One week later

The mood in the house was somber.

“So today is the day?” Jes asked.

Twilight smiled sadly. “Yeah, it is.”

“Sure I can’t go with you?” Jes asked the mare.

“Jes, as much as I want to bring you with me, I can’t ask you to come with nor do I want to get you hurt.”

“What do you mean?”

“You saw how far off Shining, AJ and Flash were when they got here. We could wind up in the Everfree, over the ocean, or a thousand feet in the air rather than the target that we are going to be aiming for. Plus, given the situation, we could wind up dropping in the middle of a firefight. Then there is what could happen if you had a reaction to the amount of magic that exists on Terra. It could do nothing, it could change you into a form that is more suited to the world, or it could kill you. Plus you have family here that you are close to. I know that it would hurt worse for you to leave your family behind than if I left.” The alicorn replied as she pulled the woman into a hug, wrapping her wings around the human.

“I know. Doesn’t make it an easier though. I knew this was coming, but now that it is here…” She trailed off.

“It still sucks, I know.” Twilight replied before kissing Jes on the crown of her head. “I’ll see what I can do about finding a way to where we can exchange messages so we can stay in touch. Maybe linked journals or something.”

Jes gave a watery smile. “That would be nice. You should get going, otherwise I might just tie you to the bed so you can’t leave.” She said.

Twilight laughed. “I can see you doing that. Take care of yourself Jes.” The alicorn replied giving the woman a hug.

The pair parted and Twilight crossed the deck towards the mare and two stallions that were waiting patiently.

“Ya’ll good sugarcube?” Applejack inquired.

“Yeah. Once I get settled, I’m going to see about getting a few sets of link messenger journals so we can stay in touch.” Twilight replied as she pulled her magically expanded rucksack on.

“That’s nice of you.” Shining said.

“Well, she wanted to come with, but I don’t want something to happen to her if we end up someplace dangerous. Plus, unlike me, she has family here on Earth. I can’t ask her to leave them to follow me on a one way trip. Just wouldn’t be right.” Twilight replied as she wiped her eyes.

“Now come on. We’ve got places to be and reunions to be had!” She added as she headed down the path towards the circle that she had used just a few weeks prior.

A few changes had been made to the circle during the past two weeks. For starters it had been expanded slightly. Now it was nearly twenty one feet across and it had four large flat stones placed at the cardinal compass points.

Three of the stones had the ancient symbols of the Three Tribes and the fourth held an even more ancient symbol of the Alicorns.

Each of them took their place on the stones and made one last check that their packs, and in Twilight’s case sidearm, were secure.

Looking around to ensure that they were all ready and getting nods in return, Twilight began to weave one of the most complex and powerful spells that she had ever come across. Luna had been kind enough to provide a copy of the spell to Shining Armour prior to sending the trio to retrieve the wayward Princess. Twilight had studied the spell exhaustively over the past month and had worked out the tweaks for returning.

As the power built, each one of the Equestrians began to glow with an aura that matched their inner magic. Soon, a shimmering portal began to form inside the circle.

Terra

A pair of Nightstalkers and a pair of Saberhorns stood guard outside of a room that their Mistress had deemed high priority a month ago. So far the detail had been easy. Stand here, look menacing, let no one save Princess Luna enter. Suddenly that peace was shattered by the building of arcane power that even the most mundane Earther could feel.

Nearly as soon as the power began to build, Princess Luna stepped from the shadows at the end of the hall.

“Your Highness! We are not certain what has happened, all was quiet until a few moments ago, then power started building inside it.” The Nightstalker mare to the left of the door spoke up.

“Rest easy Major. This is the event that I have been waiting for this last month. Our seekers are returning. I just pray that they were successful.” The lunar Diarch replied as she looked at the door leading to the ritual room she had sent Applejack, Shining Armour, and Flash Sentry off from as the power reached its peak, nearly overpowering the dampening wards that had been place on the outer wall.

Earth

With winds whipping at her tail and mane, Twilight opened her eyes, revealing the glow of arcane power.

“The portal is open and stable! On my mark, we drop!” She shouted over the wind, her voice thick with power.

Looking at her three companions and getting a nod from each, she closed her eyes again. Making one last check of the spell matrix, she took a deep breath and called out:

“3! 2! 1! Mark! Mark! Mark!”

As one, the group stepped off their platforms…

Terra

…and promptly dropped nearly ten feet to the floor.

Flash was able to flare his wings to land relatively gently, Applejack and Twilight were able to turn their hard landings into rolls that sent them sliding on their sides. Shining tried to do the same, but an old injury from high school chose that moment to act up causing his left knee to buckle and him to kiss the floor.

Twilight looked at her whimpering brother and sighed.

“ I thought that they taught you how to land. I also thought you would have landed with your good leg and not your bad one.” She said as she stood up and walked over to him. “But then again, you do have some pretty good klutz moments. Come on, up ya get.” She said as she pulled the stallion to his feet, draping one arm across her shoulders.

“Thanks sis. I normally would have tried to land gently, but I didn’t expect to be dropped ten feet.” Shining retorted as the pair slowly made their way to the door.

Applejack and Flash shared a glance and rolled their eyes, now used to the general bickering of the two siblings.

Pushing open the door, Twilight was greeted by the sight of over a dozen members of the Night Guard and the Lunar Diarch standing in front of the doorway.

Twilight blinked as she took in the sight of the darker princess. Luna was wearing a very well fitted gown that clung to her ample curves. The material was a deep emerald color that actually did not clash with her fur or her dark regalia.

‘Must be one of Rarity’s designs.’ Twilight thought before shaking her head to clear the hormonal fog that had descended. Cracking a smile, she waved at Luna with her wing. “ Lucy, I’m home!”

After a pair of Nightstalkers took Shining Armour to the infirmary to have his knee and nose tended to, Twilight, Luna, Applejack, Flash and a handful of the remaining Guards made their way to the guest quarters area.

“So I take it you were able to adapt the transport spell without issue?” Luna inquired.

“Yep. Made it a lot easier having a clear target though. Good aim on sending them to Earth by the way. Managed to get them into the same county as me.” Twilight replied.

“Truely? We are fortunate then. But if they were so close, why the delay in returning?” Luna asked.

“I had just performed a ritual that took a good chunk of my mana reserves and I was doing some heavy duty enchanting on my ruck and other cases.” Twilight explained gesturing to her pack. “Once those three showed up, I was thankfully finished with that project, so I was able to rest and recharge.”

“But for a month?” The other alicorn queried.

“The energy fields on Earth are very weak and have never truly been used. All of the progress that Humanity has made has been through skill, strength, intelligence, and a whole lot of luck.” Twilight replied.

“I see. What was the ritual that you performed?” Luna inquired.

Twilight threw her fellow princess a hard look as they reached the guest quarters. “I will tell you in the morning. I would also like to have the girls, Spike, my parents, and if she is able to come, Cadence. I only want to have to tell the story once.” She responded with no small amount of steel in her voice and in her gaze, brooking no arguments on the subject. She then entered the room and sealed the door magically.

Luna turned towards the door, but was interrupted by a firm grip on her shoulder. Turning to look at the owner of the hand, her eyebrow raised at the sight of Applejack holding her back.

“Yer Highness, I know a bit of what she wants to tell ya, and I will tell you the less she has to relive it the better. Now, I’m going to hit the sack. I’ll see you two at breakfast. Princess Luna, Flash.” Applejack said before moving into her room.

“Do you know as well Lieutenant?” Luna asked the lone pegasus.

“Yes ma’am. However, I will not break the confidence of a sister-in-arms. It is her story to tell.” Flash replied standing at attention.

Luna sighed. “Very well. Dismissed.”

Flash saluted and entered his room.

“Would you like us to keep an eye on them m’lady?” A Thestral inquired.

“Other than making sure that their rest is not disturbed, no. My inquiries will hold until the morning.” Luna replied before returning to the throne room via Shadow walking.

Author's Note

Re-uploaded. Was going to break this up, but changed my mind. This is the last chapter that I have pre-written. It will be a little bit for the next chapter. Hopefully not to long though.