Dear Sister
It was another calm day in Ponyville, autumn had arrived and the green of the trees were slowly turning into a cascade of colours and natural beauty. The winds were unusually strong that day. The only ponies out were the ponies that had work to do that needed to be done, like the weatherponies struggling against the winds while setting up clouds for the rain to come the next day. At the Sweet Apple Acres, the Apple family was working hard to finish the preparations for the winter to come.
At a familiar tree in the middle of the town, the town librarian was working on re-shelfing her massive collection of books. She had read every last of the books during her years in the town. She was focusing intently on the task at hoof. Levitating so many objects at once was not a small feat. Only unicorns with enough magic and training could manage to do the hardening task. She heard a distinct burping from the room upstairs and a gasp from the little dragon. She gently placed all the books on the floor, so she wouldn’t loose her concentration and damage the books. The gentle patter of draconic feet running down the stairs bought the attention to the purple dragon panting by the staircase, holding one hand on his stomach and a scroll in the other.
’‘Twilight...’’ Spike panted, taking a deep breath to calm himself down. ’‘There’s a letter to you. It’s from Shining Armor.’’ The mention of her brother sparked the lavender unicorn’s attention. She levitated the scroll from Spike’s grip to her. And like Spike had said, the emblem of the Royal Guard was stamped on the scroll.
’‘Thank you Spike. Can you please excuse me for a while when I read this?’’ Twilight gave Spike a pleading look and an adorable little smile that she knew that Spike couldn’t resist. Spike just nodded and walked back up the stairs. She unrolled it and scanned it once before reading it.
Like her brother always did when he wrote, he had used too much ink by not wiping some off before he started writing. It made the writing a little blotched and messed up, but she could still read it as she was used to her brother’s writing. She sighed and chuckled as she started reading.
’‘Dear sister
Hey sis, sorry that I haven’t written to you in a while, I have been really busy after the whole Chrysalis incident and being a newly-wed husband. I just wanted to write to you to say how things are here in Canterlot, as I remember how upset you got when I didn’t write to you about the wedding. But hey! I’m writing to you now, that’s good, right?’’
Twilight paused reading the letter by chuckling and rolling her eyes at her brother’s antics. She blushed slightly at how stupid she had felt after she had yelled at him back in Canterlot, when he hadn’t written to her about the wedding when he had just been to busy with his work to write. She focused back to reading the letter.
’’I also wanted to write to you so you could know that me and Cadence have recieved some wonderful news. Cadence is pregnant! I’m going to be a father Twilie! Can you believe it? I’m so excited for it, I can barely wait! Anyhow, I have already told mom and dad, you should have seen their faces, it was priceless.’’
She paused again from reading the letter. She dropped it to the ground and started bouncing around in a circle like Pinkie Pie does, even challenging the party pony when it comes to grinning. She was going to be an aunt! She stopped and remembered that there still was much left to read in the letter that was now on the floor. She sat down again and levitated the letter to her.
’’I also write to you to say that I have been given an assignment by Princess Celestia. She wants me to go out to the Everfree forest and the outskirts of Equestria to see if the changelings truly have left Equestria. It will just be a short mission out with some task force guards. Don’t worry, I’m sure that nothing could happen. Chrysalis is probably too weak to put up with a fight if we encounter her, the same would be about normal changelings.
Also, can you deliver our thanks to the rest of the Elements of Harmony? Cadence and I never got to truly thank them for all their hard work on the wedding. It’s all I ask for now, as I’m sure that you will. You have great friends, Twilie. Do everything you can to keep them.
I promise you that I will be safe on the mission and that Cadence and I will come visit Ponyville when I return. I never break my promises, that’s something you should already know. I’m going out for the mission this evening. With that, I finish this letter. I love you Twilie, stay safe.
Shining Armor, Captain of the Assero Solis.’’
Twilight gulped at the thought of Shining Armor going out in the field like that. He’s usually in the back lines, but this probably has something to do with the fact that he vanquished the changelings with Cadence. It would only make sense that he would come with them to inject some fear to the changelings if they would see him again.
Twilight sighed and levitated the letter to a desk in the corner of the library. She had an uneasy feeling about him going to the outskirts like this. She levitated an empty scroll, a quill and some ink to her. She dipped the quill in the ink and swiftly shook it clean from some excessive ink and started writing her reply.
’‘Don’t worry about not writing to me when you have work to do, I learned to let you take your time when you were in the position that you are in. Congratulations on the marriage again, it was truly magnificent and it was an honor just to be there.
Oh my gosh! My little big brother is growing up to become a father, this is just amazing! I’m going to be an aunt! I honestly dropped the letter you sent and started bouncing around like my friend Pinkie Pie does, not exactly as charming as when she does it but it felt good to do it for once. Do you happen to know if it’s a filly or a colt? When is she expected to give birth? I am so excited for you, I can only imagine mom an dad’s reaction to it. Shame that I wasn’t there to see it. Anyways, tell Cadence that I’m thrilled and happy for you two.
I really don’t like the idea of you going out in the field, but I guess that it is neccessary and a part of your duty as a captain. I’m just afraid that you could be hurt... Or worse... Please stay safe, please.
I will tell them when I can. All of my friends were excited to be allowed to help plan the wedding with Cadence when you cleaned out the last of the changelings from Canterlot and the city’s surrounding area. I know that my friends are great. I love them all like sisters. Your friends are also great, except for Blueblood. I don’t know why you’re around him.
I can’t wait for you and Cadence to visit, I’ll be sure to tell Pinkie Pie. She’s going to love the opportunity to prepare for another party for royalties. I know that you never break promises, that’s why you’re such a great brother, great friend and an overall great pony to be around. Hug Cadence from me. I love you too, Shiny.
Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic and the personal student of Princess Celestia (Still a fancier title than yours, HA!)’’
Twilight sighed and rolled up the scroll. She was still worried about him and all the things that could happen to him out on the field. She called for Spike to come down and after a few crashes and inappropriate words from the young dragon, he walked over to Twilight and grabbed the letter.
’’To Shining Armor, right?’’ Spike needed to know if he was to send it to the right pony. Twilight just nodded and Spike breathed a soft flame against it. The green fire engulfed the letter and became a smoke that was sent off in the direction of Canterlot.
Twilight started focusing at re-shelfing the books again. All of the books in the library started levitating around her again and she was lost in her thoughts of finishing her work before sundown.
Two weeks had passed since she had recieved the letter from her brother, still no answer from him. The waiting was unnerving and she felt like she was about to loose it again. A burp echoed around the library, snapping her to firm attention to the baby dragon. As soon as she saw him with the letter, she snatched it from him and read it. It had the emblem of the Royal guard.
Spike could see her eyes scan the letter, and he could see her start visibly shaking and her pupils shrink and her eyes widen. Her mouth was slightly open. He saw a single tear roll down her cheek and drip to the floor. She threw the letter to the wall closest to her and ran up the stairs.
Spike was confused at what could have been in the letter that made her so upset. He was about to leave it but the curiosity of what was written on it won the battle of his interest. He walked up to the letter, picked it up and brushed some dust off it and started reading
’’To Twilight Sparkle, Ponyville librarian
Shining Armor, K.I.A.
We at the Assero Solis regret to inform you that Captain Armor and his task force was assaulted. One lone survivor was able to make it back to inform us of the tragic loss. We share our utmost sincere condolences of the loss of Captain Armor.
Princess Cadence has requested you to visit her in her mansion in Canterlot in the earliest convenience. The loss was as tough for her as it is for you, I assure you. Midnight Sparkle and Starlight Sparkle have been informed of their son’s passing as well.
Yet again, I am terribly sorry for your loss and all the pain it will cause.
Lt. Silver Defence’’
Spike just stared at the letter in his hands, glancing at the staircase where Twilight had ran up to her room moments ago. He tried to think of how it would feel like to lose her. He felt sick of just the thought of losing his sister. He dropped the letter and walked up the stairs, he had a sister to comfort.
Spike held Twilight’s shuddering form in his arms, she had been crying for over four hours now. Spike did all he could to try and comfort her, it was breaking his heart to see his sister like this. He was slowly rocking her back and forth, her tears was dripping down onto his scales. Spike could feel all of them.
’‘Wh-Why did it have to happen?’’ Twilight croaked, her throat was dry and hurting from all her crying. She pressed her head further into Spike’s chest, he didn’t even budge.
’’I... I don’t know, Twi...’’ Spike held her tighter. He would never let go unless she told him to. ’‘Twilight...’’ She looked up at him with teary, bloodshot eyes. Her mane was a mess but the situation justified it. ’‘You should go to Cadence in Canterlot... I’m pretty sure she’s hurting as much as you are... You can get throught this together...’’
Twilight thought about it. Cadence was even pregnant with his brother’s foal. She had to go. She could maybe even get a few answers from the base of the guard.
’’I... I think I will.’’ Twilight wiped her face with her right hoof and sniffled. ’‘You’re the best assistant ever, Spike...’’ She embraced the young dragon and rested her head on his shoulder.
’’I do everything I can.’’ Spike smiled and returned the embrace.
The Equestrian Outskirts.
Nopony would ever go that close to the border leading to the Dragon Badlands without a very good reason. They had a good reason to do so but the reason alone hadn’t been able to give them safety against the dangers lurking there. They had been attacked, mutilated and spit on.
A lone figure drags himself away from the scarring scene around him. He refuses to open his eyes to see his comrades beaten and torn into pulp. The smell alone was overpowering and nauseating. His horn was cracked and useless. It would take months or maybe even years for it to heal if he was lucky. His armor was tattered and broken. Only one thing rang through his head.
’’Get home, get back to them.’’
Spike had just sent a letter to Princess Celestia. Twilight was in the bathroom, making herself look like she hadn’t been crying for hours at end. She was still unstable and Spike was taking every precaution and being as gentle as he could be with her. He hated seeing her crying or being sad, he just felt so helpless. A familiar feeling started in his stomach and raised up to his throat. With a burp, a scroll dropped to the ground in front of him. Celestia’s solar emblem adorned it.
Just before he would read it, Twilight walked into the main room of the library with her head hanging. She looked up at Spike and gave him a gentle smile. He smiled back and read the letter.
’‘Spike, I understand the situation and I will personally teleport you two to Canterlot. Even I took the news of Shining Armor’s passing hard. I will teleport you instantly to Cadence’s manor in town.
Tell Twilight that I wish to speak to her after she have visited Cadence. I will teleport you in five minutes.’’
Twilight sat down and took a few deep breaths, she was fighting to keep her emotions in control. Spike walked next to her and placed his arm on her back. Spike looked miserable. She swallowed as she saw a yellow sphere starting to form around them. She stood up and Spike climbed up on her back. With a flash, the library was empty.
With another flash, Twilight was standing outside Shining and Cadence’s manor. Spike hopped off her back and started walking towards the door. Twilight hesitated at first but shook her head and followed Spike up the steps.
The door creaked open slowly, it was an eerie silence at first but it was broken as Twilight heard sobbing coming from the second floor. She motioned for Spike to stay downstairs and walked up the staircase. The sobbing came from a room in the end of the corridor.
Twilight walked slowly to the door where the sobbing came from. She slowly creaked the door open to see Cadence sitting on a bed, cradling one of Shining’s helmets in her forelegs and quietly crying to herself. Her mane was frazzled and dirty. Her stomach was visibly bigger than what it normally was due to her pregnancy.
Twilight opened the door entirely and walked inside. Cadence looked up at her with bloodshot eyes. No words was needed to be said. They just embraced eachother and started crying into eachother’s necks.
After a few minutes, Cadence broke the embrace and took a deep, shaky breath.
’‘Thank you for coming...’’ Cadence glanced at the centurion helmet besides her.
’’No problem, sisters have to keep together.’’ Twilight wiped away a few tears with her left hoof. Cadence smiled sweetly.
’’I just... I just don’t know what went wrong...’’ Cadence sniffled and looked down.
’’Me neither, but we’ll get through this together, okay?’’ Twilight reached out her right foreleg and lifted Cadence’s head. Their eyes met, a few moments of silence before Cadence broke it.
’’...Okay.’’
He was rapidly loosing blood. He was weaker than what he thought. His right hindleg was mangled and disfigured. The pain was undescribable. What nagged at his mind even more was that if he would encounter any danger, he would be defenseless. He also knew that there was a long way to any civilization.
Shining Armor was all alone, fighting for survival. His only hope was that they would send another patrol and they would encounter him. It was a long-shot. The strain on his tired body was starting to take its toll. He bit down and trudged forwards, he wouldn’t let his own son grow up without a father.
Twilight stomped through the gates of the base of the Royal Guard. She demanded answers from this ’‘Silver Defence’’ character. Why didn’t they send a messenger to her? Why didn’t they tell her earlier? She came to a big building that she had understood to be the managements building.
She slammed the doors open with her magic, her eyes scanned the crowd of ponies who was looking at her with a shocked expression.
’‘Which one of you is Silver Defence?’’ Her eyes scanned the crowd again. A unicorn stallion with a dark blue coat and a silver white mane stood up and walked towards her.
’‘Twilight Sparkle, I presume?’’ He looked over her with his golden-orange eyes. Twilight extended her left foreleg and smacked her as hard as she could. Silver Defence shook his head and spat some blood. ’’I deserved that, I guess...’’ He shrugged and looked down at his hooves.
’‘Why didn’t you send me a messenger?! Was my brother not important enough and just deserved a letter?!’’ Twilight shouted at him, tears pricking her eyes. She raised her hoof to strike again but when she noticed that Silver cowered away with tears of his own in his eyes, she lowered her hoof and sniffled. ’’I-I’m sorry... I-’’
’‘Don’t.’’ Silver simply said. ’’I couldn’t send you a messenger because the guard is shattered now... Without a good leader the morale just... disappeared.... Nopony is willing to do anything but to escort the princesses... I just... I just can’t do anything...’’ Silver Defence sat down on his flanks hard and lifted his hooves to his eyes.
Twilight felt bad for Silver, he was put in charge without any warning or any experience. She extended her left hoof. Silver flinched, expected to be hit again. He sat there dumbstruck as Twilight laid her hoof on his shoulder for comfort.
’‘Can’t we send another patrol to search the outskirts again?’’ Twilight asked expectantly.
’’I guess... But we would need some motivation...’’ Silver rolled his shoulders.
’’Is Shining Armor’s sister and his pregnant wife motivation enough?’’
’‘Probably... It’s worth a shot.’’ Silver smiled. Twilight helped him stand up again and trotted back to the manor.
’’My queen.’’ A changeling hissed to his monarch sitting on a makeshift throne in a cave in the Equestrian Ourskirts.
’‘Yes?’’ The regal changeling glanced down at her servant.
’‘The ponies who patrolled... They were attacked successfully. No survivors that we know of.’’ The changeling drone said with a hint of pride.
’‘Very good. Was the captain amongst them?’’ Chrysalis hated that captain. He was one of the ponies that stopped her. Without him, her changeling army would probably have it easier to take over Canterlot and all of Equestria.
’‘Killed by my own hooves.’’ The drone smirked.
’‘Excellent. Prepare my forces. We attack in three days time.’’ Chrysalis motioned with her hooves for her servant to leave. With a nod, the drone left the cave and shot out into the air. This time, she wouldn’t be stopped.
A/N: Hey guys, I actually updated this story earlier than what I expected. Anyways, I think it's time I looked for prereaders. If you decide to preread for me, you're going to have to preread all of my stories and whenever I submit a one-shot. Interested? Shoot me a pm.
