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Spike got up from the ground, ready to fight. He drew his sword, with an angry cry that filled the air.

The hooded warriors eyes narrowed. He leaped at Spike with his sword. In an heartbeat, Spike blocked the strike. He gripped his own sword tightly in his claw as the other three hooded attackers charged. Four to one. He'd encountered worse odds on the battlefields of Saddle Arabia.

Spike sank his sword into one of the attackers, then turned to the next. It was hard to predict the arc of there attacks, thanks to their short, curved swords. As the battle went on, his attackers got some lucky shots in, and Spike felt the sting of their blade's against his unguarded scales. He spun away, gaining distance and a moments respite.

But suddenly! out of nowhere, an arrow hit one of the hooded attackers. The stallion screamed in pain, as he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Spike stumbled back from the dead stallion, unsure at where the arrow had been fired from. The other hooded attacks ran fro their lives, as more arrows came at them. Watching his attacks run in fear, Spike stumbled backwards and drew a sharp breath. The wounds in his thigh and legs were not fatal. Thankfully.

He looked behind himself to see his guards with crossbows on the hillside, firing at his attackers. Among the group of guards was his Captain Pipsqueak. "Commander, it looks like I saved your ass this day!" Yelled Pipsqueak, joyfully bragging.

He smiled. He would never hear the end of this from Pipsqueak. But looking up to the sky, Spike sighed.

The day had been won, and his life was spared thanks to his Captain, and thanks to the Gods....

"Hopefully now this revolt will end and I can return home to rest," He pulled out a crescent moon amulet, that was hidden by his armor, and kissed it softly. "I'm coming home Lulu.... for good."

(Canterlot City. Capital of the Equine Empire. The throne-room of the Emperor.)

The Emperor lay across his throne, which sat inside the palace where his forefathers before him had sat and governed the Empire. But today, the Emperor was not in the mood for any governing. His best Commander, Spike, which he had sent to deal with a small revolt in the province of Saddle Arabia only a year before, was to return home today. But his Commander was supposed to have returned five hours ago, and he felt worried for the drake, who was almost like a son to him.

"Love, can you hear me?" The feminine voice brought him back to reality. He looked to his left, and noticed his beautiful wife, Empresses Celestia, looking at him with an expression of concern.

"Oh, of course my dear. I was just thinking... again. What were you saying?" Asked Sombra, with a forced smile.

"I was saying that you need not worry, I am sure that Commander Spike is fine," Said Celestia, with a real smile, "He is a very gifted warrior."

He sighed in defeat. "Your right. Its just... he's like a son to me, sweat heart, and I care more for him than all the gold that our Empire mines from the Griffin Colonies."

As his wife kissed his cheek. "I know. I think of him a family as well, but I sure he's safe."

Just then the throne-room door opened, and a young princess Luna walked inside, escorted by two guards. She was about the age of seventeen and was very shy, but brave when she could be. She was also renowned for her great beauty. She was also the daughter of Celestia and Sombra.

Celestia smiled. "Why, hello there my little sweets. What brings you here to us?"

She rubbed her forearm and looked up to her mother and father, shyly, but hopefully.   "Is it true?... is Commander Spike really returning from the east?"

Celestia's smile brightened, but Sombra only raised an eyebrow. "Yes that's true. Why do you care, my dear?"

She blushed and ran out of the room. The guards followed.

Celestia giggled like a knowing mother. Sombra just frowned. "I don't understand?"

She rolled her eyes and picked a grape from the plate. "Stallions..." She sighed, and ate the grape.

Sombra shrugged and looked out of one of the many windows in the throne-room and sighed.

"Gods... keep my Commander safe. I feel that dark times are ahead."

But only the Gods could fathom just how dark the times would become in the coming days...