"So, do I have to call you that now?" Twilight asked as the three made their way to the farm.

Earl shrugged, slightly wincing at the pain when using his shoulder.

"You can call me whatever. I think it would just make things seem less... odd."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're Twilight Sparkle. He's Shining Armor, you have friends named Rainbow Dash and Rarity and stuff... and then there's 'Earl'." He replied with a chuckle.

"I guess that makes sense..." Twilight said. "I think I'll stick to Earl, though."

"Whatever works." He replied.

As the three approached Sweet Apple Acres, they noticed a familiar orange earth pony working in the front-most fields. After a moment, Applejack noticed them, specifically the bandages covering half of Earl's body. The mare approached them as they walked through the mane entrance of the farm.

"How ya' feelin'?" She said, walking along side the grey unicorn.

Earl glanced towards her and smiled nervously.

"Better, thanks." He replied.

"Well sure. Ah came and saw you a few days ago, you looked pretty beat up." Applejack continued sympathetically.

"Yeah, they got me pretty good." Earl said with a slight laugh.

"Good ta see you're alright." The earth pony said with a nod. "What brings ya to Sweet Apple Acres?"

"Here to see Mac, is he around?"

"I reckon he's out by the barn." Applejack said after thinking for a moment.

"Thanks." Earl said.

Before he could make his way to the barn, Applejack pulled him aside.

"I also just wanted to say thanks. Ya know, for lookin' after him. Ah don't know what I would do without him around." She said.

"No problem." Earl replied, shooting her a genuine smile.

The earth pony tipped her hat to the group as they made their way to the barn.

Upon reaching it, the pony in question was pushing a bale of hay into the tall red barn.

"Mac." Earl called out.

The red pony flinched slightly and looked towards the voice.

"So, I'm alive." The grey unicorn continued with a slight smirk.

Mac returned the smirk and walked towards his friend, extending a hoof.

"What is this?" Earl asked, staring down at the hoof angrily.

Mac raised an eyebrow.

"Fuck that, you saved my life." Earl said, approaching the earth pony.

The red pony was confused as the grey unicorn bro-hugged him, but shrugged and returned the bro-hug regardless.

"Eh it wasn't too much trouble." Mac said.

"Either way, thanks." Earl said.

The grey unicorn then looked towards Shining and Twilight after a few moments of silence.

"So....... what's next?" He asked awkwardly.

"Well, me and Twi haven't been home in a few days." Shining said with a shrug.

"SURPRISE!" Pinkie shouted as the group entered her library, followed by a blast of streamers and confetti.

"Holy sh- Pinkie hey!" Earl said, terrified by the sudden appearance of the pink pony.

Shining and Twilight looked around the room, it had been lined with streamers and various colored banners. Along with tables of food neatly set up in front of the bookshelves.

She hopped over to the grey unicorn, holding a small card in her mouth.

"Here." She said, her voice muffled by the card.

He levitated it from her mouth and was greeted by yet another terrifying blast of confetti. After flinching and screaming like a complete bitch, he opened the card and read it's contents;

"So, you threw a party to tell me you're throwing a party?" Earl asked, slightly confused.

Pinkie simply nodded with a bright smile on her face.

"That is possibly the greatest idea I've ever heard." Earl said, completely serious.

"I know right?! I come up with ideas like this all the time!"

"Uhh, Pinkie. He just got out of the hospital today, don't you think it's a bit early to have a party?" Twilight asked.

The pink pony gasped loudly.

"It is never too early for parties." She said, in a serious tone.

"I think I'll be alright." Earl replied glancing towards the purple unicorn.

After a moment, she turned to Pinkie and nodded.

"Alright, we'll be there." She said.

Pinkie's smile returned to her face and she happily trotted towards the door.

"Oh and by the way, I had Spike send a letter to the Princess saying that you were awake. She wants to make an appearance tomorrow!" Pinkie said before calmly shutting the door and leaving.

"Well that might have been important to know first..." Earl said rolling his eyes.

"Calm down, she probably just wants to congratulate you." Twilight said reassuringly with a smile.

Earl glanced towards her and met her bright smile with his own.

After a few seconds of the two unicorns staring at each other, Shining rolled his eyes and walked away.

"I haven't slept on a real bed in a month, later." He said, entering one of the other rooms.

With Shining now gone, Earl and Twilight stared at each other awkwardly for a few moments.

"So... I missed you." The grey unicorn said, breaking the silence.

"I know, Dash told me." Twilight replied, blushing slightly.

"What did she say exactly?" Earl asked raising an eyebrow.

Twilight thought for a moment and held a hoof to her mouth to fold back laughter.

"OK, C'mon what was it?"

"She said; Your coltfriend said he missed his little purple puff ball of love and that he wishes he could be close to you again." Twilight replied, bursting out into laughter.

Earl held an unamused expression for a few moments before laughing as well.

God damnit Rainbow Dash... He thought.

"What'd she say I said?" Twilight asked.

"I don't know, but it was bullsh-"

The purple mare raised an eyebrow.

"...Probably a lie." Earl continued, catching himself.

Twilight rolled her eyes.

"Well, I missed you too." She said with a smile. "I'm glad your back though."

"Yeah me too." He replied, returning her smile yet again.

Another few moments of awkward silence.

"So like, should we...?" Earl asked, pointing his hoof to himself and then to Twilight.

She blushed and nodded before he leaned in to kiss her lightly.

"You make things so awkward..." She said with a chuckle as he pulled away.

"Well, sorry. I'm not to good at interdimensional relationships." He said sarcastically.

"It's fine." Twilight said, shaking her head and chuckling again as she approached a nearby window.

"So about the spell..." Earl said.

the purple mare turned around and awaited his question.

"When was the last time you reactivated it?" He asked.

"Yesterday. We just have to remember to do it tomorrow night and everything will be fine." She replied with a smile.

Earl nodded as she turned back to the window, noticing the time of night. She yawned and approached the stairs.

"It's been a while since I've been in my bed too." She said with tired eyes.

"I've been doing nothing but sleeping in a bed." He said with a laugh approaching his room, the one Shining Armor had walked in to.

"And Shines took my room..." Earl said.

He glanced towards Twilight and saw her raising an eyebrow.

"We still have my room..." She said.

Earl's heart nearly stopped and his face turned a deep red.

"Well I mean, there's like- and you know..." He said, stumbling over his words.

Twilight rolled her eyes and continued up the stairs.

"Are you coming?" She called out, her voice slightly muffled by the walls.

"Yes." Earl replied, grabbing a cupcake from on of the nearby tables and sprinting towards the stairs.