//------------------------------// // Epilouge // Story: Spike the Guardian // by Nightmare Darkness //------------------------------// The room smelled of incense as Spike turned the door knob and entered the personal room of Princess Celestia. She lay on the bed, her breathing shallow as Luna stood beside her and a doctor finished his diagnosis quietly before leaving the room with a dour look. Luna looked to Spike her eyes misty and he approached her. She pressed her forehead into his strong shoulder in a rare show of vulnerability. He paused a moment before hugging her and patted her mane gingerly. "Spike?" Celestia's weak voice cut through the quiet. Luna turned towards her and knelt to her. "Highness." Spike affirmed his presence. She smiled weakly as he lifted her head to look at him. Luna poured her a glass of water and floated it to Celestia's lips as she took a drink from it and seemed to recover a small modicum of strength. "I cannot thank you enough for bringing Flurryheart to us." She said with a smile that wrinkled her already aged face. "It was nothing." He stated with a shrug as he knelt beside her placing a clawed hand on her hoof tenderly. "I know you have distanced yourself ever since her passing but I must ask you to do something that I know you would rather not do." She stated and Spike had an idea what she was about to ask and he grimaced. "Celestia, I said I would help you but I cannot bring myself to become so attached to ponies..." He stated. "What would Twilight say, seeing you live a solitary life?" She countered and a pain seem to lance through Spike as she did not mince words and cut to the heart of it. "She would not say anything...shes passed on." Spike said deadpanned. Celestia sighed and remember that they have had this discussion many times over the years. "I am dieing Spike. Would you do me this last favor and look after Flurry heart and Luna when I am gone?" She asked it and Spike grit his teeth and looked to Luna who had her head hung down and letting out quiet sobs. He knew he could not refuse the last wish of the beloved monarch. Spike nodded his head in silent agreement to her request before she smiled and nodded sagely before laying her head down on the pillow. Spike waited silently watching over the old mare as Luna fell asleep beside her sister and it was then after several hours in the early morning that she tried to move but she couldn't. "S..pike...take me to the... veranda." She asked. Spike stood and lifted her with his powerful arms not disturbing Luna and walked along side her to the veranda. The night was still dark as the stars shown brilliantly and she was only able to stand under his aid. She suddenly gave him a gentle push. Spike did not know what she was doing but then her horn flared to life as her mane whose colors were dull with age exploded into vivid color as she she began to raise the sun. Spike wanted to protest but he simply fell to his knee as he knew this was to be the last sunrise she would ever bring. "Take care of them Spike, my guardian." She said as all of the age in her voice was replaced with a youthful tone. Her eyes had tears flowing as the sun rose and as it reached the sky she fell and Spike shot out and caught her cradling her still form as his eyes blurred. "As you command." He choked out. The funeral of the beloved monarch was a somber affair where all mourned but non more then Luna. Spike stood by as a silent guardian as Flurry Heart and Luna both walked in the possession to where they lay Celestia to rest and after a week of morning it was asked that everypony celebrate her life. It was not a simple celebration but a commemoration of all her accomplishments it was another week of celebration.