It was two days before shipping out to Griffonstone. I had been given a rundown of the griffon capital’s defenses and got to meet the mages for the team, and was given the rest of the day off to rest. I would hole up at the castle the following day, but I was permitted to spend one last evening at my apartment before then. It was nice enough, with a good home-cooked meal and chilling out, but I found myself struck with insomnia shortly after bedtime.
It was a little before eleven, which was quite early for my usual fare, but I still found myself sitting on the edge of our bed without an ounce of fatigue. I could feel Sweetie’s soft breathing against the mattress; it was mildly soothing, but not enough to ease my mind. I got up and went out into the living room. Not entirely dark, given the city lights coming through the large window. But incredibly quiet all the same. You’d think the capital of the country would be a little more loud with its nightlife. Just one of its charms.
I went up to the glass and leaned in, pressing my arm against its cool surface and resting my forehead, staring out over those brilliant towers and the inky blackness beyond. A waxing crescent was up high that night, and so were a few stars. Yet they seemed slightly dimmed by the restlessness plaguing me.
I picked up the soft hooffalls nearby. I turned back and saw Sweetie in that lacy nightgown she likes to wear in the springtime. A little spoiled by the look of worry on her face.
“Spike? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, Sweetie. Just can’t sleep. Thought I’d come out here and look at the city.”
“Is something wrong? What’s on your mind?”
Clip clop of her approach, to get in touch. I could’ve brushed it off, kept it to myself. But that would’ve been old me’s way of doing things. Twilight wasn’t the only one with heart-to-heart privileges anymore.
“It’s this assignment I have coming up. A real important one.” I turned away from the glass and gave my complete attention to Sweetie as she got within a foot of me.
“For Twilight?”
“Uh-huh.”
“And it’s got you nervous, or excited?”
“Not really a nervous feeling. Mainly I just have this… sense of foreboding about it. Like… something might go wrong.”
“That is something. You’re usually real calm and assured with any of Twilight’s assignment; I guess it must be something really serious.”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
She’s smart enough to know not to pry too much into my royal duties. Always has. One of the things I’m grateful to her for all these years later.
“Well we can’t be having that.” She turns and trots over to the couch, and after hopping on she pats the open space next to her. “Come on, sit.”
I do as she said, and tried to make myself comfortable despite the lack of a back rest (darn upscale furniture). She scooted up against me and looked into my eyes.
“Whatever it is, Spike, I know you’ll pull it off like you always do. With everything you’ve done so far, I don’t see any reason for you to think this time will be any different. You just need to remember that you’re the best dragon for the job, hooves down.”
That simple straightforwardness, that adoration and confidence. That same mindset that dismissed my flaws and only saw positives, that stuck with me even at my lowest point, when literally the whole world was out to get me. Rather foolish on her part back then, I still think, but it’s that kind of adoration that really smacks the doubt out of me… if only for a while.
“Yeah, you’re probably right, honey.”
“You know that I’m right. It’s all about self-confidence, and honestly, you’re the kind of guy who isn’t easy to dissuade, or changes their mind.”
I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Thanks, Sweetie. You know just the right things to say.”
“Uh-hum.” That exaggerated nod. Dang adorable. “You still feeling awake?”
“Yeah, a little. Probably just gonna sit around here a bit longer. You can go back to bed; I’ll be there in a bit.”
“Or I can just sit here and cuddle with you until you’re nice and ready to sleep.”
“You don’t need to lose your beauty rest on my account, darling.”
“I don’t have anything important planned tomorrow, so I can sleep in if I wanted to. And besides, it’s really calm and cozy out here, just the way it is.”
She snuggled against me, resting her head against my side and turning her gaze to the window and the city beyond. And in that moment I felt a bit of introspection. Just me, my girlfriend, sitting together in the semi-darkness, bathed in the warm, hushed glow of the city that I’ve pledged to defend, even after I had come so close to destroying all of it. Despite it all, everything did turn out alright. I was still here, the ones I cared for were (mostly) still with me, and what I was to do would ensure they would still enjoy this peace that me and Twilight had worked hard on getting back in place.
I wrapped an arm around Sweetie and hugged her close, taking in her extra warmth while lying my head atop hers. Whatever may come on this mission, I reminded myself that things have a way of working out. They always do, in some form or another.
“Yeah. It really is…”
Act 2
The Descent