Fallen Kingdom

It wasn't that I didn't like talking about death, it was just that, well, with it being to close to me at the moment of speaking, I was a bit antsy, to say the least. Spike could tell what I needed from him was urgent, and he willingly lead me down into the basement, which I had been previously informed by Aurora was strictly off-limits to anypony who had the nerve to come into Spike's home. We walked downstairs very quietly, though I suppose Spike was slithering. He couldn't fit in the small stairwell.

When we stopped, we were standing in from of a large-ish door of no particular grandeur. Spike thought otherwise and whipped the chamber door open with a flourish- or as much as a hunched over dragon could flourish. What was inside was absolutely stunning.

The night sky glimmered and its stars winked from what appeared to be very far above. The lights were very dim, and they were silver. They even came from a small silver disk which appeared to have no fastenings. All at once, the beautiful sky was in this cave, and it was the greatest thing I had ever come to see that was made by Spike. He even mapped all of the stars, and they were in perfect harmony with the ones that were outside. In fact... I looked closer and saw the faint ghost of a cloud, drifting quietly across the sky. The breeze blew faintly, and I smelled crushed pine and wild blackberries.

"Spike-"

"I did this all by myself... I guess dragons have magic, too, huh?" Spike laughed, a deep, rumbling noise that came from somewhere within his belly.

"Yes,  I suppose so. So how did you do all this?" I asked, awestruck.

"I just found this cave and it was so big I could stand up in it.I though about you and what you'd see in this cave. I guess that thinking that made me think of stars, and then when I opened my eyes, I was bathed in blue light and all of it was getting darker and darker... finally it just spread out over the ceiling and then poof! The night sky was there. It changes, too. Right now its midnight. In about six hours, the sun aught to be coming up over this field." Spike looked around.

"After the sky became what it is, I wanted to get a scenery to match. I covered this whole place in soil deep enough to support grass and covered said soil in said grass. The pine you smell is an added touch to make it seem like we're close to the Everfree Forest."

"Wow. That's... amazing," I breathed. Warmth spread, and the reason for my help was suddenly not quite so... morbid.

I turned to Spike, facing him instead of the vast night sky.

"Now, on to business. Spike, earlier this evening, Luna died. The princess died right in front of me. Celestia is fading, too. I don't think she'll be here much longer. When she goes, I will need your help in ruling the kingdom. I'll need you and Aurora more than ever. Of course, I'll have Cadence to lean on, but that'll be hard, seeing as how her shoulder is in the Crystal Empire. I just need an adviser, of sorts." Spike sighed.

"I thought this would happen..." He rumbled faintly. I sat down dejectedly.

"I didn't know you knew that alicorns died." I giggled. "I always thought you were more into bargaining with the dragons, rather than hanging out with the benevolent pony dictators of Equestria."

"No, I mean I thought you would come telling me you'd have to take over. Although, I just thought it would be a test for Celestia. I didn't think she'd be... you know... dying."

"Yeah. But it'll be harder, now, because of the others," I said faintly. I felt Spike startle.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Rainbow and PInkie and AJ and the others. I can hear them sometimes. I can see their silhouettes in the Realm of Magic. And their smiles. They're not nice, anymore, Spike, but I think that they still love me, but they don't remember. If I talk to them more, if I just re-establish our friendship, then they'll come back, and they'll help me. We'd all rule together. Wouldn't that be nice?" I asked. I had looked back up to the sky and leaned against Spike's large shoulder. I extended a fluffy purple wing to his back, and he did the same, only with a significantly larger leathery bat wing.

"You can hear and see the others?" Spike asked.

"Yes. But only sometimes."

"Twilight, I-"

"No, no, it's a good thing. If I spend more time with them, I'll make progress. They'll be nicer."

"I think you need to talk to the princess about this. Please?" Spike put his wing back down, and a rush of cool air enveloped me. I only just realized the fire that ran in Spike's veins. Hotter than magma, almost. The feel of his shoulder against mine was excruciating.

"Spike, go into a pool or something! You're so hot, do you have a fever?"

He jumped and looked at me. "I don't have a fever. Twilight, what are you talking about? I'm the same temperature as I was just a few seconds ago!"

"No, I swear you... you heated up!" He shook his head.

"Fine. I have to go anyway." I got up, stretched, and flew out of the cavern.

As I flew, I could hear cruel laughter.

Apple Jack? I asked hopefully.

Giving your own brother the cold shoulder, huh? How sweet. That was Rainbow.

He was giving me the hot one! I said sharply, defending myself.

Whatever. Why are you leaving? He had more to say. This one was Fluttershy.

Because I- he was...

You don't have an answer? Ironic. Her voice contained a snarl, and I winced.

I just... where have you guys been? I asked.

Oh, around. Darling, where have you been? We would have come if you looked harder. Rarity laughed, and I stopped.

What?! I shouted within my mind. I was looking! Why do you make me seem like a bad friend? I was close to tears, so I put up a wall. Nopony could get past. I left Spike's house and flew into the night, where I let my tears pour out for the stars to see.