Every Spike has his day

The Ponyville Six, along with Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadence, were all gathered around the portal mirror, and had been since the declaration that the time had come. They could not be certain when Spike would come through the portal, or even if he could. There were endless numbers of unknowns, and it would have been too risky to send Twilight through once more.

“Oh I hope he's been alright...” Twilight said, pacing in front of the mirror. She had been been rather tirelessly pacing for several hours.

“If there is one certainty about Spike it is that he is quite resourceful,” Rarity said, resting on her fainting couch. “I am quite certain he found a way to survive and thrive.”

“He has always prove himself to be resilient,” Princess Celestia said with a bright tone, gently stopping Twilight by placing a hoof on her shoulder. “If there is a problem, if, and the portal threatens to close without any sign of him you may go in to question those you still know concerning him.”

“Thank you Princess,” Twilight said, looking to the mirror again. “I'm just... I'm so worried about him...”

“We all are. We've really missed him,” Fluttershy said, eyes going wide as she saw the mirror glow. “Look!”

All eyes turned to regard the mirror as the surface rippled and flashed, Spike appearing out of the silvered surface. He looked down at his hands and back at his tail, seemingly a little lost in his own body. After a moment he noticed all the others around him. “Uh... hi there!”

The moment of stunned stillness broke as the Ponyville mares rushed forward at once to embrace Spike tightly, cooing and offering cheerful comments.

“Oh Spike... I've missed you so much. Things just haven't been the same without you,” Twilight said, openly weeping.

“We have all missed you... in various ways,” Rarity said, delicately, gently rubbing the top of Spike's head. She seemed a bit surprised that he reacted by sticking out his tongue and panting.

“Good ta see ya again, we was startin' ta get a mite worried,” Applejack said.

“Awww...” Spike stuck a finger against a fang and smiled, “Thanks girls! I really missed you too. It wasn't too bad, but I felt bad about not getting back.”

“Now you have returned, and it seems you have fared well. We had feared you would be in distress,” Princess Luna said.

“Nope! The girls on the other side helped out. Well, mostly Rarity...” Spike sighed, looking rather dreamy.

“Ah, yes, Twilight did say we had reasonable facsimiles in this other world,” Rarity huffed, bouncing her hair, “Though from what I could gather given the description of their general construction I doubt very much this equivalent was very similar.”

“There are a lot of similarities. And... some differences...” Spike said, a deep blush burning on his cheeks.

“I'm sure you're happy to be back home. Now you can return to your life,” Princess Celestia said with a smile.

“Yea, you see... about that...” Spike said, digging a foot against the ground.

“Hmm? What's the matter, Spike?” Twilight asked, turning her head curiously and finally noticing that Spike was wearing a dog collar. “And... are you wearing a..?”

“Oh, yea, forgot. I... kind of got used to it,” Spike said, lightly running a claw over the dangling gold tag. His name was cut deeply into the surface, the letters enhanced with silver inlay.

“At the very least my biped doppelganger has exquisite taste,” Rarity said, leaning in to examine the tag. “And, if nothing else, it serves as an excellent souvenir of your time in that world. That and your memories.”

“Memories... that's what I have to keep with me... when I go back...” Spike whispered.

“What? Go back?” Twilight asked, looking down at Spike.

“I... I got very attached to them. I can't imagine being away from them. I know that you all miss me. And I miss you but I... well, I got close to them. Very close,” Spike said, a smile sliding onto his face without him even realizing it.

The others talked amongst themselves, Rarity noticing the smile and faraway look Spike got. He was clearly elsewhere, and wanted to be back. “Tell me, Spikey-wikey... would it honestly hurt you more to stay here, your home, amongst all your friends than it would to return?”

“I don't... I mean... I wish I could stay but... I have a life there now. A life that I like a lot,” Spike said, looking back at his reflection in the mirror.

“Even... as a dog?” Rarity inquired.

“Yea... even as a dog,” Spike answered, aware that Rarity understood what he was trying not to say.

“She... must be nice, this other me... I mean, to take you in and make you so loyal and dedicated,” Rarity said, quickly. “I almost... envy her.”

“We spent a lot of time together. And she didn't think I was a kid, her friend's little brother,” Spike said, evenly.

“Yes. Yes you are not just such... you are your own dragon. She was very good to see that,” Rarity said. “I presume you... have made this friendship very robust, if I may be so bold.”

“We're close. And I don't want to leave,” Spike said, looking down and blushing again.

“Twilight...” Rarity drew Twilight aside, and spoke quietly to her. “I believe we should allow Spike to return. Perhaps let him stay here for the duration of the portal's activity but send him back before it closes.”

“Rarity... are you sure? I mean, this is his home...” Twilight looked over at Spike, who was glancing constantly to the mirror.

“I am certain, Twilight,” Rarity replied, smiling sadly at Spike. “He has formed a life there, a different and more satisfying life than he has here. He will never forget us, but he will never cease to think of the life he left if he remains.”

Twilight sighed. “If you say so. Just from what he said I see you're probably right. It'll be hard to be without him, like it was from those two years. But at least this time we can say goodbye.” Twilight turned around to Spike and smiled. “If you want to go back I won't stop you. We'll all be sad but understand. If you could just go back and tell them you'll be here until the portal closes. I promise we'll get you back here in time.”

Spike's tail wagged happily and he rushed up to hug Twilight. “That's great! I'll rush back, tell them and be back here. I'm sorry but I have to do this.”

Twilight released Spike and wiped at her eye. “I know. I trust that you know your own feelings. Go on, we'll be waiting. Pinkie will...” Twilight looked back and noticed that Pinkie was gone, leaving nothing but a fading dust silhouette. “Have a party ready well before you get back.”

Spike laughed a little bit and nodded. “Thank you, Twilight. I'll be fast...” With a final look, lingering on Rarity, he leaped into the mirror and vanished into the rippling silver.