DIO woke up in the cottage he was in before, dazed and confused. It was quiet, and he was in a comfortable bed. His first thought, "Where is Fluttershy?"
DIO stood, slowly, realizing he only had comfortable pajamas on, and his clothing was hung up or arranged neatly to the side, smelling fresh and cleaned. He felt his hair, also clean. It was like someone had taken care of him while he was asleep.
He put his shoes on, spotting a scarf and placing it on instinctively around his neck. He felt he didn't have the time to put anything else on, but at least he had fully-body pajamas, oddly placed in such a world with no humans.
He walked down the stairs to see the mane six, as well as Celestia speaking quietly to one another. They fell silent as he approached. Fluttershy was missing.
"Where is Fluttershy?" He narrowed his eyes. Fluttershy leaned out, she was hiding away somewhere.
"I'm here!" She said with a smile. DIO smiled as well, it was genuine this time. So genuine it could be felt across the room. DIO walked down, cautiously approaching Fluttershy. He knelt down, putting himself to her height. He was confused as to why he was doing this, but didn't feel threatened or wrong. Fluttershy smiled, hugging him as he instinctively hugged her back.
"What have you done to me, white one?" He said quietly. Celestia closed her eyes with a smile, her horn was healed.
"I let you have your way," she replied, "you wanted to possess my most powerful magic, so I let you possess my friendship. On the same note, consider yourself forgiven, by all of us." DIO frowned.
"Forgiven?"
"Yes."
"Tell me why."
"Why you are forgiven?"
"Why would you do such a thing?"
"Because, DIO, even if your evil intent is stronger than a hurricane, the magic of friendship holds the world together, or at least this world. Though we can't make you perfect, we can help you, but in the end."
She looked him dead in the eye.
"You're the one who makes the choice of friendship, and we have no ability over you in that regard."
DIO was confused. Could he have devolved to such association with mortal beings? No. This friendship was strength. It was entirely unreliable in the old world, but in this one, it was a power beyond imagination. Yet he didn't feel his same arrogance. Though he knew he was more powerful, he didn't see himself as superior. He tightened his hug around Fluttershy, closing his eyes.
"I've done it." He said quietly.
"I've reached true power."
Meanwhile, in another part of Ponyville. . .
"Lyra, it's not worth looking into! I'm sure the whole two-legged thing with hands isn't worth going after!" a certain Bonbon said with frustration. "Lyra, get back to the house! Lyra! Ugh!"
Lyra had left the house without saying a word to her roommate. Bonbon was her best friend, Lyra trusted Bonbon with her own life, but she simply put her dreams first: To see a human with hands. Those magnificent, complex structures. They must exist! Such a thing is too perfect to be fiction!
After a long walk, she found herself lost in the woods. She looked around.
"Hello?" she called, about to ask for help before she heard some rustling. She jumped back as she saw a man in a white suit with a strangely designed tie walk out. Blonde hair. He looked at her placing a hand on his chin.
"Talking equines," he mused, "I have a single question for you."
Lyra was speechless.
"Do you know any girls who happen to have pretty hands?"