To Die Another Day

(Griffon Empire flashback)

"GO GILDA MOVE MOVE MOVE! AAAAAHHHHHHH!" Squelch crunch.

Gilda looked back to see one of her privates get tackled out of the air by flyers before she herself was tackled out of the air.

"CAPTAIN!" She heard her squad yell as she fended off the two flyers that were trying to bite her.

"GET OFF ME!" She screamed flipping in the air bringing a claw into the side of a mare's head while elbowing the other off her side and into a building as she took out her sword and kicked another away while cutting three mores heads off, she looked back up to see her team getting swarmed by pegasus until they were all roasted by a turned dragon.

"FUCK!" She screamed and shot off into the direction of the main research building where she met up with some other surviviors at the front of the bunker while they could here screaming and the air raid siren going off.

"CAPTAIN! Thank the makers you made it! Where's the rest of your team?" Commander Graywing asked as she sighed and shook her head.

"I see, well come on in-SMACK! SQUELCH!

Gilda stared in horror as another griffon ripped open the commanders throat as she and the other soldiers ran inside as one tried to close the door but was taken to the ground by ponies.

CRASH!

Gilda turned to see a large dragon smash through the stone wall making her scream for the forward team to close the doors just as she passed while the other griffon didn't make it being crushed by the charging dragon the rammed into the heavy iron doors.

"Gilda."

She turned to see her father along with a few hundred soldiers and civilians and even a few unicorns and pegasus along with a couple of dragons.

"Father, is this all that made it?" She asked as he looked back at them as another thud from the iron door sounded through the room.

"Yeah, we're moving everyone to the inner base right now." He stated as she nodded while the banging continued.

"SIR I DONT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER THIS THING WILL HOLD!" One of the griffon soldiers called out getting a nod from the others.

"Ok everyone lets move to the inner base now! Gilda lead them there ok? I'm gonna make sure that we got everyone before I join you." He stated as she nodded flying up to a ramp as civilians and soldiers filed though.

Gilda smiled a little as she saw her father walking back with a little filly and baby griffon on his back.

CLANG! SCCCCCCRRRRREEEEEEE! CRASH!

Gilda stared in horror as the giant iron door crashed through the hall crushing the three as they smashed into the wall with nearly half of the survivors while two dragons came into the room followed by swarms of other undead.

"MOVE MOVE MOVE!" She screamed as everyone started to panic while getting attacked.

"PLEASE MY BABY TAKE MY GAAAHHH!"

"HELP MEEEE! AAAAAAHHHHHHH"

"AAAAAHHHHHH! GYAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Gilda slammed the door shut hearing the cries of help and the rending of flesh as she shot down the hall with the last of the survivors who were still panicing as they reached the main room just when the door at the end blew off the hinges as undead swarmed into the hall.

"NO!" Gilda screamed as she pulled out a stick of TNT and lit it throwing it down the hall while she flew through the door as it was closed and bolted just when it went off maybe killing dozens of undead, she turned to maybe see a dozen people there from the other room as she sighed.

"Gilda?"

(End flashback)

Gilda blinked as she looked up at the understanding eyes of Spike the dragon and just pulled him into her as she sobbed, so many lives lost that she was suppose to protect and yet there was nothing she could have done to stop it.

"Shhhh, they're gone and none of them are ever gonna get us ok? We're gonna be fine Gil I swear." He stated running a claw through her feathers as he cooed to her trying to calm the sobbing griffon.

"I couldnt save them! My team, the civilians, the kids, NOT EVEN MY OWN FUCKING FATHER!" She yelled as tears continued to stream down her face as Spikes started to join hers.

"I know, I know Gil." He stated as she clung to him as if her life depended on it, the two sat there in their hotel room they had for the night, they were maybe six miles from the griffon capital. Spike sighed as he heard and felt Gilda sniffling while calming down and looked at her and smiled.

She was sound asleep.

Spike leaned up against the wall as he sat on the bed and sighed holding the griffon as she started to wimper in her sleep.

"Shhhh I got you Gil I won't let anything hurt you." He whispered as she snuggled into him squeezing him tighter rubbing her face in his chest making him blush as tears still ran down her face as he carefully wiped them away all the while continuing to run his claws through her feathers.

(Next morning)

Gilda sat up from her really warm pillow before she felt herself be pulled closer to something and turned to see a sleeping dragon that was behind her making her blush and smile.

'He sat up the whole night comforting me?' She thought as a knock came to the door jolting the two out of bed and diving for their weapons.

"Sir? Ma'am I'm here to give you your wake up call you asked for." A griffon called from the other side of the door making the two sigh.

"Thank you, we'll be down in a minute." Spike called as he plopped down on the bed as Gilda walked up to him.

"Spike did you stay up all night watching over me?" She asked as he looked up at her a gave a boyish smile making her blush.

"Yeah, but not in a creepy way. You were having some nightmares and I knew that I would be having the same so I stayed up and tried to help you as best I could." He stated heading for the shower.

"Thank you Spike, I've been having a lot of trouble with sleeping ever since I came here, so thanks it's the first night that I didn't have a nightmare." She said as he smiled at her.

"No problem Gil." He said closing the bathroom door as she heard the water started to run while a small grin went across her face.

"Thanks Spike." She said to herself.

Ever since he found her in the field she told him how they were overrun by undead four years after his... Death. He cursed and fumed hearing that before she was able to calm him down and comfort him, after all he went through it was all a loss. But she reminded him that he was a hero and saved them from the infection but it wasn't his fault they were overrun, besides it was only a matter of time before it happened anyway.

He agreed but was still upset over it till she slapped some since into him, after she reminded him that he saved them and there was nothing he could do since one she killed him and two there was only so much that one dragon could do and he did more than most would.

He smiled and nodded but said that he still didn't blame her for his death and would have probably done the same if he was in her postion. She jumped as the door opened and Spike walked out with a towel on his shoulders making the griffon blush as something entered into her head.

She hasn't had a mate in 14 years and all of a sudden she felt her wings starting to stiffen looking at the battle scared and powerful dragon in front of her that was dripping wet.

"Your turn Gilda, I'll get our stuff together."

"O,ok Spike just give me a sec ok?" She said still staring at him buring that image of him in her mind before shaking her head and heading into the bath.

'Oh boy.' She thought leaning against the door trying to calm down before starting her bath.

(A few miles away)

Applejack and Fluttershy made it to a small village and smiled as it reminded them of home while they moved into the town asking if anyone had seen Spike.

Over the past few weeks Applejack when she slept she felt like she was seeing a different time instead of actually having dreams, like they were visions guiding her to him.

"Applejack? Um are you ok?" Fluttershy asked looking over at her friend who was deep in thought.

"Ah don't know sugarcube, ah keep havin these dreams and ah don't know what they mean." She stated sighing and stopping in the middle of the road.

"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked conserned.

"It's like they're memories or somethin, like another lifetime." She said sighing.

"Ah just don't know." She stated looking down as her friend comforted her.

"It's gonna be ok AJ, we're gonna be ok. Come on lets go to the next town and see if we can spot him." She stated as Applejack nodded.

"Ok Fluttershy, come on." She said as the two trotted down the road.

"So um if you don't mind me asking what are the dreams your having?" She asked making Applejack smile.

"Well it ain't bad dreams it's like I knew Spike before he came here to us, him and Cupcake were so happy with the twins and hay he was even gonna marry her." She said before looking down.

"But then the outbreak happened, barely a month before their wedding. Ah was gonna be Spikes best mare with Rainbow while Luna was gonna marry them." She stated but glared at the ground.

"Ah was so jealous of Cupcake, she had something ah wanted all mah life and even was married at one time. Why does she get a chance at true love with the only decent feller in all of Equestria!?" She growled looking up at the sky.

"I wanted him so badly Fluttershy and ah knew he was attracted to me to from the way he would at me while we worked but you know how Spike is, loyal to a fault. We ended up making a bad choice that died with the both of us I guess you can say, we made love one night while celebrating a great cider season while he was engaged to Cupcake." She stated as Fluttershy gasped whe Applejack looked up with glowing green eyes.

"I wish ah could take it back but ah know ah wouldn't." She said smiling sitting down and rubbing her stomach.

"To tell you the truth Fluttershy ah was pregnant with Spikes child when the outbreak happened, ah was maybe two weeks? Tragic ain't it? To finally have something you always wanted and have to die before you ever truely get it." She stated and looked over at Fluttershy.

"You know Flutters, ah wish ah would have said something sooner to him, so ahm not gonna let him get away this time." She said with narrowed eyes getting a squeak from the timid mare.

"Ah won't let mah other self loose him." She stated and trotted off to the next village.

"Um Applejack? Are you ok?" Fluttershy asked as the mare stopped and looked around for a bit before spotting her.

"Huh? Oh sorry sugarcube ah guess ah blacked out for a second." She stated her eyes back to normal now making the mare worry.

"Um are you sure? Maybe we should see a doctor? Um if that's ok with you?" She squeaked.

"We ain't got time for that sugarcube! Come on we have a dragon to find and drag back home." She stated marching down the road.

(Griffon Captial)

Spike and Gilda walked down the cobbled road as Gilda stopped making Spike turn to her seeing her frozen in the street.

"Gilda? Hey you ok?" He asked slowly coming to her as she started to shake.

"This is where they broke through, this is where the empire came to an end." She shakely stated looking at the entrance to the capital.

"Hey, your gonna be ok. Just deep breaths and look at me ok?" He asked gently cupping her face and making her look at him with wide eyes and panting a little bit.

"Hey hey Gil stay with me, focus on me and nothing else ok?" He stated running his thumb over her cheek as tears ran down her face.

"I'm so sorry Spike, if I had known I would have never-" She trailed off looking back at the entrance as he turned as well and sighed. It was the exact spot he took three arrows to the chest.

"Gilda look at me, LOOK AT ME!" He demanded as she looked back up at him.

"I told you with my last breath that you were forgiven, I don't hold it against you Gilda. You are a soldier defending your home, I can't imagine what you had to witness when the infected hit. Now let this go, I don't blame you and I never will." He smiled as she pulled him into a hug with a small smile on her face.

"Thank you Spike I really needed that." She stated as they took flight to the top of the large mountain where the capital rested being built on the mountain and in it, it was a marvel of engineering.

As the two landed griffins looked at the two curiously while Gilda smiled, her home nad people safe thanks to this dragon once again.

"Hey Spike I'm gonna go see my dad ok? I shouldn't be long why don't we meet at the city center in two hours, sound good?" She asked as he nodded and pulled her into a hug.

"Just be careful ok and good luck." He stated getting a smile from her before walking off in a random direction while she took to the skys.

After a while of flying Gilda came to the street that made her smile nearly break her face and even better she saw the griffon she was looking for land in front of the house.

She shot down the street before skidding to a halt right in front of the house making her father turn to her, he was brown with white tipped wings and black paws along with a small stuble under his beak that was brown but she could spot some white coming in.

"Gilda?" She heard his voice a deep rumble that made tears come to her eyes and her lip trimble as he walked towards her as she just stared at him.

"SWEET EMPEROR GILDA WHAT HAPPEN TO OOF- He was cut off as his daughter grabbed him and held him tightly to her, suprising him of her strength while she burst into tears.

"DADDY!" His eyes went wide shocked since she NEVER called him that since she left for flight school with his ex-wife, he wrapped his claws around her and held her tight as she cried long and loud sobbing while he tried to calm his daughter down.

"Shhh shh shhh, its ok I'm here sweetie, I'm not going anywhere." He stated running a claw through her feathers while she cried. They just sat there as he rocked his little girl in his lap as she finally started to calm down and apologized.

"You have nothing to apologize for dear, come on inside I haven't seen you in years dear."He stated leading her inside as he took in her form, she looked worn out and had the armies elites armor on and had numerous scars on her body and even had most of her tail gone.

He was horrified at what he was looking at when he could see big dips in her body like chunks of her were bitten off as they sat down in the living room.

"Um father do you mind if we have a drink? I think your gonna need it when we go with Spike to the emperor." She stated getting a confused look.

"Who's Spike and why would the emperor want to see you dear? As a matter of fact what's with the get up, did you join the army and I some how didn't know?" He asked as she sighed.

"Please father, all your questions will be answered in the summons." She stated as he got up and grabbed some liquor for the two of them.

"So tell me dear what have you been doing since you left from here, I haven't heard anything for years and now you return home out of the blue looking like you went through the 7 Week War." He stated looking at his daughter who was staring at the glass he poured her lost in thought.

"Gilda?" He stated as she looked up at him.

"After the time in school I traveled around before I had a falling out with my pony friend, after that I went and joined the army where I rose through the ranks quickly and then a horrible thing happened in Equestria, killing most if not all of them off, then the dragon lands as well." She stated as he looked at her in disbelif.

"I have our last moments on this." She said pulling out her camera making him gawk at it.

''What is this?" He asked as she smiled at the look on his face.

" It's called a camera, keeps records with videos and sound." She stated and watched him open the side port where she last left off when she heard the sounds of screaming making her jump and grab the camera.

"Please father, it's to soon." She stated as he looked at her with worry.

"Honey what happened?" He asked as she sighed.

"I'll tell you later, tell me about what has happened with you?" She asked making him sigh and begin telling her about what has been going on.

(With Spike)

Spike sighed as he at in a cafe as he stared at the massive city larger than even Canterlot, he had went and asked for a audience with the Emperor stating that it was a national emergency. He grunted thinking of that since the assistant stated that it would be a few hours before he could see him.

He sat outside just looking at the griffons and some dragons walking along doing their daily lives when he heard a familiar voice.

"Sup, can I get a steak please?" He turned to the voice smiling a little and waved to her calling out to her.

"Gilda over here!" He called making her turn to him confused before he got a good look at her and cursed.

"Who are you?" She asked as he jumped up.

"Whoops um sorry wrong griffon." He stated and took flight towards the city center.

Spike landed on a cloud and sighed before he grabbed a few more clouds making himself a bed and layed down looking over the capital with a small smile.

"This place ain't to bad, maybe I can settle here after all." He stated to himself as he thought of Gilda and smiled a little at that.

'Just maybe.' He thought nodding off before he felt his cloud barely shift and shot to his feet with sword at the intruders neck who was wide eyed.

"Sweet emperor dude!" Gilda cried.

"What do you want girl? " He asked pulling his sword from her throat.

"Well I just watched my life flash before my eyes for starters." She stated chuckling at her small joke while he just looked at her.

"Um well I wanted to ask you if I met you somewhere before, you look like someone I know or have seen before." She stated sitting down on one end of the cloud while he sat on the other.

"Maybe, I was Twilight's assistant dragon Spike. One of Rainbow's friends." He stated as her eyes went wide.

"WHAT! But you were such a shrimp! This is a pretty big growth spurt." She smiled as he continued to just look at her like he was judging her soul.

"So um how's Dash doing?" She asked.

"She's alive and well last I saw here, but it wasn't all that great of a time when I last saw them." He stated looking over the city.

"So you called out to me down there but when I turned you looked, surprised. Why?" she asked.

"Like I said I got the wrong griffon, sorry if I took you time." He said and bowed a little making her raise his eyebrow.

" So who's this griffon that your waiting for and what are you doing here in the griffon empire?" She asked as he turned to his back to her.

"She is visiting her father and then we're gonna go see the emperor on a situation that could develop here." He stated feeling here slowly walk towards him.

"Don't come any closer Gilda." He stated his wings twitching.

"Why what's wrong?" She asked as he turned back.

" I just want to be alone to tell you the truth, it's been a long time since I had just peace." He said looking out to the sky.

"Um Spike are you ok?" She asked as he continued to look up to the sky.

"How's basic training going Gilda?" He asked suddenly making her eyes widen in surprise.

"How did you know that I was in the military?" She asked as he smiled a little.

"Your still in your cadet uniform." He said making her sigh.

"It's good so far, really tough." She stated getting a nod from him as he looked at where the sun was and sighed.

"Well it was good to see you Gilda, at least this time there was no yelling he stated watching her give off a awkward chuckle while rubbing the back of her head.

"Heh heh yeah sorry about that." She stated as he passed her giving her a good view of his scars making her go wide eyed.

"See you around Gilda, hell you might see more often now a days once I talk to the Emperor. See ya" He stated to the dumb struck griffon as he dropped off the cloud and flew to the city square.

(City square)

Gilda and her father walked through town when that saw a purple and green dragon who was sitting by the fountain leaning back on his claw while his tail swished left and right before he spotted them and smiled. He walked up to them making her grin at him while her father was wide eyed.

"Father this is Spike, and the one I told you about. Spike this is my father Retired General Ironclaw." She stated as Spike bowed to the griffon surprising both of them.

"A pleasure to meet you sir, now I wish we could chat longer but we have been summoned by the emperor." He stated getting nod from the two while Gilda smiled.

"Is that where you went after we split up?" She asked still smiling getting a charming grin from him.

"Of course, I wanted to get this over with so I can get on with my life. Since I can't go back to Equestria I might as well settle down somewhere, plus here I don't have any memeories of, THAT." He stated getting a nod from her.

"I understand, but I don't know if I will stay after what I saw. I might actually move to the dragon nation or maybe a small village somewhere in the empire." She stated while her father looked between the two.

"That's what I was thinking, I don't think I could stand staying in a large city ever again after Canterlot and the dragon capital." He stated getting a smile from Gilda.

"Well you know if your in my neck of the woods you can always come with me." She stated getting a hum from him before he smiled.

"I'll think about it Gil." He said getting a nod from her as her smile got bigger.

The small group made it to the throne room after being let in by the guard and announced them.

"SIR IRONCLAW AND HIS DAUGHTER CAPTAIN GILDA AND SIR SPIKE OF EQUESTRIA!" He called as the emperor waved him away.

"Ironclaw I'm surprised to see you again, you came to reenlist?" He asked getting a smile from the other griffon male.

"Sorry your highness but no, my daughter has come talking of grave news from the other lands that somehow has Mr. Spike involved." He said as the emperor's gaze fell on the two.

"Your highness as you know I am Spike hailing from Equestria and I have come with grave importants and urge you to listen and watch this." He stated holding up the camera as he let a guard take it.

"What is this thing?" He asked as Gilda pulled out another one.

"Your highness I implore you to watch this as well after his, the saftey of this great empire needs you to my emperor." She said as her's was taken as well.

"Sir, their has been a outbreak in Equestria as I'm sure you heard rumors of marchal law being declared and all borders shut down?" Spike asked as the ruler nodded.

"That was my doing to contain the virus before it spread again." He stated getting a confused look from the griffon.

"Again?"

"Yes sir, please take some time to review the files on the camera's, I have mine and anothers blood that hold the cure." He stated holding out two vials as the same guard took it to the emperor.

"I will look over the files and have my top minds look over this 'cure'." He stated as he waved them out while having Gilda stay to show how they worked.

Spike walked outside just as he came face to face with two mares that he didn't think he would see again.

"SPIKE!"

"Girls- OOF!" He was tackled by the two as they cried on his chest holding him tight while he wrapped his arms around them sitting up nuzzling the crying mares.

"Spike, ah'm so happy we found you." Applejack stated nuzzling his chest breathing in his scent and taking in the feeling of him and being in his arms while she heard Fluttershy sniffling.

"What are you girls doing here?" He asked running his claw through the mares manes as they held him tighter.

"Sugarcube we're here for you!" Applejack stated squeezing him tighter as the dragon looked at her shocked.

"Yes Spike we traveled all over looking for you, we want to take you home Spike." Fluttershy stated as he went wide eyed looking down at them.

"You followed me?" He asked as they nodded.

"Of course we did Spike, your our friend and we want you to come home where you belong." Fluttershy stated as he shook his head.

"Girls you know that I can't, and even if I did then you know that the others would be a problem after what I had to do." He stated as Fluttershy looked down.

"Then ah'm stayin with you." Applejack stated making the two go wide eyed.

"Applejack what about the farm!? What about the others!?" Spike and Fluttershy yelled as she smiled.

"Big Mac and handle the farm on his own, him and his not so secret marefriend Lightning Dust can clear a field in no time flat. Plus Applebloom is coming of age soon and she will be tought how to applebuck properly and before long she will be help running the farm." She said burying her head into Spikes solid chest.

"As for mah friends, well ah think they would understand. Don't you Fluttershy?" She asked looking at the other mare while keeping her head on Spike.

"Oh, um, well, (sigh) yes. Yes I do understand Applejack but are you sure about this?" She asked as Spike look at her to.

"Ah am, ah lost Spike once ah ain't gonna loose him again." She stated with determanation as her eyes started to glow green.

"Applejack you never lost me." He stated as she looked back at him with a glowing glare.

"Yes ah did, ah lost you to cupcake cause ah got cold hooves, ah lost the one being the could bring me happiness cause ah didn't step up. Well it ain't happening again, no outbreak or Cupcake or mare is gonna stop me from being with you Spike. Ah lost you when ah lost to Rainbow that day and had to watch as you put me to sleep for the last time. Ah can't and won't loose you again babe, not this time." She stated straddling him as his eyes were wide open and tears started to fall from his face.

"A, AJ? Is that really you? My AJ?" He asked as she smiled and nodded pulling him into a searing kiss making the two moan as tears fell from the two's eyes.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." He stated hugging her to his body as she cooded at him.

"Shhh, sugarcube it ain't your fault. Ah know you had to do what you needed to do. It's gonna be ok sugarcube." She said as they sat up while she ran her hoof down his spines like she used to when he would be upset after Twilight and Rarity left.

"How?" He asked as she smiled.

"Well ah guess when you really love somepony that you'll go though just about anything to be with them, even if your really not." She stated as he looked at her confused.

"Ah can't stay here sugarcube, tain't fair to this Applejack here and you know it. But ah'll tell you what ah'm gonna do for you." She said pulling him into another kiss that he gladly returned making her squeal happily as he ran his claws up and down her back.

"Sugarcube ah'm gonna merge with this Applejack so she can understand you a little better and can help you, plus ah think there might be somepony else that might want to help you to." She stated smiling looking past him while he followed her gaze to see Gilda looking down with a sad look on her face.

"She needs you sugarcube, you both need each other and ah need you. If you want you can talk to her, ah'm sure that Gilda wouldn't mind sharing." She stated whispering in his ear making him blush and smile.

"Mah time is almost up sugarcube, but ah ain't to far away." She stated pulling back while Spike smiled at her and pulled her once more into a searing kiss making her moan and squeal when his pushed his tongue into her mouth as they made out before she pulled back.

"See you in a minute sugarcube." She stated closing her eyes as and started to glow white making all cover their eyes before it faded and looked to see Applejack smiling at Spike with a extra twinkle in her eyes.

"Spike ah love you, would you do me the the honor of coming home or lettin me stay with you?" She asked as he looked back at Gilda who sighed.

"On one condition." He said as Applejack looked over at Gilda then back at him.

"She needs me Applejack, I can't just leave her she's also special to me." He stated as Gilda's head shot up.

" I know sugarcube, and ah don't mind one bit." She said pulling him into a heavy makeout session before pulling back and gave him a death glare.

"But she is the only one allowed in our bed and only other lover you will have besides me." She snarled making him meep and quickly nod his head and they both looked at Gilda who was gawking.

"What do you say sugarcube, you mind sharin?" Applejack asked getting a smile from her as she walked over pulling her into a steamy kiss and then him.

"I don't mind at all." She stated smiling at the glossy eyes of the two before she looked at Fluttershy who was smiling before she saw her looking at her and started to shake.

"I know I'm 14 years to late for this but, I'm sorry how I treated you and your friends Fluttershy." Gilda said bowing shocking the others.

"Please you don't need to do that I forgive you." She stammered flying over to the griffon and gave a small hug catching the griffon off guard.

"I forgive you." She said softly and felt Gilda wrap her arms around her.

"Thank you Fluttershy." She stated squeezing a little tighter before letting the mare go just as a guard came out.

"The emperor will see you now." He stated as the others nodded.

As the group filed in the emperor and Gilda's father looked back at them.

"We have reviewed the files and to say the least I am serverly disturbed and I thank you Spike and Gilda for this great service to our nation, we will begin to mass produce the cure for if it is ever needed should another outbreak ever accure. For this service name your reward and I will grant it to you if I can." He stated as Spike smiled.

"Your highness, I thank I'm gonna go on a vacation." He stated getting a smile from the mares and Gilda while her father sighed before he was pulled into a hug by his daughter.

"Don't worry daddy, I won't be gone for so long this time. I'll be sure to visit as much as I can ok." She whispered to him making him smile.

"Thank you sweetie, and even if your not my daughter from this world you are now." He stated making her smile as she kissed his cheek.

"I love you daddy." She stated making him smile.

"Love you to baby girl." He stated as she rejoined her group and left after getting their cameras.

(7 months later)

Three figures walked into the small town of Ponyville in asian clothing and a giddy yellow pegasus next to them.

"Oh my it's been so long since we last saw each other!" She squeed making the others laugh.

"It's good to see you again sugarcube." One of the smaller figures stated as it pulled its straw hat off and a orange mare smiled at her.

"Oh my you all look so lovely." Fluttershy stated as the second tallest pulled her's off showing a griffon that smiled at her.

"Thanks Fluttershy, complements from the Dalitrass herself." The griffon stated as Fluttershy looked up at the tallest of the three and flew up to him.

"Spike? You haven't said anything since you got here." Fluttershy stated as Spike smiled and took off his hat.

"It's just good to be home Fluttershy." He stated looking at the other two.

"So Gilda, Applejack. Where to first?" He asked as the two smiled at him.

"How bout we go home first, ah think that we've been gone long enough." Applejack stated as the other two nodded with smiles.

(Sweet Apple Acres)

Applebloom sighed as she sat on the porch and looked down the road to see a mare they only heard from in letters making her beam.

"APPLEJACK!" She screamed taking off towards her sister and jumped into her arms knocking her back as the filly held her tight as Big Mac and Granny Smith walked out to see the four in the road making them smile as Big Mac picked up Granny Smith and ran to his sister pulling her into a hug while Granny smiled and gave the mare and Spike a kiss on the cheek happy they were home while they smiled and shook Gilda's claw and stood talking for a while.

"So y'all went all over the globe givin all the nations the cure?" Big Mac asked as they smiled and nodded.

"Well ain't that somethin, are y'all hungrey sugarcubes" Granny Smith asked as they shook their heads.

"No ma'am we're just really tired and are heading home." Glida stated getted confused looks from them.

"What do you mean?" Applebloom asked as the three smiled.

"Applebloom we have our own house that we got from the dragon overlord, it's not to far from here really just about a mile from Fluttershy's cottage and near Ponyville Lake." Spike stated as she sighed.

"So you ain't livin with us no more?" She asked as Applejack shook her head.

"Sorry sugarcube but I'm still workin the farm and will be sellin apples in town and ah will be takin you to school every mornin like ah used to, ah just ain't gonna be sleepin here no more." She stated as Applebloom smiled a little knowing that her sister wasn't gonna be leaving them before she got a sly smile on her face.

"Y'all are movin in with Spike? Are y'all his special somepony?" She asked as the tree laughed.

"Yes sugarcube we're all together, me, Spike and Gilda are all together." She stated as their eyes bugged out as the two girl snuggled up to Spike.

"When did this happen?! Big Mac asked as Applejack stuck her tongue out at him.

"When we found him in the Griffon Empire." She stated as she smiled up at Spike.

"Now if you guys don't mind we're gonna head home and get some rest, it's been a long journey home." Gilda stated as they headed to their house with Fluttershy who had a very proud smile on her face and you could see her chest puffed out a little.

(Ponyville Lake)

The group came up to the large manor and stepped inside and lost their breath if the outside didn't get them the inside did. As they walked around exploring the house Spike found a note addressed to him from the Overlord himself.

'Enjoy my friend and may peace walk with you.' Spike smiled as Gilda came up beside him.

"This place is amazing!" She smiled looking at the note before pulling him into a searing kiss.

"I can't wait to check out the bedroom." She stated as he smiled.

"Which one?" He asked as she smiled.

"Hmmm, maybe all of them." She winked as a goofy smile went across his face.

As the four met back up in the living room the bid Fluttershy goodbye before the drug Spike into the grand master bedroom and gasped at what they saw before giggling pushing Spike in and leading him to the bed

"Mmmm, sugarcube it's been to long." Applejack stated as they pushed him back on the bed falling on the velvet sheets while they climbed on top of him.

'It's good to be home.' Spike thought as they began a movement as old as time.