“Wait...slow down Twilight, you're going WHERE?”
Spike was barely awake, and going by the way she was hurriedly cramming random objects into her go-bag, neither was Twilight.
“The sky’s torn open over the Empire, Princess Celestia needs me, I cant slow down Spike!” Twilight was on the verge of tears she was so concerned. For the Princess to send a message asking them to take the butt-crack-of-dawn (thanks, Rainbow Dash) train- this was serious with a capital S!
“Twi, chill.” the flustered Alicorn finally came to a halt as her favourite dragon assistant stepped into her path, palms raised to make her stop.
“I got this. Celestia needs you, but she needs you at your best, that means taking a deep breath. You go wake the others, I’ll pack your bags!”
“You're right, thanks Spike..” her shoulders relaxed as relief and affection for her assistant flooded her “what would I do without you?”
“I’m not answering that, I’m far too pro.” Spike grinned, making Twilight stick her tongue out at him, but she trotted away with a lighter step, so he called it a success.
It was as he was finishing up packing Twilight’s bag, that he heard the girls all come in the front door. Perfect timing! Time to show off his number one assistant prowess. He’d put in everything Twilight could need, even a notebook or three! Girl loved her lists.
He reached the bottom of the stairs with Twilights neatly-packed luggage, his attention drawn to how worried Fluttershy looked.
“I know it’s urgent- t-the Crystal Empire need our help, but- oh...the animals...”
“How many are you caring for, darling?” Rarity, a peak of sophistication and beauty in spikes eyes, set a hoof on her friend’s shoulder.
“Twice the usual amount, Rarity. I found a whole group that'd been affected by a forest fire in Everfree. What do I do?”
“Find someone else to do it!” Rainbow shrugged, seeming bemused by how easy the solution seemed to be.
“Can’t just charge inta carin’ fer critters, Rainbow. Some of ‘em gotta be handled carefully.” Applejack reminded the pegasus, who sighed but silently agreed.
“Especially Angel Bunny...” Fluttershy was wheezing now, she was very particular about Angel, Spike knew. He’d babysat the stroppy rabbit a few times before. For a small bunny, he had a big attitude!
That was when the idea hit him, he could help!
He suggested this to Fluttershy, who looked about to cry with relief.
“Are you sure, Spike?” Twilight asked as she consulted the letter Celestia had sent for the 18th time (Pinkie was counting.) “I assumed you’d be coming with us.”
“Its not that I don’t wanna help,” Spike said “but as cool as another visit to my fan-club would be, I don't want the animals or Fluttershy to worry. And hay, Angel knows me, we’re friends.”
“You’re an angel, Spike!” Fluttershy came over and hugged him, her light pink mane tickling his cheek “thank you so so so so much!”
“Aw, it’s nuthin’.” Spike said, cheeks reddening as she let him go, but he was glad to see the shy yellow pegasus in better spirits.
“There’s instructions for each animal- are you sure this isn't too much for one Dragon?” Fluttershy asked, “there’s so many animals, you’d need an assistant yourself!”
Pinkie sneezed suddenly, then hiccuped and then did a pirouette.
“Answer’s incoming!” she bleated, making everypony else wish they’d had at least two cups of coffee all of a sudden.
“What is-?” Twilight began blearily, rubbing her eyes with one hoof. That was when there was a thud outside and she inquisitively opened the door...to find Ditzy Doo on the welcome mat.
“Princess!” The grey pegasus rolled back onto her hooves, eyes fixed on Twilight. Or they tried to. Derpy, real name Ditzy Doo, was mystery, her eyes rarely seemed to want to focus in the same spot, yet she seemed relatively unaffected, it certainly didn't impair her mail mare duties.
“Mail!” she opened the flap of her bag, hoofing over a stack of letters to the Princess, then blinking as she recognised other familiar faces.
“Howdy, Ditzy Doo!” Applejack beamed, “how’s things?”
“Oh, good! I rescued a birds nest on my way here, it fell right out of a tree! I caught it and put it back, found a better spot with nicer branches too.” she looked pleased as punch with her night/morning achievement.
Twilight’s eyes widened and a glance at Pinkie confirmed her thoughts were on the right track.
“Y’all are handy with critters, huh?” Applejack asked, clearly on the same train.
“Yeah,” Derpy flushed happily “I love them! My mom always said animals were the best cure for a lonely heart. We always had pets growing up. Birds were my favourite, but I like dogs too, and cats, bunnies, frogs, hamsters-”
“Oh!” Fluttershy caught up, looking from Derpy to Spike “would you be able to help me?”
She explained her need for animals carers to the blonde maned pegasus, whose eyes lit up at the mere suggestion. She’d LOVE to! She could check in before her deliveries and throughout the day as well!
“Thank you so so much!” Fluttershy looked ready to faint, but from relief this time. “the summons from the princess just came out of the blue.”
“No worries Fluttershy, Ditzy and I got this in hand.” Spike said, holding up a fist for the pegasus to hoof-bump. She beamed happily.
Twilight hugged him tightly before they left, whispering in his ear
“Thanks Spike, I know how much you love the Empire. I appreciate you giving up your time to help Fluttershy.”
“Aw, no problem. That’s what friends are for, right. Send lots of letters, okay?”
“You got it, champ!” She waved before unfolding her wings and flying to catch up with her friends, luggage floating merrily along behind.
Derpy left soon after, promising to meet him at Flutterhy’s cottage later in the morning!
Spike sighed as he closed the door. He had to admit he was a little bummed out to be missing out on a trip to the Empire, but it wouldn't be THAT long, right? And hay, maybe Twi would bring back some tasty gems, the Crystal Empire had some of the best flavours he’d ever had in his LIFE!
He resolved to sleep for a few hours, he didn’t want to be dead on his feet when he joined Derpy at the cottage.
When he got there, she was just dusting herself off after crashing into a shrub. She waved at him, mis-matched eyes settling into a temperate uniformity as he approached.
“Here we are,” she beamed as Spike opened the door “where do we start?”
“Well, i’d have to say with Angel. He uh, likes his food VERY special. Fluttershy keeps a recipe book just for him.”
“I had a pet bird like that. She kept trying to eat things she wasn't meant to have. My mom called her Butterball, because she kept waking up to find the bird in the butter dish!”
“That’s weird,” Spike snickered “I like butter too, but you wouldn't catch me sleeping in it...”
“Good thing she didn't like bread, or she’d have been toast.” Derpy mused while Spike giggled into his paws.
Sure enough, Angel was NOT pleased at being stuck with babysitters and the two helpers soon had their claws and hooves full, trying to guess what it was he wanted?
“Whew...” Derpy shook herself as they stepped outside to tend to the clutch of animals rescued from the forest fire. Fluttershy’s notes were tucked under one wing “that’s one stubborn bunny. Even Butterball wasn't that grouchy!”
When she seen the birds, one lizard-type creature in a pool and several other bunnies, Derpy’s heart went out to them. Poor dears all sported bandages or splints, traces of singed feathers evident on the birds. She cooed softly to them, babbling happily as she changed the food and water, and the bandages too.
When she sat back from the play-pool where the juvenile lizard-croc was resting, she seen Spike watching her with something approaching awe.
“Wow, you're good.”
“I uh, I like animals. They get me, they don't see anything odd about me...”
She hung her head, a gloom seeming to appear over her.
“Hay, you know what I see?” Spike felt sad for her, ponies sometimes asked if she was “all right”, and Spike didn't like the tone of their voices. Like she was a problem. “I see a cool pony who shows the world who’s boss and the animals know that.”
He got a surprise when the pegasus suddenly hugged him, her voice thick with tears.
“Thanks,” she hiccuped, brushing her hoof over her eyes as she sat back “its been awhile since anypony reminded me I can be cool. Sometimes, I forget, when I mess up...”
“Eh, we all make mistakes. I should know, I’ve broken a LOT of vases, but Twilight knows I don't mean to.”
Derpy smiled again, the pall that’d been hanging over her gone now. Together, they finished up the last of their jobs and Spike locked the door behind him. When he turned back to Derpy, he noticed she was staring up at the sky. Over towards where the Empire was.
“Spike...can you see anything, it’s maybe just my eyes, but-”
“No, you’re seeing right. Its far away but, its almost like a big black cloud or something...”
Derpy shivered, her wings pressing to her side “it looks bad!” she said softly and Spike had to agree.
Just what was going on over there?
He got his answer that evening, when Twilight’s first letter arrived. In it, she mentioned the same “tear” he and Ditzy Doo had been watching. So it was a tear, then. How did the sky just open up like that?!
And that wasn’t all…
“They brought back WHO?!” Derpy’s eyes went wide as dinner plates when Spike read the letter to her the next morning after they’d complete the manoeuvre that was “feeding Angel Bunny.”.
“Yeah, that’s what I said! I asked Twilight was she SURE Princess Celestia knows who she’s dealing with? I mean, I beat that guy to the punch to make sure he didn't get that crystal heart, now they're just bringing him back like it’s nothing?! She mentioned Celestia wanting to potentially reform him but-”
“That makes you angry, huh?” Derpy asked. Spike paced back and forth, arms folded across his small barrel chest.
“Well, yeah! I thought that big mean unicorn was gonna gobble me up, he was this big smoke monster with evil glowing eyes and- why him?”
“I dunno,” Derpy patted her shoulder kindly when he came to a halt at last “they must be very very sure he knows something, why else would they try? Twilight knows how hard you worked to get away from him, I seen the statue of you when I did a long-distance gig for a few weeks. You're an icon, Spike!”
“Yeah, the Crystal ponies have been pretty awesome, even if I wasn't ready to be a hero yet, they still thank me. I wonder how they're feeling about this?”
“They don't like Sombra, so I’m guess scared and a bit mad.” Derpy said sagely “hey, Spike?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think...even the worst ponies can change? That everypony can be a good pony, if they just try?”
“Whoa,” Spike had to admit, that was a doozy of a question. “I mean, Twilight's the expert on friendship- but I can guess she’d probably say yeah. Everypony deserves a chance, that’s what she says.”
“My mom said to me ‘you're just a little broken, but you're all the more beautiful for it. Maybe he’s a little bit broken too?”
Spike seen her face, seen how much she understood.
“I’d like to think that, but he did some pretty awful things.” he felt torn, what if Twilight’s letter was right, and Sombra could be saved?
He shook his head now, “I’m not buying it, Twilight needs to be careful, some ponies just can’t make friends.”
“Yeah, I can understand. I don’t think id forgive him just yet either. I guess we’ll have to wait and see, it’s up to him now, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. He wont care, he’s crazy….right?” Spike shook his head “I don’t wanna think about that big old BRUTE. C’mon, lets go check on the victims of the fire, you gotta show me how you feed those big birds!”
The next day, another letter, another discussion on Fluttershy’s porch, this time with some glasses of Lemonade that Ditzy had made for them.
“There are things living up there!”
“In the sky tear?” Derpy asked, eyes widening at the thought.
“Yeah, look!” Spike showed her the letter, pointing out Twilight's description as given by Rarity.
“Ooh, that’s spooky.” Derpy shivered from head to tail.
“Tell me about it, poor Rarity. I wish I could’ve protected her somehow.”
“I’m sure she’s alright. She has her friends with her, right?”
Spike nodded, “Yeah, that’s true.”
Derpy smiled, she could see the way Spike was defending Rarity in his voice, and the way he glared at the far-distant sky tear.
Days passed and Spike could swear the tear looked bigger, closer. Twilight had said she wasn't likely to be home for a while, the situation was ramping up fast. Angel Bunny was not pleased when he found out Fluttershy was going to be gone for longer then she usually was and it made making breakfast for him a little bit tougher, so he and Derpy were too tired to talk that day, sadly.
The next day, however, they had enough reserves left to talk.
“Apparently, Pinkie says HE’S getting..better? Not sure what she’s seeing, but according to her chicken-scratch-” he held the letter up to Derpy, she read better up-close. “HE took care of some kid when she wandered off from her tour group. That filly is either fearless or just hasn't read a history book!”
“Whoa.” Derpy read the muddle of words conscripted by Pinkie and mulled it over “Well, kids are very honest. They just SAY whatever is on their minds, so the fact she didn't immediately cry ‘monster’, must mean something, right?”
“Yeah, I dunno what to make of it.” Spike shrugged and folded the letter back up “it could just be an act, y’know?”
“Yeah...but lets try to be positive..”
“So, let me get this straight, Shining Armor tried to fight Sombra?”
“Yeah, kinda. Twi says he went ballistic, which I can’t really blame him for. But somehow, She and Princess Cadance managed to avert a full own brawl and talk her brother out beating the stuffing out of that guy!”
“What do you think of him now?” Derpy asked.
Spike snorted “I’m still not convinced, they put a choker on him, right? That spell’s probably mind controlling him or something...”
Derpy picked the letter up and slowly, carefully re-read it. “Maybe ask her about that? I didn't know you could control somepony that much, it doesn't seem the any of the princesses style, y’know?”
“It can be done though. I mean, remember that big brawl that happened way back, when Twilight sued that ‘want it, need it’ spell? Thats...kinda like this, only without everypony going coocoo..”
“Oh yeah, that was pretty wild. I remember her apologising the next day. I told her not to worry, we all get stressed. Once, around Heartwarming, I got so overloaded with mail, I suddenly started sticking them in the Hearthswarming Trees! I got scolded for that, told I should've said something.”
More days passed and they met to talk after feeding the animals. They were sat by the river that ran through Fluttershy’s property, eating some fresh made hay sandwiches (with gems, for spike).
Spikes eyes were on stalks as he recounted the latest letter.
“The whole EMPIRE was sick, she says! One of those things exploded into bits of crystal, with stuck on ponies and made them sick. Apparently HE got bit first, but they didn't notice, something about his size meaning it took longer to hit him.”
“It exploded?! Gosh, what ARE those things?” Derpy wondered as she polished off her second sandwich.
“Beats me.” Spike said, he was honestly kind of stunned. “Everything she's written...it all says HE was the hero. That HE saved everypony by bringing them the cure, along with a royal guard and a chemist.”
“It is pretty surprising. Maybe he does have a heart?” Derpy asked. Spike shrugged, kicking his legs, watching the water catch the light and sparkle.
“Maybe.” he said, it was much as he could really say, given his encounter with this pony. But if anyone could show a pony’s better side, it was Twilight and company. Heck, Pinkie could read a mood with a near uncanny level of accuracy, provided she could be persuaded to focus, that is.
But two Days later, the biggest, most revealing letter hit his doormat, so to speak. In actuality, he burped it up like all of the letters Celestia sent.
Angel noticed his new carers were more excited today, which meant they didn't let him get away with nearly as many tantrums. Clearly, they wanted to talk. He sat on the window and watched them, occasionally hearing the odd louder word through the glass.
“This is BIG.” Spike said as they sat down on the porch to eat “Twilight, Shining Armor, Cadance, the girls and Luna ALL went to try study Sombra’s dreams and figure out why they were making him sick, but instead, they found out where he came from.”
“Really? Where was he born? IS he from the Empire?” Derpy was curious. Spike re-read the letter, going over the brief Twi had written. She’d clearly left out any serious detail- he supposed he wouldn't want anyone reading about HIS nightmares.
“All she says is that he came from a very superstitious village very far way. He ran away from home and wound up at the empire, where a King adopted him. She says he was betrayed a lot, so he didn't think other ponies would ever be kind to him. That made him lose control and a darkness took over, making him into the Sombra we seen.”
“Thats awful, how much was he being hurt that he became a bully himself?” Derpy whispered “thats so sad.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I remember being mad and upset when I wasn’t accepted by the other dragons- imagine that but times, I dunno, a hundred! I’d hate stuff too, if I had to put up with that.”
They sat silently, each mulling over the brief window Twi’s letter had shown them about Sombra. He’d lived over a thousand years ago, they knew that much from the history books. So all that time ago, a colt had been born with dark magic, but his family believed he was bad luck? That wasn't fair, he couldn't help how he was born.
“I can understand,” Derpy said softly “it’s not nearly as bad, but I was bullied most of my life for my eyes. I couldn't help it, I was born like this...why did they hate me? Why were they so MEAN?”
Hearing the sadness in Derpy’s voice, Spike felt his opinion of Sombra soften just a little.
“Yeah, it’s pretty unfair. His parents were scared of him, y’know? But he must've been scared too. When I was little and I got scared, I had Twilight...”
“But he didn't have a Twilight.” Derpy finished the thought, and Spike nodded.
Derpy scuffed a hoof in the dirt, her own experiences coming to the fore.
“Ponies are complicated. We’re all like lots of little things stuck together. What kind of a home you have can make all the difference. Having just one real friend can mean the difference between hoping or hating.”
“Hey, don't be sad.” Spike patted her back “You’ve got me and the girls. We’re here if you need us.”
“Thanks, Spike.” Derpy smiled, “thats means a lot. Ponyville really is the most friendly place I’ve ever been.”.
“Friends really do a lot, don't they? D’you….think HE had any?”
Derpy thought about it “probably not, not if he became so down he turned into a big scary pony.”
The next day;
“Guess what?”
“Chickenbutt?”
“Very funny,” Spike chuckled, rolling his eyes good naturedly as Derpy clapped her hooves and laughed “no, not that. Twi says her Brother...drum roll please...”
Pause as Derpy really did drum out a pattern on the porch step with her front hooves. She stopped, and-
“Twilight’s brother and Sombra are friends now.”
“Whoa- really?!” She almost fell over, such was her surprise and she had to franticly flap her wings to stop herself falling over. “how’d that happen?!”
“Twi says her brother felt bad after seeing how mistreatment had turned Sombra against the world. He told her he guessed the guy could use a friend, as he clearly never had a decent one, so he held out a hoof.”
“Wow, Prince Shining Armor is pretty wise. He’s a lot like Princess Twilight, isn't he?”
Spike nodded, he’d grown up around the entire Sparkle family, so he considered Shining Armor as a big brother of sorts. “Yeah, they're close as close can be. So if he can see something in Sombra, I guess...I can agree too. Maybe having a friend will help him?”
“Yeah, it just takes one friend to change the world.” Derpy smiled. She was amazed, Sombra had gone from an enemy, to being befriended. That had to be good news, right?
Spike took out his quill to write a letter back, Derpy adding her updates where needed. He signed it and sent it off with his magical fire. He felt a bit uncertain about how easily the others seemed to trust Sombra now, but then- they’d seen it first hoof. And he trusted the girls knew what they were doing.
Still, he kinda wished he could see the pony face-to-face, see if he was truly better then the only memory Spike had of him.
“Look!”
Derpy looked up from where she’d been watching a bee that was eyeing up a pretty flower. Her vision refocused momentarily in time to see Spike pelting towards her. She bounded off the porch step to meet him, asking what was up? He sure seemed full of beans today..
“Look, Twi sent a photo! Somepony took this photo when he was facing off against one of those things. See?”
He held up a photo, which showed Sombra, magically aiming an ornate spear weapon at a blobby black mass with yellow eyes. He looked determined, but there was also a smile there. Outside the shield that trapped him and the monster together, wide-eyed ponies watched, some cheering, others waving. Off to one side was Twilight, eyes closed and a knowing smile on her face as she powered the shield, as if she knew Sombra could take this thing.
“Wow..” Derpy studied the photo intently, mind awhirl “he looks different. Happy.”
“Yeah,” Spike stared, “he looks like a regular pony- minus the horn I mean, but you’re right. He looks happy. I didnt think he’d understand how to be a normal pony- but if this is for real, then it looks like the crystal ponies are...accpeting him.”
His voice traile doff and he felt his throat lock up, a surprising sutge of anger filling his head.
“Spike?” Depry asked, sensing something was up.
“I...i dont understand!!” Spike suddenly bellowed, making her hair stand on end from surprise. As her mussy blonde fringe plopped back over her eyes, she seen the small dragon sit down abruptly.
“If they like HIM now, does that mean they've forgotten me?” Spike asked.
“How do you mean?” Derpy asked, sitting down beside him and patting his back with one hoof.
“I mean, I saved them- I didn't mean to, Twilight was trapped and I was the last one left to take the heart and run. Which I tried to do, I got partway down the castle when HE suddenly rushed me. If Princess Cadance hadn't come barrelling out of nowhere and caught both me and the heart, I think that beast would've eaten me!”
Derpy nodded.
“Being a hero, its not something you plan for. It’s being brave when there isn’t time to be scared, and you did that. The Crystal ponies love you for your part in saving them. You were there when Twilight needed you, when the Princess needed you. They’re not gonna forget that NOW, I just know it! Just because their feelings about Sombra have changed, it doesn't erase what you did.”
Spike wiped his eyes, nodding. She was right. Just because a book added a new chapter, to quote one of Twilight’s many impassioned book rants, it didn't make the ones that came before it irrelevant.
“You think...he remembers me?” he asked suddenly. Derpy thought about it, then shrugged.
“Maybe? I wonder how much he remembers of when he was defeated?” she said, which made them both fall silent to ponder it.
Days passed with no new update, but then an extra long letter made itself known as Spike was clearing up breakfast.
He stared at the larger then usual parchment scroll and wondered what Twilight had discovered. It had to be something BIG- or it could just be a list of chores for all he knew. He opened it as he took a sip of OJ and nearly sprayed the parchment with it.
“He’s a WHAT now?” he blurted, skimming quickly over the rest of the letter before returning to that one sentence. Was Twilight drinking too much coffee again, this was crazy.
He somehow held it in until they finished taking care of Angel Bunny, then he showed Derpy the letter, letting her read it herself.
Her mouth fell open, and she pointed a hoof at the letter, then at her head, then the letter again.
“Yeah, apparently he’s the legally adopted HIER to the empire.” Spike confirmed “i didn't believe it either. Keep going.”
She did, and no sooner had she shut her mouth then it fell open again. She put the letter on her head like a crown, then mimed taking it off and shaking her head.
“Yeah, he said no! Its crazy, right?!” Spike nodded rapidly.
“Whoa...i cant even...” Derpy shook her head “who’d have thunk it?”
They sat there, minds blown wide open. In short, Princess Luna had tracked down a long-buried artefact belonging to Sombra’s adoptive father, a pegasus named King Cloudspark. In it had been a jewel-studded band that'd once been the King’s. It was part of his inheritance for Sombra, buried as a last resort, should his son ever come back in a better frame of mind.
“But when he gave the box to Rarity, to see if she could fix a tear, she found some letters folded up in the lining!” Spike imagined the surprise on the unicorns face when she’d stumbled upon this. “Letters saying Sombra is his legal son- which means he’s the heir.”
“Bet that raised his eyebrows.” Derpy said, blinking wide eyes as she tried to imagine processing being told you WERE a King, for real! Not some self-proclaimed title seized in a coup…
“Says here that, according to Applejack, he ran out of the room like somepony lit his darn tail on fire! She says he’s been avoiding anypony trying to thank him, acting like he cant change his behaviour, even though he already has…..”
Spike trailed off, wondering what AJ meant? “I don't get it.”
“Hmm,” Derpy kicked a hoof back and forth, watching small dust clouds puff up “We need to clean the porch. Also, maybe he think nopony will believe him? Y’know they might think he’s just ACTING nice. I used to get that from my bullies. They’d trick me, act nice then at the end of the school day, they’d laugh in my face.”
“Geez, thats horrible. What’d you do?” Spike asked. Derpy chuckled.
“Most of the time I ran away, crying. One time though, I slapped the colt who laughed, THEN I ran away. It was a miracle I didn’t get into serious trouble. As it was, the teacher only scolded me a little, saying she understood why but I shouldn't use violence and to come to her instead. That same bully lives here now, did ya know? I ran into him again at a festival last year. He said he’d been waiting to apologise, he didn't mean to be cruel. I noticed he kept tensing up and I asked why? He said he expected me to hit him, that he kinda deserved it.”
“What’d you do?”
“I was a bit mad, but then I realised that whole thing was so long ago, that it wasn’t fair to keep punishing him. So I said it was okay and we shook on it. He’s a nice pony, I guess he just felt insecure as much as I did.”
Spike absorbed what Derpy had just told him, applying it to the strange tale of Sombra.
“So, if he’s say, that bully, then he’s maybe a little scared nopony will trust him?”
“Sounds solid.” Derpy nodded “he’s trying to say sorry to the empire the way my bully did to me. So he’s probably super nervous it’ll go wrong, that or he thinks they’ll turn on him the way that group of fillies did to me.”
“Whoa,” Spike stared up at her, seeing a very deep wisdom behind her seemingly vague expression. “you know a lot.”
“Not really,” Derpy giggled “I’m just using my old memories. I’m glad they're useful!”
“SO, even though he’s doing better, he’s too busy freaking out to see they aren't teasing him. I think I get it now.” Spike felt he had as good a grasp on this as he was gonna get. But it kinda made sense. Sombra clearly seemed to enjoy being around friends, but was still unsure how to approach what he did to the Crystal ponies.
“I’m Princess Twilight and the others will be able to help him.” Derpy added, making Spike nod.
“Thats true. If anyone can help him make friends, it’s Twi.”
“Well,” Derpy stretched her wings, then hopped off the porch “let’s go check on the birds and critters!”
Spike followed after her, musing about Sombra. There was more to him than just a big scary creature, that was for sure!
More days drifted by in a haze of routine and shared lunches. Spike wondered what was happening in the Empire now? By this point, even ponies as far away as Ponyville were starting to wonder what that black scar on the sky was. They turned their attention to Spike, waving newspapers that'd somehow made it out of the Empire’s quarantine borders in his face?
Was Sombra REALLY there? Were all the Princesses safe?
“Hey, if Twi says it’s good, then tis good.” Spike told them sternly “I trust her, so if she says he’s not dangerous, then he's NOT. She’s our Princess, remember?”
This seemed to go a long way towards calming them down, they secretly adored their princess of friendship.
The next scroll came with two extra things; a photograph and a hoof-drawn sketch. Spikes eyes about popped out when he seen the sketch, this was WILD.
“So, it seems Sombra and Princess Luna are friends now too, he’s helping her understand how dark magic works. I suppose who better to ask?”
“Yup,” Derpy nodded, she recalled reading about Sombra's magic back when he’d attacked the empire that time. It was, according to the papers, notoriously hard to use, for a normal unicorn anyway.
“Those creatures from the sky are really trying to get rid of Sombra, Twi says they realise he’s the lynchpin of the resistance, so they're trying everything. They abducted him and princess Luna, but they fought their way out and escaped. It actually sounds pretty badass, Princess Luna is pretty hardcore!” Spike had to admit he was impressed by both of them and the sky creatures world, as described by Twilight, seemed as dark and miserable as the creatures inhabiting it.
Next up was a sketch showing Sombra with a glowing fiery mane. Derpy stared in surprise, was this from a comic somepony had made? She asked Spike, but he shook his head.
“Nope, it’s for real. Says here he turned his mane into fire to free himself from this goop, then blew a hole in the stadium when he destroyed the monster. Whoops. Still, he’s made of FIRE, thats amazing...”
Spike had to confess he thought it was pretty amazing what Sombra could do, it was like something from one of Spike’s comic books.
The next letter talked mainly about Sombra training the Royal Guards, alongside Shining Armor. The two were thick as thieves together, and Twilight mentioned how happy she was to see Sombra adjusting to having friends, as well as his new royal status.
He was at the market the next afternoon when he seen a small crowd gathering. Making his way through, he seen it was miss Cherilee’s class from Ponyville school. At the centre were the Cutiemark Crusaders; aka Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. They were looking pretty pleased while their long-running rivals Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon stood nearby, looking utterly furious.
“How...Why are THEY invited to the Empire?! My daddy says they're not letting anyone in unless they have a good reason, no way they’ve got one!”
“Aside from mah SISTER and Sweetie BElle’s bein’ involved in all this.” Applebloom said smugly “The Princesses say its cleared, we’re catching a special train tha day after tomorrow, so there!”
Tiara looked about ready to explode, and even Silverspoon looked jealous.
“Hey Spike!” Scootaloo waved him over, grinning ear to ear “did you hear?”
“Yeah, you guys are going to the Empire. Not gonna lie, I’m jealous.” he sighed.
“Huh? Whys that Spike?” Sweetie asked as the crowd of classmates dissolved, including the two haughty bullies.
“I wish I was there with Twi, but I made a promise, so I’m staying here.”
“I know how ya feel,” Applebloom said ”I always hated being told to stay home and look after the farm when AJ went out to town, but I realised she was TRUSTING me to keep things going until she came back.”
“Yeah, I know Fluttershy’s gotta be a Llot less worried, knowing her animals are OK.” Spike nodded “still, I hope they’ll be home soon.”
“Yeah, I miss Rarity,” Sweetie sighed “but, I do get letters in the mail, so its not so bad. Whatever is going on up there, if it needs all the girls PLUS all the Princesses. Well..”
“It’s gotta be HUGE!” Scootaloo nodded “Rainbow says the big guy, Sombra, is about holding the whole fighting force together.”
“Well, have fun. Say hi to the girls for me..” Spike smiled, even though he missed Twi and company he knew the Empire needed them.
Sweetie promised they would and Spike went home, thinking about Twi. He hoped she was doing OK...
He and Derpy were just finishing up for the day when Derpy suddenly gasped loudly, eyes wide, Spike followed her stunned gaze and looked over to where the Crystal Empire was just visible in the distance. In its place was a big, storm black dome.
“Where’s the empire?” Derpy whispered “what happened?”
“I-i have no idea, I’ve never seen anything this weird before, and I’ve seen a LOT.”
They quickly tended to the animals then ran into town. Everypony there was staring out at the horizon too. Theories abounded, from Sombra being to blame to whatever lived in the sky tear creating that dome.
Spike and Derpy found a vantage point to watch from and kept an eye on the shadowy dome, hoping and hoping-
After what felt like an eternity but couldn't have been more than a few hours-with an explosion they swore the felt deep in their souls, the duo watched the dome collapse, revealing the Empire, shining bright once more. Everypony cheered and Spike sighed in relief.
“Man, that was tense!” he wheezed. Derpy nodded, looking as relieved as he felt.
“I cant wait for Twilight’s letter on this one!” Spike said as they hopped down from their spot and headed for their respective homes.
He wasn't disappointed, Twi’s letter reached him that night! He was beyond relieved to hear she and the others weren't hurt. But that wasn't all she wrote; The CMC were enjoying their stay, they’d met Sombra’s little filly friend and the four were inseparable. It took Spike a moment to recall who this filly WAS, then he remembered she was the one who’d booped Sombra’s nose that first day out of the palace after his return. He flicked back through the prior letters- there, her name was Bright Spark. Kid had a lop of pluck, it seemed.
Back to that day’s letter, and Twilight described how Sombra had created spells to help the guard and light the streets! Eventually, the stallion had, with Twilights help, worked out that the dome was made up of those creatures, and together with the other princesses, they’d succeeded in shattering it.
“He’s really making strides, Spike.” she finished and Spike felt his curiosity growing. When would he get to meet Sombra? That was….did he want to?
“Cmon spike, he’s not scary anymore, Twilight says so!” he told himself.
Twilights next letter came with a surprising request. It seemed Sombra wanted to know about HIM, Spike. So Twi was asking him to write a letter! She suggested writing a list of questions to begin with!
Suddenly Spike’s mind blanked, what should he do?! He didn't know what to say to the former King. He worried about it all the way to Fluttershy’s house, where Derpy seen his I-haven’t-slept-enough face and asked what was wrong?
With Angel Bunny taken care of, Spike told Derpy what Twi was asking him.
“Wow, he must really have heard a lot about you from Princess Twilight. What are you gonna say?”
“I don't know!” Spike panicked, the crest atop his head drooping, “what do I say to somepony I once was scared witless of!”
“Hmm, start with Hello! Then, just think what you'd say if you were in his shoes. Talk about yourself, he obviously remembers you!”
“Yeah, thats true. Hmmm….”
That evening, at home, he took out all the photos Twilight had sent. The most recent one showed Sombra wearing a fancy ball outfit, all the girls clustered around him. There was also a small filly he deduced was Bright Spark alongside a mare who was obviously her mom. Said mare was looking very affectionately at Sombra and Spike raised an eyebrow. Stallion clearly knew how to get a pony’s attention.
Great, now Spike was jealous because he didn't know how to flirt.
--Keep your head straight, Spike. Thats not what we’re focusing on..we have a letetr to write.--
“Hi, your highness,” he began out loud, writing carefully and slowly “I don’t know if you remember me, Im spike the dragon, Twilight Sparkle’s number one assistant-”
“Hoo?”
“Who- no, Owlicious!” Spike did a double take as he accidentally wrote ‘Who’ “I’m trying to focus.”
The Owl rolled its eyes and Spike tuned him out while he thought up questions to ask. In the end, he had a pretty lengthy letter, which he rolled up along with his letter to Twilight, marking it ‘urgent’ and ‘top secret’. Just in case.
The response reached him the next day and he found himself a bit nervous, what if he’d asked really stupid questions?! But to his surprise, Sombra was quite laid back in his letter, thanking Spike for his part in saving the Empire from him back then.
He really had come to terms with his past, Spike realised and he had to admit he truly did admire the stallion for that. He sounded pretty nice, actually, now Spike had this correspondence from him. It made the truth of Twi’s letters seem more tangible and he found himself slowly letting his last encounter with Sombra slip out of his mind. Without realising it, he’d already decided to give him a chance.
It was just past breakfast when Spike felt a shiver run through him and he dropped the dish he was cleaning. He darted outside and stared at the sky above the empire. Then, he ran back inside to grab his binoculars and came back out.
But he wasn't seeing things, the sky was alive with lights, all different colours and- there! Something big was emerging from the tear and it sent shudders up his spine.
Then there was a pause, as if the world was drawing a breath in preparation for the final bombshell-
With a colossal flare of light, the sky tear was being stitched closed by a needle seemingly made of silver magic. Then, with a sudden sharpness that blasted the clouds out the sky, it was GONE. The portal that'd darkened the sky was eradicated and sunshine filtered down onto the Empire once more.
“Spiiiike!” he looked over, seeing Derpy racing towards him at full pelt. She stumbled and rolled the rest of the way until she hit the mailbox. Spike helped her stand and passed her his binocs.
“Wow...”Derpy lowered them as the sky seemed to have returned to normal. “Does this mean it’s over?”
“I guess so...that tear is gone, so those things gotta be gone too.”
He felt a tug of worry in his gut- was Twi okay? Were the girls. Was...was Sombra okay?
He ran inside, Derpy with him and wrote a hurried message. It went through just fine, so Celestia was alright- but what’d happened to everypony?
Both he and Derpy sat in silence, sharing worried glances until-
With a burp, a missive appeared out of this air. Spike opened it, read it, then collapsed in relief. Depry flopped down beside him, reading the letter as he held it up.
“We’re alright Spike, we made it. The battle’s over, and Sombra almost gave his life to do so. He’s OK now, we managed to save him and Celestia- she gave him something very special. He’s an ALICORN, Spike. Just like me. Everypony’s celebrating, we’re at the palace now. I’ll write you soon..”
Her writing was erratic and Spike could imagine how excited yet exhausted she had to be after the battle.
He wrote a quick letter back; “I’m so glad you’re all OK, and congrats to Sombra on those wings!”
“What a day, huh?” Derpy said and Spike chuckled. THAT was an understatement!
The next letter was a long one, telling Spike every last detail about the battle, not just what she’d seen, but Sombra’s elegant writing joined hers, telling him about the big baddy that’d been at the heart of this invasion.
“Big news Spike- we’ll be coming home soon, all of us! We’ll be home for a few days, then its back to the empire for the coronation. And I cant wait for you to join us!”
Spike smiled as he sat back on the porch, looking up at the sky, his friend Derpy next to him.
He couldn’t WAIT.