The dragon’s eyes shot open and he gasped for air, panting for the oxygen he so desperately needed, when he felt needles attempt to embed themselves into his flesh, making him screech in pain, scaring the ponies near him.

Feeling his arms strapped by long, thick black ropes used to subdue its patients, Spike assumed he was in a hospital, though not of his own free will.

Letting out a growl from the back of his throat, he gritted his fangs, narrowed his eyes, and sighed loudly as the nurses and doctors tirelessly did all they could to heal him, even though he wasn't seriously injured, unlike his friends.

Forty five minutes passed waiting on his blue bed before the ponies around him stopped fussing, undid the straps, and left, leaving the drake alone with his thoughts.

“I protected Twilight, my friends, the crystal ponies, and even saved the Crystal Empire. But what sort of a hero kills his enemies without remorse or hesitation? What sort of a hero does that make me? Am I even the hero? Cursed to die as my victories are washed away from the spotlight of other creatures attempting to salvage their own glory for the time being? Or am I portrayed as the villain? Lost in the malice and screams of those I slaughter without pause?” The drake thought with a groan as he felt exhaustion overwhelm his tiring body before he closed his eyes and slept.

Spike was awoken two hours later by frantic hoofsteps, jolting him out of his slumber when the brown door to his hospital room shot open by Princess Celestia with a worried and slightly alarmed expression dawned on her face before she replaced it with a neutral and calm demeanor, but her eyes still held the worry she could not contain, betraying her true feelings.
“My son... Spike, you’re awake?” She called out slowly, hoping she did not interrupt the reptile’s moments of slumber before he nodded, causing her to sigh softly.

“Mom, are you ok? What happened to Twilight and the others?” He spoke gently, reminding himself not to panic or jump to any conclusions as the Alicorn moaned and shook her head, not knowing such an ordeal would take place or the crime that her own adopted son would commit, though she could hardly blame him, as Sombra did drive him to go, for a lack of a better term, berserk.

“I’m sorry, Spike, I truly am.” She attempted to say, but her voice was trembling with tears looming to emerge, but quickly wiped away with her hoof, cursing herself for her light heartedness in front of her own injured child, but looking into his eyes, she found the strength to continue. “The damage that Sombra has caused was, unfortunately, very great. It seems that he has harmed two of our friends so badly that they will, most likely, never walk again. Shining Armor has already started to get accustomed to his wheelchair, but Applejack still has much recovery to do before anything else. It’s a miracle they are still alive... but... I am hesitant to say... but it seems that Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash did not survive their injuries. They did everything they could... but they... passed on, almost an hour ago. I’m so very sorry, Spike.” She whispered sincerely and quietly, leaving no trace or sense of humor in her tone as the dragon knew she was speaking the truth; his mother would never lie to him about something like this.

Curling his claws in outrage, he shut his eyes as hard as he could, giving himself a small headache before gritting his fangs so hard he could feel the copper taste of blood on his tongue making him grimace as he let out a dry, hollow chuckle, then another, making the co-ruler of Equestria next to him look very puzzled.

Spike let out another chuckle, laughing at the irony that two of his friends, his love’s best friends, were violently slain, undoubtedly leaving behind a broken hearted Big Macintosh and an enraged Thunderlane.

Yet, a supposedly wonderful ex-captain of the Royal Guards of Equestria and vigilant husband of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, who many of her companions referred to as Cadence, had actually strived and bartered with Death, it seems, and lived... how very ironic.

Spike hated Shining Armor, even when he was still a hatchling. The colt turned stallion never did trust him, constantly accusing him of breaking items in the house the two lived in or openly scolding him with ridicule and spite... almost as if he had something against Spike himself, rather than the poor drake’s species. Eventually though, as the two grew older and Shining Armor was sent away from their home, Spike tuned out the emotional and mental wrath that the stallion had influenced into his mind and held resentment to the famous unicorn.

He had never struck out at Armor in a physical aspect, he had never bothered to slander his name with cruelty and rage, yet he would be lying if he had said that he hadn't, in more than one occasion, wished the stallion dead.

When he attended Shining’s marriage, the very idea made him want to vomit his guts out, he even had thoughts of setting the husband to be on camera with a sleazy prostitute for blackmail, yet he never bothered to provoke his silent threats with action because he was too young, but even more so because he knew for a fact that Shining Armor would never fall for his schemes, he was too clever.

And now, after ignoring his own little sister and calling her a monster when she tried to reveal that ‘Cadence’ was actually an imposter and giving her some halfhearted, shit smeared apology and treating her as family once more, the noble and heroic stallion had persevered through the brutal onslaught of the dark king known as Sombra, while his own honest, caring, and nurturing friends had perished. It made him sick of the thought almost as much as the heartless thoughts of taking the stallion’s life as it once again phased through his mind.

As much as he thought Shining Armor deserved it, he knew it would only cause more fear to be installed into the ponies around him, more than they already had at any rate. His own satisfaction and desire for revenge would be pointless and unjustified if it meant causing his best friend more pain and suffering then what she was already going through now, though Spike could be content that Shining Armor would die in a century and that he should not dwell on any plans of murder for the time being, at least.

Sighing loudly, Spike looked at his adopted mother and saw the pain and shame in her eyes, knowing that the Goddess of the Sun felt tremendously guilty for the pressure she had placed on the ponies she chose for a duty she could not correct herself. She eventually bowed her head and wept all the tears of regret and distress she had brought to the creatures whose very lives depended on her. She had failed in her responsibility to protect her subjects. Spike could see it in her eyes as clear as if she herself had spoken them, there were no need for words, only honest and open emotions on display, as a mother and son should feel necessary to lay out towards one another.

The silence rang throughout the small, bland room before Celestia sat on the tiled floor, placing her forehooves on the bed near her son, laid her head on his chest, mindful not to prod him with her horn, releasing all her pent up exhaustion, fear and shame on her son as he cradled her head in his claws, sitting in the silence that had become their theme, together.

An hour later, a mare came into the room to inform her sovereign, who was eating lunch with Spike at the time, that she was needed for a meeting with the ambassadors of Prance, and that she was terribly sorry to interrupt with an apologetic smile and a bow before she left the room without another word.

Princess Celestia sighed loudly before finishing her meal, looking at Spike as he sipped his fruit punch before standing and kiss his forehead, telling him that he’s always welcome to stay with her and promising him that they would continue their talk later, to which he smiled and nodded, hugging her firmly before watching her trot out the door and hearing her speak to the doctor in charge of him, telling him to not let anything happen to him and that money is no issue before ordering a guard to stand post by his room, to which the mare saluted and obeyed without question as the door to the reptile’s room closed and the solar matriarch was gone.

Letting out a yawn, he scratched his rear and stretched, feeling his bones and joints pop loudly as he smacked his lips and slowly got off the bed, ignoring his remaining food and feeling guilty that two of his friends had been killed, he felt that it was a shame that two of the most noble of Pegasus were emasculated so cruelly under the hoof of the dark king, so for that reason, he felt no shame in taking his life.

Intending for a walk, he opened the door and saw the mare guarding him turn her head and calmly nod in his direction before silently trotting alongside him without a word, Spike slowly walked through the hall hearing a garbled, muffled voice to the right of him though a door that was slightly ajar. Opening it, he was shocked to see Applejack laying in a blood soaked bed, her hind legs completely limp and useless, held up by long swings supporting her rear legs.

The Earth Pony was attempting to rip open her I.V. bag and swallow the fluids inside, causing Spike to freeze in shock that his dear friend would try to commit suicide and screamed loudly, surprising her as he rushed forward, knocking the half empty bag away from her hooves, ordering his guard to get some help as he bellowed at her to stay away, but the drugs were taking immediate effect as her head dropped to one side, her eyes half shut.

The employees sped quickly to work trying to revive the mare and shoved both Spike and his guard out the door as soon as they could, but Spike couldn't help grip his ear fins as hard as he could with his claws, feeling the strong desire to scream, but held back as his protector lowered her head in shame, only to put more guilt on the drake.

Slightly perking his ear fins, he caught the voice of a news reporter on the radio in the room next to him, apparently they were talking about the incident at the Crystal Empire and what happened from the heartless slaughter that King Sombra had performed, to the defeat of the Crystal Princess and finally, the transformation of Spike and the death of the fallen king.

He was surprised by how much the ponies revered him and his friends, how they had sworn to give their very souls to Princess Cadence, but would defend and aid Spike with even more.

Spike was truly touched by their sincerity, wiping away a small tear with his tail before standing up and going outside for some fresh air, simply to rest just outside the entrance. But they were not alone in their spot, a familiar gray coated Pegasus by the name of Derpy Hooves stood near the two with a Diseased Stallion cigarette in her mouth, calmly inhaling and then exhaling the gray smoke from her nostrils.

The mare watching over the reptile was wary of the Pegasus before Spike told that her she was a friend, then quietly asked Derpy what she was doing at the hospital. She explained that her little sister had a bad case of the Pony Pox and was forced to undergo an emergency vaccine process in the E.R., causing her to be on edge, hoping her sister survived the treatment before taking another drag to calm herself with a sigh.

Taking in a breath of fresh air, the mare then took in another drag as Spike felt his ear fins drop from the depressing news, as if his life was not already bad enough, now one of his best friends was in the hospital because of a flu. This was just cruel of Fate and made him tense with anger, squeezing his eyes shut, curling his claws and lashing his tail, wondering just what it was the Gods did to help the ponies in so much agony.

Breathing out a slow, disappointing sigh, he knew that pointing the blame on the Gods wasn't fair, and that perhaps it was just the bad luck some creatures were given. He opened his eyes and looked towards Derpy, asking if he could maybe have a cigarette.

Derpy looked confused at the dragon, but shrugged and did as he asked, having no reason not to help the poor drake out in his time of need as he nodded and smiled.

Breathing his green embers onto the tip of the tobacco roll, he inhaled it slowly, making sure not to cough and breathing out the smoke soon after in a cloud of gray smoke. The guard next to him didn't say a word, even when he accidentally blew it into her face and apologized.

As the three sat there in silence, Spike had begun to tell Derpy what happened yesterday, from entering the kingdom to him slaying the dreadful dark king, making her gaze at the dragon in awe and respect before he told her that neither Fluttershy nor Rainbow Dash survived their injuries, causing her to stomp her forehoof in rage before the sadness of the loss took hold.

Turning away so she could weep in private, Spike finished his tobacco and flicked it to the side while exhaling the smoke from his nose, making a mental note to buy his own pack as he found that he enjoyed it as he patted the mare on the shoulder softly, saying that he was sorry for the loss of her friends and prayed that her little sister would be well before turning back to the hospital with his escort, leaving the Pegasus alone with her thoughts.

Coming to the realization that nopony seemed to notice or even care that he was gone, Spike then asked a stallion working the counter what room Twilight Sparkle was in and grew a big smile when he knew she was safe. He ordered the guard to stand watch over his room and she obeyed without question as he set off to see his dear friend, praying to any of the Gods that would listen that she was not seriously damaged.

Bracing himself for the gruesome sight he was able to witness, Spike opened the door and was surprised to see not only her parents and Cadence, but Princess Luna there as well, making him question if all the Gods came to see him and his friends before he saw Luna look at him with narrow eyes and turning back to the unicorn in question.

Wringing his tail in his claws, he stepped farther into the room and saw that she had long, deep gashes all over her body, her horn was slightly cracked, and her face was mauled with cuts and bruises, causing Spike to recoil in disgust at how her own battle was lost.

Sighing loud enough to catch the visitors’ attention in the area, he walked only to stumble near the bed before Twilight’s mother, Velvet Sparkle, caught him and helped him to reach it as he laid his claws on the blanket she was tucked in with.

“Come on, dear. I think Spike wants to be alone with her... and Spike. For what it’s worth, you proved yourself to be a hero in our eyes, and from what I understand, the Crystal ponies hold you in great regard as well... they even gave you a title: the Crystal Savior. I’m proud of you, my son.” Velvet spoke quietly, planting a small kiss on his cheek before she and her husband, Nightlight, left the room, making sure to bow before the Goddess of the Night as they left, followed shortly by Candace who only nodded to Spike and Luna.

Spike placed his forehead onto Twilight’s cheek, whispering sweet nothings into her ears as he cried stains into her fur, not truly believing how close yet far he was from her. His mind sank into the thoughts of her, the times they had, the adventures they shared, the friends and family they held dear, and even now, her own mother chooses to call him her son. Whether or not it was from seeing his bond with Twilight or seeing him as the boy she would love to care for, it didn't matter. She accepted him as her family, as a part of Twilight’s family.

But as the thought strolled through his head, the princess grew impatient and cleared her throat, startling Spike as he turned to her with teary eyes as she lowered her head and sighed.

“As you can see, she is well for the time being. Nothing bad will become of her, though I am worried that you may be very troubled with the news of Fluttershy’s and Rainbow Dash’s deaths... I am sorry. But take heart, knowing that YOU were the one to end the tyrants reign, it is thanks to you alone that thousands of lives are free from the iron hooves of King Sombra, my child. As events have played out though, you have been given a very grave title, Spike. One not used in centuries and which comes at a very dangerous price, for it attaches to the kingdome the most prized possession of all, your life. This puts the Crystal Empire, you, and even the Gods in a great predicament.” She said in a hollow tone, as if she was not used to giving such awful news, at least not for such a long time.

Spike blinked and wiped his tears away, asking what she meant before she replied with the last words he thought to hear.
“The title was to be given only to the ponies with the most heart, courage, wit, strength, and endurance. It was given during the times we now call the dark ages: a time of casual betrayal, malice, and lies; where many of all the creatures were filled with spite and thoughts of murder just to be given a simple loaf of bread, it was a very harsh period within life, even many of the Gods were tainted with this way of thinking.

“The deal for those offering up their lives in the Crystal Empire and other countries were fine riches, fresh food, the loyalty of that country, and their God’s oath to aid in battle in times of war and strife. It is a very serious title. He is even the one to offer their opponent’s head on a pike to their Gods after battle, to prove they had secured their country’s future for the time.

"They only did this challenge once every fifty years, and only if they were positive they would turn the tides on their enemies. And I tell you this horrifying tale, Spike, so that you will be aware that many creatures still hold firmly to that tradition even now, and that war still exists outside of Equestria. Be warned, Spike. The weight of an entire country’s fate rests on your shoulders and though many centuries had passed since the Crystal Empire vanished, many races will demand you to prove your worth to defend your kingdom. I am sorry, Crystal Savior, you will only have a few years to prepare, but then... you are on your own. Even the Gods cannot show favor to their most promising creature.” She whispered slowly, trotting towards the crestfallen dragon before placing a hoof on his shoulder, and without another word, left the room.

His mind and body were empty of any thought save for the unicorn before him, having a suspicion that Luna’s words were true, making him all the more depressed as he squeezed Twilight’s hoof, praying to his mother that she would have a safe recovery, his body feeling sluggish and exhausted as he slowly leaned forward and without a second’s hesitation, kissed her lips, pausing for only a second before seeing a smile appear, making him chuckle.

“I love you, Twi... I always have. And even though I’m now chained to protect the Crystal Empire for many years to come, I know I’ll have the strength to overcome it, so long as I have you by my side. I’ll visit you again soon, I swear. Nothing bad will ever become of you... not anymore.” He whispered softly into her ears, hoping that they would reach her and she would awaken, but it seemed that it was all for not. So he contented to just sit by her side as long as he could, cuddling as close to the unicorn of his desire as he was allowed, wondering about what roads to travel with all of this knowledge as well as his dilemmas. Was he truly a hero to bestow upon the empire until he relinquished his mantle onto another?

Or was he the villain, who relayed false hope and injustice towards the newly released ponies of their cruel fate until he burned the entire nation down with his own flames?

On which side did he hail from? Or of what at this point in time did it truly matter?

For now, his main focus was caring for the well-being of his love, of his heart and affection, of the very unicorn who he would gladly lay down his life for, as long as she was safe.

He didn't care about Luna’s promise of what other species demand of him because of some ancient bargain, all he cared for was showing Twilight how much she meant to him, and he was going to defend her very honor with everything he had... but all he could do now, was be patient and wait for her to wake. Then, at last, he could finally tell her of his true feelings.

Author's Note

Believe it or not, I wrote this entire chapter myself, surprised? Yeah, so am I, always needed to expand my vocabulary anyway. Thanks to my editor for the huge polish of this chapter is it now given to you, next one to be posted soon, so don't start screaming when the next one coming out, ok? Enjoy.