As for Princess Twilight Sparkle and the Radiance, she and her crew were beginning to board the mighty, lead airship. The Radiance was fully fueled, equipped with an impressive new armament, and ready for takeoff after supplies, fuel reserves, and the crew were aboard.

They numbered quite the crew, consisting of Twilight, the T.I.T.A.N. Directors Celestia and Luna, the Council of Friendship minus Fluttershy, and hundreds of Canterlot’s best scientists, engineers, pilots, and top agents serving as Twilight and the directors’ personal guards.

As for Spike…

“Awww, come on, Twilight!” the young drake groaned, flying beside the princess as she trotted her way over to the Radiance. They were joined by dozens of Royal Guards and T.I.T.A.N. personnel loading up the aircraft, the landing pad filled to the brim with several other airships and Solar Bolts. The morning sun was blinding, making the upcoming journey east all the more difficult.

Something Spike just couldn’t seem to grasp like Twilight could. Telling herself that, Twilight sighed and stopped in her tracks, spinning around to stop him as well. “I already told you last night, Spike: This operation is going to be extremely dangerous, and I don’t want you risking your life.”

Directors Celestia and Luna paused, turning back to see Twilight and Spike’s inevitable confrontation concerning his involvement. There was no rush as of yet. They wanted Twilight to take her time with matters such as this.

Looking past Celestia and Luna, Spike leaned out to spot the lone Royal Guard protecting the entrance to the Radiance, practically stonewalling anypony not qualified for the mission ahead. He frowned, explaining in a deadpan tone, “But it’s totally cool if Pinkie Pie and Rarity get to go?”

Twilight frowned, puffing out her lower lip. “We’re going to need all the Elements of Harmony for this mission. You should know that—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Spike huffed, crossing his arms and turning away in defiance. “Gonna need all the Elements to free Godzilla. I get the gist.”

Her frown slowly dissipated seeing his slumped, almost defeated posture turn away from her. Twilight knew the fight ahead wasn’t going to be easy, and Spike certainly wasn’t making it any easier. Still, she understood his plight, knowing the courage Spike could wield, having witnessed it personally. And to be held back despite it all had to be frustrating. She only wanted him to understand from her point of view.

So, she laid her foreleg over his shoulders and tugged him close. “It’s the same reason I didn’t want the students to join, no matter how much they wanted to,” Twilight explained.

Spike snorted. “The students didn’t get to fight in the Crystal Empire. I did.”

Twilight pulled him closer, leaning her lips close to his ear. “And you were very brave back then. But this isn’t just Ghidorah we’re dealing with, it’s Godzilla, too. It’s the Bewitching Bell. It’s… evil beyond any of our understanding. Because of that, we don’t entirely know what to expect. We’re making the choice that needs to be made, risking our lives to fly out into the dark. I need to know you’ll be safe from that.”

Having explained her reasoning to the best of her ability, Twilight pleaded within that Spike could hopefully come around, to understand her decision. She felt him shivering. “Then I need to know you’ll be safe, too!” he suddenly exclaimed.

Those shivers changed into soft trembles, followed by Spike’s voice cracking and breaking down. With her heart kneaded just right, Twilight spun Spike around to face her, pulling him into the tightest, warmest, most reassuring embrace she could manage for her little brother.

“We’re going to win this, Spike… and then we’re coming home. I promise,” she whispered.

Eyes swelling up, Spike relinquished the growing fears and gripped his sister as tight as ever, claws nearly digging into her coat, not wanting to let go. Twilight didn’t wince to it. She held him even tighter, giving no sense of wanting to let go, either.

In their tearful hug, not a soul took notice to the six figures sneaking onto the Radiance. Initially, they were just five figures, turning out to be Smolder and Silverstream flying from over the edge of the landing pad, carrying Yona around the mighty balloon of the airship, and sneaking onto the ramp. Gallus followed while carrying Sandbar, the five running into the lone Royal Guard.