I awake, quickly regretting it as a bright beam of sunlight blinds me. I let out a groan as I rub my eyes. I feel movement next to me and look down. Applejacks smiling face lies inches from my own, her mane covering parts of it. I reach over and brush away a strand, smiling as my action gets a contented sigh from my marefriend. I look over to the clock on the chest of drawers and see that it was eleven sixteen. I drag both of my hands over my face as I decide to get up.

I yawn before removing the covers and sliding out, as I do however a pain shoots down my back. I look around and find that during the night Applejack fell asleep on my left wing. I reach around and try to pull it out, but my wing refused to budge. I sigh as I fail to remove my trapped appendage. I slowly get back into the bed and pull the covers back over me. I feel more movement and look down to Applejack, she had started to pad the bed sheet with a hoof while still asleep. A look of worry on her face. I slide closer so her hoof can touch my body, I see a smile appear on Applejacks face again as her hoof connects with my arm.

I slide under her front leg as Applejack snuggles up close to me. Her head raises to rest on my chest, her mane tickling my skin. I chuckle quietly as I drape my left arm around Applejacks body. I sigh softly as I let my eyes close again.

I hear groaning moments later, as I open my eyes again I glance to the clock. One fifteen, Damn I think we should get up now. It was late and i'm pretty sure Applejack has to work the farm today, considering it was a weekday. I still had Applejacks head on my chest, I could feel her slow breathing on my skin. I reach my right hand up and scratch her nose, Applejacks face scrunches up for a second before her eyes slowly start to open.

“Hey there sleepy head.” I say, as Applejack looks up to me.

“W-What time is it?”

“About one twenty.” I reply. Applejacks head replaces itself back on my chest. I hold up three fingers and slowly count back to one. As my last finger drops Applejack springs awake almost jumping of the bed.

“One twenty!?” Applejack throws of the covers and rolls out of the bed. “Ah'm late! So late!”

I chuckle. “Applejack calm down, I'm sure Granny smith will forgive you. Besides it was my first night back, and it was very enjoyable.” I grin towards her.

Applejack smiles back and jumps up onto the bed, lying back on top of me. “Ah enjoyed myself too.” Applejack pecks me on the lips. “But ah have to help with harvesting today, and ah'm very late.”

I rub her mane and laugh. “Ok, I hear you.” Applejack jumps back off the bed.

“Ah don't want to leave you but...”

“Hey, don't fret. I have to tell Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie I have returned so my day is going to be full.” I tap my chin with a finger. “Tell you what, I’ll swing by the farmhouse tonight. How does that sound?”

“Ah would like that! Ah think my brother and Applebloom would like that too, however ah don't think granny will be awake then.”

“It's alright I have a few months before my guard training, I can spare a few to meet her when she's awake.” Applejack smiles before turning and heading for the door. “Applejack wait!” I call out after her, sliding out the bed only to realise i'm still naked. “My question from last night, it still stands.” I raise my hand back to my belt on the floor and the black box from last night floats up and over to my open palm. I hold it up again as I open it, revealing the necklace inside.

“I want to marry you Applejack, and that's the truth.”

“Ah...Ah....” Applejacks eyes dart from side to side. Her eyes stop and focus on mine. A smile appears on her muzzle. “Ah....Ah do too!” Applejack lunges at me, her lips meeting mine. Applejack pulls away. “Ah accept your proposal, Ah want to be yours!”

I take the necklace out of the box and place it around her neck. I smile as Applejack touches the gem with her hoof. “It looks good on you.”

“It's beautiful, Ah love it.”

“Thought you might.” I stand up. “Now you better get going or Big Mac will be angry.” I laugh.

Applejack hugs me again. “Thanks John, Ah mean it. Ah love you.”

“I love you too.” I return Applejacks embrace before letting go. “Now, I think I have some more family to reacquire.” Applejack smiles at me again before giving me another peck on the cheek and running out the bedroom door. I turn back to the bed and notice a red ribbon on the floor. I pick it up seeing that it was Applejacks ponytail ribbon. I smile as I fold it up and put it on my chest of drawers.

I notice a smell coming from somewhere, as I turn my nose up I realise it was me. “Damn! I think a shower is in order.” I grab a towel from the top drawer of my chest of drawers, being glad that Twilight didn't get rid of my stuff. I turn to walk out the door only to see said mare looking at me with a blush across her face. “Uh? Hi Twilight.” I say, waving a hand in front of her.

“I...I....” Is the response I get.

“Is there something wrong?” I ask, tieing the towel around my waist.

Twilight shakes her head. “No! Nothings wrong! Just came to see how your doing? I saw Applejack run out.”

“Yeah, she had to get back too Sweet Apple Acres.”

“I see she was wearing your necklace.” I notice Twilight looking at me with that 'did she?' Expression.

“She said yes.” The level of squeal that came from Twilight made me put two fingers in both my ears.

“She said yes! Oh my gosh! This is fantastic!” Twilight bounces around me. “We have to tell the others, get dates sorted out....we....we....” Twilights tirade was stopped by my hand over her muzzle.

“Twilight, it's been one night. Let it sink in first, I don't want to rush anything.”

“Of course, sorry.” Twilight blushes again. “It's just so wonderful, congratulations to both of you!”

I head for the bedroom door. “Now unless you want me smelling like some unwashed heathen, I need to take a shower. I have some sisters to address.” Twilight cocks her head, then I hear the cog turn.

“Oh right! The others! But Rarity and Fluttershy have a spa appointment today. I have no idea where Rainbow Dash is, and Pinkie is at sugercube Corner.”

“Good! I might go for Rainbow or Pinkie first. I may have thought of something for the other two but I might need a prankster.”

“A prankster?”

“Yeah, and I think by that definition I might go for Pinkie first, she's always up for a good laugh.” I notice Twilight bite her bottom lip. “Twilight? Is something wrong with Pinkie?” Twilight nods. “What is it?”

“After you disappeared Pinkie was at the fore front of our efforts to find you. She wrote letters to every pony she knew up and down Equestria. Pinkie even wrote to her family that if you happen to appear to ask you to come home.” Twilight walks to the window by the bed and stares out. “But after two months of nothing Pinkie started to lose it, I mean more than usual. She would go on two or three day trips without telling anypony. Only to come back hurt and rejected.” Twilight turns back to me. “Then it got even worse, she stopped talking to us. Pinkie never responded to our letters, or our attempts to talk to her. Every one of our attempts got returned or just ignored. Now the only time I see her is when I go to pick up some cupcakes or something for Spike. Even then she walks out getting the cakes to serve me.”

During Twilights explanation I had sat on the bed with my head in my hands. I knew my disappearance would effect everypony but not like this. I raise my head.

“What about the others?”

“Rainbow was never hard to find but when I tried to talk to her she would fly off or just hide. Rarity was devastated when she got out of hospital, she heard about your transformation and broke down when I told her that it was you who saved her that night. Since then Rarity has tried to live on but everypony can see it still haunts her.”

“And Fluttershy?” I ask, still looking at Twilight.

“Fluttershy was the same as Rarity but for a while she never came out of her cottage. Fluttershy would venture out for several hours then return home, but no pony knew what she was up to in that time.”

My face was the picture of how I felt, the pain of not letting anypony know of were I was or that I was safe. I looked back to the floor before a stood back up.

“Then it looks like I have a family to put back together doesn't it?” I walked over to the large wardrobe and flung open the doors.

“What about your shower?”

“Family comes first Twilight, my shower can wait.”

I removed some more appealing clothing. I took out a green t-shirt, as I pulled it down I realised Twilight never asked me about my scars.

“Twilight? Why didn't you ask me about my scars?”

Twilight shifts uncomfortably. “I didn't want to pry, I do too much of that. If they had a story you would tell me in time.” I smile, but shake my head.

“You could have asked I don't mind, Applejack already knows for obvious reasons.” Twilight looks away as her cheeks turn red again. “You really have to stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Looking away and blushing when I say something personal. It's not like you don't know how it works.”

“I do but I just never.....” Twilight trails off.

“Never what?” I ask, returning back to the wardrobe and removing a pair of jeans.

Twilight says something that just comes out as a squeak.

“Come again.” I say looking back.

“I never had a somepony to do it with.” Twilight replies.

“Oh.” Now I felt like a jerk. “I didn't know, I just thought.....” I had no idea how to finish that sentence.

“You just thought what?” Dammit now I have to answer.

“I just thought you never had time for a relationship.” (Well handled John).

“I just haven't found the right stallion yet, that's all.”

I could feel the tension in the room. Why had I never asked? I drop my clothes on the bed and kneel down in front of Twilight.

“You are beautiful Twilight, don't let anypony say otherwise. But sometimes you can go a little over board with your studying.”

“I know, but I just love to read. I sometimes just forget to have fun most days.”

I chuckle. “Why am I not surprised by that? I bet you have more fun sorting books than hanging out with your friends.” Twilight bites her bottom lip again as she refrains from looking at me. I laugh harder. “Twilight, your priceless you know that.” I laugh a little more before I remember my task at hand. “Now I need to get changed, I'll meet you down stairs.” Twilight nods as she heads for the door but stops and turns.

“Thanks brother.” Twilight then leaves, I stop moving and look to were Twilight once stood.

“No, thank you Twilight.” I whisper to myself.

I finish my sorting and quickly change, forgetting about my wings until the pain of the t-shirt compacting them jogs my brain. I remove the t-shirt and look at the back, I know Rarity is going to kill me for this but I tear holes in the fabric were my wings will exit. By using a nearby mirror I manage to poke my wings through the holes and lift the t-shirt up and over my head. I make a mental note to see what Rarity could do to make my clothes fit over my wings. Though the feeling of soft cloth on my skin was refreshing, that and wearing armour for six months was really getting old. Then again in the future, wearing armour would be part of my job, oh but what a glorious job it will be.

I button up my trousers, afterwards I do a little spin. I see that the tears I made are covered by my wings, I smile and head for the bedroom door. Before I reach it however, I get a feeling. I walk towards the window and look out. I scan the street, my eyes catch a figure standing in an ally opposite my window. As I stare at the figure a yellow clawed leg raises up and beckons me out, at first I hesitate and clench my fists. The figure looks around, then steps out revealing a face I knew. My anger subsides as I nod, the figure moves back and out of my sight.

“What's she doing here?” I ask myself. “Better go see what she wants.”

I head down stairs and see Twilight putting on a set of saddlebags.

“Ready to head out John?” Twilight asks, trotting up next to me.

“Sorry Twilight there's something I need to do first, I'll meet you at Sugercube Corner.”

“But you said family comes first!” Twilight started to tear up.

“Hey now don't be like that!” I reach down and stroke her mane. “This is important too, don't worry I will be just a few minutes.”

“Ok.” Twilight replies. “Just don't take too long.”

“I won't, I promise.” I do the Pinkie promise motion.

“Fine! But you better show up!” Twilight replies with a huff before opening the main library door and leaving.

I watch the open door for several minutes before I decide to leave, my wings quiver on my back as my feelings become a mixture of anger and annoyance. I walk around the library approaching the ally, I don't see the figure so I step further inside. Even though it was broad daylight the ally was almost completely dark. I slowly walk along when I spot a slight piece of movement to my right. I step back to avoid a blade aimed at me, I grab the yellow clawed foot it was attached to and fling the offender to the ground. I ball up a fist to beat my attacker only for the figure to cry out.

“Stop! I had to be sure it was you!”

“Kassa! What are doing here?” I ask, pulling the figure to her feet.

“I came to warn you!” Kassa my only real griffon friend replies.

Kassa was the first griffon that came to know my secret, but it was my choice to tell her. Besides Strider and Midnight, she was the only other I called friend. She had helped me several times during my 'stay' in the Griffon Colonies. She even helped us with supplies and various other forms of assistance. However when I said goodbye before I left I had thought that was the last time I would see her, apparently I was wrong.

“Warn me? About who?”

“It's Varala! She knows your here!”

“Varala? I thought that bitch gave up!”

“No! She wanted you to think that, but she's on her way here now!”

“How long?”

“Two maybe three days tops.” Kassa looks at me. “What are you going to do?”

“I won't run, I am home now! She fights me on my terms! Not hers!”

“John, my friend. You fought her once and you got those scars.” Kassa touches my chest. “Don't fight her again, she's better than you! Can't you see that!?”

“I see it Kassa, I see it as I see you now. But I am not a coward! If Varala wants to fight me then she's got a fight!” I reply, swiping the air with my hand.

“What about your family?” Kassa's question makes me look back at the library.

“I'll tell them, but not yet. I think I have some training to do.”

“John, I can't stay but I just wanted to say....I'm glad I met you, your marefriend is a lucky mare.” Kassa says, putting her right front claws on my shoulder. “I have to go but, I’ll be rooting for you.”

I hug Kassa. “Thanks Kassa, your are a true friend. But don't be a stranger you hear, when this is all done I want you to meet my family.”

Kassa smiles and takes to the skies, I watch her go until I can't see her anymore. I sigh before heading out of the alley and on to Sugercube Corner. At that time a had two thoughts running through my head. Bring my family back together and figuring out how I can kill a griffon who's skill is better than mine.