Everen led his companions into town, a single destination in mind. As he cantered through town a bunch of ponies stopped and stared at the ragtag band that entered the village. They stared particularly at Sugar Heart and Pine the two of them standing out more than the others. When they reached Everen's front yard a shrill cry could be heard from the porch, and Frost leaped up and nearly toppled her son with a hug.
"Oh I'm so glad you're home son!" she shrieked excitedly, squeezing her foal tightly. "Who're these ponies?"
Everen went through a round of introductions as Blaze came out to discover the source of his wife's commotion. Everen hugged his father, and looked to his parents with a mixture of joy, sorrow, regret, and content.
"It's good to have you home again son." Blaze commented, smiling warmly.
"It's good to be home. I wish I could stay longer though." Everen said, to looks of inquiry from his parents. "I just came home to sort out a couple of things. And to find Tsui, is she here?"
"Yes, we thought you sent her home for whatever reason." Frost said, concern lining her face.
"It's a long story, one that I'd rather not go into now." Everen rubbed a forehoof nervously.
"Alright, come inside then, and I'd prefer it if you didn't bring your friends inside." Blaze requested, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "That's quite a large group you've brought with you, and I'm not sure I'd trust all of them right off the bat. I'd rather they stay out here."
"Yes sir, hope you all don't mind." Everen said, looking back at the ponies.
"Not at all, go ahead." Kari said, waving him to the door.
Everen followed his mother into their house. Frost brought him to the family room, where the baby dragon was found sleeping on a couch cushion.
"There she is." Everen sighed with relief, happy to see her again. "I'll leave her to her rest."
"You should get some rest too, it's late." Frost gazed into the stallions emerald eyes, her own begging him to stay.
"Alright, but I'll have to find my friends an inn to sleep at tonight." Everen stated heading back for the door.
"Okay, just be sure to come back here when you're done." she said putting a hoof on his shoulder.
"I will mom, I promise." Everen looked back into his mother's eyes, reassuring her.
Everen trotted back outside and then guided the others to the nearest inn. After acquiring rooms, they divided up and went upstairs, to call it a day. And Kari promised Everen to explain the situation with Lily to Pine tonight.
"Everen? Is that you?" came a familiar voice as he exited the inn. Everen turned to see Bliss and Libra trotting towards him.
"Oh hey Bliss, Libra. What's going on?" Everen asked more casually than he thought he could manage.
"How long have you been in town?" Libra questioned, staring at the unicorn.
"Just arrived, I'm going to sleep tonight and go find Lily tomorrow." Everen said, not looking at Bliss.
"Why not now?" Bliss inquired, glaring at Everen.
"Because Tsui is sleeping, and I have a feeling I'll need her when I go speak to Lily." the stallion explained.
Bliss intensified her glare. "Fine, but if you skip town before then, you'll be sorry."
Everen hid his fear, and looked into the mare's eyes. "I wouldn't do that. Lily needs me, more than I could've imagined. And I intend to be there for her."
"Good." Bliss nodded, satisfied with his response.
"I hope to see you around." Libra said, holding out a hoof.
"I hope so too." Everen took the hoof with his own, happy his friends seemed to be accepting him again.
Everen cantered back home and was served dinner, afterwards he went to bed, tired and exhausted after a long day.
Everen woke the next morning and cantered downstairs to find Tsui awake and looking around. When she saw Everen, she lit up with elation. Everen picked up her up, and climbed up onto his back.
"Alright, time to go see Lily." Everen cantered out the door, he went to her house to find that she wasn't there. He had a pretty good guess of where she went, and he trotted quickly to the lake. He saw her sitting under a tree, too lost in sadness to notice Everen.
"Hi, Lily." Everen spoke up when he was next to her.
Her eyes narrowed, her ears perked up, and she looked right at Everen, stunned. "E-Everen?" her eyes were red from crying.
"Yeah, I-I'm so, so sorry about what I did long ago. I was only trying to protect you, and now I realize my error. I was afraid of you getting hurt because, I would've blamed myself for it." Everen elucidated, his eyes becoming wet. "I know now that it doesn't matter how dangerous my life is. We'll be okay as long as we're together."
"I-I don't know, I don't want to be heartbroken again." Lily stuttered, not making eye contact.
"I promise, from this moment on, I will always stay faithful to you." Everen held a hoof to his chest.
Lily still seemed unsure, but then Tsunami popped up on top of Everen's head and looked straight at Lily. "Mommy!" she squeaked, causing the mare to gaze up at the dragon.
Lily's eyes softened, and she lunged forward, embracing Everen. Their lips connected, and they stood there for awhile before stepping back, simply gazing into each others eyes. Everen wiped the tears from her cheeks, and she did the same for him.
"I love you." Everen kissed Lily's cheek, nuzzling into her.
"I love you too." Lily replied, nuzzling his neck.
They laid down under the tree, relaxing into one another. After a couple hours passed they decided to get up and go back into town, to tell Libra Bliss and Cyrul. As well as Everen's new group of friends. They went to Libra's house first, to discover that he went out on a date with Bliss at the cafe. So they decided to visit Cyrulian next, cantering up to his small house.
*Knock knock knock*
"Ye-" Cyrulian stopped abruptly when he saw who was at his door.
"Hey Cyrul." Everen greeted the earth pony.
"Are you two back together?" he asked pointing at each of them.
"Yeah, we are." Everen answered, grinning widely.
"That's great! I'm so happy for you guys." he said, regret hidden in his eyes.
"You know, I know a mare that might just be your type." came a voice from behind the group. They turned to see Blaxe standing there, looking at Cyrul.
"And who would that be." Cyrul questioned, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh, a cream colored, blonde-maned earth pony in another town. Name's Barley, I'd think the two of you would get along quite nicely." he elucidated, and Everen's eyes shot open.
"What are you doing? Why are you here?" he questioned, cantering towards the pegasus.
"I'm here to do my job." Blaxe responded calmly, as if it were nothing. "You see, I'm a matchmaker. I pair up ponies who I believe will be a good couple."
"And why are you allowed to get in and out of Coldurim?" Everen inquired in a whisper.
"Because of my heritage, my mother was a very special pony." Blaxe said vaguely.
"Alright, but how're Barley and Cyrul going to meet though, and what makes you think they'll be a good match?" Everen persisted, wanting to know more about this odd pony.
"I can arrange a meeting, and as for why I think they will make a good couple, I can read ponies well. And those two have compatible personalities." he explained, shrugging.
"So tell me now, what exactly did you mean when you said I was 'a very different pony'?" he asked curiously.
"Well for one, you made it in and out of Coldurim alive." he whispered so that Lily and Cyrul wouldn't hear. "And aside from that necklace you where, I sense another, presence in you. Like an untapped power, you believe that the necklace increased your magical abilities. When it really only unlocked that hidden potential you possess." Blaxe continued, to the awe of Everen. "I predict that you'll play a very important role in equestria soon."
"How can you know all this?" Everen questioned, baffled.
"When next we meet. I promise I will tell you then." Blaxe replied, turning to leave town.
"I look forward to it then, farewell." Everen waved the pony off, then looked back to the curious faces of his friends. "It was nothing, no need for concern."
"If you say so, but you guys should really go tell Libra and Bliss if you haven't already. I don't think they'll mind too much if you interrupt their date." Cyrul said, leading the way to the diner where Libra always took Bliss to when they went on a brunch-date.
Bliss noticed the trio cantering towards them, and gave a small gasp of delight. "You're back together! That's fantastic!"
"I'm so happy for you guys. What are your plans now Everen?" Libra inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"I have another promise to keep, I have to bring one of my friends to Canterlot. I'll see where I go from there, no guarantee I'll come back home right after that. But this time, Lily is coming with me." Everen looked affectionately at the mare beside him.
"Well, I hope you make it home safely." Bliss said, not expecting him to get back any time soon.
"I should go tell the others, goodbye everyone." Everen almost choked on those last two words. They all gathered together and shared a hug, before Everen and Lily left for the inn where the others were staying.
"You'll like most of them, a couple might get on your nerves though. So I apologize in advance for their behavior." Everen said nervously, hoping that Lily will approve of his new friends.
"Hey Everen, what's up?" Remix was standing in the lobby, waiting.
"Hi, Remix, this is Lily. My mare-friend." Everen shot Remix a look that said 'don't ask'.
Remix got the message. "Nice to meet you." he shook her hoof, then turned back to Everen. "Note will be down in a moment, Cat, Royal, and Jynx are still sleeping. Tia snuck into our room and slept with Kinetic, nothing serious though. Rigatoni and Sugar are in the breakfast room, and Pine and Kari are still in their room, they seemed to be crying."
"What are we talking about." Note asked, coming down the stairs.
"Note, good timing, this is my mare-friend, Lily." Everen gestured to the lime green mare.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you miss Lily." Note bowed, then rose an eyebrow at Everen.
I'll explain later. Everen said telepathically to Note.
Note simply nodded in response. They all went to the breakfast area to wait for the others.
"So I'm guessing you too have known eachother for awhile?" Note surmised, looking between Everen and Lily.
"Since foalhood, why do you ask?" Lily asked, curious.
"Oh, no reason. What exactly does your cutie mark represent?" Note gazed at the curved claw on her flank.
"My talent is working with animals, dangerous ones in particular. Chimeras, dragons, manticores, you name it." Lily replied, looking up at Tsui, who was on her head.
"That will likely come in handy if you're to travel with us." Note commented, thinking practically.
"Anyways, Lily this is Sugar Heart, and Rigatoni." Everen interrupted. "They joined our party in the last town and will stay until they repay a debt they owe us. Their choice I assure you." he said, seeing the look on his mare-friends face.
"Well I'm happy to meet your new friends. But I'm even happier to be with you again." Lily rested her head on his shoulders.
"Me too." Everen responded, resting his head atop hers.
"Oh, and who is this?" came a voice from behind the couple.
Everen gazed back to see Cat, and gave her a warning glance to not ask too many questions. "Hey Cat, this is Lily, my mare-friend. Lily, that's Catalina Heartstorm, try to ignore a portion of her behavior."
"So you want her to ignore me huh? Well, ignore this." she licked Everen's right ear, causing him to shudder involuntarily.
"WHAT WAS THAT?" Everen rose his head wiped his ear with a forehoof.
"I was just giving you a good morning kiss." Cat batted her eyelashes innocently.
Everen sighed in exasperation, somehow that mare always knows how to throw him for a loop. "Can you not be so bothersome for once?"
"Nope, no fun that way." she smiled mischievously.
Everen rubbed his forehead, "Is Kinetic coming soon?"
"He should be down in a moment. Jynx is starting to wake up too." Cat said, looking back at the stairs.
"And Pine and Kari?" Everen took on an expression of concern.
"Their room was pretty quiet when I passed I did hear a couple of muffled voices, but I couldn't make out what they were saying, and I didn't want to be too nosey." Cat answered, wondering why Everen looked concerned.
"Hmm, well, why don't you have a seat." Everen offered, looking back to Sugar. "Hey, Sugar. How exactly do you plan to repay your debt?"
"I don't really know, but I get the feeling something will come up." Sugar replied, smiling.
"By the way being an alicorn, you must have some kind of magical specialty, what is it?" Everen asked.
"Love magic, I can't force two ponies to fall in love. But I can remind two ponies why they love each other." the alicorn explained, looking at her cutie mark, three red hearts.
Everen and Lily traded knowing glances, thinking the same thought; that would've come in handy a few hours ago. They shared a quick laugh together, and when the others looked at them questioningly, they merely brushed off as an inside joke.
"You all seem to be having a good time." Kinetic said as he approached the table, Tia at his side.
"I take it you enjoyed yourself this morning as well." Cat teased, she had been awake when Tia snuck out of the room.
"Wh-what? N-n-no! I-I mean, but-" Tia stuttered, blushing profusely.
"We only shared a bed, nothing serious." Kinetic spoke up, putting a hoof around Tia's shoulders to calm her down. "Honestly Cat, can you not mess with Tia?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Cat stuck her tongue out at the stallion and winked, enjoying Tia's flush face.
"Who's the new mare?" he asked, just noticing Lily.
"Kinetic this is Lily, my mare-friend." Everen gave Kinetic the same telepathic message as he gave Note.
"Alright, nice to meet you, I'm Kinetic, in case you didn't catch the name, and this is Tia. I guess now you could call her my mare-friend." Kinetic gave the pegasus a half-hug, and whispering into her ear, making it look like a kiss. "Don't ask about Lily. Everen will explain later."
"It's nice to meet you Lily, any friend of Everen's is a friend of ours." Tia's face was still a little red, but not much.
"The feeling is mutual." Lily replied, looking between the two of them.
"You know, with all of the luggage we'll be taking to Canterlot, we're going to want to take the train." Everen suggested.
"Sounds like a good idea." Note agreed, nodding.
"Now we just have to wait for everyone else." Everen looked to the stairs, just as Jynx was cantering down them. "Hey Vex, let me introduce you to my mare-friend, Lily."
"Um, hi." the orange maned unicorn greeted Lily.
"She seems kind of shy." Lily said to Everen, so that Jynx couldn't hear it.
"A little bit yes. But she's one of us." Everen whispered back, then looked over to Jynx. "Did you see Kari and Pine?"
"I think they'll be down shortly." Vex stated, taking a seat next to Cat.
"Alright we'll wait for them and then pack up and be on our way." Everen said, resting his head on his hooves.
"What are we going to do after Canterlot?" Tia asked, excited.
"I'm not sure yet. If everything goes as expected, we'll be coming back here." Everen stated, putting a forehoof to his chin. "But I doubt everything will go as planned. We'll just have to wait and see what Canterlot brings us."
"I'm kind of hoping something comes up to set us off traveling. That will surely be fun." Kinetic grinned, anticipating their arrival already.
"I have a feeling you might get your with Kinetic." Everen sighed, not sure what to think.
"Are we going soon?" Kari inquired, Pine at her side.
"Glad you two are up. We're just going to pack up and take the train to Canterlot. And we'll determine where to go from there." Everen looked at the pair, Pine in particular. She seemed a bit sad, but happier than Everen had expected.
How are you holding up? Everen asked her telepathically.
Pine showed Everen a portion of her memory of last night. Everen held back a blush and suppressed a smile, he couldn't have asked for a better scenario. Everen looked past the two of them to see Royal, still covered by the cloak, but visible to Everen due to the Spatial Awareness spell.
"Alright, let's pack up and go everyone." Everen got up and left the building, heading home. The others went upstairs to get their bags, Lily going to her own home. They all met up at the train station and boarded for Canterlot.
"Now arriving at Ponyville, next stop, Canterlot." the attendant said over the intercom.
The doors opened and a blue-maned, white mare stepped into the train, taking a seat near Everen. The doors shut and the train set off again, towards Canterlot.
"Now arriving at Canterlot, next stop, Baltimare." The group got off the train, along with the blue-maned mare, who met up with a gray mare. They looked like an odd pair together, purple sunglasses on the white unicorn, while the black-maned earth pony wore a pink bow tie. Everen shook it off and led the way into town, having been here once before.
"You seem to know your way around Everen." Cat noticed, curious.
"My uncle once brought me here to introduce me to his friend, and current wife. I got to know the town rather well from that one trip." Everen explained, looking left and right, using various landmarks to keep his bearings. He led them all to the castle,and the guards blocked his progress.
"We have an alicorn with us, and I've met both princesses personally. Get outta my way." Everen glared at the guards.
"Sorry, that's not enough." the left guard declared, glaring right back.
"I'd reccomend you two move, unless you're in the mood for pain." Lily warned them, stepping back, the others following suit. The guards didn't budge.
Everen blasted them both with a wind that sent them to opposite ends of the courtyard. They were both knocked unconscious, upon impact with the walls.
"I warned them." Lily stated, following Everen inside.
"Okay, this is where we separate. Lily, Vex, you come with me. Sugar, you will accompany the rest. Just go somewhere, it doesn't really matter, as long as you stay in the castle." Everen summed up, heading for the throne room.
"What for?" Rigatoni, grabbed Everen's hoof, wanting an explanation.
"We'll be too obvious al together, you will attract attention away from us so we can go see the princesses in their throne room." he said, pulling his hoof free and proceeding.
They arrived at the throne room a short time later Everen opening the doors and trotting in. Celestia sat up, wondering what in Equestria was going on.
"What is the meaning of this?" she said, stomping a hoof.
Royal shed her cloak, revealing herself to the princesses. "I have returned, after so long."
Celestia gasped at the sight of her of the dull red alicorn. "Royal, is it really you?"
"I assure you it is I. I was trapped with some manner of time spell, locked away for so long." she looked to Everen, gratitude painted on her face. "Until the bearer of the Shamrock Shield and his companions rescued me."
"The, Shamrock Shield?" the alicorn's eyes widened in astonishment, she hadn't heard those words in many years. Everen stepped forth and lifted the necklace, giving her a clear look at it. "How is this possible?"
"I'm not sure, but it matters not right now. The shadow kin are still at large, and now we have a way to combat them. The Shamrock Shield couldn't be in better hooves, Everen is very noble." Royal stated, looking back to the princess. "I believe he can be our savior."
Lily stood there in awe, not fully understanding the gravity of the situation. "Hold on what is going on?"
"I'll tell you later. What would you have me do princess?" Everen bowed his head before Celestia.
"Hmm, the attempts at killing the alicorn Flare Fallon have been increasing in strength. Are you sure you're ready for this responsibility?" Everen nodded at the alicorn. "Go to her and see to her safety. Then await further orders."
"As you wish princess." Everen turned around and made for the door.
"And Everen, be careful." Celestia called after him.
"Of course, your highness." Everen went through the doors, Vex and Lily following. "Looks like we're going to the south. Let's find the others and go."