Queen Nightmare Dusk wasn’t entirely sure if she should be worried when she found Spike curled up by Discord’s feet.
The stone had held resilient, that was good, but why was Spike hanging around here? She had a faint idea why, and that just made her feel even more worried. He had his back to her. She approached slowly, and carefully, not wanting to scare him.
“…Spike?”
The baby dragon tensed, and slowly raised his head, turning towards her. “Dusk?”
“We promise not to hurt you!” she said quickly, backing away slightly, giving him space. “We… wish no more harm upon you. We promise,” she said sincerely. Spike looked at her suspiciously.
“Spike…” she said softly, taking a cautious step towards him. She magically levitated off her dark purple helm, and let it drop to the ground. “I promise I won’t hurt you anymore.”
Spike nervously chewed on his lip, trying to come up with an answer. He didn’t really hate her, but… he didn’t want to end up in her death grip again, either.
“I…” would she… no, she promised she wouldn’t hurt me, he thought, but would she break her promise? No, no – Twilight wouldn’t – no, this isn’t Twilight… But…
“I forgive you,” he said quietly.
“Oh, thank you!” she cried, suddenly diving forward and sweeping the startled dragon into a bone-breaking hug. Spike struggled to breathe and she released her grip slightly, “Oops… hehe,” she nuzzled him affectionately. Spike wasn’t really sure how to react anymore, and numbly hugged her back. She extended a wing over him,
“Spike, We promise We’ll treat you better from now on. We’ll give you many gems to eat, and you may have our bed as well! No more sleeping in that tiny little laundry basket! We’ll sleep there, and-“
“Okay, uh… that’s fine, you keep your bed.” He rubbed the back of his head; still trying to catch up with what the hay was happening.
“Come, let us make our way back to the castle! You must be hungry, We shall-“
“No, that’s okay!” Spike said quickly. “I think I’ll stay here. For now.”
Dusk stopped, casting Discord’s statue a nervous glance. She didn’t want the stone to start cracking again…
“Why?” She asked the little dragon, who squirmed until she set him back down.
“I just…” He paused, struggling for words. “…I’m keeping him company,” he said finally.
“Discord?”
“Yep!”
Dusk blinked, momentarily stunned. “…Why?!”
“I don’t know,” Spike admitted. “I just… He did save me from… never mind, he saved my life so I’m keeping him company!”
“Noble Dragon Code.” she deadpanned and Spike nodded. Dusk sighed deeply, she didn’t really have a reason to stop him… but she still didn’t feel safe.
“Well… you do that,” she said finally. “But if any cracks appear, it is imperative that you let us know immediately. Understand?”
“Okay,” Spike said. Dusk gave him and the statue one last nervous glance, before giving Spike a weak smile.
“…You have fun, then…”
~~
“Trixie’s not paying for your tickets,” Trixie huffed as she took her own train tickets in her light pink levitation.
“I don’t have any money with me,” Cadance gave her friends guilty looks.
“I’ll pay fer’ everypony,” Applejack sighed.
“Na, I can pay for myself,” Rainbow shrugged.
Several moments later; the eight of them were all packed in the train headed for Canterlot.
“So, you’re a magician?” Cadance attempted to strike a conversation with the blue unicorn sitting across from her and her husband.
“Was a magician,” Trixie mumbled, but did not elaborate. She kept casting glances at the little box holding the elements, but had made no move to touch them.
“Sooo… What happened?” Cadance asked.
“I was ridiculed, shamed, and nopony watches my shows anymore;” Trixie said in one long exhale, and Cadance blinked as she tried to process what had been said.
“How do you make a living?” Cadance tried to change the subject, and earned another irritated look.
“I don’t.”
“…Oh.” The princess said quietly, decided not to say anything further, and busied herself with watching the scenery pass by the windows.
“I think we’re going to win this time,” Rainbow Dash said confidently. “If we can take her by surprise, she’ll never see it coming!”
“But what exactly are we going to do?” Rarity asked uncertainly.
“We should all just rush her, as soon as we get there,” Rainbow Dash shrugged.
“Nothing!” Trixie said quickly. “You stand back while Trixie does the work!”
“You’re acting like a fool,” Shining Armor told her. “Dusk has taken over the minds of all of my soldiers, the Elements of Harmony were useless against her, and even all of us couldn’t take her on, magic or no. What makes you think you can?”
Trixie opened her mouth to retaliate, and thought for several long moments. She licked her lips and said; “Trixie is special. I’ll take her down all by myself!”
“But how?” Shining Armor inquired.
“I have ways! My ways! I don’t need the dumb Elements of Harmony to help me!”
Shining Armor sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with a hoof. He could see trying to reason with this mare was like talking to a brick wall. Trixie huffed indignantly and turned her nose up, eyes closed.
“Let her act that way,” Rarity said. “We’ll see just how she handles it when we have to rush to her rescue.”
By Trixie’s sudden change of expression, they could tell she meant to retaliate, but instead of dignifying the white unicorn with an answer she simply glared out the window, chewing her lip.
“Riiiight,” Applejack murmured, than turned to her friends. “I think we should start thinkin’ about strategies – have we all got our Elements?”
The others nodded, and Applejack cleared her throat. “So… anypony got any ideas?”
“There shall be no plans from you! Trixie will deal with this all on my own!” Trixie cried.
“Agh!” Shining Armor cried, “Stop talking in third person! You’re making my brain hurt!”