The General was a happy man. The scientists had done exactly what he expected. Their spokesperson was a middle aged man from Chilli named Antonio Hernandez. Of course the General listened carefully to Mr. Hernandez while he spoke of the opportunity to better all of humanity, while the rest of the project leaders all sat around waiting with bated breath to see what the General would do.

General Hiriboshi let the man finish relating his ideas, then presented the 'possible problems' he saw. In truth, he was merely carefully manipulating Mr. Hernandez into doing what the General wanted. It worked only too perfectly. The Event had destabilized much faster than they had predicted. Instead of a slow, gradual deterioration of energy, it destabilized at an exponential rate. In less than four months, it was nearly gone. The Event was to the point where it would dissipate within a day. The drastically shortened timetable had forced the scientist's hand. Everything had worked out so well, General Hiriboshi was certain it was fate.

He stood up and extended his right hand, "Mr. Hernandez, you are a visionary. It will be my pleasure to serve the purpose of bettering humanity. Under your guidance, we will usher in a new era or prosperity for all of Mankind." Antonio Hernandez accepted the General's hand and the whole room exploded into excited cheers.

General Hiriboshi grinned and waited to speak until the crowd simmered down. Releasing Mr. Hernandez' hand, he said, "The Event will be gone tomorrow, just after breakfast. The rain and wind have already stopped, right now we're only waiting for the clouds to dissipate. How do you wish to proceed, sir?"

Antonio Hernandez patted the General on the shoulder, "We will prepare an automated drone, equipped with a G.P.S. to venture through the portal and determine its location. From there, we will begin developing the technology we need to move the portal, or better yet, open new ones where we need them. How soon can your security troops have a bomb robot retrofitted with a G.P.S., General?"

General Hiriboshi hid his smirk, "We can rig one up and have it ready by tomorrow morning." He did not bother to mention he already had one of the robots decked out with G.P.S., sample jars, sensors, and a small array of weapons.

Antonio Hernandez smiled warmly, "Appropriate, is it not? Three years after The Event first took people from us, is the day it is finally destroyed. I hear the American President is dedicating the college apartments as a memorial to those who have been lost. The same apartments where those poor people died."

* * *

Prince Consort Christopher Vacca was a happy man. Arguably the happiest man on the planet. He and Luna had been married more than two months prior and she was already starting to show in her pregnancy. He had already told her she could take off the silver collar. She had to wear the pendant, which made her mortal, for the entire duration of her pregnancy otherwise the foal would not develop, or so was the thought. Nobody was willing to test the theory on a pregnant Princess.

The Ponies of Canterlot had calmed down when Luna had announced her pregnancy to Canterlot. The seeming mentality was that if a Human could sire a foal with the Princess, he must have been Kavim enough for the event to occur. The Prince Consort was a Pony in all but body.

Not only was he happy being married to Luna, who was quite adventurous in and out of bed, but she was carrying his first child, and he finally had the means to let his friends return to Earth. His idea was insane and obvious in retrospect, but it was the only chance which made sense. Once the idea had struck him, it would not leave him alone. Using his knowledge of magic, Chris had poured himself into making sure his numbers were straight. He had to be absolutely certain of his course of action, "I should be done by tomorrow evening..." he toiled at his work bench long into the night.

* * *

Artex laid out on the bed with his two wives and two fiancés. Oriana was his second wife. Their Honeymoon only having just finished, and as opposed to what Artex had expected, Oriana was nearly silent when making love. He had to admit that she could communicate quite a lot through gasps though. The Zebra mare's family had been able to arrive in record time thanks to Chris' inventive method of teleportation. Opening a transport center in the Zebra lands helped a great deal as well. New Humansville was now officially the import and export hub of the whole world.

Artex had eventually decided to join the C.W.G. as an officer. It was a business he knew well and he enjoyed protecting people. He had undergone the training for Unicorns, Earth Ponies, and Humans and had passed all of them with flying colors. He did have to brush up on how to use his magic more often for the Unicorn training course, though. His Finesse was still completely absent, but he had methods of countering that, mostly using his reflexes to catch things in flight.

He knew he and Rose needed to wake up soon for their shift, but lying there, snuggled by four toasty warm mares and one Changeling Queen around his head, was too nice to disturb, yet. His mind drifted to Feather Tip, 'She's really nice. I'm glad she managed to get that job at the hotel. Her personality is perfect for it.' He sighed silently, gently rubbing Razor's tummy, 'Stay safe my child, nestled in your cradle of loving flesh. We can't wait to meet you.'

* * *

Artex was wearing his C.W.G. armor and walking his assigned patrol route with Cloud Cutter. The young Pegasus had slowly begun to come around to the proper mindset and Rose Thorn cleared it with Captain Joyner for him to go on patrol with one person. Cloud Cutter had drawn names from a bucket and wilted like a flower when he saw the name he had picked. The odds were decidedly not in his favor.

Artex had been utterly professional during their patrol. He has spoken to Cutter with the same respect he gave the other officers. The young Pegasus had been expecting his brother in-law to be unpleasant, but his polite treatment had heaped proverbial hot coals onto Cutter's head. He stayed silent as the two of them rounded another corner, both of them smiling and waving to the citizens of New Humansville, which gave them the perfect reason to keep their heads moving, constantly scanning their surroundings for anything suspicious. Cutter was grateful for the armor he had been issued. It was some amazing stuff. He glanced over to Artex and admired the strange sword-but-not-a-sword the man had strapped to the outside of his armor.

Their patrol had been filled with friendly greetings to citizens, but they had exchanged barely a word to one another since their actual patrol had begun. They were walking around one of the residential areas of New Humansville when Artex' helmet comm squawked loudly, "Headquarters to officer Rias, come in. Over."

Artex spoke into his helmet, "Officer Rias here, go for Headquarters. Over."

"Officer Rias, you are needed in the Town Centre for a special assignment, personal request of Prince Consort Chris, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and Discord. Over." The dispatcher related clearly.

"Copy that, Headquarters. Rerouting to Town Centre for special assignment. Requesting permission to bring Cadet Cutter. Over." Artex spoke as if he were discussing the weather.

Cloud Cutter tried to lay his ears back reflexively, but his helmet prevented the action. His ears were fixed in an alert position inside the helmet to maximize hearing potential. They could be turned bidirectionally, but they could not be folded.

"Officer Rias, your request is granted. Officers Brusque and Torres en route to your patrol route. Headquarters out." The dispatcher's voice ceased over the comm system and Artex turned about-face without breaking his stride. Cutter followed him silently.

The two arrived at the Town Centre a few minutes later. The Royals were all gathered around Captain Joyner and Mayor De La Cruz just outside the front doors of Town Hall. Chris was gesturing to Joyner and Discord with what looked to be a crystal-encrusted length of wood. Artex strode up to Captain Joyner and threw a smart salute, "Officer Rias reporting for special assignment, sir."

Cloud Cutter mimicked the gesture, likewise identifying himself. Mike Joyner returned their salutes, "At ease, officers. This is a relaxed assignment. Join the huddle."

He gestured to the gathering as Chris finished explaining his idea, "So, in short, if Mike removed his ring, my Space Noun would be an eleven and Discord's... everything would be an eleven too." He held up the length of wood, "While Discord would be powerful enough to perform the spell, he has no point of reference for anything on Earth. He would not be able to open a portal on his own because he doesn't know any of the locations for an exit point. With this wand, I can provide the Space and Discord can provide the Control. I can take the lead so we have an exit point and, hopefully, BOOM!" He shouted, "BACK HOME, BABY!"

Discord's eyes lit up like it was Christmas, "Ohh-ho-ho! Just think of all the delicious chaos that would bring!? Two different worlds suddenly thrown together unexpectedly!" He clapped his 'hands' eagerly, "When can we begin?" He was nearly drooling at the prospect.

Princess Celestia looked openly concerned, "Have you taken into consideration, the possibility that the Latent Thamaturgic Energy from Equestria might flood onto Earth? If Humans receive a high enough dose of it, will their bodies begin developing screfulas? And if so, what would happen if they were denied further energy? Thamaturgic Deprivation is wholly unpleasant."

Chris held up the wand, "Already thought of that. I opened up a portal between Gryphonvale and Equestria and had Princess Twilight monitor the Thamaturgic dispersal rate flowing through the portal on each side. The dispersal rates were nearly nonexistent." He paused and looked around, "Come to think of it, she's supposed to be here for this."

Just as Chris finished speaking, a lavender flash of light emerged from the roof of Town Hall and a voice from above called down, "Sorry I'm late!"

Chris smirked and crossed his arms, "Speak of the bookworm..."

Twilight flew off the roof and landed behind Luna then walked into the space the lunar Alicorn made for her. The lavender Alicorn was weighed down with parchment and quills sticking out of her overstuffed saddlebags, "I'm so sorry I'm late, but I had to make certain I had everything I needed to mark this occasion!" She squealed in delight, "Ooh! This is so exciting! We're about to make history!"

Luna looked fondly at her husband, "If this works, you will have brought hope to so many people. I am so proud of you, Chris."

Chris smiled warmly at his wife, "People need this. Even the ones who chose to stay need closure for their loved ones. Mike, Cessily, Darryl, and Alex all have children back on Earth. Our foal isn't even born yet and already the thought of not seeing her or Luna is unthinkable to me. I can't imagine what it's been like for you guys, Mike." Chris said to the Captain.

Mike, who had his helmet already off, nodded and slipped off his ring, "Let's get to it, Chris. I want to see my son again."

Everybody present felt the surge of power which always accompanied Mike's passive magic. Since it was constantly active, Mike's passive Create and Magic had increased in power. Instead of adding one rank to each Noun and Verb of every magerium around him, his passive now increased them all by three instead.

Everybody felt themselves swell with power. Discord, however, had trouble keeping conscious. Even his body was nearly overwhelmed by the power he suddenly had at his disposal. He felt dizzy, energetic, and coiled like a spring all at the same time. His eyes and mouth felt dry. His ears rang from the steady hum of unspent energy contained within him. He was forced to lean on Celestia's back in order to stay standing, "Oyjeekaboobulunk..." he slurred. Shaking his head vigorously, he managed to focus on the wand in Chris' hand. He placed his eagle talon onto the device and gripped it firmly.

The crystals on the wand lit up brilliantly and Chris waved his free hand, "Everybody step back! I already have a place in mind!"

* * *

News crews from all over the United States were present and recording the President's speech, which was already in progress. A crowd of tens of thousands surrounded the President's lectern, which was situated at the vehicle gate of The Complex. Secret Service men and women were everywhere. They lurked out in the open of course, but they also hid around subtle corners, on rooftops both near and distant, they were everywhere. The President could hardly be more safe unless he were standing inside a box made of bomb and bullet proof glass.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today we commemorate this site as a memorial to those who were lost to us three years ago. As you move forward with your lives, remember them for the joy they brought into your lives..." the President stopped suddenly as a brilliant flash of light shone from behind him. He spun around almost faster than the eye could see as the line of brown light split the fabric of space.

The tear widened sideways as Secret Service men and women pulled the President out of the immediate area as much as humanly possible and far faster than most would ever expect. A head full of thick brown hair popped through the portal and looked around with growing concern.

Chris noticed the colossal crowd of people staring at him in awe, "Uh... hi?" He reached his arm through and began to wave as dozens of gunshots rang out through the air. Microseconds later, Chris' head was violently deformed as it was pulped by the impacts of nearly a dozen bullets. He was dead before his body hit the ground, slumped half in one world and half in the other.

Author's Notes:

SURPRISE!