Sanctuary City’s Fairground was full of life on that cool summer day, humans and equestrian’s alike roaming, chatting, and celebrating The Friendship Festival. The festivities include a number of stalls, including games, food, and supporting both local and equestrian businesses. Near the entrance, Spike Drake smiled as he scanned the grounds, before turning to the girls behind him.

“So, who wants to do what first?” He asked, prompting a flurry of answers from the girls.

“Oh, oh, I want to try the ferris wheel!” Pinkie shouted, practically shaking with excitement.

“We gotta see what games they have!” Rainbow added, hovering above the rest of the girls slightly with her wings.

“I-I was hoping we would visit the petting zoo…” Fluttershy muttered, stroking her hair bashfully.

“Well, I’m afraid I won’t be joining any of you.” Twilight admitted, resulting in everyone turning to her in surprise. “I was contacted by the orcistraitors of the festival, and they asked me to give a speech about the benefits of equestrian and human relations.”

“Put in none nerd speak, she needs to talk about friendship.” Sunset translated, straining her sunglasses. “Starlight and I will be on perimeter duty in case anyone tries anything while Twilight’s doing her speech.”

“Do you really think that’s possible?” Fluttershy asked, her eyes wide. Sunset shrugged, a nonchalaunt smile on her face.

“Not likely, but protocol exists for a reason.” She said, before nodding to Spike. “You’re in charge of the girl’s while we’re gone. Behave, or-”

“You’ll break my arm, yeah.” Spike deadpanned, rolling his eyes. “You really need to come up with some better threats.”

Sunset just chuckled, before turning to Twilight and nodding. “Alright, Princess. Put on your public face.”

Twilight nodded in return, turning to Spike and muttering a quick, “See you later.”, before her expression straightened out and she strode forward, flanked by Sunset, Starlight, and two other guards Spike didn’t know. After they left, Spike turned to the girls with renewed enthusiasm.

“So, who wants to do what first?”

Line Break

By the time the girls had done everything they wanted too, Spike was wiped. Luckily, the longer they were at the fairgrounds, the more independent they became. They were currently all eating at the stall for local bakery while he rested on a bench nearby. While hanging out with the girls was enjoyable, it was a new level of exhausting. Still, watching Pinkie Pie ride a goat while Fluttershy chased after her and Rainbow Dash lost her shit was a hilarious sight.

Spike was snapped out of his thoughts when a vaguely familiar voice. “Oh, hello again darling! Are you enjoying the festivities?” Spike turned to face the source, looking up at the purple haired equestrian, who was beaming at him.

“Oh, hi again...Rarity, was it?” He asked, before continuing. “Yeah, I am enjoying this place. You and Applejack did great!”

Rarity let out a delighted squeal, clapping her hands together and smiling a Spike happily. “Oh, that’s wonderful to hear, darling!” She said, before turning around and spotting her co-host, who she quickly waved over. “Oh, Applejack! Would you come here for a moment, please?”

Applejack obeyed, walking over to the pair, smiling as she approached. “Howdy, Spike. Hope you’re enjoying yourself!” She greeted, before turning too Rarity. “So, whatcha call me over for, Rares?”

“Well, Spikey here said that he is enjoying the festival, and that we did great putting it together. Isn’t that sweet?” Rarity said, her tone laced with pride. Applejack turned back to Spike, a grateful smile on her face, as well as a thin blush.

“Well, shucks. I’m glad you think we did so well, Spike!” She confessed, taking of her hat and holding it in front of herself in an admittedly adorable display. “Honestly, we couldn’t have done it without you!”

“M-me?!” Spike asked in surprise, looking around in case she was addressing someone else. “What did I do?”

“Well, you gave us the idea to invite businesses from the area so that there would be options for everyone!” The cowgirl explained, still smiling at the boy. “This festival wouldn’t be half as good as it is if you hadn’t given us the idea in the first place!”

“Oh, gee.” Spike muttered, scratching his neck anxiously. “I’m sure that’s not true, two smart girls like yourselves probably would have figured it out.”

Both girls flushed a bit at Spike’s praise, but a sudden announcement from the stage in the center of the festival caught their attention.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle will be performing a speech in 2 minutes.”

“Oh, goodness!” Rarity cried, turning to her partner quickly. “We should return to the stage for the princess’s speech!”

Applejack nodded in agreement, putting her hat back on and smiling at Spike. “Welp, duty calls. Enjoy the rest of your day, sugarcube!”

“So long, Spikey!” Rarity cried, following after Applejack towards the stage. AFter a few minutes, Twilight walked on stage, followed by Applejack and Rarity. Applause roared from the crowd, whoops and cheers accompanying them. Spike couldn’t help but chuckle at the blush on Twilight’s face as she waved into the crowd.

Twilight started her speech, but Spike quickly felt his interest fall elsewhere. Specifically, the strange man to the left of the stage. The man himself just looked...out of place. Surrounded by bright colors and cheerful faces, the man’s black jacket and stern expression just didn’t fit in. Spike’s eyes lingered on the man, and a dark, unsettling feeling of dread began to build in his chest. Something...something was wrong here.

The man than turned on his heel, and walked behind the stage, turning a corner until he was completely obscured. Spike was unaware he had risen and started walking before Fluttershy grabbed his arm. "S-spike? Where are you going?" She asked, the other girls also watching from the stall.

"I...I gotta check something out." he said vaguely, patting her hand. "Look after the girls for a few, please?" Fluttershy nodded, and released him, an uncertain frown on her face. Spike wasted no time striding over to the side of the stage, looking around the corner before he turned. His blood felt like ice in his veins at the sight before him.

The man in the jacket had a gun in his hands, a silenced pistol of some kind. He stepped up a set of stairs at the edge of the stage, entering the back area, behind the curtains. A muffled, "Hey, who are y-" was cut of my two muffled thumps, before a third, quieter one followed. Spike fully turned around the corner, and spotted the man, who was reloading his weapon. Spike's heart seized as he spotted the guard on the ground before him, blood seeping from a wound in his chest. The man on the ground looked at Spike, his blue eyes filled with tears as he slid something towards the green haired boy.

"Stop...that...man..." The man groaned softly, before lowering his head slightly. Spike wasted no time grabbing a costume that lay nearby, quickly wrapping it around the mans wound as quietly as he could. The man with the gun didn't seem to notice Spike, instead walking over to the edge of the stage, right behind the curtain. The man glanced at his watch, before raising the gun and sighing. Spike looked up, and saw the man begin to move the curtain. He looked at the item the guard had slid to him, a steel baton, and quickly scooped it up. Spike hands shook as he stood up, staring at the gunman as he moved the curtain further.

I'm gonna die here. He thought to himself as the man opened the curtain fully, and drew his gun. And with that, Spike lunged forward, praying he could prevent whatever was about to occur.

Line Break

"We are stronger together, as friends!" Twilight said, her tone enthusiastic as her speech continued. "Look around you and see all these happy faces, happy people! We can live together, humans and Equestrians, as one!"

Cheers broke out once more throughout the crowd, mixed with applause. However, a sudden ripple of concerned expressions and shouts joined the fray, and Twilight cocked an eyebrow. Did she...say something wrong?

BANG!

Suddenly, something whizzed past Twilight's head, and the crowd erupted into screams. Sunset and Starlight were at her side in a moment, practically shoving her off the stage. However, as she was pulled away by her bodyguards, three things popped into Twilights head.

A gun, a man, and a flash of green hair.

Line Break

Spike had tackled the man as he pulled the trigger, sending them both spiraling off the stage and into the ground. Spike writhed slightly as the wind was knocked out of him, shifting to his side just as the man recovered, his cold grey eyes shifting to Spike and sparking in rage. "You ballsey little FUCKER!" He hissed, picking up his gun and aiming it at the boy, before a lasso suddenly flew around his hands. "The fuck?!"

"Now partner, I don't think it's to kind of ya to be point no firearms at people." A familiar Southern accent hummed, Applejack walking into view, a stern look on her face. "So why don't you just drop your damn gun and come quietly?"

The man barked a laugh, before sneering at the cowgirl. "Not happening, freak." Suddenly, a blade popped from the man's coat sleeve and he cut lasso in half, before turning on his heel and sprinting out of there. Applejack hissed a "Shit!", before hauling Spike to his feet. "You good, sugarcube?"

"Yeah, I'm-I'm fine." He said, before turning in the shooter's direction. "C'mon, we have to stop him!"

Before AJ could protest, Spike was off. He followed the man, dodging and weaving between the people in the still dispersing crowd while the man just shoved them aside. Finally, the man stopped and whipped around, and Spike's heart froze once more. He was now holding Rarity, one arm around her neck, the other pointing a second gun against her head.

"Not another step, green bean, or her brains go all over the grass." The man hissed, tightening his grip on Rarity's neck and making her whimper in response. Two guards and Sunset appeared next to Spike, pointing their weapons at the man.

"Let her go, NOW!" Sunset growled, her tone angrier then anytime Spike could recall. The man just chuckled, and shook his head.

"Yeah, I don't think so, sweet cheeks."

Spike watched in growing fear as the man began to inch backwards, only a few yards from the tree line on the edge of the fairground. If he made it there, he'd be home free. Spike sighed, muttered a quiet, rushed prayed, and lunged forward. The gun reacted just as he expected he would, the gun flying from Rarity's head to Spike's chest. The trigger was pulled.

Surprisingly, being shot was kinda like in the movies. Everything got hazy as Spike hit the ground, sounds becoming muffled and distant. A few screams were audible, as well as shouts of anger. Spike turned his head, and saw that the gunman was now on the ground, pinned by the two other guards. He turned his head back, and realized that Sunset was now over him, pressing on his chest, where the bullet had struck. The pain was present, but it was a bit dull already, which surprised Spike. He realized that Sunset was speaking, and quickly tried to listen to her.

"Stay with me, Spike!" She hissed, the slightest hint of fear in her tone. "Shit, WHERE'S THAT FUCKING MEDIC?!" Sunset torn of her glasses so that she could get a better look at the wound, and Spike laughed a little. Sunset's gaze flicked to his, her expression uncertain. "The hell are you giggling about, Drake?"

"Your...eyes...are...pretty..." He sputtered, smirking at the agent, who flushed at his comment. However, Spike suddenly felt dreadfully tired, and began to close his eyes. Sunset's voice, while frantic, began to get softer, more distant.

"Shit, GLIMMER! Get over here, help me!"

Sunset, we're losing him!

Spike! SPIKE!

Author's Note

So...hey guys...it's, uh, it's been a while...you like the latest chapter? Heh...