After walking through the new castle, Midnight had quickly become accustomed to its layout, compared to the older castle that had been destroyed not long before his imprisonment in stone. A short time passed before they arrived in the hall way that lead to Celestia and Luna's quarters. But there were two new rooms along the hall as well.

"Midnight, please go to my quarters and wait there please. I will bring the children to you." Celestia smiled softly to him as he gave a nod and sigh.

After quickly making his way down the hall and into Celestia's quarters, he immediately noticed how the decor had changed since the castle had been rebuilt. The room was no longer decorated in the bright gold that he had become accustomed to from his previous time in there. It was now a bright red and purple with gold accents. The room along every wall housed many books much like Luna's room had in the past. On the balcony stood a large telescope much like the one that Midnight had gotten Luna during his first Hearth's warming in Equestria. As he continued looking around the room at all of the new surroundings. A knock came at the door, just before it opened revealing two blindfolded foals that were being led into the room by Celestia and Twilight. Behind the two stood Luna, who's eyes went wide as tears began to stream from her face upon seeing Midnight. She placed a hoof onto her mouth to keep from speaking out in surprise.

"Alright now, you may remove your blindfolds." Celestia stated as the two quickly shook them off and opened their eyes to see Midnight standing before them.

"D-daddy?" Marina spoke out in shock.

"Father?" Starlight spoke out as well in shock before they bolted across the room, slamming into their father while crying.

"My babies..............." He choked out as he held onto them, his own tears falling to the floor as he held onto them for dear life. Afraid to let them go in fear that they would vanish if he did.

After a few minutes had passed and many tears shed, they separated as they began to speak to one another.

"Daddy, where have you been? Momma said you had been turned into a statue." Marina stated as she rubbed her cheek, wiping away a few tears that had stained her fur.

"That is true my dear. Do you remember when Screwball destroyed Canterlot? That is when she also turned me to stone, but that was also her last mistake. She will never hurt another pony ever again." Midnight smiled as he hugged his son and daughter.

"Father, I've missed you." Star spoke up in a slightly more elegant tone, surprising Midnight a little.

"I've missed you as well my son. Please though, there is no need to be formal while we are alone. You may do and say as you please." Midnight smiled before seeing his sons eyes begin to water slightly before he burst into tears, wailing into his fathers embrace and hugged him tightly to his chest.

"There there, let it out. I know it has been a long time, and you will never have to worry about me leaving you again." Midnight chuckled to his children.

After a short time and some catching up, the foals had to go and attend their daily classes within the castles school. Midnight promising to be back in time for them to have finished their classes for the day. Normally he would have stayed in the castle to be with two of his ladies, but he had two other ladies that he had to visit, along with quite a few friends as well.

Some quick arrangements were made before Midnight had teleported to Ponyville. He would return in a few hours to meet his foals as they left class so that he could catch up with them more before he would then talk to Celestia about setting up the formal ceremony to have him be officially crowned to become King.

Midnight appeared in a flash of light and the snap of a whip just outside of the library, Twilight at his side. She headed toward the library, taking in a deep breath as she entered. Midnight stood outside as a scream erupted from within the library, followed by some crashing and then crying. After a moment of waiting he went inside to see a large purple and green dragon sitting on the floor and holding the purple unicorn to him, all the time blubbering like a foal.

"This is too precious." Midnight chuckled causing both of their attentions to snap to him.

"MIDNIGHT!" Spike yelled as he picked Twilight up and ran over to the Alicorn as they gave each other a hug and pat on the back. "Wow bro, you haven't changed a bit." Spike chuckled as he looked him up and down.

"Benefit of being stuck in stone for five years I guess. You've change a lot though. Look at you, you're huge now." He laughed as he looked at the dragon before him. In the five years Midnight had missed, Spike had grown at least four feet taller. His arms and legs had extended outward to accommodate his new height and weight, while a pair of drake wings had sprouted from his back. His spines had even grown sharper and moved down his back.

"I must say, I can't wait to see how you fly now." The Alicorn chuckled.

"I've gotten pretty good at it. Dash has been teaching me a lot as of late, after she and Spitfire took a break, we got together to train before they ended up back in each others hooves." Spike groaned out, rolling his eyes.

"Dash and Spitfire huh? Guess that's why she shot me down when I asked her for her hoof." Midnight chuckled but stopped, seeing their shocked faces. "Shut up, it was over five years ago, and do NOT mention that little comment to Dash." He groaned as he felt a pang of worry fill his gut. "Anyway, I'm going to go and find the others to surprise them. Do they all still live in the same places?"

"Well, Dash still lives in her cloud home just outside of town. Same spot it has been in for as long as I can remember. Fluttershy and Big Macintosh live in your old house now. Rarity is still in the same spot as well. Applejack is at the farm with Applebloom, and Pinkie Pie is still living at Braeburn's house. I'll let you talk to them though about the past five years, you are going to have your hooves full I think for the next month at least." Spike chuckled as he raised a brow toward the Alicorn. His arms still wrapped around the purple unicorn hugging her tightly.

"Alright then, I'll be back by here before I head to Canterlot to pick up the foals from class. Don't you leave doll." Midnight said giving a wink to Twilight.

"You won't be able to get rid of me that easily." She smirked.

Midnight was making his way through town as he had done in the past, but now many of the ponies that he had seen as foals before, had grown quite a bit in the time that he was gone. The town had been slightly remodeled as well. More street lamps had been placed along the streets. Homes looked to be in better shape than before. Plus there seemed to be quite a few more ponies living in the small town that he had never seen before.

As he walked along, he met a few faces he hadn't seen in some time. One being Vinyl Scratch who still had her trademark sunglasses and the mp3 player that he had gotten her on Hearths Warming. They chatted for a few minutes while walking in the same direction before separating as he came upon his first stop. Carousel Boutique. Taking in a deep breath to steady himself, he pressed through the front door, the bell signalling his entrance. After a couple of seconds he heard a voice that was a little unfamiliar to him.

"Coming." The mare shouted just before arriving in the front room of the boutique. She stopping and letting out a gasp as she saw the stallion standing at the door.

"Sweetie?!" He spoke in a startled voice as she ran across the room and wrapped her hooves around his neck, crying loudly into him as he sat down and wrapped his wings and arms around her. "Oh Sweetie, I'm so sorry for leaving you like I did." He said as he hugged her tightly to him. After a moment he heard another voice that he knew all to well.

"Sweetie? Who was at the door dear?" Rarity spoke up from the kitchen as she made her way into the front, only to stop and gawk at the sight before her. "M-Midnight?! Is it r-really you?" She stuttered as her eyes began to fill to the brim, only to explode outward into a waterfall of tears as she bolted across the room as he pulled a wing and hoof away as she collided with him. The hoof and wing being replaced as he hugged the two ponies to him.

After a few minutes of water works, Midnight had separated from the two mares and had gone to sit on the couch with them. Rarity piping up as she continued to cry ever so slightly.

"Midnight, I can't believe after all these years that you've returned. Twilight said she would find a counter spell and then return. But I never thought she would. Oh my! Does that mean she has returned to the library?"

"She is there with Spike as we speak. I'm going back there before I head back to Canterlot to pick up my kids from class." He stated, giving a smile.

"Well then, I guess that means you still have yet to visit the others then doesn't it?" Rarity asked giving a smirk.

"Yes, but I don't want to rush this. It has been five years after all." He sighed.

"Do not worry about me darling. I survived five years without you, I can survive a few more hours since I have seen you just now. We have a lot of planning to do. So don't get too carried away with the others." She smiled giving him a wink.

"I'll meet everypony today and then set up a date with each of them to get caught up properly." Midnight chuckled but stopped as he noticed Sweetiebelle fidgeting slightly. "Sweetie? Something wrong?" He asked.

"Have you seen Applebloom or Scootaloo yet?" She asked.

"Not yet, I had to see this one first thing upon getting into Ponyville. Of course you were at the same spot as well." He chuckled giving her a loving hug.

"Thank you Midnight." She said giving him a hug in return.

"Midnight huh? Since when did the uncle get dropped?" He chuckled seeing her blush.

"Since I got older and realized that you're not actually my uncle. You're my brother-in-law." She picked.

"So I guess that means no more little fillies screaming UNCLE at me and dog piling me onto the ground anymore." He pouted.

"Oh you just wait until the others see you. Scoots and AB are going to have a field day with you. You just got off lucky with me." She chuckled.

"Hoo boy, I think I may regret having returned. Knowing those two, I think I may be in for more than I can handle." He chuckled.

After a few more minutes of chatting, Midnight left the boutique, heading toward Sweet Apple Acres. It was a short walk, but he still had two other stops to visit as well. One being Braeburn's and Pinkie's house just across from his old house. Along with Fluttershy's and Big Macintosh's home which was his old home. Then to the final house within the farm to see his final lady, Applejack.