What? Another chapter? So soon? It can't be! But it is! A good song for this chapter would be Hero by Chad Kroger. Just sayin. This is it. The exciting, probably tear jerking and utterly epic end of the wedding!

- - - -

"Mam, more changelings have been spotted coming in from the south!"

A random earth pony guard gave his report, saluted, and left to rejoin the battle.

Spitfire hadn't expected to be field promoted to Commander of the entire guard, but when her scouts found poor Sheathed Sword...

The mare shook her head. She had a battle to win.  She would mourn her compatriot later.

Spitfire had made a base out of a donut shop. Joe was a great pony, he probably wouldn't mind that they were using the shop now that that HQ was captured. Even if he did... well, with the princesses busy battling the threat, she was more or less in charge of Canterlot.

Dammit, she was an acrobat, a fighter... not a general. She should be out there, leading the charge and-

"Spitfire. Calm down. It's going to be okay. We'll make it out of this."

It was an empty promise that had no guarantee, but it was the best they had. She felt better though, with her partner there with her. The other pegasus was her rock when she needed him to be, the goofball that he was. With a slight smile, she rolled her eyes.

"Shut up, Soren."

"Yes, boss."

- - - -

Cadence finally felt like she wasn't dying, so that was a plus. The building that was supposed to hold her wedding might have been in shambles, but it was being largely ignored by the two armies. Ashamedly, Cadence had went and made herself a small snack out of what she could salvage from the buffet that had been laid out in the kitchens. She was always a bit of a stress eater, and she had been kept at the brink of starvation for who knew how long. Weeks, maybe months. It had been forever to her in her captivity.

It restored her energy a little bit, so that was a plus. Now, to get to work fixing her soon to be husband.

- - - -

Spike felt relief as he saw his friends at the door, all clad in the Elements and with Luna.

If there was a Princess here with them, then they could handle the queen.

"GANGWAY! SHE'S TRAILING ME!"

The mares all looked up to see the rather unexpected sight of a dragon flying towards them.

"Spike!" was a shout used by all six mares. Luna didn't really know him all that well, so, he figured she wouldn't be as excited.

Not dwelling on that, he turned and exhaled as much fire as he could while landing. Chrysalis was still far behind him, but the inferno would catch her attention.

"I've held her off as long as I could... your... turn..." he said, out of breath. He collapsed on one knee, and felt a tingling in his new wings. He could only watch in pure sadness as they faded away into green sparks.

"Aww... I just got those, too..."

Before they could talk anymore, the Changeling Queen had finally caught up to them.

"That was an impressive chase, young dragon. You are a fine example of your species given how little you must know about them. Ah, Twilight Sparkle. How did it feel, having all of your loved ones lose faith in you?"

Twilight growled, her horn sparkling dangerously with purple light.

"Not as bad as you're going to feel, you dirty, rotten bi-"

She was cut off by a green magical blast, and the seven ponies and dragon scattered.

- - - -

Celestia saw the green jet of flame and felt no small amount of pride for her dragon. He had grown so much. With a few quick calculations, she realized that it came from the Vault. Her surrogate children, were fighting to protect their home, and she couldn't be more proud of them.

Or worried.

The Mare of the Sun flew a little bit faster.

- - -

The Mare of the Moon stared down the Queen with a determined smirk.

"I knew I should have brought my flyswatter."

Chrysalis glared and shot another bolt of energy at Luna, who met it with one of her own. Unlike her bout with Celestia, this time, both Twilight and Rarity joined in with their own magic, and the beams met with an explosion.

With a grimace, Luna brushed herself off.

"Well, looks like you're a bug with a bit of sting."

The changeling queen looked towards the south and could only smile.

"I'm a bug with a whole lot more backup than you, as well."

And like that, an entire army was upon them.

The Elements of Harmony, Luna, and Spike all backed into a circle, changelings on all sides.

Luna gulped. Powerful as she was, this was longer odds than she cared for. It took two unicorns to back her up with a beam struggle to equal Chrysalis, and she couldn't fight her and her army at the same time.

"Twilight Sparkle. Can you handle the army with your friends?"

The lavender unicorn laughed dryly.

"Sure, would you like me to move a castle or two while I'm at it?"

Luna shrugged.

"Well, if you would like to, go ahead. I'll handle h-"

"No. She's MINE."

Everyone looked up to see the Princess of the Sun. The sun seemed to intensify behind her, and the winds were picking up.

"You. You come into my kingdom, kidnap and nearly kill my family, destroy my city and threaten my subjects. Who knows how many ponies have died because of this? My subjects. My responsibility. What's more, you even try and turn me against my student. Your list of crimes is great, changeling. You. Are. Mine. Luna, you and the girls handle the rest."

Luna could only grin. Her older sister was revealing a side of her that she hadn't seen since they were young. The Fury of the Sun was great indeed.

Though, personally, Luna preferred her own old monkier of "Night Mare" even if it was associated with her evil side these days.  

"Only if I get to handle the next major threat to our home, 'Tia," Luna joked, and she turned to the changelings.

"Elements of Harmony. You take one side, I shall take the other, yes?" The girls nodded, and magic blasts began flying.

- - - -

Spike dove away from the circle. Luna and Twilight could handle the changelings. Celestia needed back up. How he was going to help escaped him, now that his wings had disappeared and most of his fire used up. Dreamy was strangely silent. The changelings were busy fighting the ponies, and Celestia and Chrysalis were now flying back and forth, releasing powerful bursts of magic that seemed to rock the planet when they hit the ground. He could only watch in awe.

- - --

Celestia, now knowing the extent of her enemy's power, was much better prepared. She was not one usually caught off guard. It wouldn't happen again. She felt the power of the sun behind her, and unleashed it with every blast. She expertly dodged her foe's green magic with a practiced ease, letting them whiz by her, and fired back. And finally, a blast hit the changeling mare. She went crashing to the ground with a startled and pained yelp, hitting the cobblestone streets hard. Chrysalis let out a roaring battle cry as she flew back up, firing multiple blasts of her green energy at the Sun Princess. Celestia erected a yellow shield that redirected the energy away, frustrating the changeling even more. Then, she saw it. An opening that Chrysalis was seeking on her... and when she saw a victorious grin on the changeling's face, Celestia knew that she had found it. The changeling aimed her horn at Spike and fired, and Celestia dove.

- - - -

Luna and the Elements battled the changeling army. While the actual Elements didn't seem to be working like they usually did, wearing them seemed to boost their energy and abilities greatly. Twilight and Rarity never felt as powerful as they did, and Applejack had actually knocked a changeling into a wall earlier. Rainbow Dash was a streak of color, Fluttershy was staring down about forty changelings who didn't even move, and Pinkie... was somehow shooting her party cannon at every single point of space and time, hitting the changelings with weaponized confetti.  

There was a lull in the fighting, as heads turned to see the two respective leaders battle it out. They saw Celestia dive toward Spike, and a green magic blast coming at him from Chrysalis.

A horrible feeling settled in Twilight's stomach, as she was helpless to stop what happened next.

- - - -

Spike could only watch in shock as the green light traveled to him. Well. That was counterproductive to what he had planned for today. It was amazing, how slow time seemed to go when something inevitable happens. He could see it coming, see Celestia diving towards him, and every fiber of his brain was telling him to get out of the way, but it was too fast. There was no way. Spike closed his eyes and accepted his fate with a sigh, his only regret being that he hadn't been able to kiss Rarity. Or Fluttershy. He wouldn't have minded either.

He waited for the pain to come, but there was none. Just a sudden weight. Spike opened his eyes to see Celestia in front of him, taking the blast in her side as she fell into him.

"I am still far more powerful than Celest-"

Three very powerful blasts of magic hit Chrysalis in mid gloat. She flew backwards a great distance as the seven other mares ran towards the dragon and the white alicorn, the changeling army behind them, held back by a very stern looking Fluttershy using her Stare.

"'Tia!"

"Princess Celestia!"

Twilight and Luna knelt down at Celestia's side, Spike holding her gently, with the shocked look still fixed on his face.

Celestia fluttered her eyes open, looking up at her student and her sister.

"Well... I won't say that didn't hurt," she said as she broke into a coughing fit. Twilight's horn glowed purple as she began to do a basic healing spell, holding her horn to Celestia's stomach. She stopped though, and took a step back, paling considerably.

"No..."

Celestia managed a weak smile.

"Twilight Sparkle. You have grown up so much. To think that just a few years ago, you were a little filly that was more interested in books than friends... and now you're a smart, beautiful young mare with the greatest friends you could ever have... I am so proud of you, Twilight..."

"No, Princess... Don't talk like this..."

The white alicorn ignored this.

"Luna?"

The blue alicorn looked at her sister sadly.

"I'll... take care of them, 'Tia... I promise, I'll do my best."

Celestia nodded.

"I know. You're going to do great..."

Twilight had tears coming out of her eyes, her entire body shaking.

"Spike..."

The dragon was finally broken out of his stupor. He looked at his mother in his arms, and clutched her tightly. He turned her so she could look at him.

"You... you're so big now. So grown up. So handsome... I'm.... so.. pro-, " a cough, "I love you so much... my son..."

Her eyes closed, and the billowing aurora that was Celestia's mane faded to a light pink color. A final spark shot from her horn, and it slowly went into Twilight's crown.

"Princess..." Spike said, shaking her.

"Princess Celestia... get up..."more shaking, no response.

"Mom... please... wake up..."a single tear fell from his eye and hit Celestia's face.

Nothing.

Spike numbly stood up, gently laying the alicorn down. Chrysalis had flown back and saw Celestia's body laying on the ground, and she could only laugh. She had as good as won. With Celestia gone, there was nothing in her way.

"You..." Spike's voice was shaking, tears openly spilling.

"You're going to pay!"

A loud, primal roar loosed itself as Spike began to grow in size. The dragon was in his full adult form.

- - - -

He let loose another powerful roar, and glared down at Chrysalis. A powerful swipe of his claw knocked the changeling away flying. He turned to see what was left of the changeling army near him and exhaled a powerful green jet of flame at the large mass of black, which faded into ashes. The rampaging dragon had no idea where they had been sent. He wasn't in control. He didn't want to be.

He was hurting, and they would hurt too.

The dragon slowly reared up on his hind legs and let out another fierce roar as Chrysalis shot magic beams at him. They glanced off his skin, naturally resistant to magic. The puny mare couldn't hope to scratch him. What little bit of Spike that was left called for her blood, and he was going to get it.

- - - -

Finally, Shining Armor snapped out of it.

"Shiny!"

Cadence threw her forelegs around her fiance, who weakly returned the hug. Their horns touched, a spark of energy going between them.

"We need to use your shield spell! I'll give you as much help as I can!"

- - - -

A wave of lavender energy erupted from the wedding hall, and the fighting stopped as it began to swat changelings away, pushing them out of the war torn Canterlot. Cheers began to erupt from the ponies.

Spitfire could only smile in relief as the battle seemed to be over.

"Boss, Captain Armor's spell is back on! It's pushing them out! We've wo-" he was cut off by a pair of lips meeting his own.

"Shut up, Soarin."

"Yes, bo-"

He could get used to getting cut off like this.

- - - -

"See, Derpy? I told you it would be okay. How about Barcelona? Oh, or how bout Space Mareami? Dinky would love it there! There's theme parks and roller coasters! Space roller coasters!"

Derpy shook her head. He never changed. They had made it to the TARDIS, the police box's doors open. The two ponies stood outside it.

With a big smile, Derpy couldn't resist it.

"Well, then, Doctor... Allons-y!"

- - - -

The rampaging dragon roared in fury as his prey was knocked away from him into the horizon. He wanted blood! She needed to pay!

A small hoof on his shoulder made him turn his massive head to see what had dared touch him. A small, yellow pegasus, who looked utterly terrified but determined.

"Spike... calm down... it's going to be okay. We're all here for you. Calm down..."

He looked down at the ponies, at the mares all surrounding the dark blue and the purple one. They were at a body, all crying and holding one another. Why was he so sad to see this?

Spike looked back at the yellow pegasus as realization struck and his mind coming out of its white hot feral rage.

An anguished howl echoed throughout all of Canterlot as the dragon shrunk down. Fluttershy led him gently to Celestia's body, and the dragon broke down crying, grabbing onto Twilight and holding her tightly.

- - - - -

A  few days later

- - - - -

The mood in Canterlot was a somber one. Casualties were being found everywhere, but most were soldiers. Thanks to the evacuation shelters, civilians were largely unhurt. Everypony was equal now as they rebuilt, the lower class and the higher class meeting and uniting in this time of tragedy.

Celestia's funeral had been crushingly sad, especially to the ones who had had the pleasure of being more personally aquainted with her. Luna, with a great burst of magic, had sent her corpse to the sun, feeling as if that was the right place.

Twilight had agreed to stay for the time being in Canterlot, and her friends had agreed to stay there with her. They were needed there more, for right now. Luna and Cadence would need all the help they could get running the country and repairing the city at the same time.  

Spike found himself alone, sitting on the rails of Celestia's balcony, where she would look out upon Canterlot. He had spent a few days here, actually, just sitting quietly and watching as the Canterlotians rebuilt their homes.

He had been thinking a lot.

And blaming himself for it.

If he had been faster, he could have gotten out of the way and Celestia wouldn't have gotten hurt. If he had been stronger, he could have protected himself. Had he been a better fighter, he wouldn't have even needed to leave the wedding hall to defeat her.

It wouldn't happen again, he decided.

- - - -

The seven of them ate in silence.

Spike looked at each of the mares with him. They were actually being called Princesses now, and it was quite fitting given just how much they had taken charge. It was decided, however, that they would all go home to Ponyville for a week in order to get their affairs in order before coming back.

Applejack would need to recruit from different parts of the Apple family so they could take her place while she handled managing all of the rebuilding. Pinkie Pie expressed interest in working with Donut Joe once things settled down enough for her to...well, to be Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy just had to move her animal friends that wanted to come with her, while Rarity was quite enchanted by the idea of opening a new Boutique in Canterlot.  Rainbow Dash was even offered a chance to train with the Wonderbolts once they recovered from their injuries. It wasn't a membership, but it was more than enough for the mare that could do a Sonic Rainboom.

Twilight had taken to her new royal duties with near zealotry. She bounced all over the place, teleporting to different parts of Canterlot as she supervised construction, tended to the sick, and just helped ponies in any way she could. The girls had taken to wearing the Elements at all times during the day, letting the powerful artifacts increase their power and energy.

Soon, they found themselves at the train station and then back into Ponyville. They all collected their things, and Twilight found himself alone with her brother in the Ponyville Library.

- - - -

"Well... I guess we won't see this place again for a while," Twilight said, a sad smile gracing her lips as she packed a suitcase full of her personal belongings, "but why...aren't you packing?"

Spike shrugged

"I... decided something, Twilight."

Packing stopped as she focused on him.

"I know you've told me a dozen times, that it wasn't my fault what happened in Canterlot. But I can't help shake the feeling. She's still out there, and there are other horrible things out in the world... and I'm not strong enough. I can't protect you... and I never want you to get hurt."

Twilight was silent for a few minutes, packing her things and finishing the first suitcase by zipping it up.

"Well, what's your decision, then, Spike?"

He sighed. This was the complicated part.

"I'm going to find a teacher. From the way she spoke, changelings know a lot more about dragons we do. I'm getting all these powers and I have no idea how to use them. Maybe if I had known more... the point is, I need to get stronger. I can't be your assistant if I'm not capable of protecting you, Twilight."

Twilight shook her head.

"I don't need you to protect me, Spike. I need you to be my friend. I'm sure that once Canterlot is rebuilt, I can help figure out how to train you. All six of us could figure it out!"

Spike suddenly walked to the mare and hugged her.

"I'm sorry, Twilight. But I can't risk that monster coming out again, either. I destroyed Ponyville and I could have leveled Canterlot. I need to find someone that knows about dragons to help me control that."

His logic was sound, Twilight had to admit. She knew that it bothered him that that thing existed inside him. He had told her after his first transformation that he almost hadn't been able to come back, from what he could remember of it.

"...Okay. When are you leaving?"

Spike let go of the hug.

"No time like the present."

"You aren't even going to say goodbye to your friends?"

Spike shook his head, "No, I'm having a hard enough time saying goodbye to you. Just tell them what I told you and they should understand."

A southern drawl answered him back.

"Ah reckon we would understand, Sugarcube, but we'd much rather see you off."

"Yeah, leaving without saying goodbye is really uncool, Spike."

"I say, darling, if you are leaving then you must receive some affection before you go-"

"LIKE A PARTY!"

"That...sounds nice..."

Spike looked downstairs to see his friends all looking up at him.

"How long have you all been standing there?"

Rainbow Dash had to smile.

"Oh, for the last few minutes. Enough to know that you want to go on some epic quest of self discovery. Again. I really hate it, though. I was kind of looking forward to flying against a dragon!"

They all managed to laugh, and soon Spike's impromptu going away party began and lasted throughout the night.

- - - -

The families of his friends were all there with him at the train station to see them all off. Applebloom and Sweetie Bell were attached to their respective sisters, and Scootaloo had even shown up to see off Rainbow Dash. The Cakes had made a cake for them all to share and were watching Pinkie play with the baby Cakes. Twilight was talking with the Mayor excitedly about something while Fluttershy hung with Rarity and her family.

Spike sat on the bench and sighed, happily.  They'd be okay. And so would he. Soon, the final boarding call rung out, and the mares made their way on board. He watched them board. Applejack tilted her hat to him. Pinkie waved excitedly. Rarity blew a kiss at him.

Fluttershy actually walked over to him and hugged him.

"Be careful, Spike..."

"You know it, Flutters-"

A quick peck on the lips and Fluttershy was gone in a blink of an eye, leaving Spike to wonder just who the fastest pony in Equestria really was. Twilight came over to him with a surprised, questioning look.

"What was that about?"

"Oh, I guess I left my swag on. Mares can't resist me," the dragon said with a goofy grin on his face.

"Easy there, loverboy," the unicorn said, rolling her eyes before wrapping the dragon in a hug, "I'm going to miss you. Make sure not to eat too many sweets, get to bed at a decent time, and write often! Not every day, if you don't want to, but I'd really prefer everyday so I can be sure a hundred percent that you're safe and if you decided that you want to come to Canterlot, you're more than welcome and-"

The last warning call rung out.

"I love you too, sis."

Twilight sniffed as tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"Take care, Spike. I love you. Good bye!" With a flare of magic, the mare teleported onto the train right as the door closed.

Within minutes, they were gone. Spike looked up to the sky. Peewee was circling around him. Spike whistled to get his attention, and the young firebird flew down and landed on his shoulder.

"Well, Peewee, looks like it's just you and me."

The bird chirped happily. The dragon turned to face a road that led out of Ponyville. He wasn't sure where it went, but that was kind of the point, he supposed. With a single step, his new journey began.

- - - -

END PART ONE

- - - -

My feels. They're sad. How are yours?