After several long hours with no sign of Twilight, Discord finally gave in and dropped the shield to the basement. The ponies that had gathered quickly moved down the steps, stopping in shock at the mare lying on the floor, a bandage with a dark red stain wrapped around a foreleg. To her side was a gurney, upon which lay the body of Polter Dawn, being kept alive by various machines. The slow echo of hoofsteps could be heard and the crowd parted, allowing a unicorn stallion that had just joined them through.

Without a word he picked Twilight up with his magic and floated her over to the bed, laying her down gently. The mare that had followed walked over and moved Twilight’s hoof so that it was wrapped around Polter’s, then sat back and leaned into the stallion.

Shining Armour stroked his sister’s mane much like he used to when she was younger and having a nightmare, laying his head across his wife’s neck. It was quickly agreed amongst the group that at least one pony would be present in the basement at all times, two when Applejack was rostered in for her watch, as she still had to keep an eye on the thief. Having chosen to take the first few hours, all but her, her ward, and Discord left the castle, the draconequus summoning a large couch for them all to sit on.

“Discord, what do you think? Reckon Twi will bring ‘im back?”

“I don’t know, Applejack. Something like this requires more than chaos magic, a lot more, and that’s if he even wants to come back.” The pair settled onto the couch, Cage several feet away, Discord glancing at Applejack to see she wasn’t looking at the two unconscious ponies in the room. She noticed his stare and turned towards him with a frown.

“Discord, Ah’m not in the mood. What’re ya doin’?” Trying to lighten the mood with some humour, he clicked his fingers and began laughing as a blush spread across Applejack’s cheeks, for now Cage was lying on his back with his head in her lap, staring up at her. “DISCORD!”

“Polter! Polter, where are you?”

You frowned as you slowly came awake, the voice distant, but close at the same time and easily recognisable. Briefly you wondered if your talent meant you could visit the living world, but shrugged the thought away. The next sound you heard jolted you to full alertness, and then there was another snarl. You slowly rolled over, finding yourself face to face with the very, very angry spirit of King Sombra, who was baring his teeth as he leaned closer. “No, bad Sombra!”

He was suddenly pulled from your bed and thrown against the wall in a familiar lavender aura, the voice the same as you heard moments ago. Slowly turning your head, you blinked in disbelief upon seeing the lavender alicorn staring at you. You went to move to her, but a growl from the corner made you freeze. “What about our deal, Sparkle? I let you use dark magic without any consequences, release me from this hell.”

“Our deal? Forget it, you’re going back to where you belong.” Sombra gave an angered roar and leapt at Twilight, but you jumped in front of him with a glare, causing him to stop and back off slightly. For some reason, he was scared of you, an advantage you pressed as your horn began to glow, Twilight stepping next to you. “Time for you to go back to Tartarus. Give my regards to Tirek whilst there, would you?”

Regaining his courage, Sombra tried to lunge for Twilight once more, but suddenly found himself surrounded by a cage. A swirling red portal then appeared underneath him, and the cage started to sink into it. “Curse you, Sparkle! One day we will rise again, and you will be sorry!”

“Try it, mister. We’ll stop you!” The glowing green eyes of the stallion disappeared, and the portal closed behind him, leaving you alone in the room with Twilight. “Polter?” Instead of facing the mare, you moved back to the bed and sat down, staring at the floor. “I’ve come to take you back.”

“Back? Back where? My body is destroyed.”

“No, it isn’t. The only injury it gained was merely a broken leg and some scratches, I… I couldn’t let you go, but you had already left your body. It’s alive once more, in my basement.” She slowly walked towards you and brushed her cheek against yours, wrapping her forelegs around your neck. “Please, Polter, come home.”

“You’d best be going with her, colt.” You looked past Twilight, seeing your father and grandfather looking in through the door. If Twilight was right, then returning to your body would be as easy as the last time you did it, so you gave them a nod as you stood up from the bed. They came closer and wrapped you in their hooves for a few moments, then stepped back and motioned for Twilight to stand next to you. “You two be good to each other, you hear?”

A smile came to your face as Twilight nuzzled under your chin and you lit your horn, feeling your physical form calling for you.

Pain. It causes you to know that you’re still alive, and you had two weeks of a broken and healing leg to catch up on, a hiss escaping your mouth as you came awake. That wasn’t the only feeling you had, as your heart beat strongly within your chest, and your lungs burned as you breathed properly in what seemed like years.

Somepony stirring to your side made you turn your head slowly, your gaze meeting the shimmering violet orbs that were the eyes belonging to Twilight Sparkle, the mare that had brought you back. Stretching your forelegs out, you pulled her close, and she buried her head against your chest as she began to sob.

“Well well, looks like somepony was successful.”

You looked up and grew angry, pulling Twilight closer and summoning as much offensive magic as you could, but the draconequus backed away. You didn’t let your magic lower at all… at least not until you saw the other ponies rolling around the floor.

“Consonarit, Discord! Let me outta here!” Applejack and the young stallion she had under her care were facing each other, their muzzles inches apart and their bodies tied together with a lot of rope. The farm mare was glaring daggers at Discord whilst the pegasus was staring at her with a very visible blush. It wasn’t until you felt a soft set of lips press against your cheek that the glow around your horn faded, but only a little bit, as you squeezed Twilight a bit harder and made her giggle.

“So, how did you keep my body alive?” Twilight waved her hoof to your other side, and you looked around to see several medical machines, wires coming from them and trailing under the blanket that covered you. Evaluating the price of the equipment you could only stare at Twilight with mouth agape, which made her laugh the most cheerful of sounds.

“I had some pocket money saved for emergencies like that.”

You lifted Twilight’s muzzle up and was drowning in her eyes for a few moments, then held her close as you kissed her passionately, hearing but choosing to ignore the draconequus as he spoke.

“Now that is my favourite kind of magic.”

Author's Note

You didn't think I was going to keep him dead, did you? I was planning on having Twi take longer and have their return in the next story, but decided against it.

Hmm... I wonder who will be next...