It had been a few hours since the showdown at the Castle of the Two Sisters and a, now more adult looking Princess Luna was still clutching a, now clothed, creature, apparently named "Rhizome." I turns out there was an old leather armored suit close by.

"It's been hours, sister-" Celestia stated before Luna cut her off.

"Thou hast his other arm, Sister."

Celestia indeed was holding onto his other arm so she just closed her mouth, her cheeks darkening and her ear twitching as Rainbow Dash stifled her laughs. Twilight glared at her new friend who looked away, still holding back the torrent of laughter that threatened to break through her, admittedly small, mental barrier. Applejack wasn't fairing much better, she just had a hat to hide it. Pinkie was too busy giggling and talking about a party she was gonna throw. Rarity was fawning over the scene and Fluttershy was hiding behind her mane with a face red enough to make an apple jealous. Twilight gave a weak apologetic smile to her mentor, who sighed.

"Well I haven't seen either of you in one thousand years!" she blurted before clearing her throat to correct herself. "That, is, I suppose I can let this keep going for another hour....or two."

Luna gave a triumphant grin before going back to cuddling Rhizome's arm between her ample melons. Said man just sighed a bit.

"I'm sure they'll be fine in a few minutes." he said with a voice as soothing as a leaf whistle, though tone was a lot lower. "So, were you the ones with Harmony's magic?"

Fluttershy hummed in quiet relaxation While Twilight shook herself and replied.

"We are...well, we were chosen by the Elements..." she says a bit softly.

"Thank you." he said, his voice still having a calming effect. "You gave me enough Ether to speed up my regeneration."

Twilight blinked a bit and shook herself once more, her cheeks reddening a bit. Rhizome blinked a little before he smiled softly.

"What is that?"

Rhizome chuckled whimsically, his laugh almost as a wind chime. The girls all sat, serenity washing over them. Pinkie giggled with him and all the others smiled.

"Ah, thou doest not know of Rhizome's Aether?" Luna asked, making Twilight shake her head with an embarrassed look. Luna smiled. "'Tis the passive magic woven into his voice."

"Rhizome was given his gifts with plants by Harmony Herself." Celestia said, getting the attention of Applejack.

Rhizome looked off, clearing his throat as a light blue blush made its way to his green cheeks. Luna giggled and Celestia rolled her eyes.

"Dids't thou forget his humility, Dear Sister?" Luna said, mid-giggle.

"I just don't want any more ponies over exaggerating and wanting to call me a demigod...again."

"Oh yes, the sect of 'The Green Thumbs.'" Luna says, laughing once more, boisterously.

"They burnt manure as an offering!" Rhizome said with a disgusted face. "That couldn't have been healthy for them."

Rainbow Dash broke at this, laughing loudly and rolling on the ground. Applejack just kept her mouth closed and looked away.

"Um...did you look after animals too?" came the quiet voice of Fluttershy before she eeps and hides in her mane.

"Well, yes. I guess I looked after a few..." Rhizome stated.

"A few?! Thou nurtured a pack of timberwolves, a family of bears and even a flock of phoenixes!" Luna said through more laughter.

Rhizome sighs as Luna laughs and Celestia stifles a giggle. Everything stayed like that before a Timberwolf pup jumped into the building. Applejack and Rainbow prepared themselves to fend it off, even Pinkie pulled out a cannon from...somewhere? The pup looked at them with a raised brow but walked on by them, disinterested and sat right in front of Rhizome, gaze unblinking. Twilight keeps a fire spell in mind as she watches warily. Rhizome and the Timberwolf pup stare at each other before it gives a hollow yip.

"Ah, so that's how it is, huh?" Rhizome replied to everyone's surprise but the princesses.

The puppy wagged its tail and yipped again, panting. Rhizome chuckled at the antics as the group looked at Fluttershy expectanexpectantly. The mare blinked a bit before shrinking back at the attention with another eep.

"H-he said 'Planter.'" Flutter squeaks.

"The hay does that mean?" shouts Rainbow as the pup nibbles his backside to scratch itself.

"I-I don't know..."

Rhizome clears his throat again to get their attention.

"He spoke through the dirt." he says, "Timberwolves are part plant, after all."

Twilight's eye twitched briefly.

"That doesn't explain anything!"

"Ya!" said Rainbow. "What the hay did it mean by 'Planter?'"

The rest of the girls looked at Rhizome expectantly who just sighed.

"Girls, he can speak to the plants." Celestia explained in a motherly tone.

"Pardon me princess," began Applejack, "do you mean, he can speak to ANY plant?"

Luna just rolled her eyes and looked at Celestia.

"They act as though they didst not hear of the Heroes." she said with a flat look to her sister.

Many of the girls looked at each other confused.

"Do you mean the foal's tale?" asked Rainbow Dash incredulously.

That made both, Rhizome and Luna, look at Celestia who blushed and gave a sheepish smile.

"Girls," started Twilight, "maybe we can talk about all this later? We need to return to Ponyville."

Celestia gave a small smile to Twilight as thanks before it melted into her normal, motherly smile. The group then made their way back to the little town with Luna still holding onto Rhizome's arm.

There was a small celebration, with a parade, when the group got back. Luna never stopped happily holding on to Rhizome's arm. Celestia chuckled when she saw the bemused face of him as many of her little ponies threw roses and rice to the two. Celestia then smiles motherly as she watched the new group of Element holders. Pride puffed up her chest as she watched her beloved student chat happily with her new friends. Unbeknownst to her, however, Rhizome was looking at her with a soft smile.

After the parade, Pinkie put together a small party at the library all her own. She had already, somehow, made banners welcoming Princess Luna and Rhizome when they got back and Rhizome found it hilarious when Twilight's eye twitched at the, seemingly, impossible pony that was her new friend. When the party got busy enough, and Luna finally let go, Rhizome made his way outside to Twilight's surprise, as well as Celestia.

Twilight followed Rhizome when Pinkie's back was turned and found him laying down on grass and looking up at the slowly approaching night sky. She stayed relatively far away but Rhizome still spoke to her.

"Sparkle, you really need to work on your sneaking skills."

Twilight was stunned and a bit angry at Rhizome addressing critiquing her like that.

"I always loved watching the sky." he continues, "No matter how many time's I'd look at it, it would always calm my heart."

Rhizome looked at Twilight with a tired smile, his green eyes soft and a bit beaten down from wearies that may have been as old as the old castle the group had come from. The scholarly mare lost her frustrations and made her way beside him before he once more looked to the sky above.

"You really knew the Princess a thousand years ago?" Twilight asked, causing Rhizome to laugh.

"She was a lot more vibrant back then, as much of a spitfire as her sun." he said with a wistful look on his face. "You know, even with the war back then, there were good times. A lot of good stallions and mares..."

Twilight gave him a worried look as she saw tears begin to well up in his eyes. She couldn't even imagine what the creature before her was thinking and her eyes, once more roamed his form. Despite the Princess and he, himself had claimed he was over one thousand years old, he looked young, close to her age even. His physique wasn't nearly as muscular as many stallions she knew, including her brother, the muscle he had was still toned, just slim. She knew his chest was the same, he had a bit more of a "swimmer's body," if her books were anything to go by, leaner than a weight lifter's but not out of shape. The tight, leather suit, despite it's age, clung to him nicely emphasizing his Figure. His mane was short and quiffed. Twilight's cheeks heated up a bit.

"You really don't look a thousand years old." she mused before covering her mouth making Rhizome chuckle.

"I guess that's one benefit to rapid regeneration, isn't it?"

"Then why do you have those scars?" Twilight asked, lookin at the scars that the suit didn't cover.

Rhizome looked at his right arm and traced it's marking. His eyes were filled with a distant gaze, one of sorrow.

"They're a reminder." he said, hollowly.

The rest of the night was filled with celebration but Twilight couldn't help but feel pity for Rhizome as her mind thought of those scars.

Author's Note

Hey all, here’s a new chapter, hope you like it. Sorry if there a few grammatical mistakes or switching tense, I don’t really have an editor atm. Please don’t be afraid to comment with feedback or questions.
Later all!