The sun rose on a perfect Ponyville morning.
Dan was still asleep and wouldn't be up for another couple of hours. When he woke up, the sun was almost searing to his eyes. He scowled at the rays breaking through the window, catching his eyes before they'd fully adjusted but, he got over that pretty quickly.
Today was a special day. Chrys was already up and getting ready. He should be getting ready, too.
"Hey Dan," Phoenix said. "Ready for the big day?"
Dan nodded. "Yeah... yeah, I am."
Phoenix smiled. "I'm not even gonna ask what you're gonna wear." (We all know what it's going to be, anyway. I'm sure it'll be fine. Now, what am I going to wear?)
"Hurry up and get ready yourself. Best man has to be on time."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I know."
Everyone got ready pretty quickly. There was a lot to be done and it was pretty short notice, but if there was one thing ponies could do properly, it was party. This wouldn't just be any ordinary party or special occasion, however, so all of their friends and in fact, everyone had been invited.
Around noon, they were all ready. Dan, Chrys, Twilight, Phoenix Wright and Spike, all departed the Golden Oakes Library. They made their way to the train station, checked at the last minute for everything and Dan was especially happy to see Rice and Vice operating the train. It was about time.
Before the train left, there was just one last thing Dan needed.
"Hang on, guys. I need to get something."
"What is it? And you picked just NOW to go get it?" Twilight asked.
Dan shrugged. "Well, you know me. I'll get the next ride to Canterlot, you guys take the train."
"Alright," Twilight nodded. "I think I know what you're going to get anyway," she said, giving him a wink.
"We'll see you soon, Dan!" Chrys waved.
Indeed, they would.
Dan ran, bolting his way back across town. He went to the edge of the Everfree Forest, retracing the path he first took to Ponyville. He went right to the same clearing. There was a bit of an unspoken promise he'd made to a friend.
He pulled his way through the bush. And he found Fluffle Puff there.
"I thought I'd find you here," Dan said.
*Gasp!* Fluffle Puff pounced on him, as she usually did. They hugged for quite a while, just two warm beings, warm hearts in each others' embrace.
"You're the reason why I'm here," he said. "Not just here now, but here in Equestria. You're the one that summoned me here."
Fluffle nodded. They had had this bond even before they met, something about Fluffle Puff and Dan, Dan and Fluffle Puff... across the vastness of time, space, realities, dimensions, all of that and everything else, something brough them together. And that something was love. Fluffle had not used a spell to summon Dan; she had used her heart. His heart had resonated with hers.
"A long time ago, I asked you... why you were in this forest and not in town."
Fluffle nodded again. "I... well, I think I'm the reason both you and Chrys are here. Not because of the Director. But... because of me." She felt this. She'd always felt it, known it in some way from the moment he saw Dan, the moment he saw Chrys. She hadn't seen Chrysalis, just Chrys, the version of Queen Chrysalis that wanted something more. That wanted a second chance.
"I wanted a family," Fluffle Puff said. "I didn't have one of my own. I was alone, the only one of my kind."
Dan understood. There was only one Flufflapon pony per dimension, per version of Equestria. Even Fuzzle was just another version of Fluffle, except male and blue. That was what Daring Do's information had revealed. But now, there could be more than one fluffy pony.
"I wanted it so badly... for so long. I didn't know where I came from. I still don't know. But... I have you now."
"You have a family now. You have me. And Chrys and Twilight and Spike and Nicky... and all of us. Wherever you came from, you have a home and a family with us," Dan said. He hugged her tightly, she hugged him back tightly. "Now, let's go see 'em!"
"Thpp-thpppt!"
The trip to Canterlot took a little longer, but Dan thought it was important to wave to all his friends as he departed. He wouldn't be gone long, but this was a huge step for him, for all of them. He and Fluffle Puff waved to the ponies of Ponyville, happy to see every last one of them. They had earned this. They all had earned this very moment, this happiness. It was theirs.
The arrival at Canterlot Castle was met with all the fanfare one could imagine and then some. Dan was a hero, a royal, and as of now, he was recognized for something more. This ceremony was for all of them, but they knew who the MVP was. It was a jerk named Dan, their loveable, loving jerk that they loved.
"Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," Chrys said.
"And do you take this mare to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," said Dan.
"Then, by the power vested in me by the Kingdom of Equestria, I now pronounce you... man and wife," Michael Hay said. "You may kiss the bride."
He did. He did like he'd never kissed her before.
The courtyard of Canterlot Castle erupted in a chorus of applause, streamers, confetti, and more than a few party cannons. It was the happiest day of Dan's life... so far.
Twilight, Phoenix Wright, Spike, even Chris and Elise, and Mr. Mumbles and Fluffle Puff, Rice and Vice, Princess Celestia, Luna, Shining Armor, Cadence, Sam, Sombra, all their friends, their family, the whole thing, everyone was there. Everyone.
They were all together at last. This was their home and now, they set about building, managing, maintaining, securing and living in it together.
Dan opened the doors to Canterlot Castle with both his hands, swinging both doors sweeping to the sides like he owned the whole thing. Not a single one said or thought otherwise.
Twilight trotted up to him, smiling a knowing smile. "And where have you been?"
For the first time in this story, since that question was asked, it finally got a real answer.
"Ha!" Dan laughed. "You know where I've been." He looked her right in the eye and happily said, "I've been right here this whole time. Took you long enough to notice."
"Well, maybe next time don't be so subtle about it," she said coyly.
"I think that's a good idea. And I'm not going anywhere."
She brushed his shoulder. "Wouldn't be Equestria without you."
"And we were right there with you for most of it," Phoenix said.
"Yeah, yeah," Spike added. "But hey, you wanna tell us again, Dan? Just for the heck of it?"
"Really?" Dan looked at the little dragon. "You want me to tell you the whole story again right now?"
They all shrugged. "Why not?" Chrys asked.
"Oooh, wow. Alright, then. Where do I start..."
Michael tapped Barro on the shoulder. "Hey Barro, you think this might be something worth writing down?"
And Barro shrugged. "Well... we'll see." And he got out his notebook.
Dan turned around. "Okay, so... it was just after Twilight and Spike here got back from the Crystal Empire." He spread his hands out to set the scene properly. "The sun set on a beautiful Ponyville day..."
The End.
Written by Barro the Broadcaster with help from friends.
Dan and friends will return in Season 2 of Dan Vs. The Magic of Friendship