//------------------------------//
// An Intermission at Ponyville 
// Story: The Reign of Princess Twilight Sparkle 
// by ShaD-23 
//------------------------------//

Shining Armor and Cadence walked through the streets of Ponyville, getting bows from everypony they saw. This happened often at both Canterlot and the Crystal empire, so it didn't bother them much.

“It's nice and quiet here.” Cadence said, Shining Armor nodding in agreement  as they made their way to the Everfree Forest. They were unsure if they should investigate after what had recently happened. A number of ponies had taken to fleeing the town since word spread that Tirek had been sighted in the Everfree Forest and even attacked Zecora and Trixie. Just how close was he. Turning, they could see both of them were thinking the same thing.

“Maybe you can go in shifts?” Spike said in a chipper voice, making them both jump and turn to him.

“You really scared us there, Spike.” Shining Armor said, smiling nervously, Cadence giving a sigh of relief.

“Eh, I just saw you heading through town, I figured I'd see where you were going.” he said. “Then when you stopped just at the Everfree Forest, I kinda put together you were thinking about going together.” The two royal ponies were surprised. Spike was awfully smart of perceptive for his age. He had really grown up as of late.

“LOOK OUT! IT'S TIREK!” Spike screamed, dropping to the ground and covering his face, Shining Armor drawing the Harbinger Blade and Cadence powering her horn as they both turned to a black shape shooting down for them, but neither of them moved.

Spike cowered in the neatly trimmed grass, not daring to move as he heard total silence. After a moment, he felt his side nudged. Shaking like a leaf, slowly opening his eyes, he saw a black raven landed just feet away from them, pecking at the ground. His face flushed red.

“I think we have our lookout.” Shining Armor said, putting his hoof around the young dragon, Cadence giggling to herself as the raven flew off into the sky. “Keep Ponyville safe for us, okay Spike?” Shining Armor said as he left Spike and Cadence behind, stepping into the forest. Sighing, Cadence nodded to Spike as she left him behind for the forest. Spike sighed and kicked at the ground, starting back to Ponyville. He hoped they would be safe.

Coming back to the library, giving another sigh as he stepped through the door, Spike thought they were right to go together as he came to the stairs. Two ponies are better than one. Sighing, he climbed up onto Twilight's bed, closing his eyes, Owlowicious snoozing on his perch. He wished everypony would come home soon. He quickly drifted to sleep, still thinking about his friends.