It has been a week since Havran returned from his time away from civilization. And along with a new paid position from the royal sisters, Havran was also given his own piece of land to sweeten the deal. Between Canterlot and Ponyville, he had chosen a sturdy mountain top with a fully fertile and flat land to support the structure that now stood atop it and a rather expansive garden full of herbs and plants he could use to further master his alchemy skills now that he had access to them. The structure was a tall, rather gothic looking wizard’s spire with glowing magical lights circling around it. And atop the structure was a large open space for him to practice his magic and possibly create new magic.

The garden below was large and organized. With the assortment of all kinds of plants being protected from the harsh elements in a magic barrier that only Havran could enter in and out of, but not deprive the plants of any nutrients they needed. Even having one section of the garden under an artificial field of sorts that was constantly night so the nocturnal plants would thrive as well. How was Havran able to have all this accomplished in a week one would ask? Magic of course. Along with the supplies that was requested from the castle and a few natural resources taken from the surrounding area, Havran had finally acquired a rather lovely home of his liking. And the land was all his. The deed he was given and fully read over solidified that this was to be his home, even after his time as the royal court mage was finished.

And no magical spire would be complete without a rather large gated wall to keep out unwanted guests, Even a barrier to prevent nosey pegasi and other flight capable beings from flying their way in. Everyone had to pass through the gate unless Havran allowed it otherwise. However, there was one person he did allow to come through the barrier who came to visit him ever since he returned. The lovely princess of the night, Luna. She had come by to visit him every late afternoon/evening ever since he had come back from his self-isolation. For the first couple days, she watched him work silently, just happy to be in his company. She was far more fascinated in his unique form of magic than even Twilight herself was all those years ago.

After those two days, she came to visit him more, engaging in conversation about their days and becoming close friends quickly. The mare would even come visit his dreams sometimes just to give him some company if he wanted ehr to of course. After all, they were both rather introverted. So she understood that he needed alone time just as much as she did. And when he was at the castle, she would pick in on him at his workstation, even bring him lunch sometimes. The way that he felt around Luna was like he found a kindred spirit. They got along so well right off the bat.

And this didn’t go unnoticed at all. The staff, the guards, especially Celestia who was getting a little bit jealous that the two took to each other so quickly. It took Her and Havran to get on a close, friendly basis after a couple years as her student! But at the same time, she was incredibly happy for her younger sister that she had managed to get close to someone so soon after her return from her banishment other than herself. It seemed like Havran returning was bringing good things now. In her heart and mind, she was right to spare Havran from any real punishment.

Havran now stood in his own alchemy lab. Beakers bubbling and test tubes filled with all kinds of colorful liquids as he was fully focused on creating new potions and other concoctions. However, his concentration was broken by the sound of the barrier being penetrated, knowing only one being who could do that, he smiled to himself before he shut down his experiments for the day and made his way up to the third floor of the tower which was his recreational/relax area with his kitchen and dining area built in one room. Of course, the tower was much bigger on the inside than it looked.

Once he got to the floor, he opened up the double balcony doors just in time for Lunanto glide in and leap into his arms with a hug, her smaller form hanging freely as she wrapped her arms around his neck before she released him, landing back on the ground “Hiii, Havran! Working on those potions again?” she asked as she could smell the herbs all over him. Havran nodded before closing the doors behind Luna and made his way over to the kitchen area to prepare some tea for them both “Indeed I have been. You know me, I don’t like to sit still much when there is work to be done or new things I can discover.” he said ask he began heating up the boiling water while Luna took her spot in the smaller chair that Havran had constructed for her at the coffee table.

Things were silent for a few minutes as Havran prepared the tea and snack cakes. Luna looked over in hius direction before asking a question that has been on her mind for a few days now “Have you gone back to Ponyville to visit Twilight and the others? They don’t know of your return yet. I bet it would make them rather happy to see you since you've been gone for a while.”. Havran stopped pouring the tea for a moment before resuming the preparation “I don’t know, Luna…while I am glad I am given this great chance to prove myself. Confronting the others, especially Twilight, I don’t know if they’d be as forgiving as your older sister.”.

Havran then brought over the refreshments and placed them on the coffee table before taking a seat in the larger chair. They both took a sip of the tea he had made before Luna spoke up again “If my sister and everyone else can forgive me for my blunder all those years ago, then I am positive that your friends will too. You won’t know till you try…” . Havran looked over Luna’s hopeful gaze. She really wanted him to at least make an effort. Even if things went sour, at least he would have some closure, and it is not like he wouldn’t be alone in the world. He’d still have Celestia and Luna.

Havran thought about it for a little longer before nodding in response “You are right, Luna. It is best to get it done and over with than dwell on what could be or could have been. I will make my way down to Ponyville tomorrow morning and hope for the best. Thank you for giving me the small push that I needed.”. Luna smiled and walked over to him on the other side of the table before wrapping him in a hug once more “I am sure that things will be just fine. But if not, that means that Tia and I don’t have to share you.” she jested. Havran chuckled and released her after they hugged for a little longer “I am gonna have to make it work somehow. Your sister has asked me to watch over them as part of my job, so yeah.”. And with that, they enjoyed their evening time together like they have been for the past week.

–The Next Morning–

Havran flew down to Ponyville using his unsupported flight ability. If he was going to show up, he was going to go all in so that everyone would most likely recognize him on the spot. And that smokey wispy form he took while in flight was always a dead giveaway when ponies saw him coming. Once he landed in the middle of the town square, every single pony stopped and stared at him for a moment. That moment felt like hours as he gazed around, every pony seeing his actual face now that he no longer had his mask he depended upon as a child.

As he looked upon all the faces that stared at him, there was a mix of shock and confusion. But thankfully, none of them seemed to be filled with disgust or disdain for him. In fact, the one who he had thought would be the most upset with him came forward rather quickly, the one who he had done the killing in front of, the life he protected. “Could..could that possibly be you..? The one who saved me that rainy night?” she asked as she now stood in front of him, gazing up at the rather tall and bunky man he had now become.At his current full height, Havran now stood at a full eight foot in height.

“Good to see you again, Miss. I am sorry that you…had to see me in such a state all those years ago. The story behind it is long and complicated but I hope that-” he was cut off by a sudden hug from the white unicorn, the mare wrapping her arms around his waist as tightly as she could before looking back up at him. She was squeezing him so closely that he could feel everything. And she was pleasantly soft and smelled rather nice. “I never got the chance to thank you, my dear! Those ruffians could have done much worse than what they had planned if you hadn’t stepped in! Thank you so, so much!” she said as she thanked him over and over, not letting the man go for a good few minutes.

Everyone around just smiled as the crowd started gathering around him, welcoming him back and asking where he had been all these years. Even a few of the colts he would occasionally hang out with who had grown to be young stallions recognized him as well and came up to visit him. After seeing all these familiar faces welcoming him back, he could feel the five years of worry that had built up on his shoulders just crumble away into nothing. The man had felt this heavy feeling for so long, and now it was all falling away. In no point in his life had he felt such relief and happiness than in this moment.

–The Golden Oak Library–

Twilight sat in her library doing her usual studying while Barb was doing her own thing. She stared down at her books as Havran crossed her mind again just as it did everyday ever since he left without a word to her or Barb. It frustrated and saddened her greatly when it first happened. These days, it is enough to cause a pang in her heart each day. She buried her face in her hands as she let out a quiet whimper, a tear falling down her cheek and onto the parchment of the book she was reading.

However when she heard the door open, she wiped the tears away and turned to face who had entered the door. At first, the light blocked out his features with shadow as he ducked in to make his way inside. Once the door closed behind him, Twilight’s eyes adjusted back before opening wide to see the very person she was thinking about now. Though, he had certainly changed quite a bit in his absence. Twilight had certainly grown into a full mare herself. And her clothing hugged her curves showing just how much she had grown to. She stumbled back against ehr desk, her legs nearly giving out as she gazed upon Havran for the first time in years. Wondering what the commotion was, Barb came out of the next room herself. Upon seeing Havran, she dropped a gem she was eating in disbelief.

“Havran..? Is it really you after all these years…?” she asked as she approached him slowly at first before running to him and colliding with him as hard as she could, slamming her fists into his toso as hard as she could before looking up at him with tear filled eyes while whimpering and sobbing before going into a full on cry. Havran lowered his gaze as seeing Twilight in such a state hit him hard in his heart. “You…you left for so long! And without saying anything to us!” she screamed as she continued to pound on his torso. The hits not really doing much but he knew it was helping her relieve the long built up frustration.

Barb was quick to follow behind Twilight, the little dragon wrapping her arms around one of Havran’s legs as tight as her little arms could manage, sobbing as well as she nuzzled into his leg. She wasn’t as frustrated as Twilight was, but she still missed him all the same. Havran knelt down and wrapped them in a hug in eacha rm “I know saying sorry won’t be an easy fix for what I did. But I am sure that you know what happened. And I was scared of what might happen or who would hate me if those I cared for found out. I was scared of both of you hating me especially. The only two who I grew extremely close to when I was first here…”.

Twilight threw her arms around Havran’s neck along with Barb clutching to his chest, holding onto his shirt tightly as she shook her head “You did what you thought was right in a critical moment! Who knows what would have happened if you weren’t there!” said the little dragon. Havran held them both close as he too was fighting the urge to tear up. EVen after all this time, they still don’t blame him for what he did. And after hearing these words from these two, the guilt was finally set free from his soul. It no longer bothered him anymore now that the constant fear of being rejected was now no more.

Havran squeezed his two companions closer to his form “Thank you..so much. Both of you. I have missed you two so, so much…” his whispered. They stayed like that together again for what felt like an eternity. Twilight’s heart now felt no more pain since she got her frustrations out, and the fact that her closest friend had come back to her. It was a good day for Havran. All thanks to Princess Luna who had given him that little nudge he needed to make things right. The next time he saw her, he was going to make her the best batch of cooking he could ever make. She deserved at least that much from him after that.

Author's Note

Life isn't so bad for the wizard now~. He can finally move ahead with no doubts now.

May the darkness grant you peace.