And now, the conclusion of 'A Canterlot Reunion'. Please, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I, Lord Genesis Shadow, do hereby state that I do not own the rights to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
…
"Dad, wake up." I said. "Dad?" I pushed his shoulder and he didn't get up while Spike jogged in with a moist washcloth. He put it on dad's forehead, and he groaned.
"Mr. Stormrider?" Spike asked. "Are you okay?"
"M-my head…" He said tiredly. "What, who are you?"
"My name's Spike." He said. "Are you okay?"
"I think so." Dad said as he got up, while I stood to the side. "What happened? I remember, someone at the door, and then, I think I passed out and, was dreaming… I dreamt that, my son came home."
"He did." Spike said, pointing at me. Dad looked at me as I adjusted my glasses, fighting my nerves, but still shaking a little bit. As he stared, I held my hoof out slightly.
"It's me." I said. "I'm, Ace."
"But, it's been, it's been eleven years now." He said. "Wh-where have you been?"
"Around." I said. "I, I flew away and, joined Horatio Cloudrunner's Travelling Circus. I remembered how much you didn't care for shows that wouldn't be dedicated to one crowd, and had to go around just to be known at all." He put his hoof to his forehead, and slowly lowered it.
"Why?" He asked. "Eleven years, I've wondered, why you'd run away. You never asked for anything, I, I thought you were happy. What made you leave?" I was silent for a moment, but didn't look away.
"Ace, it's now or never." Spike said. "I know the others aren't here, but you've got me." I nodded as dad looked from me to Spike, and then back to me.
"I ran away, because, you pushed me too hard, too often." I said. "And, you never once, told me that I did a good job." His expression softened considerably, and I saw regret and more than a little sorrow. "It was always, do this better, make those turns sharper, tighten your rolls, speed up those spins, land harder, take off faster… Like everything I did, I was doing it wrong. It, nearly ruined my confidence." I looked at my hooves. "For two years, I was a member of the circus, doing this and that, until I settled on being, a tightrope walker." I looked at him. "But really, it's only, been about eight months since we've seen each other."
"What do you, I mean, how?" He asked.
"Shades O'Gray is, a nickname my friend Sky came up with." I said. "It, fit my coat and a mask, so I, turned it into an alias." He seemed in thought before raising a hoof. "I know, stupid thing to do, but, things had been changing so much during that time, I'd made new friends, and, it ended up earning me an invite to the gala, and I figured, if I was going to ever have any nerve at all for myself, staying behind would put that day off for years…"
"But, why didn't you say anything then?" He asked. "If I had known it was you, I…" I nodded. "I don't know, how I would have taken it."
"You passed out when I proved that I'm me." I said. "It's good I did this now and not then. Think of the scene it would have caused." He laughed quietly. "Jet Setter would have had a long story to tell her friends at the beauty parlors for months, considering her travel schedule." We all laughed as I sat down. "And, besides that, I felt… I thought you were no better than those, bullies. You called them my friends, but, they teased me, made fun of me, they even took a lot of my birthday and Hearth's Warming presents if they weren't books." He put his hoof to his mouth. "I tried to tell you, but after the third time of hearing 'colts will be colts', I figured it was just easier for me to, keep my mouth shut and let you talk to your friends. Better that than be treated like I was playing a game when I was, getting picked on."
"I, I'm sorry…" He said. "It was, like that for me, too, when I was young. I was small for my age until I eventually grew to be, big, but I was picked on for being short, and scrawny, and I… I guess I figured, it'd make you stronger for it, like it did for me. I learned to stand up for myself and make sure they wouldn't pick on me anymore, but… I guess I'd forgotten that it was all because my dad built me up to be brave and strong… All I did was build you up to be fast. Running, and flying… That's all I'd ever taught you, and that you didn't think you could count on me." Spike walked over.
"He's gotten a lot better since he left." He said. "Ace has made a lot of friends since he settled down in Ponyville." Dad seemed surprised. "Heck, the whole town treats him well, and the only time they comment on his wings, they always say how it must be nice to be so unique, or that they must be really strong so he can fly fast… And he can." He turned to me. "I'm proud to call him my friend. He's there for me when I'm having trouble stocking the shelves at the library, and he's always willing to lend a few bits if I can't afford the leftover gems and rare stones at the jewelry store."
"Ace, wh-when you, were pretending to be Shades O'Gray, you said something." Dad said suddenly. "You said you were waiting for your friends, the, the girls that embody the Elements of Harmony." I nodded. "That, wasn't a lie, was it? Part of the disguise?"
"Heck no." Spike said. "They're his best friends, me too!" I put my hoof on Spike's head and he laughed.
"He's telling the truth." I said. "They're my closest friends. For ten years I closed myself off for the most part. I did make a friend in Horatio's daughter, Sky, and we're as close as brother and sister since he raised both of us. He, didn't even act like I was adopted or anything, he treated me like I was his own feathers and blood. But when I met Twilight and her new friends, things just sort of, kept pushing me into doing stuff with them, and eventually I became a friend to each of them." I laughed quietly. "It wasn't much, at first, but as time went on, I showed them my wings, and they weren't afraid, and they didn't make fun of me. When I finally showed the town by not wearing my cloak, I finally felt like I was, somewhere that finally seemed like a home. I think, I was meant to live in Ponyville, it just took sixteen long years to get there." Dad smiled as I set my hoof on the ground.
"Well, all things considered, I…" He started. "I'm just happy you're alive, healthy, and, happy." He walked over and hugged me with his wings, and I returned the gesture while Spike moved out of the way.
"And I just wish Twilight and the others could be here." Spike said. "That was the plan."
"They, were going to come here?" Dad asked as he stepped back. "If we'd have gotten a letter, we'd have prepared for guests, a nice dinner, even rooms if it got too late."
"Well, they will be at the wedding." I said. "I'm sure they'd all be happy to meet you. I know Pinkie Pie wanted to throw a small party, though she'd wait until she wasn't working on the reception." He smiled a little before turning.
"Say, your mother's in the study, she and…" He started. His expression went blank and he stared blankly at a wall above me for a moment.
"Dad?" I asked.
"That's right, it's been, eleven years, you wouldn't have…" He started. "I think you should wait here while I go ahead. I'll make sure it won't be that big of a surprise to see you… You might want to hang your cloak up." He trotted away and I looked at Spike after a few seconds.
"Was he always like that?" He asked.
"No, no he wasn't." I said. "Usually, that was the last thing I'd see of him, looking confused and out of place." I turned and began walking and set my cloak on a hook. "This is uncharted territory, Spike. Prepare for rough waters." He hopped on my back and patted my shoulder.
"Hey, with your trusty dragon companion, we'll be ready for anything." He said. I turned and saw mom walking in, and she stared at me for a moment, as if she couldn't believe her eyes. I just smiled. She was just like I remembered, dark gray coat, short midnight blue mane in gentle curls, and wine red eyes. "Uh, hello, Mrs. Lightstrider." She looked at him and I saw a brief bit of excitement in a smile, but she managed to contain herself, unlike Fluttershy, from what Twilight had told me. "It's really him." He laughed nervously as she slowly walked over, before putting her head on my shoulder and moving one foreleg around me while I did the same. Spike hopped down until she let go of me and looked at me.
"You've gotten so tall." She said. "And your mane looks like it's been really taken care of, unlike when you were a little colt." I laughed quietly, lowering my head a little. "But I can just tell that you've never lost your dedication to learning, nor have you been afraid to fly."
"O-once in a while, for the last ten years, and, more recently thanks to my friends." I said.
"And is this young dragon one such friend?" She asked.
"Go ahead, mom, I know how much you've wanted to meet a dragon." I said. "And Spike likes attention."
"It's true, I like meeting new ponies and talking to them about myself and my past." He said. Mom laughed.
"I'll get to you in a little while, young dragon, and I have a big bowl of green emeralds for you." She said. "And I'm sure there are a few amethysts you should enjoy." He smiled as she looked at me. "But now, now my son is finally home, after eleven long years… I never gave up hope that I'd see you again." She hugged me again, and I moved my wings a little as I hugged her as well. "There's so much I want to ask, and so much you need to learn."
"M-mom?" A soft female voice asked. I slowly looked as mom stepped back, and I saw a young mare in a familiar cloak, with a silver coat on her legs and face.
"Ace, I know this will be a surprise…" Mom said. Dad gently guided the mare over. She had oval brass rimmed glasses, and eyes that were almost as bright red as my own. "To both of you. Ace, this, is your little sister, Gale Stormrider. Gale, this is your big brother, Ace." I stared before dad made Gale lower her hood. She was a Unicorn, but apart from the horn, she was almost a younger, feminine version of me.
"Whoa…" Spike said quietly. Gale seemed ready to cry, but I walked over, looking at her. "I didn't know Ace had a sister."
"Neither did he." Dad said. "Kerri was going to tell us the day Ace flew away. She just had her tenth birthday not too long ago." He moved his wing over her and she seemed to calm down. "And, she's been a shy little girl her whole life so far. I guess knowing that Ace ran away did something to her confidence, because up to the day we told her, she'd been confident, and wanted to make friends. Then, she just, began focusing on her studies, around what you would have, had I… Well…"
"I-it's, nice to, finally meet you." Gale said, bowing. I returned the bow.
"And it's very nice to meet you, Gale." I said. As I stood, she seemed somewhat relieved, but she made an odd squeaking sound when I hugged her with my wings.
"She's like a mini-Ace, with a horn." Spike said. "Does she have wings?"
"No, she never had to endure what Ace did." Dad said. "And now, I'm more thankful than ever. I didn't want to worry about having another child running away without me ever finding out why. I'll admit, I've been overly watchful, but, I've never had reason to worry. Apart from being shy, she's happy to be here with us." I moved back and Gale smiled, and we adjusted our glasses in perfect sync.
"I, owe you all the story of why I ran, and where I've been." I said. "It, may take a while, so, I suppose I should get started."
"Hey, I've got an idea." Spike said. We looked at him. "The girls wanted to be a part of this, so…"
"The, girls?" Mom asked.
"Yeah, um, it's later on when I met them, but I have a lot of friends lately." I said. "Six of them, are Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie, the, six mares that embody the Elements of Harmony." Mom put her hoof to her mouth.
"You, you're one of the friends, of Princess Celestia's apprentice?" She asked. I nodded and Gale made a quiet noise of joy.
"I'm Twilight's personal assistant." Spike said. "Her number one assistant, in fact." I leaned in toward my family.
"For a time he formed a rivalry with Twilight's pet owl, Owlowiscious." I said quietly. "They're friends now, but there are times when he and Owlowiscious get into staring matches. It's never pretty, but it's always funny." They laughed as we turned back to Spike, and he had a small smirk.
"Anyway, my point is, we came here with a mission from the princess, herself." Spike said. "Well, Ace did, I was here for emotional support since the girls were working so hard on the wedding, and…"
"Wait, what?" Dad asked.
"Anyway, let's head to the castle." Spike said. "The girls are going to have dinner in the courtyard, and that way you can meet them, they can meet you, and we'll all get to learn more about what makes Ace, Ace."
…
"Wow…" Gale said quietly as I sipped the last of my apple juice. Rainbow laughed quietly with Pinkie while Applejack and Fluttershy smiled. Rarity seemed deep in thought while Twilight raised her hoof.
"I have to say, I'm, more than impressed." Dad said. "Wow. Taking on Discord… I was wondering what was going on, up until the princesses told us all, but, to think, now we know the whole story."
"Except how Discord was released." Applejack said.
"Actually, I found that out the other day." I said. "I guess Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were too scared to admit that they were arguing during a class field trip to the gardens." Rarity stared as she snapped out of her thoughts.
"My Sweetie Belle?" She asked. "My dear little sister, unleashed Discord?!"
"With the help of my little sister." Applejack said. We all laughed.
"Still, to think that my big brother stood up to Discord, alone…" Gale said quietly. "M-maybe, I don't have to be so… So introverted."
"So intro-what?" Pinkie asked.
"Introverted, it's like, you don't like to meet ponies, or talk to them, ever." Twilight explained. Gale nodded, smiling a little.
"Well, it wasn't so much that I wanted to, and if I'd had a choice…" I said, stopping at the end. "Well, I guess I still would have at least yelled at him."
"And you even saw Magic Vulpines." Mom said. "That's a rare treat these days among scholars, just to meet them, and play with them. You managed to find a whole village."
"I, well, it wasn't me that found it." I said. "I just, figured starting a light rain would cool things down for the animals. I had no idea that it would have been such an issue with the locals. It wasn't even me that figured it out."
"Regardless, it must have been fun." Dad said. "And now we know where a village of them is located, so we can go and see what they're like."
"Maybe, this fall." Mom said thoughtfully. "Truly, the only reason I've been such a shut in is because I've been planning on publishing a number of texts and tomes on spells of varying schools, including one on using magic to transform ordinary stones into gems and crystals." Spike sat up in time with Rarity.
"Oh, my, that would be quite the spell." She said. "I could certainly make use of it with a number of pebbles, shaped properly, to make exquisite lapels and buttons for any number of outfits."
"I'm so happy you've made such good friends." Mom said. "And that you're okay, and, even proud of your wings now." I smiled, blushing a little as I shifted my wings.
"And I know I can speak for all of us when I say it's a true honor to meet you." Twilight said. "I know you must have heard it a million times, but, I'm probably one of your biggest fans, a devotee of your skill and talent with spells." Mom smiled.
"And I am one of your fans, Miss Sparkle." She said. "That you were able to become Celestia's student at such a young age, you must have done something truly amazing. I suppose you know I was once a student, but I was one of five, a group that showed remarkable prowess above the average Unicorns of our generation. I ended up being the only one patient enough, and even then, I learned all I could and set about making my own spells from time to time. If I had been your age, I can only imagine how much more I could have learned." Twilight blushed, smiling. "It's safe to say that you, Miss Rarity, and Ace are going to get advance copies."
"O-oh no, we couldn't ask you to put us ahead of anyone else." Twilight said.
"No, no, it's nothing special." Mom said. "After all, and I'm sure Ace has said it at least once, as has Mr. Papyrus, books are…"
"Knowledge made solid so it can be shared." Mom, Gale, dad, and I said together. We all laughed.
"I'd like to share these spells a little early with my son, and his dear friends." Mom said. "Though, if I'm right about you, Miss Rarity, your specialization is in fashion, and things related to it, so I'll make a special one just for you."
"I will treasure it, Mrs. Lightstrider." Rarity said.
"Say, Ace, you said you were at the house to invite us to the wedding, didn't you?" Dad said suddenly. I nodded. "Well, in all the haste, I think we left that at the house." We both laughed as mom looked over.
"That's right." I said. "Mom, I, I was sent by Princess Celestia to invite you to the royal wedding of Shining Armor and Princess Cadenza." She seemed in thought. "It extends to the whole family, I'm sure."
"Goodness, I don't know…" Mom said. "Gale gets quite lonely when I leave her alone… She's still so young, and I don't want to leave her to be hungry and alone."
"I, I'll go." Gale said. "If Ace is going to be there, I, I can go to." Mom looked at her. "I'm old enough to take care of myself… I, I need to start, being like my big brother." I smiled.
"I tell ya, it's in your blood, sugarcube." AJ said. "From what I've seen of Ace, bravery runs in the family. Lookin' at your dad, I'm even more sure o' that. If you put your mind to it, you'll be every bit as brave as both of 'em together." Dad smiled as mom laughed into her hoof, and Gale sat up slightly taller.