Spirit of Winter 16: Return Home.

>Ten minutes.
>You’ve been pacing atop of the only real hill for miles for so long, that vapors have started to rise from the dirt.
>It’s not that you’re nervous.  You’re just… Restless…
>Once you return you’ll be whole again.  It’ll all be yours and everything will finally come to an end.
>Five minutes
>You strain your hand and arm slightly, pulling as much water out of the air as you can.  It takes even more effort to bend the water in a way that it will become reflective.
>It’s a bit small but this little mirror will have to do for now.
>You have to say that the bear skin goes well with your clothes.  The cotton they found took the blue and gray dye well and it felt nice an airy yet kept you cool.
>You want to be dressed to kill for your little reunion with Celestia and Luna. Everything must be in order.
>One minute.
>’It’s nearly time.’
>Indeed.
>’You’ve exceeded my expectations and have proven suitable for me.’
>What?
>You feel your left arm reaching for the ground, followed by the bending of your knee.
>What is this?
>Your left hand takes a rough stone into your palm and is followed by your right.  A small rune is carved onto the rough surface.
>What are you doing!?
>The rune beings to glow and a fine gray mist begin to waft from your temples.  Your head feels extremely heavy, as if it has been filled with concrete.
>’Enjoy it while you can.’
>The last second of your exile passes after the stone leaves your hand and falls to the ground.  Once it has passes your entire body is enveloped in a white light.
>The feeling is incredible.  It’s nothing like before; it’s not a numb feeling.  The feelings is warmth, pure warmth.
>It would cause your heart to sink if it wasn’t so quick.
>The ground becomes hard and smooth bellow your knees.  The warm spring air chases away the cold.
>Your eyes open and you look up.
>It’s over, It’s finally over.

----------

>Celestia had begun with initial formalities.  The greeting of immortals followed by your formal release.
>Your exile seemed as if it had gone by so fast.  You’re still exhausted from it all; but it seemed as if only a few months had passed before it was over.
>Through all of Celestia speech there was a little mouse that kept you distracted.  A little purple mouse who shiftined back and forth and glancing at Celestia and then to you.
>”From here on out Lord Winter, we return to thee, thy full power and life essence.”
>A blue light shoots from Celestias horn and hits your chest.  It makes you stagger back and fall to your knees.
>You smile.  It feels incredible; you never realized how hollow you were until now.
>You take a deep breath.
>”Welcome Spirit Lord Anonymous.”
>The tips of your foot slips across the stone floor as you bolt forward.  You lock eyes with her.
>She immediately realizes what is happening.  She does the same and runs to you.
Twilight!
>”Anon!”
>Twilight flies from the ground and into your arms.
>She’s so warm.
>Your hold her by her waist and squeeze her tighter than you ever have before.
>She has her hooves around your neck and is holding you so hard, you’d suffocate if you had to breathe.  You don’t care anyways, as long as this moment never ends, you’ll never take another breath.
>For a second Twilight loosens her grip on you and looks you in the eyes.
>”Welcome home.”
>For a few moments you just look into Twilights eyes.
>Home.  Like you said before, this place is your home.  And it feels wonderful to be back.
>”Are you two going to stay like that forever.”
>Rainbow Dash is hovering over you crinkling her nose.
>”Or do you want us to get a room for you two?”
Does a throne room count?
>She gags again.
>"And what the buck are you wearing?  Is that somep0nys skin?!"
>You look down and see that you're wearing what looks like bear fur and some kind of military uniform.
I'm not sure.
>"UGH!  That's so disgusting."
Says you...  I uh, killed a bear, that... Was attacking me as I was camped by a river, living off fish...  And so I skinned it as a sign of my victory!  Hahaha!
>You at Celestia who appears to be very interested in your answer.  You don't really blame her.
Human tradition, we only do it for the mightiest of foes.  I wish I didn't have to do it, but it was all I could do to keep the other bears away hahaha!

>You spend a few more minutes talking about how humans have become civilized and have completely given up on eating meat, despite being omnivores.  They bought it.
>Looking around Twilight and see Applejack along with Rarity, Pinkie and... Flurrershy!  Yeah.
>Applejack grins.
>”You still owe me for when you ditched mah flank that night.  Soon as we get back ta Ponyville you and I are going to have a couple ah rounds.”
>”If I may interrupt Lord Anonymous.”
>It’s Luna
>”Your guard has been contacted and they have been posted for when you need them.  I know you’re still uncomfortable with some of the perks of your status but we wish for you to know that their presence will be required for future diplomatic visits.”
I’ll contact Druzhin when I need him.  For now I plan to just relax for a while.  I also see that you’ve been working on your prose since I’ve been away.
>”Oh!  Why yes, w- I have.  I thank you for noticing.”
It’s about dinner time now right?
>”We can have our personal chefs prepare you something if you wish.”
There’s just one thing I need to ask you Luna.
>…
Do you keep vodka on hand?

----------

>The food you had through the day was the best you’ve had in two years.  Hell the best you’ve ever had.  The drink, fucking immaculate.
>You basically spent most of the night drinking and eating.
>Now you're stumbling with Twilight and the rest to the train station.  At first you wanted to spend the night in the Castle; but Twilight told you she had been waiting a week for today and spent all her time away from Ponyville in the Castle.
>You felt as guilty as you were smashed.
Looooord help me, aaaaah can't change!!
>”Are you sure you’re alright?”
>Twilight looks up at you with a concerned look on her face.  She tried to drink a little, but was immediately turned off to it.
>”AH! He’s ahlright!  Bucking light weight!”
>Applejack stumbles on behind you with Rarity and Fluttershy supporting her.
Freeeeebirds can’t change!!
>You step onto the platform to find that there is no train to be seen.
>”D-did we miss the train?  Oh this isn’t good, there isn’t supposed to be another until the morning…
>”It appears so, I suppose we’ll just have to return to the castle.”
>There was something about Rarity’s tone that told you she wasn’t exactly upset about staying another night in the Castle.
Ha!  Don’, don’ worry about it, I’ve got this…  I- I…  Something…
>You  reach into your pocket and take out a little piece of paper and a pen.
>On it you write: Missed Train, need to go to Ponyville, Canterlot Train Station, Platform number eight.
>You’re pretty sure you spelt almost every word wrong, but that’s not your problem.  The ink quickly disappears and after a few seconds the word: “As you wish” appear.
>Twilight is busy talking with the others you see the lights of a train in the distance.  You don’t really need any other indication to tell you that it’s the train you came to Canterlot in.
Hey, it’s-
>”I guess I’ll just have to send Spike a letter.”
Hey tha trainsss here.
>Everyone looks over at the gray train coming into the station.
>”Anon, that’s not the train to Ponyville.”
>Your big hulking beast of a train comes to a halt on the platform farthest from where you’re standing.  Like last time the door the very compartment opens and out steps your guard.
>Now everyone is staring at what is happening on the other end of the platforms.
No do you wants to go home errr no?
>From across the platforms one of your guards notices you.
>“My lord?”
Las go.
>You jump off the platform and land flat on your face hitting your head on the steel rail with an audible crack.
>”Anon!”
>Twilight jumps off the platform and runs to your side.  Water is seeping from your nose and ears like blood.
>”Oh Celestia are you alright?!”
Ergh, yeah I’ll be fine.
>”Here let me help.”
>Twilights horn begins to glow and you can feel your head start to burn.
Ah fuck!
>”Hold still I’m almost done.”
>You hear a crunching noise from the inside of your head.  You must have cracked your skull pretty bad.
>”There.  Feel better?”
Yeah.
>”My Lord!”
>You look up and see three of your guards including Druzhin.  With them is a unicorn wearing a saddle bag.
>All four of them leap down and rush to you, knocking Twilight of their way in the process.
>The sound of her screaming is enough to sober you up.
Hey! Why don’t you fucks watch where you’re going!
>You push the nurse out of the way and rush to Twilight.
>She looks up with her eyes full of tears.
Holy shit!  What happened?
>”Nothing just nicked my horn.”
Lemme see.
>”Anon n- AH!~
>You grab Twilights horn and look it over.
Are you sure you didn’t chip it or anything.
>”I’m  sURE!”
>Twilight face turns bright read as you start to rub her horn.
Jesus fuck.  Druzhin, can you please consider who you’re just tossing to the side?
>”My apologies Lord Anonymous.”
Go get some valets or something to help these ladies on the train.
>”Of course my lord.”
>Your guards get off the tracks leaving you with Twilights horn still in your hand.
>Look back over at her to see that she panting heavily and has a bit of drool running down her cheek.
Ah sorry!
>Her eyes snap open as soon as you take your hand off.
>”Wh-why did you stop?”
Was I not supposed to?
>”I just… It- just, um…
>She’s absolutely beet red.
Maybe we should just get on the train and get to bed.
>O-okay.”

----------

>Everp0ny but Twilight was asleep.  You showed them around the various compartments, some had individual rooms that could serve as a place for guest to stay during a multi-day trip.
>Frankly if you put all the cars on your train together you’d have a small mansion.
>After that Applejack helped herself to the liquor you had on board and Rarity endeavored to sample some of the wine as well.
>After that everp0ny passed out from the all the alcohol.
>Now it’s just you an Twilight, who is sitting at the table in your compartment reading one of your books.
>You pour yourself some water to help the hangover you’re going to have in morning.
>Looking back you see Twilight has left.
>You really were hoping to talk her a little more before you went off to bed.
>You feel your heart sink a little until you hear something coming from the bedroom.
>Ooooh boy.
>You look through the cracked door to see Twilight looking into the wardrobe mirror.
>Is... Is she wearing a negligee?
>Hoooo fuck.
>You've never seen her wear any sort of clothing; as far as you knew Rarity was the only one who ever really wore clothes.
>As soon as you open the door Twilight nearly dies from shock.
>”Oh!  Sorry I- I was jus- I-!”
>She’s beet red again.
>”I was just trying this- I mean I was jus- um- getting ready for bed.”
>You raise an eyebrow.
>Twilight stutters more before running past you and out the door.  You’re able to catch her before she can leave the compartment, which just makes things worse.
>Now she’s on the floor crying.
>”I’m such an idiot!  I’m so sorry anon- Please- I’m just so sorry!  Please don't think I'm a weirdo!”
What are you sorry about?
>”I *sob*... I’m-.... You- My h-horn, I liked it when you... I- I JUST REALLY LIKE YOU OKAY!!”
>You’re not taken back by what she said.  Just her tone.
>”There’s a million reasons why!  Maybe because I’ve never had any stallion be so sweet to me!  Maybe because stallions think I’m weird and you don’t, or maybe because you're so smart.”
...
>”But you probably don’t like me, and you probably think mares are gross!  Maybe you just gave me that rose because you were guilty!  And I’m fine with all those things as long as you don’t hate me!
>You’re not sure what this is, but you something is coming up through the tips of your fingers.  It feels warmer than the summer day but at the same time it’s colder than any night you had spent on the ice.
>Twilight can’t even look you in the eyes anymore.  All she can do is look at the ground.
>”I just want you to be happy…  You’ve been in so much pain since you came to Equestria... Nop0ny deserves that... Especially you...  Ever sine you were banished... I’ve lost sleep thinking about you, and what you must be doing in cold darkness of the north... And I’ve gone through tomes these past two years seeing if I anything else could happen to you...  I just want you to be happy...  I don't want to see you hurting like you were those years ago...”
...
>...
>"I'm sorry... I'll just go-
Have I ever told you that you worry too much?
>”W-what?”
>You cut her off instantly with a kiss.
>Her eyes are like two deep purple moons when you look back at her until she returns the kiss and closes her eyes.
>You sit there with her for a few seconds, savoring the feeling, until you finally break off the kiss.
Twilight, when I was gone not a day or night went by where I didn’t think of you.  After every day passed I told myself I was one day closer to seeing you again.  I’m already happy Twilight, every ounce of pain I’ve gone through is worth I now that I’m here.
>”Anon!”
>She wraps her hooves around your neck like she did in the throne room.
>You both stay like that way for a few minutes before you break the silence.
I don’t think it’s a good idea tonight, but how about we use this little outfit of yours when were in Ponyville.  When we have a little privacy.  For now, let’s just get some sleep.
>Twilight loosen her grip and looks at you blushing.
O-okay...
>You take Twilight by the waist and carry her back into you bedroom.  Turning off the gas behind you, you promptly flop down on the bed.
>It’s not long before you both are asleep.

---------

>You feel something jerk your eyes open.
>It’s a headache.
>Gooodamn it.  Why do you drink so much?   Goddamn it.
>Twilight hooves are still around you, but she's loosened her grip enough to allow you to slip out of bed.
> You move silently out of the bedroom and into the sink near the living area.
>A nice cup of water is all you really can do for your headache. As far as you know ponies don't really have any sort of pain medicine. And if they did you probably couldn't take it.
>"Knock, knock."
>You look over to the door and to see Rarity poking her head in the door.
>"Up skulking about?"
Oh yes, I'm spying on everyp0ny making sure they aren't making any plots to overthrow me.
>Rarity giggles along with you.
So from what I gather you made Twilight some Lingerie. Not like I'm complaining or anything.
>Rarity giggles again.
>"Oh it's always fun to come up with something new, especially lingerie.
Well it's clear you know what you're doing. You must drive all the stallions wild in bed.
>"You act as if I've had a lot of stallions."
Pfff, mare like you probably has several restraining orders put out on some of the crazier ones.
>"Oh you flatter me."
>She giggles again.
>"I just wanted to check up on you to see if you're alright after you and Twilight confessed to each other."
Oh so you heard it?...
>"Dear, the engineer heard it."
>You sigh before turning around to refill your glass.
Ah shit.
>It slips out of your hands giving a loud crash as it shatters against the porcelain sink.
>You begin to pick of the pieces careful and put them in your palm
>"Anon... What going on?..."
>Twilight groggily comes walking into the living room.
Just broke this glass no big deal- AH! What the fuck!
>You drop all the glass in your palm back into the sink.
>Ooo that stings.
>You look down at you palm expecting to see it heal its self.
>...
The fuck?
>Your palm has been sliced completely open and is now dripping blood into the sink.
...
>...
What in the world?
>At the very bottom of the sink, the blood that is running off your hand is coming together.
>It swirls in a circle before coming together and forming what looks like a double sided "F"
>...
>"Anon? Are you alright?
>The wound seals itself before you can say anything. And all the blood flows back down the sink.
Yeah I'm fine... Jus- Just fine.