Crusade's End

by KnightMysterio

Rating: teen
Tags: Discord, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Main 6, Spike, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 8067

The Crusaders screw up big time, causing Twilight to forbid them to Crusade. They have to move on with their lives...

It's well known the damage the Cutie Mark Crusaders can cause. But one day, their damage causes a near personal tragedy for Princess Twilight, which in turn causes her, in a rage, to ban Crusades ever again. Now the Cutie Mark Crusaders must find a new way to find their marks. But how can they, when Crusading is all they've known?

Published 2014-08-25 03:50:06 UTC
Last updated 2017-05-23 06:31:40 UTC

Tragic Mistakes

Crusade's End
Part 1 of 5
“Tragic Mistakes”
by Jonathan “KnightMysterio” Spires

A My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfiction. All characters are copyrighted to their original owners and used without permission for non-profit amusement reasons. Takes place a year after the end of season 4.

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Rainbow Friendship Castle...
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“HURRY!” Twilight Sparkle screamed. “Get those rainclouds in!”

In her castle, an inferno blazed. Desperately, pegasi flew to their princess's aid, guiding rainclouds in and forcing the water to gush into the windows, as a sickening chemical smell emerged from the blaze. Below, unicorns did their best to shield Earth ponies as they worked to evacuate books and equipment from the palace.

“Have you found him yet?!” Twilight shouted.

“Afraid not,” shouted Time Turner, the timekeeper looking slightly singed. “But we'll keep looking, don't worry!”

“Oh Spike...” Twilight said, turning her attention back to helping the pegasi control the blaze. “Please... Please, be okay...”

Wind and rain battered the fire, slowly getting the chemical blaze under control. Zecora tended to the injured, helping the doctors and nurses by rapidly whipping up burn remedies, while Trixie coordinated efforts with the unicorns and Earth ponies searching the castle for Spike, who had been lost in the initial explosion. Several ponies, unable to help, stood by watching worriedly, aiding the doctors and nurses where they could.

And meanwhile, three terrified fillies in badly charred capes, the ones unintentionally responsible for this inferno, cowered against their sisters/sister figure, praying that they hadn't just killed Spike.

Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash all traded worried looks. “Mmmmaybe we better get the kids home...” Rainbow Dash said. Cloud Kicker can handle the rescue team until I get back... I hope...

Applejack nodded, gulping. “Ah think that'd be fer the best,” she said.

“Indeed,” Rarity said. “Come along girls, let's...”

Twilight, literally smoldering with rage, appeared in front of them. Her horn was blazing, her eyes were glowing, and her wings were fully flared, trails of smoke coming from the tips.

“MAKE THEM STAY,” she thundered in the Royal Canterlot Tone, her voice pure fury. “MAKE THEM WATCH.”

The older mares just nodded, too afraid to protest, the three Cutie Mark Crusaders cowering behind their big sisters. Twilight growled, and teleported away, the group of sisters reluctantly turning back to watch as the townponies struggled desperately to control the chemical fires burning where Twilight Sparkle's lab used to be.

As all of this occurred, Discord casually wandered in, humming a jaunty tune. “Good evening, everypony!” he crowed. “I have returned, and all of your meager lives are now interesting agai...” He trailed off, noticing the fire for the first time. “Huh. Having a barbecue without me?”

Fluttershy flew up to him and hugged him tightly. “Oh Discord!” she wailed. “It was awful! Twilight's lab exploded, all the chemicals and magical equipment caught fire, and Spike was caught inside! We've been trying to put it out, but nothing seems to be working!”

“Huh... Spike hurt?” Discord said, stroking his beard. “That won't do, I kinda like him.” He strolled over to the fire, casually shooing ponies out of the way as he thoughtfully examined the blaze.

Twilight glared at him. “Discord, what are you...” she started to say, Discord shushing her by literally zipping her mouth shut. She fumed angrily.

After a moment, Discord nodded, pulling out an empty soup can. He reached out and grabbed the fire, yanking it away as if it were a blanket and stuffing the flickering chemical blaze in its entirety into the soup can. He shook it for a few moment, and grinned, holding it out to Twilight, the zipper on her mouth disappearing.

“Spicy peanuts?” Discord offered. Inside the can, instead of the fire, was a large amount of red-coated peanuts. “No? Anyone else?” Getting no takers, Discord shrugged and began eating the peanuts himself.

Twilight stared at Discord a moment, and then at her castle, which didn't even have smoke coming out of it now. She then shook her head, zipping inside the burned out castle. There was a tense moment of silence, and then...

“NO! SPIKE!!” Twilight shrieked.

Several nurses and a doctor went inside, carrying a stretcher and some oxygen tanks. When they came out, they were carrying Spike on it, the little dragon barely breathing. His scales were shredded, blood seeping from several wounds. Burns covered the bare patches of skin where his scales had fallen away, and one of his eyes was a bloody mess. Twilight ran with them, tears flowing down her face.

Rarity gasped softly as Spike was brought by them. “Oh Spikey...” she said softly.

One of the doctors paused to assure Twilight that Spike would be okay. Reluctantly, she let them go off on her own. She then slowly trotted back to her castle, staring numbly at the charred section. Discord and Trixie came up to her, worried expressions on their faces.

“Hope that the kid's okay,” Discord said, still eating the spicy peanuts. “What happened, anyway?”

Twilight Sparkle just growled savagely, glaring back at the Crusaders, who flinched and shivered against their sisters, who stared fearfully at their alicorn friend. Discord grimaced. “Oh dear... A Crusade finally came back to bite them in the flank, didn't it?”

Twilight Sparkle shivered with barely suppressed rage. “If it had been a pony instead of a dragon...” she said softly.

“Though I do not know this Spike all that well,” Trixie said, “I remember his resilience from the regrettable Alicorn Amulet fiasco. I firmly believe that he will bounce back from this.”

Twilight Sparkle smiled. “Thank you...” she said. “And thank you, Discord, for putting out the fire.” Discord just nodded, smirking. Twilight turned back to Trixie, confused. “But... Trixie, what are you doing here anyway?”

Trixie coughed nervously. “Well... um... after the aforementioned Alicorn Amulet fiasco, Trixie chose to turn herself in to the authorities and was given a prison sentence. A light one, since Trixie turned herself in willingly and no one suffered permanent damage. Eventually, Trixie's case caught the attention of Princess Luna, who talked it over with Princess Celestia, who suggested that Trixie redeem herself by going on parole and serving as your aide. Naturally, the Humble and Cooperative Trixie agreed to this.”

“Trixie should probably stop talking in the third person, because that's gonna get old REAL FAST,” Discord muttered.

“And you aren't surprised about these?” Twilight said, ignoring Discord and flaring her wings.

Trixie giggled. “Trixie always suspected you were secretly an alicorn anyway,” she said, sighing and looking up at the castle. “Although I seemed to have started my parole on an inopportune day...”

Twilight Sparkle shook her head. “Nono,” she said. “This is actually a perfect time to start!”

Trixie blinked. “Really?”

Twilight Sparkle nodded. “Indeed! Because I'm sure that you and Discord are probably the only ones strong enough to stop me from doing something that will both make my friends hate me forever and also leave me stupidly guilt ridden! Now if you'll excuse me,” she said, abruptly turning towards the Cutie Mark Crusaders and walking towards them.

Trixie and Discord just stared for a moment, startled, when they noticed the growl coming from Twilight's throat, one that was rising in intensity as she got closer to the terrified Crusaders.

“Here we go...” Applejack muttered, she, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash taking defensive positions in front of their little sisters. Rarity's horn flared as she quickly summoned several gems from her shop and fused them into a makeshift shield.

“RrrrraaaaAAAAGGGHHH!!!” Twilight screamed, lunging at the Crusaders, her entire body awash with power, tears streaming down her face.

Barely managing to react in time, Discord gestured, summoning several Plunder Vines to hold Twilight in place while Trixie wrapped her magical aura around Twilight, attempting to pull her away from the terrified foals.

“Dash, get the girls out of here!” Rarity ordered. Rainbow Dash nodded and started to gather up the girls. Before they could leave, though, Twilight's horn flared, a massive claw of stone forming behind them and keeping them in place. Discord made a few more Plunder Vines appear, some of them wrapping around Twilight's horn to keep the enraged alicorn from casting. He quickly manifested a scroll and quill, writing a letter and sending it away.

Sunbutt

Twilight's lost it. You and Moonbutt get to Ponyville NOW and calm her down before she murders three children.

Discord

A few moments later, in a flash of light and a swirl of darkness, Celestia and Luna appeared, both of them embracing Twilight.

“Twilight Sparkle!” Luna shouted, visibly worried. “You must calm down immediately!”

“Please...” Celestia said softly, nuzzling her. “I have seen what happens to alicorns who give into their fury... I lived through it once with my beloved sister... Don't make me see it happen to one whom I love as a daughter...”

Twilight struggled in their grasp, screaming in fury. But their words seemed to register, and soon Twilight relaxed in their grasp, sobbing miserably. Trixie's aura faded, and Discord made his vines disappear, both of them coming over to join the gathered alicorns.

Celestia smiled, nuzzling her. “Now... tell me what happened,” she said.

“It was them...” Twilight snarled, unable to look at the three fillies.

Celestia and Luna turned to the gathered Crusaders, their sisters gently nuzzling them forward. “Just tell them,” Rainbow Dash said softly. “It'll just make it worse if you wait...”

Rarity and Applejack nodded in agreement. The Crusaders gulped, slowly stepping forward, shaking fearfully under the gaze of the three princesses, one of whom still looked furious.

Scootaloo was the first to find the nerve to speak. “...Cutie Mark Crusaders Chemical Warfare Experts?” she said, grinning weakly, flinching when Twilight snarled.

Luna's jaw dropped, the Moon Princess staring incredulously at the fillies.

Celestia shook her head in disbelief. “Why would you even try such a thing?” she asked.

“It... sounded like fun?” Sweetie Belle said nervously.

“Plus, ah'd already had some experience with potions while workin' with Princess Twilight...” Apple Bloom added.

“They were in my lab WITHOUT permission, using chemicals they had NO experience with,” Twilight growled, “all because of yet another self-sabotaging CRUSADE to get Cutie Marks!!”

Luna blinked, confused. “But... That's not how Cutie Marks work,” she said. “They are expressions of an innate talent, one you already have.”

Scootaloo frowned. “But how are we supposed to KNOW what our talent is unless we try EVERYTHING?” she said, flinching when Twilight growled.

“That's...” Celestia shook her head again. After thousands of years, finally a new one... “I heard the tales of you three, but never really believed... No, child. No, that is not how Cutie Marks work. Surely to goodness you're good at something!”

Scootaloo frowned. “Well yeah, but it's just so lame. Nowhere near as awesome as Rainbow Dash, and...” She trailed off as Rainbow Dash groaned, facehooving.

“Wow, your mom was right. I really AM a bad influence at times...” she said, startling Scootaloo.

“They hurt Spike,” Twilight growled.

Celestia turned to her, startled. “W-What?”

“Their screw-up caused a chemical reaction. Spike got them out of the lab in time, but not before getting caught in the resultant explosion. His scales were shredded, and his eye... Faust above his eye...”

Celestia turned back to the Crusaders, her eyes wide as she stared at them, seeing them in a new light. Everypony looking at the Solar Sovereign suddenly realized that Celestia was shaking.

She was angry.

“That's right...” Fluttershy said softly, remembering what Twilight had told them about Spike. “She raised Spike for the first part of his life... She's as much a son to Princess Celestia as he is to... oh no...”

Pinkie Pie, her hair completely flat and feeling helpless in all this, just whimpered, hiding behind Fluttershy.

“You...” Celestia said, her voice echoing.

“Tia, please...” Luna said, putting a hoof on her sister's shoulder while still cradling Twilight, giving her sister a worried look. Celestia's head jerked towards her, before the Solar Sovereign closed her eyes and took a deep breath, literally swallowing her anger as she forced herself to calm down.

“Perhaps... Twilight, perhaps you should take a break from all this,” Celestia suggested.

“Indeed,” Luna said, getting the idea. “I'm sure Cadence and your brother would love to see you...”

“Yeah...” Twilight said, glaring at the Crusaders. “I just... I can't... be here right now...” She took a deep breath, calming down.

Mayor Mare stepped forward. “I am sure I can manage things while you are away,” she said.

Trixie stepped forward. “And Trixie is here to help as well,” she said.

Twilight nodded, gently pulling herself free of Luna and Celestia, smiling reassuringly at them. She turned to Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash.

“Girls,” she said, “You think that you can give Mayor Mare a hand in keeping this place from falling apart?”

“You can rely on us,” Rarity said, smiling, Applejack and Rainbow Dash nodding in agreement. “And I promise that I will send you letters on Spikey-wikey's condition every day while you are away,” Rarity added.

Twilight nodded. “Good... as for you three,” she said, glaring at the Crusaders. Her horn glowed, yanking the charred capes away from the Crusaders. “It's over. The Cutie Mark Crusaders are officially no more.”

“W-WHAT?!” the three fillies cried out.

Twilight, snarling, tore up their capes, the three fillies watching in horror. “It's over,” Twilight said. “No more idiotic Crusades. No more property damage, no more sleepless nights for your sisters worrying whether or not your Crusades will get you killed, no more townspeople cowering at the mere MENTION of the word Crusade.”

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo stared in shock. Had they really caused that much trouble in their quest to get Cutie Marks? “Princess... You can't...” Scootaloo tried.

“She can,” Luna said, frowning. “This is her kingdom, this is her rule.” Celestia nodded in agreement.

“Either focus on the talents you KNOW you have or go blank flank forever, I don't fucking CARE anymore,” Twilight growled, looking more tired than she had ever been in her life, the Cutie Mark Crusaders cowering behind their frightened siblings, who had never seen Twilight this furious before. “I had to watch my little brother get carted off to the hospital because of you three. THIS IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. UNDERSTAND? If you attempt to do a Crusade, you'll be arrested, and that's an ORDER. No more Crusades. EVER!!”

“HA!” Diamond Tiara laughed.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU USELESS LITTLE CUNT!!” Twilight roared in the Royal Canterlot Tone, Diamond Tiara squeaking and hiding behind her father, the towsponies staring at her in shock. “You're just as bad! You and your little brat friend! Half my conversations with Cheerilee these days are listening to her complain about all the times your parents have BLOCKED her from disciplining you two!”

Filthy Rich, who had been helping with the fire control efforts, gulped. “Is... is it so wrong to protect my daughter from trouble? To give her a happy life?”

“When it involves protecting your bully of a daughter from facing the consequences of her actions? YES!!!” Twilight snarled. “I've had it with this town! Filthy, you, your daughter, and the Silvers are to report to my castle the moment I get back! And you're NOT to block Cheerilee from punishing your children if they do wrong EVER AGAIN! UNDERSTAND?!”

Filthy nodded. “Y-yes, your majesty...” he said, gulping and bowing deeply.

Celestia and Luna said nothing, nor did Twilight's friends. They all knew that this frustration had been building up a long time, and knew better than to get in its way. Twilight snorted, and continued. “Rose, Lily, and Daisy, you report on the same day. I want to talk to you cowards about the number of times you've started riots with your panic attacks.”

“B-But...” Daisy stammered. “T-the HORRORS!!”

“Bitch, you haven't the foggiest idea of what horror is. Push me any more and I'll show you what horror is,” Twilight said, turning to Zecora.

The zebra flinched. “I'm not mad at you,” Twilight said, Zecora relaxing only slightly. “Do you have any potions or balms that can help with burns and cuts like the ones Spike received?”

Zecora nodded, unable to bring herself to rhyme. “I-I believe so,” she stammered.

“Make them and take them to the hospital,” Twilight said. “I'll make sure you're compensated for your effort.”

Zecora nodded and ran off, as Twilight turned to the gathering of Ponyville citizens. “As for the rest of you,” she said, growling, “I'm SICK of all the nonsense in this town! When I can stand to look at you people again, I'm going to clean up this place and make it make fucking SENSE.” Everypony save Discord and the Princesses flinched at this. Twilight sighed, motioning to Trixie. “You come with me. I think I want you as my assistant on my vacation...”

Trixie nodded. “Y-yes, of course.”

Fluttershy flew up to Twilight. “I'll take care of Owloyicious for you, Twilight,” she said, smiling warmly.

Twilight hugged her, and then smiled up at the slightly singed owl sitting on Fluttershy's back. “Thank you,” she said, she and Trixie heading into the castle to pack.

Sweetie Belle, before Rarity could stop her, ran up to Twilight. “Are... are you gonna always be mad at us forever and ever?” she asked, tears in her eyes.

“...No,” Twilight said, unable to bring herself to look at the filly. “I won't be mad at you forever. But I don't know if I'll ever trust you, Apple Bloom, or Scootaloo ever again...”

Rarity came up to Sweetie Belle and gently led her away, the crowd slowly beginning to disperse.

Discord pouted. “Phooey...” he said. “If she cleans this place up, then all the delightful chaos in this town will go away.”

“Actually, I do have some suggestions on that front,” Luna said. “If you'll follow me?” Luna led the draconequus away from the gathering, Discord visibly brightening as the two conversed quietly.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack talked quietly amongst themselves, casting sympathetic glances towards both the castle and to the three despondent former Cutie Mark Crusaders, who were staring at the remains of their capes.

“Ah guess... this is it, then...” Apple Bloom said softly.

“Yeah...” Scootaloo said. She wanted to deny it, but Twilight's fury had been too palpable to ignore. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders... are done for...”

TO BE CONTINUED

Guilt Management

Author's Note

WARNING: There is vague reference to events upcoming in Season 5's opening. However, I know about as much as you do, so the spoilers shouldn't be too bad.

Guilt Management

Crusade's End
Part 2 of 5
“Guilt Management”
by Jonathan “KnightMysterio” Spires

A My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfiction. All official characters and OCs that I myself didn't create are copyrighted to their original owners and used without permission for non-profit amusement reasons. Takes place a year after the end of season 4. The start of this chapter takes place almost five minutes after the end of chapter 1.

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Just outside Twilight's castle...
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Six sisters stared silently at the shredded remains of three Crusader cloaks, the older unsure of what to say to the younger. After a long moment, Apple Bloom said, “Did... did Twilight say we couldn't never play with each other again?”

Applejack sighed. “A'course not,” she said. “Y'all can still be friends, she'd never forbid you from doin' that. Y'just cain't go on any of your dang fool Crusades anymore...”

Sweetie Belle frowned. “She used a word... 'self-sabotaging...' what does that mean?” the filly asked, turning to the older mares.

Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash stared at each other a long moment. Finally, Rainbow Dash said, “You tell them, Rarity. You'll be nicer about it than I'd be.”

Rarity frowned, turning to Applejack. “You'd TELL it better than ah would,” Applejack said, smiling weakly.

Rarity sighed. “Well... By engaging in activities unrelated to your true talents, you were actually moving away from getting your Cutie Marks. You were preventing yourselves from finding out what your talents really were,” she said. “In essence, sabotaging yourselves.”

“But...” Scootaloo protested.

“Testing out random crap doesn't work,” Rainbow Dash said, sighing. “I realize now that I never should have told you that, so I have some of the blame here. Your Cutie Mark is related to what you're GOOD AT ALREADY, what you're good at naturally. Not things you've learned, and not new things you try that day.”

Apple Bloom frowned. “But then what are our talents?”

The three older sisters traded frowns. “We... have an idea...” Rainbow Dash said. At the brightened expressions of the three, Rainbow Dash shook her head and said, “But telling you would be just as bad as Crusading for something unrelated to your talents, like you've been doing. Don't ask me why it works that way, not even Twilight could explain it.”

“C'mon...” Applejack said. “Let's get the girls home and go check on Spike...”

“Can... can we come see Spike too?” Apple Bloom asked.

“This is our fault...” Sweetie Belle said softly, Scootaloo nodding in agreement. The three big sisters traded worried looks, discussing quietly amongst themselves for a long moment.

“...Ahright,” Applejack said, “you can come. But once Twilight gets there, just stay outta sight until she's gone. Her moods have been all over the place for months, and now...” She just shook her head.

“Hm,” Rarity said softly. “She has been rather... erratic, as of late...”

“Let's just go,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The six of them trudged off in silence. They were later joined by Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, who reported that Celestia and Luna had already gone on ahead to check on Spike. And indeed, they found the two alicorns speaking with the doctors and nurses there, getting assurances that the young dragon was getting the best health care.

Luna was the first to notice the Elements and the Crusaders as they entered. She nudged her sister, Celestia staring at the Crusaders for a moment before closing her eyes and counting to ten, defusing the surge of anger she felt. Once she had calmed down, she nodded to them and said, “I presume you are here to check on young Spike?”

“Yeah...” Scootaloo said. “Is... is he gonna be okay?”

Celestia closed her eyes again. Luna frowned. “The doctors aren't certain. He is currently in a coma due to the trauma of the explosion,” she said, the Elements and Crusaders gasping. Luna sighed. “...Maybe it's best if I just show you.”

Celestia nodded, turning back to her discussion with the doctors, as Luna turned and lead the gathering down the hall to Spike's room.

What they saw there brought tears to their eyes, especially to those of the guilt-ridden Crusaders. Spike lay inert on slightly soot-stained sheets. His scales were torn away in several places, the skin beneath badly burned, Zecora and a nurse gently rubbing salve creams onto the burned areas. Bandages were wrapped around part of his face, covering his missing eye, the bandages stained with blood. A tracheotomy had been performed to allow a breathing tube to be put in, several IVs giving Spike fluids. A unicorn nurse was preparing a sponge bath and new bandages, while a pegasus nurse kept an eye on his vital signs.

“Oh Spikey...” Rarity said softly, the unicorn in tears as she stared at her young friend. The other Elements were in similar shape, wishing they could do something to help their friend and finding themselves at a loss.

Apple Bloom, staring at Spike, began to hyperventilate, tears flowing down her face as her breath came in frantic gasps. One thought was going through her mind over and over again. My fault. My fault. My fault my fault my fault my fault my fault my fault my fault my fault my fault MY FAULT...

Apple Bloom suddenly broke off from the group, running over to a nearby trashcan and vomiting into it. The five Element bearers tried to go to them, but Luna held them back, letting Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo run over to her as Apple Bloom broke down in wretched sobs.

“My fault! Ah did this! Ah shoulda looked up what those chemicals were, it's my fault Spike's in here!” Apple Bloom groaned.

“Yeah, but it was my stupid idea to try it to begin with,” Scootaloo insisted, hugging her. “I'm the one who pressured you into doing it, 'cause I knew you'd been studying potions with Princess Twilight...”

“And I'm the one who picked the locks on Princess Twilight's lab, the two padlocks and the magical seal,” Sweetie Belle said softly, joining in the hug. “If it wasn't for me, we couldn't have even gotten into the lab.”

“We may not be allowed to Crusade anymore, but we're still the Crusaders,” Scootaloo said firmly. “That means that we stick together, friends forever, no matter what happens.”

“Even if it means we go down together,” Sweetie Belle added, smiling warmly.

Apple Bloom, still crying, hugged her friends tightly. Despite everything, the Element Bearers managed to smile at the touching display of loyalty. But still, a thought worried them.

“Um...” Fluttershy said, “speaking of going down... Will there be charges pressed against the Crusaders for what happened?”

Everypony turned to Luna expectantly. “It will depend on what happens with Spike, as well as Twilight's mental state upon her return from her trip to the Crystal Empire. Ever since Tirek destroyed her library, and the subsequent foray into the Village of Equals, her emotional state has been increasingly unstable. Even by her previous standards,” Luna said, sighing. “Celestia and Twilight both have guardianship of Spike. My sister is more controlled in her emotions, but I can tell that anger over what has happened still burns inside her.”

“Yeah...” Pinkie Pie said softly, her flattened mane and tail laying limply as she looked into Spike's room. “It's so weird seeing Princess Celestia so angry...”

“Show me a mother who doesn't rage even slightly at the sight of her child being hurt, and I will show you a mare unworthy of the title,” Fluttershy said softly.

Luna just nodded solemnly, the other mares in the room lowering their heads and thinking about their own mothers, thinking about how they might feel if it had been their child...

Their dark thoughts were interrupted as an orderly came and removed the trash bucket Apple Bloom had thrown up in. Behind the orderly came a doctor, the unicorn carting a small plastic bag with several purple and brown shards of metal in it, all of them dull, as if life had been sucked out of the metal.

Luna frowned, coming up to the doctor. “Are those...” she asked.

The doctor nodded. “Orichalcum and mythril. The only metals on this planet strong enough to pierce a dragon's skin,” he said.

Rarity gagged, Sweetie Belle looking alarmed. “Those are highly unstable magical metals!” Rarity said, in shock. “Every unicorn foal is told stories of these elements, of how dangerous they are until put to the forge!” The non-unicorns in the room stared at her in confusion.

“Indeed,” Luna said. “Which is why knowledge of smithing techniques for them both is kept only among unicorns, knowledge that they are real shared only amongst a trusted few, such as you lot. Only a basic magikinesis field can safely hold unrefined orichalcum and mythril. Even the slightest touch of organic life can cause a potentially dangerous reaction in them.”

“Most likely the chemicals from the accident splashed on the metals, reacting with the magic in the metals and causing them to explode, which in turn caused a chain reaction amongst other chemicals....” the doctor shook his head, sighing. He didn't notice the Cutie Mark Crusaders standing behind him, looking as if they wanted to melt into the ground in their shame. “Thankfully, none of the shards that pierced his skin were coated in the chemicals, so we don't have to worry about that at least.”

“Small comfort...” Rarity said, glancing in at Spike's comatose form.

“Why'd Twilight even have a hunk o' those metals anyway, if they're so dad-blasted unstable?” Applejack asked, shaking her head.

“Because she wanted to forge armor for you all,” Celestia said softly, coming up behind the doctor. The Element bearers looked up at her in shock. Celestia sighed. “Ever since you started on this path I've unintentionally cursed you all with, Twilight's grown more and more fearful for your lives. Every near miss, from Discord manipulating your minds, to Chrysalis, to Sombra, to Tirek... The incident at the Village of Equals was the final straw for her. She wanted to give you all some kind of protection, something that could work with the Rainbow Power. Unrefined orichalcum and mythril are dangerous, yes, but properly forged and infused with the right type of magic...”

“That's why she's been having such intense mood swings...” Rarity said softly, similar looks of revelation on the faces of the other Element bearers. “She's been trying to think of ways to protect us...”

Celestia sighed. “I hope, one day, you will forgive me for putting you all on the path of the adventurer... I just... I just wanted my little sister back, and you six had to become heroes because of it...” she said, lowering her head. Luna nuzzled her sister affectionately.

Rarity smiled. “Princess... If you hadn't sent Twilight to find the Elements... With the exception of Pinkie Pie, we all barely knew each other before that. We wouldn't have become close as we are.”

“Eeyup,” Applejack nodded. “There's been a lot of risk in what we do. But we wouldn't trade our friendship for anything in the world.” Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy all nodded in agreement, smiling warmly.

Celestia smiled thinly. “Well...” she said softly. “If you say so...” She straightened up. “But enough of my old shames. Our focus right now should be Spike's physical health and Twilight's mental health. Doctor Stable, do you need our assistance with anything?”

Doctor Stable nodded, pocketing the shards of metal. “Yes, actually... We know nothing about dragon anatomy. We're not even sure we're giving him the right treatment. Plus, we need blood for him. He's stable right now, but he lost a lot of blood before we got him patched up, and I don't want to risk putting pony blood in him without knowing what it might due to him...”

Celestia nodded. “Say no more,” she said. “There is a laboratory in Canterlot that has donated samples of dragon blood for study, and the archives at the royal library hold medical information gained on dragons during past wars in which we were allies with them. I shall write up the royal requests for them immediately.”

The doctor nodded, motioning the tall alicorn into a nearby office. Once they were gone, Luna turned to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the three of them huddled shamefully into a corner.

“Speaking of which...” Luna said, frowning. “Whatever possessed you to try and get Cutie Marks in chemical warfare?”

Sweetie Belle gulped nervously. “A friend of ours, a colt named Button Mash... We were at his house a few days ago, playing video games. He has a game called Broken Hooves: New Age of War....”

Scootaloo nodded. “We were playing a level called 'Toxic Love...'”

Luna groaned, facehoofing.

Rarity frowned. “What is it?” she asked.

“I have that game, and I know that level. It involves creative use of varying types of gas bombs to get past soldiers without being seen...” Luna said, the others surprised at this. They had heard that Luna had taken to video games quite well once she discovered them, but to actually hear it from Luna herself... Luna shook her head. “Please, children... Please, tell me you were trying to make the sleeping gas bombs...” the Lunar Sovereign begged.

Apple Bloom nodded. “Yeah. We didn't want t'make the lethal stuff, but thought it'd be okay if we just made the sleeping gas. But everything in Princess Twilight's lab had fancy names with twelve syllabuses on them, and...” She sniffled.

“...We ended up guessing,” Scootaloo said, grimacing. “We went with chemicals that sounded like they were related to sleeping, and...” She looked over to Spike's room, whimpering.

“Why does Button Mash even have that game?” Rainbow Dash said, visibly baffled. “I have it too, and it's got an 'adults only' label on it.”

“Button's mom has always been pretty lax in what video games she gets him. They're his talent, so she figures he should be allowed to indulge it...” Sweetie Belle admitted.

Luna growled. “Then I must speak both with Button Mash's mother, as well as Ponyville's resident purveyor of electronic entertainments...” she muttered.

“D-Don't be too harsh on Button or his mom,” Sweetie Belle pleaded. “We're the ones who came up with the dumb idea...” Rarity came over to hug her sister, Applejack and Rainbow Dash doing the same for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

Luna sighed. “I... will do as you ask,” she said. “But I do wish to have a discussion with them.”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Meanwhile...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Twilight and Trixie wordlessly packed for the Princess's trip to the Crystal Empire. Mostly books, and some clothing, regalware for public outings, as well as some food. The silence between the two of them was awkward, and Trixie was feeling more and more uncomfortable with it.

“So...” Trixie said after a few minutes of Twilight staring off into space as she packed. “...How did you know what to do when the Ursa Minor showed up?”

Twilight stared at her blankly for several moments, before smiling briefly, as if grateful for being given something else to think about. “Well... I'd only studied them in passing, mind you. But I knew a bit about child care from my babysitter, Princess Cadence.”

“And you had a Princess for a babysitter, too. Of course,” Trixie muttered.

“Hm?” Twilight asked.

“Never mind,” Trixie said, smiling. “Continue please.”

Twilight chuckled. “Well... I knew from the size that it was nothing but an infant, so I decided to just go with what I remembered from Cadence taking care of me when I was younger. Some fresh milk always calmed me, and there have been multiple studies that show gentle music is almost universally calming to most children. Beyond that, it was just a matter of gently rocking him and carrying him home.”

Trixie nodded. “Still, it had to have been tough. Trixie knows that invoking a triple corona on your horn is extremely draining. Although it's probably a lot easier for you now, since your ascension...”

Twilight smiled, although it was a little forced. “Well, it was a complicated casting. I can do a lot at once, it's a lot easier with objects of similar size and mass...”

“WASSUP, BITCHES!?” Discord crowed, bursting out of one of Twilight's suitcases, startling both mares and making them fall back.

“Discord, what...” Twilight started, turning to check on Trixie, who was patting her chest in shock, trying to calm herself.

“Oh, don't mind me. I'm just fuckin' around, hanging around and shooting the shit with some friends of mine,” Discord said, a tattered lavender tank top and polka-dotted tossle cap appearing on his body, a long chain ending in the diamond encrusted word, 'Gangsta' on the end danging from around his neck.

Twilight growled. “Discord, what are you doing?”

“Geez, you fuckin' deaf and dumbass or something?” Discord said. “I'm just hangin' out with a couple of mah favorite bitches, you know how this shit is!”

Trixie just stared, her jaw dropped. Twilight rubbed her temples. “All right, let's cut down on the swearing, okay?” the alicorn said.

Discord vanished in a pop, reappearing without the gangsta clothes, pressing her face to his. “Why? You didn't,” he said.

Twilight blushed angrily, shoving him aside magikinetically as she growled. “Go away,” she snapped.

“Twilight...” Trixie said, a worried look on her face. Discord hushed her.

“Let me handle this...” Discord said to her. He turned back to Twilight, and said, “I mean, really. You called a FOAL a, and I quote, a 'useless cunt,' to her face, in front of the whole town. In front of several other children, no less.”

“I know, okay?” Twilight growled, trying to walk away, the draconequus hovering right after her. “Just... Just leave me alone, I need to think about some things...”

“And I loved that little 'bitch please' you gave the Chicken Trio,” Discord cackled, ignoring the fact that Twilight was now trembling with rage, her eyes glowing. “Certainly put them in their place, didn't it?”

“SHUT UP!!” Twilight roared, firing a massive magical bolt at Discord. Trixie yelped and ran for cover, but Discord, almost disdainfully, simply swatted the powerful blast out of the air, turning it into a cloud of feathers which drifted harmlessly to the ground.

Discord just stared at her. Twilight gasped, realizing what she had done.

“Imagine if that had been Trixie you shot at,” Discord said. “Imagine if it had been one of your friends. Or Diamond Tiara. Or a foal you actually liked.”

Twilight's ears drooped, as she finally started to realize what Discord was getting at. Discord just shook his head. “Words can damage just as much as that laser you fired, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” he said, almost spitting the word 'princess.' “Get a hold of yourself before someone gets hurt.” His expression softened a little. “I don't blame you for getting angry because of what happened to Spike. And considering everything you've been through, I don't blame you for being overly worried about your friends and family. Nopony does. But you're strong, Twilight Sparkle. Even before you became an alicorn, you were among the strongest ponies around. And there won't always be someone around who can hold you back.”

Discord snapped his fingers, vanishing in a pop. Trixie hesitantly poked her head out from behind her hiding place. “Princess Twilight... are you going to be okay?”

Twilight stared at the floor, finally realizing on an emotional level what she had almost done earlier today, her expression distraught. “I... I don't know...” she admitted.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Later...
Friendship Express Station...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The gathered Elements all hugged each other tightly, the other five promising Twilight that they'd take care of things here. Trixie hung back, feeling like a fifth wheel, idly scuffing the ground with her hoof as she she waited by her and Twilight's bags.

As she waited, though, Princess Celestia came up to her. Trixie squeaked in surprise. “P-Princess!”

The Solar Sovereign smiled warmly. “My apologies, my little pony. I didn't mean to startle you,” she said. “Actually, my sister and I have to be on our way as well. But before we go, I wanted to give you two items to give to Prince Shining Armor when you see him.”

Trixie nodded. “Y-Yes,” she said.

Celestia levitated over two scrolls, sealed with wax, Trixie taking them in her own levitation field. Celestia smiled. “These are for Shining Armor's eyes only, but they do pertain to you. So no peeking. I'll know if you do,” she teased.

Trixie grinned nervously. “Trixie has no doubt of that, your highness,” she said.

Celestia chuckled, going over to say her own farewells to Twilight, the two of them hugging tightly before Celestia teleported away. Twilight came up to Trixie, the former showmare putting the two scrolls in her bags.

“What were those?” Twilight asked.

“Princess Celestia wanted Trixie to give those to your brother, and only to him,” Trixie said.

Twilight shrugged. “Well, I'm sure she has her reasons. Come on! There's a lot I wanted to ask you,” she said.

Trixie blinked. “Ask me?” She shook her head, and started to say, “I mean, ask Tri...”

Twilight put a hoof on her lips. “Trixie... I appreciate that the whole 'third-person imperious' talk is your thing... but really, among friends, can't we just talk normally? No titles, no special ways of speaking.”

Trixie blushed. “Trixie is... I mean, I am not used to doing so, Twilight Sparkle. I have never been one for making friends...” she said. She blinked, and added, “And if this is a come on, I'm flattered, really, but I'm most definitely into stallions rather than mares...”

Twilight giggled. “I like you, Trixie, but not that much,” she said as they got onto the train and were escorted to their berth. “No, I was more interested in learning about illusions sleight of hoof. I've never been able to fully master it, and since it seems to be stock and trade for showponies...” She shrugged. “Well, you saw what basics I know from our little duel a while back.”

Trixie sighed. “I'm still amazed you're being so forgiving about that,” she said.

Twilight smiled. “You were being influenced by the Alicorn Amulet. And besides, everypony deserves a second chance,” she said. “Heck, we let Discord hang around and he made your brief reign look like a trip to the spa.”

Trixie smirked. “Yes... the phrase 'stupidly forgiving' starts to come to mind...” she said, chuckling.

Twilight smiled. “Well, I suppose...” she said, her smile fading slightly. “For most things, anyway...”

Trixie frowned. “Twilight...” she said softly.

“He's in a coma, Trixie... My little brother is in a coma, and I don't know how to fix this, I...” she said, her voice cracking as tears flowed down her face.

“Twilight!” Trixie said, grabbing her face. “Calm down. You'll do nopony any good if you keep breaking down like this, all right?”

“I'm sorry...” Twilight said softly. “It's just... so hard lately to control how I feel...” She shook her head. “One minute I'm mad, the next I'm cheerful, the next I'm sobbing... I don't know what to do...”

“Well, that's part of the reason we're going to the Crystal Empire, isn't it? To help you get a handle on these mood swings,” Trixie said. “Here, maybe I can help to. I know some breathing exercises that have always helped me calm down whenever I was dealing with a particularly vicious heckler.”

Twilight nodded, letting Trixie teach her the breathing techniques, eventually returning to more pleasant topics. The rest of their trip to the Empire passed pleasantly enough, the two so wrapped up in their conversation that they didn't realize they had arrived until it was announced.

“Huh...” Twilight said. “Well, c'mon. Let's go meet my brother and sister-in-law.” The alicorn smiled, disembarking, picking up her luggage, while Trixie just stared out the window at the glistening bastion of beauty amidst the arctic ice.

Twilight was halfway down the hall when she realized Trixie wasn't following her. She turned back, seeing her staring at the shining buildings. She giggled. “Yes yes, it's so very shiny,” Twilight said. “I'm sure Cady can give you the three bit tour later. C'mon!”

Trixie meeped, startled, and blushed, picking up her bags and following Twilight out. They were greeted by several guards, nearly all of them with glittering crystalline coats, save for a gray unicorn and an orange pegasus which Trixie noted that Twilight seemed rather pleased to see.

The pegasus guard, blushing slightly at the sight of the princess, stepped forward. “Princess Twilight. You and Trixie are expected at the Crystal Palace. We will be more than happy to escort you there,” he said, motioning to a chariot.

Twilight nodded. “Thank you, Flash Sentry. We'd be delighted,” she said, motioning for Trixie to follow. Trixie, still awestruck by her surroundings, got on the chariot with her. As they trotted off to the palace, Twilight giggled as Trixie looked around in amazed fascination at everything, the crystal ponies themselves, the crystal buildings, the glowing Crystal Heart in the center lobby of the palace...

“I have a MILLION questions,” Trixie said finally, a wide grin on her face, her eyes sparkling almost as much as the crystals around them.

“They can wait,” Twilight said with a smile. “But I promise that most of them will be answered.”

They pulled up to a red carpet just outside the main palace gates. Twilight sighed at the sight of it, but just shook her head, letting herself be led inside by Flash Sentry and a crystal pegasus.

“Presenting her Royal Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and her temporary assistant, the Great and Powerful Trixie!” Flash called out as the gates were opened.

Trixie grinned. “Nice to see my reputation has proceeded me,” she said, strutting along beside Twilight. The alicorn just chuckled, rolling her eyes as she turned to see Princess Cadence and Shining Armor standing just inside, waiting for the two of them, flanked by crystal pony guards and attendants.

Twilight giggled, running up to Cadence. The guards reflexively stepped forward to intercept, but Shining Armor just held up a hoof, letting them know it was all right. Cadence ran up to Twilight, Shining following behind. When the two alicorns met, they nuzzled noses, and began a short little dance that was, to Trixie's eyes, one of the most absurd things she'd ever seen in her life.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake!” the two alicorns chanted, grinning widely. “Clap your hooves, and do a little shake!”

Trixie could clearly hear some of the guards and attendants stifling their laughter. Shining shook his head as he came up to Trixie. “I've tried telling them over and over again that it looks silly, ever since they started doing it when Twilight was a foal,” he said, smirking. “They never listen, though.” Trixie giggled.

Twilight just stuck her tongue out at her brother and grinned up at Cadence. “It's good to see you again, Cady,” she said. “I really just...” Tears began to flow down her face, her grin faltering. “I just... I really need to talk to someone right now...” she said, breaking down into sobs.

Cadence hugged her tightly. “It's okay, Twilight,” she said softly, stroking her former charge's mane, “it'll all be okay. You'll see.”

Shining sighed, turning to Trixie. “We were only told the basics,” he said. “Celestia has a bad habit of being vague in her letters. How's Spike doing?”

Trixie shook her head. “He's comatose, and needs a blood transfusion,” she said. “There's a royal order out for samples at a lab, but nopony knows how long it'll take to get there.”

“Damn,” Shining said softly, shaking his head. “I hope Spike recovers from this... Dude's the little brother I never had.”

Trixie nodded, and then remembered something. “Oh! That reminds me,” she said, levitating the two scrolls out of her bag and giving them to Shining Armor. “Princess Celestia wanted you to have these.”

Shining frowned, opening and reading both scrolls. “Interesting...” he said softly. He turned to some nearby attendants, and said, “Please take Trixie and Princess Twilight's belongings to their quarters.” The crystal ponies nodded, picking up the suitcases and carting them off. Shining turned to Cadence, and said. “You think you can take care of Twilight for a bit, Cady? I need to talk to Trixie real quick.”

Cadence nodded, still hugging the crying alicorn. “You go on ahead,” she said. “I'll get her to her room.”

Trixie frowned, confused. Shining nodded, and motioned for Trixie to follow her down a nearby hall.

“....Your highness?” Trixie asked. “What was in those scrolls?”

A thoughtful look was on Shining Armor's face. “...I'll tell you in a minute,” he said. “Right now, I'm trying to think of a reason why Princess Celestia thinks you of all ponies should be the captain of Twilight's new Royal Guard.”

Trixie froze in midstep. “...Wait. What?”

TO BE CONTINUED...

Apologies (Author chapter)

It is with deepest regret that I confess that I am incapable of properly finishing this story. My inspiration for the story is completely gone. This story was born out of a time when I was SEVERELY annoyed with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and their perpetual lack of progress. They have since gotten their marks and become far better ponies than they were before.

In addition, and I am willing to admit this now, I'm seeing problems in how I was writing Twilight Sparkle.

I cannot, in good conscience, pretend that I'll be able to finish this story.

I am sorry, and humbly beg the forgiveness of everyone who likes this story.