Spirits of the Heart

Prologue

Sweat dripped from his brow as he hoisted the heavy pile of dirt above his head. Loose chunks of soil clung to his scaled torso. Behind him a lash whistled through the air, striking the core of his back when he paused for air. A low growl emanated from his throat, but died down when a few soldiers came marching past; their shining golden armor brilliantly illuminated in the mid-day sun. The clank of their armored boots was enough to garner the attention of even the wickedest of the handlers.

In turn the soldiers formed four rows and looked at one another. A bellowing fanfare of trumpets ignited a spark in the pit of his stomach as they announced the arrival of an important dignitary. One by one the guards parted to form a single pathway through which walked a lone mare. A long flowing purple, pink, and cream colored mane billowed out behind her, a pink fur coat that made her look plush and cuddly, with purple on the tips of her feathered wings; but the most stunning aspect was her amethyst purple eyes which were always caring, but in a second could hold all the malice of her husband. She was garbed in a pink dress that fell to her ankles, the sleeves to her elbows. It clung tight to her body, while her crown was displayed proudly atop her head.

“Hail Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire!” The ponies around, including the handlers, bowed to her. Even the dragons had enough sense to bow to the regal Princess of Love. One drake, however, silently waded through the water around his waist, watching her as she drew closer.

“Halt!” A soldier broke from formation to stand in front of the drake. “Stay where you are animal! Bow to your princess!”

The drake barred his fangs, growling at him. Swiftly, the guard drew his sword, ready to strike at just the slightest hint of treachery on the dragon's part. The look in the soldier's eyes told him that this soldier was afraid, probably a fresh recruit. “Private! Back in line!” Princess Cadence made her way over to them both with a ghostly smile upon her lips. “Now Private!” The soldier bowed, then returned to his position. “Sorry about that Spike.” The mare held out a hand to the drake, who graciously accepted it.

The dragon had amethyst purple scales, gatherd underneath were mounds of loose dirt, with green frilled ears and a line of green spikes going down his back. He was garbed in a pair of ruined dark brown pants with nothing to protect his feet. His emerald green eyes displayed a fine affection of respectful love for the mare, but also for another. “It's okay Cadence,” he whispered. “I'm just getting sick and tired of working dead-end jobs. I graduated from high school, and what do I get to show for it? Just more hatred and seen as another useless dragon.”

“That's not true, you helped save the Crystal Empire from the evil tyranny of King Sombra.” Spike couldn't help but blush when he thought about the statue that the crystal ponies had made of him in the forefront of their castle. If any, there were the only ponies in Equestria that did not hate him, though they did still have a strong disdain for dragons. “Just give them time to accept you.”

The amethyst drake sighed. Though he knew she was right, he always hated to admit it. “You're right Cadence.” He shook his head. “What brings you by, your highness?” He sported a coy grin.

“I am here to certify you as a new dignitary to princesses. We are well aware that you have been working jobs that do not... explore some of your better talents. Therefore a new position has been created just for you, the royal assistant.” Spike's emerald eyes flashed from surprise to shock. “Your mother, sister, my mother, and I all agreed that for your self-sacrifice at the hands of an evil tyrant king, you should be properly rewarded. We wish to pay you for services rendered, and you may feel free to continue your pursuit of these 'dead-end' jobs if you wish. Although if you would rather just stay here..” She smirked as she held her chin up high.

Cadence was worried when she saw her cousin with his jaw agape looking back towards the murky water where he had been laboring for hours on end without rest for the past six weeks. “Where do I sign up?” They both laughed. “When do you need me?”

“Now actually.” Her smirk never faltered, “I was hoping that you would say yes.” Cadence led the drake away from the rest of the dragons after nodding to the handlers to resume their work. It was not long before Spike heard the whip flying through the air. “As you know, your brother's birthday is today.” He nodded. “Shining and I have made many enemies during out stay in the Crystal Empire, mostly criminal organizations.”

“Yeah?” Spike was puzzled. “What do you need me to do?” He was afraid of what she was going to ask of him.

“It's not what I want, but what we want?” She strode on silently next to him.

“We?” He smirked.

“Your brother and I.” She confirmed. “We want you to be head of security for his party tonight. Most of the guards are made up of crystal ponies, so they will follow you without question. A few of Auntie Celestia's Royal Guard will be lending their assistance. A guest list has already been made up of your friends, alongside of the important dignitaries, and so on.”

“Head of security. That's a big job for a dragon.”

“Your mother thought so. She was the one to suggest it. Said something about it being a way to show the populace that you weren't a threat.” Cadence giggled. “I can't wait to see the surprise on Shining's face when he sees that you are head of his security.”

Spike was too lost in thought to hear what she had said. “What will I need to wear? I don't own a suit. Nor any armor.”

Cadence had to stifle another giggle. By now her guards were on either side of them, marching down the street with their golden clad boots kicking up miniature plumes of dust. “Well we are going to have you fitted for a proper suit of armor. As for an actual suit, I think that Twilight said you would know a certain pony to help with that.”

Her eyebrows arched up as she looked at him expectantly. “I don't know...” He forced himself to keep walking. “Rarity.” Just whispering her name made his spine shiver in excitement. “I haven't seen her since graduation night.” His downcast expression was easily readable even by the guards. For some strange reason, they sympathized with him.

“Twilight told me she had already arranged for you two to meet. She didn't tell her why though, just said that you would be stopping by.” He gulped when they turned down a side street. He knew it too well from his days in high school. This was the street he took to get to her boutique.

“Rarity.” Her name was graciously whispered in his mind as they neared her home. At the end of the street the guards halted, allowing Spike to slide past. Cadence waved him goodbye before gleefully skipping away with her guard escort. “Here we go.” Spike never felt more nervous in his life. He could hear his heart pounding in his chest as he strode down the empty street. It ended at a tall building that had purple shutters and a dome top with little horses around the lip.

Dinging from the bell echoed in the still silence of the boutique as he entered. Behind him the glass door slid silently shut, almost as if not to disturb whoever was inside. “Welcome to the Carousal Boutique.” The sweetest voice he had ever heard drifted in from the back. It sounded like the most graceful angel. “Be just a minute darling.” Quickly, Spike brushed down his pants, making sure that there were no creases in it. Going back to the door, he stepped outside and wiped off his feet. Feeling that he looked at least a little presentable, he went back in.

The inside of the boutique was the same as when he had left. There was the main foyer, with a couch off to the left and a stage to the right. Just past the stage was a hallway which ended at a flight of stairs that led up to the living portion of the boutique. Beside the couch was a beautifully carved oak end table with a translucent glass lamp. “Pardon my delay darling. How may I...” Spike turned to see Rarity standing beside of the stage. Her sapphire blue eyes carried a ghostly sense of warmth, and love. “Spike!” The drake braced himself for the mare. She threw herself at him, tackling him in a warm, friendly hug. The amethyst drake could not help but return the embrace.

“Hi Rarity.” He nervously chuckled. “Thought I'd just, you know, s-stop by and s-see how you were d-doing.” He scratched the back of his neck when she stepped back.

“Twilight told me that you were going to be stopping by.” He could not help but blush when she looked him up and down. He was sure that her mind was planning out the deep scale cleaning she was going to give him. “What can I do for you Spikey-Wikey?” She giggled when his blush became more prominent.

“Well, I don't know how I am going to be able to afford it, but I need a suit. A nice suit for a formal event.” Again he scratched the back of his head. It felt awkward to not be able to talk openly with her like he had before.

“How soon do you need it by?” She was trying to remember his measurements from the last time that she had fitted him for clothes.

“Today actually if you could.” He grimaced when she gave him a cold glare.

“Now Spike darling, though I would love to make you a suit, I just can't make one that...” Perplexed, the mare glanced over her shoulder at the fabric against the back wall of her stage. “You said that you need it today?”

“Well, I kind of need it in about, two hours.” He squeezed his eyes shut, awaiting the mare's harsh words about how hard it would be for her to create a work of art so fast. Minutes went by before he opened his eyes. Rarity was still standing there, though now she was wearing her red glasses and had a measuring tape around her neck. “Rarity?”

“If you would be willing to help, then I'm sure that I could have the suit done in time.” Rarity's gaze remained passive as she shifted over his body quickly. Her trained eyes took quick, accurate measurements while her fingers quickly went to work.

Spike stood completely still as the mare measured his body. His emerald eyes watched as her hands spread the measuring tape between their tips. It tickled when her nails would brush against his scales, but he held back his snorts of laughter. When her fingers brushed against his toned chest he held his breath, for her fingers seemed to linger longer than they should.

“Alright darling. You are more than welcome to borrow my shower while I set to work.” She now walked with a pad of paper in her hands, disappearing into a quiet room just past the stage. Spike stood there is stunned silence. Was she really going to avoid what just happened? True it was just a minor few seconds of her lingering touch, but it still sent his mind reeling. Finally, after getting his legs free of their liquid state, he made his way up the stairs.

With each step he took he felt his heart racing in his chest. His breath came in sharp gasps as he finally emerged in the hallway at the top. At the far end was a window that allowed light to peer in, illuminating the otherwise dark passageway. There were three rooms in total, one on the right, and two on the left. The first was the guest bathroom, while the other was her little sister's room. On the right however, was Rarity's room. It was a room that he had not been in for over three years.

Hesitantly, the drake tip-toed his way down to the ajar door. Peering inside, he had to gasp when he saw it as spotless as ever. Cleanly pressed sheets on the bed with a freshly mopped floor and vacuumed rug. Just past the foot of the bed was a dresser with a few pictures, one of the most prominent was a picture of him the last time that he was there. It was just before graduation, when they had a big fight about her business. Around the base of the frame was the golden necklace that she had made from the fire ruby he had given her years ago.

“I kept that for memory.” The amethyst drake turned around to see the mare leaning against the door frame, a skew expression crossing her features. Now that he didn't feel so rushed, he took a moment to survey the mare. Her beautiful silvery-white coat glistened in the cascading rays of light that passed through the shimmering curtains. Her usual loose mane was now in a pony tail, with a pencil tucked in just behind her ear and her glass dangling around her neck. She was garbed in a simple white t-shirt with dark amethyst purple pants, bare feet to easily traverse her barren floor. It was her sapphire eyes that caught his attention the most. The way that they flickered like little sparks of life, displaying an infinite range of emotions.

A lone tear fell from her eye, but was too quick to drop before she could wipe it away. Spike didn't notice. “I was afraid I was never going to see you again.” The mare embraced the drake, silently crying into his chest. It was all Spike could do to not squeeze the life out of her. His arms dropped around her to return the embrace. “I missed you Spikey-Wikey.”

“I know, I missed you too.” His gently cooed to her. “Sometimes friends fight, that's just natural. We can't help it.” He paused. “It's just pony nature.” Rarity couldn't help but giggle. “It just means that we have different opinions about things. We just have to push past that and look to the light of a new dawn.”

“How did you get to be so good with words darling?” Rarity kissed his cheek, a gesture he was used to after all the years of her light affection.

“Experience.” The drake slipped from her grasp and into the connected bathroom, turning on the water to drown out her soft sobs. His sensitive ears listened to the mare for a while longer as he disrobed, arguing with herself about how very 'unladylike' she was being. As the water cascaded down his nude form he could not help but think about the mare. “Why am I still so nervous around her?” He whispered to the water. “Why do I still act like I have feelings for her?” Though he refused to admit it, he knew he was still in love with her.

After what felt like hours in the shower he emerged in a cloud of steam. It whooshed out the door as soon as it had swung inward. It acted like a cloud of smoke billowing out from a fire, quickly filling the room and looking for an exit. An open window was it's only salvation to breathe fresh air. Spike couldn't help but laugh at the display.

“Spikey!” Rarity called to him. “Are you descent darling?”

He only shook his head. “As descent as a towel lets me be.” He heard giggling from the other side of the door.

“Look in the top drawer, there should be a surprise for you.” Spike went over to the dresser, wondering what it was. His eyes almost burst when he saw his old sleeping pants inside, neatly folded and pressed. He slipped then on quickly, forsaking the towel for his more comfortable pants. He emerged from the room garbed only in his old light blue with black stripe sleeping pants, made of pure silk. “Thought you would like the surprise.”

“Thank you Rarity.” For once, Spike smiled. Rarity beckoned to him. “Geez.” He said when he saw how uncouth her mane was. Instead of being in her normal bouncy curls, it was matted to her mane from the same sweat that matted her fur to her skin. “How long was I in the shower?”

“About and hour.” Spike gasped. “It was strenuous work darling, but the end result was well worth it.” She led the drake down to the main foyer, where she had him stand at the end of the stage. She pulled back the curtain to reveal a suit that was well worth more bits than he could never afford even if he was to be given his crown. “A suit befitting a knight, hero, and prince of Equestria.” She lowered her head, now nervous. “I thought of when your mother told Equestria about you being her son the prince, it would be fitting.” She paused, hesitant. “Do you like it?”

“No.” Though she knew the drake never had a fancy for anything outside of his simple tastes, she was hoping that growing up would allow him to be more refined. Apparently, she was wrong. “I don't like it.” There was a slight tint of giddiness in his voice. It was almost unmistakable. When she glanced over at him, she saw a smirk directed at her. “I love it!” Spike scooped her up in his arms, making her shriek like a small school filly as he spun her around the room. “Thank you so much.”

“Spikey!” She laughed. The drake set her down. “Don't you want to try it on?”

“ Oh yeah.” His cheeks were tinted red. It only took a moment for the drake to slip into his new suit. It was colored a deep hue of amethyst purple, with a rich lighter purple undershirt and a black tie, with the same darkened amethyst as the overcoat. For the wrist cuffs were two actual amethyst gems, with a few more around the collar of the lighter amethyst shirt. Along the root of the tie, where the base of his neck was, was a star sapphire in the shape of a heart. When he looked at it in the mirror, he swore that it danced with the glint of a flame inside. “This is amazing, and it feels so light!”

“That's because it's made with a new experimental fabric that I wove together a few months ago. I call it, 'drugon turope'. It as soft as silk, as sturdy as a dragon's scales, even as tough as them, but feels lighter than a feather. It's like a second coat of armor for the wearer.”

“Why me?”

“I'm sorry?”

“Why give me your brand new fabric?”

“You are my best friend Spike, you deserve the best.” Her tone became stern, and she used his name. He knew that she was being serious, thus he gulped. “It's a special fabric that I will only use with three ponies, you, my sister, and Twilight. You are the first one to try it out for me.”

“That's what you wanted help with wasn't it?”

“Yes darling, it was.” She gave him another peck on the cheek. “You'd better hurry if you are going to make that event.” Spike's eyes shot wide. Faster than she thought possible the drake darted out the door after saying his thanks. “Oh Spikey-Wikey.” She silently swept up the stairs to get ready for Shining Armor's party.

Spike raced through the streets of Ponyville in his new suit. Sweat made the fabric cling tightly to his skin, but he ignored it. All he could hear as he sped along his way was the constant pounding of his heart.  He could hear the clothe shift atop his form as he curved around another street. Up ahead he could see the newly built Castle of Friendship.

It's magnificence was marveled by all, himself included. It was a rare sight to see, being made almost entirely of crystal. At the base was a pure dark blue crystal, which grew in brighter hues of blue until it came to the various balconies colored a deep oaken gold, while the roof was made of golden crystal with a final top looking like Twilight's cutie mark. Most of the middle portion was made up of a darker and lighter amethyst wood. Rising up to meet the front twin golden yellow doors with two pink hearts atop each other were seven golden steps, shining brilliantly in the mid-day sun.

At the foot of the steps were two crystal pony guards, with two more just barely visible behind the royal purple windows beside of the doors. “Greetings Spike the Glorious and Brave.” Both guards bowed to the drake, waiting for him to pass before they stood back up. The two golden doors swung inward as the guards just past the threshold bowed to him after reciting the same as the previous two.

Standing at the end of the first hall was a lone crystal mare guard with a graceful smile. “Welcome Spike the Glorious and Brave.” She bowed low. “Please, follow me.” Spike said nothing as he followed the mare through the castle. He already knew most of the layout, but he knew that it would be rude and insulting to the mare's honor if he didn't follow her. Here and there they passed Canterlot Guards who would murmur something about him, but then the Imperial Guards would usually defend him. It was funny really.

“Here we are sir.” The mare stood holding the door open for him. Inside was his brother and cousin, both of whom were busy having a 'heated' discussion about something important in the Crystal Empire.

“No Cadence! I will not have our name dragged through the mud like that! They need to understand that dragons are our allies!”

“I understand that dear, but you have to see it from their eyes! Yes they adore Spike. For as long as we have been there he has been treated with the utmost respect and fairness. But if you just insist of bringing in more dragons, of course they are going to hate them!”

Spike cleared his throat, garnering their attention. Both were mad and were driven insane by his interruption. “I can come back...”

“Nonsense. I'm glad you came.” Cadence made her way over to the drake, hugging him like he was her little brother. “Captain Nightwing will answer to only you, Shining, or myself. He will be here soon to show you what you need to do. He is one of my mother's guards.” She giggled, which seemed to lighten the air. “Captain Nightwing has been like an older brother to me.” She turned to wink at Shining.

“Captain Nightwing as requested ma'am.” Standing in the gaping doorway behind the drake was a vampony, his fangs gleaming sharply in the room's low light. His red eyes stared straight ahead, with his leathery wings folded at his side. He was garbed in silver armor with royal purple trim and border. Over where his heart was on the breastplate was Princess Luna's insignia.

“At ease Captain!” Shining Armor saluted the captain. “This is Spike the Glorious and Brave. Show him his duties.” For the first time, the snow white stallion looked over the suit that the amethyst drake wore. “Nice suit.” Cadence said the same as Nightwing led the drake out of the room. Even when they were down the hall, he could still hear their argument.

“Pay it no mind lad. They bicker like school fillies sometimes. Ever since Princess Cadence found out she was pregnant they have been arguing more and more.”

“Wait! Cadence is what!?”

“Shh.” Nightwing glanced around to make sure that nopony had heard the drake's outburst. “Never say that aloud. There are enemies that would sooner kidnap that child or kill her before it could be born.”

“What exactly do they need me for?”

“Has she said nothing to you about the plan?” Spike shook his head. “Very well,” he sighed, “ the plan is to have you act as part of the security detail to lure out potential plants. This party is going to have some of the most important diplomatic targets in all of Equestria, there are delegations from from the other nations coming: zebras, gryphons, and even a dragon or two. Among their ranks may be various vermin whom we would like to deal with quickly and swiftly. With you out on the main floor among the masses, they are sure to reveal themselves through certain, shall we say, actions.” His voice was rich and smooth, almost as if he would speak to children and lull them to sleep with his charm.

“So basically you need me to be a decoy?”

“What we need is a second-in-command. That's where you come in. All of the guards will answer only to you or I, what we need is your eyes lad. You can see things better than they can, maybe even better than myself.” In his heart the dragon fell. Here he thought he was going to be offered something bigger than ditch digging, but they were just using him like his old handlers were. The vampony seemed to sense his distress. “Fret not lad. It's not like we can just entrust any dragon to this role. Besides, who else would have the entire crystal empire standing at the ready to defend him.”

A small smirk appeared at the corner of his lips. “You're right.” His smirk turned into a broad grin. “Besides, she'll be there.”

From the way that the drake's eyes seemed to cloud over combined with the fact that he said it so dreamily, Nightwing could tell that the drake was lost. “Got your heart set on some cute dragoness lad?” His sensitive ears could pick up the drake's increased heart-rate.

“Not a dragoness, a mare. She has the most beautiful coat of white fur, so plush and cuddly.”

“Sounds to me like you are in love lad.” Spike sighed, nodding his head slowly. “Sometimes love can be a wonderful thing.”

“When you feel true love, is can soar above the clouds and stars to transcend lifetimes.”

“But sometimes in can be dangerous.” There was a hint of warning in his voice, prompting the dragon to cock his head at the vampony. “I lost the love of my life to a vixen. She wove deep within her mind and raped her of her true self. All that was left was a husk of flesh that was claimed as its own. She became known as Queen Chrysalis.”

The drake's eyes went wide. “You mean the changeling queen!”

“Aye. The very same.”

“Did she poison your mind!?”

“Nay. Sometimes I wish she had.” Silence fell, then, “Chrysalis was once known as Princess Veronica of the Zebra nation. She had the most majestic tail of beads in her mane that would shimmer with the water. She loved the rain, the river, the oceans. They were her domain, and she protected them fiercely. That's he we met, she found me drinking from a pony by her river, tainting it with the rivets of blood.”

Spike listened intently to the story as they walked. “What happened?”

“For a few months we met in secret away from her people in the forest. Princess Luna was well aware of what was happening, but she was too preoccupied with other things to put a stop to us. I knew what we were doing was wrong, but I didn't care, I loved her. I promised her that I would never let anypony harm her.” Spike noticed that the vampony looked pale. “What tainted our time was when Nightmare Moon arrived. Some legions of her dark army lingered after her banishment.” Spike recoiled. The vampony smirked when he noticed it. “You didn't know that did you?” He shook his head. “When your aunt was banished her dark magic remained here in Equestria. It needed a new form, and sensing how powerful Veronica could be, they took advantage of her.” The vampony had to hold back his tears as they rounded a corner. “Now you know. If it wasn't for the fact that I loved her, I would have ended her.”

“You couldn't do it.”

“Aye. Princess Celestia personally selected me to seek her out and kill her. I managed to wound her, but I could never end her. She left me with a scar though.” The vampony shifted his armor a little so that the dragon could see the deep gash that was running down his back between his wings. “She sliced me down the spine with my own sword. It wasn't deep., but it left me without the ability to fly, even now.”

“Shouldn't the wound have healed by now?”

“Nay. Our swords are not like a normal celestial soldier's. Ours are enchanted to end those who can withstand the wounds of flesh. Say I was to slice open your arm down to the bone and even nick the bone, your flesh may not repair itself. If I was to cut open your wing, it wouldn't grow back.” Spike again recoiled. “It was your mother's idea, in the event that Nightmare moon were to ever return. She couldn't fathom the idea of taking her sister's life, so she entrusted us to.”

“Wow.” He managed to say after a few minutes of dead silence. It was quiet again, save for the occasional echo of their footsteps.

“Be careful whom you chose to love lad. If you were forced to, could you take her life?”

“Never.”

“Then let us pray that it never comes to that.” They nodded their heads to each other, grins forming.

“When does the party start?”

“In a little bit. First we have to make sure that all of the castles entrances and exits are guarded, then we must invite those locally first, Princess Twilight, Lady Rarity, and the other elements of harmony.” At the mention of her name the drake's heart beat faster. Nightwing grinned, “Don't worry lad. You will have plenty of time mingle with the guests.” He sighed, “Just don't forget your duty.” Nightwing shuffled away from the drake, leaving him alone in the hall.

Four crystal pony guards emerged from a side room, all sporting grins as they traversed the empty hallway. The leader stopped them when she noticed Spike. Much to his dismay, they were all female. Upon catching his eyes the four giggled in laughter, each one putting on a skew face as they searched him up and down with their hungry eyes. Oh no. Please no, he begged in his mind.

“Attention!” The pink furred princess was storming down the hall in a fit of rage. A few tears were in her eyes, but she bore a hard expression and he swore that steam billowed out of her ears. The anger in her eyes was apparent, but there was something.... more. When the drake looked into her eyes he swore that he could see a shimmer of green glow around the lip, but as fast as it happened, it was past.

Towards the end of the hall she stopped and spun around, throwing something down the hall. Shining Armor had just wheeled around the corner, “Caden...” He was stopped by a dagger imbedding itself in the wall just shy of his throat by a hair. Sweat began to pour down his face as he wet his lips, “Cadence let me e-explain!” The slight hesitation in his voice was something that he had never heard of before in the courageous stallion.

“Forget it deary.” The malice in her voice could easily rival that of his aunt's. It was strong, commanding, assertive, but yet strangely, not as angry as he would have thought. Shining ran down the hall after his wife, wheeling around the corner to chase after her, leaving a fairly stunned dragon and four crystal guards fairly confused.

Spike walked in relative silence through the castle's halls. On the walls that he passed were pictures of his friends: the times that they shared together, the parties that they had, even the time when he had turned into a rampaging dragon. He cringed at the memory. Thankfully it was his love for Rarity that brought him back. After that incident he knew that what he felt was not just a crush, but actual love. Though he loved Rarity, he knew that she only ever saw him as a friend.

When his eyes caught the picture of them at his senior prom, it made his eyes water. There he was garbed in a fancy tuxedo that he had gotten from Shining Armor, and Rarity was dressed in the most elegantly made crimson dress. Specks of light glittered on everything around her, molding her into the most perfect diamond in his eyes. What made his eyes water however was not her, nor the dress, but the necklace that she was wearing. The crimson fire ruby that he had given her, the one which was shaped like a heart, been aged to perfection, and was used to make her dazzling personality shine brighter than any of Luna's stars.

Sighing, he slipped a hand along the edge, whispering an 'I love you', before making his way up a secluded flight of stairs. They spiraled around into a tower, the only one the castle had. At the top of the staircase was an oak door with an amethyst over the center, with his name written underneath. Sucking in a breath of air, he slipped into the room.

Everything was the same as when he had left three years ago: the dark purple sheets on the bed made of pillows, the elegantly carved wooden dresser depicting old tales of knights and maidens with his favorite collection of 'Power Pony' comics on top, and his spectacular view of Ponyville. Over towards the left was his own personal bathroom, while to the right was his balcony. There was a window above his pile of pillows and another on the adjacent wall, where there was a set of sliding glass doors that led to the balcony.

His sensitive ears picked up the sound of quiet sobs originating from the balcony. Seeing that one of the doors was cracked, he gently eased it open the rest of the way. Standing on the balcony with her arms draped over the railing was his cousin, her mane in a shriveled mess with tears freely flowing from her bloodshot eyes. The fur around her eyes was colored a deeper shade of pink due to how sore they felt from rubbing them constantly.

“Cadence?” His voice shocked the mare, nearly making her shift from pink to ghost white. When she saw that it was him however, she jumped at him, throwing her arms around him and crying into the nape of his neck. “Shh. Shh. I'm here Cadence.” He cooed to her softly. “Can you tell me what's wrong? Did Shining Armor say something?”

“It wasn't just him,” she managed to choke out between sobs, “it was both of us.” Spike ran a hand down her back for comfort. “We were having another argument about Shining bringing some dragons that he trusted into the guard. The crystal ponies hate dragons just as much as the rest of the ponies do, you are the only exception. They would die for you.”

“I know.”

“It got more heated from there. He was talking about how worried he was about me, about us.” She motioned to her slightly enlarged stomach. “When I told him I was fine it was like I ignited the fuse to a magical bomb. He feels that he needs to take on more responsibilities. I feel like I am losing the stallion I love.”

Spike held his cousin close. “Our hearts are sometimes overshadowed by our minds. You of all ponies should know that. You are the Princess of Love, show it. Show Shining armor that you don't need his help as much as he thinks. He will understand.”

“Who made you the Prince of Love Spike? Was it my mother, or yours? I know I didn't.” They shared a laugh that seemed to last for a lifetime. “I should be getting ready for tonight.” With reluctance, the mare slipped from her cousin's warm grasp.

“Cadence.” The pink mare turned around to look at the drake. “I could never take your place. I just remember what you taught me, maybe you should too.”

Her eyes went wide. “You've grown up Spike.” With that she took her leave.

Spike's gaze went out over the city of Ponyville and the plains beyond. It was at times like this when he was thankful that the tower had been placed so that it faced out towards Canterlot. In his heart he felt like he was free, like he was alive. It was an exhilarating feeling that always left him breathless, almost like when he was flying.

On the distant horizon he could see the sun starting to set on yet another day. Although, it wasn't just any plain day where he would wake up, go to work, and come back home. When he woke this morning, he never would have expected that he would be back at the Castle of Friendship. As his mother's sun kissed the world away he could not help but marvel in the beauty that it plastered against the sky. Shimmering hues of golden yellow, entangled with gliding arcs of deep royal purple, and a trance of twisting orange that gave of the faint symbolism of warmth...