Twilight is pacing back and forth on the castle balcony looking up into the sky every now and then seemingly in a panic. "Maybe he got lost? Or perhaps they are just taking their time? I'm sure he should be here by now..." Twilight mumbles to herself while searching the sky for Garrick and Discord. After a few minutes of pacing back and forwards panicking, Twilight suddenly spots a beam of light heading in her direction and rushes to fly off the balcony and down onto the ground. Shortly after Twilight reaches the ground the beam of light smashes into the floor near the castle leaving a dust cloud and small crater. Twilight rushes over to the crash site and casts a spell to quickly clear the dust. At the centre of the small crater is a familiar looking forest green Unicorn with an orange mane and tail with light orange-yellow highlights. The cutie mark on his flank is that of an alchemical vial. Twilight runs up and tackles the Unicorn to the ground hugging him tightly. "Garrick! You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment!" Twilight buries her muzzle into Garrick's chest and snuggles him closely.

Once Garrick's head clears from the crash he blinks a few times and looks around before looking at the Twilight tightly attached to him. "T-twilight? How did I get here..? Last I remember is a beam of light snatching me from the sky... It must of delivered me here." Garrick sighs slightly before hugging Twilight back just as tightly.

"Five years... I've been waiting for five years just for this moment... I never want you to leave me again... Ever." Twilight's voice is shaky with both joy and sadness.

Garrick strokes Twilight's mane with his hoof and sighs deeply before making them both stand up. "Believe me Twilight, ten years is much more time then I ever wanted to spend away... Either way, I don't want us to dwindle on it and instead move forward with the new knowledge we have gained through this experience. Shall we go inside and you can show me around to refresh my memory of our home." Garrick gives Twilight a light kiss on the lips to make her smile, before leading them both from the crater to inside the castle. After showing Garrick around all the changes and normal rooms she finally brings him to a door he remembers very well.

"This... This is my workshop... Or rather since that day, our workshop..." Garrick slowly opens the door and steps inside with Twilight closely following.

The room has bookcases against most of the walls with neatly organised scrolls and alchemical books lining their shelves. Against the wall and across from the door is a large desk with scattered alchemical notes and equipment set up. Two large tables in the centre of the room hold racks of many different liquids and powdered substances ready to be mixed.

"It really has been too long... I took a chemistry teacher job in the world I ended up in after meeting Yuuki and Ryota. It was the only way I knew how to live... My experiments with our food and cooking always ended in explosions or mixed results. Now that I'm back I know I will miss it... I know I can still see Yuuki and Ryota but we all have a responsibility here after all that we must tend to. I hope the others are okay and arrive safely at their homes." Garrick stares at the main front desk which has two windows either side in the wall above it.

Twilight places her hoof on Garrick's shoulder and comforts him gently. "It'll be okay... Things are different now, you made friends with a Moon-Fox and a changeling of all creatures... You, if nothing else, proved that two of Equestria's races, who if no bad blood is between them or we are able to forgive, can live together and help survive." Twilight kisses Garrick's cheek gently and walks over to the main desk.

Twilight fiddles with the alchemical sets to bring them to life. "Shall we do some experiments to pass the time till dinner? I really loved making that remembrance potion with you. It was a formula I adapted from the one Clockwork gave us that day." Twilight turns around and smiles warmly at Garrick.

Garrick walks up to the desk and stands beside Twilight. "Hmm, you know I'd love to experiment with you till the dawn became dusk and vice versa." Garrick smiles and slides up to Twilight brushing their coats together gently making Twilight hum in approval.

After several hours of creating and experimenting with compounds, Twilight decided it would be good for her to take Garrick on a walk around Ponyville to make him feel more at home. During their walk Garrick stopped by the old site of the Ponyville library and stared at the bare ditch in confusion. "Twilight, where is what's left of the library?" Garrick asks looking at Twilight who turns to face him.

"Did you not notice? It is above the map room table... I'm sure I pointed it out during my tour. Or... Garrick... Were your eyes focused elsewhere? You know I told you it is not healthy to stare at my plot all day." Twilight states almost in a teasing manner making Garrick blush.

"I thought you didn't notice... I did see something but I hardly remember what it looked like above the map room. I think it's a nice touch and is a better place for what's left of the tree." Garrick replies while trying to seem innocent.

The pair find themselves stopping at the nearby cafe to have lunch which comprises of a daisy sandwich for both of them. "I'm surprised that memory formula actually worked... It was untested and could of been dangerous." Garrick states taking a bite of his daisy sandwich and groaning slightly with his eyes closed.

"Something wrong? Also yes it was a big gamble, but I was not prepared to ever forget you no matter how long it would be for." Twilight firmly comments as she takes a bite of her own daisy sandwich.

"Sorry, it's been so long since I've had one of these... So delicious... Granted the food in the realm I was in was good too." Garrick takes another few bites.

"Hmm speaking of which when we get home later you will need to explain everything; your trip, the food, the sights, the clothes, the people... Basically everything. You went to another dimension altogether, that intrigues me greatly." Twilight smiles warmly at Garrick.

Garrick sighs deeply and finishes his sandwich. "Being back in Equestria with you and everything... It feels so... Relaxing. For the past ten years I wandered around that place not having a single clue who I was. All I had was my name and abilities." Garrick seems slightly sad as he remembers several events throughout the whole ten years.

"No getting sad on me now... You're back and that's all that matters in the long run, okay? I plan to send a letter to Princess Luna later asking if Yuuki has returned yet. As for Ryota... Not only do I not know where the new changeling hive is, but I have no way to contact Queen Chrysalis. We can only hope Ryota convinces her to bring him here to see you both." Twilight sounds sceptical.

"Yeah, I know. I still wonder what Ecstasy did with my formula I made for her... Those sweets were filled with love emotion." Garrick ponders as he watches Twilight finish her sandwich.

"I'm not sure either... Anyway, shall we continue our walk and head back to the castle? We have much to do and discuss... You really have no idea how good it feels to have you back in my hooves... Five years is a long time, but it was very much worth this moment." Twilight kisses Garrick's cheek softly and they leave the cafe.

When Garrick and Twilight returned to the castle it was just turning dark. Twilight decided to sit down with Garrick in the living room and take some notes about the world he had been to while they both drank some hot chocolate.

"So, they had more advance game systems than just our arcades... Everyone walked around on two legs rather than four... " Twilight mumbled to herself everything Garrick was saying about the other world.

"I'm just glad to be back in Equestria... Being back with you again eases the pain I've felt in my heart for the past ten years." Garrick sprawls out on the sofa getting comfortable while drinking his hot chocolate.

Suddenly a letter appears in front of Twilight and she takes it in her magic. She then opens it and begins running her eyes over it to read it. "It seems Yuuki has arrived safely at Canterlot Castle via a strange white light like you did... Hmm I was wondering if it was the same light from five years ago but those were colour coated... According to this letter Yuuki's beam was white as was yours... We can only assume that Ryota's beam was the same." Twilight hops off her seat, placing down her pad and pen to pace in front of the fireplace.

"I'm sure it means nothing, but it would be odd if they aren't the same beams... Like a different force took us from Equestria and another brought us back upon our return. It's all very strange..."Garrick ponders as he lays on his back to stare at the ceiling.

Twilight stops pacing and looks into the fire in the fireplace. "In any event, it looks like Princess Luna is bringing Yuuki here to see you and to pay me a visit... I wonder when Ryota will show up again... I highly doubt we will see him and Queen Chrysalis so soon." Twilight sighs almost in disappointment.

Garrick places his mug on the lamp table on a coaster and hops off the sofa to walk over to Twilight. "I'm sure he will show up soon enough. It would be nice if changelings could be integrated into our normal society. It'd be a turning point for this world and the pony race. Living with Ryota for all those years, knowing he is a changeling changes nothing about how I view him... Perhaps, if we are able to forgive the changelings and they are able to work something out with us then we could live in harmony. Working together for a better future for everyone... That's what I believe after ten years with those two great friends." Garrick gently nuzzles Twilight's neck and she sighs softly.

"If I'm honest... I want that too. All the things we can learn from each other would be amazing and crucial to moving forward in this world. Although, I think we have had enough talk about the past and what might be... I just want to cuddle up in your hooves for the night and have the most peaceful sleep I have ever had in the last five years..." Twilight softly whispers to Garrick who only nods in approval.

"I think that sounds perfect... I love you Twilight Sparkle." Garrick gently kisses Twilight's cheek.

"I love you too... My little volatile alchemist." Twilight kisses Garrick back softly on the lips before leading him up to the bedroom so they can sleep.

Somewhere in the dark ether...

In the midst of the mystical blue ether with swirling lights everywhere sits a floating, medium sized room. The room is cylindrical in nature and has four windows and a roof. Within this room sits a pitch black marble table with a large chess board atop it in the design of Equestria. Sitting at the head seat opposite the door is a Pegasus silhouette playing with a fox chess piece with his hooves up on the table. Sitting first on his right is a skinny Unicorn's silhouette and the first on his left is a Gryphon's silhouette. Sitting beside the Unicorn is a human silhouette with what looks like fox ears and four fox tails behind him. Sitting beside the Gryphon is a very large Earth Pony silhouette. Suddenly a sixth silhouette walks into the room from the ether and sits down in the seat opposite the Pegasus, the silhouette appears to be human.

"Why are we all here? I thought we wouldn't be gathered again until the time came..." The Unicorn states their voice that of a mature mare.

"Yeah, I thought the same but obviously that isn't the case!" The Gryphon pipes up with the annoyed voice of a male.

"Hey, hey I'm sure we were called here for a good reason... We all know he doesn't buck around with shit like this..." The human-fox states with a calm, mature female voice.

"Yeah? You don't sound so entirely sure!" The male voiced Earth Pony slams his hoof on the table.

"You all talk far too much for my liking..." The Pegasus suddenly pitches in with a calm, composed, gentleman like male tone.

The Pegasus places the chess piece back on the table and groans a little as he cracks his neck. "I wouldn't waste my time assembling you to begin with if I thought it not urgent... The fact you are all here at all means your worth something to me... However, don't assume for a second I won't kill and throw you out on a fucking whim..." The Pegasus stands up and walks around the room. Everyone is now silent and paying attention. "Now... It would seem that those three annoyances from five years ago have found a way back to Equestria... Might I ask to be reminded whose idea this was?" The Pegasus poses the question and stops behind the Earth Pony.

"Umm... It was mine sir... I figured if they were removed suddenly and the memories of them erased then they would never be remembered... That world was due for destruction yesterday, I even sent some of our troops to ensure their death." The female Unicorn explains.

"I remember... I'm just pointing out the fact that... They are here in Equestria now! They are cuddling with their partners this very fucking second!" The Pegasus slams his hoof into the table cracking it on impact.

"I made sure everything was in place! It was supposed to go down like I said! However, it was reported that four unknown including Discord showed up and put a wrench in the legion's goal!" The female Unicorn pleads.

The Pegasus walks around to the female Unicorn and places his hoof on her shoulder. "I see... Well, I can't fault you for interference... However, should you fail me again I will make your death a slow, painful and very enjoyable one... As much as I like you I will never tolerate failure..." The Pegasus makes the female Unicorn lay out her left foreleg.

"I understand... I'm grateful for another chance..." The Unicorn's voice is low almost to a whimper.

The Pegasus places his free hoof halfway up her leg and makes it glow red. The female Unicorn shifts slightly and groans in pain as the glow dies down. When the Pegasus removes his hoof a red hot glowing crescent moon with a scythe across it is burned into her skin. "This is my ownership! If the rest of your halfwits want to keep your freedom do not fail me! Any failures by those I own will result in death if it could have been avoided... I'm not without mercy... However, I am ruthless and cruel... Now get the fuck back to your work!" The Pegasus goes back to his seat as everyone dissipates into black smoke and leaves the room including the female Unicorn.

The Pegasus levitates the fox chess piece over to him again and takes it in his hooves. "You three might prove an interesting show for me... Yuuki, Garrick and Ryota..." The Pegasus begins laughing with a low malicious tone.

Author's Note

Okay, that's three out of four. I hope this chapter was enjoyable watching the interactions between Garrick and Twilight. The end was something I threw together at last second, kinda a Kingdoms Hearts one reference if anyone played it and remember seeing the villains gathered around a table a few times. Still, it gives off a bad vibe no? Hehe stay tuned to find out exactly who these people are and their goals.