The next day Flitter was released from the hospital and sent home with Cloudchaser, though the small pegasus was ordered to remain in bed for another day or so and rest. The walk back to their house was in complete silence; Cloudchaser was still shocked and mad at Flitter for ruthlessly dumping Spike the day before. 'Even after he risked his life and saved her!' she thought. 'He's a hero, and she.... Rrgghhh!'

Cloudchaser had no idea what was going through Flitter's mind, nor did she really care. She wanted to smack her sister for her stupidity and make her go apologize to Spike and try to win him back, but she held her tongue, not wanting to overburden her sister with to much after being violated.

Shortly after arriving home and seeing Flitter up to her room safely, Cloudchaser heard somepony knocking on her door. She was surprised to see Twilight standing outside with a look of mixed emotions on her face. Twilight just looked at Cloudchaser and spoke three words that made Cloudchaser the happiest pony in all of Equestria; "We got her."

Cloudchaser began crying; not out of sadness or anger but out of joy and relief. She hugged Twilight, glad that the nightmare of somepony out there wanting to hurt her sister was finally over. It took a while to realize that she was squeezing one of Equestria's princesses and soaking her coat with her tears, and she quickly let go and tried her best to wipe the drops of liquid off of her.

Insisting not to worry about it, Twilight moved on to the question she needed answering; "Is Spike here? Please, tell me he's here." she asked.

Cloudchaser shook her head. "No, sorry, Twilight. We just got home a few hours ago. Nopony else is here." Cloudchaser said.

Twilight stomped her hoof. "No! This is the last place that I could think he would go to." she said dejectedly.

"Wait, you haven't seen Spike since yesterday?" Cloudchaser realized, beginning to worry about the little dragon.

Twilight nodded. "After he ran off, I couldn't find him. He wasn't home last night after I got back from the prison, and nopony else has seen him around Ponyville at all."

"Spike's missing?" a third voice timidly called out. Twilight and Cloudchaser turned and saw Flitter peeking down from her position halfway down the stairs.

"Flitter! Get back in bed! You're not supposed to be moving around!" Cloudchaser sternly said, but Flitter made no move to return upstairs.

"I think I know where he is." Flitter said, walking down the rest of the stairs and up to the two older mares.

Twilight could have hugged Flitter with happiness, but before she could ask where Spike may be Cloudchaser spoke first. "Then tell us where he is and get back upstairs. The doctor ordered you to stay in bed and rest! You're in no condition to be going outside and running around town looking for him."

"Please, tell us where he may be." Twilight pleaded.

"I... I can't tell you." she said cautiously. "It's my special hiding place when I need to be alone. Spike's the only one who knows where it is besides me."

"Then tell us where it is!" Cloudchaser said, beginning to loose patience with her sister. "This isn't time for your games or to be messing around."

"I'm not messing around!" Flitter said defiantly. "This... this is my fault. Please, let me go look for him there alone. I promise, as soon as I find him I'll bring him back home to you, Twilight."

Cloudchaser opened her mouth to berate Flitter and tell her to get back to bed, but Twilight beat her by speaking first. "Okay, Flitter. You can search your special place. But whether he's there or not, you come right back here and get back to bed, okay?" Twilight said.

Flitter let out a small smile; perhaps the first smile she made in days. "Thank you." she said before running back outside and off to her hidden sanctuary.

Cloudchaser began going after her sister but Twilight stopped her. "Hey, what gives?" Cloudchaser exclaimed. "I need to at least follow her and make sure she's safe. What if she's headed to the Everfree Forest or somewhere else dangerous?"

"Calm down, she's headed somewhere perfectly safe." Twilight said. "Her hiding spot is over in Sweet Apple Acres. There's a small alcove by the stream on Applejack's farm. That's her hiding spot."

Cloudchaser looked at Twilight suspiciously. "How did you know that?" she asked.

"I... well, I followed Spike and Flitter on one of their first dates." Twilight admitted sheepishly. "I saw them duck down there and, well, I accidentally saw them kiss for the first time."

"They what?!" Cloudchaser exclaimed. "They're too you-. Heh, never mind. Listen how stupid I must sound, worried about those two kissing after... after all she's... been through..."

Her words trailed off and Cloudchaser began to cry again. Twilight moved closer and hugged Cloudchaser again, consoling the grief-stricken pony. "It's okay. I'm sure Flitter will find Spike there and they'll work things out." she said.

Spike hadn't eaten or slept since he ran out of the hospital, his heart absolutely crushed by Flitter's words that still echoed in his head.

'I have to break up with him. I'm dumping Spike.'

'Break up with him.'

'I'm dumping Spike.'

'I'm dumping Spike.'

'I have to break up with him.'

All night those words kept him awake. He was too tired to cry anymore, too hurt to get up. He had come here to try to lift his spirits and help him begin to heal, but of course the pain only grew. He had laid down and did nothing but stare at the dirt wall in front of him, not moving for hours. Anypony passing by and spotting him would have probably mistaken him as dead and panicked, but luckily for him he was hidden from view; it would take a pony looking specifically for him to find him.

Spike was so lost in thought that he completely missed the sound of approaching hoofsteps. It wasn't until he heard a familiar, soothing, yet painful voice did he realize he wasn't alone.

"Spike?"

Spike knew exactly who it was but didn't acknowledge the pony's presence. Instead, he ignored her, his heart already trampled enough for one lifetime.

"Spike?" Flitter repeated, taking a single step forward. Still he ignored her, though he desperately wanted to turn around and hold her in his arms. However, he stubbornly refused to move and remained frozen in place.

Flitter looked down at the the dirt in sorrow. "I know you probably hate me right now, but can we at least talk? Please?" she asked.

Spike still didn't move from his position. Flitter managed to choke back a sob as she realized that she may have completely ruined everything she had with him. "Spike, please?" she tried one more time.

Silence ensued once more, and Flitter sat down in despair. "I guess I deserve this. I don't deserve to talk to you, but will you please listen to what I have to say? I promise, I'll leave you alone after that. I... I understand if you never want to see me again."

More silence. Flitter wasn't sure whether she should say what she needed to say or just leave. She sighed and started reaching out to Spike to place her hoof on his back, but just before her hoof touched him she stopped and withdrew it. "Spike, I'm sorry for hurting you. I didn't mean to, I swear. I just... I... I didn't think I was good enough for you. I love you, Spike, I really do, and I don't want to lose you. I don't want to break up with you, I really, really don't. I was just afraid that... you wouldn't want me anymore since, you know, I'm dirty now."

She paused for a moment to see if Spike had any reaction to her apology, but once again he didn't move from his spot. Flitter sighed and got up, trying to keep from crying so much that she couldn't say what was on her mind. "Spike, I really don't want to lose you. Is there any way you can forgive me? Please? I'll do anything for you." she tried one last time, but as before Spike didn't say a word or budge an inch.

Her own heart crushed also, Flitter turned to leave. "Twilight's worried about you, you know. You should go home soon so she doesn't worry." she said. "And... I'd really like to talk to you, at least one more time, before we... end everything. You can come over anytime you want... if you want to."

With one last sad glance back at her now former special dragon, Flitter softly whispered one last "I love you, Spike" before walking home, most likely now the saddest pony in all of Equestria. Spike remained in his curled up position for almost another hour before he found the willpower to sit back up and stare at where Flitter once stood. Though she was long gone and back home in bed, Spike still felt obligated to say what he couldn't say before when she was so close...

"I love you too, Flitter."

Author's Note

Short chapter.

Story may experience delays in the next few days (aka may or may not be updates every day). *GASP!*

Don't fret, it will continue. Long work hours and working with someone else on a new project that I can't wait to start on.