To Die Another Day

Spike walked down the street in a bit of a daze as he came to Ponyville he stopped and looked at the body and walker free streets. He just stared as he started to come to terms with everything that happened. The lives lost the horror he watched as he tried to survive before he met up with Trixie.

He heard the flutter of wings behind and making him whip around ready to bring his fist down hard on the flyer but stopped.

"Fluttershy? What can I help you with?" He said as he stared at her. The last time he saw her she was nothing but a pile of meat.

"Um I just wanted to check on you." She said as she came closer to him as he took a step back. She frowned as she stepped closer only to have him step back.

"Are you scared of me Spike?" She asked as he nodded.

"Im terrified Fluttershy. I dont know if I can take staying here to tell you the truth. Everypony I knew back among the living and not trying to eat me. I might have to head over to the Griffon Empire, hopefully they wont shoot me again." He said letting out a small chuckle as Fluttershy looked shocked.

"Shoot you?"

"Well yeah were do you think the arrows came from? It wasnt any flyers or walkers and the X's are way to savage. No I was killed by griffon warriors when I came to deliver the cure." He said as tears came to her eyes.

"But why?"

"Well they were the last nation that hadnt been taken over by the virus since they lived so high in the mountains. Guess they thought I was another zombie since I was covered in blood." He said as the tears came down her cheeks.

"Thats horrible!"

"Well if your the only nation left in a world full of zombies then Id shoot and never ask questions later. Its just the way it was Fluttershy, every race out there that I knew of were infected and there was no way to save them. It was kill or be killed Fluttershy there was no other way." He said as he continued to back away when she would step forward.

"Please dont leave Spike. We can help you Spike." She said as he stopped.

"Please dont go Spike you need help dont push us away." She said as she took a step closer but he didnt take one back this time.

"How can you help me Fluttershy? I doubt that theirs anypony here specializing in my kind of PTSD." He said as she took another step gettting closer.

"Because we're your friends Spike its what we're here for."

Another step.

"How am I going to be around all you ponies if for the last ten years youve been trying to kill me?"

"One day at a time Spike and we'll all be here to help you along the way." She said as she took another step now right in front of him as he looked down at her.

"How can I trust you? How do I know this isnt just a dream and I wont wake up to the nightmare Ive lived in?" He asked as she smiled at him as tears came down their faces.

"Because we'll never let anything hurt you again Spike. We're your family." She said as she cautiously wrapped her arms around him. She felt him stiffen and start to shake as she gently squeezed him.

"Nothing is ever going to hurt you again Spike." She said as he fell to his knees as the dam broke. All the years of pain he kept bottled inside of loss and anger as he wrapped his mighty arms around Fluttershy.

She could feel his claws digging into her a little but she didnt mind as he poured his sorrow into her. She could feel it all as it washed over her making her cry with him.

It was quite a while before Spike stopped crying and just held her tightly as she did him. They stayed like that till she felt his breathing even out as he kept his grip on her while she pulled back looking at the dragon.

He was sound asleep with tear streaks going down his face as he snuggled into her mane. She smiled at the sleeping dragon as she looked at the tree line and saw Princess Luna and Celestia along with her friends come out.

Applejack walked up to them as she wiped his tears away as well as her own. She looked at Fluttershy who smiled at her.

"He'll be ok. He just needs time AJ, itll take time to fix him but he can be fixed we just need to be there for him." She whispered making a small smile come to Spikes face as he snuggled more into her mane making Fluttershy smile as she ran her hoof along the top of his head to his neck.

Twilight came up to them with tears of her own with her Spike on her back as they looked at him.

" He looks so calm now. He looked like a cornered animal a while ago in the shelter. How do you do it Shy?"

"Everypony just needs a little kindness Twilight." She said as Pinkie came up to him and nuzzled his side.

"He's gonna need a lot of help guys after what he's been through I think we should at lest have one of us stay with him for a while till he feels comfortable being by himself around all the ponies in town." She said as she looked at everyone who was looking at her shocked.

"What?"

"Wow Pinkie thats a really good plan. Why dont we help Fluttershy with Spike to her her house. He said he didnt kill her in his world so he wont wake up and possibly hurt her in the morning like he certainly would with one of us." Twilight said as they nodded.

"Ok."

"It looks as if you have everything inder control Twilight we'll take our leave then and please inform us if you need anything." Celestia said as Twilight nodded.

"Will do Princess." She said as she saw her brother give her a worried look before he looked at the older Spike.

"Im just a letter away Twilly." He said as she nodded before they all flashed away.

Twilight turned back to Fluttershy and smiled at the motherly look she was giving the older Spike. She could also see sorrow in her eyes while she ran her hoof soothingly down his back as she hummed a tune to him.

"Ok guys Ill see you later Im gonna get Fluttershy home with Spike. Ill see you later." She said as they all nodded giving the older dragon a look before they went their separate ways.

Twilight turned and walked over to Fluttershy and teleported to her bedroom. She looked at her friend as she woke Spike up.

"Spike come on let go so we can go to bed." She said as he groaned and let go of her while she directed him to the bed and covered him up. She smiled a little at how big he was in the bed as most of his legs and tail stuck out of the bottom.

"Ok Fluttershy if you need anything just send Angel or one of your animal friends" She said as Fluttershy nodded.

"Ok Twilight. Goodnight." She said as Twilight nodded giving one last look at the dragon before she flashed away.

Fluttershy sighed as she climbed into bed next to the dragon before he reached out and pulled her close to him.

"I missed you so much Flutters." He mumbled in his sleep making her smile.

"Goodnight Spike." She said as she saw Angel in the doorway fixing to hop onto the bed.

"Not tonight Angel bunny. Spike cant see you when he wakes up." She said as the rabbit looked at the large dragon and back to her with a raised eyebrow.

"Please just trust me I dont want him hurting you or any of the other animals in the morning." She said as he gave one last look at the dragon before hopping out of the room.

Fluttershy snuggled into the dragons heat as he wrapped his arms around her chest and stomach and pulled her as close to him as she could get while nuzzling her mane falling back to sleep.

She sighed as she felt sleep starting to take her while she felt his hot breath going across her neck lulling her to sleep as a small blush went over her face.

(Next morning)

Spike woke up feeling more comfortable than he had since before the outbreak. He looked down at the mare in his arms as the memories came back from last night. He slowly slid out of bed and went down stairs.

He reached the bottom of the stairs and froze as all the animals turned and stared at him. He stared to shake as he saw flashes of the blood covered animals as they fed on Fluttershy's corpse before he felt hooves wrap around his waist.

"Its ok Spike. They're not going to hurt you." She said as she squeezed the dragon before coming around the front of him hovering and grabbed his claws as she led him through the gathering of animals as they tried to sniff him making jerk away.

"Its ok Spike Im here nothings going to hurt you." She said as she led him into the kitchen.

"What do you want to eat for breakfast Spike." She asked as he looked around nervously as the other animals gathered around him curiously.

"Um uhhh just some cereal Fluttershy." He said as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"You dont want any gems?"

"No Im fine really just some cereal will do." He said as he continued watching the animals with extreme caution. Fluttershy frowned at him, he looked like he was waiting for something to jump at him.

"HI FLUTTERSHY!"

CRASH!

The two ponies winced as they looked to see the glass door that led out back was shattered and they could see Spike hopping the fence.

Fluttershy turned slowly to the pink mare who was looking down as Fluttershy glared at her.

"Pinkie why did you do that knowing that Spike is very skiddish of us as it is?" She asked Pinkie wimpered.

"I forgot he was here." She said as Fluttershy sighed before she smiled at her friend.

"Well come on then lets go find him."

Spike shot through the field before he slowed down and looked behind him to see nothing following him. He stopped in the middle of the field and sighed. He looked around and smiled a little as memories came to him.

(Flashback)

Spike just got finished with putting the last of his friends bodies to rest besides Rainbow's. He walked through the field after he past Fluttershy's cottage making sure to stay clear of any animals. He was bleeding bad from where his dead friends bit him but he could see himself healing fast.

He sat down in the field after he was sure that nothing was around. He had on his pack with the elements that Twilight kept hidden inside the hollow book and a sword he found on one of the guards that was stationed there when the outbreak hit them.

He looked down at the bloody sword and hands before he heard a scream come from ahead of him. He jumped up before taking flight towards the sound as he saw a mare inside of a shield with two walkers and three flyers trying to get her.

"PLEASE HELP ME! SOMEPONY HELP ME PLEASE!" She screamed when she saw him coming and began to panic.

Spike came in fast as he cut two of the flyers down while banking hard to the right with the third flyer in pursuit. He let the flyer gain on him as he took a deep breath while turning letting loose a stream of green fire into its fast as it dropped from the sky with a sickening smack.

Spike leveled off before he dived coming in low and swept over the group of zombies making three be-headings in a row. He landed as he walked up to one of the flyers he cut in half slamming his sword into its face killing it instantly.

Spike looked up and had to blink at the mare that was in the shield.

"Trixie?" He asked as the shaking mare looked up at the large dragon.

"Your Twilights assistant Spike right?"

"Yeah until this all started. She's gone I took care of her. She was one of the first." He said sadly as she dropped the shield.

"Im sorry I was going to come and take her to the dargon lands with me but it looks like im to late." She said looking at him and gasped.

"YOUVE BEEN BITTEN!" She yelled as the shield went back up.

"Yeah by all five of them including Cup Cake. But dont worry im immune to the virus besides youve been bitten to." He said with a hard look as she trembled.

"How long ago were you bitten Trixie?"

"Trixie does not need to tell you ho-

"HOW LONG TRIXIE!" He yelled as she flinched.

"Two months ago." She said looking up to see him smilling at her.

"Well good news Trixie your immune like me." He said as she just looked at him confused.

"How do you know Im immune?"

"Because anypony bitten or otherwise infected die and turn within two weeks Trixie. If you've had that bite all this time and not turned yet then theres no other reason but that." He said as she let the shield fall again.

"Thank you for saving me Spike I dont know how long I would have been able to hold that shield up." She said walking up to him as he stuck out his claw which she gladly shook.

"The pleasure is mine Trixie. Now you said you were going to the dragon lands?"

"Yes I heard that there is no infection there and its safe. So Im going there till something can be done here." She said as he nodded.

"What about you?" She asked as he sighed.

"I have something to do in Canterlot before I can leave here." He said as she shook her head.

"Are you crazy! Canterlot is filled with those things and not only that but all of the princesses have turned! Theres no way you can get out of there much less in without getting killed!" She yelled staring at him trying to mak him see what she had.

"I know its a death trap but I have to do this Trixie. Ill tell you what, go ahead and meet me at the border of the dragon empire. Ill meet you there in three days if you dont see me till then go on without me." He said as she sighed.

"Your stupid if you think Im going to let you do this on your own Spike. Im coming with you."

"No you ca-

"I DONT CARE WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY IM COMING WITH YOU WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!" She yelled at him as he sighed glaring at her.

"Fine have it your way but if you get eaten dont come crying to me." He said getting a huff out of her.

"Fine Trixie can take care of herself but she is still coming with you."

"Fine."

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

They glared at each other nose to nose never breaking eye contact till they heard groaning come from the bushes across from them.

"We better get out of here its not safe anymore since you cant stop yelling." Spike said as she gasped.

"YOU STARTED IT!" She said as he grabbed her and shot into the sky towards Canterlot. Never seeing the rainbow maned flyer watching them before she took off after them.

(End Flashback)

Spike smiled as he thought of his and Trixie's partnership and later brother and sister relationship though sometimes that line blurred when they had a few days to themselves especially after they made it to the dragon empire and had some time to wash and sleep.

He leaned back on his hands as he looked up at the sky. He enjoyed the warm feeling on his scales as he closed his eyes and let his sences highten and extend out.

He missed how the birds chirped in the morning and through out the day. He sat back on his elbows before laying on his back just enjoying the morning sun.

"Do you think he's dangerous?"

"Mah sister told me that it was Spike from a different world or somethin."

"Really?"

"Yeah she said that Twilight messed something up on a spell and it brought him here."

"Cool! So its like a older Spike! I wonder if he still has a crush on your sister Sweetie Belle?"

"Ah dont know Scoots mah sister said that if we saw him not to surprise him because he came from a very bad Equestria where all the ponies there were mean."

Spike grunted as he listened to the young Cutie Mark Crusaders as they listed off the possiblities of how his home was. He cracked a eye open and groaned as he sat up before standing and started to head to town hall.

"Hey he's moving! Come on he's going to town!"

"Ok come on girls lets follow him."

He groaned wishing he could fly as he picked up his pace. He didnt remember the girls being this annoying when he was younger.

Applejack sighed as she thought of the work ahead of her after she finished bucking the apples from the trees she had to fix the cellar doors. She looked up in time to see a large dragon with three fillies hanging off of him.

"COME ON SPIKE TELL US OR WE WONT LET GO!"

"Honestly I figured you had more manners than this. I know the Sweetie Belle from my time wouldnt do this."

"YOUR SWEETIE BELLE DIDNT HAVE A OLDER DRAGON OF HER FRIEND COME OUT OF NO WHERE!"

"Touch'e. It dosent matter anyway because you are just making all of us look stupid."

"HEY AH AINT STUPID ITS JUST A ACCENT!"

Applejack laughed as he came up to her with a pleading look.

"Alright yall get down off of Spike he's here to work. He cant do that if yall are hangin off of him like that." She said as the fillies moaned and slid off him.

"Thanks AJ."

"No problem sugarcube. Now come on lets finish this up so ah can go relax." She said as he nodded and they went to the heavy oak door first.

As they worked he asked about simple things like when the next batch of crops were and things like that.

She asked about how he got with Cup Cake and other things before the outbreak.

"So yer tellin me that Mr Cake cheated on Cup Cake with a younger mare and she saw them together in their bed?!" Applejack said shocked before she turned angry.

"Why of all the low down no good pecies of sh-

"Its cool AJ besides you and the other girls got him and the mare when while I helped her out at the shop." He said laughing as she smiled.

"You guys beat him so bad that he was pissing blood for weeks. He even had the balls to come crawling back to Cup Cake when we started to actually date." He said as AJ giggled.

"How old was Cup Cake in your world?"

"Well she had the twins around 24 and by the time we started to date she was almost 28. She found Carrot and his whore around when she was 27." He said as Applejack nodded.

"Our Cup Cake is around 37 and for his sake it dont look like they're gonna be splittin up anytime soon." She said as he smiled as he lifted up the heavy door and carrying it over to the door frame and setting it still.

"Ok AJ just finish putting in the new bolts and we'll be done with this one." He said olding the oak door still. He stood there for a minute and then turned to see AJ staring at him with a faint blush.

"AJ? You gonna help me or what?" He said as she shook her head with a blush still on her face.

"Sorry Spike." She as she grabbed a large screw driver and screws as he used his tail to help keep the door still.

Applejack finished with the bottom door hinge and got up on her hind legs as she worked her jaw getting the first screwed in before her jaw cramped up making her drop the screw driver as she hissed in pain.

She felt a large claw on her shoulder and looked up to see Spike looking at her worried.

"AJ you ok?" He asked making her smile a little at him.

"Yeah sugarcube ahm ok. Jaw just cramped up is all." She said as she started to get up before he stopped her.

"Here just give me the screw driver and Ill finish tightening them up. I dont want you to hurt yourself anymore. Hold the door for me though ok and dont let it fall on me." He said while putting a claw on her lips.

"Dont argue with me AJ just do it. I dont know how many times Ive told you that I know your perfectly capable of doing this by yourself but you always end up hurting yourself in the process. You need to let some of that subborn pride go and let me help you AJ." He said as she just stared up at him before he realized what he said.

"Sorry I used to work for my AJ before the outbreak. I worked for her in the mornings helping with repairs and bucking apples. Worked for her a good four years before it all started. We used to get into all kinds of arguments about her hurting herself because she over did it." He said as he took the screw driver from her and tightened up the bottom one and then looked back at her.

"Well are you gonna hold the door or what?" He said as the mare smiled.

"Alright ah gotcha Spike." She said as she held up the door while he kept his tail under it to keep it from falling to the floor. After he screwed in the door he opened and closed the door testing it to make sure it worked right. He looked over at the deadbolt and sighed. He'd have to go find another one or buy a metal one.

"Ok lets get the cellar door and then Ill help you with anything you need ok?" He looked back as AJ smiled at him.

"Ok sugarcube. After this ah need help with the fence and the roof of the barn needs to be touched up." She said as he nodded.

"Got it. Ill go tell Cup that Ill be-" He stopped and looked down as AJ came over to his side.

"You ok sugarcube?"

"Yeah Ill be fine AJ. Just got to remember that this isnt my real home. Even if it looks like it." He said as Applejack put a hoof on his arm giving him a reassuring squeeze and taking a quick note of the rock hard muscle.

"Ah know its hard sugarcube but we're all here for you if you want to talk to us." She said as he smiled down at her. She didnt notice until now in the dark room that Spikes eyes glowed in the dark. She stared at his eyes as she started to unknowingly lean closer to his face.

"AJ?"

"Did you know that yer eyes glowed in the dark Spike?" She said matter a factly.

"Um yeah its like a night vision thing I have." He said as he gently grabbed her shoulders making her look at him blushing.

"Sorry Spike its ah dont know what came over me. It just amazing." She said kind of breathless feeling her heart beating faster and faster as she looked back at his eyes. It was just amazing like she could be lost forever in those green orbs.

"Yeah Trixie said the same thing when we got out of Equestria. She said something about being able to loose herself in them if she looked at them long enough. I think she was just being nice but I was flattered none the less." He said as he looked at AJ who had a blush on her face.

"Well she wasnt lyin sugarcube." She said smiling getting a blush from him.

"I, um, well ugh thanks. Now how bout we get the cellar door fixed so we can finish the rest of the chores." He said backing away from the mare and heading down the hall.

AJ was smiling as she trotted after her grown dragon friend as he started to pick up the door and looked back at her.

"Come on and help me and quit day dreaming about Dash. We got work to do." He said as she looked at him and growled.

"Ah aint thinkin of Dash! I like stallions think you very much!" She yelled as he smiled.

"I know but it always got you to pay attention when you'd start to day dream." He said as she huffed at him.

"Shut up and hold this thing still." She said with a blush on her face as she used her hoof to drive the nails in to the wood as she thought of a way to get back at him.

After a while they found themselves on the roof just laying there basking in the sun. Applejack looked over at the dragon and smiled as he sat there drifting to sleep. When he closed his eyes she sprung her trap.

She crept up to him and climbed on his chest marveling at the rock hard abs under her hooves as she jumped up and came back down on his stomach making him gasp and looked at her confused.

"Yall are gonna take that comment back about me and Dash Spike or yer gonna be sore." She said as she jumped up and down on his chest again making him grunt.

"Say yer sorry."

"Nope your not getting it out of me that easily Applejack." He said as she grinned and jumped again but didnt count on him reacting as he grabbed her in mid air and twisted pinning her to the roof as he held her arms and legs down towering over her.

"Pinned you Applejack."

"Ok ok Spike you can let me up now."

"Nope Im gonna get you back for that AJ." He said as he lowered his head to her stomach as she started to squirm.

"NO! DONT DO IT SPIKE!"

PFFFFFFFFBBBBBBBBBTTTTTTT!

He blew into her belly as she cried out laughing hard as he used his tale to tickle her under her arms. After a while let the mare up as she struggled to breath as she smiled up at him and put her hoof out so he could help her up which he did.

"Ill get you back for that Spike. But thank you kindly for the help today. You really helped out a lot." She said as they climbed off the roof with Spike just jumping down and looked at her with a grin.

"Its no problem AJ. Come on just jump Ill catch you." He said as she shook her head.

"No way Spike its to far."

"Dont be such a baby I promise Ill catch you, dragons honor." He said as she looked nervous.

"You promise you'll catch me?"

"I wont let you fall AJ I got you." He said as she gulped before backing up and jumping off. She felt a since of freedom before gravity took her. She felt Spikes strong arms wrap around her before she looked up into his green eyes.

"I told you I wouldnt let you fall AJ Ill always catch you." He said making her blush.

"I know just a little scared. But it was fun but I wont be makin it a habit." She said as he put her down before getting a hard punch to abs making him grunt.

"That was for callin me a baby. Ah aint no baby you big lug." She said as he smiled at her.

"Ok I wont call you a baby. Anyway Ill see you some other time AJ Im gonna go over to see if Twilight needs any help." He said as she cocked a eyebrow.

"You aint gonna see Rarity?"

"Im sure my younger self is already there with her." He said as she nodded and smiled as he waved over his shoulder walking towards the gate. watched him for a minute before a thought popped in her head as she went after him.

"SPIKE WAIT!" She yelled after him making him turn around.

"Whats up AJ?"

"How would yall like to work for me in the mornings? Ah could really use yalls help." She said as he smiled.

"Really AJ? Your not doing this out of pitty are you?" He asked as she shook her head.

"Nnnnope! Yer a hard worker Spike and we could really use yer help. Plus yer a hoot to be around and ah enjoy workin with you. Please Spike ah really want you to work with me." She said before she was swept up in a hug. She took note of the hard muscle against her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thank you AJ! Thank you so much!" He yelled twisting the mare around before setting her down.

Applejack was reluctant to let go of him as she smiled up at him.

"No problem sugarcube. Ah figured you needed somethin to do all day." She smiled at him as he nodded.

"Thanks AJ this means a lot to me. Ill be by bright and early tomorrow." He said as he walked away from the smiling mare as she turned to see her two friends Fluttershy and Pinkie coming out of the woodland path across the road.

"Hey yall whatcha up to today?" She asked as Pinkie bounced over to her worried.

"Applejack have you seen Spike anywhere?! We've been looking for him all morning." She said as Applejack looked at her confused.

"Yeah he's been with me all mornin helpin around the farm. Yall just missed him he's going to Twi's house to see if she needs any help." She said as the two sighed.

"Whats got yalls tails in a bunch anyway?" She asked as Fluttershy looked at Pinkie who looked down.

"I kind of forgot that Spike was here and when I surprised Fluttershy Spike kind of freaked out and bolted through Fluttershy's glass door." She said as Applejack sighed at the mare.

"Its ok Pinkie he's been with me most of the day helpin me round here." She said as Pinkie sighed.

"Im glad he's ok Im gonna go say Im sorry to him." Pinkie said as she bounced down the road towards town as Applejack looked back at Fluttershy.

"How was he before he bolted?" She asked as Fluttershy looked down.

"He's still very scared right now. I found him frozen at the foot of the stairs this morning petrified of the animals. Every time a animal would go to sniff him he would jump away." She said as Applejack sighed.

"Well ah hope that with him workin on the farm it might help him a little to get used to being here and around ponies again." She said as Fluttershy looked at her friend.

"You hired him as a ranch hand?"

"Well yeah he told me that he used to work for his Applejack before the outbreak so ah just thought it might help him and us since we need it so bad around here." She said as Fluttershy smiled and nodded.

"Thank you Applejack for helping him. It might even give some feeling of happy times." She said as Applejack looked down the road.

"Yeah ah hope so Fluttershy."