"Twilight, Twilight open your eyes!"
Twilight actually didn't recognize the voice at first. It took her a few moment to remember the source of it. "Spike…?"
Twilight opened her eyes, seeing the small purple dragon looking down at her, a mix of worry, relief, confusion, and joy all scrawled across his face.
"I-it's really you… It's really you!" Spike broke down crying, clinging to Twilight's wing like a wounded pup clinging to their mother. "I-I knew they were wrong Twilight, I told them you were still out there." Spike said softly.
Twilight didn't understand what he meant at first. Looking around, she realized she was back in her castle, in her bed. And from the dust over every visible surface, she realized she must have been gone for a very long time.
"It's alright Spike, I'm back." Twilight said, "Now," She said with a smile, "Is my number one assistant ready to take a leader?"
Spike nodded, trying to dry his eyes. "Okay… but where did you go? Why were you gone for so long?" He asked.
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions Spike, and I'll answer them as best I can, but first I need to contact Celestia." Twilight said. Spike didn't look thrilled to have to wait for answers, but he didn't argue. He picked up a quill and scroll.
If she hadn't been Twilight Sparkle, they would have called her mad and had her sectioned. But Twilight was notorious for rejecting things that couldn't be explained, and yet here she was, in the flesh after two years of being gone, trying to explain that she'd been sent to a logicless world through means she didn't understand.
The claim was wild, but the other three princesses were so overjoyed to have Twilight back at all that they were willing to hear the claim out.
"What do you propose we do about this Twilight?" Luna questioned, "If this realm is one of fantasy and shadows, perhaps it lays somewhere in the world of dreams, where I could-" Twilight cut her off, "No. Though Gregory House is a world of fantasy and nightmares, everything in it is real, horrifyingly so. It is my belief that it is a different world entirely, a separate dimension from our own that we've never come into contact with until now."
"And what of this fox creature you described?" Celestia asked, "Do you believe he was from this world as well?"
Twilight shook her head, "He described his own world to me. I believe that aside from Gregory House, the world beyond your mirror, and our own world, there are many, many others. Possibly more than we could ever count or map out. Multiple universes all existing at once with no idea of each other. I know I must sound mad, but I think I know a way to prove it."
"And what is that?" Cadence asked. "Discord." Twilight said, "He has made reference to many different realities on multiple occasions. If you recall, he once nearly sent an earth pony by the name of Tree Hugger to one such dimension. I believe he could use his powers to enter the realm of Gregory House."
"With all do respect Twilight, why would you want him to?" Cadence asked, "We all thought you were gone forever for so long, and you only managed to escape with the help of this fox creature. Why would you want to risk opening a door back to this world when it's possible that right now you're completely safe from it?"
Twilight sighed, "Because what if I'm not? More importantly, what if others are not? No one should be forced to go through that terrible place. But more than that…" Twilight looked up at them, "I have at least one friend I refuse to leave behind in that house."
"Poor fellow." Gregory said to the newest guest as they passed by Tails, who was cradling a flower pot containing a single green flower.
"Get away!" Tails hissed at them, "She's mine! I won't let you hurt my Cosmo! Away with you!"
"I don't have the heart to tell him." Gregory told the guest as they moved on. Tails waited until Gregory and the newbie were completely out of range before gently setting the flower that he knew full well was not Cosmo on the nearby table.
"How long do you think you can keep Gregory fooled?" Nekozombie asked through the wall. "As long as it takes." Tails said, smoothing down his fur, which he kept looking wild and feral in the presence of Gregory.
"So, how are you doing on those chains?" Tails asked. "I managed to unhinge them last night," Nekozombie said, "Thank you for the tools."
"Anything for a friend." Tails said with a yawn as he locked the door and went to bed.