Time runs when you're having fun. If that’s true, then it certainly flies when you’re in love with someone. Because from that first kiss to the confession that changed their lives, it had already passed four years. What hadn’t happened for those four years? To Twilight, a bliss of immeasurable proportions, like that one she only thought it was possible in fairy tales. Spike somehow managed daily to give her new unforgettable memories and new ways to love her. Of course, as many had warned them, not everything had been happiness. Many times they’d had to face the criticism, the intolerance and the prejudices of a society that didn’t understand what they felt for each other. It had gotten more difficult when the news of their relationship became public domain in Ikaruga.

Suffice to say that after a certain incident, the two lovers had to spend two months in a secret refuge provided by Princess Celestia while Ragnarok was hunting the members of a certain group of conservatives who had tried to kill the couple. He punished them with very, VERY meticulous public executions to make sure that any dragon who disapproved of the union of Spike and Twilight would think twice before doing anything beyond verbally expressing their opinions.

Of course not everything had been adversity either. Not only had they been given huge amounts of happiness those years. Fluttershy and Swift Relief had their first son: an orange pegasus with a brown mane and green eyes they called Neem. Pinkie Pie had won consecutively the pastry competition in Canterlot for three years. Rainbow Das was captain of the Wonderbolts since Spitfire retired to take care of her children.

But without a doubt, what no one had been able to expect was Big Macintosh marriage with, are you ready for this?... Zecora. One day the zebra had gone to Sweet Apple Acres, the big red stallion got closer to her and without much cavil he asked her out. Things turned out so incredibly natural that they got married in only eight months, which had been a blessing for the family and especially Granny Smith, who had no intention to die before her great grandchild were born, which would happen two months later.

What about Twilight? Though one never stops learning, Princess Celestia had decreed over a year ago she no longer had anything to teach Twilight, for Twilight didn’t need to. Thus, Lady Twilight, Guardian of Harmony and Keeper of the element of Magic; was now also known by her title of Master of Magic, Twilight ‘The Cosmic One’.

Though that title was worth very little to her when compared to her title of Spike's marefriend, who had followed the advice of the unicorn and had begun to study gastronomy. Yes, their life had dressed golden in those years.

But that day, Twilight had no reasons to awake full of joy…

She awakened on her bed, which in the last nights felt strangely big and cold, which wasn’t strange actually because there were no arms to harbor her or a chest or a shoulder to rest her head on. She sighed with sadness when she saw the vacuum there was on the other side of the bed. She went to her bathroom, where she preened with apathy, for there was no one there she wanted to impress. She went to the kitchen, where she started preparing her breakfast, for there was no one else to prepare it. She sat down in solitude to eat her breakfast, which was awfully tasteless. Suddenly she heard someone knocking the door and after removing the lock on the door, Pinkie Pie came in, jumping happily.

“Good morning, Twilight! I came to give you the invitations of…!” The confectioner’s joy faded out when she saw the misery of the friend she had gone to visit.

“Good morning, Pinkie” Twilight answered.

“Twilight, what’s wrong? I hadn’t seen you like that since Owlicious went to cut daisies to the next world” She said compassionately, running her foreleg over her friend’s shoulder.

“I miss him so much, Pinkie” Twilight said sadly.

“We’d never spent so much time so far away from each other. I never thought I would miss him so much”

“But he sends letters to you every day, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, he sends letters to me almost everyday, but it’s not the same. I need him here with me” She replied.

“Well Twilight, that’s not your fault. After all he didn’t leave because he didn’t love you anymore. Just the opposite, to show the world how much he loves you” Pinkie said.

“I know. I wish I knew when he’s going to be able to come back”

“You must give him time, Twilight. Distance strengthens the love for the loved one” Pinkie said poetically, which caused Twilight to stare at her amazed.

“Wow, Pinkie… That’s so profound” She whispered.

“Thank you! Don’t feel bad, Twilight. Spike will come back very soon and then we’ll have the first and best wedding between a dragon and unicorn ever! But for now, take this and don’t be late” She said, giving her a white envelope with a tape loop.

“What’s this?” Twilight asked.

“An invitation for Winoa’s birthday. Don’t be late! I’m leaving now because I have to dish out more invitations” She answered while hopping.

Twilight said goodbye and went to her study, where she sat down on a sofa, looking at the ceiling.

“Spike…”

Flash back: three months before

Spike and Twilight were enjoying a picnic in Spike’s secret place, which now was theirs, at the waterfall upstream of the lake of Ponyville. After eating their lunch, they remained there supported on each other waiting for the arrival of the sunset.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” She whispered with her head resting on his shoulder.

“Let’s thank Celestia for this view”

“And many other things. Thanks to her we met”

“It seems like yesterday, don’t you think?”

“Yes, it’s incredible. When would I imagine that little dragon would be the one who would steal my heart?” She said ironic.

“When would I imagine the most fascinating unicorn ever would fall in love with me?” He answered with the same tone.

“With you and no one else”

“I have to be sure” He said, separating carefully from her to give her time to regain her balance.

Twilight looked at the dragon confused, who knelt before her and took Twilight’s right hoof with both his claws.

“Twilight, four years ago we both confessed our feelings. And though for some time we didn’t give it a name, later I asked formally you to be my marefriend, which you answered with a bliss only compared to mine”

Twilight brought her other hoof to her mouth when she realized what was going on.

“Since then and despite the adversities, I’ve had the happiest four years of my life. But I feel I can and we can be even happier together. But in order to do it I’m going to make the most selfish thing I’ve done in my life…” He said, putting his left claw in the picnic basket and pulling out a small black box.

“Twilight, I know you surely don’t have any doubt about how much I love and need you. With each passing day I love and need you more. I’ve waited four years and now that I’m of age I must ask you: would you like to be mine and just mine?...”

He slowly opened the box, revealing a gold ring with a diamond in the form of a six-pointed star.

“Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?” He asked.

Twilight’s eyes shed tears and put a shaky yet broad smile on her face. She threw herself over the dragon, hugging him by his neck tightly and shaking him, as she yelled full of bliss.

“YES, YES, YES! Of course! Of course I’ll marry you, Spike!” She shouted, overflowing happiness.

Some days later

“I’m afraid it won’t be so easy” The ruler of Ikaruga said very seriously.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

“Don’t you approve of their union, King Ragnarok?” Luna asked.

“If I didn’t support it, I wouldn’t have risked my credibility, my honor and even my crown to support you for these last years. But allowing you to get married is a different thing” He explained.

“Allowing them? Though Spike is a dragon, he’s a citizen of Equestria. Don’t get offended, but I don’t think you legally have jurisdiction in this matter, King” Luna continued.

“Wait a moment. Let him talk” Celestia intervened.

“Princess Luna and my two dear lovers. Changes never come free. And the more time something has remained constant, the bigger will be the price to pay to make it change. These years you two have had to deal with the challenges and the problems of the decision you chose when you decided to live together. I have nothing against that and you all know it. Regrettably, my conservative and proud, to not say arrogant race, doesn’t think the same. Though many have expressed their support, many have expressed their dissatisfaction. But we are a proud race. And no aristocrat of my kingdom will accept that the one who will go down in history books as the first dragon to marry a pony is a nodragon. Don’t get offended, Spike” The king explained.

“The nobility of Ikaruga will never let it be known that the dragon who makes a historic act like this is a stranger with no kind of legacy or prestige” Celestia said.

“But… What can we do? Does that mean I won’t be able to marry Twilight?” Spike asked very worried.

“Of course you will, but you’ll have to earn the right to do it”

“What do you mean?”

“The conservatives and nobles won’t allow the name of a nodragon in history books, but they won’t be able to complain if that one is a graduate knight from the Military Academy of Shinto”

“Militar academy?” The couple whispered.

“Long ago, Spike, I asked you what you would be willing to do in order to be always at your beloved’s side. Well, that time has come. You’ll become ‘Sir Spike’” He said while smiling.

End of flash back

Spike had gone to Ikaruga the next day and hadn’t stopped sending letters to Twilight almost daily, though there were times when he was absent two or three days in a row. Anyway, his absence had been more painful than Twilight could ever have imagined. But thanks to Pinkie, she felt better.

“Pinkie is right. I just have to be patient. Soon he’ll be back and then… We’ll no longer be he and me. We’ll be us”

She walked to her study room, ready to start the day.

“Good morning, sergeant. Do you bring news about our star boy?” Ragnarok asked when he saw the soldier enter his study room.

“That’s it, my King. Captain Agnus sent me here with important news” He answered.

“Haven’t you discovered which his magic is yet?”

“In fact, we have”

“And which is it? Water, earth, wind, fire?... The weather?”

“Follow me, please. It’ll be better if you see it by yourself”

Both dragons walked to the training camps of Shinto, where they saw a big group of dragons like they were surrounding a show. Inside the congregation, there was Spike using his tail for balance on one claw. There were three dragons surrounding him and floating like they were in outer space.

“Another, another!” Some spectators shouted. Mostly dragons who were between 20 and 50 years of age and Captain Agnus, who was watching the show with his arms crossed very serious.

Suddenly, one of the cadets noticed the monarch was coming closer and immediately knew what he had to do.

“FORWARD… HUT!” He yelled.

All the dragons wobbled a bit to get some room and look in the direction of the authority figures assuming their positions, except Spike and the three dragons who, until a few moments, were floating because of his powers.

“Rest” Ragnarok said while walking towards his protected one, who was rubbing his neck after he fell. But when he saw them, he stood up with a jump.

“You have… Telekinesis”

“Yes, my King. We found out yesterday by accident during a mishap in the obstacle course”

“Amazing. There are no records of any dragon who has been born with such a skill”

“That’s what Captain Agnus told me”

“Indeed. And we have to celebrate this. We should…”

“Excuse me, my King. But could we speak privately?” Agnus interrupted him.

Without much interest, Ragna followed the chaptain…

“Very well, what’s wrong?” He asked when they were alone.

“Your little protected one at nineteen faces and defeats cadets more than three times his age. Your little sociopolitical project can use naturally a kind of magic no other dragon has been born with. That same dragon is using the facilities used by our ancestors to forge their warriors, whereas he, when he finishes, will come back home to marry his marefriend… And what’s worse: you made me his master!” He shouted hysterically.

“Have you finished? Because I can’t see the reason for your dissatisfaction” He answered relaxed.

“That… Boy is stronger than any other dragon his age is! More than you and maybe even me. And telekinetic powers? I know he was raised by ponies, but how the hell are you going to explain that to the councilors when they find out?”

“You and I know that must be a side effect of the spell who brought him to the world. It’s not contagious” He said carefree.

“Your father was never so… Like you”

“I can’t see what you’re complaining about. Yes, the boy is a nodragon studying in a rich school. The best one of his class, the first one to graduate at such a young age and the only one with telekinesis. He’ll be remembered regardless of his marriage. And so will you as the illustrious warrior who taught him the exquisite art of war. Isn’t that what you wanted? Being immortalized? Besides, since our relations with Equestria were consolidated, we could send reconnaissance teams who were hiding there. They told me you had a lot of fun” He accused in the last part.

“It’s ok, I admit it. He’s a good boy. He is a bit stupid, but he can fight and learns quickly. Too quickly”

“If you consider him a threat, you’re wasting your time. He wouldn’t kill a fly”

“That’ll be a problem in his final evaluation”

“You bet”

“What do you think they will make him face?”

“The frozen stone giants from the mountains of Boreas are the hardest evaluation test. But considering his unique ability, the council will prepare a special test for him and only him”

“They will surely entrust him a suicide mission” He said.

“That shouldn’t have to worry us, for you’ll keep training him and Zen will help you so he will master his new magic”

“Why do you do this to me, Ragna?”

The months kept passing. Spike’s power and strength was growing by leaps and bounds, as well as his nostalgia and melancholy for being away from home and his beloved sorceress. He wished to finish his military training as soon as possible, become a knight and come back home, where his now fiancé was waiting for him.

Finally the day came. Spike was kneeling in a large circular chamber surrounded by the council of war of Ikaruga, where they would entrust him his task and final evaluation before graduating.

“Spike. An outsider with bad reputation who came to this sacred institution devoted to polishing the greatest warriors the world has ever seen, is in front this court, waiting to receive instructions for his final task before becoming an Ikaruga warrior” Announced the clerk of the court.

“Though many had no hope for the boy, he’s maybe the cadet with the most extraordinary record of the history of our sacred institution, for at his young age of only nineteen years, he has successfully completed all trainings” Said one of the councils.

“Though many attribute his success to his ability to move objects with his mind, his physical power and the power of your fire breath are also amazing” Another one said.

“So, are you ready for your final task, Spike?”

“Tell me what I have to do, my Lords” He said, raising his sight.

“Normally, the graduated ones receive one of six different tasks according to their abilities or species. But in your unique case, this council decided that your task would also be unique. You will travel to the ends of the continent and you will enter the ‘Jungle of Oblivion’, where you will have to seek and destroy your target”

“Tell me their name and there will remain no life in their body”

“Your objective is someone you know. We deduce that you will be glad to eliminate them. It is Chrysalis, queen of the changelings”

Spike got shocked when he heard the name of the forgotten queen, but he managed to maintain his composure.

“The… The queen of the changelings?”

“That’s it. It seems there was a putsch after her failure in Canterlot, which you surely remember well, and a little after she fled the kingdom. We managed to track her down and she took us to the Jungle of Oblivion. You will have to find and destroy her once and for all”

It’ll be my pleasure Spike thought when he remembered the suffering and humiliation his beloved Twilight, his friends and even Princess Celestia had had to suffer at the hooves of the evil witch.

“What evidence do you want to ensure my victory, councils?”

“Bring the queen’s horn and your place as knight of our court will be undeniable”

A couple of days after, Spike and Agnus were resting on the edge of a cliff after a long day without stops.

“Do you really have to write to your marefriend every nigh?” Agnus asked, after seeing his disciple burn the letter.

“Yes, I do. Twilight usually gets somewhat… Neurotic when something bothers her. She got very scared and widely expressed her dissatisfaction when I told her my final exam would be in the Jungle of Oblivion”

“And with a good reason. That is the worst place in the world after Tartarus”

“Zen told me the queen should be the least of my worries”

“And he’s right. Tartarus is the prison, but that jungle is the dump of the world. Everything that’s bad and rejected goes there to rot. There are chimeras, basilisks, ogres and fugitives of all kinds, such our famous witch who go there to hide. The council may recognize your strength, but not your courage- They sent you there because they expected you to die so that the history of graduated ones from Shinto remains without strangers”

Spike gulped when he thought what lay ahead.

“But you won’t die. Not because you’re strong, but because I trained you. You will enter there, you will crush and burn all that stands in your way, you will kill the queen and then you’ll be able to come back home to marry your dear marefriend and be her problem and not mine.

“I want that too, Master” Spike said mockingly, who had learned to get along with his curmudgeonly mentor.

“Shut up and sleep. Tomorrow we have a lot of ground to cover”

After a couple of days of travelling, finally the two dragons arrived at the frontiers of the impenetrable jungle.

“Well, from here you’re going alone, boy”

Spike nodded and left his disaster supplies kit. He couldn’t use them at this stage of the test.

“Remember we have to be back before the next full moon, so don’t be too late. And don’t die either”

“Any recommendations?”

“Don’t look her in her eyes when you’re going to kill her”

“Why?”

“Just don’t do it”

Though on its exterior the jungle looked terrifying, on its interior it was a tropical paradise. Nothing to do with the Everfree Forest. Though he had seen some unfriendly animals, the flora filled him with peace and joy. But he had no time for that. He had a final test to pass, a unicorn to marry and an unfinished business. He looked for her on the top of a cliff, where he sat down and started to meditate, remembering what Zen had taught him.

All living things have a distinctive aura according to their species. You will surely see a lot of strange and powerful auras in the jungle, but you only must pay attention to the one with many forms. Changelings’ auras are the only ones that aren’t homogeneous. That’s because unlike other creatures with means to feed ‘Spiritually’ like vampires, changelings don’t absorb the essence of the creatures whose emotions devour. They just ‘steal’ them but they don’t assimilate them. No doubt she will be camouflaged, but you'll notice an erratic pattern in her body’s manna. Then you’ll find your prey…

“I found you” Spike said when he distinguished what surely would be the queen’s aura.

Spike slid down and jumped nimbly between the rocks in his descent (he couldn’t fly yet). He moved quickly through the jungle until he was close to his target, who was near a large river. He concentrated again to search again the queen’s unique aura. He didn’t have much trouble, for it was the only creature there except the fishes. A black kappa with a green shell. Spikes had originally thought about jumping on the poor unhappy one and end her quickly, but when he saw how easy that was, he decided that in the name of his beloved, friends and princesses, he would enjoy as much as possible his revenge.

“A very unseemly appearance for a Queen, I must say” Spike said, emerging from the trees calmly behind the kappa.

The amphibian turned around quickly, looking at Spike between surprised and scared.

“Who are you calling a queen to?” She replied, stepping back.

“To you, of course, Majesty. Your ability to change your appearance may fool the wild beasts of this jungle, but not me. So, why don’t you take off that ugly dress and let me see your truly you?”

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re confusing me, dragon”

“Please, don’t deny the heritage of your people, Queen Chrysalis” Spike said, smiling evilly.

The kappa looked at him surprised for a moment and then sighed. A fluorescent green haze appeared around her and revealed the true form of the queen of the changelings.

“How do you know who I am? Why have you come to me? What do you want?” She demanded.

“Watch your tone, Majesty. I don’t bow down to you” He said almost threatening.

Chrysalis snorted a little, but accepted the dragon’s words.

“Why have you come to me?”

“Eleven years ago, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza made the worst mistake of her life by marrying an asshole who… Sorry it wasn’t that. The wedding day, occurred a terrible terrorist attack in which Canterlot had to repel an invasion of a changeling army that conquered the city, arrested the Guardians of Harmony, plus you hurt and humiliated the princess at her own home. And the responsible for all of that was you, Queen Chrysalis”

Spike was getting filled with fury when he dug into those memories, when he saw the devastated city, Princess Celestia trapped in that that disgusting green cocoon. But especially remembered how Twilight had been insulted, ridiculed and scolded by her friends, the princess and even her asshole brother when she tried to save them and reveal who that Cadence really was.

“H… How do you know that?” She asked confused.

“Because that day I was there. Don’t you remember me? I can’t blame you. You were so busy enjoying your victory the Guardians and the goddess of the Sun. Why would you bother noticing that insignificant baby dragon?”

The queen explored her memories of that fateful day.

“I see you’ve grown a lot… What have you come for?”

“Probably for what you think” He said cynically.

“Isn’t it a bit late to seek justice for something I did over a decade ago?”

“You’re right. That’s why I haven’t come here for justice. You see, I’m on an important mission to become a knight of Ikaruga and in order to do it, I’m afraid they have asked me to eliminate you. Otherwise I won’t be able to marry the mare of my dreams. But at this moment, I’d kill you just for pleasure…” He said, extending his claws and erecting his spines, getting in battle position.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear the part you say you’ll marry a pony and I’m saying: perhaps it’s less pleasurable and harder than you think” She said, getting in battle position too.

“I’m going to find out…”

He inhaled deeply and exhaled a breath of fire Chrysalis dodged by jumping sideways. She focused her magic on her horn and shot a beam of green magic that hit the dragon in the chest, throwing him back and disappearing into the foliage of ferns. However, before the queen could savor her victory, Spike calmly emerged from the undergrowth.

“Did I mention I’m not the same little harmless dragon back then?” He said, rubbing his chest.

“That was a simple warning. Leave me alone and everything will be alright”

Spike extended his right arm with his claw extended to Chrysalis, who prepared for the hit, but nothing hit her. However, she suddenly moved at high speed backwards as if a powerful force field had hit her. After a violent impact on the water, she got out of the water to take air confused and scared.

“Forgive me if I find no reasons to feel threatened” Spike mocked her.

Chrysalis insulted the dragon in a low voice and made her horn glow. The water around her quickly lifted her and formed a huge wave that lunged at Spike. The dragon turned around and ran to the trees, but to his surprise, the wave kept following him even out of the lake with the enraged queen on its cusp.

“Run, run you maggot!” The queen shouted.

Spike saw a fallen tree and jumped to fall on it. He turned around where the queen was. He raised both his claws at her and made a move like he had pulled a rope. Immediately after, Chrysalis felt again how an invisible force pulled her to where the dragon was, but a bit lower, making her crash against the tree trunk. Shortly after, she was hit by the water.

“I hope you have more to give me, my queen” Spike said, seeing the changeling cough heavily, once the waved passed.

The queen didn’t answer. She only stood up and shot another magic beam against Spike, who jumped to another tree.

“You failed!” He yelled, digging his claws into the trunk to not fall.

The queen sighed furiously and repeater her attack.

“Again!… And again!... Keep it up, we have all the day!”

After several more attempts, Chrysalis made her horn glow intensely and lifted a big rock, throwing it against the dragon. This time, instead to jump to another tree, Spike jumped to the rock and ran (literally) on it and then jumping again like it had been just a simple obstacle. As soon as he landed, he released another flare against the queen, who defended herself with a magic barrier. Spike kept the fire as long as his lungs allowed him to. When he finished, he saw the queen struggle to keep standing up as she breathed heavily and sweat dripped from her forehead.

“Tired, Queen Chrysalis?”

She didn’t answer. She turned around and flew away.

“Come back here!” He shouted, running towards her.

Unfortunately for Chrysalis, the branches in the tops of the trees were too dense for her to pass through them with her size. She could shrink herself, but she was afraid to run out of the little magic she had left and she would have to slow down to do it, a luxury she couldn’t afford now that the dragon who was haunting her had started to throw fireballs to knock her down.

Finally, the persecution led them to the trees ended: to a river. Chrysalis flew away to finally escape the dragon, but Spike raised both his arms pointing to the queen with his claws open. He closed his fists tightly and then lowered them like he had slammed a window. Again, Chrysalis was hit by a crushing impulse and fell down to the river.

She managed to get out of the water to take some air just to be hit again and returned to the water.

“That was for Twilight!” Spike yelled, who was following the queen from the riverbank.

“This is for Princess Celestia!” He shouted, hitting her again as soon as the changeling got her head out of the water.

“This is for Cadence!”

Finally, Chrysalis managed to cling to a rock that was in midstream. Instead of hitting her again, Spike pulled her to the riverbank with his powers.

Exhausted, the queen crawled on the floor desperately, trying to escape her attacker. Spike followed her slowly, savoring his victory. As well as his fight with Shining Armor, he loved the sensation of power and total control over his opponent’s life. It made him feel powerful when he saw the queen crawl weakly, trying to escape him.

“You’re not so powerful when you have no one to steal their love from, right, you witch?”

Chrysalis stopped crawling and lay still on the floor face down panting heavily. Suddenly Spike hear an almost inaudible whimper.

“What did you say?”

“P… Please…” She whispered, but it was all Spike could hear.

“What?!” He said, rolling her over on her back with his powers.

“Please, don’t hurt me! Don’t hurt me anymore! Mercy, please mercy!” The queen screamed.

Spiked looked at the queen’s eyes and realized why Agnus had warned him not to do it. What he saw made him feel like crap. The ‘evil witch’ was dying of fear. Her eyes overflowing with tears reflected all the panic, helplessness and pure horror that invaded her at that time. And all of that was because of Spike. A part of him was telling him he should stop and it wasn’t right to find pleasure in such an act. But the other part… How did that witch dare to beg for mercy after what she had done?

“After what you did you have the nerve to beg for mercy? Do you have no shame?” He said, getting closer to her with his fist ready to finish her.

“Wait, please wait! Give me just a moment and I'll explain everything to you!”

“Will you explain? Don’t buck with me! Why should I even care what you have to say?!”

“BECAUSE I’M BEGGING YOU FOR MERCY!” She yelled as loud as she could.

The cry was charged with so much despair and fear that Spike couldn’t help feeling horribly bad with himself, just for the fact of having hit the changeling.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… Speak”

She sighed with relief and breathed deeply for the story she was about to tell.

“Like Equestria, my home, Midgar, was always ruled by a son of the Ancients and fathers of our species. But unlike Celestia and Luna, who devote their lives to the service and welfare of their people, my ex-husband, King Haggard, was a selfish monster whose only interest was his own happiness, no matter how much misery he caused his subjects. Centuries and centuries neglecting his responsibilities to his kingdom and worrying only about his. The queens of Midgar were a sham. Just a King’s trophy so he could presume he owned the most beautiful changeling of the kingdom, who he would change for another one more or less every five years when he got tired of her, not before killing her personally”

“What does that have to do with Canterlot invasion?” Spike asked, not very interested in the history lesson.

“I was a daughter of a very humble family. All I wanted was to find a good mate who loved me, have a family and maybe a decent house. One really can’t ask for a lot in a so miserable kingdom like Midgar. My parents were proud of me and I was going to be the first one of my family to finish school. But oh surprise! The little one became the queen!”

In other times, Spike would have believed almost any story anyone told him. But the story he was listening to, he didn’t believe it because of naivety, but because he had learned to know when someone was lying to him. And no one could pretend the way in which Chrysalis’ soul was broken when she told him her past.

“Haggard chose me as his new queen. It wasn’t a blessing, but a sentence of death and everyone in the kingdom knows it. But I decided I wouldn’t spoil all my efforts and my parents’ sacrifice to become the disposable sex toy of that demon. So I killed him…” She said, savoring the last part evilly.

“It was easy, you know? I guess that arrogant jerk never expected his wife to stab him while he was sleeping after I put sleeping pills in his drink at dinner”

“I still don’t understand what this has to do with what happened in Canterlot”

“I became the first single queen in history. I had the power to turn Midgar into a better place. But despite the oppression and hatred there existed for their tyrant, Midgar was still a purely sexist kingdom and no one believed a single queen could guide our kingdom, especially knowing Haggard chose his wives just for their appearance. But I wouldn’t let them dethrone me so easily. So I devised a plan that would bring more wealth and prosperity than ever before in the history of our kingdom”

“Conquering the most prosperous, fertile and peaceful kingdom in the world. It wouldn’t expect full-scale invasion” Spike said.

“Yes. I infiltrated Canterlot, took Princess Cadence’s place and for weeks I fed on Shining Armor’s love to strengthen myself, preparing myself for the day of the invasion, which would be the same as the wedding’s, for everyone would be too busy to notice the danger. And you know the rest…”

“I’m not asking you to forgive me. But you must understand that despite all you think, I didn’t do it for pleasure. I was trying to get my kingdom out of its misery. It’s not my fault my kind needs to feed on other creatures’ feelings. That’s how we were made… You’re a predator too and that doesn’t make you a monster. Or does it? I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I was just trying to get my kingdom out of its misery and make sure they wouldn’t kill me just for being a widow queen”

“But you had to destroy Canterlot to save your kingdom?” Spike reproached her.

“Don’t lecture me. You said you were no longer a baby. If that’s true, you must also know that in the real world, for someone to be happy, they will have to be at the expense of someone who isn’t. I didn’t plan to destroy Canterlot. I knew Celestia and Ragnarok were friends and he wouldn’t have allowed us to conquer her kingdom, but we would have time to strengthen ourselves and come back home ready to build a better tomorrow. But my plan failed and things got worse than ever. I had to run away because the nobles wanted my head for taking them to Canterlot. I managed to escape, but my parents… I wanted to give my kingdom a glory never seen before and however I only brought it to a new level of misery… You can finish” She concluded, closing her eyes.

“Whah… What do you mean?”

“I’ve already said what I had to say… You can kill me”

“B… But… Why did you tell me all of that then?” He asked dumbfounded.

“I don’t know… I guess I wanted to make a last confession before dying. I don’t even know why I resisted you to kill me since we were at the lake. I'm more dead than alive. I mean, LOOK AT ME! I’ve spent the last eleven years hid here! Wilted, exiled and starving! To top it off now I decide to confess my sins to a dragon who’s come to kill me. I have nothing to live for” She said, breaking into tears.

Spike simply looked at the ex-queen. His spirit of fighting and his thirst for revenge were dead. He couldn’t kill her. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t anymore.

“You’re lying” He said.

“What?”

“You’re lying. If you had nothing to live for, you wouldn’t be crying” He explained to her.

“What do you mean? What am I supposed to do now? I’ve lost everything!”

“Not everything. You’re still alive”

“A life that has only known pain and tragedy”

“A very wise mare once told me: Those who are more likely to find happiness, are those who have experienced real pain” He muttered softly.

Chrysalis looked at the dragon in amazement. She was about to talk when the dragon turned his head to the jungle.

“What’s wrong?” She asked confused.

“Shhh… I heard something” He silenced her.

Suddenly, five huge dark figures emerged from the bushes. They had yellow eyes, black fur and huge fangs.

“Wargs! Run!” Spike ran, jumping across the river to evade the beasts.

But when he landed, he noticed Chrysalis hadn’t followed him. She was almost exactly where he had put her, trying in vain to stand up. One of the wargs jumped over her, ready to bite her. But just before it could reach her, Chrysalis flew across the river to be caught in the arms of the dragon.

“Are you alright?” He asked her.

“My wings are broken and my magic reserves are empty because I’ve fought a dragon who moves things with his mind and a warg has almost eaten my head. How do you think I am?!” She asked him furiously.

“There’s no time for that” Spike said, seeing the dogs cross the river.

He put the changeling on his back and climbed the nearest tree.

“Ready, they won’t be able to reach us here” He said, releasing her from his back.

But they almost fell down when the tree was shaken.

“They will if they tear down the tree”

“Not if I stop them before”

“What?... Wait!” She yelled when she saw him fall down.

Spike fell on the back of one of the wargs, also striking a bow to its head that broke its skull. Another warg tried to jump on him, but the dragon quickly stood up and hit his aggressor with his elbow, breaking its jaw. Another one tried to bite him on his left flank, but Spike managed to catch its mouth with both his claws. Not the same way with the fourth warg. Spike had to defend himself by using his left arm as a shield between its teeth and his face.

“Be careful! Another one is coming!” Chrysalis yelled from the tree.

Spike whirled, making the wargs lose their balance and falling on their faces. He quickly took one of them by its hind legs and whirled quickly, using it as a battering ram to hit the fifth and biggest one. By using its opponent’s weight, Spike kept whirling to use the beast as a hammer and crush the other warg that was on the ground.

“Just you and me” He said while looking at the big beast.

“Burn it!” Chrysalis shouted.

“That wouldn’t be fun at all!” Spike yelled, who was taken over by the rush of battle.

The beast tried to catch him with a swipe, but Spike dodged it. It tried again but the same happened. This time, the warg lunged at the dragon, who managed to block it, but he lost balance and fell to the ground.

“I understand you don’t brush your teeth, but do you know about a plant called spearmint?” Spike asked, putting his hind legs on the belly of the beast, pushing it to get rid of it.

The beast fell on its back and Spike jumped on it, hitting it several times in its face. But by shaking its huge legs, it managed to get rid of him. They were face to face again. The warg ran towards Spike again, but he extended his right claw to the warg and he moved it to his right like he had opened a window. After that, the animal was hit by a force that pushed it towards the direction where Spike had pointed to. He quickly mounted on its back and grabbed its upper jaw, pulling it to where he was. After a brief struggle, Spike managed to defeat the beast by breaking its upper jaw and ripping the top of its head off.

The beast collapsed to the ground. Still with the piece of its head in his claw, Spike raised it and roared victoriously.

“Applejack, thank you for teaching me to mount big animals… Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about you” He said, extending his claws to the queen, who strongly held the branch waiting for another shock wave to make her fly. But she only felt a soft force that made her descend.

“Good” He said when he let her on the ground.

“Wah… Why did you save me?” She asked confused.

Spike wasn’t surprised by the question.

“Why did you warn me during the fight?”

“Don’t evade the question! That beast was about to eat me. You could have let me there. You should have let me there, but you didn’t! Why? Wasn’t killing me the reason you made your journey?” She asked him confused and frustrated.

He looked at her with compassion and sympathy.

“No. I came to kill an evil queen and witch, but what I found was a regretful and helpless changeling. I can’t kill you”

“But, why save me?! Why are you telling me this?! How can you... How can you offer me your forgiveness…” The queen said very angry and distressed.

“I… Don’t know. I guess it’s right? Did no one ever tell you that you should simply accept the friendliness of people?”

Chrysalis simply looked at him with contempt, grinding her teeth. The she sighed and let herself fall.

“Hey, what’s the matter?”

“What you said about the animals is true. As they possess almost no feelings, I only can feed organically. It keeps me healthy, but I have almost no magic. And I hadn’t had to use my power so much since Canterlot invassion”

“The stench of these corpses will attract other predators. We’d better leave”

“I’m too tired” She said weakly and getting surprised for what happened next.

Spike got closer to her and gently took her with his claws and held her in marriage pose.

“Wah… What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” She yelled shocked.

“I will take you to a safe place” He answered like it was obvious.

“Why should I trust you?”

“What options do you have?”

“... I hate you...” She muttered, looking away.

“I’ve been called worse”

Chrysalis woke up and found herself inside a little cave that was lit by a bonfire in which several fishes were impaled and being roasted. Across from the bonfire there was Spike.

“Do you feel better?” He asked.

“A little…” She answered dryly, leaning on her front legs.

“Are you hungry?” He said, offering her a fish. The queen took it with her strange hooves and started eating.

“Why have you done all this for me?” She asked when she was satisfied.

“Because… I want to”

“Don’t mock me!” She said, throwing him the remnants of fish she was eating.

“I imprisoned Cadence in a crypt for weeks and I almost killed Celestia. My army invaded and almost destroyed Canterlot. I arrested and humiliated all your friends. What reason in this universe could you have to help me?!”

“Everyone makes mistakes, Chrysalis. It’s what happens when you have the courage to make decisions. I haven’t forgotten what you did and I haven’t forgiven you either. No one will ever be able to forget your crimes against Equestria, but Equestria promotes the faith in change, in second chances, in forgiving, in being able to give your hand to the one who once raised their fist against you”

“But after what I did I don’t deserve your forgiveness! I don’t deserve your friendship!” She shouted while looking at his eyes.

They both remained silent for a while in which they exchanged inaudible words through their eyes.

“I know… Solitude” Spike finally said, extending his hand to her.

The queen couldn’t take it anymore. She turned around and started crying in silence. Spike got closer to her and put his claw on her shoulder. She could no longer resist the contact. She turned around, weeping uncontrollably in his arms. Spike was surprised. For some reason, he didn’t feel appropriate to return the hug and simply put his hand on her back.

“I'm sorry... I'm so sorry” She muttered in tears.

“I know” He replied.

“You’re right. Actually, since that day my life went to hell, but I still don’t want to die. Because I could lose the only thing I have left: my soul”

“You never liked your life. You should look for a new one. You can change your form, Chrysalis. You’re no longer bond to your kingdom. You can now go whenever you want. You could have the life you want”

“I could…” She said, rubbing her face against his chest to dry her tears.

“No one except my parents ever showed me such generosity. I never thought I’d know someone like you. Let alone a dragon. What’s your name?” She asked, raising her sight.

“I’m Spike”

“Spike…” She muttered.

“Your marefriend is very fortunate to have you by her side” She whispered, stroking his chest with circular movements.

“I can feel it. A pure and ephemeral love, which can grow and grow… I never saw something like this. Not even in Shining Armor. You are truly full of surprises, Spike”

“Thanks, I guess” He said, somewhat uncomfortable by the hoof rubbing of the queen.

“But what kind of name is that for a dragon?” She said, raising an eyebrow.

“I was raised by ponies”

“No wonder why you’re going to marry one. But didn’t you say you had to kill me to be able to marry her? How are you going to prove you killed me? Would you take my corpse from here to Ikaruga?”

“No. They only asked me to take your horn”

“Oh… Well then don’t worry” She said, holding her horn with both her hooves and deteached it from her head with disturbing ease.

“Take it” She said very relaxed.

“Heh… Aren’t you going to need it?” He asked, just to see how a new one emerged from her head.

“I can change my form, remember? Consider it my wedding gift” She answered calmly.

“Thank you!” The dragon shouted very happy and hugged her.

The queen almost blushed.

“You… You’re welcome. Who’s the fortunate mare? Don’t tell me it’s Cadence, please”

“No, It’s not her. It’s Twilight Sparkle. You know, the unicorn who discovered your plan”

Chrysalis looked at the dragon in disbelief before laughing out loud.

“I guess coincidences don’t exist. Oh my goodness, I haven’t laughed so hard for more than ten years. So the princess’ student. I don’t blame you”

“Tell me about it. When I become a noble, I’ll be able to go back to Equestria and marry her”

“Then you shouldn’t make her wait anymore” She stood up and walked to the exit of the cave.

The sun was already starting to settle on the horizon.

“Well then… Think about what I’ve told you, ok? And take care, Chrysalis” He said, turning around.

“Wait” She interrupted him.

“You’ve helped me a lot. As an extra reward I will give you a very special gift You will be able to kiss the royal cheek as a gesture of my appreciation” She said very haughtily, posing proudly and tilting her face to show the dragon which cheek he had to kiss.

Spike smiled because of Chrysalis’ funny gesture.

“Don’t you think it’s enough with the horn?” He asked her.

“Don’t you think you should accept the kindness of a lady?” She answered.

Spike laughed when he saw himself trapped in his own philosophy. He got closer to kiss the queen’s cheek, but when he was about to do it, she turned her face inadvertently and kissed him on his lips. Spike’s eyes widened and his breathing stopped. His instinct immediately ordered him to break the kiss, but he found no strength or will to do so. Her lips were very different from Twilight’s, as her way to kiss. She seemed to have more… Experience, for lack of a better word. The sensation on her lips was very different, for the queen had no fur on her skin, which gave the dragon a very different sensation from his unicorn. Very different and very pleasant in addition… Sooner than he would have been willing to admit, the queen ended the kiss.

“Thank you again, Spike. I wish much happiness to you and your marefriend. But if for some reason things don’t go well with your fiancé… Call me” She said, blinking seductively and leaving while moving her hips very provocatively.

Spike stood there dumbfounded and confused. But for some reason he was also happy. He licked his teeth one last time, savoring the queen’s breath, which was still in his mouth, and trying to decipher what that strange taste was, as he tried to reason what had just happened.

“Wow… An old changeling likes me” He thought.

But he had no time to worry about that. He calculated the direction where Agnus would be waiting for him and went there at full speed. He had a beautiful sorceress to marry.

Author's Notes:

Please people, post your reviews. I want to know what you think.