The Returned One

"My herd?!" The sheer shock of hearing a mare I just met say that to me made me stumble backwards and fall into the pond, earning a worried cry from Twilight as she used what looked like magic to try and pull me out, but for some reason it wasn't working.

I gasped for air as I pulled myself to the shore, getting some help from Twilight who jumped in to give me a... Hoof?

"Are you alright? Talk to me Midnight!"

"I'm *cough cough* ok... Was that magic you were using?"

"O...of course it was... Don't you remember anything?"

"Not really. All I remember is talking with Faust and falling asleep in her hooves..."

"YOU MET FAUST?! EVEN CELESTIA AND LUNA HAVEN'T HAD THAT HONOR!!!" At the mention of those names, I couldn't help but picture the Alabaster Angel.

"Those names... Who are they?" That earned me a look of utmost shock.

"Shadow, how could you forget your mother and aunt?"

"I don't even know who I am! How am I supposed to know who anypony else is?" I yelled with immediate regret, an quickly I felt my eyes begin to water. Strangely, Twilight pulled me into a hug and started to wipe away my forming tears...

"Heeyy...it's alright... Shhh.... You really haven't changed very much to be honest... Always quick to apologize to us for anything you thought you did wrong...*sigh* By Celestia I missed you..."

"Can I see her?" I asked from her shoulder.

"I don't know... Even I haven't seen her since you were banished five years ago..."

"Five years?" I asked getting a nod as a reply.

"Come on, we should head to Ponyville before it gets dark." Twilight said as she got up and put me on her back, and began to lift us off from the ground.

"Is that where you live?"

"Its where you lived before everything happened. Right now only Chrysalis and I still live there."

"What can you tell me about her?"

"Well, she was the queen of the Changlings, a race of insect ponies that feed off love."

I closed my eyes and rested my head on her neck as I tried to think of what she looked like, and what I knew about her from my apparent passed life.

A giggle from my mount caused me to open my eyes and take notice that we were nearing what looked to be a small town. My movement must've alerted her that I was awake.

"We're almost home. Do you want to walk the rest of the way?"

"Yes, I think it would be good for me to try to figure out how to move efficiently without getting mocked by everyone."

"Hmm in that case why don't we hold off landing until we get all the way home, ok?"

"...alright, but only if you help me get around." I said with a smirk.

"It's a deal."

I saw quite a few buildings as we flew over, but the building that really drew my attention was a home that looked like a pile of eggs laying together.

"Is that...?"

"Yes, that's the home you built before you... Well... You know..."

"No... I don't know. What happened?"

*sigh* "You... You got in a fight with your father, and your battle was causing chaos across the entirety of Equestria. We...*choked sob* we're here...." As we landed, I couldn't help but notice the tears soaking the fur under Twilight's eyes. I swung myself off of her back as carefully as I could and worked myself around to her front just to see her trying to hold back a flood of tears. She opened her eyes and smiled when she felt me trying to wipe her tears away like she did for me only an hour before.

"Please Twilight, tell me what happened."

"*sigh* We... We had to banish you with the Elements of Harmony..." As she finished her sentence, she began to break down into tears and pulled me into a hug. "I'm so sorry! I never wanted to do it, but we had to protect Equestria... Please forgive me!!!"

"It's ok Twi. You did what you had to, I'm glad you were able to make the hard decision that I really doubt I could've made at all... And besides, I'm back now! I may not remember much, but I'm here for you..." Before I could finish my sentence, I heard an odd sounding gasp from the front door. As I looked over, I saw a frail, yet beautiful insect-like mare with tears dripping from her eyes

"It can't be possible... You're home!"

"Heh, hi Chrysalis."