The night of their arrival in Ponyville was restless. Most ponies couldn't sleep in anticipation of the next day. Everypony knew they would either die or kill somepony they once loved. Some ponies slept outside, while others drank to life while in the shadow of death. Rainbow Dash decided to go for a walk, as that was what calmed her the most. She didn't want to go into battle buzzed, or completely wasted. She knew the soldiers in the tavern would most certainly die. Though she was proud of Pineshield and his stallions, who kept their distance from strong drink, as always.
She made her way around town, feeling the soft breeze as it blew through. She felt the chill of the Everfree, lurking up from the foul dark. She smelled baked goods being skillfully crafted at Sugercube Corner. She was about half way through her walk, and had the urge to sing. She hadn't sung since her friends were together.
With teary eyes, she began to sing a song from years passed.
"A true, true friend helps a friend in need.
A friend will be their to help them see.
A true, true friend helps a friend in need.
To see the light that shines from a true true friend."
She paused and wiped the tears away.
"A true true friend helps a friend in need...", she stopped.
Eyes opened wide, she gasped.
"That's it! That day is the answer! The day she became Princess!"
She ran to the library and burst in.
"BWAH! Rainbow? What're you doing?", Spike was half asleep.
"Spike, do you have Twilight's scrolls, or any of her writings?"
"Uh...yeah, she didn't take any with her. She forgot about them I think. Why?"
"Do you remember the day she became princess? When all of our friends' cutie marks were switched up?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Do you have Star Swirl the Bearded's spell book? I need to see Twilight's spell correction!"
"Uh, it should be under her bed, that's where I saw her keep it last."
"K, thanks!"
Rainbow Dash made her way up to Twilight's bed room and went in. She made sure to console Spike and tell him she would be careful. Upon looking under her bed, she found the old dusty book still intact. She opened it to the bookmarked page and found the original spell and under it, Twilight's continuation in her writing.
From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled.
From all of us together, together we are friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end.
"I knew it! That's it!", she turned toward the door and shouted. "Hey Spike! Where are the elements of harmony kept? And did Twilight leave her crown behind when she changed?"
He came walking back in. "She threw it in the trash, and I fished it out. It's in my room on display. The others are in the book still, since the last time they were used."
"Thanks, you may want to hear me out on this."
"I'm listening."
"I have a crazy idea, and if I can keep Twilight alive long enough to try it, we could get her back!"
"What?", he gasped.
"This is what I was thinking," she began to tell him her plan.
She had finished telling her scheme to Spike and went on her way back to base to try and sleep with hope in her heart. On her way to her room, she felt a presence behind her. She could hear his steady breathing.
"What is it Pineshield?", she asked without turning her head.
"I was going to compliment you on your singing, and maybe give you a shoulder to cry on but you left in a frenzy."
"Well I had this crazy idea! It involves the elements and-", he cut her off.
"Should you be telling me this? How do you know I'll keep my mouth shut?"
She looked at him.
"Okay, zipped tight," he made the motion of zipping his lips.
"I'll need to tell you from the start, come with me and we'll sit down."
They both entered her room and took a seat. Pineshield, knowing how they felt for each other, felt extremely awkward in her sleeping quarters.
"Don't worry, I'll leave the door unlocked," she poked fun at him.
He just grinned sheepishly at her. "So, this story of yours, tell me all of it."
"Well, it begins on one summer morning. Twilight Sparkle emerged from her home singing happily..."
"So that's your plan? Interesting. It seems almost possible to work," Pineshield had a studious face.
"I hope so. If it doesn't I may have to...", she trailed off, not wanting to say it.
"Woah, don't go there! Don't you ever go there! That's how you make it worse! Think about how you'll have your old friend back, think about what you'll do together when she's back! But for all that is good, don't go there!", Pineshield was looking her in the eyes.
She found compassion in his deep green eyes.
"Thank you Pineshield, I suppose I think too military minded these days. And you know better than I do how that acts on your scenario thought processes."
"That I do. But I think we should both get some sleep. Tomorrow is the dawning of a new day, and we need to be fully awake for it!", he got up from his seat and made his way to the doorway.
"DON'T...go...please," the last part was almost a whisper.
"Huh?", he turned back to see her looking down pitifully.
"Could you...please...maybe...sleep...with me?", she blinked back up at him.
"What do you mean by sleep? Do you mean, actually get some rest?"
"Of course I do! It's just that, I've gone so long without the presence of those I love that it haunts me to my very core. Every night is either spent chasing ghosts I couldn't catch before, or imagining myself a failure. I have recurring nightmares of me failing and everypony dying. Red Dawn remains the ruler and all of my loved ones die under her wrath. Even you."
He looked down at her, eyes full of pity.
"I...I don't know. You could sleep under my wing, but I just don't want something to be said..."
"You could leave once I'm asleep. All I'm asking is the comfort you can give me to help me fall into peaceful sleep."
"Sure, I guess I could do that."
They climbed into her bed and laid with their legs tucked under them, Pineshield with his wing wrapped around her. Finally, after two hours of in and out of sleep, she fell into a deep and restful sleep. He took note of this, and climbed out of the bed and made his way for the door. When he got to the door, he heard her make a childlike whimpering noise, very quiet, but noticeable. He turned to see her small frame shaking and shivering.
Poor thing, he thought. She's just a little wounded filly on the inside.
He made his way back to the bed, climbed in and covered her back with his wing. He shushed her softly and brushed her back to coax her back to peace.