"Here we are, Twilight. Room, sweet room."

Spike happily welcomed Twilight into her chambers. He did so hoping, that it would lift her spirits if maybe a little. But the young alicorn kept her long face.
She walked towards her bed and let herself fall, sending all the cushions and pillows around a couple of meters in the air.

"Oh, come on, Twilight. Brighten up!
If you keep that attitude, it doesn't matter if we wait for a hundred years, you will never be able to face the princesses again."

Twilight's face was pressed against the surface of her bed, making it impossible for the little dragon to see what kind of expression she had right now.

"Come on, Twilight.
What could the princess have said that she left you like this?"

Slowly Twilight's head turned enough to let Spike see one of her red and swollen eyes look back at him.
Judging by the glimpse he had managed to catch Spike deduced that whatever it was the princess had told her was no laughing matter.

"Twilight, what happened?
You know you can tell me."

The young alicorn talked between sobs with her mouth pressed again the fabric of her bed sheets. So it was very hard to understand a single word of what she was saying.

"What did you say, Twilight?"

Twilight repeated once more, but for Spike it was just distorted noise.

"Could you say it one more time? I, I didn't catch...well...any of that."

He really tried to understand her, but it was impossible.
With each repetition of Twilight, Spike approached her spot in the bed until they were so close he could touch her.

"Alright, Twilight. Just say it once...no, two more times. Just to be sure."

When Spike was about to place his claw on her shoulder, Twilight unexpectedly raised one of her hooves in the air and pushed him away.

"Leave me alone, Spike!"

With a mess of a mane, her dress full of folds and stains from her tears, her eyes red and clearly upset, Twilight saw Spike fall on his behind on the floor, before she hid her face away once more among the bed sheets.

"Wh-what was that for, Twilight!?
I just wanted to help you!"

-"I don't need help right now. I want to be alone.
Leave me alone, Spike...
I...I don't want to see nopony right now."

Spike sighed and dusted his behind with the palm of his claws.

"Is it really what you want, Twilight?"

Even inside her self-made igloo of bed sheets Twilight could feel the cold sadness in the dragon's question.
She wasn't sure if she really wanted him to leave. She just wanted to be alone for a few moments in order to think. But she wasn't about to take her words back either. It was as if some kind of silly pride had got into the confusing mixture her heart was right now.

The bundle of bed sheets Spike recognized as Twilight nodded. She wanted him out of her room.
Heaving a sigh Spike walked slowly towards the door while his friend continued to wrap herself in sheets.

"Then I'll live you alone, Twilight."

She clearly heard the door open.

"Is everything alright, Spike?"

-"It's alright Flash, she wants to be alone."

"Oh."

Spike and Flash talked briefly before she heard the deaf slam of the door closing and the sound of hoofsteps walking away.

As she wished, she had been left alone.

In the darkness provided by the covers of her bed, Twilight cried and bit and brood over all that had happened that day, allowing herself to rest just enough to have energy to cry, bite and brood over the same things later on.

The new princess didn't know what to do. She was stuck in her own mess of mixed emotions and tears.
Twilight tumbled and turned beneath the sheets of her bed, fighting against the frustration and powerlessness that with each moment seemed to rise inside her. She cried and yelled at the solitude around her until her voice was gone and her tears had dried up.

She then laid there, on her bed, tired, empty and alone.

Suddenly everything was calm. The last loud noise she heard was a last pitiful sob. After that there was nothing.

The world had grown eerily quiet. She did not move. It was as if her body were weighting her down like a heavy shackle.
Despite solitude was something she wished for, she felt abandoned.

"Is this how it is going to be?"

In the stillness Twilight began to hear her own voice inside her head.
The voice talked about time and lifetimes. It questioned friendship and love, the bonds all living beings form during their lives alongside each other.
It was a fatal voice. With each sentence it seemed to drain Twilight's will to live, to continue living. She felt like dying while being alive. But she knew it was just her imagination.
To die out of sadness isn't that easy.

The air was hot and uncomfortably moist. The covers were wet with the tears and her sweat and her throat was dry.
Suddenly Twilight saw no point in hiding anymore. She didn't want to be in that dark and lonely place beneath the covers.
Little by little Twilight freed herself from the tight grasp of the darkness below, and began to see the light of the world outside.

"Puh."

The air was sweet and refreshing. Through the open window of her room she saw the crescent moon hang from the sky like a silver earring, surrounded by dozens of scattered gray clouds, of which a single one floated astray through the pitch black sea of stars in a completely different direction.

"Is...it is night already?"

It certainly was so. The night shift of weather ponies was gathering the clouds in order to set in motion a storm programmed weeks ago. A storm, huh? Maybe that's why the nightly breeze tasted so good.

Unlike other nights the twinkling starts that Twilight managed to see through the spaces between the clouds did not cheer her up. It just reminded her of lost time. This was Spike's last night, no last hours, and all she did was send him away in order to cry and feel miserable.
There were so many things she could have done instead of that, so many thing she could have told him.

The stray gray cloud continued floating. It was very far from the group already and it looked like it'd go even farther away.

"That cloud...will it go on forever like that? After years have passed...always in one direction.
Beyond cliffs and moutains...will it continue advancing?"

In her head a story began to take form, the story of that certain cloud.

Always pushing forward the cloud met many others, but it could stay with none. It was the wind's fault it was like that. Surely the cloud wanted to stay where it was, with other clouds it had come to know. But the wind kept pushing and blew them apart time after time.

How many kinds of clouds will that single gray cloud meet in a hundred years? How many has it met until now? It was hard for Twilight to make a guess.
But she was sure of one thing: She won't forget about it easily, despite being nothing like her, just a fleeting condensation of water vapor, to see that lonely cloud float this night had a special meaning for her. With Spike was exactly the same. It was just a short amount of time when compared to the many years that awaited her, but it was an unspeakable special time they shared.

"There's still time.
I...I can still make it!!"

Twilight jumped from the bed and turned towards the door. She had to meet Spike.
There was no way she'd allow her last words for him to be "go away". It took her a while, but she finally really understood it.
Before she could get anywhere near the door she stopped though. In the shadows of her unlit room she saw a familiar figure sitting right next to the door in complete stillness.

"It looks like you are feeling better now, Twilight."
-"S...Spike? Did...didn't you leave?"
"And leave you to wallow in your depression? Yeah, right. Like I could ever do that."

Twilight felt like crying again, but unlike before it was not because she was sad, but because she was...glad, maybe? It was hard for her to tell at the time.

"Is it alright if I turn on the lights, Twilight?"
-"Y-yes, Spike. It's alright."

The little dragon turned and blew his green fire over a few candles on a chandelier, lighting up the room enough to see what was in front of his face.
He turned around to see how Twilight was and was unexpectedly hugged by the purple alicorn.

"T-twilight!?"

The forelegs of his friends enveloped him in a caress so warm it was embarrassing. With red cheeks Spike stuttered a question.

"W-what is it, Twilight? Are you still feeling down?"

Twilight kept quiet. She moved her head from side to side and kept pressing herself against him, kept squeezing him gently.

"What is it then?"

Time passed slowly by and she kept hugging him. Spike hugged her back. It felt like the right thing to do. They enjoyed every second of their embrace, the most intimate and meaningful they had ever shared in their lives.

"Sorry."

Twilight spoke and Spike didn't know what to say right away.

"About what Twilight?"

-"Sorry I yelled at you and pushed you away."

"Don't worry about it, Twilight. I know you didn't mean it."

Twilight smiled in the darkness, against the hard scales of her friend and assistant. She felt like crying again, but instead she smiled.

"So, are you feeling better now?"
-"Yes, a lot actually."

They let go almost at the same time and Spike finished lighting all the candles in his friend's room.

It was now clear as day inside Twilight's chambers despite the growing darkness outside caused by the agglomeration of rain clouds.
The two friends had made themselves comfortable on top of the bed. Spike rested his head on the side of the mare by her request.

"So, Twilight, tell me. What did the princess tell you that made you this upset?"

The princess didn't know what to say to her dragon. Even if she had come to terms with it, to tell him he'd cease to be soon wasn't something she believed she could do. So she told him a part of the truth.

"The princesses told me that I'll live for a long time and that I'd have to face many sad things during all those years.
They said that I still could do whatever I wanted. They didn't want to force me to become a princess if that's not really what I wished for."

-"Oh. A harsh decision. So...what did you decide?"

"I...don't know yet."

Spike looked up at the ceiling of the room. It wasn't surprising that Twilight had not made a decision yet. All the hours he saw her twist, turn and cry were only to assimilate the news. Not nearly enough to come to a decision.
In a quick movement the dragon got off from the mare and stood on top of the bed.
Twilight turned around and looked at him.

"Spike?"

"And why wouldn't you like to be a princess, Twilight?
At the time it might still be hard for you to do all the things a princess needs to do, but I know that after a couple of years of practice it'll be a piece of cake. That I can assure."

The dragon stood straight and hit with his balled fist on his puffed chest emitting the same sound of a small leather drum.

"Besides no matter what those sad things might be, I am sure that with Rarity and the others you will be able to overcome them."

Spike smiled. He believed in his words. He had seen Twilight and the others done the improvable time after time, all thanks to the deep bond of friendship that tied them together.
He expected Twilight to agree with him on that one, but Twilight didn't do it.

"But, Spike, what if they aren't around? As a princess I'll live longer than any of them will. When...when they aren't around anymore, what will I do?"

That was a troubling statement, not to mention depressive. But Spike wasn't about to let Twilight sink again into depression.

"That's alright Twilight. If they aren't around, then I'll still be next to you. Like always."

It was clear for Twilight then that Spike had no idea of what he was. He spoke that last line so confidently it seemed absurd to think he knew. Once again she felt sad.

"And...and if you aren't around? What then, Spike?"

Spike grew quiet. To think about his own death was something he never did. But as Twilight had left clear, it was possible also. Even if he was a dragon he was by no means eternal. It'd be maybe after a thousand or ten thousand years, but he might die as well. But...even if that was the case...

"It will still be fine Twilight."

Twilight saw Spike smile. It was the second time he had done so that night. Like the time before he seemed to be confident on his words.

"Even if we aren't there with you, there will still be others who will be. You'll have other friends."

-"But...!"

"Oh, come on, Twilight!"

Unexpectedly Spike seemed to be irritated by Twilight's interruption.

"Are you going to tell me, we will be your last friends? That you won't be friends with Applejack's son or Fluttershy's daughter?
Are you going to ignore Pound and Pumpkin when they grow older?"

-"O-of course not! I'd never...!"

Spike placed softly his claw on top of Twilight's mouth.

"Of course you wouldn't. They are your friends too and their sons and daughters will surely be your friends.
And before you even say it Twilight, even if the kingdom were to suddenly stop existing and there were no traces of any pony you have met, there are still going to be ponies to befriend."

-"But...they won't be you, Spike. They will be other friends. You...you and the girls would never come back."

"Well...that is true. But it isn't like we are going to vanish. We will always be with you.
When you see apples a million years in the future you'll surely think about Applejack, or when you see somebody being nice to animals, you will think of Fluttershy. The same will happen when you see a fashionista, or a pony that claims to be the fastest in the world, or claims to be the best party pony around, you will always remember us and again we will be with you.
You will need more than an eternity to forget good friends."

Pressed against the palm of his claw Spike could feel Twilight's lips turn into a smile.
He let go of her and sat once more on the bed. Talking for so long had left him tired for some reason.
It was weird. Maybe it was because he meant each an every word he said? Does that happen? Does one get tired when one speaks from the heart?
Twilight used her magic to levitate the dragon's body closer to her.

"What would ponies say if they knew the princess of friendship was being lectured about friendship?"

-"I am sure they'd have their doubts about her."

"Owwwwwww..."

Twilight giggled behind a hoof. She didn't seem to be confused or worried about anything anymore. It was all clear now, thanks to Spike.

"Thank you."

-"You are welcome, Twilight."

"But don't think I'll let you off the hook that easily? Do you know what happens to dragons like you?"

The expression of the princess turned from a gentle smile, into a mischievous grin and her hooves moved in a strange way.

"They get tickled!!"

-"What? No!!"

Relentlessly Twilight attacked the little dragon with a barrage of tickles. While the dragon twisted and laughed while pleading for mercy Twilight giggled innocently. That was at least until one clean kick of the dragon hit her right in the middle of the face.

"Oh, dear Celestia! Twilight, are you alright? I...I didn't mean to...
I mean, come on, I told you to stop, didn´t I?
Twilight?"

The princess' shocked expression lasted for a while, while a red stream of her blood flowed out of her nose and dripped onto her bed.

"Why, you...!!!"

Without a warning Twilight jumped at the dragon. Luckily he was able to evade her.

"Stay still, Spike! How dare you hit me!"
-"It was an accident, I swear!"

The room lit up with destructive multicolored beams that left deep marks on the walls of rock and stone. Tables were turned, drawers were taken out of their places, blankets were used as distractions in order to blind the raging princess.

"Twilight! Forgive and be forgiven! Remember, forgive and be forgiven!"
-"Let me catch you and maybe I'll think about forgiving you!"

Several guards stormed into the princess' chambers, Flash sentry included. But they were pushed back outside by the young alicorn, who told them that they were to bring food and drinks to her room and to not enter again without them.

After the fight there was a feast, after the feast there was talk, and while they talked they drank many different things.
The guards believed the princess had gone insane, but Flash easily cleared up the misunderstanding stating that the princess was just in a good mood again.

At the end, when the fighting, eating, talking and drinking was over Spike and Twilight fell exhausted on her bed.

"W-what was that all about, Twilight."
-"I don't know...I just felt like it. And by the way..."

Twilight flicked the tip of Spike's nose with her hoof.

"Ouch!! What was that for?"
-"It was for kicking me before."
"I told you it was an accident.
Twilight...you..."

Spike was dead tired. He didn't even have enough strength to finish his own sentences.

"Are you tired, Spike?"

-"Yes...very...
A lot has happened today after all."

"Certainly."

Twilight's horn glowed purple and Spike felt how the blanket fell delicately on top of both of them.

"You can sleep with me tonight, Spike."
-"Sleeping with you...? Man...I haven't...done that in...ages."

Spike's every third word was interrupted by a yawn. His eyelids closed and opened while he struggled to keep awake. His voice faded and his breathing became almost inaudible.

"Spike, are you asleep already?"

Twilight took his silence as a yes. She used her magic once more to turn all the lights off and closed her eyes while snuggling to her number one assistant.

*******************************************

On the nightly sky a gathering of Pegasi was discussing who should they send to retrieve it.
The storm was almost ready, but they still needed a last cloud in order to get started.
It wasn't like they had lost it though. They knew very well where it was, or rather who had it. But it wasn't easy to go and ask the princess to give it back to them.

"Ok, it is decided then. Who ever draw the shorter straw has to talk to the princess. No grudges or complains."

The pegasi nodded at the same time, and one by one drew one from a bunch of straws their leader had in her hoof until there was only one left.
So far nopony had drawn the shorter straw, so it was safe to assume that the last one to draw would be the one getting it.

A black Pegasus sighed in resignation. He had to be the one to go and talk to her. It was just his luck.
Had it been a lottery to win the princess' kiss, he would have never won. But now that it was about taking a cloud away from Princess Luna, it was just like him to hit the jackpot.

"Go on, Silent Flutter. Remember, no grudges or complains."

Silent Flutter, what the stallion was called, nodded once more and flied slowly towards the princess. While he did so he practiced what he'd say to her.

"Good night princess Luna. I've come here for the cloud."

Yeah. That sounded good enough...to be banished to the pits of Tartarus!
The line was too direct. Maybe if he were to praise her first and then aboard the matter with the cloud...

"Ah! What a beautiful night, princess. Truly another of your master pieces.
What a shame that the storm was planned for tonight as well...
Speaking about storms..."

Waaaah...that sounded lame. Who was he, count Lickaboot? And who was cound Lickaboot anyways?
No, no. He'd have to come up with something better than that.
The Pegasus tried a new line after the other without being completely satisfied with any. By the time he had reached the princess he still had no idea how to ask for the missing cloud.

"E...ehm...P-p-p-princess?"
'
Silent Flutter spoke in a voice that could compete against Fluttershy's in the tournament for the quietest pony. There was a reason why his mother gave him the name Silent and the stutter wasn't any help either.

"Ah...ahem...P-p-princess Luna?"

The stallion called the princess once more, but the alicorn didn't react in any way. She seemed to be concentrating on something.
Making no sound the Pegasus turned around the mare and tried to look in the same direction she was looking.
The princess had her eyes fixated on the lit window of the eastern-most room of the western part of the castle, princess Twilight's room.
Come to think of it, a couple of minutes ago he and his squad heard a loud ruckus coming from that side of the castle. But the noise coming from there couldn't be the reason why she was there, nor the reason why she had borrowed the cloud from them earlier that evening.

Suddenly the light in princess Twilight's room went out. It took Luna as well as the black Pegasus by surprise.

The alicorn lowered her head before standing up and spreading her wings. She had seen enough.
When she turned around though, she almost had a heart attack when she saw a black Pegasus flying right behind her.

"AaAaaaaAAa!!!!
W-what are you doing here!?"

"AaaHahaaaaaa!!!
I'm here for the cloud...princess.

The cloud, right. She had completely forgotten about that. She had borrowed that afternoon in order to check on Twilight without being discovered.

"That's right. Here, take it. I am sorry I took it for so long."

Already flying on her own, the princess pushed the cloud with one of her free hooves towards the Pegasus. She believed he'd take it and fly back to his duties, but instead he remained there, with his mouth half open and a look of disbelief behind his flying glasses.

"Is something the matter?"

-"P-princess...are you crying?"

The Pegasus got closer, but the princess was faster. Before he could even say the next word she was already a mile away from him, flying around the castle towards her own room.

"I am not crying. I am not!"

Author's Note

Check the chapter 5.5 if you want to know how things are going in Ponyville in the meantime.