They found the boys covered in dust but no worse for wear.
"How'd it go?" Flurry asked as she looked at them.
"Twilight had no idea we set of the dust bombs," Zestar said with a smile "We cleverly set it up so we, a few randoms castles workers and guards, were all in the blast zone," He brushed some dirt off him
"Twilight thinks it's that new bunch of Crusaders," Flurry grinned ear to ear.
"Does that mean what I think it means?"
"Twilight is at Sweetapple Acre's having a chat with the Crusaders about disbanding," Zestar rolled his eyes "Again,"
"Well have to apologize when we get back, but knowing her she's probably doing a long boring speech about responsibility and children needing better guidance and then Scootaloo will get made again and Applejack will get involved, so we got some time, Grab your Armor, Weapons, and some rations and a fair amount of Bits just in case this takes more than one day,"
"I don't need the montage," Spike said with a stretch, "Just skip to either getting on the train or leaving the castle,"
"Let's skip to the train," Jasper said a little to fast for Spike's liking.
"Oh, what's the matter something happen on the walk?" a lack of response and Spike eyed Zestar who straightened up under his gaze. Spike gave a wide smile.
"Zestar Apple," He said, putting extra focus on the Apple in his name "now as I hear Applejack isn't the most...trustworthy pony these days when it comes to honesty, but I sincerely doubt Big Mac, Applebloom, or Granny Smith if she's still around would ever let you get away with lying so I'll ask you, look me in the eye," Zestar watched as the White void that was Spike's eye shifted and turned into a near-perfect copy of his original eyes "and tell me if something happened on the walk to the train," Zestar started sweating as he looked into Spike's eye, he held his breath for a moment before giving in.
"We ran into Mrs.Rarity and Pinkie on the way," Spike froze, his eye shifted back to normal as a large frown came across his face.
"Tell me about it,"
"Listen," Jasper spoke up "My mother-"
"I don't care about your mother," Spike snapped before turning back to Zestar. "Now tell me everything, no cutting or changing things," Zestar looked to his friends for a moment before sighing.
"Well me and Jasper-"
"Jasper and I" Pumpkin corrected getting a smile from Spike.
"Jasper and I decided to grab some sweets for the road since we had 20 minutes to wait for the train, so we went to Sugar Cube Corner,"
Jasper was just about to open the door when he saw her standing at the counter.
"Oh, Sweet Celestia why?" He groaned, Zestar looked at his friend than through the glass and saw Rarity and Soran standing at the counter, the Jewelry around Rarity's neck was absurd, the Ring on her horn was made entirely our of Jade and sparkled beautifully, she was dressed like a queen, necklace upon necklace rested around her neck, each of her fingers had rings on them, she wore golden hoove covers, Soarin wore his Wonder Bolts outfit, even tho he had long since been dismissed from their ranks. Jasper took a deep breath and opened the door, shouting meet their ears and they looked at Cheese Sandwich, who was being yelled at, he noticed the two and smile before Rarity got his attention.
"Oh, you think this is funny? Do you know who I am? I can buy this place and kick your sorry ass..."
"As you very well know," Cheese said with a smile "The Cakes hate you and will continue to refuse your offer to buy their brand so you can run it through the mud,"
"Hey pal," Soarin added.
"I am Cheese," he said simply "We have known each other for literally over a decade, and the price for your meal," Cheese pointed to the menu above him "Has been the same for even longer than that, so either pay the 34 bits or get out," Rarity gave him a sneer.
"And I'm telling you that last week I only paid 18 bits and refuse to pay anything over that!"
"I'm the one who served you last week," Cheese replied simply "and I can confirm with this here receipt "Cheese pulled out a long bit of paper "That is was exactly 34 bits, no tip, so buy or leave," Rarity rolled her eyes.
"Honestly one day Pinkie will listen to reason and replace you-"
"Oh yes, I'm sure Pinkie loves to hear how you dumped your fiance for a sugar daddy,"
"I'll have you know," Sorin said stepping in "that I was there for her when Spike was off fucking around with other Dragons, we all know he and Ember-"
"Where Friends," Cheese said happily "now if you please you have insulted me greatly as Spike was a great friend of my Wife, now leave, no food for you today," Rarity and Soarin left, failing to notice Jasper and instead shoved both him and Zestar out of their way.
"Jasper," Cheese said happily "How are those things your parents?"
"I think I was stolen," Jasper replied with a laugh as he tossed 47 bits on the counter. "I'll take their order, keep the change," Cheese took the bits and tossed one back.
"And have this back for being nice enough to tip," Cheese said happily before making his way into the Kitchen and calling out. "They're gone," Immediately Pinkie rose out from behind the counter and smiled at Jasper and Zestar, they both smiled at the only member of the Mane 6 who acted just as the stories said she did in the past.
"Oh, it's so good to see you!" Pinkie cheered as she pinched Jasper's cheeks playfully. "Cheese give him an extra Cup-cake for living his childhood with 'them',"
"All ready on it" Pinkie smiled at them before staring at them hard. "Alright what are you all up to?" She asked with a Grin "I saw you all walking down to the train station a few minutes ago," Jasper and Zestar looked at each other.
"Um," Jasper said "We...might found something...interesting,"
"Interesting?" Pinkie scratched her chin before sighing "Sadly I got nothing," Pinkie smiled, a twinkle in her eye, Jasper and Zestar added a box of Donuts to their order and Pinkie ran back to help. After waiting for a while the fairly sized order was Ready, Jasper took most of it and Zestar reached for the last package only to notice what it was, it was a faded green box with a bow on top.
"What's this?" he asked as he picked it up, Pinkie motioned him close and said quietly so Jasper couldn't hear.
"It's a present for who you're telling this story to," She smiled at his confused look "Just hold on to it until that makes sense,"
Spike looked at Zestar slacked jawed, his friends staring at him in shock as he reached into the side pocket of his armor and pulled out the small package, it was exceptionally small and very flat. Spike teleported next to Zestar and took it gingerly before looking back at him.
"I think we're done for now," Spike decided as he looked at the Box "Guards take them to the Dinning room, I'll meet you all there in a minute,"
"Wait," Flurry called out as she looked from the box to Zester and back again "I have so many questions right now,"
"Later," Spike said as she was rolled out, her friends following after her with the guards around them, after a moment the only one left was Spike and his throne, who was looking at the box silently as Spike undid the bow and took the top off, a few small clicked sounded and the box grew in size and popped into a perfect square followed by a tiny Pinkie Pie on a spring shooting out. The Tiny Pinkie had a one pony band on her back and Her voice rang from the box and began singing.
♫ I hope this singing Telegram finds you well, I know time on us hasn't been to Swell, ♫
♫But I just wanted to say something if I may, We think of you each and every day.♫
♫I know where you are but won't say with a Cupcake in my eye♫
♫But with this message, I can say we love you and Goodbye.♫
The Song ended and the Pinkie went back into the box for a moment before the clicks sounded and it began playing again, Spike stood in his throne room silently as the song played.