope she's okay."
Suddenly there was a flash of light in the middle of the crowd that caught everyone's attention. While many ponies gasped, the ReMane Five and TJ's family somehow felt a more personal stake in this strange event. They looked to one another before running to confirm what they believe this strange phenomenon signified. None ran faster than TJ, who was the first to reach the spot the light had come from, even when Rainbow Dash and Firefly took wing. He gasped and his eyes grew wide when he saw the new pony was exactly who he and the others thought it would be.
"Twilight!" TJ called out.
The alicorn princess turned and let the biggest of grins cross her face.
"TJ!" Twilight Sparkle called back before running towards him.
The two ponies met each other with the biggest hug two ponies could share. For a moment while holding each other, the rest of the world disappeared and only the two of them existed. It was just Twilight Sparkle and Thunder Jack, both of whom felt like they were floating on a cloud in paradise. But then Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes and saw the others all watching them nearby. The violet furred mare cleared her throat, which made TJ pull back enough to see her face.
She nodded towards the others and when TJ saw them he exclaimed before he and Twilight completely broke off their hug.
"So... um..." TJ said as he rubbed a hoof against the back of his neck.
"Yeah," Twilight Sparkle said as she looked down.
Both wore somewhat embarrassed smiles with blushes to match.
"It's so cute when almost couples are embarrassed together," Pinkie Pie said.
"So adorable," Rarity agreed.
"I think it's sweet," Fluttershy said.
"No arguments here," Muse added.
"It's... It's great to have you back, Twily," TJ said.
His eye widened in alarm when he realized what he called her. His face quickly changed it to a smile, to which Twilight Sparkle giggled.
"Thanks, Jacky," Twilight responded. "It's great to be back with yo... everypony!"
"And we're glad to have you back, darling!" Rarity exclaimed happily.
"Hiya, Twilight!" Muse cried enthusiastically. "It's great to finally see you again! I was a little scared there when you didn't come back with the others. But now you're back and I couldn't be happier!"
"I'm glad you made it out of there, princess!" Firefly said with a wink.
"Me, too, Twilight," Fluttershy said.
"Oh, Twilight, I missed you so much!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she lifted Twilight off the ground and hugged her tightly, swinging around as she did so.
"Pinkie... missed, too," Twilight gasped out. "Pain... Can't breathe... Not that long."
"But it was to me!" Pinkie Pie cried before conceding and letting Twilight down after a final squeeze.
"It was to me, too!" Rainbow Dash said, sounding a bit confrontational. "What the heck was up with that, Twilight?! We all agreed on a set plan and then you go back on it and teleport us out of there without telling us what you were up to! Why didn't you tell us what you had in mind?!"
"Because I was afraid you'd all try to stop me from doing it on my own," Twilight Sparkle answered. "I know it seemed strange and that it upset you, Rainbow Dash. Well, all of you actually. But I wanted to make sure I could keep as many ponies safe as possible by teleporting you all out of a dangerous environment that was going to get even more dangerous. While everypony's life was on my mind, I also really wanted my friends to be as safe, especially seeing what you went through in there."
"But you went through it with us, because we're a team!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "We're suppose to do this stuff together because that's what a team does! They don't make secret plans and then spring them on other teammates right out of the blue, at least they're not suppose to!"
"Calm down, Rainbow Dash," Applejack said with an authoritative voice.
"Fine," Rainbow Dash huffed as she crossed her front legs.
"But, I gotta say I kinda see where she's coming from, Twilight," Applejack added.
"So do I, Applejack," Twilight Sparkle agreed. "I'm sorry, girls. I just wanted to do what I thought was right."
The other mares of the Mane Six were silent for a moment.
"Well... I certainly won't be mad at you for that," Fluttershy said. "While it kind of surprised me, too, I figured you had a good reason for what you were doing. So, I won't be mad at you for trying to do something nice for us and so many other ponies."
"Hear, hear," Rarity agreed. "I'm just happy we're all here, safe and sound."
"And how!" Applejack agreed.
"Another group hug, now!" Pinkie Pie demanded as her front legs stretched out more than they should've been physically able to.
She grabbed all the other members of the Mane Six and pulled them to up to her in a tight embrace. The majority of them smiled before turning to Rainbow Dash, who still seemed a bit upset. She turned and looked to the others, all of them staring back with hopeful eyes. Finally the light blue pegasus smiled and joined in the hugging.
"I guess it doesn't matter so long as the best happened," Rainbow Dash conceded.
"Very well said, Rainbow Dash," Moon Bright said as she and the other islander ponies walked up to the Mane Six. "And I do believe the very best has happened thanks to you girls. We were all lost for so long. We tried to make ourselves push on like we still had a sense of where everything was going. But in reality we were trapped in darkness. You helped lift us out of that pit and have shown us a truly beautiful light filled with love, friendship, and maybe even redemption.
"With the success of your mission, I do believe we can all finally move on with our lives and become the ponies we were always meant to be."
"Thank you, girls, for everything," Strong Courage said. "But a special thank you to you, Twilight, for being so brave as to stay behind and set off those bombs by yourself."
A sad look crossed Twilight's face as she remembered what she left behind.
"I... I didn't do it, though," Twilight Sparkle said.
The others looked on in confusion while also taking note at their friend's change in demeanor.
"You didn't set off the bombs, Twilight?" TJ asked. "So... the minotaur base hasn't been destroyed?"
"Oh, it has... I'm pretty sure," Twilight Sparkle said.
"But if you didn't blow up the base," Muse began.
"Then who did?" Fluttershy finished.
"H- He did," Twilight Sparkle said. She looked around and saw many of her friends were even more confused. "Surelious did."
The eyes of the rest of the Mane Six and Strong Courage widened in realization as they remembered their unlikely ally in their gambit against the minotaurs.
"Oh, my gosh, that's right!" Fluttershy exclaimed.
"I completely forgot about him!" Rarity said.
"So did I," Applejack said. "But I really wish I hadn't. He was such a great help to us!"
"Wait, who was?" Firefly asked. "Who's Surelious?!"
The Mane Six and Strong Courage looked to one another before answering together, "A minotaur."
The other island ponies looked on in shock.
"Did you just say... a minotaur helped you?" Muse said. "Not only did he help you, but he helped you by blowing up the minotaur base?!"
"Yeah," the Mane Six and Strong Courage said, some nodding their heads.
"He finally saw through the lie their leader had been feeding them," Twilight Sparkle said. "He saw past the curtain, so to speak, and decided to stop their little show. Surelious did everything he could, including fight alongside us before..."
As the alicorn princess's words trailed off, the others got what she was implying.
"If he stayed to set off the bombs," Pinkie Pie said, " then that means he..."
Sad faces abounded and a few eyes even got a little teary upon realizing Surelious' fate.
"But... why?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"But if he... then that means... Twilight, did you-?"
"Yes, Applejack, I did," Twilight Sparkle said. "Surelious didn't want to go on any further in this life. While I thought there was a better way... his reasons were still pretty sound, so... I let him go out the way he wanted to... He died to make sure we all had a better tomorrow."
"He's a minotaur, though," TJ said. "How do you know he actually-"
"TJ... son... trust me, he did," Strong Courage said. "If Twilight says he did, then he truly did."
"I'm not doubting Twilight," TJ said. "I'm just-"
"I know, son, I know," Strong Courage said. "If you'd actually been there, though... You'd know without a doubt it's true."
There was another moment of silence where the Mane Six and Strong Courage chose to mourn for the lost soul they'd fought alongside in battle. The other island ponies seemed to still be a bit skeptical, but they slowly came around to agreeing that what the others were saying was true.
"Well..." Fluttershy said as she wiped away a tear, "I'm glad at least that he turned out to be... a good guy after all."
"Wow, who'd a thought it?" Firefly said. "Who'd a thought we'd find two minotaurs that were actually pretty cool dudes?"
Strong Courage tilted his head to the side.
"Two?" the stallion asked.
"Oh, yeah, that's right!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed. She looked around and eventually saw who she was looking for. "Kerchek!"
The others looked to see the smiling minotaur was still on the porch waving to them. Twilight Sparkle used her magic to teleport him to their circle of friends. He looked bewildered at first, but it quickly changed to alarm when he saw where he was.
"Don't worry, we won't let any of them harm you," Fluttershy said.
"Besides, they all look to be distracted at the moment with their lovely reunions," Rarity added. "So, don't worry, darling, I'm sure they aren't exactly itching to do you any harm."
"Well... any more than they already have," Pinkie Pie said.
"I was gonna say," Rainbow Dash added. "You look like you got a load full from some of the locals."
"Sorry again about that," Muse said.
"It's perfectly fine," Kerchek said. "I understood their feelings and where they came from. It's the exact same reason I wanted to get away from those scoundrels as soon as I could. They did not represent what a minotaur is actually suppose to be."
"I think one of them sure did," Twilight Sparkle said.
"Make that two," Pinkie Pie corrected.
The others all smiled to one another and then to Kerchek.
"Yeah, two," Twilight Sparkle agreed.
"Two?" Kerchek asked.
"We'll explain later," Fluttershy said. "Let's just say... things weren't as black and white as we thought they were."
Kerchek thought about it for a moment before smiling when he realized what they meant.
"Ooh, Twilight, that's pretty necklace you got," Muse said. "It kind of reminds me of what you told me the Elements of Harmony looked like."
Twilight Sparkle looked down at her golden piece of jewelry as did everyone else.
"Well, those are what I based this off of," Twilight Sparkle agreed.
"You made that?" TJ asked in amazement.
"Mostly," Twilight Sparkle said as she pointed a hoof. "The jewel wasn't mine, though. I just shrunk that and made the rest of the necklace around it."
"Why would you shrink a jewel?" Moon Bright asked.
"To make it easier to carry around," Twilight Sparkle said. "It was much bigger before."
The rest of the Mane Six spoke in agreement.
"While I would've preferred it to remain its original size," Rarity said, "I do understand why you had to shrink it."
"Maybe you could tell me then," Firefly said. "Why shrink it? Why even have a jewel with you on such a dangerous mission?"
"Unless..." TJ gasped as he looked on in astonishment. "Twilight... is that...?"
"Yes, TJ, it is," Twilight Sparkle said. "Everyone, I give to you the red Alpha Stone."
The others, minus the mares of the Mane Six and Strong Courage, all gasped as they stared with mystified looks on their faces. They couldn't believe they were staring at another of the legendary gems. While they didn't know much about the stones, they knew each one basically held the power of a god inside. While they weren't as awe struck as the others, even the Mane Six and Strong Courage were still mesmerized by the powerful stone.
"I cannot believe it!" Kerchek said. "We minotaurs were looking for that for so long!" He looked to the Mane Six, his face never losing its amazed expression. "You ponies truly were just where we weren't. This is proof, a sign from above."
"This is... This is unreal!" Firefly said as she placed her front hooves against the sides of her head.
"I just can't believe it!" Muse added.
"The most powerful of the stones..." Moon Bright said before looking around at the Mane Six, "and you girls found it."
"Yup, we sure did," Applejack said.
"Without that stone... I don't think we would've made it," Fluttershy said.
"You would've if you'd of let me go with you, stone or no stone," TJ insisted.
Twilight Sparkle giggled as she raised a hoof and lightly stroked the side of the Earth pony's face.
"I don't doubt that for a second... my sweet Jacky," Twilight Sparkle said. "My dear, sweet Jacky."
"Aww," several voices called as they looked on at Twilight and TJ.
"Hey, is that a minotaur?" a voice called out.
Twilight and the others looked around them in concern when they realized ponies were starting to take notice of Kerchek. All of them were nervous, but none more so than the minotaur himself.
"Yeah, it is!"
"He's the one that got away from us before!"
"Let's get him!"
Ponies started to gather around, all of them wearing angry faces full of determination to do great harm to Kerchek. The minotaur stood ready to try and run should it come time to. He was surprised when several of his pony allies actually gathered around him and formed a barrier. Their stances implied they would spring into action to defend them if they had to, which surprised Kerchek even further.
"Don't come any closer!" Strong Courage demanded.
Twilight Sparkle then lit up her horn as bright as could be, the Alpha Stone's light also igniting to a brighter intensity. Instantly all the other ponies stopped in their tracks as they looked on in awe. Twilight deactivated her horn's magic and that of the Alpha Stone before flying up over the crowd.
"Everypony, please, stop!" Twilight Sparkle called out.
"But that's a minotaur!" a pony protested.
"Yes, we're well aware that' he's a minotaur," Twilight Sparkle said. "He also happens to be a minotaur that helped us to bring all the other minotaurs down."
Several ponies gasped and began to murmur to one another.
"But he doesn't look like the minotaur that helped us out in the mine," a pony said.
Many more ponies started to speak in surprise at this new revelation.
"No, he's not," Twilight Sparkle said. "That was another minotaur, but that doesn't mean Kerchek here isn't a good bull, too. Things aren't exactly like we thought they were. It turns out there were a select few minotaurs, in an army of many who were brainwashed, that managed to see they were deceived by a lie. They saw past the facade and wanted to help put an end to it.
"That's exactly what happened, too. Fillies and gentlecolts, I'm pleased to tell you that as of now, the minotaurs' operation is completely shut down! Their base has been totally destroyed and it was thanks to information this minotaur here today gave us!"
Several ponies all cheered loudly and applauded at the news they'd been waiting to hear for so long.
"So, now every minotaur that was a burden on us has been completely wiped out," Twilight Sparkle went on. "There may be more evil minotaurs in this world, but none of them are on this island. We mustn't forget also that many other creatures have the potential to be evil, just like they have the potential to be good. That includes ponies, just like it does minotaurs, or even yaks, buffalo, many others. Things aren't always as simple as we'd like them to be.
"Just as many of you were forced into a life you didn't want, so were some minotaurs, including the one with us here today. Are you going to let the sins of the guilty cloud your judgement of a minotaur not just innocent, but, in some aspects, a hero who helped us take the death cult down?!"
"Wow, she can really draw in a crowd," Strong Courage muttered.
"You have no idea," Rarity replied.
The ponies all looked to Kerchek, who still seemed to be quite nervous. It was clear the ponies were all thinking very hard on what decision to make. Several still looked angry and had a desire to take out their aggression on the minotaur. Their vote was outweighed by the bigger majority that softened their faces into smiles, their angry fighting stances shifting into normal pony posture. Some even thanked Kerchek for the part he played with others expressing greater gratitude.
One mare actually hugged Kerchek and kissed him on the cheek. The few that still didn't want Kerchek around remained quiet and slowly slunk away. As they remembered what Twilight said about the minotaur cult being gone, the ponies actually all started to cheer, applaud, and celebrate all over again. There were laughs, some ponies even broke into song while others danced. Eventually it turned into a huge party of a celebration in the town of Seaside Hoof.
The Mane Six, TJ, his family, and Kerchek looked on happily. A few kids actually ran up and pulled Kerchek over, insisting he join the celebration. Kerchek gave his pony friends a nervous look, but they gave him supportive smiles that inspired him to go ahead and join in.
"This is... the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," Moon Bright said with tears of joy.
"Second for me," Strong Courage said as he looked to his wife.
The married couple then shared a kiss. They jumped in surprise when they were interrupted by Pinkie Pie jumping over them as she screamed, "Defeating the minotaurs party!"
They watched as Pinkie Pie jumped into the crowd laughing all the way as she joined in the fun antics. Several of the other ponies looked to each other before wordlessly agreeing to join in the celebration. Twilight Sparkle and TJ smiled on as they hung back and watched the fantastic scene play out. They then turned and gazed deeply into each other's eyes.
"So... tell me, TJ... how could it get any better than this?" Twilight Sparkle asked.
"Well..." TJ said, "I can think of one way."
"Oh, you can, can you?" Twilight Sparkle asked as she stared affectionately at TJ, her eyes and smile telling a whole story. "Why don't you show me?"
TJ seemed a little nervous at first, but another look into Twilight's almost seductive eyes made everything else fade away. All that remained was how much TJ cared for Twilight Sparkle and how much he wanted to show her he cared. Slowly TJ moved in with Twilight following suit soon after. Their eyes started to close being open only the slightest bit as their lips got closer.
"Twilight!" Fluttershy called out.
It was like the tires of a car were screeching to a halt as TJ and Twilight opened their eyes. They nearly collided with each other as they tried to quickly pull away and make themselves look as casual as possible. Fluttershy, Muse, and Rarity came running up to them.
"Twilight, we're starting to worry about Godzilla and Anguirus!" Fluttershy said.
Twilight Sparkle and TJ's eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh, my gosh!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed. "We completely forgot about them!"
"Exactly!" Rarity cried out. "We left them on that mountain alone!"
"We didn't even bother to check on them!" Fluttershy said. "I'm worried sick!"
"So am I, Twilight," Muse said. "We were so happy about beating the minotaurs we didn't even bother to try and find out what happened between Godzilla and Anguirus, and those other two monsters."
"Calm down, calm down, everypony!" Twilight Sparkle said. "Now we do know they were pretty much in control of the fight the last time we saw them. Heck, they even killed Hedorah."
"They did?!" TJ and Muse asked together.
"Yes, they did," Twilight Sparkle confirmed. "And I'm willing to bet they beat Solomon, too."
"How can we be sure?" Rarity asked. "There's a chance these ponies could still be in danger if that monster hasn't been defeated yet."
"Well, we'll see about that," Twilight Sparkle said. "I'll just use the Alpha Stone to help me see how things are going with Godzilla and Anguirus. Fluttershy, if everything's good and they beat Solomon, you call them back here, okay?"
"Absolutely," Fluttershy said.
"What if they haven' yet?" Muse asked. "What if they're still fighting Solomon. What if... they're actually..."
"Muse, come on," TJ said. "You really think a glorified bat-gorilla thing could beat Godzilla and Anguirus together?"
The young alicorn thought about it for a moment before nodding her head.
"I guess I can see your point," Muse finally replied.
"At a girl," TJ said with a beam. "But seriously, Twilight, what if they haven't beaten him yet?"
"Well... let's hope we haven't exceeded the stone's power yet then," Twilight Sparkle replied.
Before she could do anything the whole ground started to quake. It came suddenly and got very violent very fast. Many ponies had to struggle to stay on their hooves.
"What is this?!" Rarity screamed. "What's happening?!"
"The volcano!" TJ and Muse screamed together.
The group looked up and saw nothing but blackness blotting out the sky. It soon covered every spot high above, leaving no blue skies or any white clouds to be seen. The ponies all followed it back to the source, which was as TJ and Muse had said. Of all the things shaking on the island, the volcano was by far the most violent.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Twilight Sparkle said, not even bothering to try and hide the worry in her voice.