Pete Powell's Life as a Pony, and Beyond

This was the one he was waiting for. Pete sat at the bed side of Rainbow Dash, fastest mare in Equestria, former captain of the Wonderbolts, and his wife. He'd tucked a tired Luna into bed with an also tired Pinkie Pie and come right back to Rainbow's room. She was the one he'd been waiting for, and he wasn't going to miss the moment she woke up. When sleep finally came to take him, he crawled into the bed with his wife and held her like he had when they were in the human world. The scene for the next several days was the same. Pete would wake up in the morning and shower at record speeds, take his small breakfast in the room, and continue waiting. All his meals, sleeping, time really, was in that room. He didn't leave if he could help it, and no one bothered him over it.

Occasionally Luna would stop by, about once a day, to see how he was doing and to check on Rainbow's progress. She assured him that several days to a week was normal, and Pete took that in stride. The princess was actually amazed to find a new light in Pete's eyes. The man had every confidence in her opinion, and was overly positive that Rainbow would awaken when she was ready.

“She was never that good with mornings,” Pete chuckled, a smirk on his face. “She'll get up when she's ready, and not a moment before.”

If this was any other situation, Luna might have found his bravado depressing, however, she knew full well that Rainbow was on the road to recovery and instead shared in Pete's good cheer. The man was excited, like a child on Christmas. Food and toilet breaks didn't mean anything when the time would soon come to open a great gift, except this was love, so the feeling was intensified by millions. Pete could hardly wait for Rainbow to be back, to hear her voice, feel the caress of the tip of her wings on his face. Yet he would wait, as long as it took.

Near the end of the week, Discord came to visit. He informed the captain that Fluttershy had finally fully recovered and was at that moment speaking with Pinkie and Luna. Pete congratulated the draconequus, who responded with a magically summoned toast.

“To the return of old loves,” he said, passing the human a glass.

“A rather interesting new lease on life,” Pete said, raising his glass in toast.

Discord tapped his glass to Pete's and the pair downed the liquid. It was sweet, but fiery with alcohol. The human shuddered and Discord laughed.

“That reminds me,” the amalgamated god said, “Spike stopped in a couple days ago.”

Pete raised a brow. “Oh?”

“Yes. It seems that he and Rarity have been talking quite a bit. When she died he was only a touch bigger than a pony, but now he's a mountain.”

“I guess there's going to be something to work out there, huh?”

Discord shrugged, “They'll figure it out. There's something more important though. The Orb of Paradoxis. I said I would wait until you had found them all, and now you have.”

“As soon as Rainbow is up and going we'll go.”

“I figured as much, which is why I'm here. Why not bring them all along?”

“I thought that was the plan,” Pete chuckled.

“Perhaps, but I've had a rather interesting idea. The Orb of Paradoxis is protected by some fairly powerful enchantments... but full grown dragons are nearly immune to magic.”

“You're suggesting Spike fly us over to the orb and save everyone some time and frustration.”

“Exactly!”

Pete sighed deeply, “I'll go talk to him then. Where is he?”

“Aren't you waiting here for Rainbow Dash to wake up?”

“Spike could fly away any time,” Pete said, rubbing the back of his neck, “I need to talk to him before he decides to leave.”

“True,” Discord said, snapping his claw, “He and Rarity are out in the East garden.”

Pete raised a brow, “The big open one?”

Discord smirked, “Why do you think it's so barren?”

Pete smirked and Discord, then snapped his fingers, teleporting to the garden. He landed on his feet with a light thump, and looked around. It was hard to miss the giant purple and green dragon, but Rarity wasn't in obvious view. It took Pete a second to realize that Spike was slightly curled around her, his face pointed down. He hoped the dragon knew how to whisper at that distance and still be audible.

Pete moved toward Spike at a casual pace, the dragon looking up, his slit eyes contracting as he locked onto the approaching figure. Slowly the eyes relaxed, and Spike uncurled himself enough to reveal the white unicorn hidden inside his vast form. Rarity looked at Spike, confused, then at the opening he'd just made. She saw Pete walking towards them and smiled as he came close. The human looked the two over for a minute, then laughed.

“Sex is going to be awkward,” he said smiling.

Rarity blushed and Spike just shook his head. “Please, Pete. Its been thousands of years,” the dragon said, his voice indeed near a whisper, “Are you going to continue that joke?”

“Until you learn how to be about the size of a pony, yes. Last I saw you, you made my current form look a bit small. Now though...?”

“Pete, please,” Rarity said, shaking her head, “We were in the middle of a very important discussion.”

“I had a feeling that was the case, but I had something I needed to ask.”

“And what's that, darling?”

“Actually,” Pete looked up at Spike, “I needed to ask him.”

The dragon raised a giant scaly brow. “Oh?”

Pete gave a short summation of Discord's plan for him and Fluttershy, and the Orb of Paradoxis. “Basically,” he concluded, “there's a lot of magic crap between here and there, and it would help us all if you gave us a ride.”

Spike let out a low chuckle, “And my other option is what? Miss seeing Fluttershy turn into a goddess? If I'd known about this sooner I'd have offered to take you all.”

Pete chuckled as well, “I was only half thinking that being away from ponies had made you more dragon-like, I figured you'd help but it couldn't hurt to play the emotional card.”

Rarity spoke up then, “And I guess by 'us' you mean those of us that have returned?”

“Yeah. Probably the day after Rainbow comes to we'll head off.” Pete paused for a moment. “Speaking of, I should probably get back to her. I'll let you know when she's up so we can start preparing.”

Spike only nodded in response, and Pete snapped his fingers, teleporting to the door to Rainbow Dash's room. He opened the door to find things almost exactly as he left thing, the cyan mare asleep, and Discord floating nearby. He told the chaos god that Spike would take them to the orb, and the draconequus left with a fat smile on his face. This left Pete alone with Rainbow, and his thoughts.

“After all this is over, when you're back … what are we going to do?” He pondered aloud.

It was another two days before Rainbow Dash woke up. First she groaned, alerting Pete, when she started to stretch out, and her breathing picked up pace, he sat forward in his chair. Slowly, she stirred to consciousness, her wings expanding and curling, hooves rotating the air as she popped her extremities. Lastly, she yawned and rolled over, eyes half open and a smile on her lips.

“Hey,” she whispered.

“Hey,” Pete whispered back, half chuckling, and ran a hand down her face. “Been a while.”

Rainbow chuckled, “So I heard.”

“How are you feeling? Everything on right?”

Once more Rainbow chuckled, but this time with a bit of throat in it, and leaned forward. Wrapping her forelegs around Pete's neck she pulled her face close to his and whispered, “Why don't you find out?”

Pete simply smiled and kissed his mare's lips, sliding his own hands around her sides and to her back. He slowly rubbed under her wings and down to her flanks, finally getting a grip on them and picking her out of the bed and onto his lap in the chair. Rainbow giggled into the kiss as she was lifted, and slowly broke it once they were both in the chair. The two sat there for several minutes, looking into each other's eyes. Tears slowly filling Pete's as he internally realized that, at one point, he thought he would never see those magenta orbs again.

Rainbow responded by nuzzling his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. Pete wrapped his arms around her fully, hugging her tightly, and sighed with peace. He was content in this moment, a brief mental reprieve.

“I know about Pinkie, and Luna,” Dash whispered into Pete's ear.

He tensed at the words, “I can explain...”

“You don't need to,” she said calmly, nuzzling his neck again, “I understand actually.”

Pete was shocked. “You do?”

“Duh. I kinda had my eye on Pinkie too, but we were married so...” She shrugged in Pete's arms. “Luna though,” Dash chuckled and pulled back, smiling at Pete, “That's just impressive.”

Pete blushed, “I-I thought you'd be pissed...”

“Pissed? Are you kidding?! You chose me over one of the princesses, one of the GODDESSES of Equestria! Sure, you two are together now, but we're a herd so she's also kinda with me too, so it's like... I'm not mad! That's crazy! It's amazing! I actually wouldn't have thought you had it in you to snag a princess.”

Pete laughed sardonically, “Oh thanks.”

Rainbow pulled a hoof back and hit him in the shoulder, “You know what I mean!”

The day continued like that, the couple locked away in the room alone, until noon when Luna arrived for her midday check up.

“Rainbow!” She shouted opening the door to find the pair in bed, Rainbow Dash on top of Pete, the human gently preening her wings.

“Hey, Luna,” the pegasus responded, her eyes still unfocused as her mate carefully moved through her feathers.

“How long have you been awake?” Luna asked, distress clear in her voice.

“Since early this morning,” Pete replied, smoothing over Dash's wing with his palm, signaling he was done.

“And neither of you thought to come get me?”

The pair looked at each other, then simultaneously responded, “Nah.”

The regal princess slammed her face into her palm and grumbled a bit. Once the two on the bed finished giggling at her response, she stepped over and worked her magic on Rainbow. The scan came up clean, everything in place and functioning, and she withdrew from the room. Of course it was less than ten minutes later that Pinkie exploded through the door and bound into bed with the couple, wiggling her way between them like a child would her parents.

“DASHIE!” the pink mare shouted and hugged her friend.

Rainbow let out a half choked chuckle and hugged back. “Hey Pinkie,” she grunted, “Um, can't … breathe.”

“Whoopsie! Sorry about that! It's just been SOOOOOO LONG!”

“Yeah, a couple thousand years,” Dash replied, catching her breath.

With the introduction of the party pony the day's calm chatting was replaced with more uproarious talks. Pinkie suggested on at least six different occasions that there should be a party, which was declined by both Pete and Rainbow Dash. Pinkie didn't relent though until Pete brought up the news about Fluttershy and Discord, telling the pair about the plans to go find the Orb of Paradoxis the next day. Which in turn reminded Pete that he had to go speak with Spike and tell the dragon that it would be time to head off the next day.

While Pete headed off to talk to Spike, Pinkie and Rainbow went off to let the athletic pegasus stretch her wings once more. The day concluded in Pete's room as usual, but with Rainbow now added to the pile of females on his bed. Something he commented on as he laid down, Pinkie to his left, Luna his right, and Rainbow on top with her wings spread across the other two.

“This … has gotten absolutely ridiculous,” he said aloud to the group.

“Well,” Luna replied, thoughtfully, “It IS a bit strange, but you were the one that insisted I be here.”

“That … is a damn good point. Anyone care to enlighten me what I did that got me here? I could make a fortune writing a self help book that guarantees you end up with three women.”

Luna only sighed. “Few would be interested in that sort of book, considering that most herds are larger than ours. A three to one ratio of females to male isn't unheard of. Now, if there were four of us that would be something.”

Pete thought to Sunstreak and chuckled worriedly. “Yeah...”

It was midnight and most of Canterlot castle stood silent. Except for Sunstreak, who was walking the halls briskly. Her initial plan had been ruined, Pete and Rainbow Dash were back together and she knew that someone as humble as he wouldn't take yet another mare. He was already uncertain with three, he'd been worried with just the one several thousand years ago! She huffed in anger as she made her way to the entrance of the castle, ready to leave for the last time. She was done being a princess and, honestly, had no desire to return to her homeland. There was no pony waiting for her there, no family, no friends.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she practically slammed into another pony, the pair of them letting out a small shout as they fell to the ground. The stallion was a light gray, pegasus, wearing night guard armor. He stood up and offered a hoof to the former princess.

“Sorry,” he half mumbled.

“It was my fault,” she replied, taking his hoof and standing up, “I wasn't paying attention.”

The stallion only nodded at first. “Um, shouldn't you be asleep? It's kinda late...” he said after a moment.

“I was just on my way out.”

“It's a little dark to be traveling don't you think?”

“I'd rather leave under the cover of night than be shamed by tomorrow.”

“What's wrong?”

Sunstreak just shook her head. “Nothing for you to worry about,” she said sadly.

The stallion was about to respond when a shout came from down the hall. The pair of pegasi looked and saw another night guard get tossed aside, followed by Shimmering Gale coming around the corner at a full gallop, her horn ablaze with magic. When she saw Sunstreak her mind filled with anger and she fired another blast of force at the other former princess. The gray stallion moved first, however, and took the brunt of the shot in the chest, propelling them both backward into a wall. Shimmering Gale didn't have time to inspect the pair, her prison break already had enough guards following her.

Sunstreak was still in a light daze until the groans of the stallion on top of her brought her to reality. Quickly she pushed him off her and inspected him. His armor was bent in, she couldn't get it off, and there was some blood. His eyes were rolled into the back of his head and his helmet had fallen off when he moved. Panic set in. Sunstreak shouted for help, but she didn't hear any hooves close by.

“Don't die, you hear me?!” She shouted at the half conscious stallion in her hooves. “I don't even know your name, so you can't die.”

The next morning Pete was pacing the audience chamber, his dark colored magic aura in full swing as he moved. Rainbow and Pinkie sat in the corner as Celestia told him and Luna about Shimmering Gale's prison break. Several guards had been injured, a few to a near lethal point. She had been apprehended at the main gate, which closed when the sun went down, and was currently in a room where magic was dampened considerably.

“I should have killed her,” Pete growled as he paced.

“Night Breeze was one of the guards most heavily injured,” Celestia said almost detached.

Luna looked shocked, but Pete's snarl only grew.

“Fucking bitch,” he spat, positively fuming with rage.

“Pete, calm down,” Luna said sternly, “You couldn't have foreseen her escaping our dungeon. No one has done that, ever.”

“Yeah, how'd she do that exactly?”

“We apparently missed a few of her loyalists. One of which managed to sneak into the dungeon and free her,” Celestia explained. “Night Breeze was hit as Shimmering Gale made her way to the entrance. Though the blast was meant for Sunstreak.”

Pete stopped and looked up. “Sunstreak?”

Celestia nodded. “She was going to leave under cover of night, but, according to her, she bumped into Night Breeze just before Shimmering Gale appeared. Gale was aiming for Sunstreak, but Night Breeze got in the way. Sunstreak hasn't moved from his side since we put him in the infirmary.”

Pete then set off, his black smoke vanishing like the magic that it was as he did. Rainbow moved to follow him, but Luna stopped her. The mare looked up at the woman defiantly, but Luna merely shook her head. The princess had been told what had happened between Pete and Sunstreak when the man had brought the former princess in unconscious. This was something, Luna figured, that Pete needed to deal with himself. Silently, Luna amended her plan to include the white pegasus as part of their herd.

Once outside the audience chamber Pete simply teleported to the infirmary, briefly wondering how he had not blown a gasket at having to walk everywhere for two hundred years. He opened the door and found, as Celestia had said, Sunstreak, half asleep, next to Night Breeze. The gray stallion was still unconscious, but Pete's own magical investigation told him it wouldn't be much longer. His body was in a magically induced sleep, probably put in it by the doctors judging by the magic that laced through his form and mended his wounds. The captain quietly stepped forward to the blond maned pegasus' side.

“I am not moving,” she half whispered.

“I didn't come here to make you,” Pete replied.

“Why are you here?” Sunstreak asked, not looking away from Night Breeze's form.

“I came to talk about what we started up on the parapet about a week ago.”

Sunstreak laughed bitterly. “Why?”

“Because I told you that I would listen. I'm not one to casually lie about something so important.” Sunstreak remained silent. “His name is Night Breeze,” Pete said, finally getting Sunstreak to look at him, “He was born here in Canterlot. Never made any friends, to afraid that they would mock him. You see, he was always enveloped in his own sort of world... but I think it would be best if he told you the specifics.”

“Why bring it up then?”

Pete shrugged. “Maybe a light blue birdie told me about you. Maybe I remember things from being inside him.”

Sunstreak's eyes went wide, “You were...”

Pete nodded, “Night Breeze was my vessel as you were Rainbow's. And maybe, just maybe, I noticed some similarities between you and he.”

The blond pegasus looked back at the stallion, “And maybe, just maybe … I've noticed some similarities between him and you.”

“Well then,” Pete smiled, “I guess this is good bye.”

“Good bye?”

“Yeah. Me and the others are going to make a trip, and then … well, I hadn't planned on sticking around Canterlot, and I'm fairly sure the others will come with me.”

“Where will you go then?”

Pete turned around and started to leave. “Dunno, but when we get settled in, I'll send you a letter. Maybe the two of you could come visit.”

Sunstreak turned and smirked, “If we work out. Or maybe I'll come by myself.”

“Fine,” Pete laughed, “If you don't work out, that'll be just fine, but I've got a feeling about this. Celestia works in mysterious ways.”

Once Pete had left Sunstreak turned herself back to Night Breeze and continued to wait. As he walked back to the audience chamber, Pete couldn't help but draw parallels between what she was doing, and what he had just done for Dash. That was hardly where the two intersected either. It did in fact seem that Celestia moved in very mysterious ways. Assuming she could be blamed for this.

With that side trip over, Pete returned to the throne room, assured everyone that his dander had gone down, and that it was time to make the trip. Everypony going along knew what was going to happen, except Fluttershy. The shy pegasus had only been told they were going to get the Orb of Paradoxis and that it was a significant archaeological discovery. The group, consisting of Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Discord, filed out into the large garden where Spike was waiting for them. Pete's herd gave Luna a hug filled farewell, and told her they would be back shortly, as Fluttershy, Rarity, and Discord climbed onto the back of the purple dragon. Once the group was on Spike took off into the air, Discord next to the dragon's ear, directing him to their destination.

They flew towards the mountains that separated Equestria from the Crystal Empire, and about then things began to get strange. The seasons changed from freezing cold with snow, to blistering hot, to mild climates that seemed more like spring. Below then the mountains followed suit, the snow melting, flowers blooming, and then dying in the next flurry of snow. Then there came several strange bouts of turbulence, which Pete identified to the others as magical barriers being destroyed as Spike sailed through them, his draconic scales immune to the charms that protected the place. Finally, they came to a stop at the mouth of a cave that seemed like it was inside of a jungle rather than atop a frozen peak. The group dismounted and looked around.

“I'm guessing some kind of visibility barrier keeps this place from sticking out?” Pete asked no one in particular.

“On top of that there's a forgetfulness charm on the place. If you don't recognize what's happening and break the spell, you'll wander these mountains wondering what you came here for til you die,” Discord said, half sad. “Come on, the orb's in the cave.”

They followed him inside, Spike only managing to get his head inside the cave mouth, and Rarity deciding to stay back with him. In front of them was a small alter, and in the middle, the Orb of Paradoxis. It was simple, a sphere about the size of a baseball, pure silver, with a symbol carved on the front. The symbol, Pete recognized, was known as the stigmata of chaos, a sign that only those with great powers over discord could bear. The creature named Discord floated forward and removed the Orb with his claw.

“Um, now what?” Fluttershy asked, noticing that she was the only one that followed Discord to the alter.

“Fluttershy,” Discord said quietly, “We came here for this orb for a reason.” He turned around and faced the yellow pegasus, crouching onto one knee and holding the orb out to her. “When you died all those years ago I tried to tell myself that it was just … nature. There was nothing I could do, nothing I could have done, it was just to be. I spent a very long time remembering all the good things we did, but it just made it hurt more.”

“Discord...”

“I'm not done,” he said to her, placing a finger on her lips to quiet her. “You see, as I remembered those times I realized that I wanted them back. More than anything in all the world, and when I realized that I realized that I COULD have done something. This,” he held the orb up to her eyes, “With the Orb of Paradoxis, the sealed power of my father, I could have saved you. More than that … I could have made you immortal.”

Fluttershy's eyes went wide and she stepped back. “W-why?”

Discord scooted forward on his knees to follow her, “Fluttershy … I love you. Not as a friend but as more. I want you to be by my side for eternity. While you were away I almost slipped so, so many times, and it got harder with each passing day. I know that it seems like a very weak excuse, but … the orb won't just make you immortal, it will give you powers.”

“I don't really want powers...”

“I know you don't, and you won't have to use them, I promise. You won't even need them really, magical powers are just kind of a package deal with immortality. The point, however, is that the powers won't strictly be chaotic. They change depending on who they're given to.” Discord paused for a long time, and looked Fluttershy in the eyes, a slow blush creeping up on the draconequus' cheeks. “Fluttershy, I want you to marry me. More than that, I want you to literally be at my side forever. … I want you to be the harmony to my discord.”

Pete lost it at that line. The chamber echoed with laughter as he practically fell over. “'The harmony to my discord?” He shouted through his laughter.

Rarity retorted with a small rock to the human's back. “Be quiet you! That was a beautiful line!”

Rainbow trotted over to Pete. “Dude, that was cheesy, but c'mon. Laughing during a wedding proposal?”

“I couldn't help it,” Pete struggled not to laugh, “It sounds so bad.”

“And what would you have said?” Discord shouted with a brow raised.

Pete slowly stood up, “I probably would have stopped at 'marry me.'”

Rainbow raised her own eye brows. “Oh really? So then you didn't say that you wanted to 'be the wind beneath' my wings when you proposed to me?”

The man quickly turned red and averted his gaze. “Uh … c-carry on. Ignore the idiot in the peanut gallery.”

Discord sighed, and turned his attention back to Fluttershy. “What do you say? Please, say yes. I .. I can't bear to lose you again.”

Fluttershy stood still for a long time, she looked in Discord's emotion filled eyes. She knew he was telling the truth, her passing had almost ruined him. She was scared though.

“W-will it … hurt?” She asked, hiding her face behind her mane.

“Not at all, I swear.”

Now she stared at the orb. She was also scared of dying again, as anyone would be, this was a way out, but... She looked back at her friends. Immortality would mean losing them forever. Then, a thought filled her mind, a strange thought about the world. She had spent years as an element of harmony, things like balance in the world came naturally after a time. This seemingly errant thought made her realize something, every god of chaos had been alone. Paradoxis had been the definition of evil, and Discord had only sealed him away to take his father's power. Paradoxis had created Discord to not be alone, and when Discord came to power he was all alone as well. Something came to her mind, that maybe that loneliness was what made them that way. There was no physical form of harmony for them to be with, no balance to them, no one that could match their power of chaos pound for pound in the opposite element.

“I'll do it,” Fluttershy said, “I … I think you need me.” She looked at Discord, and the draconequus smiled.

“More than you could ever know.”

For a moment the orb glowed bright in Discord's claw, then the light emitted from it blinded the room. Even Spike recoiled at the intensity. When it faded away, Fluttershy was still there, seemingly unchanged. The only difference was a light glow around her that caused her to eep and flail around for a moment trying to shake it off.

“We'll work on that,” Discord said with a chuckle.

Fluttershy blushed and nodded, “Oh, okay. Umm, how long until I stop … glowing?”

Discord stroked his sliver of a beard. “That depends on how long it takes you to start controlling your powers. You don't need to use them, but if you want the glowing to stop you're going to have to learn how to suppress them.”

“A-actually, I-I think it would be best if I … learned how to … use them too... if that's okay.”

Discord laughed and smiled, “More than okay, mi amor.”

Fluttershy looked confused. “I'm not Cadence...”

Pete laughed again. “It's Spanish for 'my love.' Cadence's name was a play on words in my world. Discord, leave the fourth wall alone.”

Discord rolled his eyes and sighed. “I thank you all for being here, I'll be sure to track you all down for the wedding as well, but for now...”

There was a snap and suddenly they were all back in Canterlot, Spike included. They looked around, the sun was low in the sky so clearly it had all happened, and Fluttershy was missing from their group.

“I wouldn't worry about it darlings,” Rarity said, “They have a lot to talk about now, and Pete was being a bit rude.”

“Well he was being super cheesy!”

Pinkie bounced up onto Pete's chest, putting her hooves over his shoulders, and shouted in his face, “Did he look like cheddar to you!?”

“No, swiss.” He replied with a completely straight face.

Pinkie Pie tried to hold it in, but she failed, laughing hard and hugging the man tightly. Pete hugged her back and looked at the group. “So I was being a little out of line. I'll admit it, but can you blame me? That whole scene was just … too perfect.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Yup, I can see why I always thought Pinkie would fit in now. You're both weird.”

“Well, now that that's settled,” Rarity began, then climbed back up onto Spike. “I think it's about time we said farewell also.”

“Where are you going?” Pinkie yelled up to her.

“Rarity decide to move in with me,” Spike said, obviously a bit shy at the idea. “My cave is near a fair sized city, and with all the stuff I've got in there she'll hardly be wanting.”

“Even if you didn't have all that stuff, you'd still by my Spikey-wikey. We'd just have to work something else out. Don't worry, dears. I've got it all planned out.”

With some more good bye's to Rarity and Spike, Pete turned his attention to the two mares left with him. Taking a deep breath, he decided it was time to discuss what they would be doing.

“So, look... I have this idea.” He started out slowly.

“What sort of idea?” Rainbow asked.

“Well, I think that, considering how things are, it would be best if we didn't live right out in the open.”

“You want to do here what we did back in your world. Live in a nice place away from everyone else.”

Pete nodded. “Basically.”

“I think it's a wonderful idea.” The three turned around to see Luna stepping out onto the lawn. “I might have a little more to add to it, though not right at first. Let's go inside and we can talk it over.”

Eventually, the herd settled on Luna's idea, and they left Canterlot a week later. Pete and Luna put their magic to use in a clearing a ways away from Ponyville, which hadn't grown much in the two thousand year interval. They built a nice two story house and got furnishings from Ponyville in secret. Once everything was set up, a garden built and ready, the house finished, plumbing installed, Pete cast one last spell. Much like the one that had housed the orb of Paradoxis, it shielded their home from sight, mind, magic, and might. No one would ever think to find it, and reinforced with Luna's power, even Celestia would have a hard time finding it, even knowing where it was. Pete settled in with his new family, safe, secure, content.