When Friends are Said and Dun

by xenos29


Chapter 33

"We. Look. Awesome!"
Twilight had to admit, Rainbow Dash was by no means wrong. With the exception of Alpenglow, everypony was thoroughly occupied admiring their shiny new armor as they strolled from the royal forge and into the castle courtyard. Their knightly attire- courtesy of the royal blacksmith, who clearly took joy in her work- clinked and clattered as they walked, making them feel ever so slightly invincible. Twilight wondered if Alpenglow ever felt this way.
As everypony settled in the middle of a clearing, she ran an eye over herself, encased in an outfit that was part art, part engineering marvel. The fit was so perfect it was uncanny, from the glossy helmet that sat neatly over her head and horn, to the horseshoes that left crisp dents on the grass where she walked. To her surprise, the metal plates that lined her sides shifted effortlessly with each twist and turn she made. Really, the whole getup felt no more cumbersome than her old dress for the Grand Galloping Gala.
The innocent comparison sent Twilight into a bit of melancholy; today would be nothing like that night she and her friends had enjoyed once upon a time.
She watched with vague envy as everypony sat down and busied themselves with talking, tightening straps, appreciating the little unique details of their own armor. What she wouldn't have given for a similar distraction. A choice, an awful choice whispered constantly at the back of her mind and tugged relentlessly on her mane, and a self-imposed silence kept her from further consulting Alpenglow. He hadn't said a word to her since this morning on the balcony, and now he sat no more than ten feet from her now, helping Spike attach small saddle to his back. Pretending to adjust her armor, Twilight listened as the two quietly talked.
Spike muttered, "I still can’t believe Twilight said yes to this."
"I did promise her you’d be safe with me, Spike. Besides, she’ll be plenty busy organizing everypony, and I could use the extra hand, squire."
"Really?"
"Of course. We've put in the practice; you’re ready. Just make sure you keep that lance facing up and forward. I'd rather not go down in history as the first living hobby horse."
"You can count on me!"
"I know I can. By the way, did you pick out a picture?"
"Yeah, right here." From a pocket in his armor- which closely resembled Alpenglow's- Spike pulled out a tiny picture of Rarity, not much bigger than a bit.
"Perfect. Here." In his hoof, Alpenglow held out a little metal disk. Looking uncertain, Spike took it, probing a seam in the weathered brass. With a pop, the disk opened on a hinge, revealing an ornate little arrow atop an eight-pointed star.
"A compass..?"
"There’s a clip on the inside of the lid to hold the picture. When I was a colt, you’d put somepony you care about in there. Keep it, Spike."
"Really?"
From the corner of her eye, Twilight saw Alpenglow smile tiredly. "I’ve had it for a long time, but it’s yours now. Take care of it, and it’ll point you in the right direction no matter where you are...and no matter where she is." Without saying a word, they both looked at Rarity, who was busy admiring her reflection in Rainbow's helmet, to the annoyance of the latter and her strained neck.
"Wow...thanks, Alpenglow."
"You’re welcome, Spike."
Her back now to both of them, Twilight strained to hear Alpenglow whisper, "Spike, on the desk in my room, there’s a scroll and a stack of boxes next to it. When you get back, give the scroll to Twilight; the rest are labeled."
"What are they?"
"You’ll find out soon enough."
"Wait, but..."
Twilight!" Alpenglow called, "Ready when you are."
"I was born ready!" proclaimed Rainbow.
"Let’s get ‘er done!" trumpeted Applejack.
The ponies marched towards the train station with a purpose, heads gleaming and held high. When they arrived, Princess Celestia and Luna were already waiting for them on the platform wearing armor of their own. Give them a stage and a few gems on their capes, and Hoity Toity would have hired everypony on the spot.
As it turned out, the ponies were on a stage, just not one for a fashion show. Heads began to poke from the tents in the camp, and a crowd formed in front of the platform with surprising speed. Mayor Mare, the Cakes and Apples, and countless other familiar faces all stared up in silence, no doubt waiting for Princess Celestia to say something.
Twilight felt a hoof on her shoulder. "Twilight?" asked the Princess, "Is there anything you’d like to say?" Without expressly saying yes, she cleared her throat and stepped forward. As it turned out, nightmares about school presentations were just as scary when she was awake.
"Everypony…my friends," she corrected, "Two weeks ago, we were forced to abandon Ponyville, our homes. I'll never forget that day, but I also won't forget how lucky I was that no matter what happened, I was never alone. We've all been together every step of the way, and there's no way I could have asked to be with ponies stronger and more caring than the ones I'm standing in front of right now." She stopped to look back at Alpenglow, then continued, "We've all lost something important to us, but we’re all together now, in a wonderful spot, to honor a wonderful thing: the friendship that will allow us to rebuild when this is over. Stay brave, everypony. We'll all go home again soon."
The applause came like the first drops of rain- too subtle to be really worth noticing, but nonetheless undeniable in the greater force they forbore. And forebear they did, because the stamping of dozens of hooves soon joined the first trickle, and sent ripples through the field as Ponyville cheered for its princess. Nothing else could ever make the world seem more full of life than the vibrating of the air and earth as the ponies beat the drum around them. Twilight would have been reluctant to turn away from them, had it not been the sight of her friends behind her, beaming with unspeakable pride.
"Near brought a tear to my eye, Twilight," AJ said, tipping her hat a tad.
Rarity added, "You truly have risen to the occasion."
"We all have," Twilight smiled. Eventually the applause faded, and from the crowd, Jade of all ponies appeared. Needless to say, Twilight practically threw herself off the platform to meet her.
"Jade! We missed you at the dinner! What are you doing here?"
Everypony quickly joined them on the grass, and Jade pushed her glasses up. "Well, I sure wasn't about to let you leave without saying good luck."
"Thank you so much, Ms. Singer," said Fluttershy.
"Don't mention it. Nice speech by the way, Twilight."
Twilight blushed. "Thanks, Jade."
The aged author smiled when she looked Alpenglow, but said nothing, strangely. "As fun as it'd be to join you all, I've got a job to do here, helping out the camp as best as these old joints will let me."
"We couldn't've asked for anythin' more," said Applejack.
Jade laughed. "Good! All this out of doors isn't good for a bookworm like me. I'm just glad I could help you girls out. Just make sure you'll all come back and tell me about it."
"We will," said Twilight.
With one more hug, Jade walked off, and the princesses took her place in front of the eight of them.
"Apologies, everypony," said Luna. "We’ve just received word from Cadance and Shining Armor. I fear the two of them and Discord have bought us all the time they can; they say they are being pushed back." She waved her head towards three chariots, their royal guard drivers standing at attention. "We can return to Ponyville as soon as everypony is ready."
"Just a sec’," said Applejack. "I really gotta go say bye to Applebloom and everypony- ya know, just so they don't worry."
"And I as well," added Rarity.
"Yeah, I’d better, too," Rainbow said, waving after them before turning around. "How ‘bout you, Alpenglow?" she asked offhandedly. "Anypony you need to say bye to?"
Twilight winced, and everypony visibly flinched as Rainbow, for once at a loss for words, realized her mistake. As for Alpenglow, he simply looked at all of them, as if seriously considering his answer. His face said nothing else however, a talent that continued to amaze- and unnerve- Twilight.
To everypony's chagrin, he silently lowered his visor and turned away from them. But as he walked to the chariots, the voice inside the helmet answered contently, "Nopony who isn't already here."

Even now, surrounded by her steel-clad friends, Twilight couldn’t shake the whiff of nostalgia she felt when she looked at Spike, the scales on his head swept back as the chariot streaked through the air.
This time, they were finally going home.
The princesses both gave Twilight a reassuring nod as Smoke Jumper, her pegasus partner, and several fresh-looking guards pulled the three chariots into a tighter formation. It had been a silent trip from Canterlot otherwise, with everypony keeping to themselves. Hardly surprising, given the circumstances; they weren't exactly coming back from vacation.
Gradually, the view of the countryside disappeared from the sides of Twilight’s view, swallowed by the mountainous dome of Ponvyille. Not five minutes ago, it was the size of a beach ball, with the chariots gravitating towards it like some distant star to navigate by. Now, no longer satisfied with being part of the scenery, it had engulfed everything that wasn't part of itself and began approaching them like the front of a storm.
The camp was gone now, replaced by a ragged line of tents that marched around the glowing semi-sphere, wrapping around it like a rope about to snap against the strain of its burden. Below, among the dirty gold throngs of royal guards, Twilight could see the thin, lumpy figure of Discord, and next to him the mixed outline of Cadance and her brother.
The chariots floated to the ground, and Twilight stepped off first, greeting each of them- save Discord- with a hug. "Are you alright?" she asked.
Cadance, whose legs were just slightly wobbly, nodded. "Just fine. You’d think I’d have gotten used to this by now," she said with a halfhearted smile.
Shining Armor put his hoof over her, though looking less than lively himself. "Having Discord here has been a big help," he said
"One is glad to be of service," chimed Discord said with a bow so deep, he would’ve fallen over had it not been for his ability to float. "This is exciting, isn’t it? The whole cast, all together for a showdown with a mysterious and powerful foe! You can almost feel the energy in the air!" he said. A staccato of lightning bolts slapped the ground at the draconequus' mismatched feet. It gave everypony a start, making them jump back in alarm as Discord let out an opera-worthy laugh.
"For ponies’ sake, do you take anything seriously?" snapped Applejack, fixing her hat.
"This is me taking things seriously," said Discord as he lazily scratched his back. "I’m well aware that this crazy old weed is a problem. If we don’t stop him now, he could bring untold chaos to Equestria. Do you have any idea what that would do to my reputation?!"
"Relax. I doubt even Blight could find a way to make you any less likeable," sniped Alpenglow. For better or worse, his attitude towards Discord hadn't changed a bit, but Discord, not the slightest dismayed, bent like a blade of grass to look him in the eye.
"You wound me, mon petit poné. But oh, I am glad to see Twilight and her friends were able to breathe some life into you." He rapped on the Alpenglow's armor, which made a deep, hollow sound. "Though I'll always think of you as our own tin woodspony."
"Call me whatever you want. Is it ready?"
"It most certainly is," he said in a refined voice.
"Then let’s go," pressed Rainbow.
"One moment, ponies." Discord snapped his fingers, and Blight's box blinked into existence in the middle of all of them. Without delay, Smoke Jumper and the guards began loading it onto a nearby trolley.
"I suppose you all understand how it works?" probed Discord.
"Yes," Twilight answered.
"Oh…?" Discord raised an eyebrow. "Well then, good luck...to you all."
"They won’t need it," Alpenglow, shaking his head.
For a moment, the spirit of chaos took on a look of almost profound understanding, and perhaps respect. "I see. Well…good luck, nevertheless." He disappeared, and everypony finally approached the threshold of the shield, a white wall marking the edge of the world.
"Everypony ready?" Twilight asked, tugging her crown, now fastened to her helmet.
"Ready as we’re gonna be," answered Applejack.
"If Blight’s laid even one tendril on my boutique..!"
"Let’s get this party started!"
"Eep."
As they all double-checked the rivets keeping their elements in place, Alpenglow instructed the guards, "Smoke Jumper, troopers, once we’re through, you all will bring up the rear with the box. Stay close, but don't get too attached. Like we went over before, I need you to stay flexible and be ready to help if anypony gets in over their heads."
The guards saluted. "Got it, sir," replied Smoke Jumper.
"What about Cadance and Shining Armor?" asked Twilight.
"Sorry, Twilie," her brother answered, as he and Cadance propped each other up. "We'll have to stay here and make sure Blight stays in. But we'll do our best to stay in touch."
"Good luck, everypony, and be careful," Cadance added.
A strange, partly déjà-vu sensation filled Twilight as she saw the princesses position themselves on either side of her. Everypony else formed in front of them with Alpenglow and Spike at the center. Finally, the guards and the box brought up the rear, completing the 'arrowhead.'
Alpenglow twisted his head back. "On your go, Twilight."
Twilight nodded, taking one last look at everypony. Applejack and Rainbow, good; Fluttershy, nervous but ready; Rarity, blushing at the picture she saw in Spike’s compass, which he held open as he sat on Alpenglow's back.
"Once more unto the breach, Twilight," the stallion whispered.
She felt her heart skip, but surrounded by her friends and family, she took a step forward, and they all followed suit.
"Let’s go."
The not-so-new princess trotted forward confidently, setting the pace, and leading everypony into the light.