Life was an unfair bitch.
At least that was what Former Solar Squad Leader Dawn Winds thought.
All she had ever wanted was fame and glory so she could rise out of the shadows of being a nopony and become somepony with prestige to their name. She thought the Royal Guard was the easy way to do so and worked hard to succeed in the ranks until she became Squad Captain. The problem was that Dawn Winds never found any tasks worthy of her soon-to-be legend in the making. It was always simple patrols, VIP protection details, and guard duty.
When Dawn Winds learned that there was a mission to figure out why convoys were disappearing, she thought it would finally be a chance to get some glory. The only problem was she was babysitting a bunch of rookies at the time—fresh green troops, including a griffin of all things. Still, Dawn was sure they could handle whatever was the problem despite warnings to be cautious.
By the stars, was she wrong.
An entire colony of tatzlwurms had ambushed them, and it looked like this would be the end. Dawn Winds did what any sensible pony did. She flew away as if her life depended on it. Yes, she abandoned her squad, and it was cowardly to do, but she didn't want to die. Was that so wrong? Dawn thought about returning when she was finally safe, but there was no point. They had to be dead. How could anypony, much less greenhorns, survive that? Sure, Dawn Winds felt terrible, but on the other hoof...nopony needed to know, right?
So she lied about it. Said her squad panicked and died before she could save them. Hay, she was even asked to speak at the funeral for them. Everypony believed her, and they were sympathetic to Dawn.
Of course, that stupid annoying Gallus arrived with the entire squad and ruined everything. They exposed her actions, and Dawn Winds was suddenly the most hated guard in the ranks. She was stripped of her rank, kicked out, and even forced to spend ten years in jail for her actions. Her friends had abandoned her, and her family disowned her. They slammed the door on her when she tried to visit for Hearths Warming Eve. Even her little brother said he had no "cowardly and lying sister" when Dawn sent a letter to him once and told her never to contact him again.
With such a poor reputation, Dawn Winds had to take wherever job was available, and most of it was low-end crap that barely made her earn a keep. Meanwhile, that damn griffin was praised as a hero and soon became Captain of the Guard.
It was not fair.
She didn't want to die. Was that so wrong?
Dawn Wings was desperate. She didn't care about anything but making sure she had enough money to support herself. So, she became a criminal for hire, using her ex-guard training to get herself started. Soon enough, she had a new career working for various underground groups that needed some dirty work.
Was she pushing drugs? Sure, the ponies who OD on it had only themselves to blame. Did she start Roughing up a store or two? It was good practice for her muscles. Was she firebombing a rival factory on behalf of a mob boss? A little arson didn't hurt. Murder? Maybe one or two. Was it wrong? Yeah, but what did she care about right and wrong anymore? Dawn Wings was scum in the eyes of society, so why fight back against that?
This is why when a bunch of dragons asked for former guards who knew secret entrances into the palace, Dawn Wings didn't hesitate to answer. Especially with the bits, they were paying. Enough to make her finally leave Canterlot for another city.
"So, this cavern outside the western wall has a secret entrance?" The cloaked pink dragon asked as he pointed to a map that Dawn Wings provided. He was surrounded by his other dragons, who kept their identities hidden, but Dawn Wings didn't care. All she cared about was the massive amount of bits in her presence.
"Yeah, it's a glamor at the right corner at the end. You just need to find the handle past it, pull it down, and the secret entrance opens," Dawn Wings explained as she smirked. "Once you go through it, it's a piece of cake. Follow the path, and you'll end up in the Royal Swimming Pool. Right behind the unicorn statue that shoots water out of its horn."
The center cloaked dragon nodded before pushing the large bag of bits in her direction. Dawn Wing's eyes lit up as she grabbed it and smirked. "So, are we done?"
"You may go, yes."
Dawn Wings nodded and put the large bits in her saddlebags before walking out the door of the small room. Walking down the stairs, Dawn Wings made sure not to look at any of the patrons in the bar before making her way out. Downtown was not a safe place to be in, even during the day. Luckily, she knew a few alleys that would get her to her apartment that were safe.
Humming to herself, Dawn Wings wondered who the dragons would assassinate. She wasn't stupid and didn't need to ask questions about why they needed to get in. It was clear they were here to murder somecreature; the most obvious answer was the Dragon Lord. Not that she cared. Although, I won't object if they also kill the Captain of the Guard along the way.
Walking down one of the alleys she had used multiple times, she noticed a homeless beggar near the middle that spotted her. Dawn Wings hoped to avoid him, but he slowly got up and levitated a plastic cup with a tiny number of bits inside. "Spare some change for a homeless stallion."
"Get lost, old geezer," Dawn Wings growled as she tried to move past him before flapping his wings. "Ugh, forget it. I'll just fl-"
Suddenly, she felt two sharp knives dig into her back, precisely right where her wings connected to her spine. She was about to scream when the homeless figure wrapped his hindleg against her throat before shoving her into the wall. Using his magic, he levitated a knife and started stabbing Dawn Wings repeatedly in the stomach until she stopped struggling and went limp.
Once he was sure the pegasus was dead, the unicorn murderer dropped her and leaned her corpse on the bloody wall. Another unicorn, this one with a black cloak, jumped down from the ceiling above and smirked. "This was an easy one."
"Yeah, and apparently, she was a former guard as well," the fake homeless guy chuckled before grabbing the bits in her saddle bags. "Any idea why those dragons wanted her dead?"
"No idea, but I don't get paid to ask. Let's grab her money and get out of here before she's found."
The two hired murderers ran off with their goods and left the corpse of Dawn Wings behind.
***
One of the hardest things Spike had to learn as a dragon was that, due to his great lifespan, he would lose his pony friends faster than he would realize. It wasn't something that hit him until he got older (rage potion effects not counting) when his friends and family started getting greyer manes, wrinkling faces, acting slower, and creating their own families. The final part had to be when they stopped doing adventures altogether and started focusing on their own lives. It did hurt that Spike knew one day that five of the six mares he called his "sisters" in his heart would have funerals he would visit while he was still a young dragon. Dragons could live up to hundreds or even a thousand years, and he wouldn't join them in the afterlife until much later.
Fortunately, a lot of good talking from those closest to Spike helped him adjust to this. Plus, he wouldn't be alone forever. He would have Twilight, who was bound to live as long as he did, if not longer, Ember, his other dragon friends, and Discord. Plus, he would always look after the descendants of his best friends, no matter what. Sure, there might come a day when it would just be harder than expected and break him temporarily, but he was sure those who loved him would help him come back together.
For now? I'm just going to enjoy our time together, Spike thought as he poured another cup of tea for Twilight, who sipped it shortly after.
The seven of them always made sure to have whatever time they had to spend together, and every time they did, Spike sometimes liked to think back to when he was a young dragon. Back when he was living back at the library with the girls laughing and gossiping about what was happening in Ponyville and waiting for another message from Princess Celestia asking for help with something.
"So, Angel Jr. trapped the babysitter in the closet for six hours that you and Discord were gone?" Rainbow Dash asked her friend, Fluttershy, before slapping the table and laughing. "Ha! That bunny's as bad as his dad was!"
"Yes, but he's really a sweet thing once you get to know him," Fluttershy replied while blushing. Despite having grown older, she was still the natural beauty that had almost made her a modeling star. She had shortened her mane and stopped letting it flow freely in the wind by creating a unique ponytail out of it supported by a blue butterfly clip. She was also the only one without any gray in her mane, which was a surprise since she was the oldest of the six ponies. Plus, you would think being married to Discord undoubtedly would have caused some gray hairs eventually.
"How's Feathercord doing at college? I'm surprised he didn't come down this year since he loves these events," Rarity asked, wiping her mouth after eating a small sugar cookie.
"Oh, he and his marefriend were asked to check out the Gallopagos Islands with their professor this summer, and I wouldn't want him to miss such an opportunity," Fluttershy said before turning to Pinkie Pie with a bright smile. "And speaking of children, congratulations, Pinkie."
"Thanks, Fluttershy!" Pinkie Pie cheerfully states as her poofy and sparkling silver and pink mane shivered with excitement. Rubbing her belly, she said, "Two new babies to add to the birthday calendar! And, if my Pinkie Sense is correct, both are girls this time!"
"Are you and Cheese ever going to stop havin' foals?" Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow. "I like havin' a big family' as much as the next pony, but nine children? Ah think ya hit yer limit, Pinkie."
"Oh, I'm sure this will be the last time this happens," Pinkie assured.
"You said that after your third baby," Twilight pointed out. "And then you had the twins the next time."
"Eh, I'm sure I'm right about this being the last one this time," Pinkie said with a shrug and a smile. "Besides, with these two adorable buns in the oven, I'm now ahead of Boulder by one!"
"I don't know what's weirder," Spike whispered to Twilight with an eyebrow raised. "The fact that she's competing with her sister's pet rock or the fact that Boulder actually has children."
"It's Pinkie Pie. I stopped a long time ago asking these things so I don't develop liver cancer," Twilight muttered before wincing and turning to Rarity, who didn't seem bothered by this. "Um, sorry, Rarity."
"Oh, Darling, I've told you before," Rarity stated as she poured another cup of coffee. "We don't need to act like I'm a fragile flower. I'm still in the early stages, and the doctor says I stand a good chance of making sure we don't get to any critical states."
"Sorry, Rarity, it's just..." Twilight frowned, as did the rest of them. Spike was even gripping his claw under the table.
Of all the worst things that happened over the years, finding out that Rarity had developed cancer was the worst. Naturally, everypony had taken it hard, but Rarity was confident she could beat it, and Twilight ensured she had the best medical help possible. Even with the fear of such a thing looming over her head, the most famous fashion designer in Equestria was still working hard on her multiple stores across the nation (and in some other countries) while still being her kind, generous, and wonderful self.
"Twilight, I'm fine," Rarity firmly stated as she looked at all the others in the same manner. "I understand it's still hard to go through this since it's only been a few months, but I'm determined to continue living my life despite this new challenge. Yet, there is a chance this can become fatal, but I'm not going to think about that until I reach that point. For now, I'm going to do my best to defeat this thing before it gets to that, and I want to make sure you all support me in doing so...because I cannot do this without you."
"Of course!"
"Absolutely!"
"I'll always be there for you!"
"Yeah, we're in your corner, Rares!"
"You can beat it, Rarity!"
"And when you do, we'll have a big party to celebrate it!"
Rarity smiled warmly at us all before clearing her throat. "So, Twilight? Did I hear you recently tried another probation judgment for Tirek, Cozy Glow, and Sombra? Three months ago?"
"Yes," Twilight sighed in disappointment.
"I'm guessing that they're still statues means it didn't go so well?" Rarity asked, eyebrow raised.
"No, sadly, it didn't," Twilight explained. "Sombra still was determined to take over everything. Cozy Glow was still lying and trying to manipulate me. And Tirek? I think he's lost his mind at this point because he's just rambling."
"Well, it's their fault for being there in first place," Rainbow Dash replied with a snort. "And Discord too, for his little stunt."
"Dash," Fluttershy warned.
"I know! I know! I've forgiven him too! Just pointing it out is all," Rainbow Dash replied, raising her hooves. "Where is he anyway? Isn't he going to come to the event?"
"He'll be here on the starting day," Fluttershy replied. "He says there was some weird dimensional stuff happening he needed to check out. Nothing too serious, but we don't want a repeat of last time."
Everypony and Spike shivered upon hearing that. Some things were better off not being remembered.
"So, Spike?" The dragon's attention was caught by Rarity, who smirked at him. "How are things between you and Ember?"
"Really good," Spike answered with a sigh. "I was planning a gift for her, but I have to wait due to a problem with the materials being unavailable."
"Oh, dear," Rarity said, getting the hint. "Well, I'm sure she'll appreciate it once you get it."
"Thanks, Rarity," Spike said as he turned to Twilight. "How's the Royal Sister Memorial Museum going?"
"We're just about finished. I feel we'll be ready to open it in about six months, if not sooner," Twilight answered with a small, sad smile. "I wished...I kinda wished they were here to see it."
The girls and Spike smiled sympathetically at Twilight as Rarity patted her on the shoulder. "Twilight, dear? I'm confident that Princess Celestia and Luna are looking down at you with pride. Not just because of the museum you've made for them, but because of how well you've done as leader of Equestria. You've become a fantastic princess and a noble-hearted pony who has not just helped us ponies, but all races. Princess Celestia had complete faith in you when she passed the crown, and that faith has been more than proven."
"Yeah, Twilight," Rainbow Dash said with a nod. "You're a great princess. Best ever, in my opinion. I bet everycreature will remember you for ages to come."
Wiping a tear from her eye, Twilight nodded in thanks. "Thank you, girls. I just...I still wished I knew how they died, though. I mean, they just went to bed at their home and...that was it. They were gone."
"Maybe it was just their time, Twi," Applejack said with a shrug. "Everypony's got to go to the big sleep sometime, and they lived a long time. Even if they didn't show it physically, they were ancient. Maybe some bigger force at work took them to give them that rest they needed, but I'm sure they went peacefully."
Twilight was about to say something when a scroll appeared in front of her from a poof of magic. Curious, she opened it and then smiled. "Sorry, girls. But it seems I'm needed in the throne room. This won't take long. I'll be right back." She then turned to Spike. "Mind coming with me, Spike? Thorax is hoping to see you."
"Sure thing."
***
When Twilight and Spike arrived at the Throne room, they were greeted by a new set of faces that Spike hadn't seen in a while. The representatives of the changelings and hippogriffs, King Thorax and Queen Skystar, along with their guards and some attendants, were there waiting for them, along with two familiar faces Spike smiled upon seeing. The first was none other than Silverstream, Gallus's wife and former member of the Hippogriff Royal Family. However, none of that mattered to either Silverstream or her family. They still see each other as such despite what former Queen Novo did. And the second was their son, Garrus. He had a feathery hippogriff body that looked just like Silverstream's but with a blue coloring instead of pink, just like his eye color. A mane on the child's head was styled with blue feathers and held a white streak at the tips. His lion tail swished back and forth nervously before his eagle-like wings flared up upon seeing Spike.
"Uncle Spike!" Garrus shouted joyfully as he flew towards his favorite uncle and embraced him happily. Spike gently held the mixed-racial bird and smiled as the chirpy little guy looked at him with stary eyes. "I missed you! I was hoping you would come to the event today! I've done better with my flying skills! Can I show you them later?!"
"Sure thing, Garrus," Spike answered as he patted the little lion/bird hybrid on the head. "Want me to bring some of my friends to help?"
"Um, can it just be us?" Garrus asked, nervously shrinking at the thought of others being there.
"Of course," Spike answered, slowly easing the easily timid child. Guess he's still nervous around others.
"Hi, Spike! Hi, Princess!" Silverstream replied in her usual cheery tone as she flew over and took her son into her arms. "So glad to see you both! Well, I see you all the time, Princess, but it's still good to see you anyway!"
"It's good to see you too, Silverstream," Twilight said.
"Nice to see you again, Spike," Queen Skystar stated as she walked over with a bow. "Dragon Lord Ember is here, right? I wish to thank her again for helping us with the giant octopus issues we were having on our border. I had no idea water dragons were good in underwater combat."
"Yup, but she'll probably tell you to thank Aquafire, her family was the one that did most of the work," Spike replied. "How is your family?"
"They're great! Applebloom and Terramar are doing great at the farm they made on Mount Aries, and their experiments with creating underwater apples are doing good too. Not perfect yet, but it's getting there," Silverstream replied with a happy smile. "Mom and Dad are doing great as well. Dad's finally thinking of retiring, so we're planning a big retirement party next year. We're inviting everyone!"
"...Even her?" Twilight asked cautiously.
"...Yes, even her, I guess," Queen Skystar muttered with actual frustration in her tone. A feeling that Silverstream and a few others held.
Of all the friends that everyone had made in the past, the one creature that everycreature agreed to drop as one was Queen Novo. While the former Queen had always been a strict, no-nonsense presence in the alliance, she had been trusted as a comrade and caring mother at the very least, even if she was overprotective of her family.
That is until Silverstream announced she was dating Gallus. A non-hippogriff who was not of noble blood. Needless to say, Queen Novo absolutely forbade such a thing from happening, much to the shock of everycreature, including her own family. She stated that since Silverstream was part of the royal family, she needed to marry into a proper bloodline of high esteem. Gallus, an orphan with nothing to his name, was not one she would approve of and outright demanded that Silverstream break up with him.
No creature had ever seen Silverstream so broken in all her life upon being denied the chance to be with the griffin she loved. Even her parents had been outraged at Queen Novo's decision, with her mother fighting her old sister for the first time in years about this. However, Silverstream then did something that no creature expected, but it proved that she loved Gallus more than anything. She renounced her position as a member of the Royal Family, outright signing the paperwork, publicly displaying her statement, and was even planning on getting hitched in Las Pegasi before her friends, including Gallus, stopped her. Queen Novo had been outraged at Silverstream's actions and went even further by permanently stripping her of her noble rank so that not even a future royal could restore it.
That was the final straw for Princess Skystar, who did something nobody expected. She challenged her mother for the throne through the tradition of three contests: swimming, flying, and combat. The one who won two out of three would become the Queen. Skystar had managed to win at swimming, but Queen Novo won easily in flying. When the combat trial came, everyone feared that Queen Novo would easily win, but Skystar had shocked everyone by disarming her mother and holding her trident to her throat.
Queen Novo had lost, and thus Queen Skystar had been made ruler of the hippogriffs. While Silverstream couldn't become a member of royalty again, her coustin still allowed her to be part of the family and even declared any children of hers would be recognized as royals in their bloodline. She even personally had Silverstream and Gallus married in the royal throne room. As for Former Queen Novo, she bitterly recluded herself from society for years. Queen Skystar tried to talk to her mother a few times but refused to see anyone until the last few years. Only talking to her daughter and occasionally Silverstream's mother, but Silverstream herself had refused to do anything with her Aunt until she finally accepted not just Gallus but Garrus as well. Something that, to Spike's knowledge, had yet to happen.
"Hey, let's not forget who else is in the room!" King Thorax said as he hugged his best friend with his hooves. The Changeling King hadn't changed in the years he had been king. Apparently, even the Kings and Queens of Changelings could live just as long lives as alicorns. "It's great to see you again, Spike!"
Spike hugged his old friend back, saying, "How's your family doing?"
"Great! My husband couldn't come because of the pregnancy, though," King Thorax said, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "I was this close to not coming on account of how worried I am that he'll lay our eggs any second now, but my brother convinced me to go or else, and I quote, "I'll kick your butt so hard you'll have it coming out of your mouth" since I need to represent the hive and all."
It was a surprise for every creature to learn that changelings of both genders could give birth due to having the ability to change their sex organs at a whim. It didn't matter if your mate was male or female. You were able to get them pregnant regardless. It had been a big secret among their kind out of the fear of being ostracized by society. Plus, it was the answer as to why the hive was always so large in number. You didn't have to worry about relationship genders or sexual preferences affecting your society when anyling could get anyling pregnant. In fact, changelings never really saw each other as males or females in general since they could change genders on a whim. They only did so to make it less confusing for non-changelings. Smolder said she found it really confusing to see her friend Ocellus as a boy when she changed gender one year at the academy to see what it was like before going back to being a girl as her primary preference.
"This is why I've avoided getting married," Queen Skystar said with a hearty chuckle. "I find it easier to live my life without worrying about kids."
"Yes, but you love your nephew all the same," Silverstream replied as she held her son in her arms as he nuzzled her neck.
"So, what did you want to speak to me about?" Twilight asked, tilting her head. "Is something wrong?"
Both Queen Skystar and King Thorax frowned and looked at each other before the latter sighed. "We've both been hearing rumors and wanted to confirm it with you. If this is true, Twilight, you need to be honest with us."
Queen Skystar cleared her throat. "Your niece, Princess Flurry Heart? She's engaged to her guard, Erebus, correct. Somepony your brother and sister-in-law took in when they were both kids and practically raised them together?"
An icy feeling began to grow in Spike's stomach as he turned to Twilight, who had a stony expression on her face. "Correct."
"...Is he Sombra's son?"