A day had past and Rainbow Dash was helping to clean up the town. The bodies had been buried, Filthy himself had seen to that. He still blamed himself for bringing Bloody to the town. Diamond Tiara was being helpful too, she looked worn out, and a little wrecked but happy as she worked side by side next to her dad.
Rarity was in her boutique, Rainbow worried about her at first but smiled as she heard her prissy frustrations and joyful cry of inspiration.
The town was mainly just trying to get back to the way it was, not a whole lot of damage, but Rainbow Dash felt she needed to do something, so her, Filthy Rich, and Diamond were were going from place to place to see if they needed some help.
She was eating at a little restaurant, who decided that since she tried to help and was friends with Spike, she got to eat for free. Her thoughts drifted to the drakos. She was scared of him at first, he was a killer and a soldier. She had a chance to think about everything, and what scared her now, was not getting a chance to see her friend again. She looked over at the outskirts of town, down the road he took when he left. That's when she noticed them, the soldiers.
Coming down the street was a small platoon of soldiers, and just about to be in the town was a single pony, a scout in the Equestrian guard. Rainbow zoomed out to him and stood in his way. "Hey dude, what's with the army?"
He gave a quick salute and stood proudly. "Ma'am, have you seen a purple drakos in town. He maybe wearing a cloak so he would just appear as a strange two legger."
She grabbed him by the front of his uniform. "You know Spike!?"
The young stallion broke from her grip. "You know the Captain!?"
They stared at each other till he broke the silence. "Private Sunrise, we received word that Captain Spike was in need of assistance in liberating the town of Ponyville!"
Rainbow Dash sat in the road. She was stunned that a whole platoon was here to save her town. "You just missed him. He left about a day ago, after he, well liberated the town."
The Private rubbed his face. "Captain Apple will be upset with that." He looked at the mare in front of him. He blushed as he extended a hoof. "Sorry about the yelling. I was so exited to be getting to work with both of the legendary Captains. My name is Sunrise, what's yours?"
He was a russet color with a red mane, besides his over eager attitude, he look like a regular earth pony. "Rainbow Dash. Look, I can tell you everything, if you want."
He smiled. "That would be lovely."
Rainbow smiled at everything in front of her. All of her friends were back together, sorta. They stood before the grave of Rarity's dad. Everypony was tearing up except her. Rarity was next to her crying, but she had a smile on as well. "I miss him Rainbow, he was my father after all." They both looked up at the devastated Sweetie Bell, surrounded by her friends and mother. "But he was got what he wanted in the end. We are safe, and all back together. Now nothing will tear us apart!" She nudged her friend. "When Spike gets back, I will never let him leave again."
Dash smiled at the white mare. "How do you plan on doing that?"
Rarity smiled. "My father told me not to marry anypony, that is what I plan to do! Even if I have to fight my friends!" She began to walk back into town. "Come Rainbow Dash, we have to be gracious host and see the soldiers off.
Rainbow Dash scratched her head and followed behind. "Ok, I'm lost. Do what now?" She looked back at the grave and nodded at the old stallion who fought for his town. "Your daughter's a little loopy, but thanks for her." She gave a grin to her other four friends. They were confused at how quickly Rarity seemed to be over her father's death. They didn't know Rainbow Dash had to stay at her house at night, holding her as she cried. The good thing was they were back, and Rarity was getting better. By the time Spike got home, it would be home again. "Hey A.J. we need to go say bye to your brother. Come on."
Applejack nodded as she put her hat back on. "I'll be back y'all." She stepped away as she nodded to eveypony. She caught up to Rainbow Dash and nudged her. "Now what in tarnashions was going on with Rarity?"
Rainbow Dash smiled. "She just doesn't want anypony worried over her. I think she thinks that's what Spike did. Ya know?"
Applejack nodded with understanding. "I understand. But it tain't right. Big Macintosh was tellin me that Spike blames his self for the war. He probly just saw this as his fault too."
"Why would he blame himself for the war?"
"Dunno, maybe cause we're fightin his own kind, the drakos. He's more pony than drakos though. Buncha killers, they are."
Rainbow Dash teared up as she looked down. "I donno A.J., he looked like a drakos yesterday. I'm glad poor Fluttershy didn't see, she would have been scared of him for the rest of her life."
"All I got was a quick run down an I'm happy I didn't see. Did Spike really kill all them ponies?"
"With a cold face."
They walked in silence for a moment before Applejack spoke back up. "He must a been real different than."
Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Not really, a little sadder, a little madder, but the same old Spike until yesterday. When he said he was going to do it, I didn't believe him. I figured it was a bluff, but he kept his word. He killed more than thirty ponies and griffin."
"What about the griffin in the hospital?"
"Oh, that's Zeem, his older brother is the red one around town. Skrilla, the brother, tried warning eveypony. He got that scar from Spike in the war. He's a merc, and he switched sides after he fought Spike. He tried to get out of working for Bloody, but Zeem took over. Skrilla said Spike probably just spared his brother as a warrior's courtesy."
Applejack shook her head. "I find it mighty hard, seein lille old Spike as some warrior."
"He's bigger than us now."
"Well I gotta see that." Applejack hesitated a moment. "Macintosh won't tell me nothin bout how they doin. Did that lille fella, Sunrise, tell ya anything?"
"They're both captains, and legends in the guard. Apparently even the drakos are scared of them. Got the names Traitorous King and Silent Blade. He said he dreams of being on their squad, like it's an elite guard or something."
"They ain't gonna be the same after all this."
"Twilight said her brother got depressed after his first tour in the guard, but got better over time. She said now that he's married, he's only a bit more aggressive to threats."
"Yeah but Twilight don't know about the nightmares. I got up early last time we were at the Crystal Empire and saw Cadence tryin to calm him down. She told me it happens, they sometimes do bad things, and it never goes away."
"Yeah, well they both have all of us to help em out. For now, let's just worry about making sure they know we love em."
They looked up and smiled as Rarity talked Big Macintosh's ear off. He wasn't complaining though, he was smiling as if he knew a big secret. "Oh excuse me darling. I forgot the most important thing. Give him this letter for me, and make sure he writes to us this time. I will not have him disappearing like that again. Both of you need to remember to take the time to bathe every now and again, helps with the stress. Do not forget to make sure he eats those gems I send to him, it will do some good for his complexion. I will send you some apples with them too. Do you like carrots as well? Good, I will send them as well. Make sure he writes to Twilight about his magic as well, he has to have some other use for it, and do not forget he has to tell Pinkie Pie what kind of party he wants. A big ordeal with the whole town or just a few of us. Oh and make-"
Applejack butted in. "Ah think my brother can handle Spike, Rarity. Now let's let him get on his way." She began to push her friend away from the stallion.
Rarity stopped and turned, head low. "One more thing please. Tell him to be careful for me. We still need him, and you too." She backed up, a sad smile on her face. "And we miss him."
Applejack turned to her grinning brother. She lightly hit his shoulder. "Stop that you dog. Don't go getting ideas. Be careful you hound." They hugged and she backed up.
Macintosh nodded to Private Sunrise, who straightened up and shouted out to the platoon. "Attention! Forward March!" The platoon began to march in synch. Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash watched as they disappeared out of sight.
Rarity sighed. "We need to head back, they are probably worried about us."
Rainbow Dash smiled. "Yeah, we'll see em again."
They went back and joined their friends. Things were different now, a little sadder, a little harder, a little more strained, but it would be fine in the end, maybe.