//------------------------------// // On Two Fronts // Story: Part Dragon, Part Princess // by Ultimus Pendragon //------------------------------// Spike and Cadence slowly walked up the stairs to the castle’s main hallway, passing by a few of the Crystal Guard as they not only saluted their Princess, the savior of the Crystal Empire, as well. If only they knew what lied ahead for the pair. Nopony so far had suspected anything, but that also was in part of the pair not speaking at all, as they were completely unsure about their Spike’s plan, but they couldn’t just sit around in Ponyville doing absolutely nothing. When they were far enough away, Spike dared to say something. “Are you nervous as I am, right now?” Spike asked as he kept his head forward and spoke slowly enough to not make his mask move around. Every hoof step felt like a bag of weights, only getting heavier and heavier the further the pair went. “I don’t know, does possibly having anything happen to us if this plan of your goes south doing anything at all for your morale?” Spike actually attempted to answer, only to realize his sister’s sarcastic nature. He smacked his lips and remained silent. “Didn’t think as much.” “Well, can you blame me for at least trying to make things a bit less worrying? I’m still 60% certain my idea will work,” Cadance only rolled her eyes at Spike’s certainty of the plan. As the pair rounded another corner, soon they would run into the throne room, where Shining Armor and Flurry Heart would no doubt be. Possible curse or no, Cadance needed to see her Flurry Heart, and to somehow assure Shining Armour. “And besides, you should be more worried than me; you are the Princess of Love right now, so you may want to focus. I don’t know how we’ll get past the talking, but I do have daily duties I have to attend to, and if they don’t get done, it will probably be a lot more than just upset ponies to deal with.” Spike shuddered at the thought of messing up something of this magnitude. He didn’t know the first thing about love, and he was all of a sudden supposed to be a master of it? And what about Shining Amour? He would rather sleep in Tartarus for a week than kiss him. “Well. . .” Spike said nervously, his mouth contorting into a wicked crazed smile under his mask. “No time like the present. Maybe this will be one of those times where Twilight manages to pull something out of her bag of tricks.” Cadence flicked her brother on the head, which was essentially her head as he yelped. “You do realize is was Twilight who got us in this mess in the first place, right?” Spike stopped just before the entrance to use his magic to take Cadance off his back, setting her down in front of him as he rubbed a hoof behind his neck nervously. True as that was, he knew Twilight would come through when it counted the most. She always did. “I mean, come on; let’s try and see the positives of this.” Spike said, walking into the throne room, paying attention as he looked around and saw Shining Armour. Asleep near Flurry’s crib. “Like what?” Cadance asked, also seeing her husband knocked out like nopony’s business. “Shining Amour is asleep, so I won’t have to kiss him,” Spike replied a matter of factly. Walking over to her daughter’s crib, Cadance felt a twinge of love come from her heart at seeing her precious little baby sleep so peacefully. It hurt her a bit more knowing that she couldn’t really embrace her daughter as herself, but rather a baby dragon. Spike slowly walked over to the edge of the balcony that over looked the Crystal Empire, noting its beauty and quiet. It was indeed hard to think that this place once under the rule of King Sombra before being hidden away and almost lost to time and memory. He spied The Crystal Heart in the center of the city, its radiant light glowing bright to dispel any darkness, and being the crown jewel of the land. Cadance must have something to wake up Flurry Heart as he heard her babbling and yawning. Turning around, Spike saw his niece pick up her rattle in her magic, albeit at a slow pace, only to look directly at Cadance as she smiled. . .and then Flurry Heart whacked her in the head with it, making her fall to the ground. “Baaba!” Flurry shouted, blowing a raspberry at Cadance, who clutched her head in pain. Looking over at Spike, she giggled and flew forward, her eyes wide as she cheered, catching Spike off as she slammed into him, causing him to fall over the railing. He instinctively clutched onto Flurry, turning over and forcing his wings open as he pulled up hard, the change in gravity making him feel as if his stomach touched his back. “Weeeee!~” Flurry scrambled over Spike, latching on Cadance’s head and steering him around. “Nghhh! Flurry! Let go!~” Spike hollered, trying avoid slamming into one of the Crystal pillars, zooming throughout the town as the Crystal Ponies looked on in part awe and part worry as they assumed their sovereign was dealing with her daughter’s tantrum. Colors and buildings zoomed by, Spike’s wings working overdrive, his hooves gradually coming to the ground as he galloped, his head hung low as he weaved in and out of produce carts. “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Spike yelled, as he spied a pony pushing a cart full of lettuce from behind, unable to see in front of him. “Bababa!” Flurry pulled Spike’s mane upward, causing him to hop up and clip the top of the cart, causing it to fall over and the pony’s produce to be scattered about on the street as Spike took flight once again. “My lettuce!!!~” the pony whined, being buried in lettuce. “Sorry!” Spike said, sure that what he said the poor merchant couldn’t hear. He then managed to correct his course by lifting Flurry Heart in his magic and bringing her in front of him as he had a clear course as he hovered in the air for a moment. He looked at Flurry and wanted to be mad at her for what she did; but that face was too cute to say no to. Especially when she held her hooves out for a hug. “Awww, I can’t be mad at you. Come on, let’s head back,” Spike put Flurry on his back as they flew back. “Cadence, are you alright?” Spike asked as he touched back down with Flurry as she held her head in pain. “Geez, she got you good, huh?” Cadance groaned, being careful not to put too much pressure on the small lump that was forming. “Flurry’s magic is still pretty raw, so she doesn’t have the best of control yet.” Cadance looked to see Shining Armour, but upon a closer look made her giggle. “What?” Spike asked. Simply pointing to look closer at her husband, it was revealed that Flurry must have drawn on Shining’s face before the pair’s arrival as when he turned over on his side, black marker streaks were crudely drawn on his face, circle and lines over his eyes resembling glasses as his chin was scribbled to show a goatee. “Ok, that is pretty funny.” “D-daaady!” Flurry giggled once again. Crystal Empire Train Station. . . “Wooo, woooo. . .Celestia help us, we finally. . .made it.” Twilight said as the pair finished their trip, though Twilight was close to passing out. Pinkie walked over after parking the cart on an off part of the tracks, smiling as her legs felt amazing, she hadn’t felt that funny since the cow stampede when Applejack overworked herself. “Well, we made it, now what?” Twilight slumped over on the ground, weakly raising a hoof in the direction of the castle. Pinkie took a second to think, then another idea came to her. “Oh, oh! Stay right here! I got just the thing!” “S-Sure thing.” Twilight said. A few moments later, Pinkie Pie zoomed back, a small thud sounding as Twilight managed to raise her head to see her Party Cannon. “P-Pinkie, what i-is that?” Pinkie Pie slowly picked her friend up and sat her in the chamber. “It’ll be ok, I already accounted for the wind, so you should be fine.” Pinkie pressed the big red button on the end. “Fire in the hole!” BLAM! “Pinkie Pie!!!!~” Twilight cried as she went soaring towards the castle, flying like a rag doll. “Don’t worry, Twilight! I’m right behind you! BLAM! Weeeeeee!”