Growing Pains

Chapter Eight: Epilogue

The time had come for Queen Chrysalis and her husband to return home. Changelings were busy packing up the carriage, as Shine and Celestia saw Sleight and Chrysalis off.

"Well, I guess this is farewell for now." Chrysalis smiled. "I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am about the whole Char incident."

"Don't be." Shine replied. "Char was just one of those ponies who can't accept the ways things are now. He wasn't the first, probably won't be the last."

"However, I must ask... what will become of Char?" Celestia inquired.

"Don't you worry none about him." Sleight pulled out the card that Char was imprisoned in. "We intend to bring him back home and make him answer for his crimes there."

"I am quite impressed with how you defeated him." Shine admitted. "In a direct confrontation, he would had destroyed you."

"Please." Sleight scoffed. "He may have strength and brawn... but he was certainly no Red Eclipse..."

"Who?" Celestia asked.

"Sorry, I'm afraid that's another story for another time." Sleight shrugged. "For now... we bid you adieu." He kissed Celestia's hoof.

"We simply must do this again sometime." Chrysalis smiled. "...Well, minus Char and all the bickering we did. Give Mist and Mr. Blazes our best."

"We will. See ya." Shining smiled.

Chrysalis and Sleight entered the carriage and the Changelings left for home. Not long after, the rest of the visiting royals departed for their respective kingdoms, sharing hugs and goodbyes with their relatives.

"Good luck, Mist." Twilight said to her pupil. "With everything. And I do mean everything."

"Thanks, Twilight." Mist chuckled, knowing full well what her teacher was talking about.

That evening, Blue came to the castle, picking up Mist for their first real date.

"Hey, you." Mist smiled as she came down the stairs.

"Hey." Blue produced a bouquet of flowers from under his wing.

"And what are these for?" Mist asked.

"Just my way of saying 'thanks for choosing me'." Blue smiled, throwing in a kiss on the cheek.

"You're sweet." Mist sighed happily.

"So true." Blue chuckled, wrapping a wing around her. "Well, shall we?"

"Hold it right there." Shine suddenly appeared.

Blue gulped. He had been expecting an "overprotective brother" speech from Shine, and braced himself for it.

"One thing before you go." Shine declared. "You two have fun out here."

"Oh... uh, sure!" Blue nodded, a trifle confused.

"You bet we will!" Mist nodded.

The two departed the castle. Shine followed them outside, and gave a proud smirk…

"That's my sis." Shine smiled, as he walked back into the castle.

Blue led Mist up to a cloud, where he had prepared a small picnic.

"Picnic under the stars." He smiled. "Just you and me? Whattaya think?"

"I think this is going to be the best date ever." Mist nuzzled against him.

"Me too." Blue sighed.

The two ate their food and looked at the stars together.

"Everything okay, babe?" Blue asked.

"Everything's perfect." Mist sighed.

"Wish I could say the same." Blue murmured.

"What's wrong?" Mist asked.

"My mom." Blue groaned. "She's gotten worse than ever about the whole 'bar' thing. We barely even talk anymore... not without getting into an argument, at least."

"Sounds like you two could use a mediator." Mist smiled.

"A what?" Blue asked.

"Somepony to keep everything calm and civil." Mist explained. "I could be that mediator. I read 'War and Peace' a couple times over."

"Wow, really?" Blue smiled. "Well, I guess that could work... Think you could swing by sometime tomorrow?"

"Will do." Mist nodded. "Now, are we gonna cuddle some more, or not?"

"Definitely." Blue chuckled, wrapping his hooves around his marefriend.

The next day, Mist, as promised, flew to Blue's home. Soarin' opened the door.

"Hello, Mist!" Soarin' smiled. "Great to have you back!"

"Hello, sir." Mist nodded in greeting.

"Come to see the feather off the ol' wing, huh?" Soarin' chuckled.

"Kinda." Mist nodded.

Mist entered the living room, where Spitfire was sat, Blue not far away.

"Hello, Mist." Spitfire smiled. "Come to see Blue, huh?"

"Actually, I've come to see both of you." Mist declared.

"What?" Spitfire frowned.

"Mom, we need to talk about my dream career." Blue declared. "And Mist is going to help."

"This again?" Spitfire growled. "I told you, you'll become a bartender over my dead body or if by some unholy miracle that Tartarus freezes over! Neither of which I see happening within this lifetime!"

"But mom, this is what I really want to do!" Blue argued.

"Okay, easy there, guys." Mist held up her hooves. "Spitfire, I know how important the family business is to you, but don't you want Blue to be happy?"

"Well, yes..." Spitfire replied. "But-"

"Surely you know that keeping him from doing what he wants to do with his life will make him unhappy, right?" Mist said logically.

"...Yes." Spitfire admitted.

"Being a bartender is something Blue feels he'd be happy doing." Mist continued. "That's good, right?"

"I suppose." Spitfire agreed. "But... the Wonderbolts..."

"Blue being a Wonderbolt is what you want." Mist declared. "And, no offense to you, but it's Blue's choice. He should be free to pick his own career path, and you should support him, no matter where that path may take him."

"And it's not like I won't be able to help you with training the rookies and practicing aerial maneuvers. Heck, I can still stand in for a Wonderbolt if need be…" Blue reasoned. "All I ask is that you back me up on this… please…"

Spitfire glanced at both Blue and Mist with uncertainty, and then at Soarin', who gave his wife a pleading glance. Then she let out a long, harrowed sigh.

"Maybe you're right." She admitted. "Maybe I have been a little too pig-headed about this. Blue, if you want to be a..." She repressed a shudder. "Bartender, then I suppose I can support you."

"Thanks, mom." Blue smiled. "And thank you, Mist. You're the best."

"Just trying to be the best fillyfriend I can be." Mist smiled. "Now, how about some lunch at the castle?"

"You're on." Blue nodded, as he turned to his parents. "Sorry we have to leave so-"

"Don't be, son, you just go and have fun." Soarin' smiled.

Blue smiled as he and Mist left. As soon as they were out the door, Spitfire gave a small smirk.

"Heh, my son sure knows how to pick them, doesn't he? Smart and bold." Spitfire smiled at Soarin'. "I already like her."

"Well, duh, Spits." Soarin' chuckled as he wrapped his hooves around Spitfire. "He's like me: we know how to pick our mares."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Soarin'." Spitfire shook her head.

As Blue and Mist returned to the castle, they saw a most unusual sight; Luxury, departing. The Unicorn froze when he saw them.

"Luxury?" Mist gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"I was... having a chat with your step-sister, Constell." Luxury said bashfully.

"Oh, really?" Mist smirked.

"Yes, she is a very fascinating mare." Luxury admitted.

"I'm sure she is." Blue chuckled.

"She is… now if you'll excuse me…" Luxury, a red tint to his cheeks, departed.

"Well, well." Blue snorted. "Didn't take Lux too long to bounce back, huh?"

"I'm happy for him." Mist admitted. "Luxury deserves a special somepony... though I'm pretty sure I'm a better kisser than Constell."

"I can personally vouch for that." Blue smiled, as he pulled Mist in for a kiss.

As they held each other, lips joined together, there was no doubt in Mist's mind that she had made the right choice.

The End.

(My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and all associated characters are the property of Hasbro.)