And here's the final chapter of this Book. Nothing major, really… unless you count the wrapping up of a family-related plotline.

PLEASE SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR MOST DISCLAIMERS

PLEASE READ & REVIEW, AND TEND TO THE TROPE & CHARACTER PAGES

-CHAPTER START-

Ponyville

Next Day After Previous Chapter's End – 12:15 PM

Two young earth-pony mares walked down the main street of town, taking in the sights. They were sisters; one of them was 19, the other 17. The older one had a grey mane & tail, dark grey coat, and brown eyes, and her Cutie Mark was a sculpture of a pony. The young one had dark grey mane & tail, a light-grey coat, and purple eyes, and her Cutie Mark was a paintbrush and color palette. They had left home together around a decade ago as children, mainly to get away from their father whose narrow-minded stubbornness had cost them their sister – something they had never forgiven him or their mother for. They'd wandered the country, always together and looking out for each other. They'd been fortunate; many a kind family had taken them in along the way, sometimes for months at a time.

"Is it time for lunch yet, sis?" the younger asked.

"Sure" the older replied. "But where to eat? …Hey, look at that place; it looks like a giant gingerbread house!"

"Sugarcube Corner…" the younger read the sign on the front. "A bakery and sweets shop? Sounds good! I'll go get us something!"

Meanwhile, five of the Harmony-Element Bearers talked about various things as they helped themselves to a snack, while Pinkie Pie bustled about between the front counter and the kitchen, helping Mr. & Mrs. Cake move freshly-made goods out to display. Her ears perked up as she heard the front door swing open.

"Customer!" she cried, emerging in the main area within seconds. "Hi, welcome to Sugarcube Corner! How can I… help…y-you…"

Pinkie's speech faded away, smile becoming an expression of muted shock, eyes wide as she stared at the familiar pony before her. After a few seconds, the newcomer realized who she was looking at, impossible as it seemed to her.

"…Inkie?" Pinkie whispered.

"Pi…" Isabella "Inkie" Pie squeaked, barely audible. "Pinkamena? You're… You're alive?"

"…Yeah" A tiny smile formed on Pinkie's face. "It's me, sis."

Inkie's eyes quickly began to fill with tears. "It's really you… Y-You're alive… All this time, we… we all thought you were dead… That you'd died somewhere out in the wastelands after you ran away from home… But you're here… You're alive…"

Pinkie slowly walked up to her younger sibling, smiling at her and placing a comforting hoof on her shoulder. That did it; Inkie lunged into her arms, hugging her as tightly as she could, and began bawling. Pinkie held her little sister close, a few tears falling from her own eyes as Inkie sobbed and cried, nuzzling into her neck. After several seconds, the doors swung open as the other traveler burst in.

"Inkie?" Bellamina "Blinkie" Pie cried out with concern. "I heard you crying. What's… wrong… Oh, by the goddess… P-Pinkamena? Is that you?"

"Hi, Blinkie" Pinkie said, still holding Inkie, who was still sniffling and sobbing in her embrace, overcome with emotion. Pinkie, quite frankly, wanted nothing more than to join in, but she was Inkie's big sister, so she felt obligated to try and keep it together for her. …This was rendered moot when Blinkie joined in the hug, crying and nuzzling Pinkie, who promptly gave in and allowed her own tears of joy to fall, the trio collapsing into a ball of overjoyed sisterly affection.

"This isn't a dream" Blinkie said softly. "You're really alive. We found you. We thought you were dead! For so long, we've mourned you, Pinkie! W-We never forgave father and mother for what their actions led to. We left home only about a year after you did; we just couldn't stand living under the same roof as them anymore. We… I-I've got my other little sister back! I can't believe this is really happening! We've got you back!"

"I h-have two big sisters again!" Inkie cried. "I have both Sissy-Pies again!"

The reunited sisters spent a few more minutes like this, holding each other close. Eventually, they slowly broke apart.

"Inkie… Blinkie… There are a few ponies I want to introduce you to." Pinkie turned their attention to the other five Element-Bearers, who were smiling warmly; Fluttershy and Rarity were wiping away happy-tears from the touching reunion. "These are Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack. They're my best, closest friends in the whole wide world."

"Pinkie's a joy to have around" Applejack said. "And it sounds like she means as much to you two as she does to us. So we're glad you've found her again."

Pinkie then gestured to Mr. and Mrs. Cake, who were looking on with joy. "And this is Cup Cake and Carrot Cake" Pinkie said. "It turns out that, when I wandered into the wastes, I accidentally pulled of a Leyline Jump that took me here to Ponyville. They found me half-dead, took me in, nursed me back to health, and… gave me the love that our parents never really gave me."

"For all intents and purposes, she's our daughter now" Mr. Cake said proudly. "And we've loved and cherished every moment we've had her."

"I'm glad that she still has other family who love her" Mrs. Cake said. "…You girls said you've been on your own since about a year after Pinkie left her birthplace?"

"Well, not entirely alone" Blinkie replied. "We've had each other, and there have been lots of nice families who've helped us out for stretches of time. We never stayed for very long, though."

"Well…" Mr. Cake said. "How would you like to change that? Ponyville is a very homey and welcoming place; you could live here if you'd like!"

Pinkie made a happy-gasp. "That's a great idea!" she chimed in. "We could be together for good now, and my friends could become your friends, too!"

"Well…" Inkie sniffled. "We don't exactly have anywhere else to go. …Whaddya say, sis?"

"It… It actually sounds like a really nice idea" Blinkie said after a moment's thought. "It'd be nice to finally settle down in one place."

Pinkie's grin got bigger. "Great!" she squealed. "And there are some more friends I've got to introduce you to, like Trixie and the Crusaders and Spike and Pinka…"

-SCENE BREAK-

Next Day – Day of Departure

11:45 AM

The mood was bittersweet. In just a few hours, Teana and company would be leaving Equestria, traveling to take part in the meeting of coalitions elsewhere in space-time. They'd assured the girls that this would not, by any means, be the last time they saw each other, but the girls had gotten used to having them all around, so not seeing them all the time would definitely take some getting used to. A farewell sendoff was being planned, with parting gifts readied.

The Pie sisters were having a 'family outing' with the Cakes, a lunch at the park. Inkie and Blinkie had already started to grow on Pinkie's surrogate parents, and Mrs. Cake found herself mothering them now and then, which they actually kinda liked. Also, yesterday evening's explanation and introduction of 'Pinka' was something that Inkie & Blinkie were still trying to wrap their heads around, but they were okay with it once they started getting used to the idea.

Unbeknownst to the happy family, however, two older ponies, visitors from far away, had spotted and recognized them. They had heard the news lately, about the six ponies from a town in the shadow of Canterlot who'd purified Nightmare Moon, scared off an Ignis Dragon, pushed back a Parasprite infestation, and other incredible feats. One of the six heroines in particular, they had been very shocked to learn the identity of one of them. Now, they'd traveled a great deal to try and rectify their old mistakes. The stallion had a tan coat and shaded gray mane & tail, with a pickaxe for a Mark, while his wife had light-grey fur, gray-green mane & tail (the former done up in a tight bun), a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, and three rocks for a Cutie Mark.

"They she is" he said softly. "There they all are. All three of them…"

"She looks… so happy. …I'll bet those other two are the ones who took her in."

"…This is probably not going to go well."

"We have to do it, dear" she insisted. "We have to at least try."

"Right… Right. Here we go."

The picnicking semi-family looked up at the sound of hoofsteps approaching them. Upon seeing who it was, the sisters went rigid; Pinkie turned a little pale, and her mane near-totally deflated. Inkie broke the silence:

"F-Father… Mother…"

Upon hearing this, Carrot & Cup Cake suppressed gasps of shock, remembering everything they'd been told. Carrot scowled and got to his feet, walking between the girls; Pinkie and Inkie moved back a little, partially hiding behind him and Blinkie. He and Mr. Pie stared at each other for several seconds.

"I take it you and your wife are the ones who took the girls in" Mr. Pie said.

"Actually," Mr. Cake replied, "Inkie and Blinkie only showed up in town just yesterday. They and Pinkie are still catching up on everything. But Pinkie… Well, we've had her ever since we found her, the night she left your dwelling and stumbled upon a natural Leyline Gateway in the wastelands outside your property. She was a complete wreck, physically and emotionally; it took a great deal of love and care to get her healthy again."

"…You've been better parents to her than we ever could have" Mr. Pie admitted, surprising the sisters.

"Pinkamena…" Mrs. Pie spoke up. "We've wronged you grievously. All of you, actually."

"I… did a lot of thinking after you girls left" Mr. Pie said. "The reality of what we'd done… what I'd done sank in. It all but destroyed me. I hurt you. I stomped on your Special Talent, tried to make you into something you weren't meant to be. I did things that no father should ever do. I don't know if it means anything to you at this point, but… we're so, so sorry."

"…I…" Pinkie's voice cracked as emotions raged within her.

"We wanted to know if… if we could start over" Mrs. Pie said. "Make up for our mistakes. Please?"

Pinkie looked to her sisters.

"It's your call, sis" Blinkie said. "Whatever you decide, we'll support you."

"The same goes for us" Mrs. Cake added.

Pinkie was silent for a long, long time; for well over a minute, the only noise was the wind.

"I know that the mature thing to do would be to say yes" Pinkie said softly. "To bury the hatchet, accept apologies, and mend ties."

A spark of hope swelled in Mr. & Mrs. Pie's hearts.

"But…"

And then it began to die away.

"But I… I can't. I just… can't do that."

And then it faded out completely.

"After all that you did to me… The ways you hurt me, and stood back & let me suffer… Everything you said and did… I just… can't forgive you. It still hurts way too much. I still… hate you for it. I cannot forgive you. …Please… leave. Just… go, back to your home. Leave me alone. I… I don't ever want to see either of you again, for as long as I live. You're not my mother and father anymore. …You never were."

Mrs. Pie choked back a sob, her heart breaking, while her husband bowed his head, utterly defeated and lost. "V-Very well" he croaked out. "We'll… be on our way now. …Goodbye, Pinkamena. I'm sorry that it had to end this way."

With that, the broken couple turned around and slowly, sadly walked away. The group watched them as they left, until they disappeared from view altogether. Pinkie felt Mrs. Cake embrace her from behind, and she couldn't hold back the sob that came out as she turned around and hugged the older mare.

"It's alright, sweetie" Cup whispered. "I'm here. …Mommy's here."

"T-Thank you…" Pinkie whimpered out. "Mama…"

-SCENE BREAK-

Aboard the Starshot

Same Day – 4:10 PM

Teana sat on her bed in her quarters, looking at a vid-screen showing the town of Ponyville from above, shrinking as the Starshot ascended through the atmosphere. The touching send-off that the inhabitants of Ponyville had given them would remain in her memory for a long, long time. They had been given a fair number of gifts from their equine friends – a few spellbooks from Twilight, some exquisitely designed and very comfortable outfits from Rarity, a beautiful painting of Capital Mountain at sunrise from Inkie and Fluttershy, and Theta Team had received 'Crusader Capes' from the three fillies, recognizing them as honorary members even though all except Mariko already had their Marks when in pony form. Trixie had promised to continue the chakra training regimen that Teana had laid out for her, while her mother and siblings had sworn to continue building up Trixie's self-confidence, hoping to maybe someday break down the psychosomatic block on her magic and get her Cutie Mark back.

It wasn't like it was goodbye forever. They would most definitely be coming back for a visit within the next few months, if Teana had anything to say about it. For now, though, she laid back, splaying out on her bed and letting the climate-controlled cool air from the ceiling A/C vents wash over her. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of anticipatory excitement – a whole new coalition of multiple factions was out there, and soon they were going to meet the coalition that she belonged to. What new allies awaited them? Only time would tell…

In the space above the planet, time-space rippled, and a bluish-black rift in reality formed. The Starshot flew in, and the rift closed, leaving a faint ripple that only briefly distorted the light from distant stars.

-BOOK 15 END-

And that's that. Look for Book 16 – Convergence – in the "Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha and X-Overs" crossover section. It may take a little while, but it'll most likely be out before the end of the month. Until then…