The mid autumn air is cool and crisp as Luna stands on her balcony, watching Ivory Moon direct the night guard below in preparation for Yuuki's return.

"Princess Luna, the preparations are almost complete." Ivory Moon declares to Luna who smiles.

Luna lifts off the balcony using her wings and flies down to Ivory Moon to stand beside her. "You remember him too now, don't you?" Luna asks looking at an excited Ivory Moon.

"Yes, your highness. It's been far too long since Yuuki was home... Although, none of us in the night guard know why we forgot Yuuki given all he did..." Ivory Moon appears perplexed at her recently released memories. "It's been five years... How did we forget the seven years he spent here?" Ivory Moon ponders looking very sad.

Luna comforts Ivory Moon and smiles warmly. "It doesn't matter, all that does matter is that he is coming home. We must be ready to greet him with open hooves." Luna notices Ivory Moon's attention on something up in the sky and looks to where she is focused.

"What in the name of Equestria is that falling towards us?!" Ivory Moon asks before snapping to attention and begins ordering night guards to prepare for what the object might be.

As the glowing light draws near, Luna tries to make out what the figure is held within. Using a telescope provided by a nearby night guard she is able to make it out as Yuuki by its three tails. "It's Yuuki!" Luna shouts, which makes Ivory Moon's eyes widen. She then begins calculating his trajectory.

"He will land just on the other side of the maze Princess Luna!" Ivory moon orders the night guard to rush to the potential crash site. To the surprise of Ivory Moon and Luna, the glowing light holding Yuuki suddenly changes direction and speeds up slamming into the courtyard a few feet away from them. The impact creates a dust cloud which impairs their vision. Ivory Moon and Luna walk through the dust cloud to the edge of the small crater. Once the dust cloud settles they can see Yuuki lying on the ground at the craters centre.

"It is him... Thank goodness he is alright." Luna states as she and Ivory moon walk over to Yuuki's position.

Yuuki rolls himself over and stares at the sky. "If I ever see another beam of light again... I'm done." Yuuki closes his eyes and groans in frustration.

"You are not the only one who would be glad if those beams never appeared again. However, this one has delivered you to me... Dear Yuuki." Luna states as they reach Yuuki.

Yuuki opens his eyes and sits up before spinning around to see Luna. He stands up and closes the small gap between them before hugging Luna tightly. "I'll be even more happy if I never leave again." Yuuki chuckles while tearing up slightly.

Ivory Moon coughs slightly to get their attention. "I-it seems everyone has now started to remember you Yuuki... Oh bother, I'm no good with this... Buck it." Ivory Moon jumps Yuuki and hugs him tightly. "Do you have any idea how bored I've been without a sparring partner who can actually keep up? Never vanish like that again, you fool!" Ivory Moon soon after releases Yuuki and wipes away her tears before regaining her composure.

"Yuuki!" A very eager crowd of royal night guards plough into Yuuki tackling him to the ground and hugging him between them.

"Where in Equestria have you been?"

"The night guard just hasn't felt the same since you left!"

"Yeah, we haven't had a proper camp out in years! You always roasted the marshmallows perfectly!"

The night guards let Yuuki stand up but continue to gather around him eager in his return. Luna giggles happily at the sight and smiles warmly. Ivory Moon stands beside Luna and heaves a sigh of relief.

"It makes me happy you seem better than normal since he left. It relieves me to see the Princess more lively." Ivory Moon also smiles but then looks confused when Luna begins walking off. "Princess Luna?"

"Please make sure he has everything he needs and gets to spend time with everyone. He will know where to find me after you're done." Luna smiles at Ivory moon before continuing to walk off towards the castle throne room.

After spending a bit of time with the night guards Yuuki decided to take a walk around Canterlot to get his bearings back. "Nothing has changed has it... It's all exactly as I left it." Yuuki looks around the plaza taking in his old surroundings but in a new perspective given his new available form. Suddenly Yuuki bumps into a pure white Pegasus with a pitch black tail and mane, both have ice blue highlights. The Pegasus has ice blue eyes and his cutie mark is an ice blue quill.

"Oh, please do forgive me. I was not quite paying attention to where I was going." The Pegasus apologises as he places a drinks bottle in his saddle bag. On his back is a box doughnuts from doughnut Joe's.

"Oh no, I was too caught up in my surroundings... I haven't been back in Canterlot for some time." Yuuki smiles and chuckles slightly.

"Ah I see, me and my friends only just moved here today. We are on our way to our new home you see. I'm excited about it, although my friends were not so thrilled by my actions..." The Pegasus smiles nervously as he remembers something.

"My name is Yuuki, I'm Princess Luna's bodyguard I suppose." Yuuki holds his hand out for the Pegasus to shake.

"The name is Frozen Quill, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm afraid I can't chat long, my friends will be wondering where I went... Doughnuts, it's an addiction I swear." Frozen Quill says goodbye to Yuuki before continuing on his way.

"I wonder if I will meet him again... Oh well I should continue my walk before going to see Luna." Yuuki continues his walk towards the other areas of Canterlot.

After Yuuki finished his walk he made his way to Luna's chambers where he knocks on the door first before entering. Looking around he can see no pony is about and lays down on Luna's bed heaving a heavy sigh.

"You appear troubled Yuuki, whatever is the matter?" A calm, different voice than Luna is heard.

Yuuki opens his eyes and looks at the end of the bed to see Celestia. "Surprised to see me? I understand in the seven years you spent with us I had little time to give you because of my everyday duties. However, I feel it important for you to know I care no less for you than Luna." Celestia climbs onto Luna's bed and sits beside Yuuki.

"Well... I'm truly happy to be back in Equestria, really I am. I just have this nagging feeling that things aren't over yet. That there is more trouble and hardship to come... I don't know what it is." Yuuki looks perplexed about how he feels.

"You are a member of the moon-fox tribe after all. From what I can understand, the moon-fox tribe of the far east are the closest natural creatures to the moon's power. Some scholars have debated for many centuries what exactly is the source of the tribes obsession of the moon and desire to serve its princess. Some speculate that the fox tribe's power comes from the moon itself, mainly because of their unnatural ice blue fox fire which mystically burns hotter than normal fire." Celestia explains to Yuuki who hangs on her every word eager to know more.

"So, my tribe could of been created or born under the moon's blessing? I mean most of our traits apply to the moon in one way or another, so it makes sense. Perhaps our place is meant to be beside Luna serving in her night guard." Yuuki ponders as he lays back down and stares at the ceiling.

"That sounds like a plausible explanation doesn't it..? Still, I hope you settle back into your life here comfortably. I know Luna has missed you dearly since you left, although she herself did not know why she felt so sad." Celestia slides off the bed and heads for the door. "Please look after my sister as you did before you left, little Yuuki." Celestia exits the bedroom and makes her way to the throne room to leave Yuuki to his thoughts.

Once it turned night the royal night guard decided to hold a 'welcome back' camp fire for Yuuki. While they also maintained the needed amount to guard the castle, they will switch shifts so every pony can enjoy the celebration. Luna also joined them and was sitting beside Yuuki near the roaring camp fire. Several guards also sat around the fire all eating the roasted marshmallows that were being made.

"Hmm so Yuuki, what was it like where you were?" A night guard asks, while chewing on a marshmallow.

Yuuki leans back and stares at the stars. "Well... It actually wasn't that bad. I mean being away from Equestria for ten years is a pretty big drag but it wasn't all bad. The food was good, I had good friends to keep me company and I found my tribe again." Yuuki happily answers the guard's question.

"I know I'm not the only one to notice, but... Yuuki has that new form he is in now. You know, before he was just a three tailed fox. Now he has a human form with fox ears and tails, which also allows him to speak with us. I mean, I ain't complaining or nothing. I think it's awesome." A night guard smiles happily at Yuuki.

"Mhmm I second that awesome notification. It makes it a lot easier to communicate with you Yuuki. Also your new form looks very fitting, don't you think so Princess Luna?" A third night guard adds.

Luna smiles and nods looking at Yuuki. "I personally like his new form, it will make midnight strolls less of a one-sided conversation. On top of that I believe it will enable him to protect me more effectively than before." Luna explains as she moves closer to Yuuki and relaxes.

A fourth night guard finishes his marshmallow before deciding to speak. "Still, I wonder what happens now... I mean you have been gone for five years for us and ten years for you. It's not like things can ever be exactly the same, least not for a little while as you adjust back into life here." The night guard looks slightly perplexed.

"Yeah, but Yuuki is still a member of the night guard technically so nothing really has changed besides his appearance... We obviously know it's still the Yuuki we spent seven years with prior to his disappearance." The third night guard quickly interjects.

Ivory Moon coughs slightly before standing up. "Personally, I don't think it matters how much times has past... Ten years, five years? It shouldn't matter, what does matter is that we treat him no differently than when he was with us... Other than that he is obviously more then just a fox now... He can talk... Among other things... Okay yeah he is different but inside it's obviously the same Yuuki we know and love as our companion..." Ivory Moon struggles on the realisation at how much Yuuki has changed since he disappeared.

The first night guard who spoke stands up. "I believe it's our turn to switch in with the castle night guard so they can have their turn at the camp fire. We will see you later, Yuuki." The other night guard also stand up and follow the first to the castle.

Yuuki stands up and turns to Luna. "I've something I want to show you." Yuuki smiles warmly as Luna nods and gets up to begin following him. Yuuki leads Luna over into the deeper part of the maze beside the castle seemingly remembering his way around.

"Yuuki, what are you looking for?" Luna asks puzzled at Yuuki's choice of location to lead her.

"Just a little further, I promise it's worth it." Yuuki replies keeping his warm smile as he finally stops at a dead end that has a few rocks by it. Yuuki slides his hand between two rocks and presses a switch, which makes a section of the floor in front of them drop down and form stairs. The stairs seem to lead much further down beyond what they are capable of seeing.

Luna looks surprised and curious. "I can't say I ever knew about this secret within the maze... Where does this lead?" Luna inspects the stairs before Yuuki confidently begins leading her down them.

"You will see. As I said it's very worth it." Yuuki leads Luna down to the bottom where she can see they are in a medium sized room with a tall ceiling. Beside of the small piece of land they stand on and the tiny island in the middle which is veiled in willow tree hanging leaves, the room's floor is mainly water. The only exception is the pieces of land large enough for one pony to step on, which sit evenly spaced out between the island and the starting piece of land. "What I want to show you is just over there on that island." Yuuki begins hopping across the pieces of land with ease. Luna follows nervously behind him being careful not to fall into the water. Once across Yuuki parts the willow tree leaves to enable them to enter. Inside the leaves seems like an entirely closed off other world. The short cut, odd blue grass beneath them feels very soft to the touch. The willow trees are evenly spaced with the hanging blue leaves above and to the side of the island letting in nothing but the gentle moonlight. After a few minutes of waiting a small bundle of spread out midnight blue glowing firefly's come out and softly light up the alcove. All along the leaves of the willow trees dots light up in reaction to the moonlight and shine like stars.

"Yuuki, this is beautiful... When did you discover this place?" Luna looks around her in awe and amazement she knew nothing of this place.

"I found it shortly after I became your bodyguard. Whenever the guards couldn't find me I was taking a nap here in my favourite spot." Yuuki smiles before laying down in the grass and relaxing. Luna lays down gently beside him and cuddles close to him.

"You know... What the night guards were saying about how nothing has changed? I had to smile slightly because we know things have definitely changed, especially between us." Luna smiles and nuzzles Yuuki softly.

"They will have to know eventually, as will everyone else. I used to be your pet... Now thanks to some mysterious force and the changes that happened to me, throw in how we reunited... We're now together as much more than that... The whole thing seems strange." Yuuki stares up at the canopy of star like dots in the leaves.

"I don't mind this change... True, it feels slightly weird to be dating the pet you had for seven years... However, I'm not prepared to lie to myself and bury the feelings I know I developed towards you." Luna states firmly as she sighs softly.

Yuuki begins to stroke Luna's mane gently to comfort her. "I know, and I'd never ask you to bury them. I'm just thinking this will all take time to adjust and settle in... I know myself what I developed for you is true and I never wish to leave your side again." Yuuki admits while cuddling closer to Luna.

"I'm sure things will settle down into a peaceful routine... Eventually we will tell everyone but for now it's our secret. We can go back to your 'welcome back' party whenever you're ready." Luna closes her eyes and relaxes next to Yuuki's warmth.

"We will go back soon... I just want to lay here with you for a bit before we go back." Yuuki closes his eyes and snuggles close to Luna remembering all the times they spent cuddling before he left. Although, for both of them cuddling this time was entirely different.

Author's Note

Okay chapter one of four pre-read. Now to hopefully get the other three done soon and release the bundle.