It was too bad that you couldn’t kill a body twice, because that was what Spike wanted to do to the now-deceased Loveshot. Despite making a mess of her corpse, it wasn’t enough in his mind to make her pay for what she had done to Aquilina. Yet for all the hatred he had for the bitch, it was nothing compared to the hatred he had for himself. He knew a part of him couldn’t blame himself for having Aquilina suffer in pain until he ended it. But just seeing her, motionless for just a few seconds, made her think about the one he did lose because he wasn’t there when she needed him.

Carrying the now sleeping Aquilina, thanks to a soft song from Peewee, Spike made his way through the fortress which now flew the proud flags of the Legion. What few remaining guards were being lined up and taken away while slaves of all kinds were being put in packs while tended to by mages and doctors.

He looked around for his team but didn’t need to look far as Windward dashed down from the air with a worried look. Gazing up at Aquilina, Windward asked, “What happened?”

“Loveshot activated her slave tattoo. I’m taking her back to the ship. We’re heading out as soon as we get the daughter,” Spike muttered.

“Where is that bitch of a whore?” Windward growled, stomping on the ground. “I’ll shove that horn up her plothole and turn her into a popsicle.”

“She’s dead,” Spike answered, moving forward. Windward only nodded before following him. A moment later, he spotted Azura and Yasahiro talking to Agent Rexius while in between them was Captain Razor and his daughter, crying as they embraced each other. His friends soon noticed him holding Aquilina and were quick to appear.

“Is she okay?” Azura asked, readying her horn to assist.

“She needs to rest,” Spike answered, but nodded to Azura. “However, I’ll need your help to make sure. To the ship.”

Turning to the captain, Spike said, “We’re leaving as soon as you're ready. I want to get back to HQ.”

“Of course, I just need to get my daughter checked up by a doctor before we go,” Captain Razor answered, nodding. “I can’t thank you all enough...”

“Neither can I,” Agent Rexius said, walking forward with a smile. “I’d shake your claw, but I can see both are occupied. Just know that you’ve made a friend with the Legion today. I hope that we don’t meet on opposite ends of a job one day.”

“Same here,” Spike aIS, looking at the destruction the small army had done. “What are you going to do about this place?”

“For the slaves we’ll find someplace for them to be taken care of. The guards we’ll just execute and dump their bodies into the sea,” Agent Rexius said which made some of the nearby guards turn white and start pleading for mercy, but their calls fell on deaf ears. “As for the island? Might be a good base someday.”

Spike would have rather seen it destroyed, but he didn’t care to mention it. He only nodded while hoping he never did see Agent Rexius again. Spies were not exactly the most trustworthy of sort, and this alliance only happened because of circumstance. He looked upon the vast numbers, machines, and weapons they used and grimy thought, I’d hate to see them use all this against us.

***

It took four hours for the captain and his daughter to return to the ship, but they did so with Lana looking a bit healthy and less dirty. Once they came aboard, Razor quickly had the ship set sail while asking Azura to give his daughter some clothes before making them all a meal. Windward, Yasahiro, and Peewee took watch on the top floor of the ship to make sure none of the Legion were following. Just in case.

Spike, meanwhile, had placed Aquilina in her bed and continued to watch her without moving. His thoughts went back to how she was screaming and twitching in pain as Loveshot forced her to feel agony without end. He had never seen Aquilina cry or weep as she did in his arms when it was all over. Spike was not an idiot by any stretch of the imagination. It didn’t take a pair of glasses to see how Aquilina always held a mask of arrogance, energy, and smarkness. Yet, beyond it, she was, like many other souls on these cursed islands, a broken bird.

After all, normal griffins didn’t start drinking at the age of twelve to block out nightmares.

The door opened and Spike glanced behind him to see Lana, now dressed in a simple white long sleeve shirt, enter quietly. Nodding to Spike, she walked forward and bowed her head. “I... I wanted to thank you... for saving me. I know it wasn’t easy and... some of you got hurt.” She turned her eyes to Aquilina.

“We were more than happy to help,” Spike said, giving a small smile. “No creature should be enslaved.”

“Five years...” Lana whispered, tearing up. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “Five years of a nightmare, and I still can’t believe it’s over... all because of some stupid horn I was hired to find...”

“A horn?” Spike asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s nothing...” Lana said, shaking her head. She turned her eyes to Aquilina and slowly walked forward. Looking at her sleeping face, Lana sighed and closed her eyes. “Your friend... she was a slave once too, correct?”

“Yeah,” Spike whispered.

“Does it still hurt her?”

“Yes.”

“I see.” Lana turned away and held a paw to her chest. “How does one... go on after experiencing such a thing? Because I am afraid to wake up and feel that... nothing will be right ever again.”

Spike got up and placed a claw on her shoulder. “You take every day one day at a time. Only you don’t do it alone. You have your father and...if you want you can come to visit us.” Lana looked at him, surprised. “I know what it's like to wake up and feel like the world is just wrong; how one change in your life makes you wonder if it's ever going to be normal again? Truth is that it never will be normal again, or at least the normal you once knew. But you can make it a new normal. One that you can be satisfied with waking up to every dawn.”

Lana was quiet for a while, but slowly a soft smile appeared on her face while hope beamed into her eyes. “Thank you. I’d like to take up your offer of seeing you all again. I don’t think I’ll be heading into the high seas for some time after all this.”

“Sure, we’re always looking for creatures to help out,” Spike said, grinning. “The boss of the guild is my teacher. I’m sure he’ll work something out.”

Lana nodded before excusing herself. She closed the door behind her and Spike sighed before a familiar voice said, “If it was any other guy I’d swear they’d be only saying that shit to just sleep with her.”

“Glad to see you up,” Spike said, turning around as Aquilina sat up. “How are you feeling?” Her glare at him was enough to answer. “Right, stupid question. Need anything?”

“Something to drink... something hard...” Aquilina moaned, holding her head with one arm.

“No alcohol. Just water,” Spike stated as he walked over to a pitcher on the nearby table and poured some in a cup. “Azura did a quick check-up with her magic, but she’s not a medical expert. You’re taking it easy until we get back to shore and have the guild’s healers take a look at you.”

Aquilina opened her mouth to protest, but Spike narrowed his eyes and forced her to stand down. Handing her the glass, she drank the whole thing in one gulp before lying back down. “So...what happened?”

“Loveshot is dead. Good riddance. The Legion took over the island. We got Lana on the ship and we’re heading for home,” Spike said, sitting back down. “About what happened...”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Aquilina--”

“I don’t want to rucking talk about it!” Aquilina shouted, glaring at Spike. “Just leave me alone!”

Spike sighed and got up. Making his way to the door he paused before turning towards his friend. “I’ll be ready when you're ready.”

He then left, but as soon as he closed the door his ears picked up the soft sounds of sobbing.

***

The winds favored the ship as Judecca appeared over the horizon the next morning. Spike couldn’t help but feel relieved to see home and was eager to get his feet on the actual ground. He made sure that everyone was ready before walking back into Aquilina’s room where she was twirling her daggers around. Realizing she had company, the griffin put them away before looking at Spike. Not with the rage she had yesterday, but with sorrow and, to his surprise, shame.

“Hey,” Aquilina whispered walking towards him. Without warning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. Spike slowly returned the favor as the two embraced in silence.

“Thank you for saving me...” Aquilina whispered, ending the hug. “I... I’m sorry I screwed up...”

“You didn’t screw up,” Spike said, before getting a raised eyebrow. “Alright, you screwed up a bit, but the point is we’re all home and the mission was accomplished.”

“I know, but I should have known!” Aquilina groaned as she rubbed the tattoo that had caused her so much misery and pain. “I should have known she would know how to turn this stupid thing on again! I... I haven’t felt it in so long I thought I’d... I’d...”

“You don’t have to--”

“No! I have to! Just...” Aquilina sighed and looked down. “Spike... she... she... didn’t just hurt me. Sh-she also... right here...” Her claw moved towards the area right between her legs and Spike blushed before growing.

I wasn’t harsh enough.

”The tattoo... it doesn't just cause pain... it makes you feel...” Aquilina was now shedding a few tears. “My Mas-father he...”

“Aquilina, stop!” Putting his claws on her shoulders, Spike forced her to look up at him. “Aquilina, whatever she did and whatever your father did, I promise you it won’t happen again! I’ll never let them take you or hurt you like that! Ever! I’ll kill whoever tries!”

“Spike...” Aquilina sighed before nuzzling him. “Even if you did I’ll still have this damn thing on me forever.”

No, Spike thought, as he silently made a vow to the gods themselves. I’ll find a way to free you, even if I have to interrogate every member of Ars Arcanum to get an answer.

***

“Here’s your payment. And a bonus for all your help,” Captain Razorwing said as he handed a big bag of silver to Spike. He accepted it with a nod before gazing over at Lana who gave a small smile. “We’re going to settle some things before finding a place to stay. Lana says you have a job for her?”

“We’re always looking for help at the guild,” Spike said, handing the bag to Azura who shrunk it with a spell and put it in her robes. “She won’t have to fight or anything. We look for cooks, cleaners, organizers, bartenders, etc.”

“After five years of being forced to clean my own shit off my raggedy clothes, I think cleaning tables of beer will be a godsend,” Lana said. “Thank you all again. I hope the gods watch over you.”

“After all this? They better,” Windward said as the five turned around and made their way down the pier.

“So what do we do now?” the pegasus asked, turning to his group. “I mean I just want to get back to the guild, get drunk, and sleep for the next three days.”

“That’s one of the best ideas you’ve ever had,” Azura said, nodding in agreement.

“Well, here is another one. You and I could sleep together those three days?” Windward said, grinning. “After a few shots of hard Apple Cider?”

“On second thought, I’ll drink water.”

“I’m going to meet up with Marc and let him know we’re back. Azura, I’d like you to take Aquilina to the healers first,” Spike said before turning to said griffin. “And no complaints.”

“Fine. Whatever.”

“Great so what about you, Yasa--” Windward turned around and found their ronin friend was already gone. “I swear, one of these days...”

***

“...And that’s what happened,” Spike said, looking at his teacher who had stopped leaning as soon as Spike mentioned the island was a slave pen. His expression turned serious and then darkened when he got to the part about Aquilina.

“Wish I'd bin theear ta kill deur Loveshot bitch,” Marc growled as some fire burst from his nostrils. “Bloody, Razor. If 'e told me da truf ov da damn job I'd 'ave put someone else innit.”

He looked up and glared at Spike. “Ya not takin' anuvver job until I say so. I'll talk wiv Aquilina. Hopefully, she'll be right as rain after a week awer two ov relaxing.”

Spike nodded in agreement before getting up. He was about to leave when he paused and turned to Marc. “I want to learn the Rocket Flare.”

“Spike. That move is an' all advanced one. Yer not ready, lad.”

“I just saw my best friend get abused in ways nobody should ever be,” Spike said, putting his claws on the table and glaring at Marc. “I’m not losing another friend like I lost Twilight, Marc. Now teach me or get bucked.”

“...Fine. Tomorra. Usual place. Do ant eat. Tha'il just wang it up.”

***

Lana had to be sure that her father was asleep before she could sneak out of the house. It hurt her to do this to him, but she had to make sure the job she was hired to do was done or else they would never stop hunting her. She knew it wouldn’t take long for the Warlord’s spies to find her, so it was best to go to get in contact by sending to the few messages she knew worked for him. Sure enough, two hours later, she was given a message to meet at the pier. The same spot where they had given her the mission five years ago.

She was tempted to tell her father or even the mercenaries who rescued her, but they had already risked so much for her. No, she had to do this on her own and finish it.

Wrapping the cloak around her body, Lana looked around the misty pier hoping that they would come soon. Much as she liked breathing the fresh air as a free griffin once more, it was a risk being alone here at night. Especially in her physical condition.

“Where the ruck are they?” Lana growled, tapping her foot impatiently.

“We’re always behind you.”

Lana gasped and looked around but there was no creature around. “H-hello?”

“Down here.”

Raising an eyebrow, Lana looked down to the water to see, of all things, an orange male Siren looking at her with his head covered by some kind of dark black helmet that covered his face. He also wore similar black armor, but she could see his soul stone around his neck. “Are you Lana? I was told you have the information our Lord has been searching for."

“Yes, but I’m confused. What’s a siren doing working for a warlord on land?” Lana asked.

“I have my reasons. Now give me the information. Where is the Horn of Centarus?”

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small piece of paper that held the coordinates. Glaring at it, wishing she could forget about the pace, she tossed it down to the water where the siren levitated it with his magic; keeping it dry in a small bubble. “There, but just so you know? He’s crazy into thinking he can get it. I lost half of my crew just landing on the damn island and the traps and beasts there are so great even dragons would have a hard time dealing with them.”

“That’s our problem. Now, you tell nobody about this, or you’ll wish you stayed locked up on that island,” the siren said before diving into the water without another word.

Lana sighed and felt a weight lifted off her shoulder. Making her way back, she hoped that she would never have to deal with that island or its cursed horn ever again.

Author's Note

Sorry for such a long delay, but we're back. I'l be working on Tyrant's next chapter next weekend. This week things are getting a bit rough at work due to the Virus.

As always, feel free to help out at the TV Tropes page: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Fanfic/TheAssassinationOfTwilightSparkle