Author's Notes:

Woo, almost 100 likes, thanks you guys! I love every voice of support with this. I'll get the next one out as soon as I can after I finish writing the chapter I'm on now. Love and appreciate all of ya!

-Till Next Time~

High Moon Ch. 27:

Lost

Meanwhile, Dusk was forcing the elements to learn what a real bond was, Isis had already woken by the time the sun had started its daily path across the skies. As she walked through the broken streets of the city ruins, faint flashes of the past would appear before her.

Images of ponies of the past, ghosts long since faded from the living world, walking as though they belonged, and walking into the destroyed buildings carrying out daily business. Priest unicorns moving about to heal the sick, blacksmiths hammering away at heated plates of metal, soldiers keeping the peace and tending to any that needed their aid.

Isis became frozen to the ground as she continued to watch the images move about and started to heavily breath when the image of a little unicorn foal ran right through her. She closed her eyes to calm her breathing and pull herself back into the here and now. However, the images felt real to Isis, they were all she knew all he had to hold on from the past, but she had a new responsibility in the future.

No longer were there priests healing the sick, no longer were there blacksmiths creating useful tools, and no longer were there soldiers defending the lands. None, not a single soul that she once knew remained alive, none but the alicorn sisters. The past was gone, buried by time, and now had a new owner to call it home.

Wolf. He and his small pack, once barely started out as three, was now seven strong. That may not be a big change, but for what its worth, it was to them. Besides, kingdoms, empires, and whole packs weren’t formed in one lifetime.

They’ll grow, not just in size or number, but in heart. Each day all of them grow closer towards each other and each day they all become something Isis dreamed of; a family. And that family needed her mind to say in the present, not the past.

Taking one more breath, Isis snapped her eyes open, and she continued down the empty streets. She again started to take slight note of anything broken, of what Wolf had started to repair on his own, and what was in dire need of immediate repairs.

Soon, Isis started to get a sense of what and where she and Frost would be starting, and also started to think of new ways to reuse what there. Satisfied that she had enough information for now, Isis opened her massive wings and flew back to the mansion ruins. Of course, she could have simply used her magic to teleport back to the large twin door entrance, but Isis enjoyed the rush of fresh morning air against her fur.

Once back on the ground, Isis pushed open the stone doors, and started for her room. As she climbed the stairs to the room she had picked out for herself last night, Isis noticed movement in the corner of her eyes, and turned towards the support-beams to find the phoenixes waking.

“Oh good morning fire-hawks,” Isis called out to the from the stairs as she leaned against the rails. Both Cinder and Peewee looked over to the sphinx’s direction and let out a small screech as a yawn. “I trust that the both of you slept well?” Cinder nodded her head with a small hint of a blush on her feathers after she and Peewee flew closer towards the sphinx. “Ah look at you two,” she started while she scratched the bottom of Cinder’s beak. “Still so young and still growing.”

Isis knew it will be a long time before either bird reaches an age where their time would be growing short but to see them growing in front of her was something else. “Well sadly, I must bid you farewell for right now,” Isis broke out, resuming walking back up the stairs, and leaving the birds to their own while she finished a few things. Once in the safety of closed doors again, Isis closed her eyes, and held out her hands.

Soon, golden and blue light started to gather above her hands, taking the shape of an orb, and slowly starting to show an image. Isis opened her eyes to the image before her as it showed a purple teenage diamond dog with black hair crossed with a dragon’s blood sitting in a large room with two mares wrapped his his wings while another sat next to them.

A smile slowly started to form on Isis face as she continued to watch the younger dog speak something to the others in the room. ’So much time is left, much more needs to be done before, and he will be the start.’

After allowing the image to fade, Isis again begin to track the mysterious magic she had picked up on not too long ago. However, the image took slightly longer for it to come into clear, but soon the slight of a small filly balled up in a dirty alleyway started to show. Isis truly felt sorry for the joyous life that was stolen from the filly by faith and the upbringing of the past. She didn’t deserve to be alone the way she was but it wasn’t in Isis’s place to meddle with destiny.

Sighing, Isis prayed for the filly’s well being before allowing the image to fade away. Isis then turned back around to leave her room to meet up with Lily and Spike before they headed to the temple. Once she was down the hall and to the stairs again, Isis spotted the two talking among themselves in front of the doors leading back to the temple.

“I apologize if I kept you two waiting for too long,” Isis spoke, walking down the stairs, and getting both Spike and Lily to look towards her.

Lily shook her head towards the sphinx as she and Spike had just started moving around themselves. “No need, we just got up ourselves, and didn’t wait for much long.” Isis nodded her head, glad that she didn’t make the others wait on her. “So are you ready to head to the temple?”

“Yes,” Isis answered with another nod of her head. Lily returned the nod and started out the mansion doors with Spike, Isis, and the phoenixes close behind. All of them had a long day ahead of them in their home, much needed to be done in such a short time, but as long as they continued to trust each other, they were sure to get it done.

Meanwhile in High Moon temple

“Don’t forget to get the plates made into fur coats for everyone,” Blaze remained Wolf as she was getting dressed for her day of exploration and refill of ingredients. Wolf rolled his eyes at the mare as she was using her magic to tie her hair back into a long ponytail that almost reached the floor. “Also see if you can grab more cookbooks for Spike and Frost to use and-”

“Blaze please,” Wolf begged, knowing she was only acting worked up because of her own habits passed down from her youth living in a tribe, and was glad that she was so worried. But everyone has their limits. “This isn’t the first time I’ve went to White Tail to get some stuff. Now would you calm down?” Blaze started to blush and looked away from Wolf in slight bashfulness.

Wolf dropped his head and sighed before standing up from the bed and walking around to wrap Blaze in a strong embrace. “Blaze,” he started in a low whisper while his body rocked side to side. “I know you’re worried something will happen but don’t. Okay? If anything, I should be the one worried about you.”

Blaze turned around in Wolf’s embrace and looked to the assured gleam in his dull-green eyes. She knew worrying about him doing something he had been doing for eight years was silly. Wolf was more capable of surviving in more conditions than any of them in High Moon but she couldn’t help having a bad feeling when he ventured far out from the temple.

However, Wolf was smart, smarter than he leads on to be, and could handle himself if anything does happens. He also had the twins and Frost to help him out as well. So there wasn’t anything for her to worry about.

“Okay,” Blaze started before she planted a quick kiss on Wolf’s lips. “I know, just be careful out there.” Wolf returned the gesture with a much more passionate kiss. Blaze felt like melting in Wolf’s arms just from the kiss alone. She could feel her knees growing numb just from brushing her tongue across his canines.

However, the kiss ended much sooner than Blaze would have liked, but she still happily stood in Wolf’s embrace. “Blaze, do me a favor, and stop worrying so much okay? It will be in and out, we’ll be back in like two hours, but you be careful out there.”

“Hey Wolf!” Wolf and Blaze turned their heads to the closed door at Quill’s voice called out from it. “Spike and the others are here and everyone is ready to head out.”

“Alright Quill, go on and wait for me outside, I’ll be out in a sec.” Wolf turned back to Blaze and planted another kiss on her lips. “See you in two hours,” he whispered into her ear, getting a firm nod from his lover. “Alright you be safe out there, don’t push yourself too hard, and make sure you get something to eat and-”

“Now who is the one worrying too much,” Blaze giggled, forcing a chuckle out of Wolf when he saw how the roles eventually switched. “We’ll be fine, I have most of what I need anyways, but I do need that plant again...fun.”

Wolf chuckled at Blaze’s dejection of the main ingredient of the plant growth potion as the leaves have a highly volatile reaction to her magic. Wolf placed a kiss on her horn, only making her more bitter about the plant. “Well, maybe this time, you won’t eat it, and you’ll let Lily or Isis get close to it?”

“Fine, go on mister funny guy, you got fur coats to get made for the winter.” Wolf again chuckled along with Blaze before letting her out of his embrace and walking towards the door. However, was stopped by Blaze grabbing onto his tail. Wolf had looked back to see Blaze with her hand over her stomach. “Please be careful Wolf, for the both of us.”

“I will, you just be careful.” Blaze nodded her head and let Wolf’s tail go so he could meet up with the dragons and changeling waiting on him outside while she grabbed her brown hooded cloak from the wooden closet. “And watch out for centipedes,” Wolf called out from the door, getting Blaze’s body to tense up in disgust. She was going to turn around to blast the dog in the face with magic but he was already gone by this point.

“I’m going to get you for that Wolf,” Blaze whispered to herself before closing the closet and heading out to meet up with Lily and Isis. “You worried about us? Well,” she continued with a wide smile spreading across her lips while her hands were placed on her stomach. “I’ll make sure we’ll become stronger...isn’t that right, my child?” Blaze started to darkly giggle at a plan forming in her head. And all it will take is an little extra trip in Everfree.

While Blaze got a few more things together to leave with Lily and Isis, Spike followed Wolf towards White Tail with his sister and her marefriend, and even Peewee so he could help guide them back to High Moon if something does in fact go wrong. During the walk, Wolf told them that the stack of animal plates were for making fur coats for the winter months, and that they also needed to make a quick bit somehow so they stock up on supplies.

As expected, Frost and Quill walked fairly close together with Quill’s wing around Frost’s body. Spike was happy for his sister, she found something that everyone wanted at some point of their lives, but every time he caught a glance of the couple, he could hear his heart cracking a little.

Heck, even seeing Wolf and Blaze so close together over the last two months was mild torture, but he kept these feelings to himself so no one would have to change the way they showed their love.

It wasn’t their fault that they had found someone to love, so they didn’t have to change anything about that. Besides, all good things come to those who wait...right? Spike sure hoped, this being single thing wasn’t really working for him, but he didn’t want a repeat of the CMC’s.

“Spike,” Wolf started, dragging Spike out of his thoughts. It wasn’t until Wolf shook the drake’s shoulder before he looked towards the dog. “You heard what I just told you right?” Spike opened his mouth to answer Wolf but no words could be processed in the drake’s mind.

“Uh…”

Wolf growled in irritation and flicked the top of Spike’s nose, causing the drake to take a few steps back while he held his nose in stinging pain of Wolf’s sharp claws breaching the soft sensory scales on Spike’s nose. “Pay attention Spike,” Wolf started while they continued the trek through Everfree. “Since you’re the more...convincing type, I want you to go speak with the librarian near the edge of White Tail. See if you can get her to lean you a few books on construction and cooking.”

“A librarian huh,” Spike silently mused, thinking back to Twilight and the Golden Oak library, and all the crazy adventures he had living with her. Spike wonder what she and the other elements were now doing now that they knew where Rainbow was. No doubt, as soon as they realized their mistake they all fled to Baltimare to find her and apologize for forgetting about their friend so easily.

Spike started to quietly chuckle at the sight of all five grown mares wrapping their arms around Rainbow in a tight hug while she was trying to get out of it. He knew the elements had a bond that would last even through his and Quill’s absents, why wouldn't it? They had a friendship that made it through Nightmare Moon, the changeling army, Discord, and King Sombar.

Surely they could pull themselves out of the hole he and Quill had in their hearts. And hey, they may all just get off their flanks, and find a special somepony to love. At least, that’s what Spike guessed.

However, in these thoughts, Spike failed to pay attention to where he was going or what was in front of him, and got his foot caught in a portending tree root. “Whoa,” Spike managed to shout out before he fell face first into a small clear stream.

The moment he realized what happened to the drake, Wolf dropped his head, and sighed at the drake’s surprising clumsiness while Quill nearly doubled over from laughing. It was only after getting a stern look from Frost did Quill straighten up enough to move to help her fallen brother.

“Yo-you okay Spike,” Quill started as she reached out for the drake’s hand, still having a smirk on her face. Once Spike took Quill hand, she started to pull him from the crystal clear water. “Here I always thought that training with Zecora made you all nimble and stuff,” Quill mocked while Spike started to take off his wet gray shirt.

However, he didn’t give time for Quill to have much victory of the joke. “Yeah, I distinctly remember you having to soak in the falls for hours after you fell in-” Spike’s comeback was cut short by Quill sweeping her foot from his and pushing him back into the small stream.

“I told you to NEVER talk about that again,” she roared with a fiery flame in her eyes. Even with the rest of his clothes soaking wet, Spike still chucked at the memory of Quill’s first flying ‘accident’ in Everfree which landed her in something that was worse than a sulfur pit. “Jerk,” Quill huffed from Spike’s laughter and started back down the path but being stopped by Wolf grabbing her shoulder.

“See, that’s why you’re not going to talk to the librarian.” Quill rolled her eyes and swatted away Wolf’s hand to continue down the path. Wolf shook his head at Quill’s temper but knew he couldn’t expect more from the dragoness. “Spike,” Wolf started turning back towards the drake, who had already gotten up. “Why you do that to yourself?”

Spike let out one last chuckle before using his water-magic to dry his blue-jean pants and gray shirt off. “Because it’s funny,” he pridefully answered before walking past Wolf to catch up with Quill to ‘apologize’ for the mean joke.

Frost walked up to Wolf while the both of them watched the two walk off to the nearby cleanse ahead. “I thought that Spike couldn’t use his water-magic,” Frost noted, remembering what Blaze said about the gems on Spike’s wrists would do for his magic.

“I thought so too. Come on Frost, we better catch up with them before Quill rip him apart.” Frost giggled at Wolf’s half-joke and started to follow him up the path towards the cleanse where he promised their first break will be so they could eat some breakfast.

Once the two were able to see from behind the bushes, they saw Quill playing around with Peewee while Spike ran around the tall stocks of green grass, and cheered his bird on. Both Frost and Wolf started to laugh at the sight of the small bird chasing Quill only to be thrown off course by Quill taking a steep dive and going into a low sweep on the ground, nearly taking Spike’s head with it.

Wolf led Frost through the green blades of grass and to a shady tree to sit and rest while the twins let lose some pent up energy. The two soon started to eat the lunch that was packed in Quill’s book-bag, which was mainly just fruits and vegetables. While she was eating, Frost looked over to her lover flying high in the air, and then down to her twin brother.

’Now or never Frost,’ she thought to herself before turning to the alpha dog sitting next to her. “Wolf, I have a question for you,” Frost started while Wolf was munching down on an apple. The dog made an sound of acknowledgement for Frost to continue on with what she had to ask. “What’s your end game? I mean, where are you going with all this? Training the twins, rebuilding High Moon, what’s is your goal?”

A few moments went by as Wolf continued to munch on the apple. For those moments, Frost was confused by the sudden change in Wolf’s emotions. Going from calm to a bit worked up then back to calm as he swallowed the chewed bits of apple.

“Blaze,” Wolf started, confusing Frost before he continued on. “Everything I’ve done so far has been for her and my cub. I trained the twins so they could one day grow strong enough to protect High Moon on their own. I’m focusing on rebuilding High Moon so that my cub may wander about it without fear of it falling apart.”

Wolf laid his head against the tree to look up at Quill’s determined face as she soared higher into the sky. “The fact that they will learn more about their heritage or that we’ll be able to use High Moon to its fullest, is only a bonus.”

Frost didn’t question Wolf’s reasons as she could only sense his honesty and love for Blaze, not only that, but the compassion he has for the twins. Wolf cared for all of them, he wanted to help all of them, but he had his own troubles to worry about first.

Something every true leader must face.

“I understand, and you should understand that you’re not alone.” Wolf turned his head towards Frost to look into her blue eyes. “I know I just got to High Moon but I promise I’ll do whatever I can to protect it.”

Wolf stared into Frost’s eyes, seeing the same look Lily had a few years back when they first met. “Why,” he started turning his head back around to the tall grass. “Why would you want to do that? Risking your life for not only High Moon, but for the rest of us. Are you really willing to stand when we can’t?”

“Yes.” Wolf smiled when he heard the firm tone in Frost’s voice, showing no signs of hesitation. “Wolf you may not know it, but in this very short time, you all have been more of a family to me than my actual one. You all have given me trust that can only be earned when I haven’t done anything yet. And for that, I want to return it in full.”

Wolf nodded his head, more than glad that the changeling had more sense of honor than the rest of her race did. “Then Frost, I would like to welcome you to the High Moon pack,” Wolf finally said as he waved his hand over the twins and Peewee. Frost smiled when she was able to finally know what it truly meant to be a part of something larger than just herself. To belong to someone else. “Come on, we better keep moving if we’re going to be done on time.”

“Right.” Both started to get up from the ground as Wolf called the twins over so they could resume making their way to White Tail. At the rate they were going they should be back before high noon, which was great because Wolf stat had things he wanted to get done for the day.

Meanwhile…

“Blaze would you slow down,” Lily asked as Blaze continued to march through Everfree like a mare on a mission. For the last half-hour, all Blaze had done since leaving High Moon was mumble something about Wolf, but both Lily and Isis were unable to hear it over the sounds of the natural world around them.

While her lover ventured forth to White Tail to prepare for the coming winter months, Blaze lead Lily and Isis down a grass covered path to the only spot in Everfree she knew hold the tools for her ‘revenge’ against Wolf’s joke this morning.

The damned dog knows that she had a major fear about centipedes and he also knew not to mess with her about it. So if he thought it was funny to mess with her, she was going to mess with him right back, and knew of the right brew to do so.

And luckily for her, it was right in the same general area they needed to be. So not much time would be added to their trip and they were already coming up on their first stop. “Come on, we’re not that far from it. Just...pick up your feet,” Blaze half-commanded, not sure how she felt about taking the role as leader.

Well she had the right to, Wolf was the head of the pack, and everyone followed any order he had. But still, Blaze wasn’t the type to bark commands at anyone. Not like Wolf does that but still.

“Blaze, that’s the problem,” Lily started, looking past Blaze’s attempt to commanding her to do something. “With nothing covering our feet, they kind of hurt, and I know yours do too.” Blaze was going to retort to the flutterpony, and turned to speak her mind, but no reason she could think of would allow her to win that argument. “Blaze, I know you want to help just as much as the rest of us, but there isn’t a need to push yourself too hard. You got more than High Moon to think about.”

“Miss Lily is right mistress,” Isis started, knowing about Blaze’s pregnancy, and didn’t want anything happening to the one Wolf cares for the most. “Of all of us, you are the only one bearing life, and it would be unwise to push your body any more than we have to. The sun is still out and will be for quite some time.”

“Fine,” Blaze sighed, not thinking of questioning why Isis just called her ‘mistress,’ and admittedly could use a break herself. “There should be a empty field that we can rest in just over this stream.” The two ponies, sphinx, and phoenix turned their attentions towards the small stream, cutting through Everfree, and leading towards the Rainbow Falls before jetting off into one of the natural great lakes of the forest.

Lily, Isis, and Cinder used their wings to fly over the stream while Blaze nimbly skipped across. They soon resumed walking towards their first stop, which was on of Blaze’s destinations anyways. The scenery around them started to change from being predominantly trees to a more grassy plane, a sign that they were getting closer to the empty fields.

Just as the forest foreshadowed, the explorers came into a short grass field with a few purple and pink wild-flowers growing near the center, and all rested their feet at a tall oak tree. While Lily was grabbing out their small breakfast of apples and berries, Blaze asked Cinder to go pick several of the flowers, careful not to damage the petals on them.

Not seeing a reason not to, Cinder flew off of the oak tree’s branch and went to circle around the small area of flowers, and swoop down to pick some of them. Blaze then turned her attention to the oak tree and knocked on the wood several times.

“Blaze what are you doing,” Lily asked the mare as she continued to scoot around the tree.

“Shh.” Blaze closed her eyes, sure that she heard the right tone she wanted, but Lily’s voice threw her off at the last bit. She then again knocked on the wood and started to smile. “This should do,” Blaze started, placing her hand on the tree, sparking her horn its crimson shine, and focusing her magic on the amber trapped inside.

Soon, Blaze started to pull her dull-blue hand away from tree with a golden-brown gob seeping out of the wood in her blood-red aurora. Lily’s eyes widened as she never had know how Blaze had gotten the amber out from trees before while Isis was given another reason why Wolf and Blaze were her masters.

“That’s step one done,” Blaze mildly cheered as Cinder landed on her shoulder with several of the wild-flowers in her mouth. “Ahh, Fuchsia, and that’s the second step. Thank you Cinder,” Blaze said taking the flowers from the phoenix's beak. Blaze placed the flowers carefully in an empty pouch on her side and used her magic to crystallize the liquid amber to place it in another empty pouch.

Lily reached into the Spike’s book-bag, which she borrowed with his permission, and pulled out an apple to start eating. “Steps one and two of what may I ask,” Lily questioned before taking a bite of an apple while Isis was already half way done with her’s.

However, Blaze didn’t answer Lily’s question as she used her magic to grab tow apples from the green book-bag, and sliced one of them with her magic so she could feed it to Cinder. “A...’surprise’ for Wolf, it is sure to blow his mind.” Blaze giggled at her own joke as she couldn’t wait for tonight’s surprise payback for Wolf’s joke this morning.

Oh yes, she was going to remain Wolf not to scorn a mare that had high knowledge of the many potions that could insure her victory over him in any situation. All she had to do was wait.

’Finally, that took for-freaking-ever,’ Spike sighed as he left the library in White Tail. Once he and the others had made it to the small town, Wolf had assigned everyone jobs to do before they headed back to the temple.

Frost and Quill were to see what they could find around town that they could later use. Wolf took Peewee to the dressmaker of the town, of which he knew from past arrangements. Spike, of course, was left with the task of getting a few new books from the librarian.

However, the unfortunately lavender pegasus mare HAD to know everything about him, and couldn’t stay focus on the task at hand long enough before she was again questioning Spike about every little thing. But thankfully, Spike was able to get her to finally find the books he was looking for.

Spike was grateful for the mare just letting him have the books, though, he could have sworn that he heard she saying ‘no one visits anyways’ before leaving, but Spike played it off as a trick of the mind. Apart of him said that he wasn’t doing the right thing by just leaving the mare to the dusty library on her own; the same way he did to Twilight.

Spike quickly shook those thoughts out of his head so he could focus on more important matters. Now all he had to do was find town-square and wait on the others to get back. Then, he is sure that Wolf had planned for him to start fishing for fish in the stream near the city ruins.

’Oh man, I can’t wait.’ Spike remembered how good fish tasted when he ate some during the camping trip with the CMC’s, Dusk, and his mares. ’Ah...I can almost smell that...burning wood?’ Spike opened his eyes to the scent of burning wood, a lot of wood, but couldn’t find any fires nearby on the street he was on.

So his eyes turned to the skies in hopes of finding any smoke sticking out from the clear blue skies. It wasn’t long before his eyes picked up on the faint trails of smoke coming from a hill, and by the size of it, wasn’t just some random campfire.

’That can’t be good, so...why isn’t anypony here doing anything?’ Spike turned his head towards the citizens, who continued to move about as if there wasn’t anything wrong with the towering smoke, but Spike knew that there had to be something up.

Not taking another moment to think about it, Spike started to dash off towards the green hill where the smoke was coming from, and used the flowing stream as a guide. He soon found himself running to the bare outskirts of the town, yet still not a single soul was seen going to the fire.

By the time Spike made it up the hill, the smell of burning wood was almost unbearable, and flashes of him and Quill torching half of Ponyville. However, the flashes of bury memories didn’t compare to seeing it in person.

A house, a two-story house, and someone’s home was on fire. Spike’s breathing started to pick up when a wave of memories flashed through his head from his greed-growth and the nightmares he had about fire. Ponies running for their lives, crying foals being separated from their parents, and the agonizing screams of those trapped in the fire’s body.

And at the center of it all was him, smiling, eyes so wide he was able to see all of the fire’s glory consuming everything he’s known. Another wave of noxious sickness feel over to Spike, forcing him to his knees as his breath became labor, and being unable to stop his shaking.

“This is all your fault!” Spike snapped his attention to the sound of a gruff female voice shouting over the crackling of the burning home. Spike turned his view away from from the lush green grass to a gray female diamond dog, barely dressed in a white tank-top and tight black shorts, with her hands around a much smaller white and blue dragoness, more dressed in a soft pink dress that went to her knees, and who was crying and trying to apologize to the dog.

The only thing saving the dragoness from the hound’s sharp claws where her white scales but Spike could tell that she still felt them pressing down. “Veil I-I…sorry, p-please stop yelling,” the dragoness pleaded her pink eyes barely able to see the hound’s snarling face through the tears. “I-I can fix it...I promise.” Even Spike could hear the doubt in the dragoness’s tone of voice. However, hound didn’t let her go just yet as he glare deeply into eyes, but soon allowed her to stand on her own.

“I’m sorry,” Veil breath out in a tired sigh and turned her head away from the dragoness. “Cyclone, just...just do what you can.” Cyclone nodded her head and ran towards the stream and stepped in the cool liquid. She closed her eyes and started to bend the water to her will.

Spike stood up in awe at the sight of the dragoness using water-magic to guide the water to the fire, and from the looks, was going to put it out. However, she was only able to reach half way before she fell to her knees.

“Oh-no Cyclone!” The hound ran to the dragoness’s side to see what was wrong with her. When she got to the dragoness, she was already in tears about her latest failure, and begged Veil for her forgiveness. Spike watched as the hound wrapped her arms around the dragoness, not doubt whispering soothing words into her ears.

Another flash of his nightmare came to his mind and it only made him feel that more bad or the two’s misfortune. ’Come on, come on. They need your help.’ Pushing past any doubts in his head, Spike ran over to the stream, and caught the attention of the two females. “Who are you?”

“Not now,” Spike said, focusing on only gathering enough of his own internal dragon-magic, but was stopped by the limiters on his wrists. ’No, no, no, not now!’ Spike tried again, only for the same result to happen. Every time he tried, all he got was a small stream to shot up from the water only for it to barely miss the house. He refused to let his nightmare become the two’s reality and continued to try to get something done about the fire. “Rah, this doesn’t make any sense, I was able to use my magic this morning so work!”

Veil was going to going to tell Spike to stop trying when three columns of water shot out from around them and onto the fire. “Yeah! Drake, whatever you’re doing, keep doing it,” Veil cheered on Spike, not knowing he wasn’t the one forming the columns of water, and reed her head back when Spike dropped his hands to his sides. “What are you-”

“It’s not me,” Spike cut in, dropping his head in defeat, and knowing who really was the one bending the water. Spike turned around to the sky, only to confirm his guess. “It’s her.” Veil followed Spike’s eyes to see a bright blue and darker purple dragoness hovering in the air, holding her hands out towards the house, and paying them no mind as she focused on getting the fire under control.

Before Veil could question the new dragoness, another one came blasting down from the sky, and was able to knock back some of the flames some before landing in front of Spike. “Yo Spike, me and Frost will deal with this fire. You help her,” Quill said as she directed a hand towards the fallen dragoness.

Spike nodded his head and turned toward Cyclone. However, before Spike could use his heal-water technique on her, Veil pulled her away from him. “Please,” Spike started, dipping his hand in the water, and gather up what little magic he could to encase his and in a spare of pure water and magic. “My sister and Frost can handle the fire, but I need to look at her.” Veil started to defensively growl while she pulled Cyclone but Spike refused to allow himself to fail twice in one day. “I’m not going to hurt her, please, I couldn’t help save your house, but let me do this much.”

Veil again refused to listen to Spike’s gentle voice as her growl turn into a deep snarl that showed all of her sharp serrated teeth. However, Cyclone was able to see the good Spike was trying to do, and pushed out of Veil’s protective grip.

“It’s okay Veil,” she softly said before the hound could do anything to stop her. Cyclone’s smile was enough to get the hound to finally listen to her. Cyclone turned her back to Spike and slipped her pink dress off her shoulders just enough to where Spike could start working. Right before Spike could begin catching on Cyclone’s dragon’s soul, she turned her head around to meet him in the eyes. “Th-this isn’t going to hurt right? That’s what you said.”

Spike saw the worry and fear in Cyclone’s soft pink eyes, forcing another flash of his nightmare to come before his eyes again, but pushed through. “I-I can’t promise it will be completely painless, but if something isn’t done, you’ll be in a lot more pain than without.”

Cyclone closed her eyes and gave a slight nod of her head, right now she was scared, hurt, and confused, but Spike was willing to help. And if it could help get...whatever have caused this whole mess under control, then she was willing to let him help. “Okay...okay do what you got to.”

Spike nodded his head and placed his hands on Cyclone’s white back. “Could you try easing up a bit, I need to look in you dragon’s soul.” Cyclone tried to listen to Spike’s command but the sounds of her and Veil’s house burning down played a consent remainder of it being her fault. “Try breathing, slowly, in and out. One, two, three.”

Soon, the dragoness was able to block out all the distracting sounds around her, and closed her eyes to focus solely on her breathing. Spike soon followed suit and started to form the same expansive lake dwelling in his mind.

When he opened his eyes, all he could see was the crystal blue lake, but still took a moment to look around for any of the ghost heart that infested him. After being satisfied that he saw none, Spike turned his attention to a small pink gem floating in a blue and white aurora. The gem was something he had never seen before, then again, so was Dusk’s.

The white aurora was enhanced by the blue runes flowing around the gem and it was something Spike had never dreamed of before. Beautiful, bright, and worth protecting. Something about this gem had sparked a fire in Spike’s chest as he slowly started to walk towards it with a hungry look in his eyes.

Suddenly, the faint sound of the dragoness crying was able to snap Spike out of his trance, and bring his focus back to the task at hand. Spike raised both of his hands around the gem and begin the same motions as he did on Dusk a few days back.

While Spike dealt with whatever problem that infested Cyclone, Quill and Frost soon started to get the flames under control, but couldn’t move any closer to finish off what was left. Veil was left to watch everything she’s ever know go up into flames.

Suddenly, the hound made a loud gasp as she remembered that something very important was left in the house. “No, no, no!” She started to run towards the front door, which had flames spewing out of it. Even being two feet away was enough for her to feel the heat coming off of it and she would have made it if it wasn’t for a diamond dog popping up from the ground and grabbing her waist. “Let. Me. GO!”

“Not a chance in hell, hound,” Wolf said in a strong voice while the younger beta hound thrashed about trying to get away from his vice grip. “Whatever is in that house, isn’t worth your life.” Veil continued to fight against Wolf’s hold but she wasn’t lucky enough to be an alpha hound, so she only had half of his strength.

While Wolf held back Veil, Spike continued his work on Cyclone’s dragon’s soul, and the situation went bad to worse when he discovered a large chunk of it was missing. Spike did whatever he could think of doing but that would only get the dragoness so far.

Spiked sighed as he knew there wasn’t anything he could do besides tell Cyclone the bad news. “Y-you’re missing pieces of your dragon’s soul,” Spike informed with a grim tone as he knew a dragon’s soul was the key for any dragon using magic. “There isn’t anything else I can do for you, I’m so sorry.”

Not only has he failed the two twice in a few short minutes, also revealed a grim truth to the dragoness, and couldn’t do anything to help her. In fact, all he could do was sit back and watch Frost and Quill handle the fire, but that wasn’t enough. If he didn’t have on the limiters, he could have helped more, he could have-

“It’s okay…” Spike was pulled out of his sadness by Cyclone's soft voice, however, he refused to look at her in fear of seeing the disappointment or sadness on her face. “Please,” Cyclone started again, taking Spike’s cheeks in her hands, and raising his head to face her. “You and your clan did your best, you shouldn’t beat yourself up. Besides...i-its my fault anyways.”

The look in the dragoness’s eyes quickly reminded Spike of what happened in Canterlot two months ago and he couldn’t stand to see her suffer under the ghost heart like he did. “No.” Spike took Cyclone’s hands and slowly placed them in her lap. “No, don’t do that. I was in the same spot you are right now. For your shake, don’t blame yourself.”

“B-but-”

“I said let go of me!” Both dragons turned their attention towards Wolf, who was still holding onto Veil’s waist, and taking any punches she could give. Falling support beams just added to Veil’s tears that were streaming down her face like the stream being used to fight the fire. “Please!” She finally broke down, falling to her knees, and opening crying; something Cyclone have never seen her do before. “L-let me...let m-me back in...I need to find it.”

Wolf knelt down to touch Veil’s shoulder, only for her to smack it away. “Hound, whatever you ‘need’ to find it isn’t worth your fur being cooked alive,” Wolf said, knowing the pain the hound was going through, but didn’t want her to make any foolish choices.

“No! Y-you don’t understand...Cyclone she-”

“Veil,” Cyclone started with the softest, yet firmest, voices she could muster despite her condition. She knelt down to pull Veil into a tight hug to get her to spot shaking. “Please you don’t have to risk your life over it for me.”

“No, Cyclone, your necklace...” While Cyclone did her best to calm Veil down, Spike look towards the fire as it was no mostly under control, and quickly made up his mind. Veil maybe unable to go into the fire but Spike was a dragon. A dragon that had fireproof scales, he hoped.

’Now or never.’ Spike took one last deep breath before changing into the dying inferno. Wolf, who was thinking of a way to end the fire for good, was caught off-guard by the drake’s sudden charge, and was only just barely able to stop him.

Wolf grabbed onto Spike’s shoulder and pulled him away from the burning front door, which was now unusable. “Spike what in Cerberus’s name do you think you’re doing?”

“Wolf please, I messed up twice today let me do this one thing.” Wolf glared into Spike’s eyes, telling him that he had no intentions of letting him do something so foolish. “I can do it, my scales will protect me.” No matter what Spike had to say, Wolf wasn’t going to let him go and risk his life for something as trivial as a necklace. “Wolf, let me help them, they’re going to lose everything, but let me save at least one thing.”

Wolf looked straight into Spike’s eyes, speaking only of determination and assurance, but yet have a small sense of fear. “Fine, two minutes. You got two minutes to grab whatever they are talking about. Think you can manage that?”

“Two minutes is a minute more than I need,” Spike said with confidence that was able to fool even himself. Wolf nodded his head, trusting Spike to keep his word, and letting his shoulder go. “Thanks Wolf.”

“Get moving, you only have a minute and thirty seconds left.” Spike nodded his head and started for the house. With the front door blocked by the fire and fallen support beams, Spike climbed the side wall to reach the second floor window, and hopped into a window where the fire was at it’s weakest.

Once inside, Spike’s vision was clouded with black smoke and blue and white embers of the fire. Fighting through the smoke, and keeping his head down low, Spike looked around the burning room to find that it had to be the bedroom.

Spike strained his eyes to find anything that looked like a necklace, and luck would have it, it was sitting right on the dresser across the room. ’Too easy,’ he thought as he started to make his way towards the dresser but was stopped by a burning beam falling in front of him and on the bed.

Embers being thrown up to his face caused Spike to hold up his hands and take a step back from the burning beam. ’That’s not going to stop me.’ Backing up to the window, Spike ran towards the burning beam of wood, and jumped over it. However, he didn’t fully made the leap as the tip of his foot got caught, and sent him tumbling nose-first into the dresser.

The blow caused a dull throbbing pain to shot from Spike’s nose to the back of his head, but lucky didn’t draw any blood. What was even more lucky was the sudden impact with the dresser knocked the necklace off the dresser where it caught itself on one of Spike’s head-spines. Reaching for the locket, Spike was able to quickly recognize the gem locked inside of the heart shaped necklace. A soft pink, with a blue and white shine to it; Cyclone’s dragon soul.

“I got to get this to her,” Spike said, pushing through the throbbing pain in his head to stand up from the ground as he placed the necklace in his pocket. Just as he was going to jump over the burning beam again, a blast of freezing cold water shot through the window, and was able to clear a path for him. “Thank you Frost.”

Backing to the dresser, Spike ran to the beam, and not only jumped it but manage to clear the window altogether. Which was bad. Spike had forgotten that he was on the second floor and was now faced with a with a big drop.

However, Quill was able to swoop in, and prevent him from falling to the hard ground. Though, she wasn’t please with his ‘heroic’ choice. “Quill you wouldn't-” Spike wasn’t allowed to finish his thought before Quill dropped him into the stream below and landed mere feet away. “What was that for,” Spike shouted after he gotten out of the water and walked towards his sister.

“You fucking idiot!” Suddenly, Quill spun around and brought a fist down to Spike’s face, throwing him to the ground. Thankfully, adrenaline was still pumping through Spike’s veins so he didn’t feel much of the punch, but still looked up to Quill in confusion. “Do you know that you could have died in there!”

Upon seeing the small signs of tears in his sister’s eyes, Spike quickly overlooked her for slagging him in the jaw, and started to stand on his feet again. “I know Quill, I know, but I had to do something.”

“And I hope that something was worth it,” Wolf said, walking over to the drake, and slagging him in the gut. Spike had never been in a fight with Wolf, so being nailed in the gut by his fist was a new pain that hurt worse than Quill’s fist. “Spike,” Wolf started, making Spike look up from the ground and towards him. “Why you do this to yourself?”

Spike then turned his head towards Veil and Cyclone as they were walking over to him with Frost right behind and smiled. “Because I couldn’t let them lose everything,” he said standing up from the ground with his own strength and walking towards the two females. Once he was standing right in front of Cyclone, Spike pulled the necklace from his pocket, handed to her. “I believe this belongs to you milady,” Spike said with his head bowed to the two females.

Cyclone took the necklace from Spike and held it close to her heart. “Thank you, thank you,” she repeated over and over again while tears streamed down her face. Spike raised his head and smiled, he was able to save one piece of their life, and that’s what mattered.

Suddenly, the fire still raging on in the house stole their attentions again, and Veil sighed in pure defeat. The house was a total lost, nothing would save it even if the fire was put out, but at least Cyclone was safe. Frost sensed the defeat, yet small joy, coming from the hound, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Veil soon realize that she was trying to get her attention and slowly turned her head towards the changeling in disguise. “I can end the fire but, I can’t guarantee that your house will survive.” Veil turned towards the house again, the very same she called home for most of her live, and held all of her memories. Then he turned towards Cyclone, the dragoness that found her way into her lonely life, and what was most important to her.

“Okay, okay...do what you have to.” Grief, lost, bitterness, and sorrow was some of the many emotions coming from the hound, and the feeling of them made Frost sick to her stomach. But she pushed past the weighting emotions and walked toward the stream. As soon as she stepped in, Frost started to gather threads of the stream to freeze it and form a frozen halberd.

Taking aim towards the window Spike jumped through, Frost threw the frozen weapon into the bedroom, and landed a direct hit on the beam that nearly crushed Spike. “Hiems spiritus.” Frost snapped her fingers, causing the buildup of magic in the halberd to react with the natural magic in the very air, and encased the entire house in ice.

Frost took a deep breath to calm her nerves before collapsing down into the small river. “Frost,” Quill shouted, running to her lover, and helping her to her feet. “Frost, are you alright?”

“Yes, yes,” Frost started, slightly out of breath, and used Quill to support much of her weight. “I’m just a little tired from using too much magic and…” Frost lean further into Quill’s ear and took a quick nibble. “I’m a little hungry is all,” she whispered into Quill’s ear, causing the dragoness to shake a little and blush when she caught the real meaning.

“Later Frost, you know, when we’re alone.” Even though she heard Quill words, that didn’t stop Frost from biting on her ear, and slipping her hand into her shirt. “Um...hey Wolf I’m um, taking Frost back to High Moon.” One look towards the two, Wolf quickly knew what was happening, and waved them off after telling Peewee to guide them back to the temple.

Peewee nodded his head and flew off Spike’s shoulder to guide Quill and Frost back to High Moon. Everyone watched the three fly off before Wolf turned his attention back to Cyclone and Veil. “Alright, I know that this is sort of sudden, but I think I can help you two out.”

“Yeah, how,” Veil falsely laughed, biting back more tears before Wolf could continue.

“Listen, hound, I can give you guys a place to stay while you figure something out.” Veil still was skeptical of of Wolf’s offer, but with nothing else, it couldn’t hurt to hear him out. “You’ll have to work for your own food but at least you’ll be somewhere safe.”

Veil turned her head towards the ground, she couldn’t believe it. Right after her house was burnt down, here comes some unknown alpha dog offering her and Cyclone a place to stay whilst they work something out; it was way too good to be true.

“What’s the catch?”

Wolf sighed, knowing that dealing with the hound is going to be a problem if she continues to act this way. “The only thing is, you’ll have to help out with a few things. Now isn’t that fair? A roof over your heads, food in your stomachs, and all you have to do is help with a few things.”

Veil started to nod her head, seeing no other immediate option than to take Wolf’s offer to live in High Moon. “Fine, not like we got much other choice.” Cyclone dropped her head slightly, knowing all of this was her fault no matter the way she looked at it, and could only hope that Veil could ever forgive her. “By the way, the name’s Veilstone, but Veil is fine with me.”

“Wolf, just Wolf,” the dog returned the introduction and waving his hand over to Spike, who was rubbing his cheek as Quill’s punch was now catching up with him. “This is Spike Dragul and the two that flew off were his sister, Quill Dragul, and her marefriend Frost.”

“Whoa wait,” Veil started before pausing to think back to when she first saw Frost. “What do you mean ‘marefriend?’ That totally was a dragoness...right?”

Wolf started to chuckle as he shook his head. “I’ll explain it on the way, come on.” Wolf started to walk down the hill with Spike following close behind. Veil and Cyclone took a moment to watch the two before shortly following them.

They may have lost a house but they’ll soon see, they gained a family.