Celestia paced the throne room waiting for news on her protege, she was worried. It had been hours since the fight and once the dust was settled and the dragons made an uneasy peace did the search for the Princess of Friendship begin. At first there was no news as a triage was set up for the ponies wounded by the battle. Then strange beings, humans as the Council of Friendship called them, began to appear all over the castle. Yet there was still no sign of the young alicorn, the humans kept their guard up around the ponies.

“She will be found sister.” Luna assured the white matriarch who didn’t pause one moment. “I will search the Core Realm until I find her.”

This did cause Celestia to pause, she didn’t want to risk her sister’s mind but there was a good chance of finding out if she was still alive. That was when a low thrumming was heard before a woman with short white hair appeared holding a wounded shoulder. Cadence was the first to rush over to her side and begin to heal the wound. This seemed to startle the woman into reaching for a weapon.

“Be still.” Celestia told her gently as she approached the woman. “She is only healing you.”

The woman didn’t say much preferring to watch as the wound stitched itself together. It was as if she was trying to determine how it worked.

“My name is Celestia, this is my sister Luna, and my niece Cadence.” the white alicorn spoke not moving towards the woman. Before she could say anything more the dark blue alicorn spoke up. “We were wondering if you saw our friend Twilight Sparkle.”

“I have heard the name mention in a report from the sole survivor of Noble Team.” the woman said as she thought back. “It was intriguing on how she managed to survive a planet being glassed as well as bring me here without being killed.”

“She’s alive!” Cadence almost let out a sigh of relief but was still on edge. “If she brought you here that means something is wrong.”

The gray haired woman snorted, this caused a raised eyebrow from the magenta eyed princess.

“What do we call you?” the white alicorn inquired before turning her head to the entrance when she heard hoofsteps.

“I am Doctor Catherine Halsey.” the human woman replied, her eyes looking towards the door. It opened as a light grey mare ran in saying. “Princess Twilight has been found. She is in the triage being treated for magical exhaustion right now.”

Luna was the first to run from the room followed by Cadence. It took everything in Celestia’s power to keep her composure and stay with their guest.

“There have been other humans appearing all over the castle, all were directed towards the triage as well. Perhaps you could help us? Human physiology is something we are not well versed in.” Halsey was a bit surprised that she didn’t assume that they knew her or were her friends. “You are a Doctor after all.”

The ONI scientist nodded her head before following after the Alicorn.

Throbbing, that was the first thing that Twilight felt when she opened her eyes. She knew that she had used too much magic returning to her world as well as saving those she saw in her visions. She smiled when she saw her friends.

“You’re awake, we were worried that you wouldn’t.” Fluttershy was the first to speak. “How are you feeling?”

“There are no words describing how I am feeling.” The youngest alicorn replied not even trying to get up. “How long was I out?”

“Five days.” Celestia’s voice answered as she approached the bed. “Plenty of time to talk to the guests that you brought along.”

“How are they?” asked the mulberry princess using her eyes to look around. Fluttershy looked around saying. “Resting, Celestia said that they could stay in Equestria until we manage to return them to their universe.”

“They can stay here, the doors are big enough.” Twilight suggested as she looked around at the empty triage. “Are there any other surprises that I should know about?”

“Yeah, Sans and Papyrus are asking if they can move in… which means Mettaton is going to as well.” Rainbow Dash informed her and Twilight sighed before noticing the filly from the village. She frowned before asking. “And Gears?”

“Oh, she didn’t really have a family so I thought we could bring her here. Give someponies looking to adopt a chance to have a child.” Applejack spoke up looking at the copper maned filly who was examining the castle. “Would you mind housing her until we find her a family?”

Twilight looked apprehensive for a moment before Gears said. “So was this castle made or grown? I haven’t seen any evidence showing that it is a natural formation but there are some things in here that suggests it is natural. Like the lighting, it couldn’t have come with the castle could it?”

“She can stay here until she finds a family, I’m guessing she is very picky about it.” the princess laughed knowing the filly was seeking new knowledge. ‘Or she’s just bored.’ The Princess of Friendship thought before nodding her head.

“It’s a little sparse but I think Spike and I can manage. What happened with Aurora and DurgUa?” the mares looked at each other before Celestia took charge on explaining that one. “The two dragons continued their argument for an hour after you vanished. I had forgotten how destructive the fights of ancient dragons were. Though I admit I wasn’t expecting Spike to be the one to calm them down. Once they were settled I helped negotiate a tentative peace between the two. DurgUa has decided to remain here for now. His forge is on the other side of Aurora’s Library.”

“I still can’t believe he’s staying here.” grumbled the rainbow maned Pegasus. “He kidnapped Twilight!”

“Dragon forged weapons and armor is one of the strongest creations ever to be made. Theirs is only rivalled by that of the Çeards yet they died out long ago.” Luna informed her causing Rainbow to frown. “With the information we gathered from him, a war will be upon us soon if Abyssia returns.”

“I still want the full story, who is Abyssia?” this question from the fast flier caused both sisters to pause.

“She is the first Corrupted dragon.” Midnight Sun spoke up. “And the one who is using King Sombra to escape and wreak havoc on the world. Even I don’t know the full story, the only two are the dragons living underneath the castle.”

“I don’t know about most of that but did someone mention a forge?” asked Gears moving up behind them and Pinkie nodded. “Can I see it?”

“I think we should let you get some rest Twilight.” Celestia said before moving next to the grey gold unicorn. “Come little one, I shall take you there.”

Twilight let out a small moan of disappointment even though the castle was fuller, there was still something that felt empty about it. She waved her friends goodbye before rolling over trying to get some sleep. Little did she know that everything in the castle was about to change.

A few days later the six friends got together for a pancake party. They were discussing on how Twilight seemed to be avoiding going back to the castle. They did consider it was because of the new residents but quickly brushed it off when they saw her watching them train during the day. She didn’t avoid them liking she was doing when it was suggested that she go back to the castle.

“We should wake her up and ask her.” suggested Applejack before Pinkie began to gag before spitting out a teaspoon yelling. “I WIN!”

"I’m pancake!” Twilight gasped sitting up with a pancake stuck to her horn. “I mean… awake.”

"Twilight, is there something you want to tell us?” the farm pony was the first to speak up. Rarity saw her friend’s confusion and decided to elaborate. “You know how much we appreciate all you do for us, and we simply adore having you around… but we worry you might be, ahem, avoiding something?”

“Was it that obvious?” the mulberry mare sighed before gesturing around her. “The truth is… I’ve been avoiding, I know it’s silly, I’ve been avoiding this place.”

There was a collective gasp was almost loud enough to echo. It was the fashionista to question this saying. “Why in Equestria would you want to avoid such a gorgeous castle?”

"Yeah! This place has everything!” Pinkie Pie interjected as the three princesses entered the room just as she went on her little rant. “Big tall ceilings that make you feel tiny! Shiny new floors that are cold to the touch! Brrr. And it even has loooooooong empty hallways! Okay I get it.”

“The castle is amazing, but…” Twilight sighed as she looked around earning a worried look from the princesses. “It just doesn’t feel like home.”

“Oh, is that all?” Rarity chuckled before clearing her throat as she looked around. “Why you simply need to decorate, darling. Make this space your own!”

“It just seems so daunting! I don’t even know where to start!” Twilight made a good point and all her friends knew it. The generous pony got an idea that she decided to share. “You can start by letting us do it for you. We will make this the castle of your dreams while you go to the spa. I’m saying this with love, darling, but have you looked in a mirror? I’ve never seen you looked this… mmmm.”

“Frazzled?” Fluttershy interjected knowing that her friend’s vocabulary had expanded during her time with the humans.

“Yes!” the purple maned unicorn said thankful that she didn’t swear in front of the other princesses. “That is exactly the word I was going to use!”

“I guess I do need a little help and so does my castle.” Twilight said as she looked around looking into the mirror. “And I’ll know you’ll do a great job.”

“We’ll make this place cozier than hot apple cider on a rainy day.” Applejack assured her placing a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. This caused Rainbow Dash to gasp. “There’s going to be cider? Ahem, I mean let’s decorate!”

“Did I miss the pancakes?” Spike asked walking into the room and towards the table, Celestia laughed saying. “No, but Twilight is coming to the Ponyville Spa with us so you and the others can decorate the castle.”

“What’s wrong with it? I sleep like a baby under that cold cavernous ceiling.” Spike yawned before seeing her sigh then looked down at the filly in his arms. “Maybe, we can liven up the place. I mean it’s not just us living here anymore. Maybe everyone can help out as well! What do you say Moonlight, want to help out?”

"‘Elp!” she giggled, they ponies murmured in agreement as the princesses swept away the youngest alicorn away.

“Spike spread the word, since we have a lot more help some of the other rooms can be taken care of.” Fluttershy said and the dragon nodded before rushing off Pinkie yelled after him. “And don’t worry about the library, dining room, kitchen, or Twilight’s bedroom either!”

“What do you know?” Rainbow mumbled as they all looked around at the throne room. “Let the decorating begin!”

Spike looked around the empty halls of the castle trying to figure out what he was going to do with it. Aurora was peering through one of the windows as well seeing what she could do to help. Midnight Sun was by his side looking around as well.

"Does this seem like the castle dedicated to the Princess of Friendship?” he asked the growing dragon shook his head looking at the entrance hall. “We should divide our resources, find one part of the castle and coordinate with each of what to do.”

"I could create some curtains from my scales, use them to lighten up the halls.” Aurora suggested before looking to her right where her brother was. “You can help set up the armory.”

“I have no qualms with that sister.” snorted DurgUa before moving away, Gears frowned as she said. “Why are there so many rooms in the castle? Are they mostly bedrooms or do they all have a purpose. If there is a war coming shouldn’t we turn one into a training room? Or even barracks?”

“How does she even know those words?” mumbled Spike before looking at the copper maned filly as Flash told her. “Right now we’re just trying to make this place feel like home for Twilight. We can worry about those things later or we can leave it up to the Spartans-II’s.”

“They seem to have a better handle on it than we do.” Spike told them, his green eyes moved to the walls. “I’m going to check to see if any of Twilight’s letters survived the destruction of Golden Oaks.”

“Let’s hope that this will turn out alright.” Comet mumbled, his bright blue eyes examining the area. “I think we should get to work now.”

They all nodded before heading off to get to work. Flash Sentry decided to just help wherever he could.

“Twilight, there is more than just your castle that is bothering you, isn’t there?” Celestia asked as they got their manes done. The Princess of Friendship frowned before saying. “Did I do the right thing? Bringing the humans here I mean?”

“Is everything alright? They haven’t done anything have they?” Luna inquired getting worried for the younger alicorn. Twilight shook her head sighing. “It’s more like… they don’t want to interact with anyone unless they really have to. Michaels and Thompson are the only ones who seem curious about our world.”

Aloe spoke up after hearing this in her calming thick European Accent. “Ja, It is troubling, I invited some of them for a spa treatment to unwind. They just stared at me before rejecting. I do not believe they know the meaning of relaxing.”

“Perhaps Dr. Halsey knows why.” Celestia interjected watching her student get her mane styled. “Perhaps after this we can find some proper bedding for Spike and Moonlight Wisp.”

“After we finish here of course.” Cadence told her sister in law as her own mane was braided. “I’m sure they are doing a wonderful job.”

“This looks terrible.” Spike said as he looked around the throne room at the mess that was made. All the ponies let out a sigh of relief, they didn’t have to keep up appearances any longer. They didn’t want to hurt each other’s feelings about the decorations they brought in.

"Well then, let’s see what you got.” Rainbow Dash replied feeling like he had issued an unsaid challenge. They marched into the halls seeing it lightened up with different windows, each with crystalline curtains hanging in front of them. There were framed letters hanging on the wall, the deep red carpet was replaced by a warmer colored one. They moved to the entrance hall taking note that there was no carpet there instead a warm red rug sitting in front of the door. Pictures of each of the Main Six were leaning against the wall near the doors.

“I talked to Discord and he made each of these for you.” Spike explained as he touched them. “It’s my gift to the throne room.”

“What are the curtains made out of?” Rarity asked and the purple dragon replied. “Aurora donated some of her scales and Lethoras’ mom made them. She has this way with the forge, the Spartans found some rooms that they are going to make good spots for an armory, training room, and barracks. Though for now they are empty, do you need any help?”

“Nope we got this.” Applejack told him as she looked in the direction of the throne room. “We just need to make some room and hope that the Princesses can keep Twilight distracted for a little white longer.”

“You do realize they can’t distract her forever.” the growing dragon pointed out before sighing. “I guess we can figure out something else to work on.”

“Thank you Spike.” the fashionista told him before hissing. “I know it looks horrible, I don’t see you coming up with suggestions…. That, is a pretty good one.”

No one seemed to notice that, if they did they were pretending that Rarity wasn’t talking to herself. It wasn’t that unusual since she got back from her first adventure. Pinkie was bouncing waiting to hear the idea from what was haunting her friend. The fashionista gave the pink pony a smile before heading back to the throne room levitating the paintings behind her.

It took most of the day as Twilight spent most of it with the Princesses and her friends figured out what was important about the Golden Oaks Library. In the end they decided on something simple. The roots of the tree that once housed the library. Each of the friends did their own room but Rarity had something else in mind. She had found an empty room large enough for what Dorian had in mind. It was a research room for magical spells, alchemical potions, and mystical artifacts. She knew that there was work to do but a simple set up would do for now.

She wiped away the sweat from her brow as she looked around. She managed to bring in some scrolls and quills along with a small desk. So far it didn’t seem like much, her ear twitched when she heard the footsteps of the humans. The fashionista meandered to the door wondering if she should check on them. She opened the door and headed out only to see Twilight there as well examining the castle.

"Why didn’t anyone tell me you were back darling?” the unicorn asked a smile on her face. “Come along, have you seen the new decorations?”

“Yeah… great job.” Twilight told her with a strained smile.

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” chuckled the rainbow maned pony remembering her reaction to the letters and the windows. This was going to be awesome.

Author's Notes:

I do not own MLP