[Final Chapter: An Ever After]
[Start of a New day: 0 days remaining]
The world finally took shape. When Lapistoria's vision became clear, she found herself standing in the middle of her room in the northern tower. She open the room's window to have a look outside, and saw something that she hasn't seen since she got here. Cloudsdale was on the sky with some pegasus, clearing out the clouds for a clear spring. Not only that, the Royal Guards are finally roaming around the castle.
The season was spring as said previously, probably around five days after winter. Lapistoria couldn't believe how different Equestria is already. It is almost like a dream.
Lapistoria: (Wow... What a strange feeling...)
The young filly wanted to fly and look around more, but she suddenly realized she wasn't a pegasus anymore. Even if she was, she can't go on wasting the little time she has here, she needed to find the princesses and Spike.
Lapistoria: (I need to go find them... Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Spike. I hope you're here...)
Lapistoria ran out of the tower, sprinting through the hallways like if she was being chased by a ghost. While running, some guards took notice of her, and started chasing her. The filly's run ended at the garden, as most guards were blocking all of the places she wanted to go.
Lapistoria: (Where are they!? WHERE ARE THEY!?)
Desperation started to pile up, she doesn't know how much time she has until she disappears. While contemplating her predicament, two guards came up to her to escort her out. They didn't took her seriously because she was a filly, neither did the other guards once they saw those two chasing her. They finally catch her, and were ready to kick her out.
Royal Guard: Alright, play time is over, time to go out.
Lapistoria: W-Wait! I need to talk to the princesses for a bit!
Royal Guard: Everypony does, come on...
Lapistoria: (No, I'm gonna disappear before seeing them! I'm so weak right now, I can't even go through the castle properly! Please... PLEASE!!!) PRINCESS CELESTIA!!!
"Hold on for a moment"
The guards heard a voice behind them, it sounded like a stallion. The guards look back to see a blue mane, white unicorn stallion. When Lapistoria saw him, she was at a major loss for words. The stallion standing there was Prince Shining Armor, alive and well. The little filly didn't knew why he was there, but she's glad he was after he said this...
Shining Armor: Lapistoria... Correct?
Lapistoria: Y-You recognize me...?
Shining Armor: Guards, put her down, she's with me.
The Royal Guards obey their superior, and left the young filly in the care of Shining Armor. As they left, Lapistoria just couldn't believe what she was seeing. She wanted to speak with him, she wanted to know...
Shining Armor: Huh...? I thought you were a pegasus?
Lapistoria: I thought you were dead...?
Shining Armor: I know, but one day I woke up like if it was all a dream. Did you actually did it? Is Galaxy gone for good?
Lapistoria: Yes, he's gone, and we'll never see him again... But...
Lapistoria didn't had the guts to bring up her short time here, she wanted to only say goodbye. The filly push aside her fears, and ask Shining Armor to bring her to the princesses.
Lapistoria: Can you take me to Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Spike?
Shining Armor: Of course, that's why I'm here for. We've been searching for you for a long time now.
Lapistoria: A "long time?" What do you mean? I just defeated Dark Matter a few minutes ago?
Shining Armor: Lapistoria, you've been gone for five days.
Lapistoria: FIVE DAYS!?
Spike: LAPIS!!!
Lapistoria: !!!
Immediately recognizing the voice of Spike, Lapistoria look around to see no dragon in sight. With no option but to look up, she saw the little dragon descending from the sky. He now had wings, which surprised Lapistoria. It was astonishing how he soar through the air so happily, Equestria truly challenged a lot.
The moment Spike touch land, he quickly ran to give Lapistoria a hug. The filly hug him back, and when they separated, Spike point out the obvious about Lapistoria...
Spike: What happened to you? You're not an alicorn mare anymore?
Lapistoria: I lost my powers while fighting Dark Matter. But those things don't matter anymore, I can totally live with this.
Spike: Really...? Even at the cost of your wings?
Lapistoria: Yes, and seeing you the way you are now makes it all worth it. It doesn't feel like my powers were strip away, especially after witnessing how Equestria has changed.
Shining Armor: Not changed... revived... It is almost as if Galaxy never came.
As Lapistoria, Shining Armor, and Spike admire Cloudsdale's presence in the sky, they felt some ponies approaching. The three turn their backs to see the four princesses of Equestria. Princesses Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, and Princess Twilight. The moment Lapistoria saw the Princess of Friendship, the filly unconsciously flinch after remembering their bad moments.
That behavior wasn't overlooked by the princess, it made Twilight feel ashamed. But before she could make amends, Princess Luna ran up to Lapistoria to give her a hug.
Lapistoria: P-Princess Luna!
Luna: I'm sorry... If I hadn't opened that ring box I...
Lapistoria: "Ring box?"
Celestia: It had to do with Galaxy controlling us. He used magic from the Crystal Heart to possess us with engagement rings. My sister is apologizing for falling to that trick.
Lapistoria: So that's why Dark Matter was on the Crystal Empire!
Cadence: And I was the one who provided him with the gems to make those rings. You deserve an apology from me as well.
Lapistoria: Are you kidding? As if you need to apologize to begin with! I'm just happy everypony's safe!
Twilight: ...
The purple alicorn was walking closer to Lapistoria, who was still in the embrace of Princess Luna. Lapistoria saw her approaching, wondering what she was going to say. However, she should have instead wonder what she was going to do. With no warning, Twilight bow down, perplexing the young filly...
Twilight: HOW COULD YOU BARE WITH US!?
Lapistoria: !!!
Twilight: Those days, I remember them clearly. The day Galaxy beat you up, the day we almost killed you with the Elements of Harmony, and the fights you had with our... GRH! OUR DAUGHTERS!!! HOW!? Just... *Sob*
Twilight was braking down. Spike, Cadence, and Shining Armor went to comfort her, but that only seems to be exasperating her emotions.
Twilight: *Sob* How can we expect you to forgive us...? *Hiccup* I'm utterly *Sob* ashamed!
Lapistoria: Princess Luna, you can let go now.
Luna: Sorry...
Lapistoria walk in front of Twilight, asking her nicely to lift her head. The princess did so, but she couldn't bare looking at her due to her awful memories. Lapistoria knew the regret everypony was feeling, even Celestia although she's hiding it pretty well. A simple "apology accepted" doesn't sound like it will cleanse their shame, Lapistoria needed to make them realize that they should have never apologized to begin with.
And so, she engraved to them her own regretful actions...
Lapistoria: Princess Twilight, I murdered you all...
Shining Armor/Spike/Cadence: !!!
Celestia/Luna/Twilight: !!!
Lapistoria: Ironic isn't it? It wasn't even Dark Matter. So why apologize when I was the conduit to Equestria's destruction? I became evil to destroy an even greater evil, but I took that spot due to my deplorable emotions.
Celestia: If you were actually evil, Equestria would have never come back.
The Princess of the Sun interject on Lapistoria's way of thinking. It didn't sound nice how the little filly disregarded the regret of others, just because her own regrets were bigger. Emphasis in "were", because now Equestria is safe, which means there is no point in regretting any more. However, Lapistoria insisted...
Lapistoria: Princess Celestia, there was a day you told me you were afraid of me. You hid away the truth about my powers because you were afraid I would turn out like Dark Matter.
Celestia: But you didn't
Lapistoria: YES I DID!!! This affection you're all giving me. What makes you think I'm not controlling you to love me!? I'M A HUMAN!!!
Luna: Then why are you making us doubt?
Lapistoria: B-Because...?
Spike: Hey, wasn't I the one who told you to destroy the world? Are you really blaming yourself for a suggestion I made?
Lapistoria: Well...
Celestia: Your "evil actions" mean nothing when the end justifies the means. No pony in here sees you the way you think you are, neither do I...
Lapistoria: ...
Celestia got close, and with her hoof she lifted the filly's chin. Lapistoria was lying to herself, there's no way she can force them to love her, they already do, genuinely. After looking at the princess's eyes, Celestia gave her a kind request, one she was sure she will not reject.
Celestia: Lapistoria, do you want to live with us?
Lapistoria: !!!
Cadence: Aww, how sweet!
Twilight: I cannot agree more! After all you've been through, the least we can do is give you a place to call home.
Lapistoria: A place... to call home...
That sounds good for the little filly. To live with them almost like family is something Lapistoria never knew she wanted. As Lapistoria was reaching her hoof to Celestia's face, she suddenly remember the words of the baker.
"I will assure you that if you make another wish, it won't end well for you."
"You still have time to say goodbye. Consider it a gift of mine for the generous tip you gave that other day."
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Lapistoria instead grabbed Celestia's hoof, and gently push it away from her chin. She then turn her back on them, and spoke about what she thinks of them.
Lapistoria: Princess Twilight, I have no ill thoughts about you, I'm not a pony who lingers on the past.
Twilight: !?
Lapistoria: Princess Luna, Thank you for the season talks we spent together on this garden. Even though I was never Lapistoria.
Luna: Uh... sure?
Lapistoria: Prince Shining Armor, I didn't got to know you well at all, but on that brief time I did, I truely sympathize on the things you've lost.
Shining Armor: That's really kind of you.
Lapistoria: Princess Cadence, I never saw you once during my short stay in the Crystal Empire, but I could tell you've suffered a lot on the days it wasn't a Relevant Landmark. For that I'm sorry...
Cadence: I don't mind, besides, I thought we were done apologizing.
Lapistoria: Spike, Oh Spike... We went through some of the most craziest adventures ever. I'll never forget the Cursed Gem Incident. Aside from that, I'm sorry we can't fulfill our promise anymore...
Spike: Our promise...? The one we had after our snow ball fight! What are you-
Lapistoria: And finally, Princess Celestia...
Celestia: ...
Lapistoria: You are right, I'm not like Dark Matter. That is why as much as I want to live with you... I have to decline...
Celestia: But why? There must be another reason why you... y-you...!?
Before Celestia could finish her sentence, sparkles were flying up from where Lapistoria was standing. Naturally they look up, only to see a portal slowly taking away Lapistoria. This turned the slightly confused faces they had into utter horror.
Lapistoria: Sorry Princess Celestia, I didn't came here to stay, I came here to say goodbye.
Celestia: W-Where are you going!?
Lapistoria: I don't know...
Celestia: YOU DON'T KNOW!!!
Twilight: LUNA! CADENCE! SHINING ARMOR!
In quick succession, Twilight and those who she named fired a beam at the portal. The predictable outcome happen, it didn't work. Twilight put together that anything relating to that portal is immune to magic, meaning they can't grab Lapistoria with spells either.
Spike ran up to Lapistoria in an attempt to grab her, but even that didn't work because Lapistoria became intangible. The little dragon was scared out of his mind.
Spike: AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! YOU CAN'T LET IT END LIKE THIS!!! GET OUT OF THERE LAPIS!!!
Lapistoria: It's ok Spike, Equestria is safe, and it will be much better without me.
Spike: SHUT UP!!! HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT WHEN YOU SACRIFICED EVERYTHING TO GET HERE!?
Lapistoria: It's because of what Happy Granny said, remember. The end of my story, a happy... en...ding... *Sob*
Spike turned quiet after the filly gave her first whimper. Lapistoria didn't make a convincing job hiding how she felt. Deep inside she didn't want to go, despite being the one who wilfully made this happen. She felt stupid, like a complete hypocrite, but it matters not whether she felt as such, she was vanishing regardless.
Lapistoria: I d-don't under- *Hiccup* -stand. If this is a happy *Sob* ending? Then why am I c-crying...? *Hiccup* I-... *Gasp* I DON'T WANT TO GO!!!
That scream of denial trigger something within Celestia. She did the same as Spike, trying to hold on to her, but instead of giving up she kept trying. Lapistoria was begging Celestia to stop as it was already inevitable, her words fell on deaf ears.
Lapistoria: Please... Please just stop... I brought this upon myself, and I'll live on with this regret.
Celestia: *Pant* *Pant* Spike is right! *Pant* You went through so much! *Pant* *Pant* YOU CAN'T VANISH HERE!!!
Lapistoria: At least listen to what I have to say. Lean over before I start crying again, this is important.
The young filly finally stopped the princess, and had her listen for a bit. In a soft voice, Lapistoria whisper something to Celestia, which surprised her to the point where everypony witnessing it got a rush if curiosity. However, it was quickly overshadowed by sadness, cause in that moment Lapistoria was taken away by the portal.
The filly was gone, and all they could think about was how awful of an experience she had. It pains them that they couldn't do things right for her in the end.
Spike: How unfair! And right as peace came to Equestria! She saved the world for the sake of ponies that didn't like her, and in return lost absolutely everything...
Luna: It almost feels like if we used her for our own personal gain. Like an unintentional slave helping us deal with something we couldn't deal with ourselves. How disgraceful of us!
Twilight: And while she did everything to save us, my friends and I mocked her against our will and emotions. It makes me sick knowing Galaxy had more fun than her, and that we were contributing to his entertainment.
Celestia: ...
Celestia was really quiet, thinking hard on what Lapistoria whispered. The rest gather around her to know what Lapistoria's final words were. The mere act of thinking about it brought her to tears...
Celestia: She thank us all, and... She told me her name.
The fact Lapistoria knows her name meant that she finally knows who she truly was before she came to Equestria. However, everypony around her was still sad, and it wasn't because they'll never see her again. It was because during all those days she lived with them, all the struggles she faced, all the pain she suffered, not once in this forsaken month have they ever...
Truly known her at all...
[End of Final Chapter]
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Yep... That's how it ends... No epilogue, no plans for a sequel, just an ending. This story has many references and loose threads, so feel free to point them out. Bet none of you noticed how there isn't a Chapter or Diary of Time entry on the events of [Day 3]. Aside from that, sorry if the story didn't had a satisfying ending.
It is an "Ever After", not a "Happy Ever After"