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[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Epilogue.

 

And so our ponies departed: their quest completed. Orion had been prevented from seizing the Litany - and although this had been their objective all along, the end result left a bitter taste in the mouths of many of our hero's. Noble Persona had claimed the power that had once belonged to Orion for better or for worse: though judging by his temperament and already impressive strength, the latter was more likely. The Litany meanwhile, had vanished. Last seen in the possession of Midnight Scribbler, it showed itself no more.

 

In the time it took to make the return journey to Canterlot several unnerving changes began to take place: the temperature started to fall - a frost coated the grass underhoof and the weather began to act unseasonably - storms and scorching sun changing from day to day. Whether this could be attributed to Noble was uncertain: that his power had grown to such a magnitude already was unlikely for certain.

 

At the same time, Orion's mind turned over recent events - a thirst for revenge adding itself to his list of motives. He kept his sister close, all the while becoming yet more protective of her. Midnight Scribbler was the only one he trusted completely - while Mirror Image maintained a distance that he was unsure of and Zintiic remained a problem that he did not know how to deal with.

 

He continued to write and send letters on the journey back to civilization - secretively debating back and forth with an unknown contact, always planning - becoming more and more secretive with each day.

 

Despite all of this though, the trials had proven beyond all doubt that the inner strength of a pony was capable of amazing things: and that even for those without a trace of trust, the power of friendship, determination and defiance in the face of danger would see them to survive long enough for the land of Equestria to face a threat far greater than remembered by even the great princesses of ponykind.