A short flight later found and several uncomfortable hellos later found Gilda and Rainbow Dash standing in front of a tree. Not just any tree as Gilda observed, but a half tree half house. A half tree half house that apparently contained a dragon with a direct connection to Princess Celestia. Dash had knocked some time ago and now they waited.

"So a dragon, huh?" Gilda said skeptically. Eyeing the seemingly too small tree.

"Yeah he's only sixteen or something, but he had a growth spurt recently. He's about your size these days. Just so we're clear, I'll definitely help you while you're in Ponyville. I need more time than part of a morning to decide if I'm going with you. I can't exactly leave suddenly without telling anyone; ponies would get worried."

"Okay, that makes sense I guess. Thanks anyways, no matter what you decide." Gilda said, followed by silence. "Wait, this is a library. Why are we waiting for someone to answer the door?"

"Oh yeah!" Dash said opening the door and walking inside. "It's been different since Twilight isn't the librarian though. Spike has been grumpy ever since and some ponies are kind of afraid to come in here. He's still as nice as he ever was, just moodier sometimes."

Gilda stepped into the library scanned it for a few moments then said, "Alright I give up where is he hiding?"

"Upstairs?" Dash guessed. "Yo Spike, you up there?" Dash shouted into the silent room.

A low groan and rumbling growl came from the top of a flight of stairs towards the far end of the room. After a few moments heavy foot steps came from the same direction. Gilda looked on in awe and confusion as a purple scaled creature with an emerald colored belly came down the stairs. Her confusion largely stemmed from a distinct lack of wings on what was supposedly a dragon. Before she could comment on this observation Spike spoke.

"Dash, you know shouting in the library is against the rules." Spike's voice though soft, carried a deep rumbling

that reminded Gilda of a rock slide.

"Yeah sorry. That isn't important right now though. Gilda is going on an epic quest and she really needs to talk to Princess Celestia."

"Come on Dash this is supposed to be a secret, and the first person you see aside from me you tell?"

"Well if I don't tell him, he won't know how important it is."

"Well yeah, but what if he doesn't help us anyways? Then someone else knows the secret and might tell anyone he feels like telling."

"Spike wouldn't do that, he's a cool guy."

"I'm standing right here, you two." Spike grumbled, the look on his face one of somebody who would rather be asleep.

"Right, sorry." Dash said, turning back to the dragon.

"So Spike, then?" Gilda asked, Spike nodded. "Cool, I would really appreciate it if you could send a letter to Celestia. Dash told me that's a thing you can do."

Spike fixed Gilda with a flat stare and asked, "Aren't you that bully that ruined your own welcoming party a while back? Aren't you the one that made Fluttershy cry too?"

"Oh, uh..." Gilda looked away awkwardly.

"Yeah she is, but Spike she's trying to do better. She almost died last night, too. I know you might not like her for the things she's done in the past, but she needs your help."

Spike eyed Gilda again, this time with a more appraising look.

"She isn't going to send a death threat to the Princess is she?"

"No, it's-" Dash started searching for the least odd way to phrase her sentence. "Just a thing. She wants to talk to Princess Celestia face to face."

"And you can't tell me because?"

"It's a matter of national security?" Dash tried.

"Really? Is that the best you can come up with?"

"Bearer of the element of loyalty you're talking to. National security is a thing I've done like five times in two years."

Spike sniffed ruefully, but had a genuine grin on his face. "Fair point, if you'll vouch for her I guess I can at least lend a hand. Just need me to send a letter, right? Where is it?"

"Oh yeah, can we borrow some ink and a quill? Oh and parchment, and some wax or a ribbon to seal it I guess." Gilda asked with an apologetic, light chuckle.

Spike rolled his eyes and padded off to retrieve writing supplies, leaving Gilda and Dash alone near the front of the library.

"Do you know any other unicorns in town? I need one who's good with magic." Gilda asked.

"My friend Rarity is pretty good at magicking a lot of little things, why?"

"I need an item enchanted."

"Twilight would've been the one to ask for that, Rarity's magic is more tuned towards tailoring and gemstones." Spike said, coming back into view with a small bundle.

"Usually both at once." He added as he offered the bag.

"That's perfect!" Gilda said, excitedly.

"It is?" Dash and Spike asked in unison. They both shared a quizzical look with each other. Then turned back to Gilda.

Gilda raised an eyebrow. "Y-yeah."

"How is that perfect?" They both asked at the same time. They immediately donned huge grins and did a hoof-fist bump.

"Okay weirdos. I happen to need a piece of clothing enchanted, I bet she can do it. She's had formal magic training right?"

"I don't know." Dash replied with a shrug.

"Yeah" Spike said.

Dash and Spike shared a look of disappointment, their grins faltering.

"Darn." They said in concert once they'd turned away from each other.

They both perked up immediately with their grins returning.

"No. You stop that now." Gilda said quickly.

"Spoilsport." They said in unison. This time they couldn't help but snicker.

"Oops." They said, the snickers upgrading to full on laughter.

Gilda face-palmed.

"Okay, okay I'm done." They continued, much to Gilda's dismay. The dim library was filled with raucous laughter.

"Alright, when you're done I'll be outside!" Gilda all but shouted, doing a quick heel turn and leaving.

Once Gilda had gone they're laughter began to die down.

"Were you doing that on purpose?" Dash questioned, in between much more tame series of giggles.

"No. You?" Spike asked, sighing contentedly.

"Nah."

They shared a moment of silence, before they both drew in breath to speak. They held their breath and looked at each other with a curious expression.

"Awesome-" They both said slowly, "-rific!" They both finished trying to desync with the other to no avail.

"Uh-oh." They both said with worry.

Before either could attempt to speak again, Spike put two of his large claws delicately around Dash's muzzle."

"I want you to level with me. What's going on with Gilda. You don't have to tell me everything, but you made it sound like her life was in danger."

"Before I answer that I need some advice." Dash said, with a sigh.

"Shoot."

"If Twilight suddenly came back and asked you to go with her wherever she went to would you go, no questions asked? Would you drop everything to go with her knowing that it might be dangerous?"

"Woah, wasn't expecting that. Is that what's up with Gilda?"

"Yeah. Pretty much. She showed up last night bleeding out in my living room."

"Really? She looked fine to me." Spike said.

"Didn't you see all those scars?"

"No, what scars?"

"The ones on her chest with the stitches?" Dash pressed, a strange mix of confusion and exasperation evident in her voice. "I know you notice that kind of stuff better than most."

"I believe you I guess, but I didn't see any scars on her, stitched or otherwise."

"In answer to your question though, Dash. Yeah I would. Both for old time's sake, and because I wouldn't have to worry about her as much if I was with her. If she said, 'Screw the library, let's go on a journey.' I wouldn't even question it at this point." When Spike had finished talking, he let out a weary sigh.

"Sorry big guy, I bet you're taking it the hardest out of all of us."

"Yeah, the second worst thing about all this is nobody visits anymore. Now that Twiight's gone you girls never come around."

"Oh jeeze, now I feel really bad. We haven't been avoiding you, you know that right?"

"It feels like it sometimes. Most dragons would be grateful for the peace and quiet, but I missed the noise you all brought around."

"Just because you're in charge of the library doesn't mean you can't go out you know. There's still a world outside."

"Twilight asked me to take care of the library and I will. With all the catastrophes that go on around here, I can't be too sure what might happen." There was a hint of desperate insistence in his voice.

"She wouldn't want you to live like this though, dude. Tell you what, after I help Gilda I'm going to get you out of this library for a few hours."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"I don't care how much bigger than me you are, I'll push drag or carry you out of here if I have to. Your choice big guy. If it comes to it I'll get Rarity to help too." She fixed him with a stare issuing a silent challenge. He matched it with one of his own.

Spike was, however, the first to break eye contact; he did so with a severely unhappy grumble. Dash grinned at her apparent victory.

"Deal?"

"A few hours? Three exactly?" Spike asked pointedly.

"Yeah sure, whatever. I give it ten minutes before you cheer up and want to stay out all night."

"Deal, then." Spike acquiesced after a moments silence and more grumbling.

They shook on the deal, and Gilda chose that exact moment to poke her head in.

Her eyes narrowed as she said, "You two better be agreeing not to do that anymore, or I'm leaving."

"Nah. I just convinced Spike that some time outside is a good thing. I'm going to be hanging out with him this evening."

"Alright, cool." Gilda said with a smirk, pushing the door open the rest of the way. She approached the two with a sealed scroll in her outstretched hand. "So how does this work, exactly? He isn't going to fly it to Celestia is he." She was obviously trying and failing to subtly point out his lack of wings.

Spike snorted derisively and took the letter from her, without dignifying her implied question. Without a word he tossed the the letter into the cold, dark fireplace. Before Gilda could protest he inhaled deeply and exhaled a large gout of green flame. Along with the eruption of flame came a powerful roar that caused both of the library's other guests to cover their ears. Spike stopped exhaling and the flames did not linger a moment longer. The fireplace was again empty, no trace of Gilda's letter.

"Dude what's your deal?!" Gilda shouted.

"I sent the letter like you asked, chill out."

"Wasn't that a bit much Spike?" Dash shouted, attempting to shake the ringing from her ears.

"You don't have to yell, Dash." Gilda said, with an amused smirk as she watched her friends antics.

"What?" Dash said at the same volume.

"Also, you did?" Gilda asked Spike, with a hint of incredulity.

"My fire can send things to Celestia. That was actually my minimum; found that out the hard way. Sent an entire shelf of books to her on accident."

"Heh, nice."

"It really wasn't. I got yelled at by Luna."

"What?" Dash asked, at a slightly lower volume.

"Little warning next time, I bet Dash likes her hearing."

"I didn't know I was loud too, nobody else has been around when I've done that since my growth spurt." Spike said casually. "She's totally had worse though."

"Well just because somepony breaks all four legs doesn't making breaking one leg later good." Dash shot back, having apparently recovered enough to be a part of the conversation. "Also what's the deal with your fire, it was never that intense before.

"Just comes with being bigger I guess." Spike shrugged, "Need me for anything else?"

"Well, the reply." Dash pointed out.

"I'll give it to you when you come by this evening, she probably has a lot of other-"

Spike paused mid sentence with a confused look. He reared back onto his hind legs and burped violently, letting out a significantly smaller gout of green fire than the first. This fire lingered, and coalesced into a ball. With a magical pop a scroll appeared and fell out of the air. The library was silent a long moment as the three simply stared at the scroll clearly sealed with a wax imprint of a sun.

"That was-" Gilda started, looking to Spike.

"Way quicker than I expected." Spike finished with a nod.

Another moment of silence.

"Uh G, you going to get that? It's for you, you know." Dash motioned towards the scroll on the ground.

"Yeah, right." Gilda said, seemingly coming out of some sort of trance.

The only sounds in the library for several moments were the sounds of Gilda walking, and the sounds of a scroll being unfurled.

"Oh, shit." Gilda said at length, the suddenness of her declaration was surprising to the others. A look of shock washing over her features.

"What's the deal, Gilda?"

"It says, 'Be prepared, I'm coming.'" Gilda said slowly.

"Oh shit, the Princess is coming here?" Dash asked, donning a similar look of shock to her griffon friend.

"What exactly did you send to her?" Spike asked nervously.

"I told her that I wasn't going to be her war puppet and that I wanted to meet with her so I could ask some questions. I signed it Gilda Stormtalon. I didn't think she'd get off her butt and actually come here right now." Gilda said, shrugging exageratedly. "I never figured Princesses ever did anything themselves."

"Oh jeeze, I bet you offended her. What if you just accused her of something she didn't do?" Spike started pacing, nervously. "What if she storms the library with a bunch of royal guardsponies?"

"No, if she didn't know what was up she would've said something else." Gilda said, with a bit of hope in her voice. The look on her face said she wasn't confident in her own words.

Three loud knocks at the front door halted their conversation.

"Spike, are you home?" Came a bubbly voice from the other side of the door. "Oh wait, it's a library. Duh, Pinkie!"

The three current occupants of a library let out a collective sigh of relief as the door swung open and a pink mare with a cotton candy textured mane came bounding into the library.

"Spi-" She began to shout before spotting the dragon in the main room. "Hi Spike, haven't seen you in a while."

"Hi Pinkie." Spike said with a mix of confusion and relief.

"Heh, Pinkie Pie you scared us." Dash said, "We were expecting someone else to show up."

"Ah, hope I didn't disappoint you." Pinkie's gaze turned to the third occupant of the room. "Oh you're that meany mean pants who didn't like the party I threw for you. Welcome back!"

"Wait, you aren't mad at me?" Gilda asked, clearly more than a little surprised.

"Why should I be? Since Dash is here too and she doesn't look angry at you you're obviously friends again and any friend of Dashie's is a friend of mine."

"Huh. That's pretty cool of you, actually. Thanks." Gilda extended a claw as a final peace offering.

Pinkie hopped over and instead of extending a hoof, pulled Gilda into a hug.

"Get. Off. Me." Gilda said, with a dangerous hiss.

"Oh, don't like hugs. Sorry." Pinkie said, quickly backing off.

Gilda caught a warning glare from Dash and quickly said, "It's cool, you didn't know. Please don't do it anymore, though?" The last part came out as more of a question as Gilda looked towards Dash for some measure of approval.

Dash shook her head, but had a half-grin of amusement. Gilda sighed in relief, finding that she was in the clear.

"Oh by the way, Princess Celestia is here." Pinkie announced off-handedly.

Three pairs of eyes snapped to the still open door. Three shouts of surprise went up when they noticed Celestia standing only a few feet behind Pinkie; well into the room. The alabaster alicorn stood as regal as ever a patient smile on her face. Instead of her normal regalia she wore a simply gold necklace with a amethyst set into it. Her normally ethereally mane hung limply around her neck, making her look much more like an average pony.

Gilda who was closest aside from Pinkie reacted the most to the sudden presence of the princess. In a flash Pinkie was sent tumbling behind Gilda as she the large griffon took up a defensive stance between Celestia and the pink mare. She was half way into a pouncing position before she caught herself.

"Oh, uh..." Gilda said, quickly trying to hide the fact that she'd almost attacked the princess.

"Princess Stormtalon." Celestia said with a curt bow.

Gilda replied with a scowl as a chorus of snickers sounded from behind her.

Author's Note

Let me know what you think in the comments below. If you like the story but are put off by something, let me know so I can fix it.