The early morning sun shines down upon Ponyville. It was quiet. A seemingly normal day. For most of the town it was, a day like any other. But for Twilight and her friends...they knew what was at stake. Today was the day. They had all met in the library as the first lights of the sun peered into the skies above.
"Are you sure you have everything?" Spike asks as he was going through extra items that they had laid out on a table.
"Yes Spike." Twilight insists. "I made sure we packed more than enough."
"Do we really need to go through all of this Twi?" Applejack asks "I mean we're just going to the Crystal Empire and stopping Sombra right?"
"We are but who knows what could happen!" Twilight responds. She used some magic to adjust her fur jacket. It had been a while since she had worn the jacket and it was a bit more snug than she recalled. Not to mention her new wings made it even more uncomfortable. "We could be there for a long time. What if we get stuck? What if something happens? I want to be prepared."
"Just as long as we have snacks I'll be perfect!" Pinkie Pie cheers as she pulls a cupcake out of her bag and eats it.
"Well alright." Applejack nods looking at the girls. "Where's Rage?" she asks, looking around the room.
"He said he'll meet us at the station." Twilight says. "He wanted some time to himself...Celestia knows why."
Rage was indeed at the station. He sat in front of it alone. He was looking off into the mountains where Canterlot rests. He was running his one vision over and over again in his mind. Like a bad memory stuck on repeat he didn't know what he was going to do. Twilight had a point. Could he even stop Sombra if it came down to it?
He knew little of his enemy. Something that bothered him dearly however even when he inquired with Twilight there was not much she was able to give him. Just that he was evil and held powerful dark magic. He looked to the castle which could just barely be seen from his position in Ponyville. He thought about Princess Celestia and the promise he had made.
He was completely zoned out to the point that when the others arrived he didn't notice. Fluttershy looks at him with a worried stare. "Is he okay?" she asks softly. Twilight walked up and nudged him with her hoof.
He jolted up and shot a look over to her. "Oh!" he exclaims. "Twilight...you startled me." he sighs, relieved it was only them. Twilight tilted her head with concern.
"Are you alright Rage?" she asks "You seem troubled."
"I am fine." he states simply "I was just...thinking about a few things."
"You're thinking about after aren't ya?" Applejack asks. "What'll ya do?"
As she asks, the train's horn blares. The conductor steps out and ushers them in silently. This was a special run in which he was going out of his way to help Celestia. He needed to keep the rest of the timetables for that day on schedule.
The seven board and settle in the first car of the train. Rage looked to Applejack to continue their discussion. "I am..." he answers. "I have a lot to think about once Sombra is taken care of."
"I don't know what there is to think about." Twilight says. Rage looked at her silently. Deep down there was part of him that wanted to tell her but Rage knew, some things were best left unsaid.
"Nevermind." he shook his head dismissively looking out of the window. "I'm not really up to talking about it." he comments. Twilight sighs and turns to Rarity who shrugs. Rage then stood up and moved to the other end of the car.
"Let him be darling." the white unicorn says "He's not willing to talk about it."
"I know." She says. "That's what bothers me..." she looks back at Rage who was looking out of the window. His mouth was moving as if he was talking. However, no words came out. Was he talking to himself? She looked even more concerned. "I am starting to think it was a bad idea to bring him along." Twilight says to Rarity. "He seems like he's distracted."
"I am sure he is." Rarity says "I mean look at what's happened this week for him. You can't honestly think he's just okay with all of this."
"I guess." Twilight sighs. She thought back to what he had confided in her earlier. About his vision. How Princess Luna was present. Then the encounter they had with that strange Shade of Sombra.
"There's something else isn't there?" Rainbow Dash ends up speaking up. "It's pretty obvious that he's been worried about something since he got here." The rainbow pegasus moved closer to the two.
"We barely know anything about him, Dash." Rarity says "We've known him for all but a few days. Who knows what he hasn't told us about..."
Twilight sighs and looks as they pass Canterlot's station. It wouldn't be long now. The Northern Tundra's border station was next. From there they'd have to walk. As the mountains that surrounded Canterlot made way into the snowy foothills Rage smiled. A warm memory of his was tied to the snow.
Rage thought of his family back home. He had two brothers. Both were younger than he was. One was named Icezer, he was the youngest. Carefree and cheerful most of the time. He controlled ice too. Rage had a lot of memories growing up where they'd mess around in the snow and ice of the winters in his home village.
On the other hand Xage who's the middle got his name from a mistake on their father's part writing an X instead of an S. He was the least outspoken of the three. He always admired the weird naming conventions he had. His true name was Ragis, he was named after an old grain. His nickname was ironic given how levelheaded he was but he stuck with it.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by Rainbow Dash bopping his head. "Come on!" she exclaims "We need to go." He looked over to her. The train had stopped and she had a heavy winter coat on. He nodded and followed her out of the train where the others were waiting.
The snow blew furiously and made it hard to see. The winds howled and gusted with an untamed wrath. "Here!" Rarity shouts as she hands a heavy coat to Rage. It was a darker gray. "I am sorry it looks so dreary. I used what I had left!" she says as Rage puts it on. It was nice and snug along his torso and legs.
"Thank you!" he says using some magic to put his hood up. The warmth of the coat was welcoming in contrast to the frozen winds. He was then handed a scarf for his face which Rarity helped him wrap around his head.
"Let's go!" Twilight shouts over the winds motioning for the others to follow. She casts a glow on her horn and the other six ponies follow her.
They trekked through knee high snows and ice. Even with their coats the cold winds against the small openings they had so they could see chilled the group to the bone. It was anything but enjoyable. Even Rage was shivering some. 'You'd think being covered in fur it'd be less of an issue.' he thought to himself.
"Are we there yet?" Rainbow Dash asks "I don't remember the walk being this long!"
"Almost." Twilight says. They could see the dim glow of the Crystal Empire in the distance. A surge of energy jolted through them knowing they were close they ran to the edge of the great city. Out of the snow. Out of the bitter winds and cold.
In exchange for the frigid landscape they were in a dreary land. The Crystal Empire looked nothing like what Rage had heard from the girls or even read. Sharp, evil crystals of shades of darker blacks, grays and even some brownish colors covered the land. "I can't believe it..." Rarity gasps.
Crystal ponies toiled away in chains moving bits of the crystals. A statue of Sombra glared at them from the town square with a green, fiery wrath. "No wonder Sombra hide the Empire away with magic...but magic like that would have required a lot of power..." Twilight says tapping her chin.
"Could that explain the Crystal?" Rage asks her. "Perhaps it wasn't a coincidence that it appeared shortly after I destroyed it?"
Twilight thought about what he said for a minute. Rage had a very good point. She mentaly hit herself a bit for not thinking about that herself. "That makes a lot of sense. He placed that crystal in the Everfree Forest where it would be safe so that he could conceal the Crystal Empire...but why?"
"The why may be an answer we'll never know." Rage says "What matters is we are here now and we have an opportunity to put an end to Sombra and save these ponies."
"Moments like these always get my blood pumping!" Rainbow Dash cheers. "Let's do it!"
"And who do I have here?" a sinister voice echoed softly as a projection of Sombra formed in front of the group. "My my, if it isn't Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Have you come all this way to surrender the Elements of Harmony like I had asked Celestia to?"
"You wish!" Rainbow Dash jeered. "We're here to stop you!"
"Are you now?" The projection chuckles. "I'd like to see you try!" he laughed as his projection faded and a mist covered the area.
"Let's go." Twilight says firmly walking forward. The team walked to the square. At the bottom of the statue of Sombra lay the Crystal Heart. It was in a strange dark cage of energy. "The Crystal Heart..." Twilight says sadly looking at it.
The heart looked like a normal stone, its luster was gone. She put a hoof to the cage and it shocked her. She leapt back and shouted in pain before shaking her hoof off. "I've never seen anything like this." Rarity says looking at it closely.
"Like it?" Sombra's voice echoes once more. They looked up to the statue which was now looking at them with fiery green eyes. "That prison binds the power of the Crystal Heart to me...the more miserable these pathetic ponies are, the stronger I become!"
"You're disgusting." Twilight spits. "How could you bring so much suffering to the ponies you once ruled over?!" A laugh once more echoed as the statue returned to its menacing look over the rest of the rest of the empire. Twilight shook in anger. Her eyes seemed to burn with fury.
"Twilight?" Pinkie Pie puts a hoof to her. "You o-" she was interrupted by Twilight shrugging her off.
"I am fine." The lavender alicorn said. Her voice was tainted with anger and malice. "I am going to show him..."
Rage looked at the cage. Something felt familiar about it. He looked at it as the others walked up the stairs into the palace. It took a second but it was Applejack who discovered he wasn't with them. She looked down the stairs and called his name. Rage looked over and ran up to catch up.
"I am not sure how I feel about what's going on with Twilight." Fluttershy whispers to Applejack. "She's starting to scare me..."
"I know what ya mean." Applejack agrees. "I've never seen her like this..."
"This feels too easy..." Rage speaks up. This got the others to turn and look at him.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asks. "We walked through an entire snowstorm to get here!"
"I know that." He says. "But he's just letting us walk into his palace like this? Something doesn't feel right about that. Either he's extremely overconfident in his strength...or this is a trap."
"I've been wondering the same thing. He nearly took us all out last time if it wasn't for Spike." Rarity agreed. "We should be careful."
"All of this talking isn't going to help.' Twilight says "Let's move."
"Twilight what's gotten into you?" Applejack asks walking up to her. "You seem on edge."
"I'll be fine once we take care of this...seeing what Sombra has done to the Crystal Ponies...I can't forgive him." Twilight says.
"Twilight." Rage speaks up, getting her attention. She looked at him with an annoyed look. Rage's heart sank when she looked at him. He could feel a malice from her...one that he knew all too well. "You have a right to be angry but you can't let it dictate what you do here. We have one job. To defeat him and rescue the Crystal Empire."
"We'll do it how we see fit." She says as they reach a towering pair of doors. Rage looked at them and his face went from his neutral look to one of fear. They were the same doors from his dream.
"Is everyone ready?" Twilight asks, looking back at the others. They just looked at her with worry. "No turning back now..." Using her magic she took the Elements of Harmony out of her bag and handed them to each of her friends.
"Together?" Applejack asks, walking up and putting a hoof around the alicorn. She placed her tiara on her head and smiled. She nods and the others walk up in a line. She looked from left to right. Then with a deep breath she kicks open the door.
There on a large throne of dark crystals was Sombra. Two Crystal ponies were with him. One was doing his mane and the other his feet. When the door busted open they both ran off. Sombra snarled and stood up from the throne. "So you did not abandon your quest of futility." he says with an angered tone. "You think you can usurp my thone?!"
"It's not yours!" Twilight shouts "The Crystal Throne belongs to Cadence now!"
"It is mine!" He shouts stomping a hoof. This sent crystals at the seven who all scattered to avoid being impaled. Twilight shot a blast of magic at Sombra and he smirks. He counters with a strange beam. This shot right through Twilight's and it hit her horn. This shocked her and caused the coat she had on to burn up.
"Twilight!" Rainbow Dash exclaims she then turns to Sombra who was laughing.
Twilight fell to the ground and the others went over to her. Sombra looking sinisterly at them. Rage was frozen in place. Everything was coming true...
"You weak ponies are finished!" He laughs as his red horn glowed with a dark energy.
"No!" Rage shouts "Look out!" He lunged to try and help his friends. Twilight looked up to see Sombra prepping a spell. Weakly she puts a magical bubble up to protecther and the others. Sombra laughs as he fires another beam of dark magic.
The beam hits the magical bubble with a force that caused air around it to be displaced forming gusts of wind. Rage was sent flying into a wall and striking his head. He stayed in the wall for a second before falling limp to the ground. "He's too strong!" Twilight cries. She and her friends were pinned down. Rage was out. Doubt and fear began to take hold.
"We...we have to use the Elements!" Applejack says. "It's the only way!"
Twilight nodded back. The others looked at her and nodded. They were together in this. The six focused. Their necklaces and Twilight's tiara glowed. The bubble became one of rainbow magic.
Sombra chuckled as his beam kept going. "YES!" he shouts as finally it broke through. The beam hits them and a unified cry of pain erupted from them. Sombra walked up to them laughing. "Even the Elements of Harmony cannot stop me now..." he says sinisterly. "Tell me...what is it like knowing you have thrown everything away attempting to save what you hold dear?"
"Why?" Twilight asks weakly. "Why are you doing this?!"
"Oh my sweet little pony. You know so little." Sombra chuckled as he approached the six. "I am afraid even if I told you...you'd be too dense to realize it!" he laughs. "Now you can watch in despair while I take the rest of this land...Soon Twilight Sparkle even Celestia will bow to me...ALL PONIES WILL BOW TO ME!" he laughed.
"This..." Rainbow Dash coughed "Isn't over..."
Rage looked up to see what had happened. He knew what was next he cursed under his breath and stood up. "I'll be damned if I just lie down and give up." he huffed. He knew he was shoddy at best with his powers but he had to do what needed to be done.
"Enjoy eternity as...permanent decorations." Sombra chuckles as his horn glows again. "I think you'll look nice in the grand hall of Canterlot Castle..."
Rage shouts as he leapt for his friends. He wanted nothing more than to protect them. He managed to check Sombra in the side therefore making the spell miss. The force was enough to cause Sombra to tumble back from his friends. Quickly he stood up and looked at Rage. "You..." he snarled. "You're getting in my way again!"
"I told you..." Rage says as a bright yellow glow surrounds him. "Hands off my friends!"
"If you think you'll fare any better than they will, you're delusional!" Sombra cackled "You nearly bit it when my Shade hit you! You'd never survive against me..." The evil unicorn's horn glowed again.
"Even so." Rage says. "I won't let you hurt them anymore!" he shouts. It was then the Chaos Emeralds appeared around him, physically this time. Their energy radiated a powerful aura around him. Rage closed his eyes as a pillar of light surrounded him.
"Rage?" Twilight exclaimed, reaching for him but Rainbow Dash pulled her back.
"No..." the pegasus said. "That could hurt you!"
Once the pillar died down Rage stood tall. His fur was a golden yellow and his mane a bright red. The aura shot towering into the air. Sombra looked at this in fear. "What...what is this?!"
Rage finally opens his eyes. They were a bright crimson color. As he did the out of control aura finally came into a sense of control. It blazed around him. A pair of wings formed out of the aura as he took a few steps closer. "Allow me to properly introduce myself." Rage says. His voice echoed as he spoke. "My name is Ragis Chaotic...and I am a Chaos Guardian..."
Sombra looked at Rage. A fear overcame the unicorn. "They said nothing of one of you still existing..." he said softly. Finally Sombra shook his head, and his fear away. He wasn't going to let some pony with a few tricks ruin his plans! "Then you will fall here Ragis..." Sombra snarls, launching energy at him.
Rage ran forward. He struck the energy with small blasts of his own. He got right up to Sombra and the two but heads. "You're going to pay for all of the hurt you caused this world!" Rage shouts.
"Your tricks will not deceive me!" Sombra snarls "You're the same weak little pony as before!"
The wings of energy flapped and with a large burst of momentum Rage overtook Sombra sending him flying into the wall this time. Rage then flew into the air. Sombra lands up right and glares at him. His eyes burning with an evil green fire.
"We can't just sit back." Twilight says slowly standing up. "Let's help him."
"I don't know what you want us to do." Rarity says.
"The Rainbow Beam." Rainbow Dash says as Twilight helps her up. "I think I have the strength left."
"Alrighty." Applejack agrees. She was helped up by Rainbow Dash as Twilight got Rarity up. Pinkie Pie hopped over and helps Fluttershy up too. "Let's show this ruffian what for!" Applejack cheers.
The six stood together. Once more they focused. Their Elements glowed. All events neither Rage or Sombra noticed as they engaged each other. Sombra desperately tried to hit Rage with a sapping attack but he just couldn't do it. Whatever had awoken within Rage was too much for him to keep up with.
"You'll never win." Sombra snarls "We'll be at this forever!"
"Fine by me!" Rage scoffed as they once again managed to hit each other for an exchange of blows. As they both got pushed back Rage felt the rising energy and looked back to the mane six who were glowing.
"Together girls!" Twilight calls. Seeing this Rage quickly flew to the side as a beam of rainbow energy flew past him nearly singing his tail.
Sombra shook himself off from the dust that had covered him after being launched again into the ground by Rage. He opened his eyes just in time to see the incoming Rainbow Beam. He shouts in surprise before it engulfed him. He hollered out in agony. The beam was ripping him apart.
Almost as suddenly as it struck him it ended. Dust and rubble from the battle hung in the air. Rage finally landed next to the others. They looked in Sombra's direction as the dust cleared. Slowly Sombra came into view. He stood there shaking. His body was translucent.
"This is impossible..." the unicorn struggled to speak. "I had everything planned perfectly! I was stronger than the Elements of Harmony! How could you...win?!"
"Easy." Twilight said, stepping forward. "Friendship trumps even the darkest of magic..."
"I will return..." Sombra pants "...and when I do I'll send you all to the depths of tartarus! You hear me Twilight Sparkle...you, your friends and your Chaos Guardian friend too!"
"If you do, we'll be here." Rage says sternly.
Sombra chuckled. "Even if you stopped me...how do you plan on freeing the Crystal Heart?"
"By purging it." Rage says. When he said this Sombra looked shocked.
"Y-you can't possibly-" he stutters.
"Absolute Purge!" Rage calls as he fires yet another beam at Sombra or what was left of him. Sombra screams as dark mists erupt from him. "We need to get out of here!" Rage calls.
"The window!" Rainbow Dash exclaims pointing. "Twilight grab Pinkie Pie!" she says as she flies over and grabs Rarity. Fluttershy flew right behind her. Twilight did her best and grabs Pinkie Pie. She struggled as Applejack and Rage ran to the edge.
"Now what about us?" Applejack asks.
"Hold on!" Rage says picking her up.
"Now hold a sec Rage you don't-" Applejack starts to object as Rage leaps out of the window. She screamed for a second before their descent slowed and she opened her eyes and looked back at him. The wings of energy he still had from his transformation flapped and extended allowing him to glide down with the others safely.
Rainbow Dash dropped Rarity by the plaza and landed. Twilight struggled to stay in the air. She wasn't used to flying. She made it to the center of the plaza with the others finally and let Pinkie Pie down. "We have to go back and get Rage and Applejack!" Rainbow says.
"Wait!" Rarity says "Look!" She pointed to the sky where the two were. Rage let Applejack down and lands himself a few feet to the right before exhaling sharply. With a bright glow he returned to normal. He then collapsed to the ground.
Rage was exhausted. He had used up what reserve energy he had holding his Super Form for that long. He had even caused 'Chaos Burn' for using the form longer than he should have. He groaned softly as Rainbow Dash and Applejack helped him up. "Thanks." he says.
"Are you alright?" Fluttershy asks him.
"I'll be good." Rage smiled a forced smile. "What's important is..." he looked to the Crystal Heart which had been freed from the cage it was in and shimmered once more. Crystal Ponies surrounded the seven clamoring and cheering.
"We did it." Twilight sighs happily. "Thank Celestia..."
"Speak of the devil." Rarity chuckles as Celestia, Luna and even Cadence come soaring down from the skies.
"Princesses." Twilight says as they all bow to them. The white alicorn waved her hoof signaling they could rise.
"Twilight!" Cadence cheered as they ran over and hugged each other. "You did a great job!"
"I didn't do it alone!" Twilight smiles looking back at the others. "I couldn't have done it without my friends!"
"Indeed." Celestia speaks up looking at all of them. "Princess Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie..." she says looking at each of the six mares. Then she looked at Rage. "...and Burning Rage."
Rage stood up as best as he could but fell down. He grunted as he laid there. "Well this is embarrassing," he says. "The Princess acknowledges all of the heroes and I can't even stand up right."
Celestia smiled softly. "We know what you did." she says as Luna and Cadence walked up in line with her. He finally managed to stand up right again.
"If it wasn't for you chances are everything would have been lost." Princess Luna says, bowing her head. "However you not only protected the Elements of Harmony but helped bring King Sombra to his knees."
"It was nothing." Rage says embarrassed. "I just distracted him."
"You did more than that." Twilight says "Rage, you saved us...I am confident that beam would have...been the end...if you didn't step in."
"With King Sombra gone you can go home." Celestia says. "Thank you for everything." Rage looked down when Celestia thanked him. His look was one of sadness, not joy or happiness. This made her look concerned at him. "Is...there something wrong with that?" she asks him. "I thought you couldn't wait to go home."
"No." Rage sighs. "I mean..." he shook his head. "Yes, I am glad to be able to go back home..."
"So what's wrong?" Twilight asks. "It's what you've been waiting for!"
"I..." Rage looks away for a second then back to everyone. "I want to stay!" he proclaims.
The Princesses were taken back by his statement a bit. Celestia was the most shocked. When he first arrived he wanted nothing more than to go back home. What changed in him to make him want to stay here over his home? The question perplexed the alicorn. "You'd rather be here than Mobius?" Celestia asks. Her voice had shock in it as well even though she did her best to hide it.
Rage looked at her and nodded. "I know it probably sounds weird and unreasonable...and selfish..." he says. "But in my short time here...I've met and made friends that make me feel welcome. Make me feel at home." Rage looked to his new friends. "I have met ponies who see me as a pony and not as...well...some fatebound hero...For the first time in ages I have real friends...part of me doesn't want to lose that..."
Celestia looked at Rage, her gaze was filled with concern. She was one of the few who knew Rage's true identity and understood what it meant. Even if it was due to things that happened in the past. She looked at the group of friends. "Can you excuse Rage and I for a moment?" Celestia asks.
Twilight looked a little concerned and nodded. She and her friends all went to talk with Cadence and Shining Armor. Rage looked at Celestia who sighed and looked concerned at him. "What's wrong?" he asks, tilting his head.
"Rage...are you sure?" she asks worriedly. "I know what The Chaos Guardians mean to your world. Who they were...This is something that will affect more than just you..."
"Celestia, I took that into account." Rage says "Think about it like this, The Chaos Emeralds are much safer here in Equestria. Few ponies know of them, they physically seem to just not be here and those who'd use them for ill are few and most wouldn't know of them."
Celestia sat there silently. He had given her a lot to think about. He had valid points but it also came with risks. He'd have access to both worlds...though he'd be able to travel between them now regardless. What dangers could that open up though? The connection that Equestria had with Mobius was old. From before Rage was even a thought.
"You've given me a lot to think about." Celestia finally sighs. She needed more time to think on the matter. "Give me some time to think on the matter and consult Cadence and Luna. I should have an answer by tomorrow after the festivities."
"Uh, festivities Princess?" Rage asks with a curious look.
The white Alicorn chuckles. "Oh you have so much to learn about us Rage." she says joyfully. "I think it's something best kept a secret. You'll see tomorrow. Go be with your friends. You've all earned it."
Rage nodded and thanked her before running back to the others. "Well?" Rainbow Dash was the first to speak. "Are you staying?"
"I don't know yet." Rage responded with a shrug.
"How do you not know?" Rarity asks "You and Celestia were over there discussing it weren't you?"
"Yeah..." Rage sighed. "She said she needs to think about it. I guess it's not such an easy decision."
"That's alright. It means you can stay for tomorrow's party!" Pinkie Pie cheers blowing a noisemaker in his face. Rage just smiled at her.
"I look forward to it." he laughs.
Celestia looked at the seven. She couldn't help but be reminded of when she had sent Twilight to Ponyville all that time ago. She smiled as Luna and Cadence approached her. "Is he staying?" Luna asks.
Celestia looked at them. "I am still unsure." she says "If he stays he'll be putting himself between his home and here. We've all seen what happens when somepony puts that kind of division in place."
"That's true." Cadence nodded "However he seems at home here. It makes you wonder what's happened to his home since we had our last visitor."
"Indeed." Celestia comments. "We can't keep that link between here and his world closed forever either and I know there are threats beyond his world that could threaten Equestria. Ones that the Elements of Harmony would be no match for."
"If he stays he can't go running around in his original form that's for sure." Luna remarked. "But he seems like a good pony."
"Seems like? You've been in his dreams haven't you, Luna?" Cadence asks.
"We have only seen one." Luna answers. "It was a premonition about the outcome today...I much prefer this outcome than the one we saw."
"If he's strong...perhaps it's worth allowing it. He could always help Twilight." Cadence suggests.
"He'll have to live like every other pony though. I don't want to see him getting some hero complex." Celestia sighs.
"You really think that will be an issue?" Cadence asks as they walk to the Crystal Heart's pedestal.
"I am not sure." Celestia replies looking at the Crystal Heart. "I have other concerns as well…"
"Why don't we talk more where we can be in private. At the very least he's staying through tomorrow's festivities. We can make a decision then." Cadence says putting a hoof to Celestia's back. "Let's go home."
As for the seven friends they were on their way back to the train now in the station for The Crystal Empire. The conductor was standing out front waiting for ponies as the seven boarded it.
A few more minutes went by before they were off back towards Ponyville. The seven sat around a table with salads on it eating. "So…if you stay where are you going to…stay?" Rarity asks Rage.
"I am not sure." Rage answers. "I'd figure it out though. I am pretty good at making do with what I have."
"You're welcome to stay with me." Twilight suggests "So long as you help out around the Library."
Rage looked at her and smiled. Twilight had been wonderful his whole time here. "That would be acceptable." Rage nods his head. "I'd be more than happy to help."
"And yer always welcome to lend a hand around the farm." Applejack chuckles "We'll make sure you're paid too!"
"So are you for sure staying?" Rainbow Dash asks.
"If Celestia will let me." Rage answers. "I'll respect her decision regardless."
"At least visit if you can't stay." Rarity says. "We'd miss you otherwise."
"That I will do." Rage agrees. "I'd miss you all too much if I couldn't!"
'I wonder if he'll be allowed to stay…if he does he still has a lot to learn…" Twilight thinks to herself as Rage made some jokes with Pinkie Pie. "If anything he's happy…"