Author's Note

Welp guys, here's a new idea I've been playing around with in my head for some time. I promise, this one will be done within a month or two. Anyways, enjoy, and please don't forget to leave some feedback! I'm an addict for that R&R, y'know! ^-^

Two Sides - Chapter 1 (1/2)

Spike walked through the halls of Twilight’s castle. He had grown quite tall, finally exceeding the height of his own companions. However, much to his dismay, his tail had not grown more than a few insignificant inches.

As he walked through the halls, his golden royal guard armor shone eloquently. It seemed to be more ornamented and honorable than typical royal guard armor. Clung to his shoulder beneath the armor, was a cape. It draped over his shoulder and back, only reaching to his mid-back. Upon the cape, was Princess Twilight’s mark: the stars.

Spike clearly held renowned status.

As he walked down a long hall to his destination, he found it strange that there were no guards here. There were always at least four on duty, guarding the hall. He shrugged it off.

Finally, he reached his destination: the large double doors he stood in front of would lead into Princess Twilight’s throne room. He was summoned here, by her, without much notice.

“I hope it’s nothing too serious… I’m exhausted, and was just about to finally get some rest…” Spike thought as he yawned, as he pushed the doors open. The second he pushed the doors open, they immediately swung back, knocking Spike back through the air with power.

He skillfully flipped through the air, and landed with a simple slide of his feet. He rushed towards the door, expecting that Twilight was in trouble. As he forced himself in, he realized what was happening.

“Another frantic breakout?” Spike thought, as he watched the situation unfold.

Twilight ran to and fro from various books, scribbling various notes. Her magic was fierce with anxiety and excitement, creating a strong, forceful wind in the room.

“That’d explain why the doors closed back so hastily. All that wind!” Spike thought. He shook his head and sighed.

“Twilight, relax!” Spike yelled, as he side-stepped a flying book. He looked behind him, and saw that the book dented the wood of the double doors. Spike duly noted that he shouldn’t let anything here touch him, not with that much power.

“I’m here!” he yelled again. His voice had clearly matured; it hadn’t gained a significant increase in terms of bass, but the maturity was very present.

Twilight eyed him briefly, before returning to her frantic darting around the room.

She began to utter incoherent ramblings, as she waved her hands around. Seeing him seemed to be her signal to release the pent-up stress and frustration, as the magic aura emanating from her only grew with its frantic and excited behavior.

The forceful wind her magic was creating intensified.

Spike shielded his eyes. Just as he looked up again, a book whacked him in the face. Spike laid on the floor, sighing with frustration.

“I thought I told her to seriously work on her frantic breakouts…!” Spike thought in frustration, feeling the bleeding wound on his forehead, and the bruise forming upon and around it.

“Alright exhausted body, bear with me for just a bit longer.” Spike thought, as he got up.

Spike dashed through the dangerous whirlwind of items, dodging and weaving, and if so needed, barreling through incoming projectiles.

Finally reaching Twilight, he grabbed her by both shoulders firmly. He then emanated his own, pure-white, magical aura, that combated Twilight’s own. His aura, and powerful presence, seemed to shake Twilight out of her frantic-trance.

Spike then waved his hands, as the magical aura left his body, and preserved the throne room to its previous order, even preserving the books being used, as well as Twilight’s notes. Twilight watched with great surprise at his magical affinity.

“Spike!” Twilight exclaimed.

As Spike’s magical aura died down, he panted heavily, stumbling and dropping to one knee. His nose leaked blood, and as he coughed, blood leaked over his bottom lip.

“Spike?!” Twilight exclaimed again, kneeling beside her best royal guard, and grabbing him in worry. Spike took her delicate hand with reassurance, and smiled.

“It’s alright. I was doing intensive magic-training before you summoned me, so stopping you just made me push my limits a little bit.” Spike breathed, as he used a handkerchief to clean the blood.

Some years ago, he had discovered that he was capable of manifesting the magical ability within him similar to how Twilight and other magic-users were able to. He took advantage of this, along with his passion to protect Equestria, and trained it ever thoroughly ever since.

Twilight’s face immediately flushed with guilt.

“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry!” Twilight gasped, hands over her gaping mouth.

“It’s fine, Twilight. What’s wrong, why’ve you summoned me?” Spike asked, giving a small chuckle.

“I should’ve known! You’re already too busy, what with being the Royal Guards’ Champion, and with all that training-!”

“Twilight, I said it’s-,”

“And you’ve told me to work on my bouts of franticness! But I’m always-,”

“Twilight-,”

“Gosh, and what with-,”

Spike grabbed Twilight by the shoulders again, a bit more firmly this time. She was clearly overtaken with guilt.

He removed one of his hands, and instead, cupped her chin with two fingers, lifting her head up so that she was forced to look directly at him.

“Twi: it’s. Fine.” Spike said slowly, with a stern gaze. Although he was annoyed and frustrated with her, he didn't like seeing her beat herself up.

Twilight seemed to relax under his direct gaze. She unconsciously drifted closer to him, his being providing her with an inexplicable comfort.

“So, what is wrong?” Spike asked, removing his hands, which, unbeknownst to him, displeased Twilight.

“It’s that damned Thief again!” Twilight said, walking over to her books, as the heels of her slippers clacked against the marble floor.

“Thief!? You mean the greatest thief of all time?!” Spike said, as his eyes lit up with excitement and hope.

“Miss Bejeweled is out of hiding!?” Spike exclaimed with intense excitement, like a dog reuniting with his owner after weeks of separation.

Twilight was terribly displeased with Spike’s excitement for the Thief, which Spike seemed to be oblivious to.

“It… it would seem so. She’s making a move for the final royal jewel. I was just informed that last night, Luna’s guards were incapacitated, and her jewel stolen during her sleep throughout the morning. Celestia’s own is all that’s left, and she’s likely headed there right now. Her growing connection with the Inspiration Manifestation has made her more than just a formidable foe, I’m not sure Celestia can combat her alone. She might actually pull off that world-domination thing if we don’t act quickly, Spike! If she gets these jewels, it’s all over!” Twilight said, the franticness of her voice rising again.

“So it’s the greatest thief versus the greatest hero, once again, huh?” Spike said, clutching the sword on his hip, as his excitement only grew. However, behind the excitement was a much stronger emotion, hidden behind his jittery smiles. An emotion that caused his heart to jumpstart with flutters.

“Will you catch her this time?” Twilight asked, turning to Spike. She looked him directly in the eyes, which triggered a slight caution within him.

“Don’t I always try my best?” Spike asked, looking back at the ruler of this region, his princess, and his commanding officer.

“Dunno… There’s something still nagging at my intuition… It’s about last time…” Twilight said. Spike’s excitement curbed, as his senses shouted at him to avert the focus of the conversation. However, there was nothing else he could think to divert to.

Spike sighed. “Are you still stuck on that? Look, she’s the sneakiest person around, it only makes sense she’d be spying on her enemies or something!” Spike said, getting defensive.

Twilight noted his behavior mentally.

“No… For her to know what transpired at that very moment… She couldn’t find out on her own…” Twilight said, her gaze staring deeper into Spike’s being. Spike slightly averted her gaze, looking just slightly beyond her.

“So you’re suggesting I’d toss away all these years of duty and allegiance to you, my liege?” Spike asked.

Twilight was silent, only continuing to stare. Her look of interrogation turned to something else, though.

“Why did she seem so jealous about it, then?” Twilight asked, with a look of desperate curiosity. The kind in a child’s eyes when they know they’re being lied to.

“Twi, you know the relationship the three of us had, and my history with her… It only makes sense that Miss Bejeweled would be jealous.” Spike defended, shrugging, as he backed up slightly.

“Yeah? Then why did you sympathize and comfort her about it?” Twilight asked, looking up with those prying, desperate eyes.

Spike’s being rushed with guilt, as he looked away. He searched himself for an answer.

“Because… she was on old… friend…! I felt bad…?” Spike said more as a question than a statement. He avoided her hurt-gaze.

Sighing with clear disappointment and a hint of betrayal, Twilight turned, hands on her hips. She pointed her thumb over her shoulder, towards the door.

“You’re dismissed.” She said. Spike gave a sigh of great relief, and rushed towards the door. Just before he could begin to push it, he heard Twilight once more.

“And one last thing, Spike?” Twilight asked.

“Princess?” Spike responded.

“My intuition’s never wrong or totally inaccurate. We both know this, correct?” Twilight asked. Spike’s fist tightened with a mix of emotions, including guilt, as he knew where she was going with this.

“Perhaps, then, my newfound exponential progression in magical affinity may be tampering with its effect on me.” Spike said, fast forwarding the conversation.

Twilight sighed, shaking her head. She decided she would end it.

“If I find out you’re lying to me again… Let’s just say that I can’t keep protecting and advocating for someone who associates with a traitor and global threat. Please be considerate and keep that in mind.” Twilight said, with genuine pain on her voice.
Spike said nothing, as he walked out, the doors slamming behind him.

He pulled out his handkerchief once more, and stared at its decoration. A single, large, beautiful cerulean gem, surrounded by many other, smaller gems, of the same color.

Spike grinned, staring at the handkerchief. He’d get to see the reason that he’d stayed in the Guard for so long again. His reason for training so hard. His reason for fighting so hard to keep Equestria safe.

“That’s ironic… Fighting so hard to keep such a thing safe…” Spike thought, laughing to himself. But to him, she was worth every risk, and every danger.

Twilight would never tell it to him directly, but he knew: if he had been caught associating with such a traitor, he’d be convicted for treason. And that meant he’d either fight the entire nation of Equestria like Miss Bejeweled was doing, or be captured and executed.

Suddenly, Spike burped up a green fire, as a letter fell into his hands.

“Be alert, Spike. I’m issuing an order for the Guards to prepare for a large-scale migration to Canterlot, so that Celestia may have aid. I want you to lead it. When do you think you will be ready?” the letter read, in Twilight’s hand writing.
Spike withdrew a pen from his armor, and wrote back on it:

“Three days. One to travel to Canterlot, another to do some heavy reconnaissance and assess Miss Bejeweled’s most likely plan of action(s), and another day to return and rest for the event. I know time is of essence, but she will definitely take time to properly plan out her course of action, so I think we have a few moments to spare.”

Spike, pleased with the letter, blew a green fire over it, as its ashes tracked their way to its recipient.

Spike figured it would be best to leave immediately, before somebody got the bright idea of following him.

[Some hours later…]

Spike had on simple black clothing with a hood for concealment, should he need it. His armor and sword were elsewhere, and he wore no armor. A simple dagger was strapped to his back, concealed by the clothing; however, an unnoticeable slit in the clothing allowed for an easy unsheathing of the weapon for use.

Spike, without any word to anyone within Twilight’s province or the region she ruled over, left quickly and quietly. He rushed through the woods, making his way to a particular place, where his actions could be unseen.

“I’ve got three days… just three days to pull this off and catch up.” Spike thought, as he dodged and weaved around the several trees, ducking and hopping over foliage, branches, and other growths.

As he ran, he heard more shuffling behind him. He slid to a stop, suspicious that he was being followed. He spotted an opening in between the leaves of some trees.

Gripping the dagger clung to his back, he dashed for the opening, placing his hood over his head.

As he jumped out into the opening, leaves flying in his path, he stopped, standing in wait.

The forest rustled again, and out from the area came another hooded figure. This one wore extremely baggy clothing, but it was not hard for Spike to deduce that she was a woman.

Her hands, nor her feet could be seen, as the baggy clothing seemed to engulf them in darkness.

Spike’s heart rushed with adrenaline: two shady figures out in the night, confronting each other. The figure stepped closer to him, but Spike held his hand out.

“Take not another step, miss. If you do, I can’t be held responsible for your wounds.” Spike said simply, beneath his hood.
“I believe it’s you who should be worried.” The woman stated.

“Just hand over any valuables, and I may consider sparing you.” The woman said, sending a chill into Spike. However, that chill only continued to excite him, as he held his fists out.

“That’ll be your worst mistake.” Spike said, as the two circled each other cautiously.

Suddenly, the figure dashed up towards Spike, twisted in the air, her foot approaching Spike.

Spike held up his forearm, and blocked the kick. It was quick, but powerful, as the shockwave of the impact shook his body.

“She’s no amateur! That speed, and that power…” Spike thought, as the woman kicked off of his forearm.

As she flew back through the air, Spike jumped after her, fist cocked back. Just as he punched, she rose a magical barrier, blocking the attack. Both landed back on the ground. A small, light-cerulean magic aura, outlined with a delicate emerald green, glowed around the woman.

“And a magic user, huh…?” Spike thought, raising his guard further.

“I wonder if I’ve picked the wrong fight?” Spike thought, considering that he was wasting his time, and should just retreat.

Lost in his thoughts, he hadn’t noticed the woman falling towards him from the air.

He saw the tip of a shiny metal within the baggy hole of her sleeve. With quick reactions, Spike unsheathed his own blade, and the two clashed, as sparks flew.

Spike, with great strength, stunned the woman by pushing her arms away with a powerful slashing motion during the clash. He took the opportunity to immediately kick the side of the woman, who slid across the dirt with great velocity.

As the dust fell again, she looked up, removing her arms from her side. She had blocked the attack. Suddenly, the figure seemed to disappear and appear again in front of Spike. She made a slashing motion at his neck that Spike seemed to barely dodge as he leaned back, bending his knees.

He jumped back massaging his throat and tugging on the tip of his hood.

“Close shave! Know where I can get my claws sharpened, too?” Spike said to her in a joking manner.

“You remind me of my friend. He has terrible humor.” The woman replied.

The two ran at each other again, and clashed blades again and again, trying to get the upper-hand.

She stabbed, and he slid past to slash; she jumped back from the slash, only to jump off of a magical barrier she created behind her to launch off with another stab towards Spike; Spike created a magical barrier of his own to block the slash, and shoots a beam of destructive magic at the woman; the woman ducks under the beam, and shoots her own at Spike’s head; Spike leans back, bending his knees greatly, as the tip of his hood catches fire from the destructive magic.

Both jumped back from one another.

“You’re clearly no newbie.” The woman stated.

“I could say the same about you.” Spike replied.

Both stood in the moonlight of the cloudless night, Spike trying to determine his next move.

Both seemed to just run at each other again, blades in hand.

They both stabbed at each other’s heads, and both inched their necks to the side, dodging the blades. The blades, however, did stab into either one’s hood.

Both simultaneously turned the sharp side of the blade to the other’s neck.

“You’re half dead.” Spike chuckled.

“Yeah, well, so are you.” The woman laughed back.

Suddenly, both slashed, whilst ducking. The forward motion of slashing tore their hoods off, and they both stumbled onto each other, falling over.

The blades clinged and clanged away, as they fell out of reach.

However, that was the least of either of their concerns, as both stared into each other’s faces with great surprise.

“Holy, shit, I can’t, believe it…!” Spike said, in great surprise at who his opponent was.

“You’ve been gone for so long…!”

Spike uttered but one more sentence, but was interrupted, by the woman sinking their lips into a passionate kiss with no prior warning…