“What?!” Spike barked out, throwing himself forward towards Celestia’s projection. “What did you just say?”

“I said that Saddle Arabia has just fallen into civil war,” Celestia repeated, looking to Spike with a hint of confusion. “Luna and I wish to discuss our options, and we want to make sure you are involved in the decision making, Twilight. After all, you are a princess now.”

Twilight’s pupils shrank as she swallowed a large gulp of air. “A-are you sure?”

“Have I ever not been sure, Twilight?” Celestia asked, “but don’t fret, Luna’s already designed a great deal of the plan of action, we simply wish for another opinion on the matter.”

“We were just there,” Spike said quietly to himself. “How could…?”

“There was an uprising in the west at about eleven-thirty last night,” Celestia explained, “before anyone knew it over a quarter of the country was either on fire or running from the flames.”

“Which city was hit the hardest?” Twilight asked, her eyes turning to Spike.

“Hoofof,” Celestia simply answered, sending a jolting pain through Spike’s spine.

“Hakem. That son of a bitch,” Spike said to himself, his teeth clenched so tightly his jaw cramped.

“We’ll get ready as soon as we—”

“There’s no time Twilight,” Celestia interrupted, “I’ve already sent our fastest train to receive you, it should be there within the next thirty minutes.”

Twilight nodded as the image faded out. She lowered her head and looked over to Spike. “Looks like I’ll be heading out,” she said, letting out a deep breath.

Spike rubbed at his mouth, looked like he was going to say something, then rubbed at his mouth again. Finally, he took a few steps towards her. “What do you think they’ll do?” he asked.

“If I know anything about Luna she’s already prepared a full scale assault on Hoofof,” Twilight answered, much to Spike’s dismay, “but hopefully Celestia and I can talk her down if she’s already gone that far.”

“Amira’s there. She has to be there. You know that,” he said evenly. “I’m coming with you. I want to talk this out with Luna too.”

“I wouldn’t even try to stop you.” Twilight sighed, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Come on, let’s get to the station.”

Without warning, Twilight snapped her fingers and the two were at the station in a literal instant.

“Everytime I think I’m going to be sick when you do that, but I somehow hold it down,” he commented.

“That’s more than most can say Spike,” Twilight laughed, “you should’ve seen Rainbow after the first time.”

He sobered up quickly, looking down the empty train tracks. “Do you think Luna will still go through with it?”

“Luna can be headstrong, as you know very well,” Twilight replied, the smile on her face replaced with a frown, “but maybe, just maybe, we can talk her down, and if not us we might be able to use her new consort as a proxy.”

“I don’t know what I’ll do, but I won’t let her do that. Not when Amira could be hurt.”

“And how would you plan on stopping an immortal princess with the power to move the moon and sun, who has also trained for centuries as a world class weapons master?” Twilight asked, folding her arms across her chest.

“I don’t fucking know,” Spike loudly snapped, clenching his hands to his sides. “But I won’t let her touch Amira. I won’t let anyone touch her.”

Twilight jolted at his reaction, but soon enough she was back to her former position. “I doubt it’s in Luna’s plans to have any innocents be harmed, but as she’s said before, thine eyes may be able to see who is friend or foe, but the blade has always been impartial.”

He said nothing, glancing at her, only to return his gaze to the tracks. “I won’t let her,” he repeated after another long pause.

It didn’t take very long for the train Celestia had sent to make itself known to Twilight and Spike, it cut through the tracks from Canterlot like a hot knife through butter. The second it stopped the two rushed onto the train, where they were greeted by guards that stood anywhere between six to twelve inches taller than him. For once, that didn’t matter to him, what was actually concerning him was that the next closest turnabout was nearly three hours by normal train standards, and he really didn’t want to waste time.

Either way, he approached a seat at random and promptly plopped down, doing his best to keep calm under the circumstances.

“How long will this take?” he asked out loud, waiting for anyone to answer him, be it Twilight or the guards.

“No more than an hour,” a guard replied, “this train is the fastest in all Equestria specifically because it doesn’t need turnabouts.”

“Doesn’t need—how does it not need turnabouts?” Spike sputtered out.

“Thing’s got two engines,” the guard replied, “that and it runs on magic instead of coal or oil, makes it a much faster, smoother ride.”

Spike was impressed, even if he didn’t show it. A magical powered train wasn’t something you saw every day for sure.

“Ya better buckle up your highness,” another guard said forebodingly, “this thing goes pretty fast, and we don’t want another Princess Luna incident.”

“What?” Twilight asked, blinking a few times, “Princess Luna incident?”

“Poor girl wasn’t strapped in,” the guard explained, “once this thing took off she went flying, even with all that armor she wears, took five guards out before that Ryan fellow managed to catch her.”

Without preamble, Spike quickly belted himself in.

Suddenly a loud sound echoed through the cabin, prompting all the guards on the train to double and triple check their anchors. “Train’s no longer locked onto the tracks your highness,” the first guard said, “better grab a seat before the conductor punches it.”

“When’s he—”

Before Twilight could finish her statement Twilight was thrown off her feet, practically flying past the guard she was speaking to and Spike. They both did their best to reach for her, but the guard was too far away and Spike wasn’t fast enough; she continued to tumble through the cabin much as the train continued to speed on, blissfully unaware of the poor woman that was being thrown around like a ragdoll inside until finally it hit its first turn, allowing one of the guards in the back to pull her into him.

“A-are you alright your highness?” he asked nervously, brushing the mess of hair out of her face, “were you—”

“I’m a little shaken,” Twilight replied, holding her head in a vain attempt from stop it from spinning, “but overall I’m fine, thank you.”

The guards eyes lit up as he looked to his comrades on either side, excitedly mouthing the words I saved a princess. The other guards around him either patted him on the back of tried to fist bump him, knowing full well what happened last time a member of royalty had misfortune befall them upon this train. Spike couldn’t help but laugh despite how he was feeling; it had been way too long since he’d seen Twilight with a total lack of poise.

“I was starting to wonder if you were still that clumsy, or if ascending fixed that too,” Spike remarked. “I bet you still can’t dance at least.”

“Really funny, Spike,” Twilight dryly called out from the back of the cabin, clinging to the still gushing guard as she looked around, “are there any more seat belts?” she asked him, bringing him back to reality.

“Oh, um, not here, your highness,” he stammered, looking to his counterparts as they egged him on, “but I can… hold you in place.”

Twilight’s face went blank at the guards suggestion, but seeing that her options were quite limited she took a deep breath and nodded. “I suppose that’ll have to do,” she answered, adjusting herself to sit on his legs, “just don’t get any ideas.”

“Yes ma’am,” The guard nodded, wrapping his forearms around Twilight’s waist.

“Why would you make a train with just one seat belt?” Spike asked to the group at the front of the cart.

“Oh, there are plenty of seat belts,” the guard adjacent to Spike replied, “there just a convenient lack of them where her majesty is currently sitting.”

“I’d tell her, but I think I’ll just have this as a little piece of revenge instead,” Spike said, leaning back and shutting his eyes.

“Good man,” the guard laughed, “but don’t get too cozy, what normally takes a day takes about three hours on this train.”

“Sounds like the perfect amount of time for a nap at least,” he replied. “Can’t be too picky on when you get one.”

“Very true,” the guard smiled, leaning his head back, “see you when we get there.”

It felt like seconds later when Spike was shook at the shoulder.

“We’re here,” Twilight said gently to him. He shifted up with a groan and stepped off the train to one of the more secluded stations of Canterlot, one normally reserved for diplomats and the princesses themselves. They walked under a large wooden awning and through an exquisite archway, which fed into the rear entrance of Castle Canterlot. They passed by the servants quarter, then took a left, heading to the throne room.

“That was one of the more memorable train rides I’ll ever have,” Twilight stated in an attempt to bring both of their minds away from what they were about to discuss with Celestia and Luna, “never had to use a man’s arms as a seatbelt.”

“Guess there’s a first time for everything,” Spike answered. “Hope he wasn’t too rough.”

“Actually, he was surprisingly gentle,” Twilight said, placing her finger on her chin, “I even dozed off a time or two while he held me.”

“As long as he wasn’t a creep, I’m glad to hear it,” Spike replied. He gave a shrug after a beat. “Maybe you need someone like that around.”

“Maybe I do, Spike,” Twilight said, smiling at the thought, “maybe I do.”

They approached the massive double-doors of the throne room. Spike looked at Twilight, then gave it a hard push open.

It was less welcoming than usual in the throne room. Luna and Celestia both loomed over a table, with several small blocks standing atop a map of Saddle Arabia.

“As I said to thee, sister,” Luna repeated, gesturing a gauntleted finger to a red square on the eastern coast. “We cut off a supply line here, and stage an assault from within the countries capital. Provided the train line from Equestria remains unmolested, we can direct our heavier troops there. I state with conviction that the cannoneer division would overcome any bow and arrow he may strike us with.” She drew a half-circle with her finger around to a green square standing above a smaller town. “From there, while the enemy is engaged with a frontal assault, I shall lead the charge, blade drawn, into Hoohof. We liberate the city and free its people from bondage, then onto the palace the damnable coward son lies sniveling like a rodent within.” She looked up at her elder. “‘Tis the wisest course of action in regards to engaging with his standing army.”

“Luna, I’ve told you four times already,” Celestia replied, almost pleading with her, “if that supply line gets cut then Rideah will fall within the week, it’s our only way of providing Rideah with support.” She then pushed aside several of the blocks that Luna had set up around the map. “As for weapons, you know full well that we are beyond archery. Your first stop upon your return to Canterlot was to the armory of all things. Hakem is a coward, and he is likely to fight a coward’s war, meaning that a frontal assault would decimate any of our troops with an assortment of explosives, traps and ambushes. And must I remind you that your consort is still a member of the Elite Vanguard, meaning that he’d be among the first to charge in… are you willing to risk losing him so easily?”

Luna flinched, albeit in a subdued fashion. After a moment, she took a slow pace by the table, trailing a finger across its smooth mahogany surface. “Mine sister. ‘Tis true that we hath evolved beyond mere bow and arrow, have we not? The musket hath come with the flintlock, indeed. ‘Tis a time when cannons ring across the countryside when the bells of war makith their toll. And despite the man Hakem having no honor, and him having traps and dangers beyond our traditional means of combat, I say to thee with conviction that no mere cowardly action to us shall slow our assault. Every blow we land against the blackguard shall sing like a smithy striking a forged blade. Embers shall fly and we shall be triumphant.” She shook her head. “As for… my own, I have no fear for him. With his skill, t’would be a folly for any man to ambush him with a blade. Even more of a folly if he were to strike with a blunderbuss or the…” She gave a small roll of her wrist in thought, a word not coming instantly to her. “Hand-weapon that houses the revolving chamber. He would triumph just as we all, sister.” Luna leaned forward onto the table, once more measuring Celestia. “‘Tis a matter of faith and belief of thine own. Something I was sure thou held in spades.”

“Still as impressed with him as the day he bested you in match of swordsmanship I see,” Celestia smiled, shaking her head, “it makes me curious to see if he is just as skilled while in your bedchambers.”

“Cese thine tongue in regards to my own private affairs!” Luna rebuked, blushing. “And he did no such thing, besting me. He rose to a draw. ‘Tis more than I can ask of many, even one as yourself.”

“If you call a draw you being disarmed, then so be it,” Celestia teased before donning a far more somber tone, “as for the matter of faith, it is very true, my faith in you and our forces are strong, but there is always a point where you must set aside your faith for reason, Luna.” Without breaking eye contact with her sister she grabbed a stack of papers and handed them to her sister. “Those are the estimated losses for each unit if we were to do as you suggested. Is your faith in him still so high when knowing that there is an eighty percent chance that he wouldn’t return home with you?”

“With all my heart,” Luna instantly replied, not even glancing at the paper. She tapped at them regardless. “These show naught what a man can do. Thou cannot define a man, a unit, nay, not even an army by mere numbers and probabilities. Thou define them by the heart beating within their breasts. And the heart of an Equestrian beats the most just out of any within the world, sister.”

Celestia let out a heavy sigh as Twilight and Spike stepped forward, gathering the two princesses attention.

“I see you have arrived on time, as usual,” Celestia smiled, happy to be able to talk about something other than war. “How was your trip, Twilight?”

“A little awkward,” Twilight admitted, “but at least I met a new friend.”

“Come to join the gridlock I see,” Luna replied dryly. After a moment, she remembered her manners and stiffly bowed. “Fair days and pleasant nights, Lady Twilight. I ask thine pardon for whisking thee away from thine respite from travel.”

“It’s not really a big deal,” Twilight said, shaking her head before remembering why she was called to Canterlot. “I mean it is a big deal, planning for a war is an enormous undertaking and a lot of pressure, but not the sudden train ride I mean.”

“Verily, thou speak true,” Luna agreed. “‘Tis a war, one we should be planning for. I’m glad thou realize this, over mine sister’s want of inaction for the time being.”

“It is not inaction, Luna,” Celestia replied, hiding a hint of anger in her voice, “I’m trying to convince you of a better plan of action. I don’t want to write more letters to the our force’s loved ones then I have to.”

Luna narrowed her brow. “Is that to suggest I don’t have the greater good in mind, sister? Or is it simply our forces thou worry about?” She let a small sneer grace her face as she crossed her arms. “Because for every day we don’t begin our culling of those wicked beasts, more lambs will be slaughtered. I shan’t have mine hands painted any more red than they already have been. A call to arms is the wisest maneuver we can execute now.”

Celestia looked to her sister with a slightly hurt expression. “Luna, everything you have ever done has been with the best intentions,” she said sighing deeply, “but even you have to realize the immense loss of life that will be sustained by our forces would be a burden that in the end we will all regret to bare.”

“And our inaction when we had the chance to spare the innocent from the onslaught they shall soon face would be an even greater regret. I…” Her hard expression broke. “I cannot be weighed down by any more sins against mine fellow man, sister.” She stood as tall and proud as she could. “The Nightmare that bore my face and clung tightly to my skin… I have to distance myself from it. I beg thee, sister. Help them.”

“You know that I will,” Celestia replied, making her way to Luna, “but among the evils set before us, neither is the lesser, we have to find a better way.” She slowly extended her hand, her own pale skin tone contrasting heavily with her younger sister’s dark skin as she rested it on her cheek. “There’s always a better way.”

“And what better way do we have? Pray, tell,” Luna replied. “Thou are known as the wisest woman in the western worlds, poets hath wrote sonnets expressing thine beauty of both physical and mental. Answer me, t’would be our option here if not war?”

“My wisdom has always come from council with others, that’s why I’ve summoned Twilight.” Celestia’s eyes diverted from her sisters and shot towards her former pupil, “I would like her input on the matter as well.” She rubbed at her brow. “I know it’s something you never thought you would be asked to do Twilight,” Celestia said, not even bothering to hide the sadness in her voice, “but please, we need your help.”

Luna shuffled on her feett. “We have no time for games in this matter. Surely you all realize this?” Holding up a finger, the younger sister glanced at everyone present. “I shall say it here and now. Three days from today, I shall personally make my way Rideah with my men. If thine wish me to stop this, thou must act urgently and devise a better action.” Resting a hand on the pommel of her sword, she swept her eyes across the room once more. “I gave thee thine brief reprieve, sister. Pray it does not cost too many lives.”

Luna then made her way out of the room, leaving her sister distraught and Twilight and Spike in shock. “T-three days?” Twilight asked finally finding her voice, “She’s giving me three days?”

“It’s far better than what you could ask for in the past,” Celestia sighed, “back then you were lucky to have three minutes.”

“How am I supposed to come up with an effective battle plan in three days?!”

“Luna made and executed the plan of attack against Sombra and the crystal empire within twelve hours long ago,” Celestia stated, looking to the door her sister had exited, “the trip north was the longest part of the entire campaign.”

“There’s another answer than fighting, isn’t there?” Spike asked hopefully. “I-I mean, she’s just being rash, right?”

“I’m afraid not,” Celestia replied, “upon taking Hoofof, Hakem stated that he would take what was rightfully his, and then expand his glorious empire far beyond the borders.” Celestia paused, actually cringing before she continued. “That and Luna took it rather personally when he claimed that he would make us his personal concubines and force us to pleasure whoever helped him overthrow us.”

“That bastard,” Spike growled out, clenching his fists tightly. “He can’t honestly think anyone would join someone as worthless as him.”

“For a chance at either myself or Luna, you’d be surprised,” Celestia replied, “and I wouldn’t put it past him if he also implied Twilight in that statement, given that she is also a member of royalty now.”

“Nobody’s touching Twilight. Not while I’m around,” Spike growled out, so angry he could feel his pulse beat in his temple. “I’ll break every joint on his body.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it for a second,” Celestia nodded, “but in the meantime Twilight and I have to try to come up with a better course of action than my sister’s, which unfortunately, seems to be the best plan we have as of yet.”

“Y-yes Princess,” Twilight stammered out, nodding in agreement and shuttering at the thoughts that ran through her mind. Giving a quick glance to Spike she gave him a forced, and failing reassuring smile. “W-we’ll think of… something,” she said walking over to the table, “I guess you can roam about if you need to clear your head.”

“Yeah. I guess I’m not doing much just standing here, am I?” he weakly joked, turning and following Luna’s footsteps out the doors.

“Hold on just a second young man,” Celestia said in a stern voice, causing Spike to freeze in his tracks, “What makes you think you can just waltz out of here without giving your mother a hug?”

“You’re not my mom,” he said plainly.

“Spike…” Celestia said, placing her hands on her hips, “I remember changing your diapers and breast feeding you as a baby, must I show you the scars I still have from when you were teething?”

“Let’s not and say we did,” Spike answered, giving a small shake of his head.

“Because of you I’ll never get to do a shoot for playcolt,” She said sticking out her tongue while she messed up his hair, “which reminds me, I received a letter a few days ago saying that your subscription was almost over. Do you want me to renew it again for you?” She paused shooting a grin over her now dumbfounded student. “Twilight should be okay with it now since you’re actually eighteen.”

He hesitated, then sighed, turning back to face her and walking closer.

Celestia smiled, wrapping Spike in her arms and pulled him close, effectively shoving his face in between the bare skin of her chest. “You know…” she said with a smile, running her hand through his hair as she looked down to him. “Most men would kill to be where you are right now.”

“Most men don’t know what you’re really like,” he answered plainly, though his tone was far less hostile than his words.

“You’ve grown up so much,” Celestia smiled, continuing to slowly run her fingers through his hair, “Seems like it was just yesterday...” Celestia paused, pushing Spike away from her chest and brought a hand under his chin. “You were brought to my throne room by my guards, all wrapped up in a blanket, sleeping so soundly. To have you standing before me all grown up is almost enough to bring a woman to tears.”

“I already get enough of that from Twilight. Come on, now,” he replied abashedly.

“You’re the best child a mother could ever ask for.” Celestia said sweetly pulling him in one last time before reluctantly letting him go, “but given your previous statement I’m sure you just want to roam about the castle as Twilight and I discuss more… unsavory business.”

He spared a glance toward Twilight, then looked to Celestia once more, managing a small nod. “Yeah. I’d like a bit of time to myself, I guess.”

“Then I won’t keep you.” Celestia smiled, sending her fingers through his hair one last time. “Just make sure you don’t run into any trouble, okay?”

Spike turned and exited the throne room, leaving them to do whatever they had to in order to decrease the lives lost on either side. The door closed with an echo in the halls, allowing Spike to reflect on the early days of his life. Not much seemed to have changed since then, the halls were still as big as ever, the tapestries still hung from the granite pillars. The only thing that really changed was the windows, each of them displaying a certain event that occurred in recent history. He laughed to himself a bit, knowing that he’d been there for almost every last one of them.

Shaking his head he continued to walk on, until he heard the faint noise of two people talking to one another. Silently he crept forward, the voices becoming more and more audible with each step until he recognized one of the two talking. “Princess Luna?” he asked himself, still moving forward, “Who’s she talking t—”

His words fell flat the moment he came upon an open balcony, where he saw two individuals standing side by side. Luna was a dead give away due to her flowing, midnight blue hair. Her partner on the balcony was a giant man with broad shoulders and roughly cropped hair. The man beside her shuffled on his feet, the moon overhead making the massive mace strapped to his back dance from shadow to light. Spike felt half a mind to join them outside, but opted to remain hidden to possibly see a different side to the ever stoic and knightly Princess of the Night.

“‘Tis a hard line we must walk sometimes,” Luna admitted to her conversational partner. “But I am sure you know such things.”

“If life was supposed to be easy this shit wouldn’t happen now, would it?” he replied, letting out a chuckle as he shrugged his shoulders, “but you’ve gotta play with the cards you’re dealt with I suppose.”

“And thou know the hand we were dealt.” She shuffled a step closer to him and laid her pinkie finger on top of his, hooking the digits together. “I spoke for ye against mine sister earlier. She asked if I was afraid of losing you.”

He looked down to her, his hazel eyes showing a hint of concern. “Well,” he said, not breaking eye contact with her, “are you?”

She gave a considering hum. “In a sense.” After a beat, she leaned forward onto the balcony’s guardrail. “I don’t want to lose you. Yet I believe in ye and thine actions, so I have no fear of it. And we both walk the warrior’s path, do we not? ‘Tis…” She swallowed. “‘Tis something we cannot hide from, my heart’s sovereign.”

“Nothing’s killed me yet. Came close a few times, but I’m still here,” he said, throwing his arm over her shoulder. “It’s the life we’ve chosen, but so long as I’ve got you...” He pulled her in closer, until the metal they wore scraped together. “I don’t mind it at all.”

“And that’s why I spoke as I did with her,” Luna replied. “I believe in thine abilities, in thine skill, and more so, thine righteousness. You would not stay thine hand against such wicked creatures as mine sister does right now.”

“Luna, don’t talk about your sister like that,” he said, leaning forward as well, “she’s just worried about her soldiers, and if she mentioned me specifically, she’s worried about you, heaven knows that you’ve lost a lot. She probably doesn’t want you to lose any more.”

The princess sighed. “I meant no slight against her. I understand her want, yet an indecisive act leads nowhere and saves no one. T’would be better to take risks and die knowing you at least tried to lead a knightly life, than hold back and watch as those in need of a hero get dashed against the rocks.”

“It’s hard to argue with you when you’re right,” he laughed, turning her to face him, “what’d you end up telling her?”

“I gave mine sister three days. If no plan is made by the third…” She paused and with a click, the gauntlet on her hand came off and she gave a small rub of his cheek. “Then we march into battle, together, if it is thine wish.”

He smiled, lowering his frame to press his lips against hers. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he replied, wrapping her up in his arms, “here’s hoping that no matter what happens, in the end we’ll both still be standing.”

“And if not, we shall meet again, mine love.” Luna returned the embrace. “Upon the viridian shores of the life after.” She smiled, trying to break the serious mood. “After all. I hath no interest in letting you go, now that you’ve caught mine eye. ‘Tis like a cat spying a mouse upon the floorboards.”

He laughed, leaning over to set her down. “I’ll take it that this kitty is hungry?” he asked with masculine growl, standing tall with pride.

“Mayhaps something to distract her from this and… sate her appetite would be appreciated.” She gave a small trail at his chin down to his neckline. “Once we retire to our bedroom, that is.”

“By your word, your highness,” he replied with a grin and a mock-bow, “I won’t fail you in my appointed duties, this I swear.”

“Thou never have.” She took a few steps back. “I shall be waiting for thee to retire this evening. Until then, may I be within thine thoughts, as thou truly are within mine.”

“Your majesty is always within my thoughts,” he replied, “but you would know that already now, wouldn’t you?”

“Indeed. A good eve to thee, my only.”

And with that, she departed, passing by Spike with a small nod. The boy waited for a bit, then took an awkward, self-conscious step towards the balcony.

“It’s, uh, nice out,” Spike said, rubbing an arm.

“That it is,” the large man agreed, looking to the full moon, “it’s a wonder why anyone would not want to be out.” His eyes shot over to Spike as a small grin came to his face. “Unless they were eavesdropping on a private conversation, of course.”

“W-what?” Spike stammered out, flinching. “How’d you—”

“It’s hard not to notice a shadow being cast on the balcony with all the light coming from inside,” he pointed out, directing his thumb behind himself, “not sure why you’d want to listen to the two of us talking anyway, from what we’ve been told we’re pretty boring.”

“I guess I was curious about Luna. If she, uh, was always like she is around other people.” He looked over the other. “And what kind of person she hooked up with.”

“She’s far more tender than she lets on. As for the person, well, you’re lookin’ at ‘em,” the man replied, turning to face Spike so he could get his first real look at him. “Name’s Aedan Ryan,” he said extending his hand, “and you are?”

“Spike,” he replied, gripping the other man’s hand and giving it a small shake. “Spike Sparkle.”

“Alliteration,” Aedan said with a grin, “I like it, and given that name, I’m assuming you’re the manlet that Princess Twilight’s been toting around for the past decade or so?”

He narrowed his brow. “Manlet, huh?”

“No need to be sore, just trying to have a laugh. Keep distracted from the stuff that happened earlier today.” Aedan sighed, turning back to the balcony. “Gotta find something that’ll take my mind off of current events, you know?”

“I know what you mean,” he admitted, taking a few steps forward and leaning on the balcony himself. “A lot of things have been going down.”

“No kidding,” Aedan said, shaking his head, “but at least there’s a bit of a silver lining this time as it all goes to hell.”

“What’s the lining?”

“That we weren't caught with our pants completely down this time,” he replied, looking up to the moon. “When the Changelings came there was no warning at all, just,” He gave a small wave of his hand. “Poof, bit of green fire and the guy you thought was your drinking buddy was actually an insectoid that was hell bent on killing you.”

“That was scary,” Spike admitted. “One of the worst days of my life.”

“You’re not the only one, kid,” Aedan agreed, “some of us lost a lot that day.” He looked down to his left leg and took a deep breath. “Something I learned pretty quick though: loss and life go hand in hand. It’s what you do after the loss that makes you what you are.”

“Do you think Luna was right?” Spike blurted out. “About it being better to at least try something, rather than hoping for the best?”

Aedan looked to Spike with a slight hint of surprise, but managed to recover well. “Well, yeah, she’s right, I mean it’s better to try and fail than to have never tried in the first place.”

Spike nodded. “What she’s wanting to do seems pretty risky, if half of what Celestia’s saying is true.”

“Celestia isn’t the kind of person to lie, Spike,” Aedan replied, “I may have no idea what you heard her say, but trust me when I say she’s telling the truth about it all.”

“And you’re still willing to try,” Spike said.

“We all need to have something to fight for.” Aedan shrugged, continuing after a beat, “something that we don’t want to lose.”

Spike gave a small nod to this too. “Sometimes it’s better to try, even if nobody else would agree with what you’re doing.”

“You’re damn right,” Aedan agreed, “I mean look at me, how many people do you think disagreed with me when I decided that I was going for an immortal princess?” He pointed to his rugged face. “I mean I know I got the looks, but not a lot of people see much in a cripple.”

“A cripple?” he asked.

Aedan nodded, reaching behind his left knee as he leaned against the railguard. “Like I said, a lot of us lost something when the Changelings attacked.” A loud snap echoed across the balcony. His left leg separated from his hip, landing uselessly to the ground with a dead clunk. “Sons of bitches ate it while I was still awake.”

“Gods,” Spike said quietly, looking down at his wound.

“Still managed to get the bastard that ripped it off though,” he said with a hint of pride as he looked to his stump, “but hey, could be worse. If anything, I’m the luckiest of the line. My grandpa was skinned alive by a griffon commander, my father died trying to get some civilians out of a fire a pack of diamond dogs caused. Soldiering hasn’t worked out well for any of us.” He chucked.

“Ever thought of not doing it?”

“Nah,” he instantly replied, reaching down and reattaching the prosthetic. “My family might have rough endings, nine times out of ten, but we all were damn fine soldiers. If Luna isn’t just flattering me, some of the best, even.”

“Must be nice, being able to point to someone and say ‘he made a difference. He was strong. He died doing what needed to be done.’ That kind of thing. I can’t say I have that opportunity with my blood.” Spike admitted.

He shrugged. “Hear that old crap about the apples and trees?”

“The apples can’t fall too far from it?” he guessed.

“Exactly,” Aedan replied, “you’re a product of your heritage as well as your upbringing, and if what Celestia has said about a select few dragonkin is true, you’re one of the good ones.” He paused, squinting his eyes. A smile came to his face. “At least, as far as I can tell.”

“There was a girl that said something similar to me,” Spike said. “She said a lot of other things. Important, special things. But I remember what she said for me there word for word.”

“Lady sounds like a good catch,” Aedan easily replied. “You have any plans of seeing her again?”

Spike stood for a long, silent moment, before rising off the bannister. “I do or I die,” he said simply and turned, heading off the balcony. “It was nice meeting you, Mr. Ryan.”

“You too, kid,” Aedan said, returning his gaze to the moon. “Just as well. I’ve gotta go in a moment too. For Luna’s sake.” He gave a joking wave of his hand and smirked.

“I understand. With any luck I can buy you a beer sometime,” he replied. With that, he was off to Twilight’s usual quarters to pack what meger items he still held in Canterlot castle.

He crept into the room, making sure that this time he was unseen and unnoticed by anyone. Twilight was nowhere to be seen, she was probably still trying to figure out with Celestia a way to avoid as much bloodshed as possible. Admirable, he thought to himself, but judging by Luna’s thoughts on the matter, was no more time to stall. He needed to get Amira out of there before Luna charged in with sword drawn, not caring what or who lay between her and Hakem.

He gathered clothes and stuffed them into a worn and rugged bag, then looked around the room and filled a few glass jars with water, sealing them off with a cork. Vainly searching for a weapon of some kind, he found none, only a few dusty and rarely used magic scrolls detailing combat spellwork, a talent he’d never have. As he turned, heading towards the door, he froze, frowning.

Spike couldn’t do this. He couldn’t just sneak off like a thief in the night without telling Twilight. Despite every instinct telling him otherwise, he knew he’d hate himself if he didn’t at least tell her what was going on. So he moved to the familiar bed and sat on its edge, looking to gaze at the nearby window. He had watched the sunsets more times than he could could from this very bed. The room had a lot of memories, but the bed he remembered the most. Lazy days they’d read on top of it, Spike comics, Twilight history; the times he was scared of thunderstorms when he was real little; all the times in winter when he refused to get up because he was cold, so he’d wrap himself up in a cocoon of blankets to keep warm—Twilight hated him doing that.

And so he sat, waiting like a prisoner anticipating an execution date, turning to stare at the door, willing the knob to turn and open. The turn never came, no matter how long Spike waited for it to turn it never did. He had no idea how long he waited, but in the end there came a breaking point.

He rose, throwing the bag down in irritation onto the bed and headed to the throne room, unbelieving that she’d still be gone this long. He opened the doors and looked around.

“S-Spike?” Twilight said sleepily, rising from the table that once had all number of images and miniatures, “why are you still awake?”

“Why aren’t you in bed?” he countered, moving towards her.

“You know it’s past your bedtime,” she said nearly dozing off again, “I thought you said you’d be back form Sugarcube Corner hours ago…”

“No. Twilight, wake up,” he urged, giving her a hard shake on her shoulder. “It’s important.”

“WuaaAH!?” Twilight shrieked, coming to momentarily, “Spike?” she asked, rubbing her eyes. “You’re still up?”

“Yeah.” He swallowed. “Yeah.”

“Why?” she asked propping herself up, “something wrong?”

“Yeah,” he admitted. “And you know what it is.”

It took a few seconds for Twilight’s tired mind to register what he was talking about, but when it came to the notion she could feel her blood turning into ice. “Oh… oh no…”

“Yeah,” he said again, a broken record that gave a weak shrug.

“Spike…” Twilight whimpered, “you can’t, this is—”

“I gotta try,” he said. “You know I have to.”

“But, but you could...” Twilight couldn’t even bring herself to say the word, whether it be from exhaustion or flat out denial was anyone’s guess, all she could do was fall into him and hold him tighter than he thought possible.

“I know. But if I don’t Amira could. If she did… I mean it when I say I couldn’t go on,” he answered, grasping her just as hard. “This, if it works, Twilight, it could be our answer on what to do.”

“Or another reason for them to try and invade us,” Twilight retorted, “Spike, I know you want to, but you—”

“Who honestly knows me over there?” Spike countered. “If it was someone like Luna, or, or you, they’d know they were Equestrian. Me? I’m lucky if people here remember me. If I can somehow get her out there and speak up on what that rat bastard is doing, maybe we can stop this.”

Twilight looked to him with misty eyes before placing her head on his chest. “There’s no way to convince you otherwise is there?” she sniffed, giving him a quick squeeze.

“I don’t think so,” he replied. “I wanted to talk to you before I left, just in case I…” He exhaled, feeling the sting of tears of his own. He wiped at them bitterly with a palm. “Whew. You don’t really see the heros get like this in movies, do you?”

“No,” Twilight replied, failing an attempt to smile, “no you don’t.”

“I love you,” he said simply, unable to smile himself. “You’re better family than a guy like me deserves.”

“I love you too,” Twilight replied, “and I could say the same about you.”

“Shining’s always been the better brother, but thank you. I mean that.” He looked away from Twilight for a moment. “I need to know something about magic. I think it could help me out.”

“Name it,” Twilight said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

He held up the pendent he wore along his neck. “I’ve heard of spells being able to be used to be able to find people, if channeled into an artifact they adored. Amira wore this all the time, do you think it could be a catalyst?”

Twilight looked at the pennant, analyzing it’s flawless surface of a few seconds before looking back to Spike. “I know what you’re talking about, and I know of a spell that would work.”

Twilight’s hands began to glow a pinkish hue. The gem held in her palm took a life of its own, first twitching, then rising on its side, levitating scant inches above her hands. A bolt of pink hued electricity shot from her hand, striking at the amulet. Her teeth gritted and her eyes for a brief moment turned to penpricks, the obvious discomfort she was enduring came as a surprise to Spike, but within moments, the glow dissipated from both her hands and the gem fell into the palm of her hands.

“Here,” she said, breathing heavily, handing him the jewel as she wiped away sweat from her brow. “This should help you find her now.”

“Are you ok?” he asked with concern. “D-did that hurt?”

“Not as painful as using dark magic,” Twilight reassured, “but I couldn’t just throw the spell you wanted on it… needed to throw an extra one on just in case.”

“An extra one?” Spike repeated. “Like what?”

“I thought you’d might need a helping hand,” she answered, “so I infused a telepathic link, so if ever you need me, just hold on tight and start talking.”

“Twilight…” He smiled as warmly as he could up at her. “I’ll be back to say ‘thanks’ after all of this, ok?”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Twilight said pulling him into her for one last embrace, “but for the love of the Goddesses sake, just be careful.”

“I’ll try. You know I’ll try,” he answered. After a long pause neither wanted to end, he pulled away. “W-well, here I go,” the boy stammered out. “Just try to stall Luna as long as you can for me.”

“I’ll try,” Twilight nodded, “but you know once she has her heart set on something…” she paused, gulping loudly. “There isn’t much that’s going to stop her.”

“I know. And that’s why I’ll be back as soon as I can.” With that he turned, giving one more look behind him, and left.

Author's Notes:

Aedan was a small little cameo nod to my collab partner's earlier story, The Princess and I. If you'd like to read more in-depth about him, or are intrigued by the setup, be sure to take a look!

Sorry about the wait on release, guys. I work retail, and it's been one hell of a busy season. Hopefully now things'll slow down, and I'll get this down and out for y'all.