//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: Home Again // by drnkntst //------------------------------// Chapter 30 “What were you doing with Trixie?!” Twilight practically screamed at Rick. “Wasn’t exactly by choice. I ate some bad berries and stumbled into her camp. She took care of me and brought me here.” “I’m sorry but, she’s so… mean,” Fluttershy accused. “So she said,” Rick affirmed. “Wha da ya mean?” Applejack asked. “I mean she told me how she had gone to Ponyville and had been absolutely cruel to you all. She also said that thanks to Twilight, she has changed her ways and is trying to use her magic for the better good now. I don’t know what she did in the past, but I do know she only tried to help me.” “Do you mean to say, after the positively horrible way she acted, tying up Applejack, warping Rainbow’s wings, banishing Twilight and sealing her out of the town and worst of all, making me wear… brown *shudder*, she’s trying to use her magic for good now?” Rarity was flabbergasted at the concept. “Again, I wasn’t there when she came to town, but she only treated me with kindness.” He was starting to get annoyed. “Maybe she was telling the truth.” “Huh, fat chance. She only knows how to be mean and show off.” Rainbow thrust her chin up in disgust. Rick didn’t take the bait on the whole ‘show off’ bit. “All I know is, I walked into her camp, passed out, she took care of me, brought me here to Canterlot and didn’t ask for anything in return.” “Alright, alright, enough of this, we aren’t getting anything done here. It’s getting late and we could all use a rest.” Rarity played peacemaker successfully. “You’re right. I already talked to Princess Celestia and she’s made arrangements for us in the castle. Let’s get going.” Twilight led the way out of the little doughnut shop and into the emptying streets. Chapter 31 The grandness of the palace was impressive as always, leaving him just as speechless as the first time he came here. He was even more impressed that Celestia was waiting for them at the foot of the grand staircase. Rick was impressed by this fact only to realize he had been with a princess for the last few days. Celestia greeted them all in her normal regal manner. “Hello, my little ponies, I’m so happy to see you all. I am especially glad to see you were able to find Rick in good health. Your room is prepared and ready, the guard will lead the way. I wish I could spend more time with you all but I must attend to my duties. Sleep well everypony.” A unicorn guard approached them and Rick couldn’t help but notice the similarities between his colors and Shining Armor’s. “This way to your room please.” “Wait, did they both just say 'room'? As in one room? Crap.” At least it was a very large single room. The best part was that there was three beds, two large ones for the mares and a smaller one for Rick. It was also a very beautifully decorated room with a large area rug and elegant armoires, which made no sense to Rick sense none of them had clothes anyway, then it occurred to him that none of them had clothes on. The ceiling became very interesting and his tail very heavy. “What are you looking at?” “Hmm, oh nothing, Dash, just looking around.” To his horror, she floated into his view. He closed his eyes and yawned, “I’m just gonna get some sleep. I’m pretty tired, goodnight everybody.” And at that, he climbed into his bed and forced his eyes shut. Luckily, he really was tired and had fallen asleep quickly. “Rick, I can’t believe you thought you were cool enough to get with me!” yelled Rainbow Dash. The climate in Sugarcube Corner was more hostile than a shop with such great treats should ever be. “I don’t know what you are so upset about, a unicorn stallion with so much appeal and integrity is more deserving of a lady of class,” boasted Rarity. “Not some speedy ruffian!” Rainbow glared at Rarity daring her to cross that line again. “I throw the best parties for him!” exclaimed Pinkie. “Parties are the best way keep somepony happy! I’ll keep him way happier than the rest of you!” She was caught by surprise when a chocolate cupcake thrown by Fluttershy hit her in the face. “Excuse me,” replied Fluttershy in a low yet angry voice. “My introduction to animals guarantees him to me. Besides, he’s so comfortable around me, he slept on me.” “Well he’s practically a member uh mah family already!” Applejack exclaimed. “He’s worked mah farm ‘n’ even already treats Apple Bloom like ‘is own daughter!” Rainbow forgot about Rarity to go lock mad faces with Applejack instead. “Girls, you're all wrong,” smirked Twilight. "As an alicorn, I have the highest ranking to have Rick as my coltfriend. Not to mention my princess dress is prettier than anything you could ever make, Rarity." Rarity fumed at the remark. "It. Is. On!" yelled Rarity. With that, everypony started fighting. Pinkie and Fluttershy began hoof-slapping each other, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were rolling on the floor punching one another and Twilight and Rarity were in a sweets duel, using their magic to levitate and throw deserts at each other. "Girls, please stop!" Rick shouted. His words didn't work. The fighting, treat flinging and slapping continued. Suddenly, that was exactly what happened. Everything in the room stopped in an instant. Cupcakes floated in midair, hooves were frozen in the middle of a collision with a face and the shouts that were being spewed had been cutoff halfway through. To say the least, Rick was confused. “Really, we send you here to find happiness and this is what you dream of?” The sweetest voice he’d ever heard came from behind him. Rick stood up off his hands and knees and turned to face his wife. When he locked eyes, his filled with tears and he rushed to embrace her only to pass through her and fall back to his hands and knees. His heart didn’t know whether to break or jump for joy. His wife was before him again, but he couldn’t touch, hug or kiss her. “Hanna, is it really you?” “It is. I had to come to help you. You are surrounded by love and yet you are miserable. What could cause you so much trouble to cause you to have such horrible dreams?” “I-I don’t know what to do. I care for them all deeply and I don’t know, I may love them, but I just don’t know. The only woman I ever loved was you and I’m not sure I can ever truly love another.” It was Hanna’s turn to cry. “I love you too, Rick, but I am gone. We will meet again but until that day, I absolutely want you to love again. You need to embrace life and to do that, you need to embrace love.” “But, I don’t want to come between any of them either. My biggest fear is that they will turn to,” he swung his arm wide to indicate the frozen fight, “this.” “I do not believe you have anything to fear.” Rick turned to see Luna walk through the walls of Sugarcube Corner. Her normal alicorn form started to fade and was replaced by a beautiful human form covered in a form fitting dark blue dress. Her hair was still its normal corporeal form but her blue fur was replaced with milky white skin that seemed to have never seen the light of day. The tiara was still there but her neck piece had turned into a simple platinum chain with an amethyst jeweled crescent moon charm. “Luna, what are you doing here?” Rick’s surprise was palpable. “I could sense your despair and felt a need to help. But as I said, you do not have need to fear these mares fighting like this. They love each other too much for it to come to this and they love you too much to push you away,” Hanna and Luna both smiled gently at him, “and if you need to be convinced further, then all you have to do, is open your eyes.” Rick’s eyes adjusted quickly thanks to the abnormally bright moon shining through the windows. The first thing that came into view was three perfect, red apples on an orange field. Then he realized that orange field was in fact Applejack’s flank. He turned his head and saw that she was happily sleeping with her head across his barrel. Shortly after, he realized that his opposite side had a bundle of long, pink hair attached to a smiling yellow colored head. Fluttershy was tucked right up against him. On either side of his head was a unicorn. To be more accurate, there was a beautiful, white unicorn and an adorable purple alicorn. They had both curled up close to his head. Rainbow Dash was still in one of the large beds, alone and sprawled out as much of the bed as possible, snoring happily. As best as he could tell, they had each snuck over in the middle of the night and didn’t know the others were there. He couldn’t hold back the smile the tried to separate his head from his neck despite the returned tingling feeling in each thigh. It was stronger this time but also shorter, only lasting for a second or so. He looked out the window at the moon and could make out what looked to be a unicorn made from shadows on its surface. He would almost swear the shadow unicorn smiled back at him just before he drifted back to sleep smiling himself. Chapter 32 When Rick woke up, he was a little surprised to find he did so alone. That’s not to say he was disappointed, just surprised, he still had to figure out how to handle this whole mess. At least now he knew, no matter his decision, he wouldn’t destroy the friendship shared between them all. He slid out of bed and stood up taking in the scene with renewed vision. Rainbow Dash had the whole bed to herself as none of the others wanted to be beaten in their sleep be the bucking, rolling, snoring pegasus. The others shared the last bed. Three where huddled together happily while Fluttershy was curled up inside her own mane and tail looking adorable as ever. Rick couldn’t help but notice just how precious the others looked while they slept. What did he ever do to deserve this? “Fluttershy,” Rick whispered as he nudged her gently, “it’s time to get up.” One big blue eye opened slowly, focused, and then shot open with shock. “Oh, um, Rick, good morning. Did you sleep well?” “Oh, I had a little trouble at first, but after a while, I slept like a baby.” He knew he could have busted her and every other pony right then and there, but where would be the fun in that? “Now, you wake the others, I’ll get Rainbow Dash. With any luck, they’ll have pancakes for breakfast.” He managed to accomplish his goal with only a single hoof-punch to his jaw, in truth; it didn’t hurt that badly and was more comical than anything. Rick left the mares to their morning business while he went out into the hall. Once in the hall, he was greeted by the Princess of the day herself. “Good morning, Celestia.” Rick greeted as he joined her on the patio she was standing on. “Good morning, Rick, slept well I hope.” “Best I have in days. Thank you for asking.” “Glad to hear it, because from what I understand, you’ve been having some trouble as of late.” “That’s true, but I think things will be better now that I understand the situation a little better.” “Oh, and what situation is this per se?” She looked down her snout at him with an eyebrow raised. “Um, if you don’t mind, it’s kind of a personal thing between me and the girls. I’d prefer to keep it that was,” a sudden realization of just whom he was talking to changed him into Fluttershy for a second, “uh, if that’s alright with you.” The look on her face changed from one of curiosity to one of deep suspicion. “I’m beginning to think I should have put you in a separate room from the girls,” a slight panic formed in Rick’s mind, “though I suppose it would have made it far more difficult for them to find their way into your bed. I must wonder if this is why you were stuck by one of these fillies,” Rick actually managed to cause his fur to go pale through sheer terror alone. She could no longer hold back her laughter, “calm yourself, I know them better than to think anything untoward happened and I know you well enough to know you would never do anything to hurt them. That is why I made you their protector after all.” After a moment or two, Rick’s blood flowed again and a thought floated to the surface of his mind. “You put us in the same room so that something WOULD happen.” “Of course, I too must have some fun from time to time.” Celestia giggled happily. Rick couldn’t help but feel warmth from it and join in. They returned to the hallway at the same time the five element bearers exited their room. The morning sun shining through the giant windows made eyes sparkle and hair shine making each of them even more attractive to him than normal, which is saying a lot. He only wished he was the one who realized he was staring, unfortunately it wasn’t, “are you sure there really is a problem?” Celestia whispered into his ear.