Defenders of Equestria

A week had passed since they had all moved in to there new home and met Deekin, and in that time the ‘trio of heroes’ as Deekin had taken to calling them had fully discovered and become familiar with there new home.

Aside from the central library, which also served as a sort of meeting room for the group, and the living area where they had taken up residence, that had discovered a treasury room that had had a small pile of gold in it, apparently all that was left of the previous tenant. Though it came nowhere near to filling up the room, it was still more then enough money to let them buy anything they would need for awhile.

They had also discovered a large map room that could teleport them anywhere in the world of Mystera they wished to go, along with some simple recall stones that were set to bring them back to there home. They had tested this by making a trip to Canterlot in order to inform the slightly worried princess’s that despite some troubles they loved there new home. Deekin had not gone with them on that trip, still not ready to venture to the outside world just yet.

Now as Liz sat in the great library pouring over a history book, trying to catch up on what she had missed in the last 2,000 years, she found her mind wander to the reason they had been given this wonderful home, the princess’s of Equestria had wanted them to defend there land from any threats that would try to attack it.

But as Liz had been reading she noticed that Equestria had remained relatively peaceful and untouched for the past five hundred years. Only in the past few years had it begun to have a few major problems but the few there were had been coming fast and hard.

First Nightmare Moon had tried to destroy all of Mystera with an eternal night, then Discord had escaped from his stone prison and almost destroyed Equestria with his chaotic sense of humor. Not long after the Changeling’s had made a brazen attack on Canterlot in an effort to take over and had come dangerously close to succeeding, only being stopped by a kind of “love” magic that was not even known to exist until then.

Perhaps most notable about the changeling attack was the fact that Celestia herself had tried to smite the changeling queen, and was easily defeated in the short duel. It did not take a genius to figure out that it was more then likely this humiliating defeat that had prompted Celestia to free the three ancient warriors that were hidden behind her throne.

Suddenly a burst of magic briefly appeared next to her on the table before quickly fading away, leaving a rolled up piece of parchment sealed up with a wax image of a sun with a crescent moon inside of it. Liz quickly unrolled the parchment, a little surprised that something had already happened that needed there attention.

Dear Elizabeth,

Your talents are currently needed in the town of Ponyville, Princess Twilight has reported a small band of small green humanoids is en route to the town, and that they appear to be approaching with the intent to attack. I have sent some of my troops to aid in the towns defense, but they are poorly prepared for any actual combat, and need the aid of you and your friend’s to keep the town safe.

In addition to the defense of Ponyville I also wish you to investigate the origins of these creatures and make sure they will not pose any further threat to my little ponies, by any means necessary. As you may have already discovered there is more then enough bits in your new home for you to purchase anything you may need on your quest, and should you neutralize this threat completely I will reward you and your companions handsomely for your efforts.

You must make haste! My soldiers have recently reported losing track of there location, and that they could arrive at any moment! I wish you all luck in your mission.

Signed,
Princess Celestia.

Liz finished reading the letter and got up to locate her friends, excited at finally getting to go back out into the world and lending it her aid, even if it was just defending against a simple attack by some roving band of monsters.

“Hey Liz, we just got our first job!” Eric came running from the map room where he had been looking at the various kingdoms seeing which still stood and which had fallen in the last two thousand years. He had a piece of paper in his hand, that Liz assumed held the same message as hers had.

Suddenly a nearby bookshelf swung open and out came Gaz, who had been exploring the secret caverns with Deekin as his guide. “Gaizo has news friends!” The three looked at each other and noticed they all had there own parchments in there hands.

“Ponyville is under attack!” They all yelled to each other, in an attempt to make sure they all had the same message. Finding that they did they quickly made off to the map room where they snatched up there gear that they had stored in the room for such an occasion, before setting the map to the small town of Ponyville and jumping through the portal, ready for adventure.

“Wait for Deekin!” Deekin also jumped through the portal just as it was closing. Much as he fretted about the outside world, he knew he didn’t want to be here by himself for any lengthy period of time, he had had enough alone time to last the rest of his life.

***

The four landed in the central area of the town of Ponyville, and barley had enough time to shake the dizziness that came with teleportation out of there heads before hearing a nearby pony scream.

“There here! There here! Oh the horror!” Some nearby royal soldiers came over holding there spears menacingly at the four heroes.

“Whoa there, fellas…” Eric tried to calm the two stallions down and gently tipped one of there spears down. “Were on your side.”

The two soldiers looked at each other in confusion for a moment.

“Stand down boys, these are the Princess new pets.” A broad chested stallion dressed in an some kind of officers uniform came behind the two grunts, who immediately complied and gave a salute. He nodded to them and they scurried off to find something more important to do. The white furred colt turned to them with an odd look on his face.

“Alright I know the story with you three, but whats with the lizard? He your mascot or something?” The officer looked towards Deekin who was cowering behind his friends at all the sudden excitement. Eric did not care for his tone and he could tell he would not be getting along with this particularly pony.

“Never mind who he is, where’s the trouble?” The pony took on a surprised look.

“I had heard you humans had a one track mind but I expected you to at least ask my name first.” He smiled at his own joke. Eric wasn’t sure who the stallion was trying to impress by insulting him, because he certainly didn’t find it funny.

“Fine, to whom due we owe the honer of being needlessly insulted?” Liz said a little mad at the jab this cretin had made to her love.

“Wow, I see where Spike gets the attitude now. Nice job raising him by the way, oh wait…” He smiled cruelly.

“How dare you! I should kill you where you stand!” Liz took on a offensive stance and lit a small magic fire in each of her hands.

“Nope, I don't think you will, unless of course, you like the feeling of two goddesses hunting you down.”

“We are not afraid of your-”

“Liz calm down.” Eric held an arm in front of his lover, she looked betrayed but complied and extinguished the large flames that had almost shot out of hands.

“Listen here tough guy, you don't like us, we get it. But the fact is you need our help to defend this town, and your about one more insult away from us walking out on this deal we have with your leaders. So you have two choices, you can keep expressing your dislike, have us leave, no doubt lose some citizens to this attack, and then have to tell your Princess’s how some ponies lost there lives because you couldn’t play nice.”

“Or you can have us aid you, save the town, and be able to say you did your duty and made the right choice, despite your personal feelings.” The officer pony gave Eric a look of disbelief, as if he had just been lectured by some inferior being. Still he seemed to get the message.

“Fine, you can stay, but if you even glance at any pony the wrong way I’m sure the princess’s will understand the actions I’ll have to take.” Eric managed to keep his temper in control, he wanted to tell this arrogant little prick that he had taken shits scarier then him and his whole damn army combined. But he instead gave a convincing false smile.

“Understood, now would you kindly tell us what you know of these creatures? Mr…”

“Shining Armor, Captain of the royal guard, but you will address me as Sir.” He said with complete confidence that he was there superior. This time Eric couldn’t help but make a comment.

“I wouldn’t get your hopes up there Mister, be glad that I’m choosing to address you politely at all after that quip you made about my friend’s parenting skills. Now come on, the Princess’s note sounded urgent, and I’m sure she didn’t want me to come just to have a pissing match with you.” Shining looked at Eric with disgust at his vulgarity and rudeness, well don’t give what you can’t take back, Eric thought. Shining chose to thankfully keep his thoughts to himself and simply told them what he knew.

“We don’t know much about these apparent marauders, just that there a little shorter then a full grown stallion, have green skin, and that there is no information on them in any of the bestiaries we have looked through. My scouts last reported around thirty of them approaching from the south.”

“Have you made any attempt to converse with them, and perhaps persuade them from there attack?” Eric thought the simplest route, to him anyway, was to try to be diplomatic with them. Shining gave a sigh.

“A soldier who considers herself a bit of a negotiator volunteered to try and talk them out of it. She quickly flew back, and I first assumed that she had been successful from her lack of injures…”

“I take it they attacked her on sight?” Eric said, and Shining for the first time gave a look of fear.

“She hadn’t even gotten close enough to really see them, but she could hear them giving some kind of war chant from that distance…” Shining paused, and his bright white fur seemed to impossibly grow paler. “She had been…rather distraught, apparently they had been singing about burning the village down and… capturing “The Little Horsies”, they wanted to cook and eat us alive. Needless to say she made the logical call that they would be unwilling to negotiate.”

Eric nodded in agreement, in his experience when it got to the point that they wanted to eat you, it was better to prepare for a fight.

“She had never before heard of such evil, and to be honest, neither have I. The changelings came close but at least they would have stuck us in some dream world while they fed on us, painlessly and with no risk of death I might add.” Shining seemed to be rather distraught and Eric couldn’t help but try and comfort him, if only because the pony needed to stay focused on leading the defense.

“Hey, just stay focused on keeping the townspeople safe, we’ll take care of these little monsters, right guys?”

Liz and Gaz looked unsure and Eric was afraid they were going to say they wanted to leave these ponies to there fate. He wasn’t sure what he would do then, he knew as rude as these Equines had been he couldn’t leave them to certain death, they were no fighters Eric could easily see that in Shining’s nervousness and he was a Captain! No to leave them would be as wrong as killing them all himself, perhaps even more so since he knew what the monsters intended to do with them.

Thankfully, they reluctantly agreed to help, though it was clear to Eric that they had only agreed because of there long friendship, they really didn’t care what happened to these ponies one way or the other. Still, despite there obvious reluctance, Shining gave them a look of gratitude.

“Thanks, really I mean it, I apologize for my rudeness before I just.” He paused unsure of what the reason was. “I dunno it’s just most creatures that walk on two legs tend to be rather monstrous to us ponies.”

“You had no reason to assume different of us, I understand, no hard feelings I hope.” Eric offered out a hand which Shining allowed him to grab and give a firm shake.

“Of course not, and Ms.Elizabeth I truly am sorry for what I said. Your son is a wonderful little guy and I’m sure you would have raised him right if you had the chance.” Liz gave no reaction to this, and Eric gave a sad nod to Shining.

“Draco’s don’t easily forget insults from anyone, or any pony for that matter, don’t take it personally.” Liz shot a quick glare towards Eric and he knew he was going to have a talk with her about today, whether he wanted to or not. Shining seemed to notice the glance and leaned in to whisper.

“You can yell at me a little, I’m a married man myself, and trust me, lady’s don't like there man ignoring an insult on them.” Shining offered.

“I do not need you to interfere in our personal issues.” Liz snapped, her superior Draconian hearing picking up the whisper easily. Both Shining and Eric jumped and blushed at being caught. Liz gave a huff and walked off while Eric followed off after her. Deekin looked towards them and back at Gaz who was just watching them begin to argue.

“Is Eric and Liz mad at each other?” Deekin asked with worry in his voice. Gaz smiled down at the worried Kobold who he had begun to see as a little brother.

“Yes little Deekin, but do not worry, they will find there way through it.” Gaz comforted Deekin who looked very scared at the thought of his two friends fighting.

“They haven’t been with each other very long have they?” Shining asked Gaz, who cocked an eyebrow at him.

“They have known each other as long as Gaizo can remember.” Gaz laughed. “But only recently have they truly begun to figure each other out.” Shining smiled at the kitsune’s wisdom, recalling how long he had known the mare who would become his wife before he had begun to truly figure her out.

Gaz and Shining watched the couple argue for awhile unable to hear any of the words they harshly whispered to each other. Deekin had grown bored and was now trying to get the attention of a nearby guard, who simply stood stoically, giving no indication he was paying attention or even alive for that matter. Finally Eric and Liz seemed to reconcile and they gave a loving hug to each other before walking back towards there friends.

“Sorry about that.” Eric said.

“Yes, we should get to the business at hand.” Liz said still refusing to look at Shining directly. Shining understood, he had insulted her abilities as a mother, and he had barley forgiven himself for making such a cruel statement.

“I really don’t have much else to tell you, they-”

“There here, Ponyville is under attack!” A rainbow maned pegasus was flying over the town square shouting her warning. Eric thought at first she was referring to him and his friends, but then he saw the odd way she was flying and the tiny arrow that was sticking out of hind leg, apparently not sharp or large enough to cause any real damage, but still a sign that the attack had begun.

The town erupted into a panic as the war chant that Shining had referred to became audible, the grisly song just incrising the panic that had grasped the peaceful ponies.

“Goblins chew and Goblins bite,
Goblins cut and Goblins Fight.
Stab the dog and cut the horse,
Goblins eat and take by force!”

“Goblins? Deekin hate Goblins! Always burning and eating everything.”

“You know what they are?” Shining had been ordering his guards to round up everyone and get them to safety but he had heard Deekin talk in remembrance of the creatures.

“Of course they-” Deekin started

“No time! Come with me Deekin I need you to tell me what you know of them, while your friends stay and fight!”

“Yay, Deekin always want to ride pony!” Deekin jumped on Shining’s back who began to run off and usher the townspeople into there homes. Eric looked around and saw that the goblins had suddenly appeared all around them, having slipped right past the meager defense the town had set up.

Thankfully most of the villagers had escaped into there home’s and the few that hadn’t were far to fast for the goblins to catch on there stubby little legs. Still, they had begun burning down all the various market stalls and carts that were set up, and Eric knew it was only a matter of time before they moved on to the houses.

“Why are you just standing there?” Liz had already begun to zap the little beasts with her magic, and Eric couldn’t see Gaz anywhere but seeing the various goblins that lay on there ground with there throats slit, some of them still gurgling on there own blood, and he knew Gaz had definitely joined in the battle.

Eric drew his axe and tried to channel himself into a battle rage, but was finding it very hard to feel any anger at all. The goblins were such simple opponents and he found there antics much more humorous then aggravating, especially given that they hadn’t appeared to score a single kill during this whole attack while most of them already lie dead or frozen from Liz’s ice magic.

Then Liz cast a fireball at a group of goblins who had decided they were safer in a group, apparently unaware that that was the best target a wizard could ask for. The ones that didn’t instantly turn to ash from the blast found themselves thrown from the explosion and screaming in there odd high pitched voices as they tried to put themselves out.

The comical sight of them running around on fire, and the hilarious sound of there screams, was too much for Eric and he quickly burst out laughing, seeming to forget that this was indeed an actual attack.

“This isn’t some comedy act Eric! Start swinging!” Liz screamed over the sounds of battle at hearing him laugh.

“Oh come on Liz, these guy’s couldn’t kill a puppy!” As if to prove Eric's point a goblin chopped at his leg with his sword, which was really nothing more then a sharp looking stone tied to a stick. The attack bouced harmlessly off the thick chain armor Eric wore and Liz couldn’t help but join him in laughter at the Goblin’s almost adorably, confused face.

Suddenly Gaz jumped out of nowhere and picked the goblin up before quickly snapping his tiny neck. Gaz looked at the last goblin now lying dead in his hands, gave a howl of laughter and then threw him over his shoulder as if the monster was just a piece of trash. The three friends looked around at the now finished battle, and all laughed at how ridiculously easy it had been.

All around were the corpses of Goblins and the only sign that they had achieved anything with there suicidal attack were the few charred remains of the market stalls that had been burnt down, and Eric wasn’t sure they had even done that, that perhaps Liz had just caused some minor property damage with her fireballs.

“Well I think we can all agree that was the easiest battle we’ve ever been in.” Eric said after they had calmed down.

“Oh for you sure, you didn’t do a single thing!” Liz pointed out with a playful look in her eyes.

“Yes Gaizo must agree, he and Liz did much of the work while our fearless leader sat here laughing.”

“OK, your right, I could have killed at least one.”

“You didn’t even kill one?” Liz shouted in astonishment

“Oops did I say that?” Eric gave the look of a child being caught in a lie, and Liz had to bite her tongue to keep a laugh inside from escaping.

Soon the nearby ponies, hearing that sounds of battle had ended, came out of there homes and gave a shocked look to the three heroes after seeing the bodies of the goblins that littered the streets.

“That was… Awesome!” Eric looked up and saw the rainbow maned pegasus from before, still with the small arrow in her leg, apparently she had been hovering up there the whole time, and had seen the whole battle. “Come on every pony, let’s hear it for Ponyville’s new awesome heroes! Well except for the useless, fur-less one!” She said with a laugh before suddenly a goblin who had climbed on a nearby roof jumped at her, Eric quickly tossed his axe and effortlessly hit the goblin in mid air.

The pegasus looked back in shock at the close call, and rubbed her head in embarrassment.

“What was that? I was too busy taking aim at your would-be killer.” Eric said with a grin.

“Uh I mean… Three cheers for all three heroes!” She corrected and the whole town erupted into cheers, giving far more then just three, they stomped there hoofs in applause and Eric gave a casual wave and a smile to the large crowd. Gaz was relishing the attention as he did various acrobatic maneuvers while Liz shot off some magic sparks that resembled fireworks into the air behind him, much to the delight of the ponies watching.

Eric felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see the pegasus from before.

“Hey thanks for saving me back there, sorry about calling you useless…” She blushed before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek much to his surprise. “Anyway thanks again, maybe ill see you later!” She said, voice tinged with hope, before quickly flying away until she was out of sight. Eric rubbed his still warm cheek and smiled at the cute way the pegasus, whose name he had never gotten, had blushed at him.

“What was that about?” Liz asked and Eric shot around, much faster then he had intended too.

“She just wanted to thank me personally for saving her.” Eric said, glad to see he was able to keep his voice sounding steady and normal. Liz looked at him for a moment, almost seemed to be waiting for him to say something else, but she nodded and said.

“Oh OK then…” She said a little hurt in her voice, she had seen the whole interaction, Eric realized.

“Well-”

“Hey nice job guy’s! I’m sorry I ever doubted you.” Shining ran up and smiled at them before sensing that something was amiss. “Oh sorry, am I interrupting?” He asked concerned he had interrupted something important. Eric looked at Liz who was just staring at him a look of neutrality on her face, before answering.

“No not at all.” Eric said simply.

“I’m going to go see if Spike is alright.” Liz said before quickly walking away, it took Eric great constraint to not chase after her.

“Something wrong?” Shining asked.

“No, nothings wrong.” Shining gave a disbelieving look but continued.

“Alright then, come on, Twilight and the mayor would like to reward you for saving the town.”

“What about Gaz?” Eric looked back at his friend who was currently showing off his swordsmanship skills.

“Sure if he wants to come, but it looks like he’s having a bit more fun here right now.”

“Yeah I guess he’ll be fine.” Eric sighed he couldn’t stop thinking about Liz but he followed Shining anyway to collect his reward, not really caring what it was, but knowing he couldn’t refuse.

***

Liz knocked on the door to Princess Twilight’s home. She couldn’t believe him, he hadn’t lifted a hand to help her in the battle, yet had no problem showing off to that rainbow haired-

The door opened and her son Spike awaited on the other side, he looked up at her with surprised joy, and the sight of him brought a smile to her face despite everything she was thinking.

“Mom!” He hugged her legs and she felt like crying again, though this time it would be out of happiness instead of anger. He looked up and noticed the sad look in her eyes.

“What’s wrong, where’s Uncle Gaz and Uncle Eric?” he asked wondering why her friends had left her alone. At hearing his name she broke down. She brought her hands to her eyes and began to give out moans of pain and sadness.

“Mom? What’s wrong?” Spike had gently led her in and shut the door so they could talk in private. Liz quit sobbing, she was stronger then that after all, but she couldn’t help but give the occasional sniff as she thought about telling her son her problems.

“Oh don’t worry about me Spike, just being with you has already made me feel much better.” It was true she did feel much better, though her heartbreak still lingered within. Spike put his hand on her knee and she put one on his head.

“Were you here to fight the monsters?” He asked excitement in his eyes at hearing tales of his mothers battle prowess. She smiled at his eagerness.

“Yes your mother and her friends came to defend the town.” She said simply.

“Are they all gone?”

“Yes we easily defeated them all, though we do have to stay in town for a few days to make sure they don’t try again.”

“Really! Are you going to live with me and Twilight while you stay here?”

“I suppose so, if Princess Twilight will have me.”

“Alright, I can’t wait for you to meet my friends!” He hugged her again and she gladly returned it. Happy that she had been so lucky as to meet him at all, even though enough time had passed for him to live his whole life, he had waited for her, refusing to hatch without his mother for two thousand years, only coming out through purely magical means.

“Why were you so sad earlier mom?” he asked still holding her tight, and she sighed knowing he wouldn’t let it go.

“Let’s just say someone I like very much, doesn’t quite feel the same about me.” She traced a finger along the scales atop his head.

“Oh you mean like you love them but they ignore your feelings?” Spike asked and Liz looked at him.

“Not quite, he knows I exist, maybe he even loves me, but not in the same way I love him.” Spike looked at her with confusion on his face. She gave a weak chuckle. “Ah but those are things to discuss when your a little older. How about you though, who do you love that ignores your feelings?” Spike looked shocked.

“How did you know!”

“Oh you have to very observant to understand magic like I do.”

“Can you teach me magic? I tried asking Twilight but she’s so busy all the time.”

“Sure, after you tell me about this love of yours.” Liz reminded Spike of her original question.

“Oh ok…” Spike nervously twiddled his claws “It’s this mare named Rarity… I’m always doing stuff for her so she’ll like me and she just sees it as me being a good friend to her.”

“Have you told her how you feel?”

“I did one time, but she didn’t say anything when I told her, she still just treats me the same as she always has. I kinda wish she would just tell me it won’t happen just so I would know to give up.” Liz smiled at her and Spike gave an odd look at seeing it.

“What?”

“It’s simple, she hasn’t responded to your feelings because she herself is unsure how she feels.”

“Really!” Spike seemed excited that there was a chance at all his crush might have feelings for him.

“I think so, it seems obvious to me. If she didn’t answer you then it would seem she isn’t sure if she returns your love.”

Well either that or she was stringing him along, taunting him with her affections to get favors from him, it could be either or, but Liz decided she would have to meet this Rarity to really be sure.

“So what should I do?” He asked.

“Nothing, just keep doing what you have been, eventually she will reach her answer. All you can do is try to be as sweet and friendly as possible until then. Something I'm sure you’ll have no problem with.” Liz warmly smiled at her son who happily returned it.

Liz and her son said nothing more after that, and Liz softly stroked Spike’s head until he fell asleep, tiny arms still wrapped around her waist. Her sadness was gone now, she was content with the thought that while Eric had apparently grown tired of her already, she would always have her son’s love, and that was more then enough for her.

***

Eric stood outside in the Ponyville park with Liz, it was late at night, and after he had been given an oversize novelty ‘key to the city’, he had gone off to find Liz at Twilight’s home, remembering that she had wanted to see Spike. He had practically burst in to find Liz and her young son asleep on the couch. He had tried to wake her up without disturbing Spike’s rest but had failed, and after shooting him an angry glare and telling Spike to go on to bed she had agreed to start the night’s fight somewhere more private.

“What do you mean your not coming home?” Eric asked unsure of the true reasoning for her her refusal to return home with him.

“I wish to stay with my son while we finish our job here, why is that so hard to believe?” She said simply, and Eric felt his anger rise up in him, though this was the first time it had ever been directed at one of his friends.

“He’s been fine without you for two thousand years! whats one more night going to hurt?” He knew that would hurt her bad as it was half-way out, she had told him that she regretted inadvertently trapping her son in that egg for so long, but his anger wouldn’t let him stop himself from saying it.

She slapped him, which was really more of a slash given her claws, and Eric could feel his cheek start bleeding, though he was far to upset to notice any pain.

“How dare you, If you hadn’t convinced me to join you all those years ago, I would have never ended up in that stone prison, and my son in his!” She yelled at him.

“You act as if I forced you to come with me!”

“Sometimes I wonder if you had!”

“Really because the way I recall it you were begging me to let you tag along!”

“Oh please you can’t recall anything before we were stone, all you remember is how terrible a time you had, well I’ve got news for you, it wasn't too much fun for me either!”

“Bullshit, it was nothing but a blink for you, I had to endure a fucking eternity!”

“Oh here comes the cursing, what next, are you going to hit me, huh!” Eric realized his hands were balled up into fists and that he was very close to striking her, but the sense of survival in him knew that she could easily destroy him with a snap of her fingers, quite literally.

“Look…” he said trying to calm down and diffuse the situation. “Is this about that pegasus from earlier? Let’s talk about it.”

“Oh now you want to talk about it!”

“Yes I do please calm down.” Eric said a little fear in his voice, Liz had already summoned some flames in her hands.

“Not until you admit she kissed you!”

“Ok she kissed me, I’m sorry I didn’t dodge it or anything I thought that might be just a little rude!”

“And?” she stared daggers at him, the flames in her hands had died down but Eric knew they could come up at any point, still his pride refused to let him admit it.

“And what?”

“Don’t test me Eric!”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Just say it Eric, so we can end this!”

A pause and then…

“I liked it ok! Fine you got me, Let’s have a hand for Elizabeth!” He started clapping sarcastically. He was glad they had chosen to move to the park for this because they surely would have attracted quite a crowd.

“Why?” She didn’t yell like she had before and it shocked Eric out of his little performance.

“What?”

“Why, why did you like it? Are you just a natural womanizer? Or was it something I did?” She had done a complete 180 on him and she was crying.

“Liz I…” He didn’t know what to say, he loved her, he really did. The thought of losing her scared him, but at the same time he couldn’t deny he had felt a thrill at the kiss he had received today. He wanted to be mad at the rainbow maned pony who had started all this but he knew if it hadn’t been her this would have come up at some point anyway. He realized this was a battle he could not solve with crafty social maneuvers or his sheer strength.

“Liz I love you!” She looked at him stone faced and unaffected at all by his confession. “I know I love you but, I can’t explain it. It’s like I’m afraid too, and I don’t know why!”

He had never felt true love before, he had always been a womanizer, girls had always been nothing more then rewards to him. But Liz was different, he had known her so long, she was his best friend, but at the same time he was very afraid of committing himself to her.

“It’s ok.” She looked at him with sad understanding. “You’re a romantic Eric, you love the feeling of starting new love, not maintaining it. I can’t be mad at you for what you are, in fact all I feel is pity, you’ll never know what it’s like to share everything with someone, to go through everything, good and bad, with them, to stay with that person for your whole life and beyond.”

“Liz, we can make it work we-” She slowly shook her head and he realized this was the end of there relationship both as friends and as lovers.

“What now?” he asked defeated.

“I’m still going to work to defend Equestria, I have to, for my son’s sake. If you decide to keep this job too, then I suppose we’ll just be two people working in the same office, so to speak.

“I’ll change Liz you’ll see, it may take years but I’ll show you I can commit to you.” She just gave a sigh and began to walk off towards the Library. Eric fell on a nearby bench and expected to cry about this turn of event’s, but he could find no tears to shed.

He had known this would happen from the very moment he had seduced her. That they would love each other for about a week, then something would happen to cause a fight and he would be disillusioned with the whole thing and leave her. He had thought of his friend Liz, his love, the same way he had thought of every other women he had been with, as soon as things stopped being fun it was time to move on.

He was a child, nothing more. He treated women like toys and when he was bored with one he quickly threw it away and picked another one to play with. He realized he wasn’t sad that she had broken up with him, he was sad because she was no longer his friend, and that was worse.

They had been friends forever, and only lovers a short time, so this didn’t really surprise him. He recalled hearing somewhere that the person you love is really just your best friend, but he couldn’t believe that. There was such a huge difference in how he and Liz treated each other after that night they slept together, before she was just one of his best friends, he had loved her like a sister and they often playfully argued back and forth with each other.

After that night had been a different story entirely. Suddenly she trusted him with everything, most notable to him, was how she had asked him if she was making the right choice in leaving her son in the care of the ponies. Before that night, she never would have asked him that, it just wasn’t natural, but suddenly they fucked and all that changed? What the hell was up with that?

Eric sighed knowing he could think in circles about this forever, but the fact was Liz was no longer his friend, and he was just going to have to deal with that.

He had thought about leaving Equestria, walking out on the deal he had made just so he wouldn’t have to see her again, but he had his other friend to think about. Gaz would be devastated if Eric left, and even if Gaz chose to follow him to wherever he ended up, Gaz would never forgive him for making him chose, and Eric would be damned if he was going to lose both of his best friends.

He reached into his bag and pulled out the recall stone. Reading the simple phrase written on it teleported him back to his mountain top abode, specifically into the library room, where he saw Gaz was asleep in one of the nearby chairs snoring loudly.

Eric smiled at his friend, touched that the kitsune had apparently waited up for him. He sighed dreading telling his friend what had happened and that things would never be the same between him and Liz, but knowing it had to be done. Just as he was about to wake Gaz up a familiar screechy voice called out.

“Is everything still good between Eric and Liz?” Deekin was sitting on another chair that was behind Eric, apparently asleep until the noise of him arriving had awoken him.

“No Deekin, everything is not good.”

“Oh, Deekin had bad feeling but figured he ask anyway.” Deekin paused and then. “Does Eric wish to talk to Deekin?” Eric smiled at the friendly Kobold, though he had known him only a short time, he felt like Deekin had been part of his group all along. Still Eric felt Deekin would only be upset at hearing details of the experience and Eric shook his head.

“Ok Eric, Deekin go to bed now, good night.” Deekin scurried off somewhere, it still amazed Eric that he could seemingly disappear even if you were staring right at him.

“Gaz wake up.” Gaz lazily opened his eyes but quickly grew energetic at the sight of Eric.

“Eric how are you friend!” He smiled apparently not noticing that Liz was missing or the frown that crossed Eric’s face.

“Just wanted to wake you before I hit they hay.” Eric said simply and Gaz gave a small frown.

“Gaizo thanks you, but he still has his original question, how is Gaizo’s friend feeling tonight?”

“Seen better day’s Gaz, much better days. But all you need to know is that me and Liz… Well let’s just say I’m not going to be calling her Liz anymore, if you get what I mean.” The kitsune looked confused for a moment before he put two and two together and gave a large frown.

“I see…” That was all Gaz had to say for awhile, and in that time Eric noticed Gaz had not spoken of himself in the third person, something he hadn’t done since they were sure there death awaited them that day in Equestria’s royal castle, so long ago

“I suppose I will now be forced to choose between my two best friends?” He gave a sigh and pulled a flask from his pocket apparently having anticipated this conversation and Eric wondered how smart the fox man really was, he acted dramatic and unobservant most of the time, but for the first time it occurred to Eric that that may just be a facade put on by the kitsune, him easily hiding his true personality just as easily as he hid his body in combat.

“No I can’t ask you to choose between us.” Eric said and was about to explain why when Gaz interrupted.

“And I can’t ask you to stay here with the women who was once your friend, trying to pretend that were still a team even when were obviously not… so it would appear we are at an impasse my friend.” Gaz took a swig of whatever was in the flask before letting out a satisfied sigh and continuing. “I wonder then, is this the end of our little group? We did have a long run I must admit, but still, I had such hopes that many adventures still lie ahead of us.”

Gaz offered the flask to Eric who took a quick swig before handing it back, it was foul tasting but effective and he grew light headed from just the one sip. Gaz laughed.

“Oh yeah, You never were much of a drinker Eric were you? I suppose that’s a good thing, I’ve see you angry before and I would hate to see you drunk and angry.” Gaz laughed and Eric joined in agreement.

“So what should we do now my friend? You always were the leader of our little group.” Gaz asked and Eric had no idea how to answer him. After awhile of silence Gaz offered.

“The way I see it, It comes down to you choosing to stay or choosing to leave, neither one leads back to the way things were of course but both hold there own possibility's of a brighter future.”

“But we’ve been together so long it feels wrong to break us up…” Gaz just stared at him.

“a story with no ending would be a boring story indeed would it not?” Gaz offered his wisdom.

“I suppose.” Eric said sadly. Gaz gave a sad smile.

“The story of this trio of friends has come to an end and now it’s time to begin a new one, but that’s alright because we never forget the stories we have already read, do we?”

“I get what your saying Gaz, but your immortal, it’s not the same…” Eric finally realized why he couldn't accept his wisdom, kitsune's were naturally immortal and forever young, it was easy for him to look towards the future because it would never end for him.

“Would you care to guess how old I am Eric?” Gaz suddenly asked and Eric couldn’t even begin to guess…

“With all the wisdom that’s been coming out of you, I would say a least a couple thousand.” Gaz laughed as if this was the funniest thing he had heard his whole life.

“Not even close my friend, no I’m afraid I have not even reached my hundredth birthday… well so long as we don’t count the years in stone, my tails apparently didn’t.”

“Tails?”

“Oh yes did I not tell you that? A kitsune grows an additional tail every hundred years he lives, so were I at least one hundred I would have two. But enough of that the correct answer to my question was thirty five years of age.” Gaz laughed at the surprised look on Eric’s face.

“Yes when everyone hears of an immortal creature they naturally assume they’ve been around for ages, but even we have to go through child-hood. Trust me were I as old as you had assumed I would not have even held a passing interest in your little adventuring group when we had met, anyway do you see that point I’m trying to make here Eric?”

“That your not much older then me and you still have no problem leaving the past behind. But you’ll live forever! You don’t have to worry about whether your death is happy or sad because it’ll never come!”

Eric tried to reason but somehow he was sure that the kitsune would have an answer for that too, and as it turned out he did.

“All the more reason for you to strive towards a better future, your time on this world is limited and if you don’t work for it, you will, as you have put it, die a sad lonely death instead of a happy one, one where you are surrounded by your loved ones as you slip into the next realm. But that’s enough wisdom for now I think… I take it you have decided to go then?”

“No I’m going to stay for now.” Gaz cocked an curious eyebrow at him.

“And why would that be Eric?”

“You just told me, I have to work towards a better future, the future I want, and the one I want is one where I’m still friends with you and Liz. I’m going back to Ponyville, I’ll see you later Gaizo!” Eric made off towards the map room and Gaz just offered a chuckle in farewell.

***

Liz woke to a pounding on the door to the room she had rented at the local Ponyville inn. Twilight had nowhere for her to sleep at her home so she offered to put her up at the nicest inn in town. She looked at the clock on the wall, it told her it was three in the A.M and she knew that only one person could possibly want to bother her this late at night. Another knock came and she jumped out of bed and stormed over to the door.

Had she not made it clear? No, of course she had but he was going to be persistent anyway, just like the stubborn man he had always been. She threw open to door to see, to no one’s surprise, Eric standing outside with an apologetic smile on his face.

“It’s three in the morning Eric, can we do this later?” She was tired and a little upset at being disturbed. She had tried to leave things in a way that would leave no doubt as to the future, yet despite her brutal honesty he still stood there with that damn grin on his face.

“I know it’s late Liz but I talked to Gaz and thought about things and I want to try again.”

“Eric I told you were not a-”

“I don’t mean us as lovers, I mean us as friends.” She blinked, she hadn’t expected that but still she kept her guard up knowing he would say anything to get her to jump in his arms again.

“May I come in?” She wasn't sure about being in a small room with Eric, her spells were powerful but they took time to cast and there wasn’t a lot of room to maneuver around him should he decide to attack.

Suddenly his face took on a look of hurt and she realized he must have see the distrust on her face. What was she thinking? After all they had been through was she really thinking he would try to hurt her? She was very confused and wanted desperately to just lye back down and forget for awhile.

“I guess I don’t have too, if your uncomfortable, I understand.” She didn’t know what to do and wished it would go back to before they had been imprisoned, everything had been so simple then, it was just her and her friends exploring the world and having fun along the way. But it was too late to go back to that, right?

“Why are you here Eric?”

“Because I…” He paused and then scratched his beard in thought before beginning again. “I love you, but-” He raised a hand up, asking her to let him finish, she nodded and he continued. “I understand your mad at me, so I propose we just… go back to the way things were, before that night, I think I came on too fast and strong and I just want us to be friends again, at least until you’re ready to forgive me and I’m ready to commit to you.”

“You know it’s not that simple Eric we can’t just go back.” She said sureness in her voice.

“Okay, but tell me this, why not?”

“Well because-” She stopped mid-sentence, why couldn’t they just go back to the way things were, that was what she wanted wasn’t it? But something just seemed odd about the idea. It felt like it could never work, though she couldn’t come up with a reason why.

“Because we’ve had sex.” She said dumbly.

“So?” He said a winning smile on his face.

“There’ll always be tension between us, we can’t just be friends!” She was trying to come up with reasons and was failing spectacularly.

“The way I see it Elizabeth, there’s always been tension between us, that’s kinda what led to that night in the first place.” And then she saw it, the way out.

“But I hadn’t held feelings for you then so your wrong!” She said triumphantly.

“Are you certain about that?” Eric said popping her victory like a balloon.

“I guess not… but I mean-” She said sadly.

“Just think about it, alright?” Eric gave her one last smile, and walked off.

Liz closed the door, more confused now then ever. She decided she would just try and take things one day at a time. Starting tomorrow she would do her best to act as if she and Eric had done nothing that night.

With this final thought she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.