//------------------------------//
// By Your Side 
// Story: Return Trip 
// by RunicTreetops 
//------------------------------//

When the assault on your senses finally dies down, you slowly begin to open your eyes. You feel a gentle breeze on your skin as you take in the environment around you. Before you stands a house almost identical to the one you were just in. However, instead of standing in a driveway next to a cul-de-sac, you are standing on dirt path with a few trees lining the sides, offering you ample shade. Your hands are still wrapped around the Return Scepter, the button no longer being pressed down by your thumb. Alongside you, Celestia is also holding the scepter, seemingly trying to get her bearings as well. You take a deep breath. The air tastes cleaner, and the subtle-yet-terrible smell is gone. You turn your head to look behind you, and your suspicions are confirmed. You're back in Ponyville. 

You look down at Celestia's magenta eyes, and she meets your gaze. The two of you share a wordless smile as she lets go of the scepter. You hold it in both hands as you ponder the events of the last few days. You went through a lot together. You learned a lot, both about your home world and about yourself. And to top it all off, you finally got the closure you so desperately needed, and in doing so, you reaffirmed your place in this world. Only this time, you didn't have to prove it to anyone but yourself. And the proof is in the pudding, as they say. You're the one who pressed the button on the Return Scepter, just like you did a few days ago. But this time, it took you here. You let out a contented sigh.

"We should probably get this back to Twilight. And let her know where we've been."

"Yes, I agree. I think it's for the best that we return the scepter to its place in the vault. As fun as it was to experience your home world, I think I'd rather stick to Equestria for a while."

"Yeah, me too." You hear a light grumbling noise, and a subtle blush makes its way to your face. "Maybe we can do that later, though?"

"Hmhm, yes, I suppose-" A second grumbling noise is heard, though this time it makes Tia blush. "...I suppose we should probably get something to eat before heading back to Canterlot. At least, we should if our upset stomachs are any indication."

"Haha! I'll get to work on dinner, then."

The two of you head inside, finally able to get a good meal and freshen up for the first time in days. It was certainly an eventful adventure, but no matter how good or how bad a journey is, there is always a sense of relief when you finally get back home.





You plop your head down onto your pillow, a blissful sigh escaping your lips. It has been some time since you've gotten to sleep in a bed, let alone the extremely soft and comfortable one in your own bedroom. You pull the covers up as you prepare to get comfortable, but you know better than to get too comfortable yet. 

Sure enough, you watch Tia emerge from the nearby bathroom wearing nothing at all before she slides into bed next to you, giving you a tired smile all the while. She quickly moves to snuggle up against you, her head nuzzling your neck and her horn resting below your head (and the pillow). Her chest floof is extremely soft, and as she wraps her massive wings around you, you relish in the warmth that she brings. As if she's reading your thoughts, you feel a gentle softness brushing against your leg as she wraps her long tail around it. For your part, your wrap your arms around her torso, pulling her in as close as possible. The feeling is heavenly, and the tight embrace (somewhat ironically) makes you both feel as though you're enveloped in a warm cloud. After hearing nothing but the sound of Tia's gentle breathing for several quiet moments, you hear her begin to whisper to you.

"Thank you, sunshine."

"Hm? What for?"

"For fulfilling your promise."

"...Oh. You, uh, you heard that, huh?"

"Hmhm. I was a bit too anxious to sleep well that night."

"Anxious? You? You seemed to be enjoying yourself for most of that journey."

"Haha! And here I thought you were all proud about how well you can read my emotions!"

"W-well, in my defense, I haven't exactly been on my 'A game' the last few days. Still, though, what were you anxious about?"

"...To tell you the truth, I was afraid I was going to lose you."

"Lose me? How so?"

"I had my suspicions about your true feelings towards your home long before a few days ago, sunshine. Once we were actually there, I will admit that the seeds of doubt had been planted in my mind. I wondered if... if you would choose to stay there, instead."

"What? Absolutely not! Never! Tia, I want nothing more than to be by your side! I said as much when we made our vows!"

"Hmhm. I know that, darling." She nuzzles her face a bit deeper into your neck before giving it a quick kiss. "Especially now. But even I can't help having doubts about myself every now and then."

"Yourself? I... I'm sorry, I thought you were doubting me?"

"I was doubting whether I was worthy of your attention. I know full well that you love me. And I love you, too! When we're in Equestria, there's nothing to stop me from believing that. But when we're in your world... that changes. Your world has your family in it. It has your old home, it's the root of some of your happiest memories. There, you can just... be a human. You can use computers, or eat meat! You could... well, you could fit in more. Find a real human woman, rather than an illusion."

"...Heh."

"Hm?"

"Heh... hehe... hahaha!"

"S-sunshine, are you laughing at me?!"

"Haha, haaaaaa... I'm sorry, Tia. It's just... that's exactly how I've felt for the past ten years about you!"

"What?"

"I'm the only human in Equestria, Tia. I have to get all of my clothes special-made. I have to adjust my diet to be more in line with what all of you can eat. I have to live without all of the comforts that I grew up with. And yet, I can't help being in love with you. You, of all ponies! The Princess Celestia!"

"W-well, I'm not a princess anymore..."

"You certainly were when we first started courting! And that whole time, I was thinking, 'Wow, there is no way this beautiful pony princess wants anything to do with the weird alien. I mean, just look at all of these handsome stallions she's surrounded by! Why would she ever want me?'"

"Sunshine, you know I adore you."

"I do. But to be honest, sometimes I still get those thoughts. And yet, whenever I see you look at me with that darn smile of yours, all of that fear melts away. So please, trust me when I say that there is absolutely nowhere I'd rather be than right here, with you."

"...I suppose my fears were unfounded, then." She pulls her head back just a little bit to look you in the eyes. Even though it's dark and you're both exhausted, you can clearly make out those beautiful eyes of hers. "Thank you, my sunshine. I love you more than you could ever know."

You gently push forward, locking your lips with hers. The kiss is tender and passionate, and you quickly lose track of time. Eventually, however, you pull back again, and you both smile at each other in the darkness before she nuzzles her face into your neck once more.

"I love you too, Tia."

With your wife in your embrace, you both drift asleep in the bedroom of your modest Ponyville house. It's the most comfortable you've ever been, both physically and emotionally. For the first time in your entire life, you can say with utmost certainty that in every regard, you are content. You're content with your life in Ponyville. You're content with what you've left behind back at your old world. And most of all, you're content with the knowledge that no matter where you go, you are loved. Because right here, with Celestia by your side...

You are home.