It was one Tuesday afternoon, and Spike was at a local 7/11 store. He was currently watching a microwave as a microwaveable calzone was being heated up. When it was finished he opened the microwave and smelt what was cooking, "Oh, yeah. Love that delectable aroma." he took it out and paid for it along with a slushee.

He exited the shop and sat outside to enjoy his hot treat, "Mm. So tasty." he said between bites.

"Is this where you go when you're not working?" came a voice, as Spike looked up and saw Starlight Glimmer standing at his side.

"Oh, Starlight, hey." he greeted.

"Hey, yourself." she greeted back.

"What're you doing here?" he wondered.

"I was coming by to get a slushee. I love these things." she answered.

"Well, you go in and get one. I'll wait for you." he said.

"Thanks," And so Starlight went inside and came out moments later with her own slushee. Se took a seat next to him, and spoke, "So what's been new with you?"

"Just about the same old. Though I'm thinking of meeting up with my old boys back in Canterlot soon."

"Oh, really? What're they like?" Starlight inquired.

"They're a unique bunch," Spike began, "Snips and Snails are like the comedic duo you'd see in various comedy movies from the 90s, Featherweight's going into journalism, and Pipsqueak's going into acting in movies."

"In what kind?"

"He's mostly hitting for comedy, but then again what is a comedy movie anymore? These days any comedy feature seems to be overshadowed by the dramatic elements included making it less funny than it could be."

"Point." Starlight admitted.

"But they were there for me from junior high to high school. I'm lucky to have a bunch of friends like them." Spike said.

"Yeah. Lucky." Starlight answered, sounding uneasy.

Spike spoke, "Didn't you have an old friend outside the girls yourself? Sunburst was it?"

Starlight flinched, before getting flashes of a boy in a car screaming before she heard a crashing sound. She snapped out of it and answered hesitantly, "Yeah. Him."

"I remember he was nice guy. A real bookworm who always kept his hair messy," Spike reminisced, while unaware of Starlight looking nervous, "I'd like to see him again if he's still around."

"Yeah, sure," Starlight relief, "So listen, wanna go take a walk?"

"Sure, ok." Spike answered, much to Starlight's relief. So Spike dumped the wrapper he had his microwave calzone in, and the two left the store.

The two walked around town, before heading to the park. They walked around, before Spike looked over at the playground, "Hey check out that jungle gym."

"Same one from way back then." Starlight noted.

"And it's still standing." Spike smiled.

"It'll never crumble." the girl added.

Spike nodded, "Remember when we'd all use to race to the top?"

Starlight chuckled, "Yeah. And we were all determined to make it up first."

"I remember one time when we were all struggling against each other, Sunburst took advantage and climbed to the top before any of us." Spike noted.

Starlight froze up while envisioning the same flashes like she did back at the store. She envisioned hearing the sound of the boy screaming, until she heard Spike, "Starlight! Hey!" Starlight once again broke out of her thoughts, and saw Spike looking at her in concern, "Are you ok? You looked out of it for a minute."

"I'm fine. Just feeling a little tired." she answered.

"Here, I'll take you home." Spike offered.

"Thank you." Starlight said, as Spike helped her along.

Later on the two reached Starlight's house, and the girl unlocked the door allowing the two to enter. Spike entered the living room, and took a seat on the couch. Starlight came back and offered him a bottle of water. Spike took it, as Starlight sat next to him.

"So your parents out?" he wondered.

"Yeah. Which is just as good. Don't want them saying things that could embarrass both of us."

"I've been there," Spike humored her, before asking something, "How did it feel when you first left for college?"

"It felt like a whole new chapter in my life opened up for me and the rest of the girls. We had no idea what to expect, but we knew we had to face whatever awaited us head on." Starlight explained.

"Deep stuff," Spike admitted, "You know that's exactly what Sunburst told me before I left for Canterlot years ago," Starlight once again twitched, "I was scared of moving but Sunburst told me whatever happens I need to be strong and face whatever new surprises and events waited for me."

"Could we please not talk about Sunburst anymore?!" Starlight snapped, taking Spike by surprise.

"Starlight, what's wrong?" he asked in concern.

"I just wish he wasn't brought up so much." she said, trying to calm down.

"Did something happen between you two?" Spike asked suspiciously, "Did he move away too, and you lost touch with him or vice versa?"

"He's dead." Starlight flat out answered.

Spike did a double take, "What?"

"Sunburst is dead, Spike."

Spike was taken aback by Starlight's answered, and had to know, "When did this happen?"

"A few years back when the girls and I were in our final year of high school." she explained, while trying to keep it together.

"What happened?"

"It was the night after we took our finals. We were all here having a good time and partying, until we ran out of snacks. I wanted to get them, but Sunburst offered to instead since I was the one hosting the party. We carried on with the party waiting for him, until we got a call from the hospital telling us Sunburst was there. We all piled in the car and headed there asap. We got there and saw Sunburst was in a coma and hooked up to life support."

"What happened to him?" Spike asked.

Starlight sighed, "According to eye witnesses, he was leaving the store with our snacks, but a car was speeding out of control and ended up crashing into Sunburst who couldn't jump away in time. He hit his head on the ground hard. They kept him there overnight, but I refused to leave the hospital. The next day the doctors informed me and Sunburst's parents he died in his sleep."

"Oh, no." Spike gasped.

"Yes. Everyone from school turned up for the funeral, students, faculty, everyone. And what was painful about it was he did pass his finals like the rest of us. But they decided to bury his degree with him in respect for his dedication to his studies," Starlight looked down as tears fell from her eyes, "It should've been me."

"Huh?"

"I should've been the one to get the snacks!" she cried, "If I went Sunburst would still be alive! It's my fault he died!"

"Starlight, that's not true!" Spike called her out, "Nobody could've known that was going to happen. It's not your fault."

"Sunburst's parents told me the same thing, but I still feel responsible for what happened. He had so many plans after high school, but now it's nothing." Starlight sniffled.

"Starlight, listen to me," Spike turned Starlight to face him, "What happened to Sunburst was a tragedy, but none of you could've known what was coming. Especially in a town like this. But if you've been punishing yourself for this since that day then you've only made yourself worse. You think Sunburst would want you to feel this way?"

"I..." Starlight tried to answer, but the words didn't come to her.

"Of course not. Sunburst may be gone, but he's always with us, as anyone we know whose ever passed away. It's ok to think about him, but don't think about him because of what happened otherwise that would be an insult to his memory. Think of him as he was, a smart, dedicated student, and life long friend."

Starlight took Spike's words to heart, as she remembered all the fun times she had with Sunburst growing up, playing board games, reading, studying, and just hanging out. Finally letting go of her self imposed guilt, she smiled and spoke up, "Spike?"

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Thank you."

"No problem." he smiled, and suddenly found himself embraced by Starlight. He felt turned on from the feeling of her impressive bust into his chest, but shook it off knowing now was not the time to be a perv.

"I'm so glad you came back into my life." she whispered.

Spike wrapped his arms around the older girl, "Feeling's mutual."

As it got late, Spike and starlight stood outside her place, "I better get back before my mom chews me out for missing dinner."

"I understand. It was nice spending the day with you, Spike." Starlight admitted.

"Same here." Spike nodded, before feeling his chin gripped by Starlight who pulled him into a kiss.

Spike melted into the kiss, until Starlight pulled away from him and smiling, "A thank you, for helping me move on from that part of my past." The boy smiled, and nodded before taking off.

Starlight went back inside and up to her bedroom. She looked at one picture on her dresser that was face down. She lifted it back up to reveal it was a picture of both her and Sunburst. The boy himself in the picture was eighteen years old, and his eyes covered by glasses were a gradient of dark cornflower blue to moderate cyan, and his hair was messy and colored vivid with brilliant vermillion.

She smiled at the picture and spoke, "Sunburst, if you can only see Spike now. You'd be proud to see how much he's grown since he left. I know I am." she blushed, while remembering the feeling of being held close to him.

Author's Note

Hope everyone has a Safe and Happy Halloween!