Standing in front of me is none other then my mother and father.

"H-How... I t-thought you d-died years ago!" I stutter with wide eyes, not believing what I'm seeing.

"I might have lied when I said I couldn't make it in time to save your parents... I did make it in time. They were both badly wounded, but." He sighs and looks sad. "They know of Starswirl’s prophecy that his tenth descendant is destined to save Equestria... They told me to take them to Elysium where you would think the bandits killed them and took them away and they told me that after you turned twenty, to give you that spell book," he tells me.

What?.. My parents were alive this whole time! And they planned this!?

"W-Why... why couldn't you just tell me!" I shout at them.

"Because we knew this would make you want to get stronger, to avenge us," mother tells me. "To make you strong enough for when you went to Equestria," she says with tears on her own face.

I frown at them. They did this just because of some prophecy?

"We're very sorry that we did that to you, but uncle Discord had a point. The fate of an entire world meant more than just our happiness," father says.

I'll beat up Discord later. Right now, I'm just glad to have my parents back as I run forward and hug them both tightly.

"I missed you both so much..." I tell them, trying to hold back my sobs.

"We missed you as well, it was so hard letting you go," mom tells me. "Please forgive us," she asks.

"I forgive you... Just never do it again..." I reply.

"Never again," dad tells me.

I hold on to them for a bit longer and then let them go.

"I have a lot to tell you both," I say.

"And we can't wait to hear it," mom replies.

Luna is waiting patiently for us with Jasmine, that gives me an idea.

"Mom, dad. Would you like to come back to Equestria with us? You can live in the Castle." I ask and tell them.

They look from me to each other. "That sounds lovely, but we would be able to return right? We have friends we've made in our years here," Mom replies.

I smile. "Sure, by the way, this is one of my wives, Luna," I say and gesture Luna to come over. "Luna, these are Maria and Lenson. My mother and father"

"Wives? You're married and to more than one woman?" dad asks me shocked.

"Yeah, Discord didn't tell you?" I reply and ask while glaring at Discord.

"What? Where's the surprise if I did that? I was looking forward to their reactions. Why don't you tell them the other surprise?" he replies.

Other surprise?.. Oh. I give him the stink eye before looking back at my parents. "Oh yes... I have a daughter and another child on the way," I tell them. "You're grandparents," mom's eyes widen and she squeals.

"I'm a grandmother!? Where is the little one? What's her name?" she asks.

"Mavis, and she's with her mother Shella in Canterlot at the moment. We were heading back to tell Tia and Shella about our success with the alliance with Reymorah," I tell them. "Want to go with us and see her?" I ask.

"Oh yes! I can't wait!" mom says excitedly.

We walk back into the Castle and down to the portal where Luna and mom are talking together with Luna telling her what's been happening and how we met.

Mom gasps when Luna told her of when I got eaten by a dragon and survived. Dad was very proud of me.

She then told them how I am now King of their Nation and dad chuckles. He said 'Don't you be expecting me to bow or treat you any different just because you're a King now,' making me smile. I didn't want them to, they're my parents after all.

Mom and dad were upset they couldn't be there for my wedding, but I told them we had pictures of it they could look at while we tell them how it went.

On the way, we found King Vortigan and told him we were heading back to Equestria to show my parents Canterlot. I told him he could send someone through to ask a guard to get us if needed and he also said we can do the same.

We arrive at the portal and I walk through first. My parents enter next followed by Hammer, Twilight, Bright Mind, Dancer, Chitain, Chameleon, Jasmine, and Luna.

"Welcome back, your Majesties," a guard salutes to us.

"Thank you. Is Celestia in the Throne room?" I ask him.

"Yes, my King. She's been eagerly awaiting your return," he replies.

"Alright, thanks," I say and head towards the exit.

Mom looks around at all the colourful crystals in the walls. "They're beautiful," she says.

"They are. These are the Crystal Caverns, the crystals here grow over time due to the high concentration of magic here," Luna tells her.

"They grow?" dad asks.

"Yes. Tis where we get all our crystals from," she replies.

The guards leave to report back to Shining and we head up to the Throne Room. People give my mom, dad, and Jasmine some confused looks, similar to how the people of Reymorah looked at us.

The guards at the doors open them for us and we enter to see Celestia and Shella on their thrones. Shella is cooing at Mavis in her arms while Celestia looks tired.

Celestia then looks up from the piece of paper she's reading and spots me. A smile spreads on her face as she rushes over to me and hugs me with a deep kiss.

"I missed you so much! Welcome home, my love," she says between kisses.

"Thanks, I missed you both too," I say as Luna and Shella join the hug where I give Shella a big kiss as well.

I let go and face my parents. "Celestia, Shella. I'd like you to meet my parents. Maria and Lenson Stormsword," I tell my wives.

Celestia gasps. "But you told us they were killed," she says confused.

"That's what I thought, but Discord managed to save them and they asked him not to tell me," I tell her and pout at Discord.

"Why would you do that?" Shella asks my parents.

They explain why to Celestia and Shella. I notice my mom looking at Mavis with barely restrained glee.

"Oh yeah," I say and hold my arms out to take Mavis, I then turn to my mom with my daughter. "Mom, this is your granddaughter Mavis," I tell her.

Mom holds Mavis in her arms and tears are running down her cheek. "She's adorable!" she says and starts to tickle Mavis.

Mavis giggles and dad holds a finger out to her where Mavis grabs his finger and he smiles. "I suddenly feel so old," he says.

I smile, happy to have my parents back. I look at Discord and punch him on his shoulder. "That's for keeping quiet about my parents." I then hug him. "And this is for saving them."

He rubs his shoulder with a smile. "No problem... Now that that's over, I believe you have some family bonding to do," he says and disappears in a puff of smoke.

I turn back to see my dad holding Mavis while mom has her hand on Celestia's stomach. I'm glad they're getting along well with each other.

---

---

I warp to an isolated place on Terra, an oasis in a blasted and cursed land. The place of Grogar's first attack on the world with his army of undead where Starswirl gave his live in banishing him. Unfortunately, he was banished to Equus.

I sit in front of Beardy's grave in a small cave with sunlight streaming in through a small hole in the ceiling that shines on his resting place. His hat, tattered but still in one piece resting on top of the tombstone, preserved by my magic.

"Hey, Swirly. Adrian is doing well. He's married both Celly and Lulu, even a nice changeling Queen," I say to the grave.

"I hope I've done everything you've told me to do, all I can do now is help him get stronger and prepared for the horror that's surely awaiting him," I say, remembering the battles Beardy had against the undead.

I sit there in silence for a few seconds. I then conjure a mana lily and place it in front of the tombstone, a large deep blue flower with small wisps of magic floating around the stamen.

"I need to get some things from your old lab. I'm sure they'll help Adrian in his training, like they did for you," I say and stand up.

I head to the exit when a light breeze blows past me, making the bells on the hat jingle slightly. I smile and then warp away.

---

---

Luna went back to Elysium with some guards and the small airship designs. She returned an hour later with twenty mages who knew the nullify spell and ten crates of rifles, scatterguns, and ammunition.

The rifles are made for long range precision and fire round shot. They're loaded in two parts. The powder charge chamber and in front of it a round shot. The hammer ignites the charge and launches the shot down the barrel at around five-hundred and fifty miles an hour.

The scatterguns fire pepper shot that spray an area in front of the gunner. It's loaded with a small paper ball filled with small ball bearings in it. The powder charge ignition burns the paper away and launches the ball bearings out in a tight cone.

These should be effective against the gryphons, we just need to start training guards in their use and teach the blacksmith and alchemists on how to make the shot and charges.

Jasmine has been playing with Lily under Thraxx's watch. I think they're going to be great friends.

Celestia, Shella, and my parents are currently talking to each other and having a good time in the lounge while I've been sitting on my throne presiding over my first court session for the last hour or so.

"Your Majesty. My family and I are having trouble with a den of diamond dogs near our farm. The local guards can't find the den and the dogs keep killing our cows. I ask you send somepony to hunt them down or chase them off as If this keeps up, I won't be able to keep my dairy production on schedule," a light brown furred man in a simple farmers attire tells me.

I pull out the notebook Celestia uses to write down notes and orders and I write down his name and about his issue to bring it up with Shining about how best to deal with it.

"I'll talk with the Captain of the Guard and put together a team to track and remove the dogs," I tell him.

He bows and smiles. "Thank you, your Majesty," he replies and leaves the line.

'Bloody hell this is boring... how do Tia and Luna do this nearly everyday?' I think to myself.

After a few more people plead their cases, Luna walks into the room and I smile as I stand up and stretch my limbs.

"Hello, our love. We take it thou art sufficiently bored?" she asks.

"You have no idea," I reply and chuckle.

She giggles. "Thou will get used to it. Go see the others and relax, we shall take over now," she tells me.

"Thanks. Oh! By the way, I got a present for you, Tia, and Shella later," I tell her and give her a kiss as I walk past her towards the doors.

"We shall be looking forward to it," she says and sits on her throne. I leave the room and head to the lounge.

I enter the room and my mom smiles at me. "Adrian! I'm so proud of what you've accomplished in your time here," she says while rocking Mavis in her arms.

"Not only have you saved royalty, but married them as well?" dad says and chuckles. "Not even my years as a guard were as interesting as your short time here," he tells me.

"Thanks. That reminds me, wait here, I'll be right back," I tell him and head up to my bedroom.

I was about to get dad's armour but I notice that hand mirror I found in the Everfree Castle Ruins on my table. I walk over to it and look it over. It doesn't look like it's been altered, there's also a note on the table.

Dear Adrian.

The researchers couldn't find anyway to activate the mirror with any form of Equestrian magic.

So we've decided to let you have it as we believe only Terran magic can activate it.

Yours forever, Luna.

Huh, I remember how I got it to work last time and try again. I think of Luna and see her sitting on her throne talking to the people. I then think of Celestia and see her in the lounge with Shella and my parents.

I wonder who else I can find.

I try to think of Discord... only to see a sign saying 'Dizcord waz 'ere' scribbled on it. Odd.

Hmmm. It's a long shot, but I try to think of Solaris and Galaxia... and to my surprise, I see them. They seem to be sitting together with a picnic spread around them. They're sitting under a tree on a small hill that begins to fade out the further it goes.

"Solaris! Can you hear me?" I ask him. I was able to talk to Celestia the first time so I should be able to here as well.

"Gah! Who's there?" he says after a little jump, spilling the drink he was holding on his lap.

I then mentally tell the mirror to get closer. "It's me, Adrian," I reply as the mirror moves in front of them.

"Adrian? How are you talking to us? No magic in Equestria is powerful enough to do so," he asks confused, but a smile is on their faces.

"Good thing I'm not using Equestrian magic then. This is elven magic being powered by my mana and I guess your magic as well," I reply.

Suddenly, Galaxia's eyes light up. "Adrain? Could you let us talk to our daughters?" she asks with hope.

I go wide eyed as I just realized what this means... Celestia and Luna can finally talk to their parents!

"Sure, I'll call you back," I say and put the mirror in my pack. I collect my father's old armour and sword and bring them back to the lounge. "Here you go, I kept them in the best condition I could," I tell him.

His eyes widen and he smiles. "My old armour and sword. Discord told us you began using it when it could fit you," he says and puts his old armour on. "Still fits like a glove," he says walking around in it.

"It's yours again if you want it, I kind of got an upgrade," I say, motioning to my golden armour. I then pull the mirror out of my pack.

"Why do you have that mirror?" Celestia asks.

"You'll see, but I need you to get Luna here. I have a surprise you will both just love," I tell her.

She looks sceptical, but closes her eyes and after a few seconds she opens them again. "I've just asked her to come. What is this surprise?" she asks.

"I'm not saying until Luna arrives, you both need to be here for it," I tell her.

Mom and dad talk with each other as dad checks over his old armour. Shella and Celestia are cuddled up to me after Celestia teleports my armour away. Luna then walks in after about ten minutes with a confused expression.

"What is so important that we had to cancel court?" she asks.

"Shella, could you let Luna sit beside me please?" I ask her.

"Okay," she replies and sits next to mom who immediately takes Mavis into her arms and drowns the baby in affection.

"Right then, I have just discovered something you will both be very grateful for," I say and think of Solaris.

The mirror swirls and shows the two alicorns still sitting down on their picnic area. Celestia and Luna both gasp as tears spill from their eyes.

"Mother? Father?" they say together.

Galaxia also starts tearing up. "My precious little fillies," she says with a hand over her mouth.

"How is this possible? Thou can not interact with Equus anymore..." Luna says with disbelief.

"This is elven magic remember? Nothing to do with Equus," I tell them.

"S-So we can talk to our parents whenever we want?" Celestia asks.

"If they're fine with it, there may be times they want to be alone," I reply with a waggle of my eyebrows.

"That's really mature," mom says and shakes her head at me. I just lean back and allow Celestia and Luna to talk with their parents.

"Well my daughters. Care to fill us in on what's been happening? While we can watch over you, we do not do so all the time," Solaris asks and tells them.

---

---

After a tearful talk between them, Celestia and Luna say goodbye to their parents and promise to talk tomorrow. We then lead my parents to Luna's old room for them to stay in.

"Goodnight, we'll see you in the morning," I say to them.

Mom smiles and kisses my cheek. "Goodnight, and please, try to keep the noise down," she says with a shit eating grin.

I roll my eyes and smile. "No promises," I reply.

"Goodnight, son. It's really good to have you back, we both missed you everyday since that bandit attack," dad tells me.

"Me too, I'm just glad you're both alive," I reply.

He smiles at me and closes the door. As we walk away I can here mom gasp. "This room is beautiful! It's like we're outside!" she says and I see Luna smile at that.

We head to our room where Shella puts Mavis in her crib. We then get undressed and we cuddle up in bed, I missed this over the last two nights.

"Today has been a good day; I find my parents alive, you can now talk to yours, we have an alliance with Reymorah, and new weapons to fight the gryphons with along with mages to help," I say.

"Yes, and tomorrow we shall return to Terra to learn as much as we can about these orcs we may have to help fight. We shall also bring information about gryphons and what we know of Grogar for the King to look over," Luna says.

"Looks like we'll all be busy for the next few weeks," Celestia says and nuzzles her head into my neck.

"Oh before I forget, Luna can you open my pack and pull out the three small boxes please," I ask her since I'm pinned to the bed right now.

She does as I ask and three little boxes float above us. I've written their names on each box.

"Open them," I tell them.

They each levitate their own boxes and open them. They gasp and smile as they pull the rings out.

"They're beautiful," Celestia says as they all put them on.

"Thank you. They're lovely," Shella says and licks my cheek.

"We shall have to find thee something in return," Luna says as she and Celestia kiss my cheeks.

I smile and hold them all close as we fall asleep, yes, I missed this very much.

Next Chapter: Chapter 46: The Fall Heat Season Estimated time remaining: 11 Hours, 49 Minutes