Author's Note

This chapter gets a little dark but to me it shows how Spike has changed from what he once was to what he is now and how he feels about being back.

Game Night pt.2

As Flame was asleep, he was dreaming of a normal and quiet day back in Ponyville while spending time with his friends. Starlight had prepared a picnic for everyone to enjoy as they watched the sunset, she was not as good a cook when compared to Spike but she was stars above Twilight's culinary ability. Spike and the girls were resting on a blanket, under a tree on a hill as they were just enjoying the end of the day that Celestia had given them.

"Hey Twi, I'm glad we can finally let our manes and scales down for a while, no world-ending villain bent on taking over the world, no monster attacks, and no friendship problems. For the first time in a while, we can just relax and spend some time as friends." Said Spike with a content sigh.

"Yeah, this is nice, life has been so calm around here. So much so I don't think I will need you around anymore, I survived for two whole years without you." Said Twilight completely calm. "So after today I'm going to send you back to Mudos and this time I don't ever want to see you again, and don't forget to take those horrible abominations you call friends with you when you go." Said Dream Twilight with a neutral but sinister smile on her face.

"WHAT?" Yelled Spike in fear.

"You heard what I said Spike, I don't need you anymore. You're not the same little dragon I knew and I don't care what you think, but after today I never want to see you again. And the rest of the girls agree with me." Said Dream Twi pointing to the rest of the girls who were now looking at them.

"That's right Spike, my animal friends are scared of you, and they don't care for your monsters, so I would rather you never return if you don't mind." Said Fluttershy.

"I had hoped for you to grow wings but seeing you now, it's kinda obvious that you will never have them, so might as well just forget about you. It's not like you will be able to keep up with me." Said RD.

"That's right, I don't want the possibility of you burning down my farm, so I think it would be best for me to tie you up and toss you in that portal." Added AJ.

"Besides if we make you go missing again, I can throw a 'yay Spike is gone party' and I'll invite everyone to celebrate." Cheered Pinkie.

"Yeah, now that I have a lot of pony friends I don't need a dragon one." Said Starlight.

"And Spikey, I don't think I can trust you around my large collection of gems now that you're all grown up, so I would prefer if you never talk to me again." Said Rarity.

Spike crawled back from his seat as he was on the verge of tears, then he felt someone touch his shoulder, Spike looked behind him and saw his mother who was smiling at him. "Thank god mom, something is wrong with the girls, I need your help to save them." Pleaded Spike.

Celestia just chuckled as she looked at Spike, "I'm sorry Spike, but I don't think I can do that. Why would I help my no good dragon of a son who would just up and leave him mother to grieve, but then it occurred to me, I will just get Twilight to hatch another dragon for me. Then I will make it known to the whole kingdom that I have a son, I won't have to hide it from anyone."

"MOM NO!" Yelled Spike as he was crying his eyes out. The girls and Celestia closed in on Spike as they continued to tell him why he should leave. The world around Spike was going dark.

"STOP THIS NOW!!!!" Yelled a voice from the darkness. Spike opened his eyes and looked around to see that he was alone, the girls and his mother were missing. Spike looked up and looked upon his savior. Above Spike was Luna hovering in the darkness. Her wings were outstretched keeping her afloat, her hair was braided but still held her natural designs, she was wearing a long navy blue flowing gown that reached just before her ankles, but on her shoulders were armor, and around her waist was a belt and a sword, and in her hands was a helmet with a set of wings on the side of it.

"Aunt Luna is that you?"

"It is dear nephew." Said Luna as she landed on the nonexistent ground. She then walked to Spike and gave him a slap to the face, then she pulled him into a hug and began to cry. "Spike, you are an idiot, why would you think anyone would ever say those things about you, we missed you so much. Our lives were forever changed after we learned of your absence, you were one of the few creatures who would greet me with a smile instead of a terrified scream when you saw me, after my return, you welcomed me with open arms and insisted I be called your aunt. At first, I was very opposed to letting you treat me so kindly, after the horrible things I did, but after a while, I couldn't resist letting you into my heart. You are special in so many ways, everyone who meets you can't help but smile at the kindness in your heart and that has shaped this world we call home, so why would you ever think that the ponies closest to you would ever say those horrible lies?"

Spike sighed "I don't know, so many things have changed, I have grown up so much in the last two years, and all of the girls have as well, I feel like I don't deserve to just jump back into the swing of things and expect to just fit right back into my normal routine. I get that when I left there was a piece of the puzzle missing in everyone's lives, but over time that piece that was missing was slowly filled in with everyone's help, and now that I'm back I can't help but feel like a piece that doesn't have a place and even if it did it wouldn't fit anymore."

"That is ridiculous Spike, you are still the same dragon as when you were younger, and there is still a place for you in everyone's heart."

Spike sighed. "I would love to believe I was still that same baby dragon, but Aunt Luna, I have changed in so many ways, I have almost died so many times, a few of those times I did for a few moments, I have ended lives, saved lives, ruined lives, and protected them. When I was younger I couldn't think about ending another life without throwing up and then crying myself to sleep, I always dreamed about being a knight in shimmering scales." Said Spike as he looked into the eyes of Luna. "I didn't mention a horrible incident that happened soon after I reached New Yoke when I talked about my time on Mudos, but after what happened that day I couldn't help but think 'I am not the same dragon anymore.'" Said Spike who used his memory to show Luna what happened that day.

"It was a few weeks into my time in New Yoke, I was walking back to the bounty store to collect my reward from capturing a real nasty outlaw named Boilz Booty..."

"I thought that he was just another one of those, 'capture, turn in, and forget' outlaws, but then a few weeks went by. His brother, Blisterz, and his gang attacked New Yoke, they stormed the city, they killed dozens and injured hundreds, And I wasn't even there to stop them, I was on another job at the time. It was my fault, I brought Boilz in, I didn't know he had a brother, I just forgot about him and in the process, I let so many innocent people die, and do you know how that made me feel?" Luna shook her head. "I didn't care much about it, don't get me wrong I was horrified at the fact that I was responsible for those lives that Blisterz killed, but I just couldn't find it in my heart to truly care. All I wanted to do was figure out if I could get home and leave Mudos behind. But that night I just lied awake on my bed in the hotel and thought about what my life would actually be like if I was able to get home."

Spike ended the memory and the two returned to his dreamscape. "What you saw earlier wasn't the first time I had that nightmare, I don't know how many times I saw that look on everyone's faces, hearing their hurtful words, and I would just wake up before they got too close, then I would convince myself that it was only a dream and it was never going to happen, but over time my fears became doubts in my head. I try to force the doubts to the back of my thoughts and I can go along with my day, but sometimes they creep up on me and I have that nightmare." Spike sighed on the verge of tears. "I know it in my heart that Mom, Twi, and all the girls would never say those things to me, but sometimes the brain is more powerful and it just doesn't stop me from feeling the harshness of their words."

Luna was still crying. "Spike, why didn't you tell us about what you were feeling? You know we would do everything in our power to banish those thoughts." Luna then placed her hand on Spike's cheek and looked him deep in the eyes. "Spike you are so many things, to me, you are a kindhearted dragon, who was obsessed with comic books, gems, Rarity for some reason, and the two most important, a great friend and a wonderful nephew." Luna chuckled for a moment to try and lighten the mood. "I still remember when Tia told me stories about what you were like in your younger years, but there is one story that I will always hold close to my heart. If I remember correctly, it was when you first heard about the mare in the moon legend, you found out that I was your aunt, so that night you tricked Tia by pretending to fall asleep and when the coast was clear, you somehow opened the door to your balcony and just spent the whole night talking to the moon, thinking it was me. You were so young back then, I didn't think you knew what I actually did as nightmare moon, but to you, it didn't matter, I was just Auntie Woona." Luna giggled. "I think you were only three years old at the time, but it was a cute way to say my name. You talked about your dreams, your fears, your doubts, hopes, and everything in between, but you were just a little whelp back then, and after about three hours of you talking, you just fell asleep right there on the balcony. But you didn't know that Tia was listening in on your conversation, when she came to check on you, she heard the caring tone in your voice and how excitedly you talked, so she decided to just let you continue your conversation, bedtimes be damned, but once you fell asleep she picked you up and placed you back into your bed, but when she was about to leave the room she heard you start talking in your sleep, as you just muttered 'I love you auntie Woona, I can't wait to meet you'. Tia started to cry at hearing your kind words. She then left your room and let you dream about the day you would get to meet your auntie." Luna sighed in happiness knowing even before he learned about who Nightmare Moon truly was, the first thing that came to mind was just Auntie Woona.

"To Tia, you are so many things, you were her little ball of fire, the son she could never have, a reason to continue protecting the kingdom, and you were the reason she could put up with all of the nobles, knowing that you were waiting for her to spend time together helped her power through the day and just knowing that you were happy gave her the energy to smile. And to young Twilight and her friends, you were a pillar of the community, playful, considerate, patient, wise, loyal, generous, kind, and not to mention Twilights first friend, little brother, support when times were tough, you were a constant reminder that friendship is the strongest magic the world has ever known."

Spike wiped away his tears and smiled at the heartfelt words of his aunt. Spike grabbed Luna and pulled her into a hug. "Thanks, Auntie Woona." Smiled Spike, "Sometimes all we need is a slap to the head and a person to spill our hearts out to."

"No words have ever been so true at this moment." Luna pulled back from the hug and looked Spike in the eyes again. "Spike, I love you, Tia loves you, Twilight and the others love you. You never have to fear living that dream in the real world." Luna then scowled at Spike. "And if I find out that you ever have that nightmare again, I will make you dream about kissing Garble for the rest of your natural-born life, and when you take over as the new god of chaos and become immortal, I will change Garble to Dragon Lord Torch, AM. I. UNDERSTOOD?" threatened Luna.

Spike nodded his head so much and so quick Luna became worried about him breaking his neck, but she got her point across, so she smiled. "Good." Then the sound of someone knocking was heard outside of the dream realm. Luna sighed. "It looks like our time together has come to an end." Luna looked Spike in the eyes. "If you ever need me, all you have to do is say my name. In this world, I will go by Lunar Glare, just say that name in your dreams and I will appear." Said Luna as she slowly started to fade out and the sound of knocking grew louder.

Spike smiled. "Thank you for the words of wisdom, Lunar, I love you."

Lunar smiled in return. "As do I Sentinel Flame, I hope next we meet will be under more pleasant circumstances." Said Lunar as she completely vanished.

The flame was brought out of the dream world by the knocking coming from the door to his room, still, groggy Flame peeled himself from his bed and walked to the door to see who was knocking. "I'm coming, I'm coming." Said Flame as he approached the door.

Flame walked to the door and opened it, completely ignoring the fact that he was naked. The person on the other side of the door began to greet the dragon. "Master Flame, it's me, Coco, I have come to retrieve you for dinner..." Coco started and finally looked away from the dragon's face and down his body. Coco's face started to blush at the masculine features Flame was sporting but she tried to stay professional. "The other muscles... I mean Masters and ladies have awoken and are currently hunky... I mean having dinner, and lord No Pants... I mean Fancy Pants wanted me to retrieve you." Said Coco whose face was as red as a tomato. Coco then looked at all the scars on Flame's body and somehow her blush intensified to rival the sun that was dropping past the horizon.

Flame was still half asleep so he didn't notice the second sun in front of him. Flame yawned and cracked his neck as he slowly became aware of the world around him. Flame looked at the blushing mare and became confused. "Oh hey Coco, I didn't know it was you, do you need something. Also are you ok? you look like you have a fever, are you not feeling well?" Asked Flame.

"Lord Fancy Pants asked me to retrieve you for dinner, all of your companions have already joined him and lady Fleur in the main dining hall." Responded Coco who was still blushing at the naked and very muscular dragon.

"That still doesn't answer my question, here let me check." Said Flame who placed his claw on Coco's forehead to check her temperature. "Dragons are very sensitive to heat, our scales can sense our surroundings and we can change our body temperature to best accommodate for the environment." Flame waited for a moment and then pulled his hand back and sighed at the maid. "You're burning up." Flame then used his tail and wrapped it around Coco's waist eliciting a surprised squeak out of the mare as she passed out from an overflow of blood in her head. "I will inform Fancy of your condition, you need to rest." Said Flame who was carrying Coco to the bed. When they got to the bed Flame lowered Coco onto the bed and tucked her in. "Get some rest and get better." Said Flame as he walked over to the chair and retrieved his clothes.

A few moments later Flame walked out of his room with a still blushing Coco in his bed. Flame closed the door as quietly as possible as to not wake up Coco. Once the door was closed Flame made his way to the main dining hall of the manor. As Flame was walking he happened to run into a very upset Randolph.

Randolph noticed the dragon and tried to calm down and act professional, but it was too late, Flame noticed the butler's anger. "Good evening Master Flame, did you have a good rest?" Asked the butler.

"In a way, why were you upset?" Asked Flame.

Randolph went pale, it was one of the most basic rules of any butler who has been trained, 'don't show any unprofessional emotions in front of your charge.' and he just broke it. "Please forgive me master Flame, it was unprofessional of me to expose you to that side of me, but I am angry to learn that the head maid Coco Pommel has yet to return to the lord with you in tow, the fact that you are awake means that she did arrive at your room but she is nowhere to be seen." Randolph looked at Flame. "Master Flame, might you know where she is right now?"

Flame nodded. "Yes she is currently laying down in my room, when she arrived to retrieve me for dinner, she was running a high fever and her face was flushed, and I swear when she greeted me at my door she was stammering. So please don't be mad at her she was doing her job, it was my personal opinion to let her rest. I understand you all have obligations to complete for Fancy and Fleur, but is it not better to hinder the progression of an illness for a day, or let it fester and leave her bedridden for a week?" Asked Flame.

Randolph nodded in agreement. "Wise words, from one so young, please forgive me Master Flame, you are whole heartily correct, her well being comes first, I will arrange for her to be helped to her room and let her rest for a while, but you still need to escort to the main dining hall, so please follow me."

Flame nodded and followed the butler.

Randolph and Flame arrived at the doors to the main dining hall and Randolph pushed open the doors. "Greetings lord Fancy Pants, I have some sad news, It appears that Coco has fallen ill. She is currently resting in the room of Master Flame, who insisted that she rest. So I instead have brought Master Flame to dinner." Informed Randolph.

Fancy and Fleur gasped at hearing about the state of Coco. "The poor dear, I hope she is feeling better, she seemed so normal earlier, but she has always been one to put the needs of others before her own." Said Fleur in a sad tone.

"That is no excuse!" Yelled Fancy in disappointment. "She is a valued member of this household, I have repeatedly informed her that I see her as a part of my family, and the fact that she continues to neglect her health and not inform any of her fellow staff members or I only sadden me greatly." Fancy then looked to Flame. "Flame, I am in your debt once again, Coco has always been a pony with a weak constitution, but it is in her nature to give her attention to everyone else besides herself, and here you are helping take care of somepony I consider family, I should have been more aware of her condition and if I had to I would have ordered her to take a few days rest. I am so disappointed in myself for not seeing it sooner, can you please forgive me?" Asked Fancy bowing his head in regret.

Flame sighed in disappointment as well. "Fancy for the last time, I. AM. YOUR. BROTHER. You are my family, meaning she is part of my family and I take care of my family. you may not know this but I am not like other dragons, I am wingless and I'm in my twenties, I hadn't eaten meat up until a few years ago, I was bullied by teenage dragons for being small, but I had a family to hold me up and show me that even with my faults I was just as great as the dragon lords, from them I learned that in this world there will always be something that will try to hurt you, but if you stand strong and have your family with you, that something becomes nothing. In a family there is no such thing as debt, nor is there forgiveness, there is only acceptance and moving on together. What happens, happens, it is unavoidable. So I am going to only say this one more time. I don't care about any debts you think you or anyone owes me, and if you say that word again I will show you how two dragons settle an argument." Said Flame in annoyance.

Fancy chuckled and then sighed. "Very well, your words speak of true wisdom and love for family, plus I don't think I would survive the alternative option." Said Fancy in a humored tone.

Flame chuckled as well. "No, you probably wouldn't." Joked Flame.

"Oh is that a challenge I hear?"

"Depends? Can you do a belly flop into the lava," stated Flame in a matter of fact tone.

Fancy threw up his hands in defeat. "You win Flame. Now I believe the purpose of all of us gathering in here was to enjoy a nice dinner, not to get into a silly sibling argument, so what would you like?"

Flame smiled. "Do you have any gems?" Asked Flame licking his lips.

"Depends, how much can you eat?"

"You know if I didn't know any better, I would think that was a challenge, and I plan on winning. I hope you own a mine, if not my poor sister in law will be losing some of her fine jewelry tonight." Smirked Flame.

"Well that's good to hear, my lovely wife's jewelry will be saved this day. I may have been part of the royal guard, but I only joined to give my support to the crown, but in all actuality, I own this land not for my services, but by the fact that I own a very productive mine on the mountain behind the town, hell half of the towns stallions are miners in my employ, they get a place to call home and they are taken care of fully, and they show their thanks by helping in the mines. In fact, I do believe that at least two of the many unused rooms in the manor are filled to the brim with gems that I was planning on selling to the merchants when they arrive at the end of the year, isn't that right Randolph?"

"It is sir, but you are also forgetting about the vault in the basement that we filled in the first month of the year, we filled that room to overcapacity and it was a sad sight to see that massive 3-inch steel door pop off its hinges from the pressure, I do believe we are still trying to dig it out from under those gems." Said Randolph playing along.

"Of course, how silly of me to forget that." Fancy then looked at Flame and smirked, "So is my wife's jewelry safe?"

"Hum... Sorry I kinda lost track of what you were saying when the words room full of gems came up, I don't want to eat you out of your lively hood so I think I will have an order of twelve dozen gems, that shouldn't bite into your bank too much. should it?"

"Not at all." smiled Fancy," Randolph could you go down to the basement and gather up the gems, and while your down there brings me the best wine we have, this is the perfect reason to celebrate, we have fought for our lives, I got to finally meet the dragon that saved my wife, and I have gained a brother." Said Fancy in a joyous tone.

Randolph nodded and gave a smile. "Of course, I will only be a minute." Said Randolph as he left to get the meal.

Once Randolph left there was a subtle shift in the mood of the room. Fancy looked hard at Flame. "Flame, I wish to join you in your quest and stop Sekto." Said Fancy in a serious tone.

Flame shrugged. "Ok."

This threw Fancy for a loop, "Really, it's that easy, no 'you should stay with your wife, protect your town'. no nothing?"

"Nope." Said Flame. "Fancy you are a full-grown stallion, you have trained your troops right, it will probably take Sektos army a while to mount another attack. You are a well trained capable fighter, I can not force you to change your mind because I will not argue with your desire to fight, if you chose to join us, great if you chose to stay and protect your town and its ponies, great. I trust in your ability to make a rational decision."

"I really hate you right now, especially all that hot air in your head, I swear one day your head will become a balloon." Joked Fancy.

"Well I'm a dragon, hot air is half of our shtick, the other half is our appetite." joked Flame.

During this exchange, Magic Circle leaned over to Fleur. "Hey Fleur, is Fancy always like this?"

"Sadly he is, I love him with all my heart, but he can be so childish when he is having fun, I'm guessing Flame is the same when he's not on a job?"

Magic giggled and shook her head. "No, he's always like this, don't get me wrong he will go full dragon if he is pissed off, but from the time I first met Flame he has always been this goofy, childish, free soul that can't help but to make others laugh. I guess this is the price we pay for meeting them."

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Said Fleur.

"here." chuckled Magic.

The two giggled.

Flame looked at the occupants of the room and the room regained its serious tone. Flame looked to the now bubbly Naga. "Confetti, it good to see you, how did the conversation with those stallions go?"

"Well, they were big meanies at first then I brought out Streamers and that quickly got them talking. I got a lot of juicy information."

"Please enlighten us," asked Flame.

"Well in total Sekto has a total army of fifty thousand, he is in the royal palace, where he is keeping Queen Solariea imprisoned in the dungeons. I also heard that there were rumors of a rebel movement that was stationed in Thorngarde, the next town over in the east. Aside from that, all they said was 'Oh god' and 'I don't want to die', then the meanies just stopped talking altogether."

"Did you....you know?" Asked Flame.

"If you mean to kill them, no I didn't..."

"Oh thank god, I was worried that you were like some of the others." Sighed Flame as he referred to other Pinkaminas in the multiverse.

"I didn't finish, what I was going to say. I didn't, Gummy did."

"Wait, Gummy is here too?" Said Flame in shock.

"Of course not." waved off Confetti, "I sent him back and he is in the bath right now getting cleaned up."

"But how, isn't Gummy, you know, gummy?"

"He is, but for some strange reason, if you look into his eyes for too long, you start to hear voices in your head, then you start to ramble on the meaning of life and all that, then you just stop."

"Ok, remind me to stay far, far, far away from him from now on."

"Okie Dokie Loki." giggled Confetti.

"Ok, you all heard her, tomorrow we head for Thorngarde."

Everyone nodded.

The rest of the dinner was more humorous after the food arrived. As promised Randolph had gathered a miniature mountain of gems for Flame to enjoy, and Saffron had prepared delicious meals for everyone else. But as the saying goes 'Time flies when having fun' and tonight was no exception. Tomorrow was going to mark the next leg of Flame's journey to defeat Sekto.

Flame walked into his room and noticed that Coco was still passed out and she was laying down in his bed. "Best not to wake her, I hope that the couch is just as comfy." Flame got undressed, got comfy on the couch, and fell asleep.

This time Flame was able to dream a peaceful dream. It was as if a guardian was watching over his dreams.

Lunar smiled at the happy dreams of Flame and after a while of just looking, she decided to move on to another's dream, more specifically she moved to the closest dreaming pony.

Lunar popped into the mare's dreams and instantly regretted it. Coco was having a nice dream, a very nice dream about Flame. Lunar immediately exited the mares dream and glared at Flames sleeping body. "What the hell did you do to her Spike?" asked Luna who was shocked.

A few hours later Randolph had arrived at the room of Flame but being mindful of the time, Randolph opted to just let himself in and retrieve Coco who was still in the comatose state.

"Coco, Coco, wake up, I know you're not feeling well but I don't think it is appropriate for the head maid of the household to occupy one of the beds of the Lord's guest." Said Randolph trying to shake the mare awake.

Coco slowly opened her eyes and noticed the old stallion. "Umm... Randolph where am I?"

"Coco you are in the bed of Master Flame, he said that when you came to retrieve him for dinner you were running a fever and he laid you in his bed so you could rest. Master Flame is currently sleeping on the couch." Said Randolph.

Coco looked in the direction of the dragon and looked upon his sleeping form. The sight of the dragon naked, and the memories of her dreams was too much for the mare, her face blushed and she was giggling like an idiot, completely ignoring the concerned look she was getting from the butler. "Oh dear, it's worst then I thought, you are still not feeling well, I fear that if I move you it will only worsen your condition." Said Randolph as he pushed the giggling mare back down on the bed and returned the covers over her.

Randolph looked at what he assumed to be a delirious mare and sighed as he walked out of the room to let the mare get more rest.

Flame was awoken by a ray of sunlight hitting him in the face but his determination to stay asleep was too strong. "Stop it, mom, I had a long night and I don't want to wake up." Said Flame as he waved his arms trying to block the sunlight. But instead of sleeping in a large bed that would easily accommodate for a lot of rolling and movement, Flame was on a couch. A loud thud was heard as Flame was now lying face down on the cold stone floor and muttering some profanity at all the world.

The thud woke up Flame's roommate who was startled by the sound. "What happened?" Yelled Coco.

Flame lifted his head and looked at the scared maid in the bed. "Coco, are you all right, you had me worried for a while." Said Flame as he peeled himself off the cold floor. After Flame was on his feet, Coco got an unobstructed view of Flame's form. She saw all of his scars and muscles, and then the second son of this world started to rise.

Flame sighed as he walked over to the maid on the bed who was giggling and smiling at the sight of the dragon. When Flame arrived at the bed he walked past the mare, reached for the bedside table, grabbed his crossbow, and reattached it to his wrist. After the crossbow was back on, Flame looked to the blushing mare and decided to check her temperature again, but instead of using his hand, he used his lips. Flame placed his lips on the forehead of the mare. This action received a shocked gasp from Coco and a puff of steam popping out of her head. "Tsk, Coco, your still too hot, let me get dressed and I'll take you to your room to get some more rest." Said Flame as he walked away from the mare in the bed and walked over to his clothes to get dressed.

After Flame got dressed, he was carrying a now passed out Coco in his arms through the halls of the manor. Flame and the passed out Coco were stopped by Randolph who was walking to Flame's room to get the dragon up for breakfast, and to check on the maid. But when he was walking to the room he was met with Flame with Coco in his arms. "Master Flame, please forgive me for not getting Coco out of your room. I arrived in the night to fulfill my promise but when I checked on her condition, she was delirious from her fever, and I decided to let her stay in the bed, in hopes of not worsening her condition."

Flame nodded. "It's fine Randolph, she is still not ready to work but her fever has improved, so I decided to carry her to her room and let her rest there. Can you show me where it is?" Asked Flame.

"Of course." Said Randolph as he turned around and started to walk back down the hall.

As the two walked down the halls Flame wanted to start up a conversation with the butler. "Hey Randolph, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course, Master Flame, I will answer to the best of my abilities."

"Ok, so how did you come into Fancy's employ?"

"Aw, that is a simple story, but first technically I'm not in the employ of lord Fancy, I am lady Fleur's butler. Years ago I was on my own after my family home was burned down in an accident, I lost my wife and daughter in the fire."

"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"Thank you Master Flame, but I have come to accept it, though it still hurts to remember them, I use their memories as a motivation to continue but let's not get sidetracked. After the fire, I was homeless and wandered from town to town in search of a job and a roof over my head. Then I arrived in Millborn. I was on the streets for a few days, until a kind-hearted stallion walked past me and I don't know if it was out of pity or kindness, but he stopped, sat on the ground with me as we talked to each other and when we finished he offered me a job at his townhome. At first, I was against the handout but he was very persistent. It turns out that he was the lord of Millborn and he and his wife just had a daughter of their own. Three guesses who that little filly was."

"It's not that hard to guess."

Randolph laughed. "No it's not, is it? but in hindsight, it was a real shock to find out that the lord of Millborn was talking to a poor drifter. Lord Jacques de Lis was a kind stallion, but in all honesty, he was a heartless stallion when compared to his wife Mary de Lis, the moment that she met me she cried her heart out, and when she heard of my past she demanded that I live in their home for as long as I needed and when I suggested I offer my services as a form of compensation she nearly tore my head off in opposition. But I was still a stallion and my honor would not allow it, so I offered to become the new ladies butler to show my thanks. Lady Mary was against it, not because she did not trust me, but it would mean that I would be taking care of Fleur for the rest of my life, and she wanted me to live the life I wanted. But the life I wanted was gone, and I refused to let the kindness of the lord and lady be squandered. That day I took up the mantel of Lady Fleur's butler." Randolph sighed at the memories. " Over the years, I watched Fleur grow up from a helpless baby to an adventurous and kind filly who would rather go out in the garden and play in the mud than stay inside and play with dolls. But twelve years after I arrived in Millborn, I had to comfort Fleur through the worst day of her life, It was no secret that Lord Jacques and Lady Mary were unwell, but they did their best to keep Fleur from finding out. But it was obvious that they were not long for this world, and the day of their passing was not only devastating to Fleur but me as well. They never saw me as only a butler, they saw me as both a friend and a godfather to Fleur. Fleur was only thirteen when her parents died and the land and estate were transferred into her name. But she was just as kindhearted as her mother, she asked me if I would like to leave and find happiness somewhere else, but after so many years staying by her side, I refused to leave. Again I swore my life to her as her butler, and when she found love, I watched her grow up into a beautiful mare, and at her request, I walked her down the aisle and gave her away to her true love, Fancy. Of course, only after I threatened to rip off his head and mount it on the main fireplace, then I warned him that after that, he would have to meet lord Jacques in heaven, where he probably would find some way of bringing him back to life, and then I would kill him again if he ever hurt her."

The two were stopped in their walk and conversation by the sound of someone laughing at the story. They turned around and sighted the pony laughing, it was Fleur. "I still remember laughing my flanks off when Fancy told me about what you said." Said Fleur as she walked over to the group. "Randolph, without you I don't want to imagine what my life would have been like. You have been by my side for years, you have seen me at my lowest and my highest. You have played with me and yelled at me when I was bad, you stayed up all night with me when I couldn't sleep. You opened your heart to me, showed me how to cook, sew, dance, and read. You held me close when mommy and daddy died, and I held you close when you found out I was getting married as you cried 'Oh, my little Fleur has grown up into a beautiful mare' so many times. You walked me down the aisle, gave me away, and acted as the perfect father to me for so many years. I don't know what Mommy and Daddy were thinking when you became my butler, but I know that they made a perfect choice." Said Fleur.

"Lady Fleur..." Said Randolph crying. He walked away from Flame and Coco towards Fleur and when he reached her, he pulled her into a loving hug. "You are so much like your mother. You even got her skill of saying overly sappy speeches."

Fleur wrapped her arms around the butler and giggled. "You forgot about her horrible taste of marrying childish stallions, and her sense of humor."

"I prefer saying her fondness for stallions with a lively soul, and as for her sense of humor, let's say it was more about her charm."

"You know if she heard you say that, your ass would be out on the streets until you apologized. She constantly said she was very funny."

"Yeah, I know." Said Randolph as he pulled away from the hug and looked Fleur in the eyes. "If your eyes were just a few shades darker than what they are now, I could swear I was talking with Lady Mary. Fleur, I have been by your side for years, I saw you as a second daughter, I love you, my sweet little Fleur." Said Randolph as he kissed Fleur's forehead.

Fleur giggled. "I love you too, Uncle Dolph." Said Fleur as she returned to the hug.

Flame was watching this tender moment as he was still carrying a passed out Coco in his arms.

After the moment was over Fleur walked over to Flame and looked at the unconscious mare in his arms and smirked. "Isn't it rather cliché for a dragon to kidnap a helpless maiden? or is it more cliché for a member of the family to find a romance with a maid?" joked Fleur.

"Honestly I think they're about the same, but right now neither apply to this situation." Said Flame. "I'm just carrying Coco back to her room so she can get some more rest. We are planning on leaving today, and I don't want her to be forgotten in my room."

"How is she feeling?"

"No idea really, but when I checked her temperature it was at least lower."

Fleur nodded. "Good to hear, I am on my way to my bedroom to get Fancy's gear ready to leave." Fleur looked Flame in the eye and became serious. "Please, make sure to bring him back to me, I can't lose him." Said Fleur who was starting to cry.

Flamed used his tail and wrapped it around Fleur's body and pulled her close to him in the best version of a hug he could do with a mare in his arms. "I can't promise he will return, that is something that only fate can decide. But I promise you I will give fate a good run for her money. I will do everything I can to ensure his safety, he is my brother and I protect my family." Said Flame as he released the mare.

"Oh god, not another sappy speech giver in this family." sighed Randolph.

The two looked at the butler and erupted in a fit of laughter.

After the laughter died down Fleur smiled at Flame. "I'm sorry for interrupting your task, I will be going." Said Fleur as she walked away.

Flame looked at the butler. "Shall we continue?"

"Of course." Responded Randolph.

Flame was standing outside of the Fancy manor along with the rest of his party as Fancy was saying his goodbyes to his staff.

"... And I promise you all that I will return with word of Sektos defeat, but until then, my lovely wife, Fleur will be in charge of the manor." Said Fancy as he finished his goodbye.

Flame looked at his friends who were ready to leave as Fancy looked at his brother. Fancy walked over to his brother smiling. "Flame, I am ready to depart. Are you already as well?"

"I am, I have retrieved all my friends from yesterday, plus I asked Randolph to prepare us enough food to get us to Thorngarde, and about six dozen gems for an after-dinner snack."

"Good to hear." Fancy then looked at the others. "How about you all?"

"I have everything." Said Magic

"Me to." responded Incantation

"As do I." smiled Gem

"All ready." meeked Ivy

"All I'm missing is the sight of the road." Said, Serrata

"Yep," responded McBiggin

"All stocked up and my bow is tight." Said Wuzz

"I could get there in ten seconds flat, but I get bored without someone to talk to." boosted Shadow

"Me..." Said Confetti as she counted her fingers. "ten."

Fancy smiled as well. "Good now I have a little surprise to show you all."

Fancy then walked over to the side of the manor and pulled out a wagon filled to the brim with supplies. The wagon was large enough to accommodate all eleven of them. " I may have informed Randolph that it would take us all week to get to Thorngarde by foot. With this, it will only take us two days at most to reach the town."

Flame smiled at Fancy. "This is perfect, but only one problem, what is going to pull us?"

"Aw yes, power is a problem, but luckily for you, I am well trained in magic. It's a simple spell that will use magic to pull the wagon along as it continually draws from the caster, I can teach both Magic and Incantation the spell in a matter of minutes. So let's load up and get a move on." Said, Fancy.

Flame looked at the rest of the party and yelled. "You heard the stallion, load up!"

Moments later Flame was sitting at the front of the wagon as Fancy was sitting beside him. Everyone else was sitting in the back. Flame looked at Fancy. "Last chance to change your mind."

"What and miss out on the operativity to bitch slap Sekto, not going to happen, I still owe him for attacking my town and killing my troops." Said Fancy as he activated his horn and the wagon started to move on its own.

"Fine, but I get to go first."

"Deal."

The wagon left the manor grounds and soon after left Ravengrove. As the adventure continues.