It's good to be back. I suppose I should really start over on my reports. I only had about two months last time...

"Well, if it isn't my favorite human?" A familiar voice chuckled behind me. Leathery wings gently lowered him to the ground, kicking up a small dust storm before folding against his back.

No matter how many times I saw him, I was always caught off guard by his lack of clothing. Not that anything showed! I'm sure all of that is carefully hidden. Bad thoughts, moving on.

"Spike!" I cheered, throwing my arms around his neck.

"And what do you mean 'Favorite Human'? I'm the only human you know" I argued, tapping his snout.

"I know other humans, you know that," he argued back with a smirk, tapping my nose with his claw.

I swear, this dragon...

"Alright fine, I'll give you that one. But why the visit?" I wondered

"I can't just come out and see you?" he asked, he almost seemed hurt.

"Well from what I hear, Twilight could use your help," I pointed out. He lets out a sigh, running a claw over the spines on his head.

"Yea, the Rift was shifting a bit. It was expected but not at this rate. Thanks to everything on your side though we were able to do some quick recalculations and get it to hold steady. But there's no knowing if it might collapse on it's own yet. Of course it'd be a slow process of at least a hundred years," Spike explained.

He walked beside me as I headed for my home. I could just barely make out a tree in my front yard and an orange earth pony sitting in front of it.

"Applejack!" I called out, waving my arm in the air. She turned toward me and held her hat in her hoof, waving back to me. That's another thing that still gets me, the strange flexibility hooves have in this world. But still some ponies hold pencils in their mouths...Maybe the ability to hold things in your hooves is limited? I've never thought about it in great detail before.

"Welcome back! Mighty glad t' see ya again Alice, ya'll wouldn't believe what done sprouted in yer yard!" Applejack laughed, turning to the tree

"A tree...how did a tree grow so quickly? Sure it's only as tall as me but..."

"Ain't jus' any tree. There's some strange magic 'bout ya'll livin' here. S'like th' soil knows ya care and gave ya a gift," Applejack smiled, tapping a forehoof against the tree. A small multicolored apple fell from the tree. It was far from ripe or even ready to be picked. But I recognized it.

"A Zap apple tree? But...they only grow..."

"Once a year, that's right. While these ain't as magical as th' ones on my farm, they are still Zap apples. Ah personally think it's a sign that ya'll are meant t' be here," Applejack said, holding the fruit out to me. I happily accepted it, gasping as Spike patted my back.

"Well her partner this time isn't kung fu crazy. Nice guy, not the brightest bulb, but a big heart," Spike beamed.

"You met him?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Yea, Button caught him starving to death and brought him to me to grab a bite to eat. Speaking of which, Fluttershy kept the place stocked and cleaned for you. Her and Pinkie really missed you," Spike explained.

Again I raise my eyebrow, looking over at the dragon.

"Oh? And did you miss me Spike?" I tease, the dragon blushing. It was always adorable when he did that. Unlike humans who blush red, Spike blushes green. I'm pretty sure it has to do with the color of his fire.

"Alright ya lovebirds, ah'll skedaddle and leave ya to it. It's nice seein' ya again Alice!" Applejack said as she left. Stepping inside my home I found Fluttershy and her birds hard at work dusting from the high ceiling down to the floorboards.

"Shy...you don't have to dust everything you know," I sighed. She gasped, then squealed, then rushed me and practically tackled me to the ground.

"Alice! You're back! Oh gosh I didn't hurt you did I?" she panicked as she climbed off of me

"No, Shy, I'm fine," I assured her, wrapping my arms gently around her neck and hugging her to my breasts. The resounding squeak and heat filling her cheeks brought a smile to my lips. Adorable Shy was still adorable.

"I-I missed you..." she mumbled against me, nuzzling between my tits. Yea, I know what you missed ya adorable yellow thing you.

"I missed you too Shy, thanks for taking care of the place for me. How is angel doing?" I asked as I stood. She fluffed her wings a little and scraped her hoof against the carpet

"Oh, he's fine! A bit upset about some of the rules you gave me for him, but he's adjusting,"

"That's good. He seems like a good friend that wants whats best for you, but he's a bit of a snob and self centered as well. The sooner he learns to change that, the sooner he'll be a better friend," I argue, letting out a squeak as Spike's claws run up my sides. I quickly spin and hold a finger between his eyes

"No, bad Spike," I growl. He pretends to pout until I thwack his nose.

"Ow! Alright, alright fine. But for the record, I missed you too," he says, actually pouting this time. I sigh and pull his head down between my tits. These two...I swear.

Alright, dragon kicked out of the house. Shy asleep on the couch with her head in my lap, and a cup of hot tea in hand. Definitely the way to start my first day back. I smile, gently scratching Shy's neck, chuckling as her left hind hoof twitches a little.

I swear, she's almost like a dog, or some kind of weird cat. I definitely heard her purr once.

But that's besides the point. All was well, until Rainbow Dash came soaring through my window, wings spread, nostrils flared and ready to murder.

"Alan isn't here Dash, he left, and he's not allowed back," I deadpanned. She scoffs, glancing at me and Shy.

"Okay, but you brought ANOTHER one of those things here! What if this one hurts Shy? Or Twilight?" She argued. I let out a sigh.

"Then Spike will break his legs and roast him on a spit. Look Dash, not all the men from my world are like Alan. And Alan IS A NICE GUY! He just has the combat reflexes to match your nose dive turns. And people try to kill him daily, so when someone runs up behind him and jumps on his back, he isn't exactly going to give them a hug," I argued with the Pegasus. She lets out a huff and places her chin on my other leg.

Alas, I am trapped. With a sigh I rest my hand on her head and rub my thumb behind one ear while my pinkie rubs behind the other, the Pegasus slowly relaxing. While nowhere near as clingy as Shy, Rainbow was INSANELY tense and stressed most of the time.

Such was the fate of a Captain of a Guard to be. Which reminded me.

"So, Captain of the Dusk Guard yet?" I ask teasingly. That isn't what they were calling it, but I'd suggested it while they were struggling with something better than the Twilight Guard. Seriously, Celestia has the Solar Guard, Luna has the Lunar Guard, and Twilight can't get something similar?

I even hear that her stepsister Cadence has the Heart Guard. Don't really understand the details on that one, but I'll find out later.

"No! Captain butt munch won't let me even try. I mean come on! I'm totally the right choice for it, none of those colts can do it and I KNOW Twilight!" She argued, her voice dropping in volume as I scratched behind her left ear. That one was her favorite.

"Ugh...What am I gonna do? What if some useless colt gets the position instead?" She whined

"Dash, the standing Captain just wants to be sure that you're the mare for the job. Yes, Twilight is probably one of the most important things in your life, but being Captain is more than just the safety of your Princess, it's the safety of your ponies and your home," I say softly. She gives a nod and sits, freeing my leg from under her chin.

"I know, I know. So...I saw Spike in here earlier..." She smirked, changing the subject. I let out a sigh

"Nothing.Happened." I say between gritted teeth. Sure, Spike could be a bit grabby. And I might've snuggled with him once...or twice.

Dragons are warm okay!

"Uh huh, he left lookin' real happy. You two didn't...do anything?" She asked, waggling her eyebrows.

"Shy has been here the entire time Dash, nothing happened, stop shipping me with your friends," I deadpanned, leaving her to shrug.

"You've got your hands full with those two, both of em are kinda obsessed with things outside their species," Rainbow winked before diving out of the window she came in from.

"Sure thing Dash, good talk," I mumble, glancing down to find Fluttershy still fast asleep.

So I might've given Spike a good bye kiss, on the cheek. It didn't really mean much.

Damn it Rainbow Dash.

"It really is a beautiful tree," I murmur, sitting on my porch and looking at my garden and new tree. Fluttershy simply nods, a cup cradled in her hooves.

"You didn't do anything weird in my bed while I was gone did you?" I blurt out, catching her off guard. Her face is practically on fire at this point.

"No! I mean, I slept here a few times, and curled up in your blankets, and washed your clothes, b-but nothing else!" She almost shouts. With a smirk I lean over and kiss the tip of her snout, leaning back in time to avoid being smacked by her wings flying outward.

"Well, I need to start on my report for the day, and you need to check on your animals. But you know where to find me Shy," I murmur, gently running my thumb and forefinger along her wing before stepping into my house.

She'd be a while. Almost as soon as I stepped inside she took off at a full gallop towards home. She'd try and rush things, but her animals were incredibly important to her. She'd take good care of each and every one of them, and then try to sneak her way into my house and demand cuddles.

And by demand I mean she'd whimper and pout and ask nicely until I cave. The cute was dangerous in this world.

I sigh as I flop onto my bed on my back, unable to keep myself from smiling. This place was so different from home...

"But this place is home..." I mumbled as sleep took over. Shy would wake me when she came back, for now, I could catch a nap.

Author's Note

Would you snuggle the yellow pone?