"The scariest monsters are the ones that

lurk within our souls...."

• Edgar Allen Poe

Most ponies would call me crazy for waking up at three in the morning. But to be honest? I don't give the furry crack of a rats ass what they think of me. I'm faster, stronger and (in some cases) smarter. If these ponies could see the real me, boy would they piss their sheets. I could kill them all if I wanted too. Burn down their house, rip their throats open with my claws as they come screaming out of their burning houses, and be back at home in time for supper. But I'm better than that. I have control. Besides, I've grown accustom to (some of) the familiar faces.

After my usual workout and dusting, I prepare breakfast for the both us (me and Twilight, if you don't already know). Lucky for me, we have oatmeal. Personally, I could eat oatmeal everyday for breakfast. But Twilight has a breakfast calander (I know right?) so everyday it's a new breakfast. I check the calender to see what on the menu today for Twilight. Thursday.....French toast.

I'm a pretty good cook if I do say so myself. "Strong, smart, handsome, and an excellent cook. Mares should be swarming you like flies", Twilight once said. Just thinking about what she said made me blush. I never saw myself to be handsome. I was always self-consceince about my looks. In fact, Thunder Lane once said that my face looked like, and I qoute: "The shit of a Ursa Major."But thinking about how he's at the bottom of that lake brings a smile to my face.

It would be another ten minutes before Twilight wakes up. Maybe the smell of Franch toast will wake her up. Hey, it's better than being woken up the sound of a buzzing alarm clock. I placed the French toast on her side of the table then flipped on the little TV we have in the kitchen. Maybe they'll have new details on the murders.

"-and nothing but cloudy days for the rest of the week. Back to you Lucille."

"Thanks Gregg. We now go Jared Locke, who has an update on the gruesome Graham murders. We must warn you, viewer discretion is advised. Jared"

"Thanks Lucille. Authorities have just discovered the cause of death for the family of four. According to the police, the family was poisoned. It is likely the family was forced to eat the poisoned item. But what makes makes this so horrifying, is that they were probably fed parts of a pony. The youngest, Sally, choke to death on one of the pieces. After the autopsy, the will identify who the ramains belong to. We'll have mo-"

I turned off the TV, the second I heard hoofs waking down the stairs. She doesn't need this. I hate to see her upset. She's surprisngly early. 20 bits says the smell of my French toast woke her up.
"Do I smell French toast?", she said hazily.
You guys owe me 20 bits. I smiled then nodded.
"Want any syrup?", asked.
"Yes please!"
I poured half the bottle of syrup on her plate. She always had a sweet tooth for Pinkie's homemade syrup.

"Mmmmmm! I swear, Sweetie Belle is a very lucky pony, she better not let you go", she said with a mouth full of toast.
My cheekes turn red. I guess I would consider myself to be lucky. Besides Twi, there's somepony out there who actually loves me.
"Mm-Oh! Before I forget. Princess Celestia needs me in Canterlot. I'm suppose to teach a class at my old school. So, why don't you take the day off."

I almost choked on my oatmeal. She rarely gives me the day off. Hell, last time she did, I almost died and ended up doing a ton of favors for AJ. I was naive back then. If I ever had the chance to back in time, I'd punch that little shit in the stomach.

"You serious?", I asked
"I am. Take the day off. Go for a walk, see another movie, visit Sweetie. Do whatever you want, just as long as you come back with sugar."

I chuckled a little.
"Alrighty then. When's your class?", I asked.
"8:00 to 4:00."
I looked at the clock behind her.
"Twi?"
'Mm-hm?"
"It's 7:53"
She nearly chocked on her food.
"OH MY GOODNESS!!! I'M ALMOST TARDY!!!!", she shouted.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her misfortune. I'm used to these freak-outs. The worst one that I could think of, was the time she forgot to send a letter to Celestia. If I hadn't lettered the Princess, she probably would've destroyed the entire town with her insanity. Maybe even Equestria. Before I knew it, she ran upstairs, grabbed her books, then ran out the door.
"BYE SPIKE! LOVE YOU! HAVE FUN!!", she shouted before teleporting.

I smiled and shooked my head. Where on earth would I be without her? After finishing my oatmeal, I made my way to my room. A few years back, Twilight hired Big Mac to add another room to library for me. Sure was nice of her. My room is a typical 18 year-old's room. Bed, desk, bookshelves, and posters. But there's a little hidden secret behind the bookshelf. A hole to be exact. It's hidden behind my three favorite books; A Tick-Tock Yellow, To Murder a Mockingjay, and Starwing the Bearded and the Hidden Staff. Inside the hole is a small wooden box. Inside the box...pictures. Not just any pictures. Pictures of my victims. All 49 of them. I usually develop my films, when Twi is asleep, but I can finally get this done today when nopony is around.

I grabbed the roll of filmand made my way to the basement. I've set up my own personal red room down there. Twi knows I develop my films own there, but as far I as know, she thinks it's just a harmless hobby. She doesn't know about my camera's other uses. It usually takes two hours for the pictures to develop, but it's worth the wait. The first picture comes in. It's in me and Sweetie at Rainbow's Thunderbolt graduation ceremony. The second picture to come in, is Twilight playing with her niece in Canterlot. The third is Sweetie and her boss, Sapphire Shores. After a few more develop, the one I'm looking for comes to light. Thunder Lane. Strapped down, Asleep. Unaware of what was to come.

I packed up my photo's and placed them back in the hole behind my bookshelf. So many faces. So many lives I've taken. Soemtimes I wonder, do they deserve it? Am I monster? I think of Sweetie Belle. What would she think of me? Just the thought of her afraid of me, scares me. I quickly wiped away a tear that rolled down my cheek. What's wrong with me? I haven't been this emotional since.....since I was young. I look up at the clock and already saw that it was three. Eh....I got nothing better to do. Maybe I'll head over to Sweetie Belle's.

As soon as I walked outside I noticed the dark grey sky. Guess the weather-pony was right. I wonder if it'll ra-
*OOF"
Out of the blue, a hyperactive pony just crashed into me with the speed of a freight train. I could smell cotten candy. Pinkie Pie. Ponyville's most beloved citizen. I love her, but for Celestia's sake, she neeeds a Ritalin.

"Oh, sorry there Spike!", she said as she helped me off the ground.
*cough**cough* "It's alright Pinkie. Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
"Well, my sister Maud Pie is in town, and I went to pick up some supplies to make rock candy. You remember Maud dont you?"
"Of course", I said. She quite the character."
"Yeparooney. That's my sister", Pinkie said happily.
Honeslty, I only met her once and she seems to have the personality of a baked potato.
"Well, I gotta get going. Talk to ya later Spike."

She took off like a cheetah on crack. I barely take two steps before I realized what I needed to get.
"WAIT PINKIE BEF-"
But it was too late, she already disappeared. How does she do that? I guess it's one of life's greatest mysteries.

I'm about three blocks from Sweetie Belle's, when something falls on my head. It feels cold and wet. Rain. Better hurry bef-
*BOOM*
The thunder was so intense it made me fall on my back. Before I knew it, it started to pour. I run as fast as I could to get to her house. I could've been born a dragon with wings. But, noooooooo. I had to be the only dragon in the world without any damn wings! "Stop complaining and run", I said to myself.

About three minutes into this storm, I finally arrive at Sweeties's. I start pounding on the door as hard as I cold. I hope to Celestia, she's home.
"CAN'T YOU READ THE SIGN?! WE'RE CLOSED! COME BACK TOMORROW!", Sweetie shouted from behind the door.
"BUT IF I COME BACK TOMORROW, I'LL MISS OUR DATE FOR TONIGHT!", I shouted back.

I could hear the locks on the other side of the door clicking. The door flew open and the most beautiful pony in the world pulled me inside.
"I'm so sorry Spike."
"It's okay Sweetie", I said as I started to shake the rain off my scales.
"Ahh!", Sweetie shouted. I completely forgot she was right beside me when I started shaking. Way to go dumbass, you got her clothes wet.
"Oh Crap! I'm so sorry!"
Sweetie Belle chuckled.
"It's okay honey. I needed to change and shower any-
*BOOM*
Another thunder. This time the whole Boutique shook.
"You know what? Maybe we shouldn't go out to eat. How about I cook us up something?.....If you want", I asked.
To my surprise, she smiled.

She leaned in and kissed me on my cheek.
"That sounds great. Give me bit to straighten up."
She turned around and went upstairs. Meanwhile, I headed to the kitchen to see what all she had.
"Let's see....soup.....ramen....soup....soup.......more soup. Good grief. Well, I guess we'll be having soup. Perfect food for the perfect weather. Two cans of vegetable soup and hay sandwiches.
The rain really started to pour now. I remember what Twilight used to say about days like this; "Rainy days are good for three things: Drinking hot tea, sitting next to a fire, and reading a good book." Couldn't have said it better myself.
I was preparing the sandwiches when Sweetie Belle walked into the kitchen. Her mane was wet from her bath and she was wearing a robe her sister made for her.

"What is that delicious smell, my good man?", she said playfully.
"Veggie soup with Hay sandwiches, milady."
Her face lit up with the brightest smile I've ever seen. I wish I could frame that gorgeous smile of hers.
"Need any help?", she asked.
"Nah, I've got it covered. Just stand there and look beautiful for me please?"
She blushed and smiled again. If I had a heart, It would be melting right now.

I poured her a bowl a soup and gave her a sandwich. .
"Bon appetite", I said.

"I swear, you're the best cook in all of Equestria", she said with a belly full of soup.
"Oh, I'm not that good. Besides the only thing I cooked were the sandwiches. All I had to do is boil the soup."
Sweetie placed her hoof on my cheek and smiled.
"Honey, trust me when I say this. You. Are. The. Best. Cook. In. Equestria."
I couldn't help but blush. I love it when she compliments me. It makes me feel.....important.
*Yawn* "I'm feeling a little tired. Wanna snuggle on the couch and watch tv?", she asked.
"Sure. Just give me a sec to clean up th-"
"Let my sister handle it. She needs to get off her but and do some chores anyway."
"Hahaha. Where is Rarity anyway?", I asked.
"She's in Manehattan for business. Apparently Coco Pommel screwed up an order for her, so she's there to sort things out."
"Very well then. After you madame"

She smiled and lead the way to the living room. I layed down on the couch first, then she followed. We snuggled up together and watched the new episode of 'The Trotting Dead' (quality televison. Am I right or am I right?). I started to stroke the back of her neck. She loved that.
"Mmmm...a little higher please?", she asked.
I did what she said. I love making her happy. It makes me happy. And honestly, I like being happy. Right when the credits rolled in on the television, Sweeite Belle softly kissed me. She leaned in a little. So did I. Eventually, we got to the tongue. I could tell she liked it from her soft moans.
"Spike.....?", she said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"You know I love you right?"
"Well....I got a hunch when you started making out with me so.....", I said jokingly.

She grabbed the nearest pillow she could and smacked me on my head.
"No you smartass", she said laughing. "What I mean is, I've always loved you. You were always so kind to me. Even when others weren't. You were there for me when I failed that huge test in high school. You were there when I got dumped by my first boyfriend. And you were there, when everpony made fun of me for wanting to be a singer. What I'm trying to say is, I love you Spike and I never want to lose you. That's why I wanted to ask you something important"
"What is it?", I said with a puzzled look.
She took a deep breath then exhaled.

"Spike....would you.....like to...have...sex?", she said nervously.
It felt as though my heart jumped to my throat. I did not see this coming. Trust me, if you people could see my face, it'd be snow white.
"I...thought you wanted to wait until marriage?", I said trying to hide my sqeaky voice. Dear Celestia what the hell is happening to me?
"Well, I thought about for awhile now. And...I dont want to wait that long. I love you so much Spike.
We stared into each others eyes for what felt hours. Finally Sweetie Belle broke the ice.
"So...what do you say? I mean, if you don't wan't to, I totally under-
"Yes", I said without hesitation.
"Okay, just give me a few minutes to freshen up."

She got up and walked to the bathroom. And I was alone with my thoughts. The room was so quiet you could hear my heart beat through my chest. Sweat stared to pour down my neck. Okay Spike. You can do this. I mean, so what if it's your first time and if you screw up you lose the only pony who actually cares about you........"I really hate being alone with my thoughts", I whispered to myself. Maybe some tv would help. I flipped it over to Channel 5 News. I could tell that something big happened.

"That's right Lucille the remains of the substance has been identified. The pony that the family was forced to feed on, was none other that Ponyville's own Thunder Lane. Thunder Lane was reported missing a few days ago by his mother. Thunder Lane shall be missed by the whole comm-"

I had to turn off the tv. I was in complete shock. My face pale. Eyes wide. What was replaced by nervousness, was fear. And for the first time in years I felt cold........

Author's Note

Hey guys. Glad to be back. Sorry it took awhile to get this chapter up. What with School, work, and etc. I barely had any time to write. But now that summers here, I'll try to get the next chapter as soon as I can. Again sorry any any misspelled words or grammer mistakes. Hope you guys enjoyed it.