With Tirek now gone forever and all the ponies in Equestria now reunited with their magic, things could finally settle down once more. After Twilight and her friends return to Ponyville however, they discover that Twilight now possesses a castle that just seemed to sprout out of the ground. This certainly caught Ryuji off guard as he stood in front of it with a wide-eyed mouth agape expression. Luckily he was in his warframe at the time so no one could really see the ridiculous face he was making. The building was certainly a sight to behold. The crystal shimmered in the sunlight and had a natural glow to it.

As he stood there, he heard the sound of beating wings heading towards him. And judging by their sound, they were heavy wings. He knew exactly who it was that was approaching him. He smiled to himself and turned around to see Celestia along with the other princesses landing on their hooves. Celestia’s gaze fell upon Ryuji. It was a look of absolute worry as she saw the state that his warframe was in. His syndana was tattered, and what appeared to be wounds all over Hydroid were still slowly closing themselves up. Feeling the worse had befallen him as well, she runs over to him and places her hands on Hydroid’s arms, pulling at them firmly but gently. It was clear that she wanted him out of his frame by this gesture. As if saying ‘Give him to me!’

Ryuji noticed this right away and stepped forth from Hydroid and into Celestia’s arms. She scoops him up and wraps him into a lovingly tight hug. Even kissing him over and over making sure that he knew how much he had her worried and she missed him. Ryuji just smiled lightly and took the onslaught of her affections. Not that he minded at all.

“Tia...I am fine. I promise. I was more worried about you. But, it looks like you and the others made it out of Tartarus just fine. I am glad.”

She squeezes him into her heavy bust and nuzzles her cheek against his in an overly affectionate manner. Clearly, she was extremely worried for him more than even he realized.

“I wasn’t sure of how things would go! While we were stuck in Tartarus, my mind was swirling with outcomes I did not want to ever think of again! I...I was so scared for you! Thinking I’d never ever get to see you again. Or..or find you extremely hurt or even...even..”

Ryuji gently cradles her lower jaw in his hands, his thumbs lightly caressing her cheeks as he soothes the worried alicorn. His gaze locked onto her again before shaking his head with a light laugh.

“Yo8uworry and overthink things like that too much, Tia. I am a tenno. We think on our feet and out-clever our enemies. After all, we took down the entire Orokin Empire way back. when I was in my other universe. Taking down someone like Tirek was a cakewalk.”

Of course, he was only saying that to make her feel a little at ease. Ryuji smiled to Celestia once more before turning his head to look at the castle before them.

“I do believe that Twilight and the others have some important work ahead of them since this thing has sprouted up. I wonder if this will have to do with her role in Equestria. She had been so very worried about what she was meant to do as of late. And I believe this is the start of it right here.”

Celestia seemed quite surprised at his intuition on what the castle was for. She knew from the beginning once she laid eyes upon it, but she didn’t tell him a thing! Another reason why she loved him so much. He was so smart and good at gathering information and piecing it together. She gives him one more loving squeeze before letting him down and looks back to Luna and Cadence. Suddenly, Twilight and the others appear before the castle and stare in awe. Rarity was the first to speak.

“Sweet Celestia! Are you all seeing what I am seeing..?”

“Yeah. But...whose is it?”

Asked twilight in just as much surprise. Celestia smiles and responds to her former pupil’s question.

“I believe it is yours.”

After exploring the new castle and Twilight suddenly bursting into a random song with her friends as she normally does, Ryuji stood there looking at Hydroid with a knowing smile. Just like last time, he came through and helped the tenno when he needed it the most. He sighed lightly and closed his eyes, trying to think of the words to say to him.

“I know you can hear me. I just wish you had the ability to speak back sometimes. But, because of you, I have been able to get out of sticky situations ever since I woke up from that long slumber. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you, Hydroid. And what I said back there...I meant it. You are truly my best friend. Even though you cannot speak, or fully move on your own mostly I still value you as a normal person. As I know that is what you used to be. What I am trying to say is thank you. I hope that I can rely on you as I have always done. But not as much as I used to.”

Ryuji sticks his hand out in front of the frame as if waiting for a handshake. Nothing happens at first so he pulls his hand away slowly. But then, the frame extends a hand to him and takes a firm grip on his. Ryuji smiled widely at this. It was a moment that he’d treasure for all of his life. Yet something sent a cold chill over Ryuji’s spine. He quickly spins on his heel and looks around for anything that might be amiss. Suddenly, everything just stops...everything and everyone but Ryuji. And everything looked like it had a grey film over it. Every step the tenno took, it echoed as if he was in a large empty hall.

"You have certainly been causing us a lot of trouble. It has been quite a while since we have been able to find you..."

Ryuji knew those voices very well that spoke to him. He quickly makes his way into Hydroid, but only to be thrown back as some sort of forcefield appeared around the frame. The impact sends him flying backward, tumbling and rolling across the ground. He grunts in pain and slowly stands up. He watches Hydroid being lifted into the air as a portal opens up behind him. Ryuji’s eyes widen as he knew what was about to happen.

“For too long, you have been a thorn in our side. For too long, you have ruined our plans for this world. OUR world. We control the outcome, not some creature who came from some other universe. We had thought that killing you outright would be the best option. But you proved to be more of a nuisance But, why sully our hands with your blood? So we figured out something that will be even more devastating to you. We may not be able to harm your precious mare and everyone else you love. But...we will take away the very thing that you care so much for. Say goodbye to your precious puppet.”

Ryuji ran towards Hydroid as fast as he could. He reaches the barrier and uses a void blast to try and break it open. It only pushes him back with double the impact. This time it sent him flying back fifteen feet. Ryuji does his best to stand up again. But the impact had broken a couple of his ribs. He grabs at his side in pain and grunts with a wince.

“No...don’t you fucking take him from me! You will regret doing so!”

“Without this protective shell, it will be no surprise the next time some other villain comes along and slays you with ease. We cannot wait to see that agony one day…”

“NO!”

Ryuji shouted and reached out before Hydroid was taken into the portal which quickly sealed up. Ryuji was now in a complete state of shock. His heartbeat quickened and his mind raced. He wasn’t not believing what just happened. Hydroid was gone...taken from him just like that. And he was absolutely powerless to stop it from happening. He tries to get to his feet but only manages to get to his knees as he holds onto his right side where his ribs were broken. Everything started moving again and the grey film vanished as the color came back to the world. As Celestia and the others came out of Twilight’s new castle, they all noticed Ryuji in his state and that Hydroid was missing. They all ran to him and surrounded him with concern. Celestia kneeled next to him and noticed that he was in quite a bit of pain. But took notice of the distraught look in his eye as they twitched.

“Ryuji..what happened..? Where is your frame..?”

She asked as she reached out to place a comforting hand on her fiance’s shoulder. But before she could touch him, he lets out a loud scream of anguish as he slams both of his fists into the ground. He lets out another scream that makes everypony around him except Celestia cover their ears and back away in horror at the tenno’s cries of distress.

“THEY TOOK HIM! HE IS GONE! THEY TOOK HIM FROM ME!”

Celestia understood quickly what he was talking about. She carefully wrapped her arms around his body and pressed her forehead against his before her horn lit up. Ryuji’s screams suddenly went quiet as he slowly closes his eyes, having been induced into a deep slumber by Celestia. She stands up on her hooves with her beloved in her arms and looks to Twilight who asked her what exactly was going on.

“In short, His frame has been taken by those who do not wish him to be here, Twilight. And with him gone, Ryuji is going to need me, you and every one of us more than ever. As I am sure you are aware. Hydroid meant a great, great deal to him. And seeing Ryuji in that state just now was absolutely heartbreaking. I must take him to get him healed and comfort him when he awakens.”

Without another word, Celestia teleports away with Ryuji in her arms. She was certainly going to need to clear her schedule for the day and possibly the next. Ryuji was without a doubt going to need her when he woke up.

--A Few Hours Later--

Ryuji slowly opened his eyes and sat up slowly. He looked around to see he was back in his and Celestia’s bedroom. He looked down at his body to see his upper half wrapped in bandages and the pain of his broken ribs significantly reduced. He lets out a sigh and looks down at his hands before burying his face in them knowing what happened before wasn’t a bad dream.

“He is gone...I cannot use transference to find him. It shouldn’t matter the distance. If I was able to find him back at the kuva fortress, that was because he was still in the same world...but I can’t...I can’t find him.”

At first, he thought he was talking to himself. But once he felt the familiar embrace of his princess wrap around him, All he could do was just lean back against her and places his hands on top of hers, though keeping his head down as the thoughts still plagued his mind, replaying the scene over and over.

“I know he meant the world to you just as I do, Ryu. But there is nothing that can be done...for now anyway. Do not give up hope on finding him. I am sure that one day, your and your Warframe will be reunited.”

“I know that, Tia. But without Hydroid...I am more of a burden now than ever should it come to combat situations. While I do have my own abilities and have cultivated them very well, he and I were unstoppable together. Now...now I am just a tenno without his frame. Missing one half of the whole.”

Celestia placed him in her lap to where he was now facing her. She noticed his gaze was averted from hers. She cups his face into her soft hands and lifts his head to gaze into his eyes. As she gazed into his eyes, she could see the sorrow and worry he was feeling about all this. And she was not going to have that. He has been through too much in his life and now, it was time she was there for him when he needed her the most.

“Ryu...look at me. Please.”

His gaze slowly lifted to meet hers. If it’s one thing he loved about her, it is the beauty of her eyes, and that warm smile she always gave him.

“You have always put the weight of every bad situation on your shoulders ever since you came here. You have been back and forth through time itself to fix things that have been wronged. And now that you have had someone who you have been with for over a century taken from you,I will not stand by and let anything happen to you. Nor will Luna, Twilight, and everypony else who cares for you. You are not alone, and you do not have to fight alone. And..you know you can always rely on me for anything. And I mean anything. I am your fiance after all. We still haven’t had the chance to make proper love yet. And I do believe that in a situation like this. A mare needs to make sure that her love is cheered up by a little bit of physical pleasure.”

Ryuji’s eyes widen as a blush formed across his cheeks. He then averts his eyes again.

“Tia...that isn’t necessary. Besides, I-.”

She places a finger over his lips and shakes her head gently to him, she knew how he was feeling, and it was time to put his mind at ease when it came to both of them and their soon to be nightly ritual of sexy time.

“I know you feel that you don’t stack up to other males in our world, Ryu. it doesn’t matter to me. I love you for you. But, if it truly bothers you that much, I could always perform a spell that will...enhance your size~.”

She said with a playful giggle. This made Ryuji blush even redder at the thought.

“But for now, tonight is all about you my love. Just lean back and let your princess tend to you. Let her ease your burden.”

Without another word, she lays him on his back and lays on top of him partially after removing what clothing both he and herself had on. She smiles and locks lips with him in a deep and heated kiss, taking one of his hands and lacing her fingers with his. It was time for him to receive something wonderful for a change.

Author's Note

Some hot clop coming in the next chapter! But more importantly, what will Ryuji do without Hydroid? And will he truly reunite with his lost frame? And will his own abilities be enough for the coming days? We shall soon find out!

May the darkness grant you peace.