DAiE Epilogue P. 1 - The Return

>You are Rainbow Dash.
>And right now, you still can't believe they're gone.
>You wander the halls of their lab, looking in every room.
>You do this every once in a while, hoping maybe they'll come back.
>Your magenta eyes peer around a door, looking inside.
>They're not there.
>They're never there.
>You sigh, and continue on.
>You miss them.
>You miss Pinkie's parties.
>Her songs.
>You miss that crazy egghead Anonymous and his weird tirades.
>You feel a tear welling up, but you shake it away.
>Rainbow Dash is too cool to cry.
>You peer into the next room.
>Rainbow Dash is too bucking cool to cry.
>Rain...bow... Dash...
>...buck it.
>You lean against the door, and you feel the tears start to flow.
>"Dashie?"

>Oh buck.
>You wipe the tears from your eyes as quickly as you can.
>Which is damn fast. But you can't wipe the red away.
"H-hey, AJ."
>You don't turn to meet her gaze, but you feel a hoof on your shoulder and welcome it.
"You.. you followed me?"
>"Sugarcube, what're you doin' here? I miss 'em too, but this ain't healthy..."
"I know, I just... I just..."
>You turn to her. You don't even care about holding back the tears this time.
"I miss my best friend."
>AJ's fighting back her own sadness. "I know sugarcube. C'mon, let's get you outta this place."
>AJ helps you to your hooves, and you start trotting out of the lab, not bothering to look in any rooms this time.
>It's as you're about to exit that you hear a sound.
"AJ, wait."
>"What? Oh, sugarcube, please, we gotta-"
"No no, hold on."
>You leave AJ shaking her head as you run off into the lab.
>You swear you heard something.
>You check every room.
>You swear you heard something.
>Nothing's here!
>You swear you-
>..you... heard something.
>Shining in one storage area is an impossibly bright pink light.

>You are Doctor Anonymous.
>And right now, you swear you got the coordinates right this time.
>All the same, you roll out of the portal, pointing your blaster into each corner of the unlit room.
"HA! HOYOO!"
>You let loose two ki-yais, and Pinkie joins in, assuming an unsteady karate pose.
>"KIIIIYA!"
>The portal closes behind you, and you look around, your augmented eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness.
>"Where are we this time, Doc'?"
"I'm not sure, but I don't think we're alone. I-"
>You are both promptly tackled by a blur of rainbow light.
>She's talking so fast, you literally can't understand her.
"Dash, Dash, calm down!"
>You look to Pinkie, who she also has trapped.
>The pink mare offers you a shrug.
>You just let her finish, a smile slowly developing on your lips.
>"..and I thought you were gone foreeverrrr!" She finally says, her speech having slowly reached a coherent pace.
>With that, she pulls you both into a hug, and starts bawling into your chests.
>You look to Pinkie as you hug the cyan pony back.
"It's okay Dashie."
>Pinkie smiles.
"We're home."

>"And then Anon was like 'No you don't!' And he rolled out of the missile's way, and he was all like 'Blam blam blam'! And then the t-rex was like 'Neiiiin! Ich bin defeated!' and Anon was like 'Haha, for science!' And then we totally made o-"
"O-okay, Pinkie, that's enough about the Nazi Dinosaur universe.
>"Aww, but it was sooo coool!"
>You stifle a laugh.
>You're in Sugarcube Corner, everyone's gathered to welcome you back as you tell stories about your adventures.
>"Where'd you go next, sugarcube?"
>Applejack sips on her cider, looking thoroughly enthralled.
"Ah, I believe that was the Ancient Greek universe."
>"Oh, with that guy with the wings on his shoes! Those were cool!"
>Pinkie frowns. "I hope he got home alright."
>You pause, looking into your drink for a second, before smiling.
"I think he'll be alright where we left him."

>Suddenly, Fluttershy speaks up.
>"So.. uhm.. in another universe, we...?"
>You look towards the ceiling.
"It seems so, Flutters."
>"Oh." You look down to see her staring down at the table. Her wings stiff, and extended.
>"I, uhm... excuse me."
>With that, she gallops out of the room.
>You look to Rainbow.
"Dash, what does that wing thing mean."
>She's silent, and blushing.
"Oh."
>Awkward.
>Silence.
>"Well uhm... where did you go next?"
"Oh! Uhm, next was a universe where everything was really itchy."
>"That universe sucked."
"It really, really did."
>You laugh, and take a sip of your drink.

>The stories continue long into the night. All the places you've seen, all the people you've met.
>All the other Anons you met.
>Fighters, lovers, sorcerers, scientists.
>Anons with no impulse control.
>Anons with too much control.
>It's a lot to reflect on.
>It's night now.
>You stand on the porch of Sugarcube Corner. Most of the ponies are passed out inside.
>It's good to be home.
>"Anonymous?"
>You look over your shoulder to see Rarity coming out to join you.
"Hey, Rarity."
>She smiles. "It's good to hear you and Pinkie worked things out."
>You smile.
"You have no idea."
>"I... I'm sorry for what I did. I didn't know the whole story, I-"
"It's okay, Rarity. You were looking out for a friend."
>"Maybe, but... it was still rude of me, and it caused so much trouble. I.... wanted to make it up to you two."
>She magics up two slips of paper to you.
"What are these?"
>"Tickets, darling. To a show in Canterlot, a simply divine production. I've also arranged travel, and lodging for you two. A romantic weekend for you and a certain pink mare."
"Rarity, I-.."
>"Tut tut dear, I won't take no for an answer. I've got my strings to pull, and I'm using them to make things up to you. Besides, it's about time you took Pinkie on a proper date."
>You smile, and hug the white pony.
"Thanks, Rarity."
>"Not at all, darling. Now get inside, your marefriend is mumbling about you in her sleep."

>Sure enough, Pinkie is tossing and turning on the couch, talking aloud.
>You can't really understand most of it, it's slurred through sleep and drunkenness.
>But you recognize your name. She's calling you. She sounds sad. Frightened.
>Time to put a stop to this.
>You pick her up, and she's roused from her slumber.
>"Huh... Doc?"
"Hi Pinkie."
>"I... I had that dream again. Where you vanished, an' I couldn't find you, an' I was looking all over the chair, an'..."
>You silence her with a kiss.
"It's okay, Pinkie."
>You sit down onto the couch, and place the pink mare next to you before laying down yourself, curling around her as the big spoon.
"We're home now. And neither of us are going anywhere."
>Pinkie seems satisfied with this, and snuggles herself into you. Before you know it, you're both fast asleep.