Takes place in the early days of the Separatist War.

Spike watches the CMC in Manehattan while Twilight’s friends try to help her get her mind off the war and deal with her grief at the loss of her brother and decides to take them shopping...

“Don't run so far ahead!” Spike called to the three fillies as they ran ahead determined to find ponies to help with cutie mark problems. The three had finally earned their cutie marks a couple months ago and he had thought it would calm them down from all their crusading but it had only seemed to cause them to be even more determined than before when they get to travel to a new place outside Ponyville.

Even now he ran after the three of them down the sidewalk after them worried about them running out into the busy street keeping a tight grip on the shopping list he had written up before leaving town. He had hoped to pick up some ingredients he couldn't get in Ponyville, being put in charge of the three fillies when their sisters went out to try and cheer up Twilight had made that difficult.

He didn't mind it as he knew Twilight needed it after what happened...she always seemed angry these days. Never at him as she never raised her voice at him or took it out on him but he could see it smoldering behind her eyes waiting to be let loose. That wasn't healthy and he had talked to Fluttershy about his worries and she then talked to the others and now they were in Manehattan for a three days of fun.

Somehow the Crusaders talked them into bringing them along which now meant Spike was in charge of them. He had been told to keep them at the hotel as it had a pool and arcade for foals but after two days of not being able to pick up what was on his shopping list he decided to take them with him, it wasn't good to keep fillies cooped up inside all the time after all.

The Crusaders galloped back laughing. “Come on Spike you're so slow. We are sure to find ponies who need help!” Applebloom said.

“Yes but you can't go running off like that.” Spike said calmly.

“But you are so slow.” Scootaloo said looking a bit exasperated at Spike’s leisurely pace.

“We are just going to the store, no need to rush.” Spike said to her.

Sweetie Belle sighed a bit. “There probably isn't anypony there in need of help.”

This caused the Crusaders to droop as they all realized this fact.

Spike thought quickly. “hm…...perhaps we could go to the park after the store…”He said as if to himself but loud enough for them to hear easily.

Their eyes lit up. “Really? We are sure to find somepony who needs help there!” Scootaloo said excitedly and the others were quick to agree.

With that taken care of Spike smiled and started to walk once more as they were already near the store. While carrying the bags to the park would be a bit of a hassle he wouldn't mind more time out of the hotel as well and the park was a great place to spend the day and would ensure the Crusaders tired themselves out.

The rest of the trip to the store was uneventful except for the three fillies running around him as they chased each other and talked about all the ponies they were going to help at the park, so far the tally was up to 45 by Spikes count. He had to chuckle quietly and shake his head at the odds of that many ponies needing Cutie Mark help in one place, he estimated at most they may find 3 if really lucky and those being foals.

Arriving at the store, the big sign out front announcing the name of the store as Greenberg’s Spike grabbed one of the smaller carts and took out his his list as he started walking down the aisle, pulling the cart behind himself do to being shorter than the cart. He was vaguely listening to the MUSIC playing over the speakers but mostly he was keeping an eye on the Crusaders as they kept asking him about if he needed things on the shelves.

After going down an aisle and only grabbing a couple of items he spoke up. “Why don't you three go find something you'd like to have to go to the park?” He suggested.

This elicited excitement and the three fillies ran off towards the candy aisle as he predicted they would. This left him with a brief time of peace as he went down another aisle grabbing what he needed and looking over prices. Even with Twilight’s income and her paying him more then she used to, used to be an allowance but as he got older she started giving him actual income with an official job. She helped him fill out all the forms and even interviewed him.

He learned a long time ago how to shop for the best prices and stretch his bits out as long as he could.

He decided to buy some stuff to make sandwiches for their time at the park and was looking over which bread to get when the Crusaders returned with large bags of candy and he arched a brow at them. “I said one thing each not bags.”

“Come on...pleeeeeease.” Applebloom said as she gave her best puppy dog eyes she could. The other Crusaders joining her.

Unfortunately Spike was used to this tactic and had since grown immune. He opened his mouth to tell them to go put them back and grab something smaller when there was a Crack at the front of the store and he looked back up the aisle.

He didn't see anything but hear yells and another crash.

A moment later two ponies came into view crashing into one of the checkout counters. One was an earth pony wearing the green vest of an employee of the store, the other was a unicorn in a ski mask and back armored vest that covered their Cutie Mark. Spike froze as he saw the rifle the two of them were fighting over.

He watched in stunned silage as the two fought for control of the weapon till the employee mane was wrapped in a yellow glow and he was yanked off the masked pony. The Masked pony land back on his hooves, raised the rifle, took aim back the way the employee had been yanked and fired.

The shot was like a switch as screams sounded from the front of the store and more gunshots rank out amidst the sound of panicked running as those at the front of the store tried to run.

The sounds snapped Spike out of his shock and he dropped the bread he was holding and looked back at the Crusaders as panic was starting to cross their faces.

“Come on, go!” he said as he started to push the three fillies towards the back of the store. He knew there had to be a backdoor or something for them to bring in new stock. The four of them ran to the end of the aisle as fast as they could as the gunshots grew closer as the gunponies started to chase those that ran deeper into the store to try and escape.

Reaching the end of the aisle Spike’s claws clicked lightly on the smooth floor, though all he could hear was his own heart pounding in his ears and the panicked crying of the Crusaders who ran ahead do him. They slide to a stop and Spike frantically looked around before spotting the gap between display of vegetables that was where the doors to the back was located in the far corner of the store.

“There!” He said pointing. “Go, go, go!” He yelled urging the Crusaders on. “Don’t stop. Keep going!” He said as they ran for the doors and the safety they lead too.

As they neared the door they burst open as a unicorn in a green fest galloped out a moment before there was the boom of a shotgun and the back of his green vest exploded with crimson as the pony dropped to the floor. Spike and the Crusaders skidded to the stop as three griffins dressed the same as the pony Spike had seen at the front of the store stepped from the back door.

The unicorn was trying to drag himself to one of the aisle and perceived safety as the griffin with the shotgun stepped over him, placed the shotgun to the back of his head and pulled the trigger.

Spike grabbed the fillies and covered their eyes a second before the trigger was pulled so they didn't have to see but it still caused them the to cry out in fear and drew the attention of the griffins.

Spike shoved the fillies back they way they had come and they ran. There was a boom of a shotgun and Spike yelped as he felt the shot bounce off his scales, his dragon scales, while nowhere near as strong as a full grown dragons were still significantly tougher than a pony’s hide. So the pellets just bounce doff his back but still stung.
They ran for the far side of the store, if they were lucky they could find a clear aisle and make it to the front and get out the doors.
As they neared the far aisle ponies in ski masks and the black tactical vests stepped out of the aisles they were running for. They slid to a stop and Spike yelp as a shot came from another aisle, a unicorn with a pistol taking aim at the Crusaders and Spike jumped between them just as another shot rang out and he yelped as it him again and she shoved the files to the back of the store where the various sodas and other drinks sat in coolers. He pushed them behind him as he turned to face the griffins and ponies as they closed in his mind trying to think of a way out a to protect the Crusaders who cried and covered their heads as they huddled behind him.

He looked back at them and then at the attackers trying in vain to think of something, anything.

<<>>

Twilight ran ahead of her friends as they arrived at the front of Greenberg’s. The entire area was filled with the gold armor of the Royal Guard who had locked down the entire area. Medical teams tended to injured that had been outside the store.

She ignored all of them, not paying attention to the yells at her as she pushed passed the guards and ran into the store. She skidded to a stop as she saw the slaughter at the front of the store. Bodies were everywhere, covered in white sheets as dried blood covered the food and was spattered on the checkout lanes and aisles.

She only paused for a second before running to the back of the store. As soon as she reached it the smell of burnt flesh assaulted her nose and she gagged before continued on, the smell growing with each step till she reached the source.

In the back corner of the store near where the drinks were were more white sheets but there was no blood here. Only the smell of burnt flesh. The bodies under the sheets were contorted into grotesque shapes, some of their weapons fused to their flesh by the heat of the fire that had consumed them, the floor under them scorched and warped.

In the car corner with his knees pulled to his chest just staring at the bodies was the small purple dragon she had known since he had hatched.

She rushed dover and as soon as he saw her he jumped at her and wrapped his arms around her neck as he broke down and Twilight just held him.

“I’m so sorry Twilight..i...I had no choice….they were going to hurt the Crusaders….I had no choice….”He cried holding her tightly. “please….please don't send me away…..I promise I won't ever do it again….”

“shhh…..it's okay…..it's okay….”She said soothingly as she held him tightly. She had been seeing a play with her friends when the call had come in about the shooting at the store and she was informed Spike was there. She had never ran so fast in her life, not slowing at all as she ran all the way here. “shhh….you did nothing wrong….it’s okay…..”

“but you told me never to use my dragon fire on anyone……” He said. “and….and….i...i killed them…..”

“You saved the Crusaders.”She said trying to calm him. It was was true, the Crusaders were outside being tended to by the medical teams and being reunited with their sisters. “you didn't do a thing wrong…”

He just cried into her shoulder and she switched to being bipedal and held him close as she started to walk back towards the front of the door already planing to get him the best help she could as she held him and walked.

“I’m so sorry……I had no choice Twilight……..”

Author's Note

So this took me over a day to write as I had to keep taking breaks as things escalated.

Came up with this entry idea thanks to a talking with a friend a few weeks ago.