Celestia stood upon her balcony just outside her chambers as she gazed out over the city of Canterlot as it pushed outward from the side of the tall mountain giving the inhabitants a breathtaking view of the land below and beyond. If Celestia focused she could just see the small town of Ponyville which stood near the dark mass of trees that was the Everfree Forest. Air Ships took off or landed at the port on the edge of the city where the docks stood creating an often dashing view as their sails caught the warm breeze that tugged at her golden dress. The dress was held to her waist by a string of white pearls, the neckline plunged giving a generous show of cleavage and her flat stomach before forming to her slim waist and motherly hips. The back was left open to allow her white wings room to move if she needed them to. Her shoulders were bare while her forearms were gold bracers, a few gold cords wrapped around her calves. She let the summer air wash over her as she enjoyed the peace and quiet over the clamor of the Lords Hall where she met with the nobles to discuss plans or laws that would help Equestria. Her eyes turned from the city and looked at the sky as it remained in the moment of twilight before she would finish her routine of setting the sun. Where once hundreds of Unicorns would gather to perform the task now only Celestia was required she ignited her horn and finished her duty of lowering the sun to bring on the night.
As the sky darkened Celestia let out a sad sigh as she watched the stars twinkle to life in the dark sky above her. It had been on this day a long time ago when she had banished her sister Luna who had turned into the horrible creature Nightmare Moon. Their battle had destroyed their old home which was now a ruin slowly decaying in what has become a very dangerous place. Celestia wrapped her arms around her self as the night air cooled quickly removing the warmth her sun had brought to the air. Her golden dress billowed behind her like her ethereal mane and tail, she wore the regular regalia of her position as Princess of Equestria. She had never thought to rule alone and it pained her every day to not see her sisters smiling face or hear her laughter as they played but as the years passed and the ponies praised Celestia more and more forgetting her sister it was no surprise that Luna had turned to darker powers.
Celestia blamed herself in part she had basked in the adulation of the ponies who looked up to her with loving smiles and words of praise for her beautiful sun. She had let her vanity blind her to the pain her sister was in as she was ignored by the ponies who hid from her stary nights and instead slept in their homes ignoring the beauty her sister made with the stars moonlight. When the moon did not set that day so many years ago Celestia had not asked kindly only demanded that her sister do her duty she had not listened or even tried to talk to her after so many years of praise from the ponies had caused her to forget she did not rule alone. The battle had been fierce magics unleashed that had torn the palace apart as sister fought sister. In the end, Celestia was forced to use the Elements of Harmony against Luna but they were not meant for one pony or even Alicorn to wield alone and forcing them to work had altered her mane from it's pink to its now ethereal appearance with the colors of dawn shimmering in it. As for Luna instead of cleansing her of Nightmare Moon, she was instead imprisoned in the moon creating the silhouette of a horned pony on the face of the moon later called the Mare in the Moon.
Her sister was gone. Gone and locked away because alone Celestia had not been strong enough to make the Elements work properly. As the weight and realization of what she had done settled upon her Celestia had been consumed by grief she wept and tried to undo what she had done but the elements no longer responded to her and had become stone. She remembered moving the court to Canterlot as she took over her sister's duties of raising and lowering the moon, the elements sealed in the old castle to await when they were needed again or chose a new wielder.
Pushing the memories from her mind Celestia again ignited her horn and felt for the moon, as always she felt a sense of malice from the moon no doubt her sister's spirit which was trapped in the moon sensing her magic take hold of her moon to move it. Celestia watched as the moon rose into the night sky lighting the darkened world with its pale glow. Then Celestia felt something she was not prepared for...pain. Sudden and intense pain not from her but the moon as something collided with it, moments later Celestia looked up in time to see a ball of fire streak over the city for an instant it was as though day had returned. She could hear screams from the city as ponies who were still out and about saw the roaring ball of fire as it flew past them and then with a ground-shaking crash which shook the city sending Celestia stumbling forward where she clutched the railing of the balcony. She looked in the distance where the object had crashed and saw the faint glow of the fire the object had left in its wake. Whatever it was must have been larger than it had been when it clipped the moon and fell to the earth or the tremor could've done more damage, the pain soon went away as Celestia finished raising it though she had never felt something like this before. She was first concerned about her sister but then turned her attention to the glow just a few miles from Canterlot before she heard furious pounding at her chamber door.
Recovering quickly Celestia hurried to the door and opened it surprising the guard on the other side as she brushed past him and began walking down the hall with at a quick pace which caused the guard to have to jog to keep pace with her. He hadn't had time to speak and Celestia could make an accurate guess as to why he had come to her, then an instant later she ignited her horn and quickly teleported her and the unaware guard to the throne room. The guard stumbled and fell as they had not expected to be suddenly teleported by the princess who was still walking. In the throne room were a number of Guard Captains led by Commander Nightlight who was looking more nervous than usual. When the blue-coated stallion saw the Princess he rushed over and did a half bow as Celestia came to halt and before she could even ask he spoke.
"I have guards calming the populace as we speak your majesty and I have dispatched Pegasi and Thestral Guards to the crash site with a contingent of Magi to quell the fires," he said his tone full of respect as he gave her a quick report of the actions he had taken before her arrival.
"Ever on top of things Commander Nightlight," Celestia said though she could tell something was off with her commander with the way he was looking uncomfortable in his armor that night and often glanced toward the city. "What's the matter?" she asked showing concern for her loyal subordinate.
"Twilight Velvet is in the Hospital my Princess," he answered and Celestia's eyes widened at the news.
"Is she hurt? Or..." she was cut off by a chuckle and nervous smile from Nightlight.
"Nothing so serious Princess our latest addition was over eager to join the world," he clarified and had Celestia smiling brightly.
"I see that's very good news," Celestia said genuinely happy for the Commander, "This makes number two I'm sure Shining Armor is happy to be a big brother," she added getting a laugh and nod from Nightlight. "Back to the matter at hand are the guards ready?" she asked and Nightlight nodded as he motioned one of his men over who was holding his silver helm that matched his silver armor which marked all the Night Guards. He slipped the helm on and nodded to Celestia as the guards grouped in around the princess.
"The Guard is ready my Princess," he said saluting her while watching her ignite her horn replacing her golden dress with golden armor instead.
"Then let us be on our way," Celestia continued and with a flash teleported all the guards and herself to the crash site.
*******Crash Site**********
Arriving at the crash site Celestia was greeted by the sight of a smoking wreck Magi were running around dousing flames or just trying to get a look at the object to figure out what it was. As she took a step her hoof crunched on something that sounded like glass and looked down to see she had stepped on some shard of glass. Looking back at the object a wave of smoke enveloped her and she couldn't see through it at first but it thinned with a beat of her powerful alabaster wings. The Guards were already moving about clearing broken trees or stamping out small fires, as Celestia's eyes looked through the smoke at the object. It was impossible to tell the original shape of the object with how damaged it was but if she looked she could see places where it appeared one could walk through but the debris made it hard to tell. It was made of metal she could tell though parts of it were glass perhaps to let the crew watch the stars that would mean there might be survivors. The beating of wings filled the air as the Thestrals and Pegasi thinned the smoke some more as a pair landed in front of her. One was a Thestral who was wearing the silver armor of the Night Guards while the Pegasi wore the flight suit of the Wonderbolts which left only her mane and tail visible.
"Captain Nightshade, Commander Spitfire," Celestia said in greeting as Thestral and Pegasi saluted her.
"Princess," the two said in unison as they bowed respectfully.
"What do we have here?" Celestia asked walking toward the smoking wreckage.
"Well..if I had to hazard a guess I'd say a chunk of something metal," Commander Spitfire said as she watched Unicorns in robes blast jets of water from their horns to douse flames where they could.
"More like a chunk of a ship made of metal," put in Captain Nightshade as she looked up and frowned at the moon. Celestia didn't need to look to know she was looking at the silhouette of her sister. The Thestrals were a newly discovered Tribe of bat-winged ponies who had lived in mountains coming out only at night, if she had found them sooner maybe Luna would not have fallen to Nightmare Moon. Celestia had come to them alone and asked them to join the other tribes as part of Equestria. It had been hard at first for the ponies to accept the Thestrals especially with their diet which was omnivorous meaning they ate meat but slowly over the years, the Thestrals were just another tribe of ponies though rarely seen in daylight as the sun made it hard for them to see.
"A ship?" Celestia asked which brought the Thestral back from her thoughts.
"Yes your Majesty I can see areas that one could walk into I sent a few of my Thestrals inside since we can see in the dark," she answered.
"I advised her we should wait for you and Commander Nightlight," Spitfire chimed in and before she could go on one of the Thestrals that Nightshade had spoken of appeared running out of the wreckage.
He saluted Celestia when he got close before giving his report, "We've found the crew...though they did not survive but we did find a survivor," the Thestral said confusing the mares and Commander. "Perhaps I should show you," the Thestral added before turning to the wreckage.
"Yes we had better see this ourselves, a people who can travel through the stars," Celestia said as she tried to come to grips with the implications this had for Equestria and Gia herself. The four of them followed the Thestral guard into what had once been a large vessel, their way was slow as they had to squeeze past places where debris had blocked the path. As they were swallowed up by the darkness inside Celestia and Nightlight conjured balls of light for those with no night vision the two Thestrals quickly adjusted to the lights which floated above their conjurers. Celestia was amazed that it had held up so well after first crashing into the moon then Gia. They passed Halls and what looked like a room for sleeping everything inside was either broken or under debris, soon they came to a large chamber the walls lined with odd-looking objects but what caught Celestia's attention was the torn out section that was churned dirt and twisted metal. This must have been made when the vessel struck the moon. The Night Guard led them to a group of Thestrals who were surrounding one of the odd objects that was in far better shape than the others. Several of them had been opened and the contents laid on the floor and covered with sheets, Celestia could assume they were once the crew of the vessel.
When they reached the group the Thestrals saluted Celestia and backed away from the object, as Celestia approached she saw through the glass front of the object that it held a small infant inside it. The child was bare and she could tell it was a boy, its upper arms had what appeared to be black scales that wrapped around toward its back. Celestia was enamored with the little sleeping child as she approached and placed a hand on the pod the infant had a tuft of bright green hair atop its head and as she looked at it Celestia couldn't help but want to hold it and comfort it. "Is it alive?" she asked looking at the Thestral guards surrounding her.
"It's hard to say the others were...preserved but this one was lit up but we don't know how to open it and not harm the child," one of them finally spoke up. "It's why we sent that one to get the Captain and Commander," they continued stretching their bat-like wings.
Celestia examined the pod closely running her hands over the metal and glass as she tried to find a way to open the pod. Then it suddenly began beeping and a strange voice spoke in a language she couldn't understand but from the hissing, the pod was making she was certain it was doing something. She stepped away when the object made a loud clang and began to open releasing a burst of chilled air, then there was silence as everyone stared at the pod. Celestia moved closer heedless of her guards cautioning words, inside the pod, the infant was beginning to move then the silence was broken as the infant wailed. It was perhaps a motherly instinct that made Celestia scoop the baby out of the pod her fingers finding the scales on its back as she lifted it up. It continued to cry till Celestia brought it to her chest the metal armor fading taking the form of her dress, the baby stopped crying and cuddled up to Celestia clinging to her with its small hands as it shivered from the cold.
"I need a blanket now," she ordered and the normal Thestrals guards jumped to respond. Nightlight came over then and looked down at the infant.
"Odd how only he survived," he said brushing a dark blue fur-coated finger against the bright green hair making it spike up. "What do you intend to do with him?" he asked and Celestia smiled not at him but the baby in her arms and he knew that look. *I'd get mauled if I suggested she hand me the baby now,* he thought back to how Velvet had been when she held Shiny the first time she looked at him just as Celestia was looking at this alien infant now. "Seems he can breathe our air fine," he added as a Thestral returned with the blanket and one of the Magi in tow. Nightlight glared at the Magi never fully trusting the speckled stallion. The Magi had a light gray coat dotted with darker almost black spots that Nightlight saw poking above the neck of his robes which hid the rest of his body making it hard to judge if he was fat or scrawny beneath. His eyes were the most unsettling part about him beetle black and devoid of any emotion his face might show it but the emotion never reached those cold dark eyes. As the stallion drew closer Nightlight noticed the insignia on his robes marked him as one of the High Magi one of the few unicorns that could lead others in moving the sun or moon. Years ago he had tried to convince Celestia to let him and the Council of Magi raise and lower the moon but Celestia had refused to Nightlight's relief.
The Magi approached Celestia giving the covered bodies a curious glance before focusing on Celestia and the child in her arms now wrapped in a warm blanket. "I had heard there was a survivor," he said his voice monotone and even making Nightlight grip his sword a little tighter as he got closer to the princess. "Shame he cannot speak but an examination will at least tell us something," he said and reached for the bundle but Celestia pulled away from him, her wings flared aggressively as she glared at the new stallion.
"I will see to his examination with the doctors back at the palace," Celestia said her tone full of her authority as she wrapped her wings about herself and the infant protectively making Nightlight smile proudly as he took a place that would make it easy to intercept the Magi if he tried anything. "You may examine the ship Lord Shadowfax and be satisfied with that," Celestia finished as she calmed her wings folding back to their normal resting position.
"What of the bodies?" he asked briefly Nightlight thought he saw a flash of anger in those eyes but it was too quick to be sure and might have been a trick of the light from his orb.
"The Commander and the guards will see they are given proper burials," she said nodding to Nightlight who returned the gesture and motioned to the Thestrals who moved forward and carefully began removing the bodies.
"Princess I must protest we have no knowledge what these creatures are or what they might be capable of doing I request-" Shadowfax started but was cut off when Celestia stomped her hoof making a loud clear metallic bang which echoed through the large empty chamber. This was not something Celestia would cater to and Nightlight knew it, he watched the Magi bow and leave. Nightlight noted that the Magi's hands were balled into tight fists and he knew he'd best keep an eye on the Pony.
Nightlight approached Celestia as she resumed coddling the infant, "What do you intend to do with the child?" he asked though he might have an idea already.
"He has no one and is the only one of his kind on our world," she said sadly as she smiled at the mysterious child in her arms, "I'm going to adopt him," she finally finished as she ignited her horn and teleported herself and the babe from the wrecked ship leaving Nightlight to direct the guards and Magi in dismantiling the wreckage and preparing it to be transported to the caves beneath Canterlot.
*************************************************************************************
Celestia's sudden arrival in the hospital wing of the palace caused the on-duty nurse to panic almost before she noticed that Celestia was unharmed and not even in a panic as she stared down at a bundle in her arms a truly happy smile on her face. When the Princess finally acknowledged the nurse she instructed her to call her personal doctor at once and swore the nurse to secrecy as she was shown the alien infant. The nurse while astonished couldn't help but 'Aww' at the little guy as he slumbered peacefully. In the brighter light of the hospital hallway, Celestia got a much better look at the black scales running over the child's shoulders and down his back noting the odd greenish tint they had in the light. Her doctor arrived in a flash of green the Unicorn disheveled with a tired but fully aware look to his face.
Moments later the doctor had done an examination of the infant once he too was sworn to secrecy while the nurse made a few calls. "Well Princess I can't tell you what he is other than a healthy Colt or male variant of...whatever he is," the doctor said removing the latex gloves he had worn for the examination. "Heavy sleeper too," the doctor noted with a chuckle as he glanced at Celestia who had put a diaper on the baby while he talked. "As for the scales they're natural as far as my examination and scan spell can tell," he continued giving the scales on the baby's back a glance before they were covered in hospital issue baby clothes.
With the examination handled all that was left was the official paperwork for the adoption to make sure it was all legal and that none of the Lords would raise a fuss over her suddenly having a child. For his species, Celestia placed him under Dragon because of his scales. It was around time for her to begin lowering the moon when everything was signed and given the seal of approval by Celestia herself which made the process faster though there were still Beurocrats to deal with that at a later time. Now Celestia was left alone with her newly adopted son who continued to sleep as she ignited her horn, she felt the malice from the moon again but it felt far more subdued after the pain from earlier. Celestia looked up at the moon with its silhouette and smiled, "You're an auntie Luna," she whispered smiling at the moon before she began to lower it, "Happy Birthday my little Spike," she added as she raised the sun.
Chapter 1: Passing of Time
Celestia's adjustment to motherhood was not without its ups and downs some having to do with her adopted son's unique physiology. It came the next day as the baby woke her obviously hungry after who knows how long it had gone without. As Celestia comforted the baby to ease the crying she noticed his eyes as they opened and looked up at her. Celestia had panicked and rushed to the hospital wing worried something was wrong as his eyes were abnormal and worried her as they looked similar to how her sister's had looked after her change. They were such a bright shade of green they seemed to glow add that to the Draconic slit pupils and it was easy to see why she had been worried. But not only that instead of being surrounded by the normally white sclera his was pitch black almost making it appear his eyes floated in empty sockets. The doctor while also unsettled by the child's eyes couldn't find any unnatural cause and suggested that he might be Hybrid of his mother and father's species merely speculating that there were other races out there that could explain his features such as his scales and eyes. This calmed Celestia and she adjusted to his odd eyes though they still unsettled the Palace Staff even frightening a maid once or twice when he opened them suddenly.
Other challenges came in clothing the baby as he possessed neither hooves or a tail, this led Celestia to hire a tailor to design the clothes for him. Learning to balance her duties as a Princess with those of a mother was much harder than finding clothes for her son as being the ruler of the nation left little time to be with her son except early in the morning and at night. Luckily her assistant Ink Well was able to adjust her schedule to allow her to play and take care of Spike a few times a day. Of course, it was not all easily handled especially on nights when Spike just wouldn't sleep even after he had been changed and fed. This led to a lack of sleep which led to Celestia's temper being frayed due to exhaustion and then to her snapping at a lord who brought the same money grubbing self-serving and downright selfish proposal of turning Canterlot City Park into a lavish spa for the rich. She had nearly thrown him in the dungeon before she checked her temper. The solution came from commander Nightlight and it was such a simple solution Celestia would've kicked herself if she could for not thinking of it.
"Just keep him in the bed with you," Nightlight had said after Celestia dismissed lord Fancy Pants who had come to Night Court to seek her approval of constructing a new railroad line road for Ponyville. He resumed their conversation from when they waited for him to arrive.
"Really that simple?" Celestia asked smirking at the commander who nodded.
"Of course your majesty. It did wonders for Shiny and I think it helps build a bond between parents and child," he said smiling as he appeared to be reliving the memory in his mind.
It proved true as when Spike began crying in the night again instead of trying to keep him in his crib she picked him up in her magic and floated him into her arms and laid him next to her. The crying stopped and the babe went to sleep a tiny hand wrapped around her pointer finger.
The months passed into a year and a new revelation came when her son began to teeth, she discovered that his diet would require meat as the newest arrival was shaped predator's fang meaning his species was omnivorous as the first few were clearly meant for grinding plants. Though that would be dealt with when he was older and could chew his food without it being a formless paste first. It was six months after what Celestia chose to be Spikes first birthday that Commanders brought to light a series of vanishing ponies. They had all left Canterlot for either business, vacation or family obligation but never arrived at their destination their last location either at the trainstation or the docks to board an Airship. Celestia had instated a curfew as all the disappearances happened at night when there were fewer witnesses if any at all. Still a few stallions or mares would come up missing. This had many ponies worried and travel was done well before the sun set and for Celestia she had patrols cover the docks and the trainstation though they found nothing or saw anything unusual . With no new leads Celestia could do little else but hope the ponies would turn up safe and sound.
As another year passed and Nightlights advice became ever more invaluable to the princess finding herself leaving Spike in Nightlights care when ever she had to travel and taking a young child around wasn't a safe decision. It was always a bright occasion when Celestia would return and find her son waiting for her. Twilight and Spike proved to be fast friends and Celestia could sense a strong growing bond between them when ever she saw them playing together when she took a private moment with Nightlight and let the two young ones play. All too soon the boy was waddling through the castle when Celestia noticed a few more oddities about him or rather Maids and other servants noticed and reported to her. Her son had waddled into the kitchen one day and was spotted sneaking a cookie but what was unusual was the fact he sprouted wings to do it. However, no evidence save for the torn holes in his shirt where they had sprung from remained of the wings. Was this a part of his other parent's genes waking up? Celestia didn't know but knew more powers could awaken she worried her son would be shunned by other ponies not only for his looks but for his abilities. Nightlight was an exception having been there when Celestia found him and his wife had a very kind and accepting nature about her that even Celestia envied. She would not allow her worries and doubts to stop her son learning about his powers.
As more years passed and Spike grew from a stumbling toddler into being a young colt he came of age to begin schooling just as Twilight she beginning in Magical Kindergaten. While Celestia had taken students herself in the past she didn't want to change her son's view of her as other than a mother and ruler. She decided to hire a tutor to teach Spike all he would need to know while Celestia made plans to finally introduce him to the Lords and Ladies of Canterlot at a Grand Galloping Gala. She soon learned he could breathe fire at will when his tutor ran out of his chambers beard alight with green flames, while worrisome that he attacked his teacher Celestia could forgive it as not all children were overjoyed to be cooped up for hours while a stuffy Unicorn droned on about this or that. She could at least understand and after scolding him she decided to do something nice and see if his fire would act like Dragon Fire. She made the offer to show him a trick an offer he leaped at and when she explained it further he couldn't hide his eagerness. The spell was easy something she had learned from a Dragon years ago all it took was for him to breathe fire while she worked the spell and soon he was sending letters with his flames. Celestia was often bombarded with drawings that Spike made and he took every chance to send her something even a short letter to tell her little childish secrets or that he loved her. These letters and drawing would often help Celestia get through a rather boring meeting with a noble or while she was alone signing papers and making sure the red tape was dealt with for this or that project.
Twilight Sparkle's choice of schools after Kindergarten was to be Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. It was during the practical part of her entrance exam when a sudden Rainboom occurred frightening the young and already panicking filly causing her to go through a powerful Magical Epiphany. Celestia luckily had been passing by when the Rainboom happened and she noticed the lights and arcing magical bolts coming from the testing chambers in one of the Palaces towers. It proved to be incredibly powerful even by Celestia's standards as several of the professors overseeing the exam had been turned into birds and she noticed a rather odd pair of plants one surrounded by a Night Guards armor in the corner. She saw something else in the young filly a potential that could not be ignored much like her Niece Princess Cadance's own potential which had earned her her wings. After calming the filly down Celestia restored Velvet and Nightlight along with the other ponies and asked Twilight to be her personal student which the filly eagerly accepted. A few days later after moving into the Observatory, Celestia found Twilight and Spike engrossed in a Daring Do book and snuggled together in a book fort. The sight was so adorable she dare not disturb them till it was time for Twilight's lessons.
Now Celestia had to juggle being a mother, teacher, and ruler as she took Twilight Sparkle under her wing and guided her academic pursuits. Twilight proved to be a voracious reader and student as she absorbed every lesson and practiced until she had mastered a spell or complicated formula. Spike proved to be a big help as the young colt would often fetch Twilight books or help by being the target of many of her spells as she practiced. One day, while Celestia had been taking a meeting with the Minotaur King. Spike had entered the meeting hall and tugged at the sleeve of her dress. When she looked she saw he had sprouted a handlebar mustache it caused Celestia to spit out a sip of tea right into the face of the Minotaur King as Celestia was caught off guard by Spike's appearance. Smoothing things over with King Minos was difficult but he too understood in time as Celestia introduced her adopted son to the Minotaur. After that Celestia decided to suggest that Spike take up being Twilight's assistant since he was already helping her and by helping her he was doing much better at his school work himself.
The next four years proved that the two would be inseparable as they worked together. Just as Twilight's magical knowledge grew Spike's number of abilities seemed to also grow from growing wings to fly something he took great delight in to some times altering his body to have claws and even a tail which sparked Twilights curious mind and Celestia found her trying to chase him down for one of his scales. She learned he could use his claws to climb up walls which he did to escape Twilight and dropped on Celestia in order to beg her protection from the over curious Twilight. Once she had gotten Twilight to calm down and no longer terroize Spike for one of his scales she inspected the stone and found the marks he had left in the marble and felt her own curiosity grow.
It was a few months after settling Twilights curiosity Celestia had the worst scare of her life when she truly feared she had lost her child when Spike had gone missing. He had not come down for breakfast and when maids returned saying he was not there Celestia felt her gut clench as she hastily sent for the Guards to begin searching every inch of Canterlot even down to the docks. As the day passed Celestia's fears were confirmed as Guards returning from the docks reported witnesses that saw a speckled stallion carrying a strange looking colt into one of the ware houses. Celestia knew who the stallion was and who the strange colt was as well as she called for the Captain of the Royal Guards including Commander Nightlight. She acompanied the Guards as they raided the warehouse with Commander Nightlight alongside Captain Sunspear. Her guards searched every inch of the Warehouse every box or crate was moved and that's when they found the hidden entrance to a set of caves. Not too far past the hidden entrance was another door and what was on the door turned Celestia's blood to ice as she gazed at the black stained oak door with a seal painted on it she remembered all too well.
"Sweet Goddess...not this...not here," she whispered her mind remembering the terrible genocide that the owner of the seal on the door enacted. "Grogar the Necromancer," she continued as her and her guards stared at the terrible image of a Ram's skull marked with glowing and profane runes.
"You're majesty what is this?" Nightlight asked never seeing Celestia look so afraid.
"Evil...pure evil," Celestia answered her fear turning to righteous fury as she summoned her magic and blew the door off its hinges and into the darkness below. Her dress glowed as it was replaced by armor and she held her Halberd in her hands, "Come and be on your guard, what lies down here is nothing less than Tartarous itself," she said summoning an orb of light which she sent ahead of them. Before they went she turned to one of the last guards to approach the door, "Guard. I want you to return to the Palace and summon as many Magi and more guards and bring them here," she ordered and watched the stallion leave to obey her orders.
They had been walking for hours it seemed guided by Celestia's orb as it lit the way, some guards swore they heard something just beyond the pool of light the orb of Celestia's made. A sharp command from Celestia halted them from pursuit as she warned them that it was only a trick to pull them into a horrible trap. They came to another door like the first only this one did not bear the seal only a brief line of Runes that Celestia glared at. "Death is not an Ending but a Beginning," she read remembering the last words Grogar had whispered before she ended him. How many had died to end his horror? Her father, elder sister, and even their mother perished in the long war leaving her with a young Luna too young to have fought or remember their parents. This door suffered the same fate as the first as Celestia blasted it feeling her rage grow. Stepping into the room she heard the guards behind her gasp in shock as their eyes fell on the horror within. In this room was all manner of grotesque debased experiment one could conceive but the bodies were fresh, Ponies both Mare and Stallion had been carved open and dissected. Many guards lost their lunch then adding the stink of bile to the already fetid air, Celestia kept a tight grip on her anger and Halberd when she came upon the bodies from the crash she had ordered buried. She knew who had done this, continued this barbarism, this...evil. There was a small room where muffled cries for help came from, Celestia hurried to the door finding Spike tied and gagged shaking in fear till he saw his mother. As Celestia removed his binds and his gag Spike shouted out, "It's a trap!" but his warning was a moment too late.
Shadowfax attacked from the shadows using powerful spells he killed several guards before they could raise their swords leaving Sunspear and Nightlight to stand between him and the Princess who held Spike protectivly. "Welcome to my research lab Celestia," he said his voice cold and dripping with contempt toward her. "My master will be pleased to know that you are dead and when I bring him that, he will make me the ruler of Equestria," the stallion said pointing at Spike who Celestia pushed behind her as a mad grin spread across the stallion's face. Sunspear stepped between Shadowfax and Celestia lowering his spear and readying his shield as Nightlight drew his sword and ignited his horn for battle.
"More guards will be on their way Shadowfax surrender now and you may have the chance to remain in a cell for the rest of your days," the Guard Captian commanded ready to strike if the other stallion moved other than to surrender. This received a harsh laugh from Shadowfax.
"Foal with this I am more than powerful enough to dispose of the two of you and Celestia," he said raising an amulet that Celestia recognized.
"Shadowfax the Alicorn Amulet will..."
"SILENCE YOU INSUFFERABLE NAG!" Shadowfax screamed his eyes beginning to glow green as the Amulet's hold on him grew stronger. "I've watched as you weakened Equestria through your policies of Friendship and Kindness. We were a Nation that commanded the respect of others for our strength in Magic and arms," the increasingly unstable stallion continued berating Celestia. "We will be great again my master will see to that," Shadowfax chuckled. Then in a flash he charged the two Guards creating a magical sword of black fire in one hand while using the other to deliver a kinetic slap to Sunspear who was sent crashing into a nearby wall where he collapsed knocked unconscious from the blow. This left only Nightlight to defend Celestia and Spike as he tried to use a common attack spell but Shadowfax just dispelled it without even batting an eye before his rambling continued. "Even the Dragons dared not incur our wrath for the sake of their people, we were a power on Gia but now, now we're weak," he growled. His attention was brought back to Nightlight who had closed the distance and slashed at him with his sword only for Shadowfax to smirk as the metal broke against his magical shield. The insane stallion brought his sword down at Nightlights legs cutting through the metal greaves at Nightlights knees, he missed the first but second wasn't so lucky as it was slashed open and Nightlight cried out in pain as he collapsed as his right knee couldn't hold him up.
Shadow fax rambled on about a glorious new dawn for Ponies how all of Gia would bow before Ponykind with him as their new Emperor and Grogar ascended to Godhood. As he raised his sword to strike down Nightlight Celestia felt a burst of power behind her and something whoosh past her in a green blur. When she looked at Nightlight she saw Spike standing there hands gripping the magical blade in his hands that were covered black scales. What surprised her was that he could hold the blade itself as the black fire singed his clothing but did him no harm other wise. Celestia reganed her hooves and picked up her Halberd, it wasn't a weapon for confined spaced like the lab but it would serve.
"Damn you brat get out of the way," Shadowfax growled trying to pull his sword back but Spike held on displaying surprising strength for his age even as blood began to drip from where he gripped the blade and it had cut through the scales but no further. With a viscious snarl Shadowfax brought his leg up and kicked Spike in his stomach. The sudden pain made him release the sword as he flew away from the two stallions and slid across the floor, Celestia rushed to her son he wasn't badly injured and had been rendered unconscious she also noticed he clutched something else in his hands as it clattered to the stone floor, the Alicorn Amulet. How he had gotten it away from Shadowfax Celestia couldn't tell but that was a question for another time.
Spike's interference gave Nightlight an opening as he drew his dagger and drove it into Shadowfax's closest leg. As the Magi screamed and turned his attention on Nightlight again he was beyond any sane thought now as he raised the sword to strike the killing blow only to stop as the tip of Celestia's Halberd appeared sticking out of his chest.
"Grogar will never lay his filthy hands on my son," Celestia growled twisting the halberd as she pulled it out making sure he was dead before he hit the floor.
More guards arrived that moment and more lost their lunch at what they saw, "Your majesty what..." a commander began but was cut off by Celestia.
"Get Nightlight and Captain Sunspear out of here," she ordered then she picked up Spike, "You did well my son," she whispered to him watching the scales recede.
"What do we do with all this?" the Commander asked.
"That is for the Magi," she answered and continued, "I want everything logged inspected," she went on to order everything that belonged Lord Shadowfax seized right down to the last crumb in his cubboards. "I want all his known associates questioned, every last letter he sent or recieved or would receive confiscated," she finished. She needed to ensure he acted alone or find the others if there were any. The guards obeyed securing the area and waiting for the Magi to arrive, one guard noticed the Amulet and picked it up, instead of leaving it he pocketed the amulet with a smirk as he was sure to fetch a fine price at a pawn shop for the item.
Nightlight and Sunspear were taken out of the caves for treatment, Celestia teleporting the group once they were outside not wanting to risk triggering any traps for someone teleporting in the caves. Their arrival was met with a flurry of activity as Sunspear and Nightlight were seen to by doctors who had been told to be on standby before Celestia and the Guards left the palace. As for Spike Celestia would see to him once again replacing her armor with the gown she had been wearing before. She carried him to an empty room to see to his injuries but when she tried inspecting the wounds she found only the remains of what blood had spilled. Not even a scar remained and magic weapons were known for leaving gruesome scars on the injured. She noticed him waking and smiled as his eyes opened and met her own she made a light gasp of surprise when the young colt lunged and wrapped his arms around her hugging her tightly his body shivering as he came to realize he was safe.
"It's alright my little colt, you're safe," she whispered gently stroking his hair as she held him close. She felt his tears land on her dress as he hugged her but she didn't care her son was safe and even a few tears made their way down her own cheeks as she held him.
Their moment of peace was broken by a quiet voice from the door as a nurse poked her head inside, "Mrs.Velvet is here," she said unsure this was something Celestia wanted to be informed of at the moment.
Celestia turned to her son and smiled as she wiped the tears from his cheeks, "I'm sure Twilight will want to see you're safe," she said but didn't get the joyed smile she expected instead Spike looked away even sadder. "What is it," Celestia said gently turning his head to look at her.
"Nightlight got hurt protecting me," he said his voice choked with sadness as fresh tears brimmed in his eyes, "They'll all hate me," he continued wiping his eyes sniffing.
"They won't hate you," Celestia said comforting her son as she smiled at him. "If not for you she wouldn't have a father right now," Celestia said watching as the tears slowly dried up, "Come let's go see Twilight and her family," she said offering Spike her hand as she stood. Spike took her hand and followed her out of the room they made the short walk down the hall and around a corner and Spike heard a familiar voice call out his name before a purple blur rammed into him wrapping a pair of arms around him. The blur turned out to be none other than Twilight Sparkle.
Speaking with Nightlight on his gurney was his wife Twilight Velvet and their son Shining Armor. Velvet was a beautiful mare with a purple and white mane and tail, her coat was grey she had very kind blue eyes that were looking at her husband in relief as they spoke before the healers took him to the operating room. She wore simple sun blue sundress with a white belt with her cutie mark as the buckle around her waist Shining Armor stood next to his parents as his father spoke to his mother then to him, at fifteen Shining was taking after his father with broad shoulders and chest. His coat was white making him stand out from his darker colored parents, his mane and tail were both a bright blue color. He wore a short sleeved shirt and a pair of shorts with his cutie mark sowed into them at the bottom of his right pant's leg. They only noticed Twilight had ran off when Celestia and Spike walked up Twilight beside them once she had released Spike.
Velvet was the first to move kneeling down to hug Spike who was considered a part of the family by now with the time he had spent in their home while Celestia was away. After her was Shining who shared a fist pump with Spike as hugs were too girly for boys. "It's good to see you safe little prince," Velvet said using her pet name for Spike getting him to blush as he smiled his mood improving as his mother was proven right and Nightlight's family didn't hate him for getting Nightlight hurt because he was in trouble.
"Hey Spike," Nightlight's voice broke in as he smiled at Spike, "I owe you for saving my life," the older stallion said getting a firm head shake no from Spike.
"I got you hurt because I couldn't fight him, I was too scared to fight," he said and looked away from Nightlight in shame.
"Spike," Nightlight began, "Look at me Spike," he continued and once Spike met his eyes he went on. "I'm a guard it's my job to put my life on the line for other ponies," he said.
"But you're brave," Spike interrupted him getting a nostalgic smile from Nightlight.
"Being Brave doesn't mean having no fear, it means acting inspite of that fear," he said and watched as Spikes eyes seemed to glimmer with understanding. "It means protecting others who can't protect themselves because you can protect them and that's what you did tonight," he finished placing a proud hand on Spike's shoulder smiling at him.
The doctors had no more time to wait as they told the family he needed to be in surgery. As he was wheeled off Nightlight had a good feeling that both Spike and Shining had taken his words to heart. While things were calming down for Spike Celestia was having to deal with the fallout of having the guards bring in so many Nobles with only that it was her orders as an explanation. It grew only worse as the next day the news papers were delivered telling everyone about the Kidnapping of Celestia's son and the discovery of the bodies within the cave hidden in a warehouse at the docks. Many families were soon grieving at the news as they were called to identify the bodies thanks to the Missing Posters they had put up. As for the nobles they had no knowledge of what Shadowfax was doing or what his plans were and the only Shadowfax had had were the few he sent to her to try and get her permission to examine the bodies from the crash and those were old. With no evidence the nobles were released with full apologies from Celestia and her Captain Sunspear.
Spike and Twilight were both changed by these events Spike taking Nightlight's words to heart asked to learn how to fight and protect others. While Twilight, was motivated to heal her father as what ever magic had been used to form the sword that struck Nightlight made it impossible to fully mend his knee. So Twilight pushed her studies hoping to learn enough about magic to fix her father's knee aided by Spike who was still her assistant. While the stallion could still walk with some assitance from a cane he wouldn't be able to perform the rest of his duties so Nightlight resined himself to early retirement but Celestia was there to offer him the job of training Spike as Nightlight knew the boy well enough and had his respect she couldn't think of a better choice at least till her son's skill increased. For now things settled and Celestia decided to hold off introducing her son for a little while longer as she felt the binds on her sisters prison weakening as the years passed and Spike grew into a handsome stallion. She knew what was coming and if her hunch about Twilight was right then she'd have to make plans for when Nightmare Moon returned.
Author's Note
How many think it would be cool if someone wrote a fiction set in the Total War Warhammer setting using MLP? Or Cyberpunk 2077 with Equestria Girls?
Chapter 2: Nightmare Moon Part 1
The sun crept over the horizon its rays slowly dispelling the night as it rose over the city of Canterlot bathing the snow-capped peak of the mountain the city was built into. In one of the towers of Canterlot Palace, its rays found a way past the blinds to land on the face of a sleeping Human. The young man groaned as he woke mind slowly shaking off the fog of sleep as bright neon green eyes fluttered just before his mouth opened in a yawn and one hand made its way out from under the warm blankets to rub his face. However, he noticed there was something off about today as he found he couldn't use his other hand and it registered an unknown weight laid against his body and when he tried to move the weight would move with him. Lifting the covers the young man was greeted by the sight of a beautiful purple furred mare with the tale tell horn of a Unicorn sticking out of her forehead. She was wrapped around him dressed in her yellow plaid pajamas and still asleep her soft breathing tickling his bare skin where her short muzzle rested on his chest. Twilight Sparkle had found her way into his bed again which he didn't mind since they had been friends ever since they had been kids and before she became his mother's personal student. Spike smiled at the mare clinging to him as he sat up making her tighten her grip and the ears atop her head to lay back as she tried to keep him there but a substitute in the form of his pillow got her to release him. She nuzzled the pillow muttering in her sleep.
"You make the best pancakes Spike," she said making Spike cover his mouth so he didn't start laughing. He covered her back up under the blankets leaving her with the pillow to listen to her sleep talking. Her words, however, had inspired him as he knew what to prepare for their breakfast.
Silently he left his bedroom not caring to put a shirt on as he headed downstairs to start breakfast dressed in only his pajama pants. Reaching the bottom step he was greeted by the mother of all messes. Books of all shapes and sizes littered every table along with stacks of scrolls and notes that the studious mare had accumulated in her study binge the night before. Spike sighed knowing that he had to clean the mess up first before he cooked. Luckily he had a way of doing things fast as his bright green eyes glowed and the cleaning was done in a flash as he raced around the room as a green blur. Books were back on their shelves, scrolls in their proper slots and the notes organized and placed neatly on Twilight's desk. Wiping a little sweat from his brow as his eyes returned to normal the Human stepped into the kitchen and took out what he needed for their breakfast. He had taken the role as her assistant as a means of remaining close to his only friend since he was the only one of his kind in Equestria or Gia for that matter. This placed them as roommates in the tower that doubled as Twilight's study, he pulled on a pink frilly apron to cover his muscled chest as he prepared breakfast for his still slumbering friend.
He was plating the last pancake when Twilight made it down from his bedroom still dressed in her pajamas midnight blue mane with a pink and purple streak matched the tail which stuck out the back of her pajama bottoms both were a mess as she shuffled into the kitchen and sat at the table. When he placed a cup of coffee before her just how she liked it he saw her immediate change from barely awake to fully awake the moment the drink passed her lips. Twilight moaned savoring the coffee as Spike finished with breakfast placing the plates of pancakes on the table. Twilight's eyes lit up as she hungrily stared at the stack of syrup and butter covered flat cakes before hungrily starting to devour the food releasing more moans of pleasure as she enjoyed her food. Spike smiled watching her take huge bites of the food before joining her devouring his own breakfast with the same gusto as Twilight.
When she finished her meal she wiped her mouth with a napkin and smiled at Spike, "Amazing as always Spike," Twilight said in a bright and cheerful tone. "You always seem to know what I'd be craving in the mornings," she commented thoughtfully making Spike just smile at her as he picked up their plates and carried them to the sink to be washed.
"You know me Twi, always aiming to please," he said getting an even brighter smile from the mare before he turned and started washing the dishes.
"I better get my shower and dressed," Twilight said standing up from the table her eyes lingered on Spike as he nodded as he heard her words. She watched him clean eyes lingering on his muscled back noting the wide strip of black scales that ran up his back and across his shoulders that the apron didn't cover. She realized she was staring and felt her face blush turning her purple fur a shade darker as she hurried off to the shower before Spike noticed.
Spike worked in the kitchen unaware of Twilight's lingering stare as he heard her make her way to the bathroom, he dried and put the dishes away before he washed then wiped down the kitchen to keep it looking pristine. As he finished with the kitchen Twilight returned drying her mane. She was wearing a plain button up blouse under a purple vest with a purple plaid skirt that reached her knees with her cutie mark stitched into it on her hip where it was on her body. She was brushing her hair out when she looked over at Spike who was taking off the apron and hanging it up on its hook. She couldn't help staring at his muscled chest and arms her mind generating scenarios where they were wrapped around her in a more sensuous manner than a friendly hug before her mind was too absorbed in fantasies she drew her eyes away and focused on her mane. "I left some hot water for your shower," she said not turning to look at him so he didn't see her blushing face.
"Thanks, Twilight," Spike said getting only an 'Mmmmhmmm' from Twilight in response as she didn't look at him and instead busied herself counting brush strokes. It was a little odd for twilight to avoid his gaze though he probably knew why after a short trek up the stairs to the bathroom. Opening the door he was met with the lingering steam of Twilights shower along with the scent of her body wash and shampoo closing the door behind him he removed his night clothes and grabbed a towel from the cabinets. He paused at the bathroom mirror and examined himself, his face was bare with no sign of stubble which was rather sad as he always wanted a fine and distinguished mustache. His hair meanwhile was bright green cut short along the sides and left long on top and while it was usually styled right now it was mussed from sleep. Bright neon green eyes met his gaze and he quickly noticed the eeriness of his eyes as instead of being surrounded by white like most instead his eyes were surrounded in a blackness that made them appear to be floating in their sockets. This was why Twilight might have been uneasy this morning his eyes would put anyone off especially with their second oddity which was the fact his pupils were actually draconic slits. As he looked at himself he couldn't help but feel that familiar presence that seemed to watch him through his eyes every time he looked at his reflection. Sometimes he even dreamed of this other presence but he couldn't recall anything but blackness and some odd sounds that sounded like someone talking in another language that was just outside his range of understanding. Leaving those thoughts he continued his self-examination taking some pride in his muscled arms and chest that he got from sparring with the Captain of the Royal Guard and his trainer when he made the time for it as he was usually busy helping Twilight with an academic project or they were studying together.
Leaving the mirror he walked into the shower stall and turned on the water it felt good to wash away the last clinging feelings of drowsiness as the hot water washed over him. He hummed a tune to himself an old tune he couldn't remember where he had heard it but it came to mind whenever he was calm and his mind clear. Looking around the shower he found his shampoo and lathered up his hair stepping out of the warm spray of the shower head which left him in the cooler air for a moment. Steam rose off his muscled and sud covered chest before he stepped back under the spray and rinsed the soap from his hair and body. Finished with his shower he wrapped a towel around his waist and dried his hair as he walked into his room to find clean clothes for the day. Moments later he was back out dressed in cargo pants, black shirt with black silk short sleeved button up over it with a design of green flames crawling up from the bottom. Finishing his apparel was a pair of shoes which was an oddity as ponies had hooves for feet but he needed specially designed attire for his to keep them protected from the elements.
Spike walked back downstairs to find Twilight anxiously examining her notes and pulling out a book with her telekinesis that almost hit him if he wasn't paying attention. More books followed that he had to dodge but one still clipped his head as it sped past him. Using her magic to open and flip to the part she needed with furious speed that he feared would hurt the book as she searched for some bit of information discarding each book when she didn't find what she was after. While not unusual he was a little concerned see how she was handling the tomes as she usually handled them with greater care than she was showing now. "There it is!" she declared loudly turning and shouting for him having not realized he was no longer in his room and was, in fact, a few steps away from her which meant she was yelling in his face practically. "Spike!" was all she managed before spotting him right in front of her covering his ears from her volume. She covered her mouth with a hand smiling somewhat apologetically, "Sorry about that, but here take a look at this," she said in her quieter but a still anxious voice.
Spike looked at where she was pointing in the book it was a historical book detailing the banishment of Nightmare Moon. The lack of comprehension on his face must have registered to Twilight as she pointed to the end of the last passage just above an artist depiction of the moon now with a horned ponies profile marked onto it. " 'And the Stars will aid in her escape'. Twi, I'm not getting it," he said which got a growl of frustration from the mare.
"I was going over my astronomical notes from last night and according to the stars and the calendar today is the end of the thousand year banishment of Nightmare Moon and several stars which only align every thousand years are moving into perfect alignment today," she said her voice quickening and sounding really anxious now as she explained what it all meant.
Carefully Spike took the book from his friend and set it down, "Twi, it's just an old Fillies Tale," he began and got a glare from Twilight.
"It's not just a story Spike it's a real historical fact, I need you to send this message to Princess Celestia warning her of the impending danger. If we can get ahead of Nightmare Moon she won't be able to do too much damage," Twilight said holding up a hastily written letter on a sliver of parchment and offering it to him.
Spike looked from the letter before looking into Twilight's desperate eyes watching him and hoping he'd help her as he always did. "Alright Twilight," he said as he took the note and focused on Celestia briefly before breathing green fire on the parchment burning into ash. Luckily his mother had enchanted his flames to carry messages to her when he was very young, he remembered drawing her pictures or writing little messages to her while she was attending to Day Court and burning them to send to her. This led to an often annoyed but smiling Celestia when she eventually caught up to him and drew him into crushing hug where she attempted to shower him with mommy kisses which left them both happy and laughing.
They didn't have long to wait as Spike felt the usual sensation of something working it's way up and out of him in a fiery belch which produced a new piece of parchment. Taking it out of the air he began to read it to Twilight whose face fell from one of excitement to a depressed frown with each word.
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Twilight's mood had not improved even in the chariot which was bringing them to the destination drawn by two Pegasi Guards. Spike who had slipped on a pair of aviator sunglasses he had gotten from Spitfire his fifteenth birthday to hide his eyes was sitting next to her watching the scenery roll by beneath them, for him this was his first time beyond Canterlot. He looked over at his glum companion and decided to move closer to her, putting an arm around her shoulder he pulled her to him giving her a little shake to try and dispell her dower mood. "C'mon Twi, it's not all that bad," he said and even though it had worked with how Twilight sighed and leaned against him before she stiffened and pulled away from his grip.
"She's sending me to overlook the preparations for a party. A PARTY! When Nightmare Moon is bound to return any moment and cast Equestria into eternal night," she said annoyed and frustrated at her Mentor. "And, why do I need to make friends? I've got you," she said which made Spike feel a little happy but he knew his mother had the best intentions with this assignment. They were soon setting down just on the road leading into the town, as they stepped out and the chariot flew off back to Canterlot Spike replied.
"It couldn't hurt to have more friends, and besides the Ponies of Ponyville might have some interesting things to say," he said spotting a mare bouncing down the street towards them. She was all pink from her coat to the tip of her mane and tail wearing a powder blue tank top that seemed desperate to keep her bountiful chest covered and by the way they moved that was all the mare was wearing up top. A pair of jeans that hugged her generous hips finished her attire, she came to a stop before the two of them. "Go ahead Twi," Spike encouraged and even as she rolled her eyes Twilight was at least going to try.
Before Twilight could even introduce herself the pink mare let out an audible and over the top gasp and raced off away from them leaving only a trail of dust in her wake. Twilight looked at Spike as if this was undeniable proof that this was going to be a waste of time receiving an awkward smile and shrug from the Human. "What's first on the list?" Twilight asked resigning herself to the task since they were already there.
"Checking the banquet preparations at Sweet Apple Acres," he read off the list Celestia had sent a moment after the brief letter.
With a heavy sigh Twilight started to shuffle off through the town toward their destination, "Might as well get this over with," she muttered hearing the crunch of Spikes shoes as he caught up and kept pace with her.
The trip through town was interesting at least as they saw many ponies mostly mares since Equestria had an odd five to one ratio of mares and stallions. Twilight noticed a few of them staring at them though most she could tell were watching Spike and she felt her jealousy rising. Meanwhile, her friend was busy taking in the rustic charm of the thatched roofs and the open market where ponies were selling either flowers or produce they grew in their own little gardens.
The walk to Sweet Apple Acres was pleasant with a nice breeze to keep them cool with the occasional cloud to block the sun now and then. The smell of fresh apples on the air told them both that they were on the right path to the farm, also the huge orchard of apple trees they were passing was a good clue. A white fence blocked the apple trees from the road obviously to mark the property line and when it came to an archway with a sign that read 'Sweet Apple Acres they knew they had arrived. It was a nice quiet place with a beautiful tin roof farmhouse, barn, pig pen, chicken coop a small garden of vegetables for the household. Spike could just detect the smell of baked goods coming from the house as they approached until the quiet of the farm was broken by a loud 'YeeHah' and as one, both Spike and Twilight turned their heads and spotted the source. It was revealed to be a tall Earth Pony with a chestnut coat and blond mane done up in a braid with a red band holding it together under a Stetson hat as they rushed at an apple tree and using their muscled legs kicked the trunk with all their might. The kick connected as the tree shook dropping its bounty into strategically placed baskets that caught as many apples as they could while the pony picked up what had landed on the ground.
As they came nearer they could see the pony was a mare built for farm life with her toned physique. Her clothes displayed her body nicely since she wore a green plaid button up shirt that was done up so that it only covered the bountiful breasts of her chest there was also a sports bra underneath the shirt. This left her flat washboard stomach exposed that came to down to her slim waist before exploding out into wide hips covered by denim shorts that left the rest of her toned legs exposed. On either hip of her denim shorts was her cutie mark which appeared to be a set of three apples. She was just a few inches shorter than Spike minus the Stetson, her spring green eyes caught sight of them and she walked up to them.
"Howdy Y'all and welcome to Sweet Apple Acres," she said in a rehearsed manner but the emotion of a warm welcome was genuine in her bright smile.
"Hello, I'm Twilight Sparkle and I'm here to check on the Banquet for the Summer Sunset Celebration," Twilight responded introducing herself. She didn't get much further as the mare closed the distance in a hurry and took on of Twilight's hands in both of hers in a rapid handshake.
"Well It's a delight to be making your acquaintance Twilight Sparkle," she said shaking Twilight's hand so vigorously she was shaking.
"I-I-I t-ta-take i-it yo-your Ap-Applejack," Twilight managed which made the mare stop shaking her hand though Twilight continued to shake till Spike put a hand on her to still her getting a grateful sigh from Twilight.
"Sure as sugar are," she said proudly tipping her Stetson back, "And don't Y'all worry about the Banquet we got all the vittles ya could want. Wanna try a sample?" she asked but before she could say any more, a shout from somewhere drew their attention to an apple cart heavily loaded down with baskets of apples was rolling toward them at high speeds.
"Runaway apple cart!" a young filly warned as she chased after the aforementioned cart. Applejack grabbed Twilight to try and move them out of the way but Twilight stumbled and fell to the ground and they wouldn't make it out of the way in time. Spike reacted fast imposing himself between the cart and mares he braced himself and as the cart hit him he grunted as he just managed to stop and using the cart's momentum lifted the whole thing over his head displaying incredible strength.
"You two alright?" Spike asked getting awestruck nods from Applejack and Twilight, "That's good. Where'd you like this to go Miss Applejack?" he asked but it seemed Applejack was still too much in shock to answer as she stared at him with an odd look in her green eyes.
"Y'all okay?" said a young filly as she got closer her eyes went wide seeing the tall stranger holding the cart over his head with so little strain. "Wow-" she muttered looking up at him before she registered his question. "You can put it near the barn," she said and got a grateful nod from the strange stallion. Heavy hoof falls told them all a new arrival had shown up and when the deep voice of a stallion spoke out it seemed to be enough to snap Applejack out of her stupor.
"Applejack you okay?" asked a tall stallion with a red coat while his mane and tail were a dirty blond color. He wore plain work short sleeved shirt with a green apple on the chest, and a pair of stained jeans. More ponies arrived having heard the commotion some openly staring at Spike as he carried the cart to the barn and set it down. Some looked to have been cooking inside the house or out back gathering apples, Spike nodded politely as he strolled with the apple filled cart above his head.
"Yeah, Bigmac Ah'm fine," Applejack said at last with a sigh as she took off her hat and used it to fan herself while glancing at the odd stallion who saved her from getting struck and hurt. She looked down and noticed the stranger had lost his sunglasses in the rush to save them, she picked them up and followed after him to the barn followed by Twilight who was brushing the dirt off her skirt. She noticed her Grany was also watching the strange stallion as he lowered the cart carefully to the ground near the barns open door. "You dropped these," she said as he straightened back up and she held out the shades when he turned and she got a chance to see his eyes she was taken aback by their peculiar appearance but she caught herself as she looked into their deep green depths as he took the glasses back.
"Thanks," he said as he slipped them on hiding his eyes from view.
"You got some pretty eyes their partner," Applejack said before she could stop herself. She noticed the slight shy smile that appeared on the stallion's face as he scratched the back of his neck his cheeks turning pink which drew Applejack's notice. "What's your name?" she asked smiling up at him which was a little odd for her as she was usually taller than the stallions in town save her brother.
"I'm Spike," he answered offering his hand for a friendly handshake which Applejack accepted. The moment seemed to go on longer than intended as she realized she had just been standing there idly moving her hand up and down while staring at him.
She released his hand with an awkward apologetic smile as she noticed Twilight walking up to them, "You okay Twilight?" she asked the other mare as she finished checking her blouse for any dirt.
"Yeah I'm fine thanks to Spike," Twilight said smiling at him as he just returned the smile with his own.
"Well before I was interrupted I was going to offer Y'all a sample of our foods for the Banquet," she said and while Twilight tried to dismiss the offer Applejack was already moving toward a triangle which she rang calling all the ponies for their meal. "Soups on everpony!" she called loudly that both Spike and Twilight were sure she had been heard all the way in Ponyville. What happened next was still as confusing then as it was to remember as the group of ponies rushed forward with jubilant shouts as they gathered up the guests and half carried half dragged them to a table. Where Applejack proceeded to rattle off the names of all the ponies who turned out were cousins come down for a visit and had offered to help with the banquet. As each came forward they dropped off an apple treat which was either their name or to just be introduced in a blur of rushed words and a glimpse of the pony who owned the name. The last three names were spoken loudly, "This here is Big Macintosh, Applebloom, and Granny Smith," Applejack finished as the old woman approached with the aid of a cane, her mane and tail were done up in tight buns. She wore a bright green dress with an apron bearing a baked apple pie in the lower right corner.
Spike looked hungrily at the mountain of apple treats that filled the air with their sweet aromas of apple and cinnamon or caramel. Twilight, on the other hand, was rather intimidated by the pile of food as she attempted to politely decline the offer of a sample. "It looks like you have everything well in hand we best check with the rest of the preparations," she said motioning a disappointed Spike to follow her till the young filly named Applebloom who had warned them about the cart walked up to her, she had a butter yellow coat with a red mane and tail with her mane pulled up by pink bow. Her autumn orange eyes looked up at them in what could only be weaponized cuteness.
"You mean you're not staying for brunch?" she asked and Spike felt his heart stop from cuteness overload as he the little filly looked up at them with pleading eyes. Twilight couldn't say no to the cuteness and so they stayed for brunch. By the time they left Twilight was holding her stomach and only managing a slow shuffle toward the town. "I think I ate too much pie," she groaned rubbing her stomach which grumbled in distress, "What's next on the list?" she asked him.
Pulling out the parchment with the list from his pant's pocket Spike scanned the list, "Check in with Rainbow Dash whose in charge of clearing the skies for the celebration," he said and both of them looked up to see the many clouds drifting overhead.
"Well she's not doing a good job," she said then grasped her stomach as it made more unhappy noises, "I don't think I can walk like this," she said groaning as she held her stomach before turning to Spike hopefully "Spike...carry me..." Twilight pleaded as she reached toward him.
Spike sighed smiling he turned and was about to help her onto his back before a cyan blur crashed into Twilight sending her into a mud puddle and the blur into a bush. Spike rushed over to Twilight and picked her up out of the mud disregarding the mess it made of his clothes. The pony in the bushes managed to dislodge herself and flutter over to them, the pony was a pegasus mare with an athletically toned body. Her breasts were covered by a Wonderbolt tank top from what spike could tell smaller than Twilights, her mane and tail were rainbow colored and her coat was blue. Her jogging shorts had a rainbow lightning bolt coming out of a cloud stitched on the side where it would normally be. She looked at the mud-covered Twilight and smiled embarrassedly as she scratched the back of her neck.
"Sorry about that," she said then her face brightened as she flapped her wings hovering off the ground, "I can fix it just give me a sec," and with that the rainbow-maned pegasus shot off into the sky and returned with a small dark cloud which she proceeded to bounce on and cause it to release its retained water in one heavy down power which washed the mud off Twilight. When she was finished with the cloud Twilight was still soaking wet, "One last thing my patented Rainblow Dry," the Pegasus said as she flew around Twilight so fast she left a rainbow streak behind her while creating a small vortex of air. When she stopped and the wind died down they were left with a dizzy and poofy mane and tailed twilight, the pegasus mare couldn't stop her self from busting out in hysterics at the sight. Spike tried to resist laughing by covering his mouth but looking at Twilight with her poofy mane was proving too much as it looked too comical on the usually straight maned unicorn. Spike lost it and joined the cyan pegasus in laughing as well until Twilight recovered enough to talk and was obviously mad at them for laughing at her.
"No need to ask who you are," Twilight said as the rainbow-maned pegasus sat up recovering from her laughter and wiping a tear from her eye. "You must be Rainbow Dash," she said and upon hearing her name the mare perked up ears standing up as she regained her hoofs smiling cockily and proudly.
"The one and only," she said using her wings to flying up to proudly display her wings and show off her athletic body. "Fastest flyer in all Equestria and future Wonderbolt," she added with a display of speed and a simple loop-de-loop before landing on the cloud she had used to clean Twilight and laid on her stomach to look at them.
"Did you say Wonderbolt?" Twilight asked looking up at the cyan pegasus.
"Yep, they're the best aerial acrobatic team in all Equestria and they'll be putting on a show tonight for the Summer Sun Celebration," she said excitedly. "That's when I'm going to show them my stuff," she continued going on about how she'd wow the crowd with her acrobatics before finishing it off with something she calls the Buckaneer Blaze. "They'll be so impressed they'll beg me to join them," the prismatic mare finished with a huge smile on her face as she looked like she had already received such an invitation.
"Yeah, like Captain Spitfire will want a weather pegasus who can't keep the skies clear for one measly day," Twilight in a matter of fact tone which caught Rainbow Dash's attention.
"What this? I can clear this up in ten seconds flat," she boasted smiling smugly at her as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Prove it," Twilight challenged and Rainbow Dash smirked before taking off. She moved so fast she left a rainbow-colored trail behind her as she kicked, punched and tail swatted the clouds out of the sky faster than they had ever seen a pegasus fly before. It was precisely ten seconds later when the Pegasi finished with a smug smile still on her face before she laughed at their expressions. Both Spike and Twilight's jaws had hit the floor as Rainbow Dash laughed as she flew off.
"You're okay Twilight Sparkle can't wait to hang with you again and you too shades," she said to the two of them before taking off leaving only a rainbow streak across the sky.
"Well that's taken care of," Twilight said as he shook off her amazement, "What's next?" she asked.
"Decoration a Miss Rarity Belle is in charge of that," Spike answered and pointed off into the distance at a tall purple and white building with the Equestrian flag fluttering in the breeze atop it. "In Town Hall," he continued adjusting his sunglasses on his face.
The stroll to Town Hall was uneventful as it seemed the ponies that were out and about before had vanished for some reason. Twilight busied herself fussing over her poofy mane and tail as she tried in vain to undo what Rainbowdash's 'help' had done to it. She muttered and struggled till she just gave up and resigned herself to living with it till she could take care of it. As they approached they took a short path to a set of double doors on the outside of the larger part of the building. The Town Hall had two parts, the main building which was for official town business and where the Mayor's office was located. The second was the gathering hall which was the much larger part of the building with the flag atop it which is where Spike and Twilight entered. The whole building was decorated in golden ribbons with banners depicting Celestia's Cutie Mark of the sun, poles held more banners but these were the Equestrian flag showing Celestia and her sister Luna both with their respective charges over their heads separating the Gold from the black which was dotted with small silver stars. The floor was bare save for the carpet going from the doors Twilight and he had just come through which lead up to the stage used by the school for plays or the Mayor for announcements.
"Well, this looks perfectly fine to me," Twilight said but when she didn't receive a confirmation from Spike she looked back at him and caught him staring at a white coated mare as she used her magic to float different color ribbons before her eyes. Twilight took in her well-proportioned curves and well styled purple mane and tail. The look on Spike's face was that of dumbstruck infatuation and she couldn't help feeling a pain in her chest and a wave of jealousy as she glared at the mare before she reigned in these feelings. Spike was her best friend and nothing more so to feel this way was silly she told her self as she approached the mare followed by Spike whose eyes never left the mare.
She was wearing a light purple silk shirt with mother of pearl buttons the top five buttons were undone giving just a peek at her cleavage. She tucked the shirt into her suit pants to perfectly accentuate her slim stomach before you came to her hip-hugging pinstripe pants. Her perfectly styled mane curled at the end same as her tail giving her an even more elegant look. The sleeves of her shirt had been rolled up as she worked muttering a no as she dismissed one ribbon after another. Twilight could just spot the light application of eyeshadow over each of her eyes giving them a seductive appearance. She was clearly the Miss Rarity Belle that the list had mentioned, the mare continued her browsing of ribbons until Twilight coughed politely to get her attention. When she turned and saw Twilight her eyes widened and she moved back from her as though she had seen something horrid.
"Hi, I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is Spike we're just inspecting the preparations for the Celebration and it seems you got this under control so we'll get out of your hair," she said quickly embarrassed by her appearance in front of such a refined mare.
"My hair? What about your hair?" she said as she approached the two of them looking over Twilight first then Spike. When she looked at him she had a similar reaction to the mud and grime on his clothes from when he pulled Twilight out of the mud which he had forgotten was there after all the laughing he had done. "Oh my you're both a mess," she said and with a flash of her horn, she had teleported them and herself to a different location looking around they were surrounded by shelves covered in bolts of cloth from every kind of fabric. Ponyquins stood with partially finished dresses or suits on them all for varying occasions. "I shan't allow this travesty to persist," the Fashionista continued as she rushed the two of them to separate bathrooms so they could clean themselves. She left Spike once he had closed the door and returned to Twilight to help her with her hair.
"So you run a boutique?" Twilight asked once she was dried off and Rarity was fussing with her mane.
"Of course Darling," Rarity answered smiling, "Rarity's Boutique where everything is Chique, Unique, and Magnifique," she said using her store motto and everything. "I'm sure you've heard of it?" she said looking at Twilight expectantly.
"No sorry," Twilight replied with an apologetic smile and Rarity's smile faded.
"Ah well," Rarity sighed but then got down to business, "First your hair must be fixed, honestly did you lose a fight with you blowdryer?" she asked getting a chuckle out of Twilight.
"No, I had a run in with Rainbow Dash," Twilight answered once her giggles had gone with her mane done up to look like a swan.
"Ah, say no more Darling," Rarity said while using her magic to put Twilight's hair into all manner of styles but dismissing them as quickly for some reason or other. "It also explains why your boyfriend was covered in mud," she continued getting a laugh and a shake of Twilight's head which messed up the swan letting her mane return to its normal state.
"We're not...we're just friends," Twilight said trying to hide her blush as she fussed with her hair Rarity did notice however and she smiled while letting Twilight pull on a robe and they left the bathroom. Rarity led Twilight to another part of her store and began to rummage around for something for her to wear.
"Well I don't blame you he's an odd looking Stallion," Rarity said testing her theory on her attraction to Spike
"What do you mean odd?" Twilight said and apparently by her tone the mare could tell she was getting defensive.
"Well I did notice he doesn't look like a pony," she started trying to be tactful and smooth things over with Twilight. Seeing she was about to say something Rarity hastened onward, "It's not a bad thing Darling we don't see many mixed couples here in our quaint little town," she continued and noticed Twilight's reaction.
"I told you we're not a couple, we're just friends," she said at last, "I doubt he'd go for such a plain mare as me," she finished sadly.
"My dear no mare is ever plain," Rarity said gently getting Twilight to look at her as she put a hand on her shoulder, "All it takes is the right dress a touch of makeup and a dash of allure and a mare can catch any stallion," Rarity said encouragingly. Spike's return was announced by the sound of shuffling behind them. Twilight looked over at Spike noticing he had altered his appearance giving himself a tail obviously to hold up the pants that were made with a tail hole. Rarity noticed the black scaled appendage and was rather surprised by it noticing the green spines running down the middle toward the splayed tip. "Black and green is definitely your color," she said but then noticed he wasn't wearing the shirt which gave her a fine look at Spike's toned arms and muscled chest. The black scales had wrapped around the edges of his front giving him a striped appearance.
"The shirt was too small," he said as he lifted his and Twilight's dirty clothes, "I'll put these in the wash just tell me where," he offered.
"Oh right, it's down the hall over there and to the left just put them in for a power wash with a cap of soap," she instructed and Spike nodded before strolling off to put the clothes in the wash. Rarity watched him go biting her lower lip as she watched his muscles move under the black scales covering his back. When she looked at Twilight she noticed her flushed face and her own lingering and longing stare. "I believe you want to be more than friends don't you?" she asked shocking Twilight from her fantasies.
"W-what? N-no," she said but when Rarity raised a well-groomed eyebrow Twilight couldn't hide it anymore, "Yes but what if he doesn't like me that way? We've been friends since we were foals," she said sadly.
"Well Darling, you never know if you don't try and I suggest doing so sooner than later," Rarity advised. "Not many mares around here who wouldn't jump on an available stallion to Herd with if they got the chance," she added her eyes drifting in Spikes direction as he returned chest still bare and Rarity couldn't hide her attraction to his rippling muscles and broad shoulders. Even Twilight was staring as well which made Spike look a little nervous as he removed his sunglasses.
"What? Do I have mud on my face?" he asked as his green draconic slitted eyes falling on the two mares. Rarity was surprised by his eyes as she felt something predatory about them but this seemed to excite her rather than turn her off the strange stallion.
Rarity was quick to recover though and spoke up, "It's nothing dear just you have rather...stunning eyes," she said waving her hand dismissively and smiling at him. "Now wait in the main room while I fix Twilight's hair," she instructed and Spike who once again obeyed and went toward the front of the boutique where ponyquins held finished dresses or suits. Once he was gone Rarity directed Twilight to remove the robe as she offered up a selection of clothes for Twilight to try. "So tell me, dear, where are the two of you from?" she asked as she tried to squeeze Twilight into a dress with a corset making Twilight gasp 'Canterlot'. At once Rarity lost her grip on the corset's strings as she gripped Twilight's shoulders and spun her around pressing the tip of her muzzle against Twilight's. "Canterlot! Oh, I've always dreamed of opening a boutique there," she said dreamily, "The culture, the sophistication all of it is simply divine," she said smiling as she seemed to imagine herself rubbing shoulders with the Canterlot elite. "Tell me all about it," she pleaded.
"Sorry Rarity but we have a few more preparations to check for the celebration," Twilight said apologetically to the Fashionista.
"Oh yes, of course, another time perhaps?" she said and Twilight nodded.
In the end, Twilight pulled on her regular clothes after she dried them and Spikes clothes instantly with a simple drying spell that Rarity asked her to show her sometime. They brought Spike's clothes out to him catching him snoozing in a chair near the front window. He woke with a single prod from Twilight who giggled at his groggy face as he shook off the light sleep. They handed him his dry clothes and he went back into the back rooms to change and when he returned he was back to normal with no tail. This too got Rarity's attention as she seemed surprised at the changes and tried to puzzle it out.
"He's a Kirin," Twilight spoke up to explain why Spike had a tail one moment and didn't the next. Rarity appeared to accept this as she hummed to herself and saw them out of her boutique telling them both goodbye before teleporting back to Town Hall to finish her decorating. Once they were on their way Twilight glanced at Spike, "What's left?" she asked and waited for him to pull the parchment from his pocket which he had luckily remembered to remove before putting them in the wash.
"Last is music led by Miss Fluttershy," he said and he tapped his chin as he tried to think where they could find the final pony in charge of helping the celebration.
As they walked they began to hear the song of birds but this was different instead of each bird singing their own song they were singing in harmony. The music was beautiful and the two friends glanced at one another before diverting off the path to find the source of the music. They were needless to say surprised at what they found. A choir of birds sitting on a specially made perch each bird singing with the others led by a pegasus mare who was quietly singing along as she leads the choir. She was a beautiful mare with flowing pink mane and tail with a butter yellow coat, she wore a spring grass green sundress with a set of three butterflies on her wide hips. She was pleasantly curved and with a generous bust that if Spike had anything to compare them to would be slightly bigger than Applejacks'. The music continued until a Blue Jay began to sing his own tune which threw off the other birds and the mare stopped them quietly speaking to the Blue Jay to correct him.
"Um...Excuse me, Mr.Blue Jay...Um...Your singing is beautiful but we need everyone's singing the same so...Um...Would you mind trying to sing with the others?" she asked politely and the bird nodded getting a grateful 'thank you' from the mare. That's when Twilight decided to introduce herself.
"Hello," she said her voice startling the mare and her birds as they flew off in a flutter of wings and chirps. "Oops, sorry about that," Twilight apologized.
"It's okay, they'll be back," she said still in her quiet tone as the mare nervously tried to hide behind her flowing pink mane. Spike fought the urge to clutch his chest as he thought his heart would stop from cute overload.
"Well I'm Twilight Sparkle who are you?" she asked the shy pegasus.
"I'm Fluttershy," she said so low that Spike or Twilight couldn't hear her.
"What?" Twilight asked again leaning closer the mare looked even more nervous as she shook a little.
"I'm Fluttershy," she answered again and Twilight just managed to hear her.
"Oh, you're the Fluttershy in charge of the music for the celebration," Twilight said happily, "We got to hear some of it and it's wonderful," Twilight said complimenting Fluttershy on her contribution.
"Oh...um...Thank you but it's nothing really," muttered but then her ears perked up as something Twilight said registered. "We?" she said confused till she looked around and saw Spike. "Oh my," she said coming up to him her shyness seemingly forgotten. "I've never seen a pony like you before," she said smiling as she looked him over.
"Well I'm Spike and I'm not a Pony I'm a Kirin," he said smiling at Fluttershy as her eyes brightened as she returned the smile.
"Fascinating I've never met a Kirin before," she said walking around him curiously.
"Well you have today," he said as he scratched the back of his neck feeling odd about his race being a big deal to anypony.
"I'd like to ask you some questions...if you don't mind?" she asked her shy demeanor returning as she stepped back and hiding behind her mane again.
"Well...what would you like to know?" he asked her and was surprised when she was suddenly up close to him her breasts pushed against his chest with her hands on his shoulders.
"Everything!" she said enthusiastically throwing herself at Spike which had the effect of pressing her overly generous bosom against his chest and bringing her face right up to his. Her blue eyes shimmered with intense interest as she seemed to be very excited to learn about his race. Spike for his part was speechless having such a beautiful mare pressed against him in such an intimate way was sending his male hormones into the red as his mind was starting to fill with dirty thoughts of the butter yellow pegasus mare. A forced cough from their right drew his attention to a rather angry looking Twilight as she eyed how intimately close he and Fluttershy were. The other mare seemed to realize this as well as she made a cute 'meep' noise and moved away from him.
"I-I'm sor-sorry about that," she said blushing brightly as she hid her face behind her long pink hair again her voice was so quiet Spike actually had to strain his ears to hear her.
"It's fine really," Spike said scratching his neck blushing himself as he tried not to think about what he had been imagining with the shy Pegasus. "Well how about I tell you about Kirin while we walk to the library?" he suggested and only received a shy nod from Fluttershy as she kept most of her blushing face hidden from sight. The three of them began to walk then as he started telling Fluttershy all he knew about Kirin which after learning what he was from his mother he had done deep research about. The information was limited since Kirin were so rare to the point of near Myth to Ponies but still, he told the attentive pegasus mare what he had found.
The Ponyville Library was a large tree in the center of town built with the help of Unicorn and Earthpony magic to keep it alive and growing while also being able to allow the librarian to live and work inside it. It wasn't the only one of its kind but was the largest as far as Spike knew. Golden Oaks Library was advertised from a sign hanging above the door under a carving of who he assumed was Celestia with her Wings outstretched as she was depicted reading a book to young fillies and colts. It was around when he and Twilight reached the door that his lecture on Kirin came to an end.
"Well we're here," Twilight said hastily opening the door even as Fluttershy appeared to be trying to warn her but still hadn't recovered from her awkward moment with Spike to voice her warning before a blast of "SURPRISE!!" came from the darkened Library as the lights came on and many Ponies jumped out from their hiding places. The shock and surprise had made the oblivious Twilight jump higher than Spike had ever thought possible as he managed to catch her before she landed and hurt herself. Once the Unicorn Mare was on her feet again a pink blur rushed up to her.
"Hi, I'm Pinkameana Diane Pie but you can call me Pinkie Pie," she said talking rather fast as she gave Twilight a tight hug. Spike recognized her as the first pony they met upon arriving in town as she too gave him a welcoming hug. "Were you surprised? Huh, huh?" she asked bouncing in place which naturally made her boobs bounce as well giving proof she wore no bra under her top. Pinkie continued to ramble on about how she knew everypony in Ponyville but when she met them she didn't know them so that meant they were new and had to throw them a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party. "As Ponyville's one and only party planner Pony it was easy to get everything done," she finished at last. She vanished as quickly as she appeared among the mass of Ponies talking and partying while music played.
"Howdy Y'all," came the familiar drawl of the farm pony Applejack as she and a few of the others they had met walked up to them out of the crowd. "Pinkie sure knows how to throw a humdinger of a welcome party, huh?" she continued smiling at him and Twilight who was looking rather annoyed that once again her plan to do research on Nightmare Moon had been delayed.
"I'll say! When I heard Pinkie was throwing a Welcoming bash I knew I had to be there," replied Rainbow Dash standing next to the Earthpony, "Hey Flutters glad you came out," she added reminding Twilight and Spike of their tag along. The mentioned mare smiled at her fellow Pegasus and made a small wave of greeting.
"Of course Pinkie's parties are always a good time Rainbow Dash," Rarity spoke casually tossing her purple curls over her shoulder.
"Why don't I go get some drinks and snacks for us?" Spike offered in hopes to give Twilight a chance to get to know the mares without him. He didn't wait for a response as he walked into the crowd.
**POV Twilight**
Before she knew it Spike had left her alone with five mares and she was feeling incredibly nervous as she rarely talked to other ponies besides spike. A part of her just wanted to find a quiet place and wait for the celebration in the morning hoping that Spike and Celestia were right that she was merely getting worked up for nothing with this whole Nightmare Moon story. But she couldn't just ignore this growing feeling in her gut that something bad was going to happen even with Spike's optimism.
"So what's the story with that guy?" Rainbow Dash asked pulling Twilight from her thoughts. Twilight didn't know who she was talking about till the rainbow maned pegasus pointed over to where Spike was still making his way through the crowd of ponies.
"Oh Spike? He's my assistant," Twilight answered as she looked around not really paying attention to the conversation and as the crowd parted they revealed a near empty punch bowl with a few bottled drinks nearby. Twilight made her way over to it as the girls followed now talking about Spike. Talking about him had been the last thing on her mind as it stirred up her emotions and she didn't know how she could handle it much more.
"He is quite handsome for a...Um," Rarity started but couldn't remember what Twilight had called Spike's Race.
"Kirin," Fluttershy said getting Rarity's attention.
"Yes, thank you Fluttershy Darling," the Fashionista said gratefully.
"Well he's not 'Soarin' handsome but he's okay," Rainbow Dash said shrugging her shoulders.
"Who wants some twiggy Pegasus show pony when ya can have a strong Stallion around the house," Applejack butted in getting a glare from Rainbow Dash.
Twilight for her part was only half paying attention as she tried preparing herself a drink. Her mind was so cluttered with thoughts and feeling she didn't notice as she picked up a hot sauce bottle and poured it into a cup. Looking back at the girls it seemed Rainbow Dash and Applejack were squaring off for something.
"Pegasi aren't 'Twiggy'," Rainbow Dash growled as she came muzzle to muzzle with Applejack.
"Oh, yeah? Prove it," Applejack challenged smiling confidently at Rainbow Dash who glared back with an equally confident grin as she approached Applejack till Rarity intervened.
"Will you two honestly give this silly rivalry between you a rest for one evening," Rarity said getting between the two of them.
With no one else to talk to Fluttershy took this moment to work up the courage and ask Twilight a question just as said mare was taking a drink of what she thought was a normal drink. "Um...I was wondering...What's it like having a boyfriend like Spike? If you don't mind my asking," she asked as kindly innocent and curious as she could.
Twilight was so caught off guard not only by the question from Fluttershy but also from the hot taste of Hot Sauce in her mouth and throat. She coughed and hacked as the heat from the sauce made her face flush. Fluttershy was apologizing and hurriedly tried to fix a drink but her flustered state made her too panicked to do much while Twilight tried to breathe with tears in her eyes. The other girls tried to help as well but all the other bottles were empty. Twilight was saved by the timely return of Spike as he quickly passed her a drink to cool her burning mouth. She gasped and panted as she finished the drink and leaned her head against Spike's broad chest as she calmed down. She looked up into the smiling face of Spike.
"You okay?" he asked her.
Twilight felt fortunate that the Hot Sauce had given her a flushed face as it was easier to blame it rather than her growing attraction to her best friend and number one assistant. She didn't answer except to nod as she wiped the tears the coughing fit had brought from her eyes. Fluttershy was relieved that Twilight was alright as she tried apologizing in her shy quiet voice and it took Twilight telling her it was okay a few times before the worried pegasus calmed down. This little episode seemed to have ended the argument between Applejack and Rainbow Dash. At this time Pinkie Pie appeared as if from nowhere as she examined the bottle of Sauce.
"There it is, how'd you get over here?" she said as she picked up the bottle. To the disgust of the others, she poured the sauce over a cupcake and proceeded to eat it with a satisfied look on her face. Pinkie noticed the looks on their faces and after swallowing the snack she gave them all a questioning look, "What? It's good," she said in her defense with a bright genuine smile. While the girls just shrugged this off having lived with Pinkie for so long they just accepted her quirks. Pinkie walked up to the Twilight and Spike, she was looking at Spike right in his eyes as she got closer and before he could say anything Pinkie smiled. "Your eyes are really cool," she said while continuing to stare at an increasingly uncomfortable looking Spike.
Twilight just couldn't take any more as she pushed away from Spike and started making her way to the stairs that led to the bedrooms. "I'm going to lay down for a bit," she said not waiting for a response as she started walking leaving Spike with the others. Once she reached one of the rooms she fell on the bed feeling exhausted with all that happened today while outside the moon rose. As it's pale light fell on her she looked up at the moon and saw the silhouette of the Mare in the Moon still upon its surface and her feeling of worry only grew. She let her thoughts wander as she tried to process that she might be wrong about Nightmare Moon but another thought crept up and that was how she felt about Spike. She cared for him more than anything but was it Love or something else. She had never been in a situation like this and even trying to push the thoughts away didn't work. She groaned grabbing a pillow and covering her head with it as just wanted an answer to all the questions building in her head. With her head covered by the pillow, she didn't notice the silhouette on the moon vanish as four stars moved into alignment around the moon.