A few days had passed since Spike’s admission to the hospital, and neither of the mares in his harem had moved since. Big Mac and Garble dropped by occasionally to make sure that they would eat.

Garble would also constantly check on his sister, who kept blaming herself. “If I had just gotten there a little faster...or if I had stayed by his side, I could have saved him!” she tells Garble.

“Smolder, its not your fault. The only ones to blame are Discord and the Legion of Doom. Even if you were there, you wouldn’t have been able to stop the magic from hitting Spike.”

“I could’ve taken the blast...”

“And then Spike would have been here, heart broken over you. Look, Smolder. I know it’s hard for you to think otherwise, but it’s not your fault, ok? It’s not your fault at all. Stay strong for Spike...for me... ”

In the emergency room of the Canterlot Hospital, Nurse Redheart was busy directing the doctors on what to do regarding the young drake, who had a full body cast on due to the injuries he had sustained. A knock sounded on the door, and an assistant opened it to reveal a few changelings, all wearing nurse scrubs. One bore a vial in his hooves, and the head nurse nodded to acknowledge their presence.

“Forgive my delay, Nurse Redheart,” spoke the doctor, “but this was quite a difficult potion to put together. The last time we’ve had to make this-” he shuddered slightly from the memories. “Let’s just say it wasn’t good times back then.”

“You’re sure this will work?” she asks, eyebrow raised.

“Positive,” affirms the doctor, and steps forth. The other doctors step aside and the changeling hovers over Spike’s back, the only part of his body that had been spared from the bandages.

His assistants, knowing what to do, take up their positions, and as he begins pouring the lotion, they gently rub it into the young drake’s wings. When the last drop falls, the changeling lands and says, “We weren’t able to create a potion that would repair his current wings, but this was the closest we could come.”

“So this potion will...”

“Give him changeling wings in place of the ones he currently has, and there may or may not be a few changes to his appearance. As this was only ever tested on changelings, and it was found that it often gave them a new horn-”

“Spike may grow a changeling horn,” states Redheart.

“Yes.”

She nods, wondering how to tell this news to Spike’s harem. “Thank you again, doctor Aristos.”

Spike was now in the recovery room, where he would have to stay for a few days so that the nurses could monitor his physical health. Almost as soon as Nurse Redheart leaves the room, Smolder approaches her. “Can we see Spike?” she asks, pleadingly.

To the dragoness’ surprise, the nurse nods. “You may,” she says, “but don’t make any loud noises around him. Spike is still recovering after all.”

Smolder dashes into the room, shortly followed by Scootaloo and the rest of the harem.

Spike opens his eyes slowly, wincing as the harsh, bright lights of the hospital are the first thing to greet his vision. Shielding his eyes with an arm, he winces as he feels a dull pain in his back, near his wings, which slowly spreads to that same, stinging sensation all over his body. His body aches, and he struggles to recall what had occurred to result in all this pain.

His eyes start to adjust to the still too bright lights, and he hears someone calling his name. He rubs his eyes and starts to make out a tall, orange blur next to his bed, which slowly turns into Smolder and Scootaloo.

The former joyfully says, “Spike!” Amidst tears leaking from her eyes, she hugs the young drake, being mindful not to hurt him.

“S-smolder?” Spike asks, his voice cracking due to the dry feeling in his throat.

“I’m so glad to see you awake again, Spike,” exclaims Scootaloo, though keeping her voice a little low as she didn’t want to disturb her lover.

“We all are,” says Twilight, a warm smile on her face.

“I was so scared,” adds Fluttershy.

“This one couldn’t get a wink o’ sleep,” says Applejack, playfully as she nudges Rainbow Dash.

The pegasus responds, “Not like you did either!”

“You’re darn right ah didn’t.”

Rarity steps forward and hugs Spike, her azure eyes glistening. “Please promise you’ll never scare me like that again, Spikey- Wikey.”

Spike smiles at the use of his old nickname, but says, “I can’t promise, but I’ll try.”

As Gabby, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom take Rarity’s place to talk to Spike, Pinkie Pie enters the room with some water in a jug, as well as a glass, which she fills up. “Just for you!” she says cheerfully as she hands the glass to Spike, who gulps it down eagerly.

Pinkie’s fur seemed much brighter now, and her mane was even bouncy again, which showed just how happy she was. Although she was a little saddened that Spike was still hooked up to an IV tube as well as a heart monitor, she knew his condition was much better now.

“I’ll throw you the best, biggest, most fun party ever when we’re out of the hospital and those fiends are dealt with,” she promises.

Spike smiles. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Starlight hugs him, wiping tears from her eyes. “Don’t leave me again Spike.”

“I won’t.” He drinks some more water, and asks, “What’s going to happen to Discord?”

Upon hearing the name of the Lord of Chaos, the entire room visibly darkens. “That traitor’s going to be punished for what he did,” Starlight hisses.

Spike’s smile falters slightly.

“It hasn’t been decided what will be done to him,” says Twilight. “But he will be put on trial soon.”

“Oh,” says Spike. “Just…don’t kill him, please? He didn’t intend for such an outcome.”

Sweetie Belle sighs. “Oh, Spike, you are too kind. Even after all of this…you’re still forgiving him?”

“He really didn’t want such an outcome, and even if this is what happened in the end, I’m still alive, right?”

“But you nearly died,” whispers Fluttershy.

Spike pauses for a few seconds. “Just promise me you won’t kill him. Or torture him.”

Twilight sighs. “Okay.”

A week passes since Spike was discharged from the hospital. He and his harem had returned to Ponyville, and they were currently having a cuddle session in Spike’s spacious bedroom. The drake was feeling physically better with each passing day, and he was able to walk a short distance by himself, as opposed to the days directly following his discharge, when he had to rely on one of his harem members to move from place to place.

He revels in the warmth and soft fur of the girls around him as he wakes up. He missed this.

Spike makes no move, simply lying there with his eyes closed in contentment. Perhaps a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt, he decides, and snuggles deeper into the inviting warmth.

It was now the afternoon, and Spike was sitting on a sofa in the living room. Twilight, who sat next to him, was reading a story out loud, and it was quite relaxing.

Rarity approaches them, with a few mugs of tea as well as a pot of sugar and milk in her magical aura, and sets them down on the table. Spike is about to greet her, but notices someone else following her and asks in surprise, “Thorax?!”

“Spike!” greets the king of the changelings, a grin on his face as he throws his hooves around the young dragon. “Words can’t tell how happy I am that you’re alive!” He takes notice of Spike’s new wings, as well as the horns on the sides of his head and in the middle of his forehead. “I guess the potion worked well?” Spike nods, and Thorax excitedly continues, “I could teach you changeling magic!”

“I’d actually be able to use it?” Spike asks. He had guessed as much, but hearing Thorax actually mention it made his heart race in anticipation.

Rarity takes a seat, gesturing for Thorax to do so, and the latter continues, “Yes! It’s going to be so much fun!”

Twilight smiles softly. “But that will have to wait for until Spike is fully recovered.”

Thorax nods, but his excitement doesn’t diminish in the slightest. Rarity hears the bell, and gets up to answer the door. When she returns with a tall blue dragoness, Thorax is in the middle of explaining changeling magic to Spike, but pauses once he sees Ember.

“Spike!” the dragon greets enthusiastically. She hugs the dragon carefully. “It’s great to see you again.” She gestures to his horns and wings once she’s released him. “I’m pretty sure those weren’t there last time.”

Spike chuckles. “It’s a long story…”

"Hey Twily," says Shining Armor, that evening, having just come from The Crystal Empire along with his wife and daughter. "You sent a letter asking us to come? What happened? I mean, we were going to swing by to see Spike, but your letter sounded urgent, so we dropped everything and rushed here."

Twilight smiles warmly, greeting her guests. "Why don't you all come in first? Spike's over here," she says, leading them to the living room, where Starlight and Spike now are together, doing a crossword. The alicorn blushes. "Sorry if we're disturbing you."

"Not at all, Twilight," says Starlight, standing up upon seeing the rulers of the Crystal Empire.

She's about to bow, but Cadance holds up a hoof. "There's no need to be so formal, Starlight."

"Hey Spike," greets Shining, approaching the dragon he considers as a younger brother. "How have you been?"

"I've had better days, but my mares all know how to make me feel better," responds the drake. "How about you?"

The white unicorn shrugs. "Flurry's still been having nightmares..." The filly in question jumps off of her mother's back and hugs Spike, happily babbling as she does so.

"What's up Flurry?" asks Spike, ruffling her mane affectionately.

"Yeah, how's my favourite niece doing?" Twilight coos...

After everyone's settled down, the family, excluding Flurry Heart, is in the map room. Starlight offers some tea and biscuits, which everyone accepts. "Wow, these biscuits are really something else, Starlight," Cadance compliments.

Twilight smiles, trying one herself. Her eyes widen slightly. "Wow... You're right Cadance. Starlight, I never knew you were so good at baking!"

The light purple unicorn blushes, rubbing a hoof against the back of her neck. "It's nothing," she says, smiling as she leaves.

"So you're all wondering why I called you here," begins Twilight, to which her brother and sister in law nod in response. "Well...remember the whole thing with Sombra returning to take over the Crystal Empire?"

Shining Armour’s expression hardens and the Princess of Love winces.

"How can we forget, especially after he almost kidnapped Flurry?" asks Cadance.

Her husband, however is tired of waiting. "What about it, Twilight?"

"Discord's the one who brought him back from the dead. All because he wanted to make some test for me," the Princess continues. "He was also the one who made the Legion of Doom, while posing as an ancient foe of Equestria- Grogar."

"Discord did this?" the former captain of the Royal Guard spits out in disbelief.

Twilight nods, and Cadance seethes, "I knew he couldn't be trusted."

"How dare he," continues Shining. "How dare he do this! All because of him, my daughter almost got taken captive by some crazy ex-King, you all got put in danger, and Spike almost died!"

"He cannot get away with this," states Cadance angrily, and Shining nods.

"And he won't," promises Twilight. "He's been arrested, and his trial is tomorrow."

"Tell me, Twilight," says Shining Armor, an angry expression on his face, "what can Cadance and I do to help?"

It was the day of the trial, and ponies files into the court room to see justice be served. Discord trembles behind the bars of the box-like thing he stands in, keeping his gaze level with the ground as he doesn't want to see all the hateful glares ponies are giving him.

Princess Celestia and Luna stand behind the judges podium, and the former bangs a small hammer on the podium, calling order in the court. "We are all gathered here today to witness the trial of the mastermind behind the Legion of Doom, Discord." Ponies begin booing at the mention of the draconequus' name, and the Solar Monarch bangs the hammer a few more times to bring peace. "How do you plead?" she asks the draconequus'.

Knowing that he was more than guilty, Discord says, "Guilty."

Celestia nods in acknowledgement. Princess Luna says, "Prince Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire has gathered quite a bit of information, to show that this creature is guilty of more than one crime."

Taking this as his cue, Shining steps forward and casts a projecting spell. "Yes, that's right, he's not only guilty of creating the Legion of Doom whilst posing as an ancient foe of Equestria, otherwise known as Grogar," a picture of the three infamous villains and 'Grogar' is projected onto the wall, "but he was also the one responsible for reviving King Sombra, who destroyed the Tree of Harmony, tried to kidnap my daughter, and terrorized the entire population of Crystal Ponies."

As the picture changes to that of Sombra attempting to take over the Crystal Empire and almost succeeding, Shining continues, "And this is not the first time he has betrayed Equestria. A few years ago, when Tirek escaped from Tartarus, Discord helped him to steal the magic of every pony in Equestria. Many died from having all their magic drained, and quite a few houses and buildings were destroyed, including the Golden Oaks Library, which was both a library and a home for my sister."

"His foolishness with creating the Legion of Doom also nearly caused Spike to lose not only his wings, but his life." The Prince nods, signalling that he is done, and Princess Celestia hisses, "Is there anything you would like to say, Discord?"

"I know it's pointless now, but I'm sorry. I only ever wanted to make Twilight feel comfortable enough to take on the position of the ruler of Equestria, but as usual, my plans didn't work out. I thought that if Twilight was able to defeat those three," he points to the Legion of Doom, "she would feel much more confident. And a small part of me hoped that they would end up accepting the magic of friendship after I forced them to work together. I truly am sorry, especially to you, Spike." He doesn't say anything else, glaring at the Legion of Doom while the council decides his fate. It's all their fault that I'm in this position now.

The council discusses amongst themselves, but just as they're about to speak, Spike surprises everyone present by standing up and saying, "I know that his mistakes almost cost me my life, and endangered all of Equestria, but I know that Discord didn't plan for things to turn out this way, so please don't punish him too harshly."

Princess Celestia sighs and says, "Very well then. Discord, under the verdict of the Royal Court, you are sentenced to life in the Canterlot Dungeons."

As the guards begin to drag him away, Discord shoots one last glare at the Legion of Doom, who merely smirk. They ruined everything. They just couldn't accept friendship, huh? All because of them, not only will I never see the light of day again, but I will never be able to be with Fluttershy. Just as he's taken towards the exit, he whispers, "Thank you, Spike," knowing that if it weren't for the young drake's request, his fate would have been much more worse.

Author's Note

I've got no idea how to write a trial, but I did my best. Don't forget to vote/like, comment, favourite and share!