Princess Celestia brought the tea up to her lips. she blew over the cup causing a small cloud of steam to rise from it. The tea was far too hot for anypony to drink but that was the point. The mayor, a young white mare with a pink mane and a cutie mark that seemed to be a ballot, mirrored Princess Celestia’s actions. Neither of them could possibly take a sip yet without burning their lips and tongue and so they simply waited for the tea to cool.
“Tea Diplomacy”, her sister and closer advisors had called it. It was Princess Celestia’s preferred method of addressing domestic issues, simply invite the ponies involved in for a cup of tea that is slightly too hot. None of her little ponies would dare to fight in a private audience and so they would sit and wait for the tea to cool or her to speak. More than that they would sit and think, she knew the calming effect she had on ponies. She was a female of larger stature and vastly greater experience, they almost instinctively saw her as a mother and so in her presence the fear and anger that often clogged a pony’s mind fell away. Often the problem would solve itself and she merely needed to be there to set the tone.
The mayor’s mouth opened as if to speak before the mare closed it with a shake of her head.
the princess sighed inwardly as she subtly heated the other mare’s tea. If she needed more time to work up the courage to ask the question she would have it. Princess Celestia blew over her cup again and the mayor mirrored her action a second later.
“Why is he even here?” the mayor finally asked.
Princess Celestia gave one of her soothing little smiles, reminding herself internally that the mare was young, and that things that still seemed so fresh in her mind were generations ago for this pony.
“Princess Twilight was a mare who excelled at the impossible,” Princess Celestia began with a kindly smile. “If she is not hatching a sterile dragon egg then she is reuniting the Elements of Harmony and returning my sister to me. I went from ruling alone to having three other princesses to rely on in the course of a few years. In truth she had given myself back to me, for the first time in centuries I had time to take a long bath or read one of those romance novels all the rumors say I have.
“He was there with her every step of the way, her Number One Assistant. I tried to have him released back into the wild, even as a baby he was a dragon and so he would be fine. But every time I tried there was one obstacle I had not accounted for. Spike didn’t want to go because he didn’t want to be alone. A dragon raging through a city can be driven off, even killed… my sister and I are not always proud of the lengths we go to protect our nation, but a sentient, little more than a baby, saying he doesn’t want to be told to leave because he doesn’t want to be alone. You ask why he is here, he is here because despite the blood and fire screaming in his veins for him to go and hoard everything in his reach, he doesn’t want to be alone.”
The mayor took a long sip of her tea. “I am not insensitive to that, but it is past time I stopped letting an adult dragon tromp through my village whenever he pleases. Surely you saw the devastation flying in. I will not allow that to happen to Ponyville.”
“A noble sentiment,” Princess Luna said from the doorway as she made her way into the room, “but you are a century too late. Ponyville has been demolished time and time again by accident and disaster alike. Or did you think every village was insured by the royal treasury? You may go, sister. Discord waits for you outside the castle.”
The two sisters hugged briefly before Princess Celestia left.
“What is the meaning of this?” The mayor asked.
Princess Luna closed her eyes and drew in a steady breath. These elected officials were much less concerned with title and pedigree than nobles but Princess Luna always found that they lacked a certain deference.
“I am Princess Luna of Equestria, Herald to The Moon, Shepherd of The Stars, and Seer of Dreams. You have already failed to bow in my presence, you will at very least address me as princess. Am I understood?”
Y-yes princess,” the mayor said as she hastily bowed.
Princess Luna took the chair her sister had been sitting on. the other chair and table slid against the wall. The mayor, no longer with tea or a seat could only stand awkwardly in the middle of the room.
“Do you think me a morning pony by any stretch of the phrase?” she asked the mayor. “It is sister’s way to rise and shine, not mine. So when I was pulled rudely from my sleep to learn that institutional racism had once again reared its ugly head how do you think I reacted?”
Spike regarded the hunk of molten marble thoughtfully. Really he pitied the poor former rock. Not two days ago it had been sitting peacefully on a mountainside with all of its friends but since then it had been magically thrown at a dragon from miles away, had all manner of rude things said to it by said dragon as it tried to get out from under it, been stolen by another dragon, and now this.
If rocks had feelings, spike decided, this one would be doleful. A magma bubble ‘blopped’ dolefully in agreement with Spike’s assessment. It had been sitting here, getting used to it’s new place in the world when an angry princess came by and decided to crush it to work out her frustrations.
Spike scoffed, apparently this was all his fault for not declaring martial law and forcing the ordinance overturned. Another ‘blop’ drew his attention back to the former rock.
Rocks, under a perfectly symmetrical field of pressure, did not so much crush as they heated up. the ability to break apart and move out of the way is really the only thing that made rocks breakable but even then they just became more rocks and maybe a bit of sand; nature is beautiful like that. Anyway the rock not crushing didn’t really make much of a difference to the angry princess, doing this sort of thing to poor defenseless rocks was sort of the only thing that let her flex her magical muscles so she just crushed harder and so the rock got hotter until it wasn’t so much a rock as it was a big ball of lava being held by an angry princess, which is about as scary as you think.
Spike was tempted to roll in the patch of lava. It was one of the few things that felt warm to a dragon, but he decided against it, the poor rock had been through enough and doing anything very ‘dragon-ey’ would probably just make the situation worse.
“Needless to say,” Princess Luna continued, “It became necessary for sister to occupy you so that you did not see fit to make any further decisions while I prepared myself.
“Now, sister would drink tea with you and see that you are happy with the decision she makes. I care for your happiness only so far as it brings your obedience. If I must I will have this ordinance overturned by royal edict but surely even you are not so foolish as to force that necessity. You will rescind this farce of a law and offer a public apology to Spike. Your request for the Ponyville garrison to be refitted with ballesta units has been denied. Your request for additional police forces has been denied. Your request for the castle’s garrison to be likewise refitted is denied, vehemently.
“A portion of my own guard will no doubt insist on being present for the duration of my stay but they will act only as an extension of my will to see that the rights of all Equestrian citizens are upheld.”
The princess rose to her hooves and in a brisk walk made her way out of the room only to pause in the doorway. “Your ponies are afraid. I am not insensitive to this but you must be more than a loudspeaker for their fear. You must be the voice that reminds them of their courage. The greatest evils of this world have been done, not from malicious intent, but from unchecked fear.”
It was a simple thing really, snap a claw and we’ve got picket signs, a megaphone, and even a billboard. Of course the billboard is already fading. The castle’s the only thing I feel like I can use but when it’s involved I can never get anything to stick.
I’m tempted to go recruiting in that lovely patch of forest called the Everfree and show the villagers what a real monster is; that their dragon is as much of a marshmallow as that mare he used to swoon for. I’m tempted, I’m always tempted but some things are worth resisting temptation for.
Speaking of cutest, smartest, oldest, tallest, shiniest, and all around best princess, Celestia is the first to pick up a sign and stand beside me. Luna walks by us, reminding us of what constitutes a peaceful assembly before she goes into the castle to “make arrangements”, whatever that is supposed to mean. After a while she comes out and picks up her own sign. I’m afraid the poor dear doesn’t quite know how to react to me yet. It’s always those first dozen decades after villainy that are the most awkward. You just never know how to act around your former peers.
Of course we are both reformed now so I think we really are peers. It’s just that she’s also a princess. A princess peer, but as long as she’s not a princess pear those Apples shouldn’t have a problem joining our little protest.
Granted this picket line of ours happened after she burst into the mayor’s office and informed the mare that no sort of discrimination would be tolerated anywhere in Equestria, especially not the seat of Friendship.
Now the crowns are off and we are simply here as concerned citizens. This method may be less direct. There is a great deal more power in a crown than in a sign that says ‘let Spike in’ but this isn’t some elite few wielding power only they have. Anypony can join in and we’re all equals on the picket line. It’s the magic of Friendship at work, far be it from little old me to question it.
Shimmer could have kicked herself. If Cadence were still alive she would have kicked her. She was dozily recounting the trip’s events as she flew back to the Crystal Empire. It was a passing thought really, how Princess Luna had seemed so distracted after learning that Spike had turned her away, almost as if she wanted Spike’s heart. It was a passing thought but the more she thought about it the more sense it seemed to make.
It was romantic, really. By the time Shimmer had gone old and grey they would still be moon-eyed newlyweds. That is if they ever worked up the courage to approach one another. Spike seemed to accept his lonely lot in life with grim resignation, and Princess Luna was certainly not one to let something go undone. It was almost cute that romance was the one thing that would teach her hesitation.
As her carriage passed through the Crystal heart’s shield Shimmer felt a shiver passed through her body. It was not uncommon on passing from the almost constant arctic chill outside to the balmy warmth inside, but despite her mental reassurances she could not shake the feeling of unease. Something wasn’t right in her empire.
Ponyville was not a village to retain tension. The ordinance against dragons had been overturned the same afternoon it was passed and the picket line of ponies and gryphons(and one draconequus) had gone into Friendship Castle to celebrate their victory. The parties most noteworthy guests had disappeared before the celebration had even hit its stride(Princess Luna promised dire consequences if any revelers found their way to what she had claimed as her side of the castle before moonrise.)
compared to the welcome celebrations the castle had hosted this party seemed far more subdued and almost sheepish. The snacks and music were simply pulled together from what was available, the guests were likewise drafted from those present and willing to celebrate the victory. Everypony agreed that it was not the lack of food, lack of music, or even the lack of guests that seemed to suck the life out of the party. It was the dragon in the room, or rather the lack of dragon in the room.
“Spike come on, it’s your party. Everypony wants you there.”
“Not everypony.”
Dizzy rolled her eyes with a frustrated huff. “Everypony that matters wants you there.”
“Everypony matters, Dizzy.”
“Then why are you acting like you don’t?”
Spike gave a heavy sigh and brought his head down to rest on his folded claws. “It stinks,” he said.
“Then don’t let it get the best of you. Come to the party and have some fun.”
“Literally, it stinks. It’s like a bad cross between BO and rotten eggs.”
“What stinks?” Dizzy asked.
“Fear. I could always smell just a hint of it when I passed through town. It was just everypony being nervous at something big moving, so it reminded me to watch my step. Today Ponyville reeks of it. I just showed them that not only am I bigger and stronger than them, I also have more political power within their own government than they do. Everypony that wanted me out just feels powerless and afraid, so I’m at least waiting for the situation to settle. Plus it stinks, and I don’t wear a noseplug as well as I used to.”
Dizzy laughed. “Why didn’t you tell me you could smell emotions?”
“Just fear,” Spike said. “It’s sort of a predator thing.”
“Oh,” Dizzy said and Spike’s nose turned at the all too familiar scent.
Spike gave a heavy sigh. “I wish just once my body would agree with me on the whole vegetarian thing. I mean, it’s not like I don’t feed it enough gemstones.”
“I’ve seen Gregory swooping near the lake a couple of times. You might want to let him catch you some fish. It might help keep your instincts in check.”
“Eugh. I tried fish once. It tasted alright but having Fluttershy tell you your dinner’s life story is worse than Twilight telling you its historical significance.”
“Would you rather Fruit tell you how much work it is making a dragon sized cake.”
“Absolutely,” Spike chuckled. “The more Fruity complains the more you can tell it’s not a big deal.”
“And she always complains about you,” Dizzy said with a devious grin.
Spike gave a mock gasp. “Are you suggesting that I, the Great and Noble Sir Spike the Brave and Glorious might not be a big deal?”
“Who’s suggesting anything?” a voice said. “I’m saying it.”
Spike and Dizzy looked up to find Fruit Cake, Star Sword, and Gregory heading towards them.
“Oh, and call me Fruity again and I’ll beat you into dragon paste,” Fruit added.
“Are you just going to stand there and let her talk to me like that Star Sword?” Spike managed to hold in his laughter for just long enough for the hapless Stallion’s eyes to bug out.
Fruit’s hoof somehow managed to reach up and cuff Spike behind the ear. “Don’t tease him like that, he’s been a great help for us while you just sat here on your lazy rump.”
Spike couldn’t help but chuckle and roll his eyes. So now they give out praise for reshelving the library. “So what brings you guys out here.”
“Her majesty, Princess Luna of Equestria has seen fit to remain in Ponyville to see that no more...incidents occur. She requested privacy as she broke her fast,” Gregory said.
“You guys bugged her before she had her coffee and she kicked you out didn’t she?”
“That is a rather crude way of putting it, but yes.”
“So why did you come here, There’s gotta be tons of places better to hang out than some burned out patch of forest.”
“It wouldn’t be much of a party without the guest of honor,” Dizzy said, giving Spike a pointed look.
Spike rolled his eyes. “Guys just give it a day or two, please. Having ponies terrified of you isn’t nearly as much of a power trip as it sounds like.”
“We know,” Fruit said, “that’s why we came here.”
“It would be most improper to sleep in a place where my master did not feel welcome,” Gregory said.
“Um, uh same here I guess,” Star added hopefully.
Spike looked around the circle of friends that had gathered around him. “Guys,” he said with a soft smile. His good wing came around and gathered the group up in a leathery embrace. Dizzy was the only one that seemed comfortable, the rest were a combination of nervous, stuffy, and grumpy. Still Spike’s smile only grew wider, they were his friends and so help him they would get used to dragon hugs.
Spike settled once again into the middle of the cavern. He had come to realize that he had become a very lax host. He had no chairs and only a pile of cushions to sit on. He had nothing to drink other than water from the stream that ran outside his cave and at the moment it was more black than clear. His friends were sitting in a half circle facing him and chatting merrily over the preserved fruits Spike had been able to pull together.
Spike shifted again uncomfortably, his left wing itched and ached beneath the splint. He could almost feel the bone mending itself. He idly wondered if his quickened healing was part of being a dragon or if that was unique to him. Already his wounds had closed and new scales had grown in to replace the old, only the slightly brighter purple let others know there was a scar there.
If only there were some way to keep the growing scales from itching so much though. Fruit’s glare stopped his claw midway towards a spot on his shoulder.
“I will chain your claws up if that’s what it takes to get you to stop scratching,” she threatened.
Spike gave a frustrated snort of smoke.
“You furballs and your not knowing what it’s like having scales,” Spike muttered to himself. “I wanted to talk with Garble about it over some nice rubies but nooo he wants to eat me instead.”
There was a peculiar look that crossed Greg’s face. He seemed to have become incredibly uncomfortable.
“Did you eat a bad grape or something?” Spike asked.
“It- it is nothing. Please do not concern yourself for me.”
“He thinks it would be improper to laugh at his master’s expense.” Spike turned to see Princess Luna standing at the entrance to the main cavern. “Any other master and I would be inclined to agree with him. Nevertheless,” Princess Luna continued over Spike’s indignant outburst, “your commitment to decorum is commendable Gregory. I regret that my own was lacking this morning.”
“What?” Star Sword asked aloud.
Spike leaned in and spoke to his squire in a conspiratorial whisper, “She’s apologizing. Also you should bow.”
“But you haven’t bowed.”
“Have you ever seen a dragon stand up, turn around, bow, and turn around again in a crowded room. It would be sunrise by the time I got done. Also do what I say not what I do.”
“Yes Sir!” Star squeaked as he lept to his hooves and headbutted the floor.
Spike brought a claw up to rub his temple as star’s dazed form collapsed to the ground.
“What was that,” Princess Luna asked.
“That was my squire,” Spike replied.
“Was?”
Spike brought his head down to Star’s still form until he saw the colt’s chest expand with air.
“Still is.” Spike said as he rose and made his way to the cabinet with the first aid kit.
Star groggily came to as Spike wrapped a bandage to keep an ice pack in place.
“You either need a harder head or a softer floor, I haven’t decided which yet,” Spike teased earning a disapproving glare from Fruit.
In response Spike cheekily stuck his tongue out at the mare and blew a raspberry.
“Alright Star how many hooves do you see?” Spike said holding up a limb.
“Two?”
“There are two of them but they’re claws not hooves so I’m not sure what the takeaway from that is.”
“That he’s nervous about questioning authority figures,” Dizzy said.
“I think she is very near the truth,” Princess Luna said with a chuckle. “But speaking of which I think I should look at your wing.”
“It’s still attached. See it?” Spike said, shrugging his broken wing in its splint.
Princess Luna gave Spike a flat look as she took a hold of his wing and gently opened it out. Her magic gingerly unwrapped the ties binding the wooden splint to his broken bone.
“Tell me if it starts to hurt,” Princess Luna said as she began to stretch out Spike’s wing.
“You know ponies get a private room when they’re having checkups,” Spike complained.
“Ponies, as a rule, are not as fat as you,” Princess Luna answered dryly.
“I’ll have you know I’m a slim four tons,” Spike huffed.
“Perhaps if you did not eat every gemstone within reach you would not measure your weight as one would measure freight.”
“Am I going to have to separate you two?” Fruit asked sternly.
Spike and Princess Luna looked at each other like two children who had been caught playing in the mud. “Noo,” The said together.
“How you get along with anypony when you only seem to be able to communicate by bickering is beyond me,” Fruit said to Spike.
“Fruit you do realize that you just scolded a princess of Equestria right?” Dizzy asked.
“Er, if I may,” Gregory said before Fruit could respond. “I do believe that her majesty has grown somewhat used to the occasional scolding.”
“I smell an embarrassing story!” Dizzy said.
“Fiend, thou would not dare!” Princess Luna glared at Gregory.
“I’ll hold her down. Dizzy get the details!” Spike wrapped a claw around the princess’s horn, cutting her magic off with an indignant yelp.
“Traitors and brutes all about. Star, Fruit your princess calls for aid,” Princess Luna declared as she struggled in Spike’s grip.
“Spike,” Fruit said sternly. “Put the alicorn down.”
“But what about the story.” Spike pouted.
“Fine,” Princess Luna declared “Though it may soil mine good name let the story be told and the dragons whining cease.”
“Your highness are you certain?”
“We are each allowed to tell one group of friends, that was the agreement. I simply did not anticipate being in one of those groups.”
“as you say, highness.”
“What do you mean, child?” the night princess asked the colt below her with a stern, albeit slight frown.
among adults the princess cut an impressive figure, standing a full head taller than most males of her kind. But among children she was a dark giantess with only the very tallest needing to crouch to walk under her. The colt in question could only stare up at her in wide eyed bewilderment.
“You are not sickly. I have seen how your parents fret for you. Surely they would have presented me with a list of special cares I must take for you. So tell me how it is that you do not know what a mud pie is? have you never played in the dirt?”
The poor colt finally found his voice. “Mommy says that it’s unclean and not proper for a prince.”
“Bah,” Princess Luna huffed. “It is a poor ruler that fears the soil their nation is built on. Secondly you are little more than a babe.”
The little colt puffed out his chest proudly but was cut off before he could speak.
“I know, thou art four and three quarters, and are much too old to be an infant. Forgive an old mare. While you measure your age in years and fractions I measure mine in millennia and centuries. Even so you are still a child. You are allowed to, and expected to behave improperly from time to time. Now come along children,” the princess said as she eyed the royal gardens, “I have decided what we shall do today.”
“In my defence,” Princess Luna said interrupting Gregory’s story, “Sunflowers are a noxious weed that should be scoured from existence.”
Gregory blinked owlishly before continuing his story.
It was something of a strange sight to see the night princess leading a gaggle of children from every race through Canterlot castle. Her own regal walk was somewhat offset by their childish antics, from the zebra’s childish and poorly constructed rhymes to the yaks attempts at destroying anything that was displeasing to his childish sensibilities. Each of them bore some adornment of station, golden tiaras, shoes and anything in between marked each of these children as royalty in their home country.
Following up this procession-
“-In a tiny little tuxedo that was just so adorable,” Princess Luna said halfway between teasing and gushing, “Was our little prince of gryphons here.”
“Prince?!” Fruit exclaimed.
Gregory sighed. “I am tenth in line for the throne and only in the event of my entire family passing away will I ever wield any real power. I would rather to simply remain a butler. That is why I did not tell anypony about my true identity.”
“Wait a minute,” Dizzy said, “If you’re a prince what does that make your grandmom?”
“She was the first of her dynasty. Now she would insist that she is simply retired but I believe that she is studying the histories of The Elements, to ensure that we are still ruling with their values.”
“Now wait a minute,” Spike said, “I want to hear more about this little tux. I happen to be a connoisseur of undersized formal wear.”
“He was just the cutest little birdie one could ever hope to see. He insisted on walking in the back of the group wherever he went because it was “A butler’s place”.”
“Sunflowers!” Gregory squawked. He cleared his throat and ran a claw over his plumage to settle it down once more. “Er, yes her majesty led us to a patch of sunflowers that had been recently planted in the royal gardens.”
“Hark, children! The enemy draws near, their odious and vile legion casts a long and dark shadow across the land but we shall not let them stand. Now my brave fellows, CHARGE!!”
at first less than half of the children followed the princess down the path but one by one the simple prospect of fun won over each of them and they followed after, lending their own war cry to the din of mock battle. The minotaur lowered his yet-to-grow-in horns and charged down a furrow, breaking a path for all who followed. The yak picked out a patch of flowers that were planted closer than the rest and dived in. To my shame I was among them putting my talons to the test against the thickest of the flowers.
with each section of sunflowers we cleared it seemed as if there was always another. Princess Luna was always there to call out the enemies new advance and spur us on to meet it. Finally the last of them were pulled over and her Majesty ordered a victory luncheon be brought to us there.
Once we had finished our triumphant picnic Princess Luna turned to us and declared that we would beat our swords to plowshares and we must ready the land for planting. once the remains of the sunflowers had been pulled up and taken away we set to tilling the ground. I do not remember which of was was the first to sling mud but Princess Luna was certainly the last.
A rather large glob of mud sailed over my head and before I could retaliate I heard it impact much too close behind me. I think we all knew something was amiss for we all turned to see Princess Celestia leading each and every one of our parents.
“Needless to say,” Gregory said rounding off his story, “we all received several scoldings and I do believe that Princess Luna still receives the odd complaint about her behavior during world summits.”
“Oh please,” Princess Luna said as she rolled her eyes. “‘Twas not half the fiasco as when Spike assisted Princess Sparkle in overseeing the Grand Equestria Pony Summit.”
“Turns out giving a twelve year old dragon near unlimited power while everypony who would stop him is tied up in meetings isn’t such a good idea,” Spike said interrupting the princess. “Now if you want a fiasco then you need to hear about Princess Luna’s first Nightmare Night.”
The blue alicorn shot a mischievous glare at the dragon beside her. “Do you mean the one where you waddled about dressed as a dragon.”
“Hey that was a theme, the next year I was dressed as a two headed dragon and the year after that I was dressed as a hydra dressed as a dragon.” Spike looked around seeing the confused looks on faces around him. “Hey you would find the most obscure costume you could too if you were literally an infant for the first twenty years of your life.”
“Aww I bet you were a cute baby dragon,” Dizzy cooed.
Before Spike could speak up to defend his masculinity from the dreaded ‘C’ word Star chimed in. “Some of the books I moved earlier today had some pictures of Spike from when he was younger.”
“Star,” Spike said in an even tone. “I’m going to have a suit of armor made just so I can make you polish it.”
“O-on second thought that must have been some other baby dragon in the pictures.”
Spike laughed out loud and the softly shining stars twinkled merrily in response. Princess Luna gave her own full bellied laugh. As the group had one by one gone back to Ponyville for the night the conversation turned from embarrassing stories to simple reminiscing over times long passed. They had just finished recounting the story of a wedding held the day before it was scheduled and a marriage that had more than made up for lost time.
“That cane is still floating around Ponyville somewhere,” Spike said between laughs.
“And if I know Discord that statement is quite literal.”
Spike tried to keep his body from tensing up but the furrows of earth his claws dug up were all the tell anypony needed.
“Is it true, what he said?”
Spike turned to find Luna looking earnestly up into his face. The clawful of soil being crushed in Spike’s grip was answer enough.
“Why do you not forgive him?”
“Eight hundred fifty-three,” Spike growled in response.
“What?”
“That’s how many times he made one of them cry. Eight hundred fifty-three times I held one of them and tried to dry tears while he laughed at his sick little game. I don’t trust him because eight hundred fifty three times I learned the hard way what he is capable of.”
“But it has been decades at least since he did any of that. You saw as well as I how much he came to care for them.”
“Look does this even matter?” Spike asked more harshly than he meant to. “It’s not like Discord is going around begging to be my friend.”
“Discord is not the only former villain.”
Spike looked away. suddenly the peaceful spring night had turned deathly silent. His claws tore up chunks of earth and crushed them as they kneaded nervously.
“That’s different and you know it,” Spike finally said. “You never lied about being reformed and even at your worst you were just a misguided pony that wanted to be loved and appreciated. Discord only ever wanted to be entertained.”
“At my worst I would have watched the world freeze under my uncaring rule, and who is to say I cannot be corrupted again?”
“Me.”
Princess Luna’s eyes shot up to Spike’s face and caught his eyes staring intensely into hers.
“I will never, ever let you feel so unloved, so unappreciated that you fall to the Nightmare ever again. As long as I draw breath you will always have a friend.”
“Spike…”
“You two aren’t going to kiss are you?”
The princess and the dragon looked down to find Fruit snugly pinned between the two of them.
“Hey you’re the one that insisted on separating us,” Spike said after a moment’s pause.
“You two were behaving like children! I swear you’re worse with her than you are with Dizzy.”
With a rueful shake of her head Princess Luna rose to her hooves giving Fruit some room to breathe. “If you will wait for me by the path I will escort you to your home.”
“You guys don’t have to leave if you don’t want to,” Spike said.
“Nay,” Princess Luna said. “Already you will find tomorrow difficult I will not keep you from sleep any longer.”
“Alright if you insist.”
As Fruit walked away the princess worried over Spike’s mending wing.
“I spoke with the mayor today,” she said in a low voice. “She has potential but she has much to learn about leading ponies. They are afraid without the elements and their bearers protecting them. They believe that they have seen the end of heroes before the end of evil. You must convince them they are wrong.”
“How?”
“You know how and I am convinced now more than ever that you are to bear Loyalty.”
“Just… be safe walking home.”