Voices. He knew them somehow. He couldn't place who they were, and his mind seemed foggy, like he had been drugged and overslept. He fought the sleepiness and tried to listen. It was important that he listened.

“Did it work?” High, young, female.

“We don't know yet. It may take time for him to recover, if he recovers at all.” Deeper, older, still female.

“It took alot of our power, and we still don’t know if we got him in time. It was a very close call.” Another young female voice.

‘Oh great, I am waking up in a hospital, and the nurses are checking out my junk.’ He groaned, and heard the others gasp at the sound.

“I think he’s coming around!” The first voice was happy at this.

Then he tried opening his eyes... Bright. Too bright. Why was everywhere he went too bright. ‘Damn daywalkers...’ He tried to focus, and everything swam. He saw.. Sun? Clouds? ‘Not a hospital then. Am I still at the crash site? Where’s the paramedics?’

Suddenly something large and purple came filled his vision. “Drax, are you ok? Can you talk? It’s me, Twilight.”

‘Twilight?’ Then again for the third time, reality snapped like a rubber band, and everything came crashing down. “What the fuck?”

Princess Celestia sighed. “Yes, I guess that means he’s back.”

Luna just giggled at the profanity, and Twilight Sparkle looked down at him crossly.

He started to get up, and noticed he didn't have claws anymore. “No, really. What. The. Fuck?” He staggered to his hooves. Yes, hooves again. Pony Form. “What happened, and why am I a pony again?”

“Well,” the lavender unicorn started, “You kinda died. Horribly.”

The midnight mare giggled. “You went splat! It was quite a mess.”

The Dawn mare stepped forward. “I’m so sorry Drax, but it was the only way. You had to die, so that the darkness would die with you.” She motioned to a nearby crater, where a black tail could be seen brokenly jutting above it’s rim. “We made you a new body, and pulled your soul back from the brink. Since the two personalities has fissioned apart, we were able to grab you and leave the darkness behind.”

“Darkness?” he shook his head, clearing the lingering cobwebs. “You mean that asshole alter-ego of mine? I don’t understand. The last I remember was, I was about to destroy Ponyville. I FELT it! I turned feral, and nothing was left but my dragon instincts.”

It was Twilight’s turn again, they seemed to be speaking as a group. “That was an illusion. He was in your mind, making you see all that. He needed you alive to stay alive himself, and he tried to trick your mind into pulling up from your dive.” She looked away nervously. “It didn't work. I...” she gulped. “I had to watch you die Drax. It was the hardest thing I have ever done.”

Luna again took the lead. “We got her message when Fluttershy told her about you. We told Twilight to stay away, and wait for us to arrive. We had to combine our power to have the magic needed to pull you from the brink, and remake your body.” She shook her head. “Wow, the things that go through this little filly’s head!”

“Hey! Get outta there, the spell is over!” Twilight stomped, now breaking the cycle of speech.

The other two chuckled. “The good news is, you have a new body, and it’s a true pony body.” The alabaster mare explained. “You are a true alicorn now, and have all the strengths of the three pony tribes. Unicorn magic, Pegasus wings and speed, and Earth pony strength.”

Luna piped up, “And you’re immortal, too!”

Celestia nodded. “Yes, and you are immortal.”

“Oh, and you aren’t a walking pile of pony-nip anymore either.” Twilight giggled. “Now you just smell like a normal pony to me. Although you are still pretty cute.” She bumped flanks with him.

Drax flexed his new wings. No longer the wings of a dragon, but proper feathered wings. ‘Aww.. but I liked my dragon wings.’ He reached out for the magic to change them... and found nothing. He looked up in surprise at the sun goddess, still staring at him.

“Yes, that is the down side. Your Darkness still had the creator magic when he died, and it went with him. You have all the magic of Equestria, but no longer will you be able to make your own.”

Suddenly he remembered why he had tried to kill himself in the first place. “Pinkie.” He sank to his knees. “What if I don't want my new body, Princess? What if I don't deserve to live forever?”

“Drax, Pinkie Pie is fine.” Twilight nuzzled him. “It was just a cut, it bled alot, but was easily stitched. She tried to follow you into the forest, but got lost until Rainbow Dash found her.” She pulled him into a hug, as he numbly looked back at the other two mares, tears falling down his face. “She’s at the infirmary, and it’s taking everypony we have to keep her there, and not out looking for you.”

Drax looked down at his hooves, still seeing the blood and the claws. “Then what did I kill and eat? There was blood everywhere!”

Luna responded, “Ugh.. you must have been craving bacon again. Yea, I peeked into your mind too, while we were stuffing it back into your body.” She grimaced in disgust. “You killed a rather large and nasty razorboar, after it tried to attack you. Yuck.. meat is gross!” She spat out the imaginary taste and looked thoroughly disgusted.

At this the dark stallion laughed. “Funny thing is, I don't even like pork. But damn, I’d kill for some bacon!” His hooves flew to his muzzle when he realized what he had just said.

Twilight just looked at him funny, while the other two laughed.

“Well, I guess we better get back to Ponyville then. There is alotta explaining that needs to be done, and a very cute, pink pony that I need to fall in love with all over again!”

With that they all cheered and headed back toward town.

As the four ponies returned to Ponyville, a crowd was seen near the infirmary. A cheer went up from the surrounding crowd, mostly from the sight of the two Princesses, but in part from the return of the resident alicorn. Rumor had already circulated that something bad had happened in the forest, and it was a welcome sight to see one of their own return.

As they approached the tent, the crowd parted to reveal four ponies trying to restrain a fifth, with a large bandage around her head, and yelling at the top of her lungs. “DRRAAAAXXXYYY!!!”

Drax wasted no time galloping to her and throwing his hooves around her in a passionate embrace. His other friends all let out a collective sigh of relief that they no longer had to play nursemaid to the injured pony, and that their friend had made it safely back from his ordeal.

“I am so sorry Pinkie, I never meant to hurt you” The dark stallion sobbed into her frizzy mane. “I thought I lost you, and it nearly destroyed me”

Behind him, Twilight coughed, and he remembered that it actually HAD destroyed him, quite literally.

Pinkie Pie giggled happily. “Don’t cry you silly billy pony. I just didn't want you to go away when you turned all super scary dragon on me, and I got a scratch.” She put a hoof to the bandage, then to his face, looking into his eyes. “It was all my fault for being a stupid twinkie Pinkie and trying to stop a big ‘ol Draxy Dragon. I shoulda knew better. My hoovsies were pricking all day, which means something mean and nasty was gonna happen.”

“Well we don't have to worry about that ever again. The dragon is gone, and now I am a finally a normal pony.” He flexed his wings. “Looky, feathers!”

Pinkie’s unbandaged eye went wide as a massive smile split her face. “Oooooooooo!! They are pretty, like Dashie’s wings!”

At the sound of her name, Rainbow Dash came forward. “Oh no, nopony has wings as awesome as me! I bet I can still beat you in a race, Drax, anytime you wanna try them out!”

Drax just stuck his tongue out at her, smiling. “Another day Dash, I need to get my little pony home for some tender lovin!”

Behind him, he heard a cough, and turned to see the two Princesses waiting behind him. Celestia stepped forward with a smile. “I guess this means the Prophecy has come to pass. You chose the path to save us, and paid the ultimate price. Now you can write your own destiny from here on.”

Luna looked longingly at the couple, but merely smiled and waved farewell. Both Princesses made their way to the waiting chariot, boarding for the flight back to Canterlot. Celestia turned to spot Twilight Sparkle still standing near the reunited couple.

“Twilight Sparkle, my dear student.” She called to her.

“Yes Princess?” the lavender unicorn eagerly replied.

“I think you had best have a good, long talk with Drax about what he has learned about friendship. I am sure he has alot to say on the matter now, and I look forward to hearing your report.”

“Yes Princess! I will get right on it!” She turned to find the pair in question were already gone, and saw Drax carrying Pinkie, flying quickly away to their home at the edges of the forest. Turning back to the chariot, she looked chagrined. “Umm... That is, as soon as they are done, I will get right on it.”

Both Princesses laughed as the chariot took them away to Canterlot. Twilight was left looking embarrassed as she returned to join her other friends, who were waiting to hear her story.