Seven months. Seven long months. It might as well have been an eternity for Princess Twilight Sparkle. Everything was different during those months; her entire life was turned upside down and it wasn’t even Discord’s fault… this time. The violet colored alicorn shuffled her way through the Books and Branches Library, both her place of business and her home. It was also home to her adopted brother, Spike, and her two adopted daughters, Nyx and Scootaloo. It was a loving house of five, but it has felt empty without the fifth, Twilight’s husband, DJ. The last anypony had seen of that crazy pony was when he was forced to leave for seven months, after already disappearing for six.

This time was both easier and harder for Twilight. Thanks to her husband’s ingenuity, the two were able to exchange letters every now and then, allowing her to always know if he was safe instead of relying on a badge that only told her if he was alive. DJ would send her different reports every week, almost like the friendship reports she used to send to her mentor and mother-in-law, Princess Celestia. They kept her going week after week, month after month, always assuring her that he was still alive.

Some were simple messages, always ending with ‘I love you’, but then there were… the others. The ones that showed how hard it was for him to write, where he describe the terrible things he was forced to do, some that made her aghast. DJ had been forced multiple times to do despicable things in order to save the lives of many, at least according to the letters. He was living a life of adventure and, at first, Twilight was afraid that he would stick with such a life instead of returning home, but then that letter came last week, stained with a few tears. It said how much he was looking forward to coming home soon and how when he returned, there would be no more heroing. She couldn’t believe those words, they brought tears to her own eyes, knowing that he would never be leaving again.

Twilight was brought out of her personal thoughts as she heard the sound of hooves approaching from behind her. She turned and smiled at her two daughters. “Hello girls.”

“Hey mom!” they replied.

“What are you two up to today?”

“The other girls are busy today, so we’re gonna go to Hayburger with DT and Dinky,” Nyx replied.

“You gonna be alright if we go out for a few hours mom?” Scootaloo asked with a bit of concern in her voice.

Twilight smiled sweetly. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I’ll be just fine. I’m pregnant, not helpless. You go have fun with your friends.” She waved them off with a smile. “Just be back before dinner.”

“Thanks mom!” they said as they ran off and out of the library. Twilight sighed happily as she saw them off. She then looked down at her swollen stomach, rubbing it gently thinking of the new life that was being created within. There was a slight kick and she ‘oof’ed, smiling brighter.

“You’re getting bigger, little one. Just wait until your father gets a look at you, he’s gonna be so proud.”

Yes, she remembered fondly of when she told her husband the news. She was afraid at first of his response, but when a letter came back a day later, her tears of joy just wouldn’t stop. That same letter was on a table right near her and she couldn’t resist picking it up and re-reading for what seemed like the hundredth time. It read:

Dear Twilight,

I… I just can’t believe it. We, we’re going to have a baby!? We’re going to have a baby!! Wait… you’re going to be pregnant and I’m not going to be there! This-this, ugh! Why did this have to happen now? I, oh Twilight, how I want to be there with you for this. I hate how I’m going to be stuck out here while you’re dealing with this on your own. I know, I know, you’ll have Scoots, Nyx, and Spike, as well as all of our friends and family, but… okay this is turning selfish. I want to be with you for this Twilight. I want to be by your side through every single moment of your pregnancy, weather everything with you, and make sure you are always okay. Twilight… please do not blame yourself for any of this. This was not your fault in any way, shape, or form. But when I return, I swear that I will always be there for you, no matter what. I will be there for our family, for Nyx, Scootaloo, and our baby. Tell the girls that the baby will not change my love for either of them and that I love them dearly.

I will be back, my love, and when I do, we’ll be together forever.

With all my love,

DJ

Twilight brushed away the few tears that had gathered in her eyes once again. The parchment already had enough tear stains even before she received it, there didn’t need to be any more. It felt like so long ago now, so lonely yet not so. She still had her friends, still had her family, but it just wasn’t the same without the stallion she loved.

As she trotted back over to the couch, Twilight curled up with the latest Daring Do. To this day, she couldn’t help, but be reminded of her adventure with the iconic explorer. Years prior, back when her husband was still human, Rainbow Dash had convinced her and their friends to seek out the author of the series, A.K. Yearling to help her in finishing the next Daring Do book which had recently been delayed. DJ tagged along, it wasn’t until Twilight had learned of the ‘episodes’ on his computer why he had.

Upon arriving at the secluded cottage, they found the place ransacked. Yearling had arrived a few minutes later in a sour mood that was made worse by the ponies in her house. She kicked them all out of the house, not even caring that a human was with them. The group then watched from the windows as Yearling was attacked by a group of stallions who were after a strange artifact she had retrieved from the rouble of her house. In a moment of shock for the ponies, not including the human, Yearling revealed herself to be Daring Do after all! She fought off the stallions, but they managed to take the artifact.

Rainbow and DJ offered their services in getting it back, but she declined, citing that she worked alone. When she left, DJ had commented that not even someone called ‘Batman’ worked exclusively alone. They didn’t get it at the time, but he seemed amused by it. Dash flew off ahead of them, leaving the ponies and human to catch up. When they found her, Daring had crushed her dreams of meeting her hero, but they were able to convince Rainbow that just because Daring didn’t want help, didn’t mean she didn’t need it. With renewed confidence, she flew off again.

They followed her to her a hidden temple and snuck their way in. There was no sign of the two pegasi, instead they found Ahuizotl about to complete a ritual involving the ring-like artifact. They charged in and interrupted the ceremony before it could be finished. The cat-like villain ordered his pony cultists to attack them and they struggled to get to the rings. DJ pulled out one of his swords, igniting the bright blue lightsaber making several cultists stop in their tracks at the sight of the blade. He smirked and started to strike the ponies, only to get pushed back when they used spears. The enemy overtook them, despite the human’s assistance which ended with him getting whacked with several spears. The distraction had been enough, however, for Dash and Daring to sneak in and remove the rings. When they removed the last of them, the temple began to crumble apart and Twilight teleported her and her friends out of there. When they reappeared, they saw Rainbow and Daring flying overhead and hugging. The adventurer took off, leaving a happy Dash behind.

A month later, the new book, Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny, was released, featuring Rainbow Dash on the cover as Daring’s sidekick in the story. Twilight smiled thinking back on when Rainbow had shown off her early-release edition ‘Yearling’ had sent her. She couldn’t help, but giggle on remembering how DJ had pouted for a few days after getting his “butt whooped” by the enemy. How times have changed.

Twilight couldn’t imagine her husband ever losing these days. Of course, it had been a long road for all them. When Sombra returned and killed Scootaloo’s parents, to which DJ had struck the former king down in a fit of rage. As well as when he assisted in leading a coup d'etat on Queen Chrysalis, leading to the death of his friend Scout and the succession of Queen Insectum, birth daughter of the deposed Chrysalis. All that leading up to his disappearance and his subsequent travels through ‘the worlds’ as he referred to it. How she longed for his return, to hold him close to her and never let go. She sighed, marking her place in the book and placing it on the side table near her.

Twilight’s eye caught a glimmer of something heading her way. She looked and saw a shining wisp of smoke coming near her. The wisp soon transformed into a rolled up letter that she took in her magic and read the letter. It was only a few words.

Put a pillow on the table.

No header, no sender message, just those few words. She quirked an eyebrow and then shrugged, using her magic to place one of her pillows on the dining room table, figuring it wouldn’t hurt to follow the message. Just as she released her levitation spell, a swirling vortex of magic willed itself into existence above the table. Twilight had to look away as the lights of the portal blinded her, then she heard a thud. When the lights died down, Twilight looked over and gasped, tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. Laying on that pillow was a deep-blue colored alicorn with a generous amount of unkempt, dark brown hair on his head and tail. Upon his flank was a light blue snowflake and he was wearing a jacket the same color as his coat. Around his neck was a white watch-like necklace with a black square on the front with a green lines on it. The stallion appeared disoriented, shaking his head slightly before using a hoof to steady himself. He looked up and immediately saw Twilight and smiled lovingly as he looked her over with hazel green eyes full of love and understanding.

“Hello Twilight. I’m finally home.” That voice, that voice that she had longed to hear for so long. It was him, her DJ had finally returned.

“DJ!!” Twilight screeched as she flew at him with incredible speed, bowling him off the table and onto the wooden floor. She nuzzled his chest, tears falling from her eyes. She felt his arms wrap around her barrel, squeezing ever so slightly. The feeling of a tear was felt of her muzzle and she looked up to see DJ was crying a tiny bit as well.

“I’ve missed you so much, Twi,” he said as he nuzzled her back. The two stared into each other’s eyes before closing them and going for a long missed kiss. When they parted, DJ looked over his wife lovingly, immediately noticing the bulge of her stomach. He smiled and rub her belly, getting a mixture of a moan and giggle from the mare. Twilight smiled back at him and nestled her head in the crook of his neck.

“I’ve missed you so much more, my love. I don’t want to ever let you go.”

“I’m not going anywhere, my shining star. Not now and not ever again. I promise, that I will never leave you like that again. Next time, I’ll give you a heads up.” Twilight’s eyes blinked open and she looked back at her husband, who was smirking mischievously. Twilight returned it and lit her horn. A second later, DJ was hit in the head with a frying pan.

“Yeowch!” he cried, using one hoof to rub the sore spot on his head. “Okay, okay, bad timing right?”

“Right. Now just shut up and hold me.”

“No argument here.” There they laid, just drinking in one another’s very presence, never wanting to let go again.

A silhouetted figure watched outside of its window, looking out into the horizon before it. There was so much light and happiness in the world. So much friendship and peace and harmony. Yet it was all a lie. Harmony? Peace? Friendship? They were all false promises in this world. A world that would fall to the same fate as another, something that the figure could not allow to happen. Something that it would go to any cost to prevent. Any cost.

There was a knock on the door behind it and with a thought, the door opened. In walked a stallion in a flowing black robe, bowing before the figure before speaking. “My lord, a quantum disturbance has been detected. We are certain that the prince has returned at long last.”

“I want confirmation, not assumptions.” The voice was full of darkness and fear, causing the stallion to shake.

“A-apologies my lord, we will have confirmation by the end of the day. Please forgive my eagerness.”

“Fix your mistake and then we shall speak on your continued service.”

“Yes my lord. Thank you for giving me the chance to fix things. May the witching hour bring us peace.”

“As the storm starts everything anew,” the voice finished. “You are dismissed, my servant.”

“As you command, my lord.” The stallion backed out of the room, quietly closing the door for his master.

The figure resumed looking out of the window, a sly smile etching its way onto his face. “Soon, very soon, we shall meet Prince Frost. And then, then our destinies shall clash. If you think that you can stop me, after all these years, then you will be sorely disappointed and you will fall before the shadows. A storm is coming for you, DJ, and it will strike when and where you cannot see it… in the darkest of the night, it will come and you will be no more. I look forward to our meeting, Prince. Until then.” A chuckle escaped his lips that slowly grew into a full laugh, smiling as clouds descended upon the view in front of him, darkening the land.

Next Chapter: Homecoming, Part One Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 31 Minutes