As time ticked away, Midnight had been making his way as quickly as he could toward the farmhouse. Listening as he went to make sure that he didn't pass the Apple family by as they were bucking trees in the field. He paused for a moment as he swiveled his ears to hear some crunching of hooves in the snow in the field to his left. Glancing to the side, he saw three ponies cresting the hill and slowly walking toward him. Big Macintosh pulling a large cart with several trees and tools lying in it. Applejack next to him chatting away, while Applebloom, now almost as big as AJ herself, trotting next to her elder sister.

As they continued on, the two eldest of the trio stopped as they looked back to see Applebloom just standing there. Motionless and eyes wide in shock. Following her glance, they looked forward to see a Dark Alicorn standing about twenty yards away.

"Is that......." Big Mac trailed off as he stared unblinking toward his brother-in-law.

"Midnight?................ MIDNIGHT!" Applejack shouted as she took off like an orange bullet right toward the Alicorn. Applebloom doing the same while leaving her big brother standing in place just gawking.

After what seemed like an eternity, Applejack and then Applebloom bowled the Alicorn over into the still snow covered ground. He laying on his back with his wings wrapped around the two mares, hugging them tightly as they cried into his chest.

"P-please say it's really you! Please tell meh it's not just another illusion." Applebloom managed to speak through sobs.

"Illusion? Me? Now could an illusion do this?" He chuckled before hugging the young mare tightly to him. She squeaking out at the familiar feeling of warmth that only her brother-in-law could emit.

"Well, I've known illusions that could do that before. Maybe if you told me something only you would know, then maybe I would believe you." Applebloom chuckled as she wiped a tear from her cheek.

"A secret huh................. I got it." He chuckled as he leaned up and whispered into Applebloom's ear, her face turning a blistering red as she looked down to her prior uncle.

"Yup, yer him alright." She chuckled nervously only to cause Applejack to laugh.

"Darn tootin. So when did yer sorry tail get freed from stone?" Applejack chuckled as she nuzzled into his neck lovingly.

"Twilight managed to find the spell and freed me earlier this morning. She's at the library with Spike right now. You should go see her as well. I just came by for a quick visit before heading back to Canterlot. Just thought I would let everypony know that I'm back and ready to attempt to start our lives over again. That is......... if you're still interested." Midnight stated as he looked around before resting his vision on the orange earth pony currently sitting on his chest and hugging him tightly.

Applejack pulled back, giving a smirk and pulling her hat to the side, she placed it to the side of Midnight's head and hers as she blocked her little sister’s vision. Before Midnight could react, his lips were met with Applejack's for a few hard seconds, causing him to go rigid for a moment before she pulled away, giving a smile and placing her hat back atop her head.

"What do you think, sugarcube?" She chuckled seeing Midnight's shocked expression and still puckered lips.

"I think that answered my question." He smiled before slowly getting to his hooves just as Big Macintosh came down the hill with the cart still attached to himself.

"Hey bro." Mac smiled softly to the Alicorn.

"Howdy lil bro." Midnight chuckled back to the red earth pony. "Miss me?"

At this, Big Macintosh unstrapped himself from the cart and quietly walked over to the Alicorn before giving him a hug as well. Surprising Midnight highly before he hugged back. The two separated as they gave each other a rough pat on the withers.

"So you and Shy had twins huh?" Midnight chuckled seeing the stallion burst ten deeper shades of red. "I couldn't be happier for ya."

"Thanks bro, It was ah big surprise when they were born. Never thought ah'd have a couple lit'lins, maybe one, but two in the first round. Dang." He chuckled.

"Well, we can all get caught up soon enough. It's almost time for me to pick up my foals from class in Canterlot, but I will return a little later today. I've already seen the others, so this was the last stop." Midnight smiled but stopped as he saw Applejack's stern gaze.

"Last stop huh?" She snorted in slight annoyance.

"Of course! You know I always save the best for last." Midnight smirked, giving AJ a wink and causing her whole body to burst out in a brilliant shade of red. Applebloom and Big Macintosh giving a chuckle upon seeing their sister so embarrassed.

"Now ya'll better not be teasin meh, or yer in fer a world o'hurt." She snapped back with a chuckle but stopped as Midnight moved over to her, quickly pressing his lips to hers.

"No worries there love. I'll be back in a little bit though. I believe it is time to pick up the kids. And don't worry, this isn't a dream." He chuckled as he pulled a couple of roses from his stash portal and tossed them to the mares before him before vanishing in a flash of light. AJ and AB catching the roses and giving girlish giggles as they began to shout.

"MIDNIGHT'S BACK!"

Macintosh gave a chuckle as he looked toward Canterlot. "Ah think things are about to get back to normal. Well, as normal as they used to be with that big goof around." He chuckled.

XXX

After a quick teleport and a short flight to the entrance of the school, Midnight took a seat next to the gate's entrance as he waited for his foals to come out. The bell rang out loud, causing the Alicorn to jump slightly as he turned his head to see a plethora of foals running out of the building. Many with satisfied expressions for having been released from their torment for the day. Others reading books, and a few leaning on one another. "Awwww, first crushes are so cute." Midnight chuckled to himself as he watched a few couples pass by, oblivious to the world.

After a few minutes had passed by, Marina, now slightly taller than she used to be, headed out of the front entrance with Starlight at her side. They were talking back and forth for a minute before they noticed their father standing quietly at the gate, then galloped over to him giving him a loving hug.

"Hello daddy! Thanks for picking us up. Aunty Luna usually picks us up because momma is always busy." She sighed in slight annoyance.

"Aunty Luna huh? I bet she's loving that phrase." Midnight chuckled. "So, did we learn anything today?"

"A little bit about Equestrian history, although I'm not really that good at remembering things." Marina stated as she scratched the side of her head with a hoof.

"You just need a memory spell cast on you so you'll remember everything." Starlight chuckled as he gave her a playful nudge.

"You know, only you can say that because you don't need it. Being an Alicorn makes things like remembering what to do seem like a trivial task." Marina sighed. "That's probably why you're in my class when you should be in a different class with foals your own age."

"Hey, I still have friends that I play with that are around my age. Plus there aren't any bullies in the school, so I don't have to worry about anypony being picked on. I'd say that everything is going pretty smoothly for the time being. Plus, with father back, he can teach me a lot of new things." Starlight stated with a smirk.

"Well, first things first." Midnight began, catching their attentions. "I am going to have to set up a few meetings, among other things with a few ponies. So we will need to hold off on any real playtime for maybe a week. Then I promise you that we will do something fun."

"I guess a week is ok." Marina said as she looked to Star who just nodded. "Just don't keep us waiting, or you might wake up with a salad on your head one morning." She giggled.

"OH! Or marshmallows stuck in his ear and nose!" Starlight giggled.

"Salad and marshmallow attacks!? NO!!!!! MY ONLY WEAKNESS!" Midnight pulled a hoof up to over his eyes giving a dramatic fainting spell as he fell over, only causing his foals to giggle out. "Anyway, let's get you back into the castle so I can begin preparations."

"Preparations for what, daddy?" Marina asked only to see him smile.

"For me to officially become king of course." He grinned before they all set off toward the castle.

Author's Notes:

Edited by ReFro