New Yolk City: Late evening

"Doc where the hell are you?" Spike called. "You said it would be done today."

"I'm here." was shouted as a small 3 legged Vykker walked in with his top hat and blueprints in 3 of his pincer-like arm. "and yes it's done so I can finally get rid of you and focus on my other clients."

"Great, I have everything I need for the trip, I turned in the last of my bounties just in case it wasn't time, and if needed I loaded up on my 'living ammunition' so I'm ready to finally leave this place and see my family again," Spike said with a hint of happiness.

"Fine by me, step on the platform and stand still," ordered Doc.

"Ok let's get this over with before some scum bag decides to run through that door and attack me," spoke Spike.

"It will take a few minutes before the machine can isolate where you were before you got stuck here and as I said accounting for the time it will take for you to get back some time will have passed, I have no idea where you will land but you will be on the same planet when you get there and I also have no idea how long you have been gone to them, but as long as you leave me alone I don't care," Doc informed Spike.

As the teleporter powered up and was about to send Spike home he shouted "Doc, if a person comes in needing a procedure to lose some extra parts, don't be an ass and jack up the price, I owe him one, see ya." and in a flash, Spike had disappeared.

"The next thing I knew was I was falling towards the ground in the Everfree forest, and after landing I needed some rest so I climbed up a tree to stay away from any predators but when I got there I was alerted to the sound of multiple sets of hooves on the ground, not wanting to fight anything at the moment I concealed my presence and waited for the sound to pass. Then after the sounds passed I decided to climb down and find somewhere safer to rest, but as I was making my way down I was tackled by something that was yelling 'Suspicious' repeatedly, which attracted the large group to return. I was then tied up, and after making some not so idle threats about capturing my attackers I used my claws to break free from the ropes, and using my crossbow I attacked the group. That failed because the group had some powerful magic users, seeing no way out I was about to use my fire to create a wall so I could escape. This ultimately revealed my identity to the group and we stopped fighting, and the group revealed themselves to be the girls." Spike said while motioning to his group of attackers. "After a sudden group tackle we slowly made our way back to town, where I was informed on what happened after I went to Mudos, but due to a mixture of excitement and fatigue I passed out and was carried back to the castle by the girls." Said Spike ending his ten-year tail.

"After we brought you back to the castle, I and Starlight did some medical scans and sent the results to nurse Red Heart, and then I and the girls started to discuss the fact that you were alive and wondering what had happened to you." Said Twilight.

"Yeah, I overheard the tail end of that discussion, and knowing how early you girls found me I guessed that none of you ate anything when I was found so I decided to go to the kitchen to make some breakfast for you guys, and after I was finished I shouted for everyone to come to eat, but while I was waiting one of my newer injuries acted up and I collapse to the floor. This caused all seven of the girls to barge into the kitchen and land on me, and after a quick discussion on when I would tell everyone where I was, we ate breakfast, and not soon after you all showed up," added Spike motioning to everyone else in the room.

"So now that everyone's caught up on my life, I'm interested in catching up on what I missed over the last two years."

"I'll start," said Fluttershy in a meek tone. "After you disappeared Spike, I shut myself off from the rest of the group as I was trying to process my sadness but after a while, I had to go on with my life so I could support my animals and help my friends. During this time I got funding to construct an animal sanctuary near town for any animals that needed my help, I have also been performing with the Ponytones more often, but it was challenging to move on."

"As for yours truly, I officially became a Wounderbolt and raised to the rank of lieutenant, also A.K Yearling released two new books, but not wanting to become sad about you I waited a long while to check them out from Twi," said RD.

"Over at Sweet Apple Acres, we were able to expand the farm and because of that we can produce even more cider and other apple products, we also started a stand-alone catering service thanks to Sugar Bell." Said the orange farm pony.

"Wait...Sugar Bell?" Spike questioned, "Why would she be part of your catering service?"

"Well... She and Big Mac kinda got married while you were gone." Said Apple Jack.

This little piece of news caused Spike's mind to stop as he was left slack-jawed while looking at the red farm pony. "Yep." was all Big Mac said.

After a few minutes of processing this information, Spike was able to restart his brain and congratulated both baker and farmer on finding love.

"As for us dear nephew, we continue to look after the dreams of thine subjects, and every year we come to celebrate nightmare night in Ponyville but after your disappearance the mood of the town was different," Luna added.

"The dragons back in the Dragon Lands have started to adopt more of pony culture, and some have even decided to start living in the towns that border the Dragon Lands, but there is still a long way to go before aggression between both dragons and ponies is over." said the Dragon Lord.

"Relations with the changeling hive has also developed while you were gone and now changelings can live in towns and find jobs, there are also rumors of pony changeling romances popping up all across Equestria" Thorax chimed in.

"Sweetie, when you first disappeared I was in such a panic I was unable to hold day court for a month and after not finding any information on your whereabouts it only became harder to raise the sun, but over time I had to return to my duties as a princess until the day you were considered legally dead, that day I wasn't able to find the energy to even raise the sun. After your funeral, I was finally able to grieve for my son as a mother should, and thanks to the support of everyone here I was able to accept what had happened and I slowly started to return to my duties as princess." Celestia stated.

"As the resident god of chaos, I will show you what happened during your absence with this." said Discord as he pulled a couple of sock puppets and a stage from behind his ears and the inside of his mouth. What proceeded was an unbelievable tale of pure chaos that only Celestia and Luna and oddly Pinky could fully comprehend.

"Ok... I'm both confused and inspired at what I just witnessed, and I don't know why," said Spike.

"Confusion and inspiration aside darling, after you disappeared I was lost. I didn't have any desire to design any new outfits, that was until the day you were declared dead, this realization somehow forced me to create a full line based on your scales and colors, one of which I wore to your funeral in honor of you Spikey, and after the truth of your relationship to the princess I was literally inundated with hundreds of orders for dresses, and using the memory of you I was able to find my inspiration once again."

"Oh, oh, oh, Me next," shouted Pinky Pie. "I was so sad that I lost one of my best friends I went into some funk like when the girls didn't want to come to Gummy's birthday party but thanks to all of our friends I was able to snap out of it and continued using you as a driving force so I can spread laughter to everyone I come across." Said Pinky as she was bouncing around the group.

"I guess I'll go next," said Starlight. "I'm still working on learning about friendship, but thanks to you I was able to reconnect with Sunburst, and this allowed me to make friends with Trixie, and Pinky's sister Maud. But after I returned from the crystal empire I was informed that you went missing, but I was unable to accept that I lost my second first friend, so in the middle of the night and in a fit of both sadness and anger I attempted to use the same spell that sent you away, in an attempt to find you. It worked but I was unable to control it and it was starting to suck in everything around me and only after Twilight interfered were we able to close it. After that, I used every locator spell I knew in an attempt to find you, but after months of looking, we had to accept the fact that you were gone. But after your funeral, I was able to reconnect with everyone and this brought me back and allowed me to move on."

"Speaking of Trixie and Sunburst, how are both of them doing?"

"Trixie is doing well, she is on tour right now, but after she was informed of your disappearance she used all her connections from towns she had visited to expand our search. Sunburst on the other hand was informed by Cadance and Shining Armor when they announced your disappearance to the empire, wanting to aid in the search he also used locator spells in hopes of finding you in the Crystal Empires' territory."

"Spike, after we got our cutie marks we knew what we wanted to do and that, was to help others find their special talents but once we heard of your disappearance we tried our best to put on a strong front so we could still help but after a month it just became too hard and we stopped looking for people who needed our help and we just went through the motions of our daily lives like... Go to school, help Rarity/ Applejack, go to the school of friendship as teaching assistants. But once we heard that the search for you was called off we couldn't accept this and we ventured into the Everfree in an attempt to find you ourselves. That didn't go well, as we were attacked by a cockatrice again but AJ got to us in time to snap us out of it and that was when we were told that we needed to stop looking for you. But after we went to your funeral and heard Princess Celestia's speech, we found inspiration from your history and the loss of the potential happiness you had and used this to drive ourselves to continue our mission." Said Sweetie Bell.

"Spike you know what I did after you went through the portal, but during the search for you I was contently on the verge of tears and the thought of losing you drove me away from my duties and my friends. And after your funeral, I was about the shut myself off completely but knowing that this wasn't the way you wanted me to live, I fortitude my resolve to continue living my life full of happiness and with our friends." Twilight stated.

" As for us Spike." Said Cadence. "Everyone in the empire demanded we take immediate action upon hearing the news of your disappearance, Shining arranged for all of our troops to search the whole of the frozen north as well as Yakyakistan, but after searching every inch twice over we called off the search due to the weather turning on us. This caused a small uproar in the empire saying we weren't grateful to you, but even the harsh conditions didn't deter many ponies from forming search parties and venturing into the snow." Spike faced claw at how reckless the crystal ponies could be when it comes to him. This caused Cadance to giggle. "So once Aunt Celestia declared you legally dead and that your funeral would be held in the Empire, all of the rogue search parties stopped going out so everyone could prepare for it, and one of your more influential fans proposed that we construct three things in your honor, the first was a brand new statue of you that we placed in the Crystal Arena that we used when you stopped the ice cloud from crashing the Equestria games, the second was a memorial and crypt to inform others that the savior of the crystal empire would not be forgotten even in death, and lastly we constructed a museum dedicated to you so we could teach others about Spike the Brave and Glorious." This made Spike face claw again.

"Really? You know I didn't want that much attention, so why did you agree?"

"They were very persuasive," Cadance said with a shrug.

"Fine, but is it at least accurate?" asked Spike which caused Shining Armor to laugh.

"Yeah....No... in the museum, you are depicted as being over six feet tall, and to of defeated Sombra by jumping off the tallest tower of the crystal castle and landing like a superhero next to the center where you then fought off Sombra in the hoof to claw combat, and upon his defeat, you valiantly placed the crystal heart in its place and drove him off and freed the empire," said Shining Armor.

Spike then let out a groan and asked in a sarcastic tone "Is that all? They didn't say that after I had the heart was in my possession that my scales turned to gold and I was able to grow wings?".

"Don't worry we did have some input on what went into the museum." Assured Cadance. "But Spike I know it's last-minute but since your not dead we would like for you to come to see the empire. So if at all possible could you please attend the yearly crystal fair and surprise the crystal ponies?"

"Sure I would love to," said Spike with a shrug.

"Great, we will send the Crystal express in one week to pick you up and anyone who wants to attend as well," added Cadance. "But until then we need to return to the empire so we can oversee the preparations of the fair, so until then." Cadance then pulled Spike into a hug and whispered in his ear "I missed you so much and I'm so happy your home." and after saying goodbye to everyone else Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart left.

"Sadly we too must depart as night is approaching and our duties are never-ending." spoke Luna "But know dear nephew that we will visit you in thine dreams to converse more in thou would not be opposed to a visit?" Spike shook his head. "Verily though until then I must depart, And sister don't forget to lower the sun."

"Don't worry Lulu, I won't." as both rolled their eyes at the comments. Then Luna flew back to Canterlot.

"I need to get back as well or some bolder head will start a fight and destroy a mountain, but it's good to see you again Spike. If you ever in the dragon lands don't hesitate to drop in, I know a certain dragon who would be shocked to see you now." Ember then quickly hugged Spike and flew back to the Dragon Lands.

"I also need to return to my home, I promised the larvae that I would read a story to them tonight and I now know what I'm going to tell them." Said Thorax as he hugged Spike and left to return to his hive.

"I got nowhere to be for the next five and a half seconds," said Discord as he pulls a pocket watch out of his nose. "So Spike see you this week for O&O?" asked Discord with a hint of hope in his voice, which Spike nodded to. "Great see you then." and then Discord disappeared.

Then Night Light and Twilight Velvet both said goodbye to spike and their daughter and went back to Canterlot for the night. Then Big Mac carried Apple Bloom back to the farm as she was worn out from the story along with Apple Jack following behind. Pinky then left so she could prepare for Spikes 'Yay Your Not Dead/ Welcome Home' party. Then Fluttershy left to look after her animals. Then RD needed to take Scootaloo home. Then Rarity kissed Spike on the cheek as she levitated Sweetie and carried her back to the boutique.

"Twilight my dear, if it's not too much of an inconvenience, I would like to stay the night in Ponyville so I can stay close to Spike?"

"No problem princess Celestia, ill make up a room for you near Spikes right now but after that, I will be going to bed as well we all woke up early to go to the Everfree." Twilight then walked up the stairs yawning.

"Same here" added Starlight "But do get to bed you two, I don't want to find a dragon and a princess passed out on the ground when I wake up, it's bad enough when I had to carry Twilight to her room after an all-night study session, I don't think I could do that with both of you." Then Starlight walked off to bed.

Spike and Celestia talked for another hour till sleep started to take hold of them. So after hugging each other Spike climbed into bed and for the first time in ten years, he didn't need to dream about being home.

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait, life got in the way. Same as always, comment about what you liked, how I can improve, and where the story could go.