ALTERNATE ENDING
 
Part 1
 
[Continuing from [http://pastebin.com/LvYYXrNT] at line 450]
>”So, what will you do now, Anonymous?”
>You gaze out to the gardens, and to the mountains.
“I honestly have no idea.”
>You lean onto a tree, smiling sadly.
“Maybe it’s time for the dead to stay dead.”
>Celestia returns the smile, as you stand to leave.
>”Anonymous, wait.”
>You stop, waiting for the princess to speak.
>”What if you don’t have to go?”
>You raise a brow, interested.
“And what would that be?”
>Celestia lets out a playful smile, the genuinely cheery one today.
>You don’t like the sound of this.
 
>The school bell rings, and every fillies and colts go wild.
>You sigh.
>They just remind you of yourself too much.
>You tap one of your hooves tiredly, trying to distract yourself from the class.
>Of course, there is that one filly who always stays back.
>”Uhm, mister Shines?”
>You sigh.
>You look down to the lavender filly, who looks to you in anticipation.
>”Yes, Twilight?”
 
>You put on your saddlebags, and head out.
>Canterlot School closed soon after, leaving you in the dark.
>You breathe in the cool autumn air.
>It was always better up here.
>Canterlot, for one, had great location, you’ll give it that.
>You whistle as you make your way to the castle.
>Celestia was kind enough to set you up with a room in the castle.
>Sure, you were getting used to the new life as a pony, but it’s better than being dead.
>You hum random songs in your head, as you near your room.
>Right over at the left wing, as far as possible from-
>You crash into another pony.
>”Ow!” She exclaims, as she is thrown back.
>You know that silvery voice from anywhere.
“I’m so sorry, princess Cadenza!” You shout, as you help her to her feet.
>She smiles sheepishly, as she gets her bearings right.
>”Thank you- Shines, was it?”
>You smile back.
“That would be me.”
>”You’re familiar for some reason, Shines.”
>She studies you.
>You wave it off.
“Eh, I get that a lot.”
>”Well, I need to go find Shining Armor; I’ll see you later, Shines.”
“Will do, princess.”
>You pass her, humming that familiar tune.
 
>Cadance stopped again, listening to the soft tune of the stallion.
>She turned to see Shines, as everyone called him, obliviously enter his chambers.
>She paused, trying to figure out where the familiarity was.
>She eventually gave up, moving to her evening rendezvous with Shining Armor.
 
>You kick the door close, and throw your bags over the table.
>Holy shit, you ran into her.
>No Anon, you let go, remember?
>Fuck you, I’m a pony.
>Personal conflicts aside; you hop to your bed, and go under your covers.
>You still had troubles getting used to the four legs thing, but hey, you were content.
>You give your forelegs a swing or two, just for kicks.
>Heh.
>You rouse yourself to sleep, but the thought still bothered you.
 
>You wake to the sound of the soft rain on the rocks.
>You can only gasp at the crushing sensation still on your chest.
>You know it is slowly coming down on you, your ribs slowly giving out.
>And you know too well how this will end up.
>Splat.
>The universe wasn’t even kind enough to finish you off.
>You were pretty sure half of your face was beaten; you can feel your own blood everywhere.
>Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll bleed out and die a peaceful death.
>You try to move your legs, but they are stuck.
>You can’t even feel one of them.
>Boy, would they leave a mark.
>Cadance will kill you if she saw you like this.
>You don’t even have the energy to mutter her name as you died.
>Maybe then you could be some sort of a legend of a crushed human, calling for a lover.
>Maybe not.
>You cough once, and close your eyes.
>The warm rain is- soothing, at a word.
>Either that, or it was your blood.
>Whatever.
>It is relaxing to the point that you don’t feel anything.
>You open your eyes, just to make sure the rock is still there.
>Yep, still there.
>Then, it twitched.
>Your eyes go wide, as the bolder is slowly lifted.
>You then spot the heavily muscular legs, with the cracked hoof.
>Minotaurs.
>The hulking giant looks to you and nods.
>You nod back.
>He smiles, and turns around to call his comrades.
>And at that moment, the boulder slips.
>It slowly tumbles to your face and-
 
>You scream, and you sit up.
>You turn to the side of the bed, and rub your temples.
>You’re sweating hard.
>Your hooves shake, and you can’t stop shivering.
>You shake your head, and go over to your bag, and take out a small locket.
>You placed it around your neck, feeling the cold sensation on your coat.
>You needed a walk.
 
>You always liked having the cool breeze on your face.
>Snout, whatever.
>You often found yourself walking through the same path, always stopping by the pond.
>You play around for a while, before turning to the view below.
>Sunrise was due any moment now.
>The sky slowly becomes a muddled black, as it slowly transcends into the clear cobalt.
>Looks like we’re going to have a clear day today.
>You lean onto the railings, looking down to the valleys below.
>This was a really good location.
>You turn around, looking up to the balconies above.
>You can see Celestia outside of her chambers, busily raising the sun.
>You wave at her, but you find it unlikely she’ll spot you.
>Your eyes go over the other royal rooms; boy did they have large windows or what.
>Then you spot a pink head.
>You can also see her mane blowing in the wind.
>And at that moment, the two of you make eye contact.
>You immediately scan over, and start walking away.
>Haha, NOPE.
>NOPENOPENOPE
>”Hey, wait!”
>That voice again.
>You freeze, as the pony behind you landed.
>You slowly turn your head, to meet Cadance again.
>She hesitates, before she examines you harder.
>”Shines?”
“Morning, miss.”
>”Sorry, I thought you were somepony else.”
>You smile warmly at her.
“No worries, princess.”
>”May I ask what are you doing out in the gardens?”
“Just taking a walk, I have- an attachment to the place.”
>”Really? And that might be? If you don’t mind at all.”
“Forgive me, but I do mind, princess.” You speak, before making a hasty escape.
 
>Cadance could have sworn she saw Shining at the gardens.
>She immediately flared out her wings and glided out, nearing the pony in question.
>He just looked so familiar…
>Turns out it was you, whom everyone called Shines.
>Even your name was similar to her special somepony.
>But you had your own coat, colored like your skin, with your old eye color and mane in pretty much the same way you had it since ever.
>Celestia did a real good job turning you into a pony.
>Of course, Cadance wasn’t aware.
>As she neared you, she could not help but to feel the overwhelming familiarity.
>And you booked it.
 
>You quicken your pace, as your heart races with you.
>Goddammit.
>You thought you were over this.
>You start running, as the school bell goes off in the distance.
 
“Good morning class.” You say, throwing the bag at your chair.
>You trot up to the chalkboard, and start writing down basic formulae, slowly filling the board.
>Most rich fillies just ‘take pictures’ with their devices, getting quick notes.
>You’re barely thirty and the world is already confusing you.
>And there, of course, is Little Twilight Sparkle.
>She’s always ahead of her class, taking down notes on her notebook.
>As much as you would like to play airplane with her again, it is probably best if you stayed out of her life.
>Almost by cue, the lavender filly raises her hoof.
>”Mister Shines, can you explain the workings of the fifth theory under the second?”
>You smile.
>And here we have Celestia’s personal protégé.
>Every moment she was in your class, she always done you proud.
>And you’ll make sure she will always do the same.
 
>The bell rings once more, grabbing your attention, as well as waking several colts.
>You sigh, and wave them off.
>In a blitz, the class pours into the hallways.
>Well, at least they got punctuality and spirit.
>Twilight, like always, remains behind for some extra notes.
>You’re happy enough to lend her a hand- a hoof.
>”Twilight? Are you here?”
>That voice again.
>The princess enters the classroom, looking about.
>Both Twilight and you stare at her, surprised by the sudden entry.
>”What?” Cadance takes a step back.
>You almost brought out the duck face.
>”Cadance!” Twilight shouts, before going in for a pony-hug.
>You don’t even know how that works.
>Cadance returns it, and Twilight scrambles back to her desk.
“I didn’t know my star pupil knew the princess.” You smile.
>Twilight grins widely, before burying her head back in her studies.
>You can help to smile again, as you help Twilight with her notes.
 
>”So, when did you come to Canterlot?”
“About few weeks ago, I needed a job, so here I am.”
>”And how did you get a room in the castle?”
“Celestia sympathized, she is very kind.”
>”That she is, Shines.”
“Do you mix with the common rabble often?”
>Cadance chuckles lightly over your joke.
>”For your information, I do.”
>She leans closer.
>”I even date one of the common rabble.” She whispers.
“Come on, I bet the captain of the guards isn’t ‘common’ anymore.”
>She smiles.
>”I suppose he isn’t.”
>You duck and avoid an incoming ball.
“Woah, watch the throw, Speed Racer!” You shout, as you pass the ball to the colt.
>You then hoof-bump the colt, as he runs off playing.
>”You seem to be good with colts, Shines.”
“I suppose I’m a colt-at-heart, then.”
>”Is that so?”
>She gives you a playful smirk, as her horn glows.
>You know that face anywhere.
>And then, your face greets a small punch of mud.
>Not this shit again.
>You shake it off, and keep a straight face.
“No princess, I refuse to-“
>Another blast of mud.
>She giggles, lifting another pinch.
>Some things never change.
>You smirk, as you lift some of the mud with your own magic.
 
>Cadance giggled some more.
>She never had this kind of fun back in the palace!
>Then she saw Shines respond.
>That look on his face…
>Why was it so familiar?
>Before she could even respond, she received a face-full of dirt.
>Mud.
>She heard his throaty chuckle, as he tried to help getting the mud off her face.
>Instead of using his magic, however, he decided to get it off with his hoof.
 
“Forgive me princess, but you look absolutely dashing.”
>You laugh, as the love princess isn’t feeling the love anymore.
>She throws a low ball at you, which you easily swing around and throw back.
>Come on, you don’t get to be an ex-captain without learning a few tricks.
>She takes it to her face, almost with no retaliation.
>Cadance then falls over to the pile, mud getting everywhere.
>She looks around, examining the damage.
>You are laughing your ass off.
>She angrily shakes her legs about, and then goes silent.
>Then, you hear a sniffle.
>Oh boy.
>You immediately jump into the puddle, and help the princess up.
>Well, there goes your head.
“Princess, are you alright?” You ask, clearing her face with your hoof.
>You uncover a mischievous smirk.
>Newbie mistake, Anon!
>She tackles you to the pile, getting your coat all messy.
>She also drops a few metric tons of mud on you.
>But no, you’re not going down alone.
>You pull her with you, as the hill forms.
 
>This was a very strange day for the fillies.
 
>The two of you dig out of the pile laughing to each other.
>You fall out backwards, as Cadance falls on top of you.
>She immediately realizes the position, and scrambles out.
>You can only lay there and blush.
 
>”Well, it was an interesting day, Shines.”
>Cadance pulls out more grime from her mane.
>”I never had this much fun!”
>You just smile back.
“Glad you had fun with the dirt, princess.”
>She smiles at you.
>”Shall we go?”
“Let’s.”
>The two of you walk side by side; destination: the castle.
“I’m surprised you get bored, princess.” You start the conversation.
>”Well… Life of luxury and riches do get boring after a while.”
“Can we have a trade for a day? I bet I’ll do wonders as a love princess.”
>She giggles at this.
>”I bet you’ll make a lovely love princess, Shines.”
>She then looks to you seriously.
>”Where will you start?”
>You pause for a while, thinking.
“I think I’ll start with the lost lovers.”
>She smiles sadly.
>”Then I might need your help.”
>Aw shit, real smooth, Anon.
“Princess, I’m sorry I-“
>”It’s quite alright; it is just that- Shining is wrapped up in his training and all…”
>Well, lookie here, history is repeating itself.
“I sincerely hope the two of you happiness.”
>She turns to you, smiling.
>She then goes back into her cheery mood, giving you a punch on the leg.
>”Hey, that could be your tagline!”
>The two of you then talk and joke, as you made your way to the castle.
 
>You dread over yourself in the shower.
>Anon, you got over this, Cadance moved on.
>You can’t have her forever.
>But… this isn’t you, now is it?
>You’re Mr. Shines, a teacher in advanced magic.
>You are no human.
>He died in an accident long time ago.
>But she’s with your brother.
>Shining.
>Would you just steal her away from him?
>You sigh, and bask in the warm waters.
>You hated mud in your ears.
 
>You take another walk through the gardens, trying to forget what just happened.
>You want to go to your spot again.
>You wanted to forget.
>Tonight, it looks like there are other ponies here in the gardens.
>And- is that Cadance?
>…With Shining Armor.
>He kneels in front of her, and Cadance just squeaks in excitement.
>You know what is going on.
>You turn around, and head back up.
>Yeah, you didn’t want any of that shit.