“OH MY GOD SHE’S DEAD!” Dash shouted.

“Don’t panic… Maybe it’s not that bad…” I said quickly.

“LOOK AT THE FLOOR!” Dash screamed.

“It’s just… her cutie mark. That could mean anything…” Rarity said uncertainly.

“LIKE SHE’S DEAD!” Dash shouted again.

“Stop yelling!” I said.

“What do we do? She’s not here.” Pinkie said. “I already checked upstairs.”

Fluttershy started to whimper quietly.

Cecil hugged Fluttershy, “Shh… don’t cry… we can’t jump to conclusions… anything could have happened…” He said trying to comfort Fluttershy.

“What do we do?” I asked.

“Well I think we co-” Fluttershy was cut off by a loud banging on the door.

“Who could… that b-” Rarity was cut off as the banging increased in both volume and strength.

Before any of us could move to open it, there was a bright green glow under the door, followed by it flying off it’s hinges. Everyone scattered as it clattered across the floor and into the wall. My eyes averted back to the door to see Chrysalis standing there with a furious expression. “Where is he.” She demanded.

“Where’s w-” Cecil tried to say.

“You know damn well. WHERE IS SAM!” Chrysalis shouted.

“Why don’t you tell us where Twilight is first?” I snapped back.

“Why the hell should I care? She’s not my problem, Sam is.” Chrysalis stated. “Now where is he.”

“Why would we know?” I questioned.

“I suspect you wouldn’t stop at just trying to convince him, so you kidnap him.” Chrysalis said. “Hence why he disappeared in a blinding flash, with a black scorch mark where he disappeared. Either you took him, or he’s dead. And if he’s dead…” She started, a growing anger in her voice.

“A black scorch mark?” Cecil asked.

“You mean like this one?” I asked pointing to the one on the floor.

Chrysalis walked up to the mark and stared at it silently.

“This could only mean one thing.” Pinkie said calmly.

“THAT SHE’S DE- Mmph!” Rainbow Dash was cut off as I put a hand over her mouth.

“Both of these HAVE to be connected somehow.” I said.

“No silly.” Pinkie said.

“Then what?” Rarity asked curiously.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Pinkie whispered.

Everyone in the room stared at Pinkie intently, as if she really did have the answer.

“She’s with the princess duhhh!” Pinkie said.

“Ho… how do you know?” Cecil asked quizzically.

“Well if that’s true we have to talk to her!” Dash said.

“Where’s Spike?” I asked. Everyone in the room immediately got quiet and glanced around.

“Um… Split up?” Applejack said.

--------------------------------------------------

“I don’t even know where we should start…” I said.

“Where do baby dragons usually go to hang out?” Cecil asked with a sigh.

“I don’t kn-” I stopped immediately, a thought coming to mind.

“Did you think of somewhere?” Cecil asked.

“I… think I might know…” I said. I continued to walk until I hit town square, looking around for the cake shop.

“Where are we looking for?” Cecil asked.

“There.” I pointed. Both Cecil and I had the same hopeful smile as we saw Spike sitting in one of the booths inside the cake shop. As we approached, my smile started to fade slowly when I saw Spike’s saddened expression.

“Hey Spike…” Cecil said.

“Oh hey…” Spike said quietly, giving a small smile that quickly returned to it’s frowned state.

“Spike… is something wrong?” I asked.

“No… I’m fine…” Spike said.

“Spike the only time I see you here is when you’re sad. The last time you were here was after…” I stopped, my gaze changing to the floor of the shop as the pained memories returned of that day.

“What happened last time?” Cecil asked.

“Dash and I fell off the top of the clock tower. Nearly died.” I said.

“I…” Cecil mumbled.

“Dash was depressed when her wings were… you know… And she tried to commit suicide.” I said quietly.

Cecil remained quiet.

Spike immediately sniffled as tears ran down his face.

“Spike…” I said sympathetically, quickly sitting next to him and wrapping my arms around him.

“This… isn’t like any other time… we’ve got one last thing to try… before anything is certain…” Cecil said quietly.

“It’s just… When I think of when it happened to Dash… I think of… Twilight…” Spike sniffled.

“She’ll be okay Spike. We’ll find her…” I said comfortingly, gently patting his back.

Spike paused for a moment. “Is… something wrong with her?” He asked confused. “Is she missing??”

Cecil looked at me, his face reading of complete confusion. “You… why are you sad? And here??” I asked hesitantly.

“I stubbed my toe…” Spike said. “And you reminded me of when Twilight was dying… Is… she dying again?!”

“N… no.” I said quickly, looking at Cecil for an answer.

“We… we need to send a letter to the Princess…” Cecil said quickly.

“Yeah uh… Twilight isn’t missing she’s… with Celestia.” I nodded.

Spike blinked a few times. “Oh okay. So where’s the letter?” He asked.

I stood there for a moment before banging my head against the wall. “We forgot to write a letter.” I groaned.

“You needed to send a letter… but… forgot to write it?” Spike asked uncertainly, his gaze switching between the two of us.

“Um…” I stammered.

“We… wanted… to find you first?” Cecil offered.

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Well you found me… so why don’t you start writing.” He said.

“Let’s head back to Twilight’s first.” I suggested.

“Yeah… the shop is about to close anyways.” Spike sighed, grabbing the half empty bag of food that I hadn’t previously noticed.

“Where’d that come from?” I asked.

“Oh yeah… I came here to get something to eat but realized I forgot my money… So I kicked a chair.” Spike said.

“Why did you do that?” Cecil asked.

“I was upset. I hurt my toe and sat down. Then some guy bought me a few things and left. He was really nice.” Spike shrugged.

“Oh that’s sweet.” I smiled. “What’d you get?”

“Red.” Cecil stated.

“Right… letter. Let’s go.” I nodded.

--------------------------------------------

As we approached Twilight’s house, a sudden thought occurred to me. “Oh shit.” I mumbled.

“What?” Cecil asked.

My heart dropped as Spike opened the door and walked in. “Spike wait!” I shouted. I ran into the house quickly.

“What’s with the scorch mark? Did Twilight try to cook again?” Spike asked. His eyes narrowed as he looked speculatively. “Something about it… looks familiar.”

Cecil glanced at me nervously.

My horn shot to life and Spike disappeared. There was an immediate crash upstairs. “What the hell!” Spike shouted.

“Why the hell hasn’t anyone cleaned it yet?” I said insistently, glaring at Cecil.

“We ALL went out looking for Spike…” Cecil said defensively.

“Yes, we ‘all’ did.” A voice said that made the two of us nearly jump out of our skin. I looked towards the couch in the living room to see Chrysalis reclined back, reading a book.

“Of course…” Cecil sighed.

“The exhilaration to see Sam is just… pouring… from your overzealous spirit.” I mumbled.

“Why should I get my hands dirty when you lot are doing it for me?” She cooed, ending the sentence with an over extended sigh.

“Why should we even expect anything else from her?” Cecil asked.

“You know… You’re pretty powerless without your limitless love supply around. What’s to stop us from just sending a letter and telling Celestia you’re here?” I challenged.

“Mm… nothing.” She said.

“Why do I have a really hard time believing that?” Cecil asked.

Chrysalis just laughed.

“Probably because SHE doesn’t.” I said.

“Let’s worry about our biggest problem first.” Cecil said. “Everything else will probably work itself out after…”

Cecil and I walked upstairs to see Spike sitting on the edge of Twilight’s bed, kicking his feet patiently. “So you ready or what?” He asked. I looked at Cecil and nudged him towards Twilight’s desk.

“Alright…” Cecil sighed. He walked over to the desk and started writing.

I took a seat next to Spike and kicked my feet along with him, regardless of how they scraped across the floor each time. “So uh… how ya doin?” I asked.

Spike shrugged. “I dunno.” He said.

“Really?” I questioned, poking him in the stomach.

Spike laughed a little, shoving my hand away. “Stop it.” He said.

“Stop what?” I asked curiously, poking him again, causing him to let out another small laugh.

“Not funny.” He said.

“It’s a little funny.” I said, beginning to tickle him. He fell back onto the bed and started laughing uncontrollably.

“Stop!” He pleaded through laughter.

“Nope.” I chuckled. I glanced up at Cecil, who had seemed to have his focus on something else besides writing, staring at something in his hand.

“Cecil?” I asked, letting up on the tickling just a little bit.

“What’s all this about writing a letter?” Twilight asked, stepping into the room and smiling as she saw the scene unfolding on the bed.

“Hel… help!” Spike laughed, looking at Twilight pleadingly.

“Twilight!” I said happily.

Cecil’s head jerked back, a smile forming on his face. “Hey!” He said.

Twilight stepped up and pushed me off of Spike, causing me to bounce along the bed for a moment. She put an arm around Spike as the two hugged. “How are you doing?” She asked.

“Great now that you’re here.” Spike said.

Twilight looked up at Cecil. “What were you going to write?” She asked.

“Oh uh… just… hi.” Cecil said with a tone suggesting that he was desperately fishing for reasons.

Twilight giggled as she held Spike a little tighter. “That’s sweet of you. Could I ask you to write something to Celestia? I needed to give her a response from our meeting.” She asked.

“Uh… Yeah! definitely.” Cecil nodded, readying the pen.

“Tell her that I look forward to a nice ‘relaxing’ visit the next time I’m there.” Twilight laughed.

Cecil nodded and started writing. As soon as he was finished he rolled up the letter and tossed it to Twilight. She unrolled the letter and read it before re-rolling it and handing it to Spike. The letter held up by Spike, who shortly after engulfed it in fire. The remnants drifted towards the window for a moment before stopping. The ashes floated back and reformed into the letter, dropping into my lap. “Huh… that’s never happened before.” Spike said, staring at the letter.

“That’s… strange?” Cecil asked uncertainly.

“Maybe she’s just busy.” Spike shrugged.

“Well she’s probably just tired. It is late after all. Why don’t you go down and clean up the mess downstairs, then head to bed.” Twilight said, gently pushing Spike.

“Sure.” Spike smiled, hopping off the bed and heading out of the room. After he left, Twilight’s horn lit up with a green glow and the door shut and locked.

“Wait that’s…” Cecil started.

“Mmhm.” Twilight mumbled, her tone sounding different as she was surrounded with a green fire, transforming into Chrysalis. “Hello.” She chuckled quietly.

“Why…” I mumbled.

“Just making sure you didn’t write anything that falsely incriminated my good name.” Chrysalis said. She held up the letter and waved it around slowly. “Though I don’t believe I’ll need to be worrying about that.” She snickered as it disintegrated.

“It’s not like it would have done anything anyway…” I said.

“Your name was so good before the plot to steal Sam.” Cecil said quietly.

“One: He was never Twilight’s to begin with. And two: you have no right to criticize me.” She said dryly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cecil asked confused.

Just as I was about to speak a realization hit me. My eyes widened as I thought some more about it.

“Oh don’t play dumb. While you and your friends think of me as a tyrannical dictator, I only think of my people.” Chrysalis said sternly. “I have never killed anyone for it.”

“And I have?” Cecil questioned.

“Oh your entire family is murder.” Chrysalis chuckled. “Let’s begin with your brother.”

“You leave him out of this.” Cecil snapped angrily.

“Tell me Dexter… Are there any other serial killers you’ve ended? Or just the one.” Chrysalis asked playfully.

“I didn’t kill him…” Cecil said.

“Oh didn’t you?” She asked curiously. “You drove him to suicide, I’d say It was masterfully played. Well done.”

“I…” Cecil mumbled shakily.

“And you haven’t driven someone to suicide?” I questioned.

“Oh I could care less how brittle Twilight’s mental state is. Oh boo hoo… he broke up with me I better go off myself!” Chrysalis laughed.

“Except you’re missing the part where your drone hit her.” I said.

Chrysalis paused for a moment. “I wasn’t aware that happened…” She said.

“And we should believe you after how many times you’ve played us?” I questioned in a slightly irritated tone.

“I didn’t order him to hurt her… Just make it look like a breakup.” Chrysalis said.

“Yeah… Just like how you didn’t send me this as a threat.” Cecil said, holding out the butterfly broach. I just now realized that is what he had been holding earlier.

“And what’s that?” She asked.

“You know damn well what it is you sick fuck.” Cecil growled angrily, standing up as if about to attack her.

“Quite the fire in this one…” Chrysalis said, attempting to hide the fear in her voice.

“Cecil. Sit down.” I said.

“Just tell me why!” Cecil shouted.

“What would I need with an old broach?” Chrysalis asked.

“I buried this with my brother, and It just happened to be in my house amidst your plot to keep Sam away from us.” Cecil said.

“I didn’t take. Your damn broach. I could care less about threatening you, what would I possibly gain opposed from revealing my plans? I had already won you idiot, I had no reason to.” She stated.

“Nothing in this is making sense anymore…” I said.

“Well if you didn’t send the broach… then who…” Cecil started as the door knob to the room started turning.

Chrysalis was immediately surrounded in a green glow as her form changed to Twilight’s. Spike peeked into the room. “I finished cleaning… And uh…” He said.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Is there any reason the burn was in the shape of Twilight’s cutie mark?” Spike asked curiously, looking at the three of us.

“Coincidence?” Twilight suggested. “Not like we haven’t seen stranger things.”

Spike nodded. “I guess you’re right. Well I’m going to sleep now… good night.” He waved.

“Night Spike.” Twilight smiled as he left the room.

Again I was about to speak when the realization struck me again. This time it fully cemented and my eyes widened fully.

“What’s wrong?” Cecil asked.

“The two scorch marks… what if… they’re not just coincidentally connected…” I said.

“What do you mean?” Cecil questioned.

“What if… whatever happened… caused them to end up in the same place…” I said. “Then…”

“Alicoooorn parrtyyyyy!” Pinkie’s voice said from outside.

“Or… they’re here… with both the princesses…” I said.

“H… Hey… Where’d Chrysalis go?” Cecil asked. I looked around the room and noticed that she had vanished.

“I don’t know…” I said. “But… maybe we should go out and check on what’s going on…”

Cecil and I quickly made our way downstairs and outside. Immediately we saw all our friends gathered around, staring at something. We walked up and looked at them. “What’s going on?” Cecil asked.

“Yeah. What’s wrong?” Sam asked, putting an arm around me and Cecil, staring straight into where everyone was looking.

“Okay… this can get either really good now… or just go straight down hill…” I said quietly.

“You’re… you’re…” Cecil mumbled, staring at Sam.

“I’m?” Sam questioned.

“You’re… you…” Cecil said.

“Who else would I be?” Sam asked curiously. “Well… changeling… point taken.”

“You seem… a lot less... angry…” I said.

“With good reason.” Sam smiled. His arms went lower and grabbed the two of us, lifting us onto his shoulders so we could see over the crowd of friends. In the center we saw Twilight, and she…

“What… even…” Cecil stammered.

“Oh. My. God.” I said.

“Oh hi you two.” Twilight smiled, waving at us. Cecil and I just stared in confusion and bewilderment at the two wings on her back.

“Wings…” Cecil said.

“Yeah I have the- Oh you’re talking about hers.” Sam said.

“Yes…” Cecil said.

“This changes… a lot of things…” I mumbled.

“Well I guess we… should go over an-” Cecil was cut off and the two of us were tossed off of Sam and to the ground.

“What the…” I grunted. My eyes shifted to see Chrysalis on top of Sam, who had also been sent to the ground.

“I’m so happy you’re safe…” Chrysalis said, kissing him immediately.

At that moment, everyone including Twilight turned to Chrysalis and Sam.

Chrysalis stopped and looked at the others before standing up and regaining her composure. “Yes. Very glad you two are safe. I’d hate to s-” She cut herself off as she stared at Twilight’s wings. Her brows furrowed as she analyzed the alicorn in front of her. “Excuse me?”

“And me…” Cecil said.

“And… it begins…” I said to myself.

“No… I’d like to think of it as an ending.” Chrysalis said, putting an arm around Sam.

“I don’t think he’ll be coming with you after everything you’ve done.” Twilight stated.

“Yeah… You’re still as conniving as when you attacked Canterlot.” Dash agreed.

“Right Sam?” Applejack asked.

There was a few moments of silence.

“Sam?” Twilight said uncertainly.

Sam pulled away from Chrysalis and walked towards Twilight. “I understand.” He said.

Twilight smiled. “So we can start over now?” She asked.

“I don’t think that’s what he meant.” Celestia’s voice sounded, forcing all our attention to the sudden appearance of the princess.

“What… do you mean?” I asked.

“I understand that what Chrysalis did was wrong… But she did it for the right reasons.” Sam said.

“Sam… what are…” Twilight mumbled.

“I hate choosing.” Sam said, glancing between her and Chrysalis. “But I made up my mind awhile ago…”

Everyone stood in silence as Sam walked over to Chrysalis and looked back at us.

“What… the…” I mumbled.

“She was just looking out for her people. I’m sorry about what happened with Twilight… I truly am. But is it really fair to let an entire race suffer for one couple’s love?” Sam asked.

“That seems a bit ironic…” I said.

“What do you mean?” Sam asked.

“Well you said it didn’t matter… it was for the good of her people…” I said.

Sam stayed silent for a few more moments. “I have to go with her.” He said.

“No you don’t. You s-” Cecil was cut off.

“Yes… he does.” Twilight said quietly. Everyone looked at Twilight.

“What…” Dash mumbled.

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. A lesson I need to learn as part of my new title…” Twilight said.

“What new title?” Rarity asked.

“I believe the word is ‘Princess’.” Celestia said. “And I’m very proud of you Twilight. You’re going to be a very wise leader.”

“Whoa whoa whoa… princess?” Dash asked in disbelief.

“That’s… quite the promotion.” Rarity said.

“That’s great!” Applejack said, putting an arm around Twilight. “We’re friends with a princess. I reckon that’s a twist.”

“This is all happening so fast and I have so little party favors prepared!” Pinkie said in a panic. “What do you bring to a princess party? TELL ME!” She shouted, shaking me violently.

“I… don’t… know…” I said.

“Sam…” Twilight said, pulling out of Applejack’s grip and approaching him.

Sam grabbed both her hands and smiled.

“I… love you.” She said, tears brimming in her eyes.

Sam tilted her chin up. “I love you too. And nothing will ever change that.” He said. Twilight wrapped her arms around him as she silently wept into his shoulder.

“Just think of all the times we spent together… all the fun we had… As long as you remember the good times, no amount of bad can outshine it. We’ll always be together.” Sam said, a few tears of his own falling down his face and onto Twilight.

"Together forever..." Twilight said before looking up at Sam. The two of them exchanged the same smile, seeming happy by the thought as more tears silently moved down their cheeks. Her lip started to quiver. “I don’t want to say goodbye… please… don’t make me say it...” Twilight said shakily, her composure beginning to fade and her sadness showing as she started to step back, one of her hands still gripping Sam’s tightly. It wasn’t until their hands finally slipped away from each other did Sam speak.

“Never.” He said, closing his eyes and forcing the last of his tears out as both him and Chrysalis disappeared in a green flash.