Home Again

by drnkntst


Chapter 2

Chapter 4

Rick wrapped his forelegs around Twilight and held her tight as she buried her face into his fur. She was sobbing, tears soaking his barrel.

“Uh, Twi, Ah don’t mean to interrupt, but who is yur friend here?” Applejack’s unmistakable speech pattern was a welcome addition to Rick’s ears.

“Yes, I don’t know who he is, but it is quite rude to interrupt such a solemn occasion.” Rarity interjected.

Rick decided to have a little fun since Twilight apparently couldn’t speak and the others still didn’t know he was… him. “Do you mind, we’re having a moment here.”

Their collective gasps made it obvious that he had struck a chord. “Who do you think you are,” Rainbow Dash’s voice showed nothing but fury, “you interrupted a memorial for our friend. There are four princesses here and you expect them to stop for you?”

“Kinda,” Rick had pushed it as far as he dared; it was time to let them off the hook, “I mean it is my memorial.”

The look on their faces was priceless. “Wha… who… just what the hay are you talking about?” Dash sputtered out.

“Why don’t you ask Twilight here?”

“It’s Rick! I-I don’t know how, but he came back!” Twilight informed over her shoulder; she was reluctant to release him still.
Princess Celestia approached the pair. “Is this true? Are you really Rick Rhinestone?”

“Yes, your highness. I’m not one hundred percent clear on the how or why, but it is me.”

The princess rubbed her chin with a hoof as she processed this information. “If you truly are who you say you are, then you should be able to answer a few questions.”

“Of course. Ask whatever you like of me.”

“If you are indeed Rick, then where did you come from?”

“Ohio, America or Earth, which answer do you prefer?” Rick said with a grin.

“Very well. I’ve been told Rick had a special name for the large chair in his home. What is that name?”

Rick had to think for a second. “Oh, you mean my ‘man chair’.”

“One final question,” Celestia was looking down the length of her snout at Rick with one eyebrow raised. “What is the name of Rick’s son?”

“But, I don’t have a son. I had a daughter named Annie and a wife named Hanna, never a son though.”

Celestia held her gaze, studying his face. She observed his eyes for the slightest sideways glance, the corners of his mouth for the tiniest twitch and his forehead for the smallest droplet of sweat. Seeing nothing out of place, Celestia had to take his words as earnest. “Very well, let us continue this indoors,” she turned to lead the party into Rick’s vacant home.

Once the royal sisters, the royal couple, the Apples, the Crusaders and the six mares that were Rick’s closest friends, Spike and Paul were inside, they all sat in various chairs and on cushions about the living room. Celestia took the recliner which irked Rick slightly, but being the largest present, she would need the largest chair. Rick had taken post on the smaller sofa, Twilight sat next to him and sat close enough to Rick that his could feel her. “Wait, why do I feel feathers? That’s odd.” Paul was on the floor at his feet. Once they were settled in, Celestia started digging for answers.

“Now, tell us, how did you return to the living?” skepticism dripped from her every word.

“Well, the last thing I remember as a human,” he held out his forelegs as evidence that he was indeed no longer of the human persuasion, “was that bear about to tear me in half.” Twilight and Shining Armor shared a look of shock and then Twilight turned and dropped her head.

“It was my fault, you were killed to protect me.” Twilight folded up and started to shake and cry into her hooves.

She stopped shaking when she felt a hand stroke her mane, then she looked up in surprise when it dawned on her that there were no hands present. Twilight looked up at Rick, his horn was glowing orange and an orange ethereal hand withdrew from her back.

“It was not your fault. Just as it wasn't Shining Armor’s fault. By the way, did you two make up after that little fight in the hospital?” A room full of surprised faces answered his question. Rick decided the best way to deal with their shock was by continuing the tale of his resurrection. “We’ll come back to that I guess. Anyway, I never felt the bear’s strike, so there was no pain and nothing for you to feel sorry about. I was suddenly, as I was told, between worlds. Hanna and Annie were there. They told me that they had sent me here in the first place so I could have a happy life.”

“And have you?” Pinkie’s somber demeanor caught Rick off guard.

“I sure did. I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything, Pinkie. Having you girls as my friends has been the best thing that ever happened to me since the day my daughter was born.” Pinkie Pie perked up at this, taking on a more familiar, vibrant disposition. “That’s why I came back, well partly. I was told it wasn’t my time and I begged to stay with my family in the afterlife. But when I was shown how much pain you all were in, especially you, Twilight, I just couldn't abandon you all for my own gain.”

“So then, where have you been all this time?” Rarity asked.

“I was with a zebra I met in the Everfree forest.”


“Wait, you were with Zecora, for six months?!” Rainbow shouted as she hovered.

“Six months? No, I was only there for one month. Besides, the whole time I was there, I was learning how to control my magic.”

“One month? So where in tarnation were ya fur tha uther five?” Applejack pondered aloud.

Rick shrugged, “that’s probably how long it takes to turn a human into a pony. Besides, a better question is, when did Twilight grow wings?”

“On the day she became a princess,” Shining Armor answered with visible pride in his little sister.

“A princess? Princess Twilight Sparkle? Oh, I am sorry I wasn’t there for that. Good for you Twi… I mean Princess Twilight.”

“Please, just call me Twilight like always, or Twi. I’m still not used to the whole princess thing yet. Besides, Princess Celestia lets you call her by name, so who am I to demand more?”

“In fact, he may not.” Celestia spoke up, “I am still not completely convinced that this stallion is indeed our good friend Rick Rhinestone.”

“But Princess, this is Rick. I know it’s him.” Twilight defended

“And I sincerely hope that is true. But until I am certain, I do not wish to be too familiar in case he is not who he claims to be. Did we not learn from Queen Chrysalis during the wedding last year?”

“That’s true, but…” Twilight started.

“It’s okay, Twilight. She’s not doing this to be rude. She is simply being cautious in order to protect everyone. Am I right Cel… Princess Celestia?” Rick looked up at the ruler of the kingdom to which he was hoping to remain a part of.

“Correct, I would advise you ponies to be cautious as well. I am not saying this gentlecolt isn’t Rick, but I am also not saying he is either. Now, Luna and I must return to Canterlot. Farewell everypony.” She said this as she stood and walked out the front door followed by Luna, the latter of which didn’t look away ‘til she was completely out the door.

“Well I for one am certain. I know that this is Rick,” Twilight embraced Rick in a tight hug, “and I am happy to have him back.”
“About that, how did you know he was Rick, Dear?” Rarity asked as she approached for a closer look.

“Actually, Paul recognized him first. He ran away from me and went straight up to Rick. I didn’t realize it was him at first, but when I thought about it during my speech. I remember his voice and a certain word he used, ‘somebody.’ ” The others looked a little confused.

“So you mean to tell me, Sis, that you believe this is Rick because of one word?” Shining inquired.

“Have you ever heard anypony use the word ‘somebody’ other than Rick?” They all had to agree that they had not.

“Plus, a dog’s sense of smell would definitely let him identify somepony. And he does seem to treat Rick the same as he did before.” Fluttershy added.

After some debating, it had been more or less concluded that Rick was indeed Rick. Shining Armor and Cadence had left for home as did the Crusaders. Twilight and her friends stayed in Rick’s house, deciding to spend the night as it was late.

Chapter 5

The next morning, Rick came down the stairs from his room. The sight of six mares still sleeping in his living room made him happy; he had missed his friends while his was training with Zecora. He let Paul outside for his morning business as quietly as he could.
Twilight stirred in his big chair. He grinned and approached her, stopping in his tracks just a couple feet from her. “I knew she was cute, but… something’s different.” He soon realized that, because he was a pony now, he could see that she was beautiful. The peaceful face she had while sleeping made her even more beautiful.

He used a magical hand to adjust the blanket she was using. Rick turned away from her to head into the kitchen to make breakfast. Rarity came across his view. She wasn’t just beautiful, she was stunning. Rick looked at the others with the same result. Fluttershy was beyond cute, Applejack reminded him of a gorgeous ‘farmer’s daughter’ type, Pinkie seemed like a spunky college co-ed and Rainbow Dash was that cute tom-boy that was far cuter than she wanted to admit.

As he walked into the kitchen, he thought about how beautiful they all were without him noticing before. “Damn, I haven’t seen a woman this gorgeous since I first met Hanna, let alone six of them.” He set about making breakfast, glad that Pinkie had gone to Sugarcube Corner to gather some supplies.

A quiet gasp took him by surprise and he nearly dropped the mixing bowl. “How… what… those… hands. How are you making those hands? Why are you making those hands?”

Rick set down the eggs, bowl and frying pan on the counter. With the exception of one, the hands disappeared. The last one shrunk and lowered to position itself in front of his face. “These? Well, when Zecora was training me to use my magic, she told me I had to concentrate and I found it helpful to simply imagine hands for the purposes of telekinesis. Hence the hands, since I’m used to using them, it made sense.”

“It’s amazing, every other unicorn I’ve ever heard of simply envelopes the object they wish to manipulate. Making hands, amazing. Can you do any other types of magic?”

“Not much, just small force fields and a light from my horn.”

“Still, it is impressive. If you like, I can try to teach you more.”

“Of course, Twi,” he had to try it out, “I would like that.” The remaining magic had floated over and rubbed Twilight between the ears. She blushed a little. “Now, I’ll finish making breakfast, you wake the girls.”

They enjoyed a nice egg breakfast, complete with toast and AJ’s apple juice. They discussed the events Rick missed. They talked about the Crystal Empire getting the Equestria Games. He was amazed to hear how Fluttershy reformed Discord. The ceremony for Twilight’s coronation was something he sorely wished he hadn’t missed.

After breakfast, he magically placed all the dishes into the sink and went to let Paul back inside.

Through the cracked door, he overheard the girls talking. “…and he’s just so handsome too, Darling.” He froze, he knows it’s wrong to eavesdrop, but he couldn’t help it.

“I just hope he’s as much fun as he was before!” he could practically hear Pinkie bouncing.

“I’m just so impressed with his magic skills,” Twilight added.

“But where did them stripes on his face and barrel come frum?” AJ asked.

“My best guess is the bear,” Rick said as he entered. The collective gasp made him smile.

“Rick! H-how long have you been listening?” Rainbow Dash stuttered.

“Long enough to know Rarity thinks I’m handsome.” The white fur on her cheeks turned a bright pink. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I heard you all talking when I came back in. By the way, Rarity, you are quite stunning yourself.” Now her whole face was glowing red.

Giggling came from the ponies around the table. He basked in the warmth of it all. He was certainly glad that he was sent back to live with his friends again. The added benefit of him being a unicorn was going to make it a lot easier to relate to them. There was a certain tugging in his chest that had started when he first saw them sleeping in his living room, and was starting to grow. He was beginning to like it.