The floors of the Starswirl Memorial Hospital shook as a massive family of ponies frantically climbed the stairs to see their long lost loved one for the first time in thirty years. For safety reasons, the elevators had been disabled and shut down so the tremors brought about by hooves galloping up the many flights raged on and grew more intense with every floor they breached. Every available security guard who had not yet been swept away by the large crowd readied themselves for a riot as they stood their ground in front of the stairwell leading to floor number fifteen where Radius was resting.

Sweat poured down the faces of the nervous guards for at the very end of the long hallway before them, the ponies in the very front of the massive group appeared from around the corner and galloped towards them at full bore. The looks on their faces and the puddles of tears they all were leaving behind indicated the emotional heartache they were all going through and having others stand in their way did nothing to help. These ponies were all relatives of Radius and they were there to reunite with their loved one.

The sea of ponies of all coat colors and races, mostly unicorns rushed towards the guards as they stood firmly in place. Siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, ponies old and young and many too young to have even met Radius were all here and they demanded their voices be heard as they skidded to a halt in front of the trembling officers. The bickering and shouting from the crowd was deafening as there had to have been well over a hundred ponies, everyone of them sporting the look consistent of having lost somepony near and dear to them. Finally, after waving his hooves about and shouting, nearly begging for the crowd to be silent, the lead guard finally managed to gain some compliance as he could now begin to hear himself think.

"Please, everypony, we have other patients here who need to rest!" The security chief hollered to the sea of emotional ponies. "Just quiet down and we can talk about this!" At last, the crowd settled down as much as they could so one pony at a time could speak.

"Where's my brother!?" A mare in her early sixties sobbed as she waved her hooves around from in the crowd.

"I never met my uncle Radius!" A younger stallion screamed before breaking down into a sobbing mess. "Please, I wanna see him!!"

Near the very back of the crowd, the painful coughing and wheezing from an older stallion could be faintly heard.

"Listen, he just got out of surgery!" The guard said aloud. "He can't take visitors right now! Trust me, I understand what you're all goi-"

"How you could you possibly understand!?" A mare in her early forties screamed hysterically. "You try having your uncle taken away just to find out he was alive and suffering...for thirty...fucking...YEARS!!"

Again, the old stallion near the back began coughing and he was now loud enough that ponies closer to him took notice and stood by his side to comfort him.

"He was the first pony I ever saw when I first opened my eyes!!" The mare continued to sob. "He held me in his hooves the day I was born!! And you're gonna tell us we can't fucking see him!?"

Yet again, the stallion in the back was coughing and hacking so loudly the nopony could ignore it any longer. The crowd was dead silent save for the occasional sniffle for both Radius and their ailing relative near the back. As the stallion continued to gasp and wheeze, the crowd slowly parted down the middle with everypony's gaze on their suffering kin. Down the hallway, in the central, rear of the sea of weeping ponies, stood a very old, gray unicorn stallion, slightly darker than Radius's normal color, his snow white mane only present on the sides and back of his head. The tired old stallion had a pair of clear, rubber tubes coming from his nostrils, going over his head behind his ears, both fitted with a hearing aid of their own, ultimately ending in a pair of small oxygen tanks he carried in saddlebags. As he still continued to cough, a tan colored unicorn mare approximately the same age as he, gently rubbed his back while she too breathed heavily from climbing the stairs.

Finally, it seemed that the stallion could catch his breath and his coughing finally subsided. Now that he could finally open his eyes, he gazed forward and slowly put one hoof in front of the other, making his way towards the group of guards at a slug's pace, his wife of many years helping him along the way. The closer he trotted over, the better they could hear his heavy breathing and it was almost as painful to listen to as to actually experience. Finally, the stallion and the mare who stood by his side made it to the front of the crowd and stood before the puzzled guards before breaking the awkward silence.

"P-please I j-just..." The old stallion said, his voice shaking as much as the legs he struggled to stand on. "I-I'm not...I don't have much time left...I know I'm not going to live much longer. We got news that Radius was s-still alive a-and...h-he's just up those s-stairs..."

Snot dripped from the tired old stallion's nose as he choked back his tears the best he could so he was able to speak clearly enough. To look at this pony who could drop to the floor at any moment was heart wrenching for the guards who felt absolutely horrid for blocking his way. They too began to well up with watery eyes as the stallion before them caught his breath and began to speak again.

"That's all I could ever ask for..." The stallion sobbed. "I just want to see him even one last time before I leave this world...d-do you have foals sir?"

"I-I...yes, I do." The guard whom the old stallion spoke to answered. "I have a colt and a filly."

"Then surely you know what a parent's worst nightmare is. Thirty years ago...he was taken away from us...and now, as I wait to be taken myself, I find that he's still alive...so I ask you from a father to a father...Please! Please, let me see my son!!"

Even if it meant breaking protocol, the guards could not and would not deny this dying old stallion the chance to see his son whom had been lost for so long. One by one, they all stepped out of the way and allowed Radius's parents to trot up the stairs leading to the top floor as two of them flanked both sides of each to help them climb. Once they reached the door, the leading guard pushed it open and turned around to take Mr. Hoofenschtov's hoof to aid him over the last few steps. Very slowly, the group of guards trotted forward as to allow the elderly couple to keep up with them as they lead them through the hallways and stopped in front of a lone door labeled "Quarantined Patient, Authorized Ponies Only". Behind that very door was Mr. and Mrs. Hoofenschov's long lost son.

"Just a heads up, you two..." The leading guard said as he placed his hoof on the door handle. "He doesn't look so great. Go in there and see your son."

The guard was telling the truth as the mother and father of Radius Hoofenschtov trotted into the room to see a sickly looking stallion with a dull yellowish-gray coat that grew in patches as a great deal had fallen off. The stallion within the glass box slept soundly despite the whirring or electric motors from a ventilation system that filtered air going into and out of the box and that of a respirator that acted as Radius's lungs. A fluid iv bag hung on a metal hook above his head and just beneath where the needle in his skin was taped to his wrist were three sets of hoofcuffs that bound him to the heavy bed he lay in. The dark circles around his closed eyes indicated a great deal of suffering and his body was much larger and more muscular than they remembered. Underneath his forelegs, there were also large scars sewn shut where his abnormal limbs once were. Regardless of his appearance having changed so, the stallion who lay before the two elderly ponies was their own flesh and blood and they were laying eyes on him for the first time in thirty years.

At a first glance, he would seem almost unrecognizable but to the parents Hoofenschtov, right away they could tell that he indeed was theirs. From the shape of his chin to the sound of his snoring behind the glass, everything came back to them along with the same feeling of warmth they experienced in their racing hearts the very day he was born in 1951. The images of their colt growing up raced through their minds as they pressed their hooves against the glass containing the son that they had lost for three decades. They wanted so badly to talk to him and hear his voice but alas, he needed his rest more than anything right now. However, as the mother and father of the patient embraced each other with his hoof still against the glass, Radius's ear twitched at the sound of the two ponies sobbing.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoofenschtov had not felt as wonderful as they did then and there since the day they brought Radius home from the hospital after his birth. Their greatest wish had been fulfilled and both of them knew that they could die happy ponies when their own time came and just when they thought things could not possibly get better, the faint tap of a hoof being placed on the other side of the glass caught their attention. With the father's hoof still on the glass, both parents looked up to see that of their son placed up against it as well as he stared over at them with a loving smile and his glossy, green eyes with round pupils, tears flowing down his face like never before.

"Hi Mom...Hi Dad..." Radius squeaked as he choked back more tears. "I'm gonna be okay..."

Mother and Father Hoofenschtov were speechless but their emotions still ran high and they sobbed profusely with their hooves and muzzles firmly pressed against the glass box that separated them from their colt. If only not for the glass barrier that stood in their way and prevented them from holding and kissing him one last time and though it was to prevent the spread of the radiation his body still emitted, but the two parents simply did not care. For all they cared, they would roast to death just to spend a moment with their son in their embrace but everypony else down stairs would be harmed as well and they all had more life ahead of them. They knew it would be selfish to put them at risk for their own wants.

"I thought I'd never see you two again!" Radius sobbed as he shifted in his laying position to face his parents for the first time in three decades.

"S-s-sonnn!" Mr. Hoofenschtov wheezed. "W-we thought the same th-thinggg!"

"R-R-Radius, w-we love you so much!" Mrs. Hoofenschtov sobbed.

"Radius! Son! Listen to me, my wonderful, beautiful colt! We're so sorry! It tore me up for years that we never got to tell you! We're so sorry we took you for granted! We're so sorry we were always so hard on you, you were always perfect the way you were! I'd never, ever want you to change!"

"No no no, Dad, Mom, it's okay!" Radius beamed as he wept tears of joy. "It's okay, I know you never meant it! I love you both, I never stopped before and I never will!"

"Radius, you have so much to see and catch up on!" Mrs. Hoofenschtov cried out. "The whole family can't wait to see you again!"

"And there's even a new generation!" Mr. Hoofenschtov beamed. "Your sisters' foals are having foals of their own and you'll be an amazing great uncle! You even have a nephew who was born after you went away! You can get out of there someday soon and come home and meet them all! Doesn't that sound great, son?"

"We even kept your house in the family! We all got together and paid it off and left it just the way you did in remembrance of you!"

"Oh god, I wanna get outta here so bad!" Radius sobbed. "Mom, Dad, I love you both more than you know! I always have and always will!"

It was already slightly after two in the morning but still Radius and his parents talked and caught up for hours and though their tired old bodies could barely stand and their eyes barely stay open, they adored every moment of it. It was only when Radius kept dozing off around five o'clock that his mother and father decided that it would be time to let him get his much needed rest so he could recover. They knew that he would need it much more than they would so once again, it was time for the loving family to say their final goodbyes be it for now or otherwise and rejoin the rest of the clan in the waiting room on the ground level.

"Radius, my boy..." Mr. Hoofenschtov began, his voice shaking like never before. "Just know...and I know you're mother would agree...that today has been the best day of our lives."

"He's right, I couldn't agree more, son." Mrs. Hoofenschtov confirmed as the two prepared to depart. "Also, know that if something should happen, we will rest easy knowing you're doing the same."

"I love you both!! I love you so much, Mom and Dad!!"

"We love you too, son!!" Mother and Father Hoofenschtov beamed in unison as they slowly trotted backwards, their hooves leaving the glass that confined Radius for the time being.

Saying goodbye this time was the hardest thing the two elderly ponies had ever done in their ninety-two years of living as was the same for Radius as well. As the two sickly old unicorns waved to their colt, the door slowly closed, ending their beautiful moment together as a family. For their sake, Radius was ecstatic that he had spared his parents the grim details of his life at Chernobyl as he just knew that it would break their hearts to know that they all lived in comfort at home meanwhile their saint of a son was constantly suffering. As his parents rode the elevator back down to the ground floor, Radius used the last bit of strength he had remaining and offered his own parting words to them and his entire family who waited nearly two hundred feet below him.

"I LOVE YOOOUUU!!!" Radius's voice echoed throughout the building, jarring his snoozing kin from their sleep in the hospital's front lobby.

No longer able to so much as hold his eyes open, Radius fell into his much needed deep sleep, marking the beginning of his long journey on the road to recovery. As he slept soundly in his soft, warm hospital bed, his parents exited the elevator on the first floor, their dream of seeing their son again having finally been fulfilled. The rest of the family who still waited, sprang to their hooves with great anticipation as to what their oldest kin had to say.

"He hasn't changed a bit..." Mr. Hoofenschtov sobbed as he huffed and puffed to catch his breath. "Oh bless his heart, he's still the same he always was! I'd never have him any other way!"

"And we'll get to see him soon!" Mrs. Hoofenschtov beamed as she gently rubbed her ailing husband's back. "He'll be getting out of here when he's recovered! We ha-*hic* we have our Radius back!"

Though the ponies in the crowd were disappointed to not have been able to see Radius then and there, they remained optimistic that they would soon reunite with their loved one. Though Radius would have to rest for now, what they knew was important that his parents were able to see him as for all they knew, it could be their last time. Magnesius and Chloridea Hoofenschtov were both in very poor health so at any moment, either of them could collapse to the floor. Magnesius's heart could give out from having constantly gasp for breath or he could easily choke to death on his own mucus that clogged his sinuses whereas Chloridea was diabetic and her kidneys grew weaker and weaker by the minute. No matter which angle one would look at it, the couple had very little time left.

Slowly, the crowd of hopeful family members filed out of the hospital and flooded the parking lot as they returned to their waiting taxis and carriages of their own. Many of the Hoofenschtovs were residents of Canterlot so they did not have far to trot to return home, whereas many others flocked from out of town so they would stay with their local kin until they could see Radius again. With the help of their youngest grandson, Mother and Father Hoofenschtov climbed into their own coach where from there, the former would also pull them home. As the elderly couple quietly rode home in the night, their only source of light coming from the street lamps they passed underneath, Chloridea could hear her husband whispering to himself.

"Just a little longer...Just a little longer..." Magnesius repeated quietly as he cried himself to sleep, his wife joining him in his weeping. "I want to hold him one last time...Just a little longer...Just a little longer...Just a little longer..."

"Today marks a joyous reunion for the city of Canterlot and Equestria as a whole..." The voice of a new reporter began as it came from the alarm clock radio in the castle's guest bedroom. "...and especially for the family of Radius Hoofenschtov who was brought by ambulance to the rooftop of the Starswirl Memorial Hospital late last night after being lost on Earth following the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986.

"Wha?...almost noon?" Princess Celestia groaned as she looked at the alarm clock, failing to remember the last time she even came close to sleeping in so late.

"So far, we have been unable to reach any of the Hoofenschtovs for much commentary save for the younger sister of Radius who had the following to say..."

"Will you ponies *bleep* off already!?" Radius's sister cursed over the airwaves.

"More on that later...In other news, has our beloved Princess of the night settled for a mere doughnut peddler? What does she see in him? Stay tuned and fin-"

"That's about enough of that!" Celestia huffed as she smacked the off button on the alarm clock. "I'm right there with you, sister. I know what it's liked to be criticised for who you fall in love with."

Celestia sat on her bed next to a still slumbering Twilight Sparkle as she rubbed her tired, groggy eyes. She had passed right out the second her sore body touched the bed so she was just now being hit with the sudden realization that she was back home in Canterlot. The weary Princess smiled warmly at her subjects who still slept, them being the very reason that she was able to locate Radius and bring him home where he belonged. Just when she began to zone out however, a new but less miserable pain took her over as the sweet odor of pancakes wafted through the air, inciting a rude growl from her stomach.

It had been centuries since Princess Celestia was this hungry and the idea of being given full access to heaps of pancakes was making her salivate. Still quite sore, covered in bandages and her wings held in place by splints, the Princess limped down the stairs and followed the enticing aroma down the hallway and ultimately into the dining room that she and her sister often met to trade shifts. Her eyes lit up at the sight of her dear younger sibling placing a large platter of pancakes on the table next to several others. Along with those platters piled high with the delectable stacks of flapjacks were bottles of maple syrup imported from Canada, pitchers of caramelized fruit such as strawberries and blueberries and even jars of peanut butter. Celestia's mouth watered at the sight and scent of such an amazing breakfast but first, she had something more important to acknowledge.

"Lulu!!" Celestia beamed as she limped over and hugged the night Princess. "I missed you so much!"

"Tia!" Luna greeted as she too joined her elder sister in a warm embrace. "I'm so glad you and everypony is alright! And...sister, is it...is it true?"

"What's that, Luna?"

"Those things I've been hearing from the media. We both know we can't take everything they say seriously but...did you really find him? Will I get to meet my sister's old coltfriend?"

"You will, I promise."

"So...when you found him, did you two...you know."

"It's been too long, sis. The connection we once had just isn't there but...that's not really all that important. What matters is that he's in the hospital recovering and will be reunited with his family soon."

It was nearing noontime and Radius had been enjoying his much needed sleep for nearly ten hours after seeing his parents. Within his glass prison that kept others around him safe from his poisonous emissions was a digital Geiger counter affixed to one of the walls and according to its readings, radiation levels were quickly decreasing. It was a good sign and looked promising that perhaps his condition could be upgraded. The readings on his accompanying heart monitor showed a smooth and consistent pulse and so far, he was able to breath without assistance from a machine. What was most important was that he showed no signs of aggression or red glow in his gentle, emerald green eyes but still, he would need to remain chained down to his bed for the time being.

Though it was essential for Radius to get his rest however, he would need to eat soon as well. The hospital staff was well aware of his prior situations regarding his diet that was rather unorthodox for an Equestrian pony but the true signs of what outcome they could expect for their patient would soon be revealed. With a dozen armed security guards on standby and several more from the Canterlot Police Force still gliding around the zenith of the building, a doctor wearing full protective gear cautiously entered the confines of the glass box. Very carefully, the doctor used his unicorn aura to levitate a large bowl of vegetation into the glass room with him and place it on a small tray table directly in front of the slumbering patient.

Having been previously alerted to what the abnormally large unicorn was capable of, the nervous pony then darted out of the room into a nearby decontamination chamber where his suit would be sprayed down. He would then enter another where he would be able to undress from his suit and undergo the necessary bathing procedure in order to avoid damaging effects. Now, only time would tell and the only thing to do was to let the patient be and allow him to eat upon his own will to do so as a watched pot never boils. If they were to return to see an empty bowl and no piles of regurgitation to speak of, then there would be a great deal of hope for the well deserving pony.

It would not be long to achieve results however as Radius's nose twitched at the smell of fresh greens and other veggies that would be the envy of any hungry herbivore. Slowly but surely, the starving pony regained consciousness and blinked until he could make out the general shape of the glorious salad that was placed before him. He would be without his glasses until a new pair would be given to him so for now, he would have to rely on his sense of smell and touch to make up for his poor eyesight. With a shaky hoof, Radius reached forward to pull the tempting bowl of veggies closer to where he could see them more clearly and stared just to really mentally process just what it was that he was looking at.

The salivating unicorn had not seen such a beautiful arrangement of leafy goodness in thirty years and the longer he gave the heap a perplexed stare, the less he could control himself. The pile of spinach mixed with iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced onions, cherry tomatoes, and carrot shavings that sat on a table looked and smelled like a paradise that he had once known before and was about to be able to indulge in once again. If that was not enough to get his undivided attention, the crunchy, garlic flavored croutons that dotted the mixture made it all the more tantalizing. There was only one way to find out as he gently placed a single cherry tomato between his now square, plant cutting incisors and slowly began to chew, the sweet juice permeating his senses as it squeezed out of the tender fruit.

After a few chews with the his front teeth, Radius used his tongue to push the tomato back to his molars of which made quick work of the delicious ball of sweet, juicy goodness. Finally, with one gulp, the fruit slithered down his throat and Radius paused for a few minutes to allow it to reach his stomach where it stayed to allow for digestion. Just like his first time and every other time taking Celestia to bed years ago, it just felt right; almost as if it simply belonged. He wanted more. He had to have more.

With his pupils fully dilated, Radius grabbed a hoof full of the fresh, leafy heaven and shoved it into his mouth and chewed the mouthful into a pulp and swallowed that as well where it would then join the tomato. He could no longer help himself and tears of pure joy flowed like a river down his face as he shoved hoof full after hoof full into his longing mouth and made quick work of the entire salad that was placed before him. It was when he realized that unlike many attempts before, the vegetation was sitting well in his stomach that had exchanged its lust for blood and flesh for that of what belonged in the body of an equine that he became especially emotional.

"Sooo delicious!" Radius sobbed before letting out a satisfied burp, going against his usually classy nature. "After all these years! Oh my gohahahawd, I'm an herbivore again!!"

Several members of the hospital staff gathered around the entrance to his room and peeked through the glass in great anticipation as his emotional outburst had drawn attention. Instead of a meltdown of sorts however, the would push and shove past one another to see their patient basking in the bliss of having taken another step towards normalcy. For the first time in three decades, Radius Hoofenschtov's glee got the best of him and he could no longer hold back his laughter which alone lifted his spirits and that of those around him a great deal. For the first time, In thirty long years, he was genuinely happy.

"Oh, Luna! You actually did a good job with the pancakes this time!" Celestia beamed as one by one, her groggy subjects who had also fallen under the spell of the sweet aroma filed into the dining room.

"Heheh, well, I actually had a little help with these." Luna replied with a blush. "I ended up burning a great many before I made any of acceptable quality."

"Hey, I dunno what you're talking about, Lulu, they look just fine to me!" Pony Joe beamed as he trotted out of the kitchen before taking a hearty bite of a crispy disc.

"Aww, Joey, you're just saying that."

"Because I mean it, gorgeous. Now why don't you just take a seat with everypony else while I bring the last of the plates over, kay?"

Luna then took a step closer to the beefy, off-white stallion and looked him in the eyes, their faces not even an inch apart.

"Oh? Well, I think I have a better idea." Luna cooed as she closed her eyes and pressed her lips against Joe's.

Everypony in the room chuckled as the night Princess turned the local Doughnut Stallion into putty in her hooves. It was a welcome, light hearted sight for sore eyes and to see such another example of two ponies from entirely different backgrounds form such a relationship was very uplifting. Though the two lovebirds were more than happy to hold each other with their lips together however, it was when Luna started getting her tongue involved that their sweet kiss turned into a full fledged makeout. Still Celestia could not help but to think of the first time she and Radius kissed the way she saw her sister do so which ultimately lead to her first time in bed with him. Fortunately, Joe would rather have saved it for a time where the two could go somewhere more private before continuing.

"Ohh, Lulu, not in front of everypony else." Joe said with a giggle as he broke their kiss. "Uhh...heheheh, hooves above the waist, babe."

"Ah, right." Luna said as her blush intensified. "It's been a while since I...engaged in such displays of affection, I'm rather rusty on what is appropriate and what is not."

"Luna, you liar!" Celestia said with a laugh. "You just lost control of yourself, admit it!"

"Hey, pancakes, everypony!" Joe said aloud in attempt to change the subject and make the situation less awkward.

"Yeah, I don't know about you guys but I'm digging in!" Rainbow Dash said as she grabbed a plate and slapped down a hefty stack upon it.

"Mmmff, I comcurff." Soarin mumbled, his mouth already full of the spongy fried cakes.

Everypony else seemed to agree as well and promptly followed suit. For over a week, they had all barely been nourished by the nasty, chalky MREs they had packed for their trip and had burned up much more energy than they had replenished. It was not long before the heaps of pancakes began running low and Joe quickly returned to the kitchen to prepare more and brew up several more gallons of coffee while he was at it. Finally, now that everypony had something in their stomachs, they could actually think rationally and ponder everything that they had all just been through together. Celestia knew she was forgetting something and could now remember precisely what and levitated a pen and her checkbook into the room and began jotting figures down while Big Macintosh cleared his throat.

"Uh, everypony?" The normally untalkative farm pony spoke up. "Y'all ever git a minute ta think what we just done?"

"What do ya mean, dude?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, Ah just...Ah dunno, Ah think it's probably mah tiredness talkin' but...Ah'm glad we all went there an' done this. Ya know, gittin' Radius outta there an' all. We done did sumthin' good."

"Of all the adventures I've been on..." Daring Do began with watery eyes. "...Of all the priceless treasures I've recovered, this mission we just did was without any shred of doubt the most rewarding I've ever gone on."

"If you mean by giving somepony his whole life back, yeah, I can say I agree." Spitfire added.

"That's not all, everypony." Celestia interjected as she finished signing one of the several checks she had just written. "I'm sure you all understand that money isn't nearly as important as friendship but you all risked your very lives to save and restore another."

Celestia then used her aura to divvy out the small monetary documents to their respective pony she had written them for. As gently as a falling leaf, the checks settled in front of their new owners, every one of them going wide eyed at the quantity of zeros in the amount.

"Two million bits!?" Rainbow Dash gasped.

"Two million bits." Celestia repeated with a firm nod.

"You don't have to do this!" Twilight said aloud, her eyes resembling saucers.

"Auntie, she's right!" Shining Armor added. "We don't need this much money!"

"Oh? Well that's just too bad." Celestia said with a smirk before taking a sip of coffee. "I don't plan on taking no for an answer. If you don't feel you need it then perhaps the Crystal Empire could use a bigger park. Perhaps the streets in Ponyville could use some new stone?"

"Your Majesty, thank you so much!" Soarin beamed.

"For all you have been through and what you have done for a desperate pony in need, it's the least I could do."

After everypony took a moment to get over the shock of being rather handsomely paid, they continued to enjoy their hearty breakfast and each other's company. Though it was a breath of fresh air to be somewhere other than the exclusion zone, especially the palace, they all had one thing on their mind and that was to just go home to their own beds and rest their sore bodies. However, it would make for a more comfortable nap had their coats and manes still not reeked of iodine that was used to decontaminate them the evening before so a good long soak in a relaxing bubble bath would be in order.

After the large and satisfying breakfast, everypony including Celestia enjoyed a well deserved soak in the massive tub in the Princess's personal bathroom in order to rid their bodies of the odor of the bitter antiseptic. For hours, the all dozed off in between conversations as the luxurious, sudsy water warmed their bodies to their cores relieving them of a great deal of their pain. At a time like this, they all took great joy in the small things and the fact that they would soon be home to rest away the remainder of their soreness was making everypony giddy.

Everypony had eaten to their heart's content, taken an exquisite warm bath and was now waiting at Canterlot's train depot from where they would finally head home for the rest the heroes deserved. Spitfire and Soarin had already taken a hot air balloon and were on their way back to Cloudsdale as their wings were still far to soar to fly all the way there. Celestia decided to wait with them to see them off and naturally opted to pay for their tickets as well for she had some rather important matters to attend to once her loyal subjects set off for home. Every one of them would wholeheartedly agree that aside despite the hardships, blood, sweat, and tears that went into seeing their mission through, a great many wonderful things became of it. New friendships were created and existing ones were made stronger than ever.

A.K. Yearling's train was the first to arrive and after giving everypony including Celestia a warm hug and Big Macintosh her phone number, she boarded and was now on her way back home where she would begin work on her next book. Shining Armor's train to the Crystal Empire was next in line and like the former, he shared an embrace with his sister and friends new and old before boarding. Soon, he would be reunited with his wife and daughter where he could make amends for the way he had taken such blessings for granted and announce that he would never poison his lungs again. Finally, the next train to Ponyville arrived and with yet another group hug, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Big Macintosh were en route to their home town.

Celestia was left alone at the platform after the bittersweet goodbyes with nothing but her thoughts and a cloud of smoke that wafted in the train's wake. After a few minutes of sitting there thinking to herself and pondering all the things she and the others had been through in the past week, she began her trot down the street to another destination she had in mind. It was a beautiful afternoon in early May and she genuinely enjoyed her leisurely trot down the streets of her city towards the fifteen story tower that jutted from the skyline. There was not a single citizen of Canterlot or even Equestria for that matter who knew not whom Princess Celestia was and it was rather strange to see her trotting about the streets without a guard escort. Today was different and she simply did not care nor wish to wait a moment longer than she had to for was on a new mission and though much more minor than the last, she intended on seeing it through.

The Princess casually trotted through the automatic door into the Starswirl Memorial hospital and made her way towards the elevator. The receptionist would normally ask whomever enters to sign in and register as a visitor but obviously the ruler of Equestria would be an exception she she did not so much as question her presence. Once on floor fourteen, she stepped off and made her way towards the next flight of stairs up as the elevator had been disabled for the top floor for safety. Tensions seemed thicker along the way due to the high presence of security guards for the hospital and the well armed pegasus police officers circling the building outside. Despite the potential need for increased security however, as Celestia trotted onward, she passed by several ponied sobbing and tightly embracing one another.

Celestia recognized several of the emotional visitors as members of Radius's family and they were all finally being allowed to visit their long lost kin whether they had met him before or not. It warmed her heart to have bore witness to these displays of love and joy to be able to reunite with Radius after so many years of him being gone. Many of these ponies were middle aged and seniors who were most likely cousins and some of the thirty and forty somethings, she recognized as nieces and nephews. Many more of these ponies the Princess trotted past were in their twenties, teens, and even young foals whom had just enjoyed a wonderful visit with their relative that were finally able to meet for the first time.

"He's so brave..." Radius's eldest niece sobbed as she embraced her younger brother who was doing the same.

"And he's still the same great guy he always was..." The nephew sobbed. "Oh gohahahawd, I missed him so much!"

It had been an emotional week for everypony and as usual, Celestia too was no exception as her eyes began to water up at the sight of all the happy ponies blissfully recalling fond memories of the pony of the hour. They would soon be able to make new memories with him once he would eventually be discharged from the hospital and he too could at long last be reintegrated into society. Celestia's heart rate began to quicken as her turn to see Radius would be next as she trotted towards the door to the room where he was kept in his temporary glass prison. As she stood there nervously and waited for the visitor before her to finish, the door opened slowly and out trotted a young stallion that made her double take. This unicorn stallion appeared to be in his late twenties and had a slate gray coat and a crimson mane with a matching tail, sported thick glasses and a white collar with a red bowtie. Knowing that this young pony was in fact not Radius, her pupils dilated and her eyes watered as she realized just who it was who was just visiting his lost uncle.

"He looks so much like me!" The young stallion beamed, tears of pure joy flowing down his cheeks. "Uncle Radius looks so much like me!"

As the giddy colt who was born after Radius's dissappearence galloped off back to his waiting relatives, Celestia could now get a good close look at the pony that Radius Hoofenschtov truly was for the first time since the meltdown. She knew Radius well enough to make love to him so she knew for a fact that the depressed, miserable mutant and the sadistic monster he was turned into was not really who he was. Now she would finally get to see the real him. Her hooves began to sweat as she slowly pushed the door open and trotted into the room.

There was Radius inside the glass box squinting up at the mare he fell in love with so long ago, his coat having nearly returned to its natural light gray. He looked nearly the same as he did on the night when they last made love save for him now being the same size as Celestia which seemed as though he would remain at this rate. What she found rather odd though was that he was now in his mid sixties and had endured great hardship and poisoning for so long yet his still had the appearance of a stallion in his thirties. Some other things simply never change as he failed to see just who his next visitor was until she trotted close enough to the glass prompting Radius's pupils to dilate and more tears to flow down his face.

"C-Celestia!" Radius bawled. "Oh my god, Celestia, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"No no no no, Radius, you've done nothing wrong!" Celestia sobbed with her hooves pressed up against the glass. "You don't have anything to be sorry about!"

"No, Celestia, I do! I-I what I said to you...b-back in Pripyat about you...about...w-when we first saw each other again..."

"Oh, Radius, I know you didn't mean that!"

"I might as well have called you a fucking retard! Celestia, in all my years, if I had remained my true self, I'd never even dream of talking to you like that! I never meant to say something so horrible to you, I'm so sorry!"

"I know you didn't mean it and you have stayed true to yourself! You haven't changed at all and nopony would ever want you to!"

It took several minutes for the two ponies to calm themselves enough to speak coherently and when they finally did, their spirits could go nowhere but upwards. Radius had missed so much over the past thirty years and Celestia spent a great deal of time telling Radius all about it. From the return of her own sister to Twilight Sparkle's ascension, from Shining Armor's wedding to the birth of their alicorn foal, Radius's eyes lit up at the thought of making up for lost time. Most of all, he just wanted out of his glass box and to be with his family, not to mention he had seven other ponies to thank for restoring his very life as he knew it.

Hours ticked by as the two did the most catching up they possibly could in such little time and the sun which Celestia had placed on an autopilot setting of sorts had begun to set and make way for her sister's moon. They would have talked longer but when Radius began to nod off, they both knew it was time to part ways for now. Radius would need to remain under the care and supervision of medical staff and police for at least another week at the rate of which he was healing and Celestia would have a mere few days of resting before she would have to resume her duties. Neither of the two knew when they would see the other again nor the seven others who put their very lives on the line to bring him back but someday he would make sure that he did. In the meantime, the heroes who worked so tirelessly together would take plenty of time for the rest and relaxation they deserved.

After hours on the train and yet another trotting down the winding trail of a thick forest, A.K. Yearling had finally reached her cottage on top of the hill, pushed the door open and made a beeline for her fridge. With a cider in hoof and a stack of papers under her wing, she took a seat in front of her computer and placed the stack within a printer that sat next to it. She had upgraded from her old typewriter recently and now she finally had a moment of peace and quiet, she could put it to good use doing what she loved; writing about her most recent grand adventure. The keys clicked and tapped away as the author and brave explorer relaxed while she set to work on her latest and in her opinion greatest works.

After parting ways for the time being at the balloon pad in Cloudsdale, Spitfire and Soarin made their ways back to their own home, both wholeheartedly agreeing that they as well as Rainbow Dash could stand to take a few weeks off wonderbolt training. Both of them had only one thing on their minds and when they returned to their homes, they set right to it. With a an ice cold soda in hoof and his television remote in the other, Soarin sat in his comfy recliner and proceeded to pick up his phone to order a pizza. Spitfire simply wanted to sleep and she lay down on and gently drifted off, knowing that she and her friends have just done a wonderful thing for somepony but relieved that it was finally all over.

To the North of Equestria, at the Crystal Empire, Prince Shining Armor trotted his exhausted body through the front entrance of the palace and was greeted with the sight of his beautiful wife trotting over with a warm smile. In her arms was the couple's daughter Flurry Heart whom was not used to going several days without seeing her father and her glossy eyes nearly lit up the room as he came galloping over as fast as his tired legs could carry him. The young family of three held each other tight as Shining Armor buried his muzzle into his wife's chest and began bawling partially from fatigue but mostly tears of joy as he was back with the two ponies he was blessed with. It was at that very moment that Prince Shining Armor vowed to never take them for granted as long as he breathed and that he would be breathing for a long time to come now that he had quit smoking for good.

In the town of Ponyville, particularly on the Western outskirts trotted the big, lumbering stallion Big Macintosh with his saddlebags of luggage as he made his way back to his farm, his home. The sun was setting and the workday was just wrapping up as he could see his two younger sisters cleaning and placing various farm tools back into place for the next day. At a slug's pace, the tired stallion trotted towards Applejack and Applebloom and their granny whom had trotted out to greet him upon his return. The last conversation the two siblings had before the brother's departure was a heated argument and hurtful things were said of which Big Macintosh planned to rectify. The above average sized and usually stoic earth pony was never much for openly weeping but nevertheless, he promptly embraced his sister and broke down into a sobbing mess. Not only was he ashamed for cursing at his sister the way he did but what weighed on his heart the most was that there were several occasions when he could have been killed during the mission. The very thought of those words being his last ones to have ever said to her was enough to make his stomach turn. As he tightly hugged his two precious sisters and his granny all in a group, he knew that he would stay home for a while before his next big outing.

On the North side of town stood Twilight Sparkle's magnificent crystal castle and the exhausted lavender alicorn Princess wasted no time climbing the steps up the the massive front double doors. Before she could so much as reach for the handle however, it was quickly opened from the inside by her loyal assistant Spike the young dragon who anxiously awaited her safe return. After a tearful hug between the two, the thoughtful little reptile helped the mare who raised him since birth climb her tired body up the stairs to her bedroom where he had a pot of tea already prepared for her. After fluffing her pillow and tucking her into bed like a parent would for their foal, Spike retreated from the room and promptly returned with a plate of muffins he had just pulled from the oven. Alas, Twilight was already sound asleep after just a few sips of tea but Spike understood as he knew that her trip could not have been easy by any means but that would have to be a story she told him another day. The young dragon kissed Twilight's forehead before walking out of the room and smiled warmly back at her as he slowly shut the door and let her rest.

Finally, Rainbow Dash trotted towards her could home that floated in the air on the East side of Ponyville. Out of everypony else, save for Celestia, the tough mare had gone through great hardship and endured both physical and emotional trauma. She had been poisoned by radiation, beaten, her wings both badly sprained, and nearly brutally raped twice but she refused to allow any of that to bring her down. What did discourage her slightly however was her dilemma as to how precisely she would go about getting up to her home high above ground with her wings held in place by splints. For a moment, she contemplated trotting her already exhausted body all the way to Twilight's castle to crash with her friend for the night until she suddenly felt herself being lifted off the ground. The confused pegasus glanced up to see her loyal pet tortoise Tank with his propellers affixed to the top of his shell and his strong legs gripping her firmly as he carried her up to the front porch, through the door and right to her soft chair. To top it all off, the sweet tortoise retreated to the refrigerator and returned with a bottle of cider for his tired and battered owner.

"Thanks, Tank." Rainbow Dash said as she patted her tortoise on the head. "You're a real pal, you know that?"

Celestia had not forgotten another whom she felt deserved her thanks for risking his own life and limb for her subjects and would not allow him to be unrewarded. In a small town in Ukraine, to the North of Kiev was a small, dingy house with chipping paint and shutters hanging by the last screws. The sun was beginning to set as an older model Jeep Wrangler pulled into the short driveway before its owner shut the engine down and stumbled out. With a bottle of bols tipped back and the opening pressed to his lips, Frederick Schultz began walking over towards his front door where he would enter his house and spend his usual night alone and miserable. As he wiped his chin and reached for the door handle however, he noticed a strange envelope sticking out of the mailbox bolted to the side of his house. Knowing that he had already opened the mail he received earlier in the day, he curiously broke the odd wax seal and pulled out what appeared to be a small document written specially for him.

Her Royal Highness Princess Celestia of Equestria Date: May 9, 2016

Pay to the order of: Frederick Schultz

In the amount of: Two Million and 00/100------------------------B2,000,000

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much! Princess Celestia

The days following Radius's return turned into weeks which of course meant business as usual for Princess Celestia who resumed her normal duties of raising the sun and general ruling with her sister by her side. Radius was visited daily by his parents and other relatives and was making remarkable progress in his recovery. His wounds were healing well, his coat had fully grown back, his horn had completely returned to normal, he showed no signs of aggression and best of all, the meter within his glass cell read zero. After more evaluation from medical staff and psychiatric examinations from some of Equestria's best psychiatrists, Radius Circumfrancis Hoofenshtov was given a clean bill of health. It was finally time for him to go home.

The squeal of the brakes on a medical transport van slowing to a stop in front of Radius's old home signaled his return and the same sea of ponies that stormed the hospital waited for him on his front lawn. With the van in park and the hazard flashers deployed a man and a pony who worked for the hospitals exited the front and opened the side door. After a moment of the pony fumbling with the buttons on a keypad, the electric buzzing of the wheelchair hoist unfolding from the side whirred away. The entire family of ponies shed buckets as they watched their loved one roll out the door out onto the platform and with another few seconds of being gently lowered, Radius was placed onto solid ground. Once again, the sea of ponies parted down the center leading to the house's front door where Mother and Father Hoofenshtov stood on the porch where they waited to hug their son for the first time in thirty long years. The man and pony began to gently push his wheelchair towards them but Radius had other plans.

"Wait." Radius said, prompting the medical workers to stop in their tracks. "I want to go to them. I think I can do this."

Without another word, Radius shifted in his chair and placed his forehooves on the ground. With a few grunts and some mild straining, he then lifted his rump off and then his left rear hoof followed by his right. This was his first step on Equestrian soil since he was lost in 1986 and to witness such a momentous occasion was enough for some of the older relatives of Radius to drop to their knees. Slowly but surely Radius trotted up the stone path that lead up to his front porch where his parents waited to embrace him as they created puddles of tears beneath them. They were blurry figures as he was still without his glasses but he knew their color and the sound of their voices anywhere and though painful, he trotted faster and faster towards the couple who gave birth to him sixty-five years ago.

The first step of the front porch was breached by Radius as he carefully felt his way around the stairs as his poor vision gave him the need to take caution. This would soon be rectified however as Radius's elder sister held a small, gold plated, jewel studded box in her aura while his younger sister used her to open it revealing his first welcome home gift. Together, the two sisters of Radius levitated a magnificent pair of gold plated, jewel studded glasses that matched the case and held it in their brother's path. He then trotted directly into the spectacles and as soon as he slid them onto his face, he could see clearly as crystal the faces of his two sisters, his mother, and father, all four weeping profusely as they held their hooves out, longing for his embrace.

The crowd of relatives erupted in cheer as Radius, his sisters, and his parents relished in their group hug, the first in thirty long, empty years. It was a dream come true for all of them and so surreal that they often had to ask themselves if it was actually happening. Never before in all their years have any of the Hoofenshtovs been so giddy as they were now and would live the rest of their days eternally grateful to have their loved one back. To them, Radius was a very piece of their hearts who had been ripped away from them long ago and they would remember this day, the day they were reunited with him until their own time came. For Magnesius Hoofenschtov however, to get one final moment to hold his son was his last wish at long last coming true.

"Son..." Magnesius gasped as his legs began to give out. "I...love...you..."

The cheering of the crowd cut out like a light as they watched Magnesius's body go limp while Radius held him tightly, his breath leaving his lungs for the last time it ever would. Everypony's mouth hung agape as they had just watched their kin die within the arms of another who they were so grateful to have back in their own loving embrace. Radius's tears of joy turned into those of sorrow and as he sat on his rump and held the limp body of his father, he had only wished that he could have been with him and the rest of his family over the past thirty years. The Hoofenshtov family had been dealt yet another in their growing list of hard blows but as a clan, remained strong as always and would continue to face any storm no matter how brutal. Though a new wound had been opened and an old, familiar pain in their heart returning, they would always be grateful for the last moment Radius could spend with his dying father and would not have had it any other way.

Princess Celestia had made it a point to promptly find any and every detail regarding Radius's condition and his reunion with his family was no exception. She even managed to hear of the death of Magnesius before the nearest ambulance reported to Radius's home to retrieve his body. Over the years of Radius having been gone, the Princess developed a close relationship with them as they would have been her in laws had she married their son and she was heartbroken to hear of his passing. Be that as it may, Radius was now at home where he could now be with his family and make up for lost time while for the Princess, it was back to business as usual.

The royal sisters sat together in Celestia's personal office where their current task on hoof was making plans for the next Grand Galloping Gala which would be held in autumn this time. The usual process of planning would often entail simply deciding to have it the same exact way as the year before and send the paperwork through just to have it out of the way. Much like the year Celestia was reunited with her sister however, the former was feeling especially warm inside due to the return of another good soul so she felt motivated to put in more time and effort than usual.

"Hey Luna?" Celestia asked as she levitated an old list of names to her sister. "Do you think you could help me out and see if you can contact the people and ponies on this list?"

"Sure." Luna replied as she scanned through the names. "Huh. I wonder if Sir Elton John would play for us on the stage."

"He did years ago. We used to have a DJ too...Hang on a sec, I'm going to give Miss Scratch a call."

"Our nephew Blueblood is a wonderful singer. Maybe he could have him sing."

"Do you think we could get a band too?"

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Ohohohoh, I think I'm thinking what you're thinking!"

"Same time! On three! One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

"Nickleback!!" Both sisters squealed in unison.

Though it was still months away, there was much to do to prepare for the next Grand Galloping Gala and the royal sisters decided to get an early start. Calls needed to be made, letters written, catering companies booked, invitations written and sent. If the Gala was to be the fun and exciting event it once was, not a moment could be wasted. With each other's help, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would make the next Grand Galloping Gala the best once since 1985.

The hoofenschotv family threw a magnificent welcome home party for Radius that would fill up the family album with photographs and be talked about for generations to come. Though they were all saddened to have to say goodbye to Magnesius, they would remain eternally grateful that he could be given closure and finally achieve peace. The relatives from out of town had to say their bittersweet goodbyes and return home but with Radius back home and in their lives, they would be sure to visit often.

After a week of nothing but resting, eating, soaking in bubble baths, and socializing with his family, Radius felt that he was ready to go out and see the town and take in the beautiful spring weather. The sun was shining bright, the skies blue save for the occasional fluffy cloud and a gentle breeze complimented the warm air. With a his favorite new collar and bowtie he received as a gift around his neck and his new jewel encrusted glasses clearing his visual path, Radius hugged his sisters who were staying with him for the time being and set out for his stroll.

As he trotted down the sidewalk of the Canterlot neighborhood he once called home and could now do so once again, he repeatedly took long and satisfying whiffs of the clean, delicious air. Each and every pony he trotted past, he could not help but greet with a smile and a wave despite his usual social difficulties coupled with decades of no contact with his own kind. Many would give him a rather perplexed stare but he shrugged it off as being as tall as Celestia was something ponies were not used to seeing, plus his face was all over the news by now.

On and on Radius went through the city of Canterlot, stopping constantly to chat with a passerby or stop at a store to buy a snack or drink. It was the little things he enjoyed that were all coming back to him after being deprived of them for so long. Be it the sweet taste of a soft, freshly baked muffin, the fizzy kick he got from an ice cold soda, or the divine aroma of the hoof made soaps he just bought from a bath boutique, the memories were like a paradise to him. Every little crack in the sidewalk to the slogans written in permanent marker on the fire hydrants to the stickers of the faces of various celebrities named Bill on the "post no bills" signs, it all came back and he loved it. Just as he began thinking his day could not possibly get better though, his confidence would receive a healthy boost as he overheard a conversation between two rather attractive mares he trotted past.

"Oh my god, that's him." A pegasus mare said to her earth pony friend. "That's the guy who survived in that dead city for thirty years."

"I don't get it." The Earth mare said as she tilted her sunglasses down and stared at Radius. "He looks like he isn't much older than thirty."

"And he's so big and...brawny."

"Good god, the fuckin' muscles on that guy."

"I dunno about you but he could pound my ass any day."

"My place or yours?" Radius chuckled as he turned around, his pearly white smile making the mares blush. "Heheheh, just think for a while about what you'd be getting yourselves into, girls!"

With a wink, Radius trotted off with his head held high and his confidence even higher leaving the two mares to swoon over him. Never in his life had he ever had the nerve to say such things to a mare other than the one he dated years ago let alone pick up on their social cues indicating they were interested. After a block or two, Radius's attention was drawn to his reflection of the windows of every store he trotted past and it was then that he could really see why mares and the occasional stallion stared at him the way they did. Just when he thought his self esteem could go no higher, to see his muscular figure chiseled by all the years of physical hardship made it tempting to actually see if he could bed a mare tonight. As nice as the idea of bringing home a hot piece of tail sounded however, he could never get his true self to engage in meaningless hookups and would rather do it for love over lust. Nevertheless, it was uplifting for him to be seen as attractive to others.

After the next several blocks, Radius found himself trotting into the city's public library as it was once his favorite hangout back in the day. Of course different librarians had come and gone over the years but save for the unfamiliar pony behind the desk, the look and smell of the place had not changed at all. The only difference was the presence of tables with computers on top that were added when the internet began to take Equestria by storm of which Radius wanted to try to see if he liked it.

After an hour of browsing the web and learning how to use it, Radius made a mental note to later buy his own computer and have internet installed at his house but now, it was time to partake in one of his favorite pastimes; reading. He was in the mood for anything, he simply did not care what. There was so many books but so little time but fortunately he remembered the ones he had read already and there were indeed a great many of them so it would be easier to choose. As he sifted through the foreign works from Earth however, a certain title and author caught his eye and he simply could not find it within himself to ignore it and move on.

"What?...no it...it can't be." Radius gasped as he slowly pulled the book in question off the shelf, the shock of what it was that he was holding slowly sinking in.

Chernobyl: How it Happened

By: Anatoly S. Dyatlov

"He wrote a book?" Radius said to himself as he opened the cover and started reading. "What the...I didn't know the reactor was slapped together with such cheap materials...and the construction was so rushed, no wonder it had problems...oh my god...it wasn't even his fault."

With much haste, Radius trotted up to the mare at the counter and presented his old, faded library card he had brought with him which the librarian then presented him with an updated replacement. After leaving the library with the book floating in his aura in front of his face, Radius trotted to the nearest park where he sat underneath a tree to continue reading. It all made so much sense now. Though Radius had forgiven Dyatlov for his part that caused the meltdown, now he was staring at proof that it was not entirely his fault and that the reactor was doom right from the start. Being an engineer himself and with a PHD for that matter, the flaws in the reactor's design were as plain at the large hole in the building it later became. Had it been designed and constructed properly, it would have never exploded and once it did, what was then the Soviet Union passed the blame in its entirety on the crew working that night.

Radius was a fast reader and he had finished the book just in time as the setting sun would have made it difficult to read much further. He trotted back to the now closed library where he gently slipped the book into the drop box slot and proceeded on his way through the streets of Canterlot, the street lamps just beginning to switch on and light the way. The giddy unicorn could not remember the last time had felt the way he did and grabbed hold of each street lamp he passed and did a foal like twirl around them as he trotted down the streets on the warm Spring night. He was out of the exclusion zone and back with his family, he was healthy, happy, and knew in his heart that the evil entity that used him as a puppet was gone for good.

Closure; what Radius felt was closure on a dark chapter of his life that he could at long last draw to a close and he could see a bright future ahead of him. Though he had lost thirty years of his life that he could never get back, the least he could do was to live the years ahead of him to the fullest as he had a feeling there would be a great many of them to come. Be it from his DNA being stunted by the radiation or what happened in his out of body experience, for whatever reason he had not aged at all and would not be going anywhere anytime soon.

He had been tested in every way imaginable. He had been burned, poisoned, mutated, had friends die in his arms, and was left alone for so long but no matter what was thrown at him, he would never be broken. He had repressed terrible anger and never truly hated anyone, had sacrificed so much to save many lives and had even forgiven the very worst of enemies. Though it may take countless years for the damage done to him to fully heal, his experiences had done nothing but made his stronger and he wanted the whole world to know. First however, his main objective was to make up for lost time with his family and as he opened his mailbox full of letters addressed to him, he would remember that he had some other unfinished business to attend to. Though months away, the little familiar golden ticket signed by Her Royal Highness was a reminder of what he needed to do and he would let nothing keep him from it.

"I'll see you again soon, my dear." Radius sighed as he trotted back to his house with the ticket in his aura.

"Mister Groysman! I'm so glad you could make it!" Celestia beamed as she trotted over to Ukraine's Prime Minister and extended her hoof. "Welcome to the gala!"

"I wouldn't miss it for anything, your highness!" Groysman beamed with a bright smile as he made a fist and reciprocated the Princess's hoof bump. "I'll be honest, it's nothing like what I've heard before! Dancing, music, people and ponies coming together and sharing laughs...this is great!"

"Well, I won't lie, for the past several years, the gala hasn't really had as much energy as you see now. My sister and I made some changes this year."

"Wonderful! I just hope I don't run into uh...you know."

"Let me guess...Putin?"

Mister Groysman then nervously tugged his collar as his eyes darted around the room. Running into the Russian President would be awkward to say the least as Ukraine has been fighting against his nation for quite some time in order to stay independent.

"I didn't invite him." Celestia said through her teeth as her eyes narrowed. "Not after he humiliated Twilight Sparkle the way he did on his last visit here."

"He did that!?" Groysman gasped, his eyes resembling saucers. "What audacity! Such disrespect!"

"Rest assured, Mister Groysman, as long as you're in Equestria, you won't be seeing him." Celestia said with a smile, attempting to shift to a more positive note. "So do enjoy your time here. I'm going to mingle with the crowd but we have hours to catch up. Thanks again for coming!"

"And thank you for inviting me! Oh! And I decided to take your advice and legalize same sex marriages in Ukraine!"

"That's wonderful!"

For the time being, Celestia and Prime Minister Groysman separated where the former trotted about to greet more attendees and the latter headed over to the table of hors d'oeuvres. Many faces of people and ponies alike who showed up were familiar and others not so much and the Princess was excited to see who would show up next all the while hoping to see the one she and several of her subjects rescued months ago. As She trotted past the stage, her nephew Blueblood standing there singing Talk Talk's "It's my life", she thought to herself how much his voice sounds oddly similar to that of the original singer. It was when a coiffure of neatly combed, bright red hair on top of the head of a well dressed man sitting at the bar caught her eye. As she trotted closer, she could see a cigarette holder sticking from his mouth with a smoldering lung dart on the end.

"Good god..." The pony tending the bar gasped as the man polished off another bottle and set it down next to the others. "How can one man drink so much vodka?"

"Frederick? Is that you?" Celestia said as she came up behind the red haired man.

"Huh? Oh, hey, Princess Celestia, how you doing?" Frederick greeted as he turned around, his clean shaven face and well groomed appearance making him almost unrecognizable.

Without any kind of forewarning, Celestia then wrapped her arms around the battle hardened soldier who brought her subjects to safety months ago whether he wanted her to or not. Not much for hugging, Frederick put up somewhat of a struggle at first but quickly changed his mind as the warm feeling of friendship was not so bad afterall.

"Heheh, okay, okay." Frederick sighed as he accepted his fate and returned Celestia's hug.

"You have no idea how much what you did for us means to everypony!" Celestia said as she broke the hug and wiped a tear away. "I could never thank you enough."

"Eh, you already have, trust me. The exchange rate between bits and Ukrainian hryvnia is in my favor...big time."

"Oh?"

"I'm only thirty-two and I'll never have to work again!"

"That's wonderful!"

"No, it sucks! I'm so bored but I don't ever wanna set foot in that fu-er...that freaking exclusion zone again!"

"Well...there is an opening for a new Lieutenant for the Royal Guard. I've seen your leadership skills first hoof. Why don't you apply?"

"Huh...I just might."

Celestia was certainly not among the only ones having a wonderful time seeing friends. For the first time ever, the farm pony Big Macintosh had attended the Grand Galloping Gala and he was sporting a dashing white tuxedo with a matching top hat. Around his neatly folded collar was a black bolo neck tie that would be the envy of even the most discerning of Southern U.S. lawyers. He and A.K. Yearling were catching up while the latter signed autographs for ponies who hoofed copies of her books over to be adorned with her signature.

"Why, Ah do declare, Miss Yearling, it has been just far too long, mah dear!" Big Macintosh said in a mixture of a posh accent and country drawl that would make a certain Colonel proud.

"Hey, handsome, nice seeing you here!" A.K. Yearling greeted as she hugged her big, well dressed friend. "So uh...how are things with eh...whatshername?"

"Ah, Sugar Belle'n Ah mutually decided to uh, go our separate ways. It didn't end badly, just wasn't workin' out."

"Oh! Sooo, you're not seeing anypony at the moment? Because I was hoping later we could maybe...go back to my hotel when this is over?"

"Ah thought ya'd never ask, darlin'."

A few yards away, Spitfire and Soarin were catching up with Rainbow Dash who was introducing them to a dark yellow earth stallion with a mane and tail of several shades of gray whom of which she had brought as her date. Everypony was having a wonderful time getting to know each other in the formal, upscale setting weather they were making new friends or catching up with old ones. Upon spotting the glimmer of a shiny, well polished bald head a few yards away, Rainbow Dash herself wished to do some catching up of her own.

"Hey, Quibble, I'm gonna go see a friend real quick, kay?" Rainbow Dash said to her date. "You just hang out with Soarin and Spitfire while I do that."

"Mkay, Dash." Rainbow Dash's date Quibble Pants replied before resuming his conversation with the two wonderbolts.

Rainbow Dash then trotted over to the short, stout senior aged man she recognized. The man had traded in his security guard uniform that he no longer needed to wear for a new suit of the same dark green. Unlike the last time the ponies had seen him, his gray mustache was neatly trimmed and waxed as per the occasion.

"Hey! Denys! How's it going, man?" Rainbow Dash greeted as she extended a hoof.

"Little Rainbow Buddy!" Denys beamed as he bumped the pony's hoof with his fist. "How you doing, kiddo?"

"Great! I'm moving up with the wonderbolts! How's your retirement going?"

"Ah, couldn't be better! I knew my wife and my daughter would be glad I left that place! Oh, on that note, I'd like you to meet her. Hey Helga! This is my pony friend I told you about! The one who reminded me of you!"

From several yards away walked a young woman in her late twenties. The woman was wearing magnificent dark green dress that matched her father's suit and was a head taller than him. What surprised Rainbow Dash the most was her hairdo which was dyed several different colors in stripes much like a rainbow. For a moment, Rainbow Dash wondered why she reminded Denys of his daughter but upon seeing her hairdo, she wondered no more.

"Helga, this is Rainbow Dash." Denys introduced. "Rainbow Dash, Helga."

"Hey." Helga greeted.

"Hey." Rainbow Dash repeated.

"Do you like video games?"

"Yeah!"

"Fallout?"

"I think we're gonna get along just swell."

While new friends were being made, siblings were catching up and Twilight Sparkle and her Brother Shining Armor were no exception. Twilight, who was wearing a Nobel Peace Prize she had won for her aid in development of the cure for radiation induced mutations was conversing with her sister in law Cadence while Shining Armor holding onto his daughter. Though much more fun, exciting and energetic than many before it, this Grand Galloping Gala was uneventful yet in a good way as it was just simply going well. However, it was when Shining Armor noticed that his daughter Flurry heart was no longer in his grasp that the doting father began to worry.

"Flurry?" Shining Armor asked as his eyes darted around the room. "Flurry, sweetie, where did you go?"

"Leave it to this goofball to lose her." Cadence chuckled as she was not worried. There were many worse places a foal could be lost.

Twilight Sparkle was also unafraid as the odds of Flurry Heart getting into any serious mischief at a gala full of people, ponies and members of the guard were practically nonexistent. As her brother frantically darted about the ballroom like a madman, she rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself as she joined the search for her niece.

"No way..." One of two guards whispered as he observed a very tall, well dressed gray stallion trotting towards him and his colleague who secured the entrance. "Is that who I think it is?"

"Huh? I dunno, who do you think that is?" The younger, more clueless guard asked as he flicked a booger he just removed from one of his nostrils.

"Good evening, gentlecolts." Radius Hoofenschtov greeted with a smile as he showed his ticket. Much to his confusion, the older guard of the two removed his helmet and gave a salute.

"Of course, sir!" The guard said as he stepped aside. "Please, go right in and enjoy the gala! Psst! Private! Remove the helmet and show some respect!"

"Ow!" The subordinate guard yelped as his superior gave him a slap to catch his attention. "Okay, fine, jeez!"

Still clueless, the younger guard did as he was told and promptly removed his helmet, gave a salute and stepped aside to allow Radius into the ballroom.

"Oh, fellas, that's really not necessary." The modest Radius said as he trotted past. "I'm no different than anypony else who comes here."

"But it is, sir!" The elder guard replied. "To be graced by your presence tonight was a real treat!"

"Wow, uh...thanks."

"Who the hell was that?" The younger guard asked, annoyed by being slapped by his supervisor.

"That...was the toughest, bravest, most selfless son of a bitch I've ever laid eyes on."

Radius entered the ballroom expecting to see the stuffy, boring gathering of snobs that Shining Armor once told him it had become but instead he saw a Gala just like the ones he used to know. In the same exact spot he remembered, a dance floor was spread out in front of a stage with a DJ, sound equipment, classical instruments and a grand piano with none other than Sir Elton John himself playing a beautiful tune. If the last few months were full of fun and excitement, to see the Gala just the way he remembered it made his heart race, he was so giddy. As he trotted on in to join the other attendees and mingle with the crowd, he thought there was no possible was it could get any better but he was about to be proven wrong once again.

"Pardon me...sir" A monotone, robotic sounding voice said behind Radius. "Do I have the pleasure of addressing Radius Hoofenschtov?"

"Oh! Why yes, I'm Radiu-oooh my godohmigodohmigodohmygod!" Radius stuttered as he turned around to see the man in the electric wheelchair whom had addressed him, his finger tapping a small keypad to aide in his speech. "S-S-S-Stephen Hawking!"

"Doctor Hoofenschtov...I am so pleased to finally meet you. When I heard you had gone missing back in the eighties...I thought I would never get the chance to speak with you and tell you how much I admired your work. Now that I get to speak to you right now...is like a dream come true. Don't forget...you were well known within the science community...and I would actually not be surprised a bit if you still were."

"I-I-I always wanted to meet you too! Oh my god! My idol just told me I'm his idol!"

"I feel the same way...Doctor. Now...I'm going to get some of that delicious punch. Feel free to contact me anytime. I will see you around...Radius."

"Absolutely, Doctor Hawking! Wow..."

After their brief chat, Stephen Hawking then rolled on his way back over to the punch table, leaving Radius free to mingle with the crowd. Ponies and people of all backgrounds from all over Equestria and Earth alike and they were all smiling and having a wonderful time. The perfect opportunity to socialize and converse like Radius had difficulties with but craved contact with other so badly. A hardship for a social creature who disliked loneliness but one he was able to overcome nonetheless. He would momentarily meet someone else whom he had met before unbeknownst to him however, and little did he know, he was the very reason for the other's very existence.

"Whoops! Sorry, I didn't see you there, comrade." Said a short, stout sixty year old man with a gray mustache, sporting a dark green suit after bumping into Radius.

"Oh, no worries at all sir." Radius replied with a smile. "Hey, um...you look kind of familiar. Have we met before?"

"As a matter of fact, we have." The man replied with a chuckle.

"Oh? Where at?"

"Well, you'll just have to find out, comrade...and thank you."

"For?"

"Again...you'll find out. My wife and I just retired and bought a summer home here in Canterlot. I'll be around. I'm Denys, by the way."

With a chuckle, the mysterious man who just chatted with Radius walked away towards a group of ponies and humans he wished to converse with. As strange and confusing the brief encounter was, he could not allow anything to distract him. Being that there were few, if any ponies as tall as he and Celestia though, it was not long before Radius spotted his primary objective that he had difficulty not thinking about over the past few months. There she was, Radius's former flame sharing a hearty laugh with Barack Obama precisely thirty-two yards away according to the physicist's calculations. For most of his time back home, Radius's confidence had built up to a point where he could trot up and talk to somepony with no issue but as he stared off and admired Celestia from afar, his knees went weak.

Though it was true that the couple had fallen out of love during their time apart, for Radius, that one time she visited him in the hospital was that one little spark needed to set his heart ablaze once more. Back when the two were an item, it was Celestia who courted Radius and made the first move by revealing her intentions and opening up about her feelings. For the months that followed his discharge from the hospital, he thought about her more and more often until he knew he could no longer lie to himself. He wanted Celestia back and he decided that it was his turn to step up and tell her. Upon actually seeing her however was when there arose a new, yet very old problem.

His old shyness and anxiety Radius knew from his youth had frozen him to the spot. He simply couldn't get himself to do it and even ducked his head down when she Celestia glanced into his general direction. Once he could tell that she had switched her gaze to another direction, he trotted back over to a table where he proceeded to pull up a chair on which he sat and sulked. Not even so much as a minute would go by of Radius staring over at the beautiful alicorn that was once his marefriend however, as somepony else would take it upon himself to talk some sense into him.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" Said a somewhat creepy voice that only someone or somepony with little to no sanity could possess on the side of the table opposite of Radius. "You want her, so go and get her."

Radius shifted in the chair and turned around to see the being in question who had walked, trotted, floated or whatever he does over to strike up a conversation. The creature was quite the strange looking fellow but at the same time, oddly familiar. The long, slender, snake-like body with the head of a stallion with a deer antler on one side and a goat horn on the other. The arms of the creature were asymmetrical too, one being that of a lion and the other an eagle or griffin, the latter holding a martini. Looking down even further revealed one leg of a goat and the other some sort of reptilian creature such as a lizard. As per the dress code for the gala, the creature sported a bright orange tuxedo with a matching top hat and stared at Radius expectantly with his yellow eyes.

"Uh...w-weren't you in the garden before?" Radius stuttered.

"Ah, yes, I was kind of an asshole once upon a time." The creature replied before taking a sip of his drink. "But I've been a good little colt so old Tia over there let me go and play...provided I don't do any real damage. Ohuhhahahahehehee!"

"She's...told me about you. Are you D-"

"Discord's the name, chaos...was my game. Hm, I'll have to find a new one. One that won't get me into trouble."

Discord then extended his lion paw for a bump to which Radius hesitantly obliged.

"How much have I missed?" Radius asked.

"A lot, my friend. And by the looks of it, you were about to allow yourself to miss out on even more."

"What do you mean?"

"Celestia has told me a lot about you. You still like her and you're going to just mope around and let her slip away?"

"It's not like she's going anywhere."

"Oh, quit making excuses already! You get off your ass, get over there, take her hoof and dance with her!"

"Why are you even helping me anyway!?"

Discord then sipped up the rest of his drink and proceeded to take a bite out of the glass much to Radius's confusion. After taking a moment to chew on his crunchy snack before swallowing it, Discord then wiped his lips with a napkin, ate that too, and then proceeded to speak again.

"Because Radius, she needs you and deserves somepony like you. I don't ever let her know this, and if you tell anypony, I'll rip your nuts off and roast them...but I happen to have a lot of respect for her and for many reasons...I really owe it to her."

"That so?" Radius trembled at the thought of his testicles being separated from his body and cooked.

"Yes. You see...well, I'm sure you already know how forgiving she can be. She gives ponies so many second...third, even fourth chances. I was lucky enough to be one of those."

"Well, she has always had a big heart."

"I've done many wrong things in my time and Celestia knows I didn't deserve those chances...but she gave them to me anyway. I'd still be that stone statue that watched you two fuck each other's brains out in the garden if it weren't for her kindness."

"Wow, I really gotta quit making ponies watch us."

"Oh, there were others? Lucky them! Admittedly, you two were fun to watch but I digress. Celestia needs you whether she knows she does or not and you need her!"

"You're...you're right!"

"After all the shit you've been through, are you going to let a little anxiety hold you down!?"

"No! I'm not!"

"You're strong enough to survive everything life threw at you!"

"Yes I am!"

"Then you trot on over there and make her yours again!"

"Yeah!!"

After Discord's pep talk, Radius was riled up and ready to do what he came to do. He only had to glance around for a moment as Celestia had not gone far and he trotted over with his head held high and confidence in every step. The closer he got to her, the faster his heart began to beat and a cold sweat ran down the back of his neck but he was prepared for such an issue as he had used some very appealing cologne before arriving. Her back was turned to him and he was getting so close. Close enough where he could smell her cupcake scented perfume that she always wore which only made him want her more as it brought back the memories. He was almost there! It was working perfectly, all he had to do was tap her on the shoulder and surprise her once she turned around! Just a few more steps! The only thing that could get in his way now was the feeling of fifteen pounds of weight clinging to his right front leg as whatever it was emitted a foalish giggle.

"Huh?" Radius asked as he stopped in his tracks to that a tiny filly had latched onto his leg and stared up at him with a huge smile and glossy eyes as she hugged his leg tight. Radius would never in his life dream of rudely dismissing a foal or telling one to scram so he smiled back down at the filly whom he would gently coax off of him. Celestia would have to wait. "Well, hi there, sweetie! Aren't you just adorable! Are you lost? I'm sure your mommy and daddy are arou-wait a minute...wings...and a horn? You're..."

"She likes you, Radius." Said a familiar voice of a young male standing behind him, his voice trembling as if on the verge of tears.

Radius's pupils dilated as he realized just who it was behind him and precisely whose foal he was holding. He turned around and sure enough, there stood Shining Armor next to a pink alicorn mare, the latter covering her mouth as she soon followed suit and began weeping like her husband.

"This is him!?" Cadence asked as she trotted over and wrapped her arms around Radius. Shining Armor did the same immediately after. "Oh my god, Radius, I've heard so much about you! Welcome back!!"

"Flurry, sweetie, meet Uncle Radius!" Shining Armor said, choking back more tears. "I'm so glad you came! I...I...*sniff* I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Shining! Th-thank you so much! For everything!" Radius sobbed.

"Hey! There he is, guys!" A mare beamed from several yards away. "He showed up!"

"Well Ah'll be dipped!" Said as stallion with a country drawl as he galloped over. "Everypony, git over there n' see 'im!"

All those voices, he knew he had heard them before and it did not take long for his memory to be jogged by the half dozen ponies who suddenly had their arms around him. Rainbow Dash, Big Macintosh, A.K. Yearling, Spitfire, Soarin, and Twilight Sparkle had all joined Cadence and Shining Armor in their group hug with the stallion they helped to get his life back and they loved every moment of it. Radius took note of Celestia having trotted off as she had not noticed him but for now, it was time to express his gratitude towards those who saved him and given him another chance. Much like Discord had told him moments ago, he too also had Celestia to thank. Once everypony's tear ducts were bled dry and they could all begin to think straight however is when Radius decided that he was going to do what he had to, his destiny.

"I'll be back, everypony." Radius said as he stood tall and proud, his gaze following his target trotting towards the dance floor. "I have some business to take care of."

"Go get her, Raddy!" Rainbow Dash beamed.

Knowing exactly what their friend was trying to do, his rescuers watched with great anticipation as he trotted over to their Princess, his confidence at its peak. This time, nothing was about to stop him and even Discord watched from afar and observed his pep talk at work. He made it! He stood directly behind Princess Celestia and was close enough to tap her on the shoulder but politely waited until she finished her conversation with the singer Taylor Swift. The young woman soon bid Celestia good evening and began to walk away! This was his chance! It was now or never, do or die!

"May I have the next dance, milad-" Radius began as he tapped Celestia on the shoulder and was immediately met with her arms wrapping tightly around him.

"Radius!!" Celestia squealed as she embraced her former flame and cried into his chest. In the past, she would not have been able to do so as easily but now that Radius was just as tall and her, she buried her muzzle into his tuxedo and wept and refused to let go of him. It had certainly worked out better than he could have imagined as he did not see that coming. "Radius, I'm so glad you could make it! I made sure the gala would be just the way you remembered!"

"Celestia...I...I owe my life to you. To everypony." Radius said as his waterworks made a return. "Because of you and everypony who came to get me...my whole family is happy again. I have closure. That part of my life is gone, it's all behind me and it's never coming back."

"R-Radius, I-I'm so sorry you had to stay there for so long!"

"No, no, it's not your fault, don't focus on that. Tia...I'm all about looking forward from here on out. I'm back and I'm not going anywhere."

"You just...called me 'Tia'...Oh my god, I missed that so much. Oh! Radius! I made a promise to somepony! Luna! Sister, over here!"

Equestria's Princess of the night wasted no time galloping over to her sister and the large, gray stallion she stood next to and she could tell right away just who he was. Princess Luna cared not about how she got over there as long as she did quickly and even leaped and jumped over other gala attendees to meet the pony who should have been her brother in law. Just like Celestia before her who afterwards followed suit, Luna firmly wrapped her arms around Radius and bawled as she could at long last meet the stallion who made her sister so happy long ago. After being gone for many years of which Luna could relate to, Radius was with his family and friends both new and old. Once again though, now that everypony had calmed themselves enough to hear themselves think, Radius still had important matters to attend to.

"Tia, you never answered my question." Radius chuckled as the two slowly trotted together to catch up.

"Oh! You mean...to dance with me?"

"Uh huh."

"I'd like that..."

Almost as if on cue, Sir Elton John took back to the stage and sat on the bench in front of his grand piano while another was being wheeled over next to the first. As Radius and Celestia trotted over to the dance floor, none other than Billy Joel took his seat in front of his own piano and the two men began to play a song so perfect for slow dancing that it may as well have been planned. Discord giving the two men a thumbs up just to have both of them look back at him and return the gesture was an indication that it indeed was.

"It's nine o'clock on a Saturday..." Billy Joel sang. "The regular crowd shuffles in..."

"There's an old man sitting next to me..." Elton John began. "...making love to his tonic and gin."

"He says 'son, can you play me a memory'. I'm not really sure how it goes."

"But it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete when I wore a younger man's clothes."

In the very center of the dance floor, Her Royal Highness Princess Celestia of Equestria and Doctor Radius Circumfrancis Hoofenschtov danced to the song, her hooves on his shoulders and his near her flanks. As they looked into each other's eyes, Radius knew that he was winning her over. For Celestia, it was happening all over again. As quickly as she could tell that the connection was lost when she first saw Radius in Pripyat, the spark ignited the flame once more as she danced with him. She simply could not help it, he was simply impossible to resist. Over thirty years ago, she had been the one to start it all and was the one to make the first move. Now, it was Radius's turn and their eyes never broke contact while they danced. As the song played on, Radius would explain to her the unfinished business he stilled had to attend to.

"Tia?" Radius said softly.

"Yes, Radius?" Celestia said, her tone matching his.

"Next month...I have a trip to Ukraine booked."

"Why is that?"

"There's someone I need to visit there. It's really important and I'd like you to go with me. What do you say?"

"Consider my schedule cleared."

As Celestia and Radius continued to hold each other and dance together, everypony who aided in the latter's return took to the dance floor with their own dates and held each other close. Shining Armor and Cadance, Rainbow Dash with Quibble, Big Macintosh with A.K. Yearling, Soarin and Spitfire with a mare and stallion of their own respectively, and Twilight Sparkle with a yellow pegasus with a bright blue mane and tail. Denys and his wife also took to the floor and soon, Mister and Missus Groysman followed suit as well. Frederick had also just hit it off with a pretty lady around his age and was slow dancing with her. Even Princess Luna with her pudgy coltfriend Pony Joe slow danced together, holding each other close the entire time. Everywhere the eye could see, love was in bloom and the Grand Galloping Gala of Fall 2016 would be remembered as the most love filled Gala Equestria had ever seen and would be fondly talked about for years to come.

Radius along with Princess Celestia by his side trotted down a path on a cool, crisp November afternoon in a cemetery on the outskirts of Kiev. With a beautiful bouquet of flowers in hoof, Radius was on a personal quest and in search of the memorial of someone in particular. The large cemetery seemed to stretch for miles but as per the directions they were given, Radius and Celestia knew they were close. Even if it took several more hours to find it or even days, they would not leave the yard until that headstone was found. Fortunately for the couple, they would not have to look much further and their search would come to an end.

"Here he is..." Radius said quietly.

"You are a saint for doing this, Radius." Celestia said as she hugged her stallion.

"I'm just returning the favor, Tia. It's only fair."

With his bouquet in hoof, Radius slowly trotted over to the stone he had spent hours searching for. Nearly thirty-one years of the darkest chapter in his life would be turned over and the slate cleaned for good. He felt optimistic before about his future and having finally left the past where it belonged but only what he was about to do could make it official. As he stood two feet away from the gravestone, he wiped away the frost brought by the chilling air as to read what was carved into it. There not a shred of doubt that he had the correct grave.

Anatoly Stepanovich Dyatlov
March 3rd, 1931-December 13th, 1995
Rest In Peace

After gently placing the bouquet before the memorial, with Celestia standing behind him weeping profusely at the beautiful deed her coltfriend had done, Radius whispered his three choice words for the man buried beneath them.

"I forgive you."

Author's Notes:

The image you see above is SO not mine! On another note, who's the asshe who decided how the word "hors d'oeuvres" was gonna be spelled!?