Epilogue

Spike opened his eyes groggily. He sat up, stretching his arms and popping his neck. He looked to his right to find a peacefully sleeping Celestia. Despite being a morning pony, she sometimes had a hard time leaving the bedsheets behind. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, which caused her to flutter her eyes open.

“Five more minutes, Spikeeeeyyyy,” she groaned.

“Would love to, but you have to raise the sun in twenty minutes or so, Mom,” he kissed her again.

She smiled. “I thought you were growing out of calling me Mom, dearest.”

He shrugged. “You’re more of a mare in my eyes now, but you and Luna still raised me. It’s a bit hard to stop calling you Mom or Luna ‘Aunt’. Plus, don’t lie, I know you like it,” he nuzzled her, Celestia returning the affection as she hummed sweetly. “It’s a sort of kinky fun, don’t you think? I know Luna loves it~”

“I can’t say no to that,” Celestia agreed and giggled. She kissed his cheek before he pulled away. “Are you leaving so soon?”

“Sadly, yes. I have a meeting to attend to with the Zebrican Ambassador. It seems they wish to expand the trade-agreement with Cervidas. Funny, no? It’s almost like it’s been mutually beneficial for both nations,” he said with sarcasm. “After that, I’m going to set up schedules and a possible visit to Griffonia. We need to find a way to give them back their autonomous rulership or find a way to annex them with them by asking for it.”

“You know how prideful and uncooperative griffons are. They would never accept annexation. They didn’t even accept Equestrian protection, and they can’t be a vassal state without a proper government,” Celestia sighed. Getting off her bed, she stretched and walked over to Spike. “Mind if we share a bath?”

Spike smirked. “Don’t you want to sleep a little longer?”

“Not after such talk, Spikey. So much left to do, so much left to be done,” she exclaimed with a smile.

After a nice, hot shower, Spike left Celestia’s room and made his way to meet with his Retinue. When he arrived, two of his Scaled Guards saluted, stepping aside to let him through. Inside, Umbra, Stygian, Tempest, and Grubber were already waiting for him, though the latter was still half-asleep.

Taking his seat, Spike exhaled with content elation.

Many things had happened after dealing with Cozy Glow. After her Obliteration, the filly was renamed as Sunshine Swirl. Later, after fixing the damage Cozy Glow had caused, lingering problems left by the Storm King’s invasion and attacks came to light.

Abyssinia was in shambles. Plundered to the point of near collapse, they had valiantly tried to stand on their paws again, but it was all for naught. Raiders from surrounding tribal nations and slaver gangs from Klugetown were running amok Abyssinian territory and there was little they could do to stop them with their economy in shambles. Even guerilla warfare proved ineffective against enemies that struck at a moment’s notice, took what meager things they could find, and then scurried back to where they came from as fast as they had come.

Worse than that, Abyssinia’s historical enemy and rival, the Diamond Dog Empire, was not going to pass up such an opportunity to finish them off. And so, knowing their end was inevitable if they didn’t ask for help, the King and Queen of Abyssinia asked Equestria for any kind of help they could provide in exchange for Vassaldom.

Luna extended an offer to turn Abyssinia into a Protectorate, not a Vassal. Equestria would aid Abyssinia in their recovery until they could stand strong on their own again. When that point was reached, they could decide if they either could change their status to that of a Vassal State or be independent again. The King and Queen signed the treaty but agreed that once Abyssinia recovered, they would be recognized as an ally of Equestria.

Looking back at the table, he saw a map representing Equis and a plethora of banners, figurines, and magic crystals scattered all over the place to indicate relationships, standings, where Special Agents were active, diplomatic dealings, and much more such relationships.

The Yeti Tribes were done for. The Storm King had ruined their nation during his tyrannical ascend to power. Now that they were refugees and Equestria, showing mercy to their enemies, allowed them to stay. Now they had established a settlement near the Crystal Empire and offered Cadance their services as excellent explorers and extra muscle around the Empire. Some had even joined the Crystal Guards.

The Changeling Hive was growing nicely. Without Chrysalis and the influence of her throne, the Deadlands was slowly turning into a lush and beautiful place. It would take decades, perhaps up to a century or more for the entire territory to change completely to what it should’ve always been. But the changelings were now able to farm, cultivate, and live their lives freely without Chrysalis holding them back nor with the constant dread of starvation.

And the Kirins? Everyone. Everyone had thought they were extinct. But thankfully, they were just hiding in isolation for centuries. It warmed his heart to see Celestia and Luna cry as they glomped and hugged their dear old friend, Rain Shine, alive once more.

On that note, he couldn’t help but smile widely upon seeing five banners in particular. One of Equestria, another over the Crystal Empire, and the remaining three over the Hippogriff Kingdom/Seaquestria, Saddle Arabia, and the Kirin’s Grove. After the Storm’s King debacle, Blueblood had been hard at work under a new project of his. When he finally presented it a month ago, it was unanimously approved and presented to their allies.

Cadance was the first to sign, followed shortly by Queen Novo, Sultan High Dune and Sultaness Shifting Sands, and lastly by Rain Shine. Blueblood’s project had been a proposal similar to an alliance but closely knit and far more inclusive. With rights, duties, and benefits shared through the participant nations; all seen as equals, with no nation above the other.

He called his project a ‘Federation’.

The Changeling Hive and Yakyakistan would surely join it in a few weeks until all the necessary measures are taken care of. As for the Dragon Lands? Since he was the Dragon Lord, he could easily sign the treaty and be done with it. But taking a note from Luna’s book, he decided it’d be best to show the dragons, by example, the benefits of joining the newly found Federated Nations of Equis.

And speaking of the Dragon Lands, Ember had been doing a magnificent job as his Placeholder and de facto ruler. He gave her free reign to do what she thought would be best for all dragons. Schools had been founded, training grounds were established, commerce and trade were beginning to rise. And, much to everyone’s delight, the Dragon Hunters had been crushed once and for all, with only scattered remains left to be mopped up.

His relationship with Ember had also improved. Truthfully, he had never truly seen her as a potential love interest, less so since his heart belonged to Celestia and Luna first and foremost. But they had assured him that they didn’t mind ‘sharing’. Celestia actually encouraged it. That mare, despite her pristine exterior, could be quite playful indeed.

Looking up from the map to his Retinue, he saw Stygian, quill and parchment at the ready. The lanky stallion had proven his worth and intelligence far exceeding his imagination. Thanks to him, his workload had nearly halved, now that he didn’t need to write every detail himself, just read through them and sign them if need be.

Grubber was an odd one. At first, he thought he would contribute nothing and was more akin to a tool to keep Tempest happy. But he soon found that past his carefree attitude and gluttony tendencies, he was actually incredibly capable of tactical analysis, strategic planning, which combined with Stygian’s own capabilities turned into a force to be reckoned with, and boisterous nature, turned him into his official announcer and tactical planner.

Tempest Shadow, as she refused to use her real name, had proven to be every bit the capable Commander he thought she was. Fierce, brave, and bold, Tempest commanded respect only matched by her gentle nature under her shell of regimental authority. Surprisingly, when Twilight offered to heal her horn, she refused, stating she would earn her horn back after all the damage she caused.

Lastly, Umbra, his first companion. The pity he felt for her had turned into understanding and then to admiration. Alone, she was more than capable of ruling, even though her approach could be seen as heartless by many. Quick of mind, powerful, and the mind of a leader turned her into not only his most trusted member of his Retinue, but also his second-in-command.

He smiled thinking about Smolder joining his Retinue after graduating from the School of Friendship. They had spent a lot of time together as of late, now that no major catastrophe struck against Equestria and he found himself with plenty of free time a few times each week. Smolder was one of his closest friends and he would love to have her at his side more often. A curious thought, he mused, as the more he got to know Tempest and spend time with Umbra, the more they grew on him.

He chuckled. Not everything was perfect. Many other nations still refused to interact with Equestria or did so in an extremely limited and begrudging fashion. The Diamond Dog Empire, in particular, had refused further communication for ‘denying them the right to shave the fur of the damn cats’. But they’ll come around. One way or another, they would. Griffonia would find a leader or ask to be integrated into Equestrian soil. Minotauria would see the benefits of commerce, and slowly open up more and more. Zebrica and Cervidas would slowly grow as well, and other minor nations would also end up witnessing where Harmony and Friendship led to.

“So much left to do,” Spike began. “But, Aurora willing, we will succeed. It is the Dawn of a United Equis. Friendship shall show us the way.”

“Friendship shall show us the way,” his four companions repeated.

Spike nodded, proud of his friends and companions.

“For Harmony.”

End.

Author's Note

Special thanks to anyone that read this!

I may do a follow-up story, but don't quote me on that. If I end up doing it, I won't give any spoilers here aside from that the dead shall rise.