The Crown and The Sword

"How long has it been? Days? Months? Maybe." Infinity mentally asked himself. He was sitting at one of Twilight's desks, a small pile of bits stacked neatly nearby. Winter was starting to set in over the continent now, ponies settling into warm attire that consisted of long sleeves and heavy coats. That was during the day, of course, by night, families, couples, and singles congregated around a warm fire. For Infinity, his 'fire buddies' were Twilight and Spike. He didn't mind that, but, he felt like he was at home when around those two. They didn't just treat him as a friend or just an ordinary house guest. Strange for him as it was, Infinity wasn't usually treat with such hospitality, mostly just caution.

"Infinity." A voice called out, male, young, draconian.

"Yes Spike?" Infinity turned his whole body to the side.

"I made some hot chocolate and wanted to know if you might like some." Spike was asking with a small smile.

Infinity looked out the window for a moment before standing to full attention. "Sure, why not?"

  Twilight was downstairs behind he usual desk, looking like she was reading. First time she was reading a book and not actually paying any mind to it. Her thoughts were elsewhere at the moment, thinking about different things. Well, more focused on a certain somepony that has been hanging around for the past months. Whom as which wasn't slacking either,

  Her thoughts have been consumed recently by this pony. He was making his own money and putting most of it towards the library and keeping food around the place, even if nopony knew he was there. It seemed like he fit naturally in the world she knew, like a chameleon fitting into its surroundings. Nopony would have ever known he was there, or probably care for that matter. The way he reacted to her, as if he felt like she was a friend, certainly had the manners to prove that he wasn't nefarious in anyway. Well, that would be a cover-up to his true nature, if it was evil. But he always was willing to help out around the library, ready for any sort of work. Whether it be package fetching to moving stacks of books. He didn't seem like he was trying to prove anything though. Several thoughts have crossed her mind recently.... very.. sensual..

   Twilight's train of thought was broken up by the sounds of Spike and Infinity descending the stairs. By some minor details, it seemed that Spike had come up with the conversation about mares, typical for a young male at his age. Of course, a sort of question seemed to catch her attention, and Infinity off guard.

"So, any mares you got your eye on?" Spike asked, a wide grin as he looked up at Infinity.

"Uhh.... I dunno..." Simple, but not very see-through.

"Oh come on! I bet you've been looking at some earth ponies! I can see you with Applejack. Maybe a pegasus?" Spike shuddered for a moment. "Ehh... nevermind. Oh! What about a unicorn?"

"I might've looked at one mare in particular..." Infinity admitted.

"What's her name?" Spike nudged an elbow into Infinity's hip, not high enough to reach his side yet.

  Unfortunately, that was all Twilight heard before the two disappeared beyond the doorway to the kitchen. Going back to some actual reading of the book she decided to drag out. Even that didn't last too long as Infinity seemingly appeared out of nowhere with mugs in hand.

"Hey Twilight, want some hot chocolate?" Infinity asked, drawing her attention

"I thought you were with Spike?" A confused look on her face now, but accepting the mug.

"I was, until he got mopey on me and started to munch down on doughnuts, mumbling something about... 'The most beautiful pony in existence'... or something along those lines." Infinity looked back at the kitchen. "Should someone stop him?"

"I'm sure he'll be fine. Spike usually gets over 'her'." Twilight assured.

"No name? Probably best that I don't know." Infinity shrugged, blew on his hot cocoa and took a sip.

"So... um... if you don't mind me asking.." Twilight was working on the nerve to ask something. Infinity just looked at her with a raised brow. "Do you have anypony special you have to spend with Hearth's Warming Eve?"

Infinity sighed and set the mug down. "Did you hear Spike and mine's conversation?"

Twilight stiffened up in her seat, sweat beginning to form under her bangs. A sheepish smile formed as she shifted her eyes.

"I told Spike that I did have a mare in mind, but I didn't give him a name." Infinity picked his mug back up and took another sip. "And besides, who would be interested in a dimension crossing psycho that can change his forms?"

"You're not a psycho..." Twilight interjected.

"Twilight, I talk to a sword, if that doesn't make me crazy then I don't know what." Infinity was looking at her now. Eyes blank in expression.

   She didn't say anything, at first, she thought he was a diamond dog, then proved himself to be far more appalling than any creature she has met before. In their silence, Twilight blew on her hot chocolate and took a small sip. A thought was forming and her mouth opened to say something.

"IF it's one thing that confuses me, it's how you two treat me." Infinity commented.

"How do we treat you?" Her questioned seemed simple, but wasn't meant to be asked.

"Like I'm more than some all-powerful being that is treated with the usual caution. Time and time again, most beings I've met during my first entries always treated me with caution. You, not so much. I mean sure, at first you were cautious, but then became comfortable around me when I showed no intentions of actually hurting anyone."

Twilight sat in a focused pose, listening to the facts he knew, but the secrets he didn't.

"And yeah, I can use a whole new level of magic, but that doesn't derive from the fact that I am only a being like anyone else around here." Infinity paused. "....And the last of my kind..."

"Infinity.." Twilight noticed his sudden change in tone and volume, ".... are you all right?"

He just looked at her, sorrow filling his eyes. "No... I need to go outside for a bit..."

   Infinity put his mug down and went to retrieve his coat from the rack. His sudden leave even snapped Spike from his own daze as he noticed the distraught pegasus rush by. He carefully closed the half-empty box of doughnuts before leaving the kitchen and approaching Twilight. Whom of which was still staring at the door Infinity left out of.

"Is he okay?" Spike asked.

"I don't think so, but somepony has to talk to him." Twilight left the desk and Spike to the upper floors.

   Infinity stood out around the back of the library, staring off in the direction of the Everfree. He immediately dropped to his knees into the snow and started to punch the frozen droplets. The white blanket caved into his punches until he hit dirt. Tears started to stream down his face as he began to slow down. The darkness staining his fur, Twilight ran over and quickly enveloped the pegasus in a hug, holding his head close to her chest while rubbing it soothingly. Infinity's silent sobs were barely audible to anyone else in the immediate vicinity that would have been standing a few feet away. Only ones who were really at a close range would hear him, such a Twilight.

"Shhh..." Twilight tried to comfort him, thinking that she'd never see a grown stallion cry like he. "It's all right. Just shhh.."

"Why..." Infinity murmured.

"Hm?" Twilight looked down at the form she had her arms around.

"Why..." Infinity murmured in a more audible fashion. "Why did my kind have to go and destroy themselves!" His eyes were locked on the Everfree.

"If I knew, I could answer that, but I don't." Twilight laid her head on his, tightening her embrace just a little.

"I'll tell you why...." Infinity's voice changed slightly. "It's because we were so intelligent that we were stupid! We destroyed ourselves for our own gain! What could I do at the time though? I was only 5, too innocent, too..... young... to have even known what was happening." Infinity started to bury his face into her chest, hiding more of his tears.

"That's... terrible..." Twilight rubbed his head even more, then helped him to his hooves, and made him look at her by his chin. "Come on, let's get you inside." She said with a soft smile.

Infinity only sniffed and nodded his head silently, following Twilight back inside.

   Once inside, Infinity was only found in one place hours after his episode. Sitting in front of the fire. His head was tilted off to the side,a hand on his cheek, his index finger across his mouth, eyes locked on the flames embers. His cheeks were still stained by his dark tears. He was focused, on something, his mind locked, those memories of a wall heading straight for him.

He had the world around him completely blocked out.

A tap came to his shoulder.

"Infinity, you okay?" A soft voice spoke into his ears.

Infinity looked to find Twilight looking at him. "Oh.. yeah... for now."

"That isn't a good enough answer mister." Twilight put her hands on her hips.

"I'll be fine in a few hours.. promise." Infinity turned his attention back to the flames.

His visage was soon consumed by the lavender mare, who placed herself directly in his lap.

"Can I help you?" Infinity asked in a sarcastic manner.

"I should be asking you that." Twilight stared back at him, her legs tucked off on either side of his.

"I'm fine.. thanks." Infinity tried to look past the mare in his lap only to have his eyes forced to look at hers.

   There was something about them he never did figure, the way they seemed to sparkle at this very moment, now he could see it. It was something he never truly experienced himself. Yet, the name escaped him at this exact moment. Red eyes looking into a deep purple pair.

"I think.." Twilight leaned closer in, her breath grazing his lips, ".. somepony just needs a little love."

   There! That word was all he was missing all his life! Infinity felt like he was melting into the chair as she forced him into a kiss. He wasn't sure how, but instead he resorted to pure instinct. And his instincts told him to kiss her back. His first, real kiss along with Twilight's was happening at this very moment. They both melted into it.

"Sire, I have picking up an elevated BPM from you, are you all right?"'

"Twi, Pinkie is here to-" Spike stopped in his track, eyes widened at the spectacle before him before hurrying back. "I'll just tell her you're both busy!"

   Their lips parted from the other, their eyes met again. Both were lidded as they stared.

"You know, I can't possibly thank you enough for helping out around here." Twilight spoke softly

"It's my pleasure... really.. not a problem." Infinity quickly replied, throwing his hands up.

"I've been think about how to reward you... and I think I know how."

"Really? How so?"

  Twilight slid off her top, Infinity's eye widening in the process.