In the Everfree forest, Spike was sent to Zecora's to ask for some sort of potion for a new experiment that Twilight Sparkle wanted to conduct. She was too busy to get away from her work, so she sent her loyal number one assistant to do the job. Spike claimed to not be afraid of the forest, but his false bravery had left when he took one step out of the library. After a mild growling of what could have been timberwolves, Spike ran as fast as he could and was so scared that he didn't have time to pay attention to where he was going and got thrown off trail. So now he's ended up in some different part of the forest: A foggy swamp.
"Oh man." Spike said to himself. "I am so lost! I don't even know where I am!"
Spike tried his best to see through the fog, but it was so thick and nearly impossible to see anything.
"Twilight's probably going to be all worried about me, then if she finds me I'm going to get in trouble for getting lost and not doing what she told me to!" Spike started to sound dramatic. "How could this get any worse?!"
Spike's ranting was cut short by an odd sound.
"What was that?" Spike asked turning his head.
The sound was noticed again. Spike began to grow curious.
"I wonder what that is."
Spike followed the sound of the noise until he started to get closer. He followed the noise until he came across a house right in the middle of the swamp.
"A house?" Spike asked. "Why would anypony want to live in a place this far out?"
"You could always ask me instead of the house, you know." A voice said from the side.
Spike turned his head and noticed an old stallion wearing a black fedora hat sitting in a rocking chair.
"Who are you?" Spike asked.
"The name's Smokestack. Smokestack Lightning."
"I'm Spike." Spike said extending his hand, but Smokestack just turned away.
"Now what are you doing on my property boy?" Smokestack asked. "Didn't you read the sign?"
"What sign?" Spike asked.
"That one." He pointed his hoof to a beaten sign that said "No Unwanted Passengers." "Now why are you on my property?"
"Well, it's like this mister." Spike began to explain. "I was sent by my friend to go into the forest to get a potion. But then I heard some timberwolves growling, and I got so scared that I ran into a different direction. And I was wandering around all lost, but then I followed this weird noise that brought me here."
"Noise? What noise?" Smokestack asked.
"I'm not sure, It was kind of a clunky sound."
Smokestack caught on to his explanation. "You mean this?" Smokestack asked picking up his acoustic guitar and giving it a pluck.
"Yeah! That's it exactly!" Spike said.
"That was my guitar son. I guess Betsy's gotten a bit rusty."
"Betsy?" Spike asked.
"My guitar kid. That's what I call my guitar."
"Why?"
"I just do. It kind of makes me feel like somepony else is here." Smokestack said.
"Why?" Spike asked.
"I don't have to explain myself to you, now get lost kid." Smokestack said.
"But I-"
"I said scram!" Smokestack yelled.
"Oh...okay then. Sorry." Spike turned around and started to walk away when he heard Smokestack play his guitar. The sound of it caught his attention and he started to walk back to him.
Spike just stood there and listened to him play. He was astounded by this rough, edgy sound.
"I've never heard any music like that before." Spike said admiring the music. "What's it called?"
"It's called the blues."
"I like it." Spike said.
Smokestack heard Spike and just let out a little bit of a chuckle. "You're too young to understand the blues kid."
"What do you mean?" Spike asked.
"You're still young, you haven't paid any dues yet. Once you get to be my age, you'll understand."
"Can you teach me?" Spike asked.
Smokestack stopped playing and turned his eyes to Spike. "You can't teach the blues."
"Why not?" Spike asked.
"The blues isn't just something you can learn. It's something that you feel."
"How do I know when I feel the blues?" Spike asked.
"Like I said, you're too young to understand."
"But I really want to feel it."
"And you want me to teach you? Smokestack asked.
"Please."
Smokestack put his guitar down, got out of his chair and onto his hooves. "Follow me." He said opening the door to his house and Spike followed him.
He went inside and walked to his old record player. "You want to know about the blues boy?"
"Yes sir." Spike answered.
"Well then, listen to this." He said pulling out a record and putting the needle on it. The sound that came out was scratchy, but comprehensible.
"Wow." Spike said with amazement. "Who is this?"
"That's Pony Boy Williamson."
Spike picked up the album cover and saw a picture of a stallion playing a harmonica.
"What's the instrument he's playing?" Spike asked.
"That's a harmonica."
"I wish I had one. I'd love to play it."
"Hold on." Smokestack said walking over to a table.
"Where are you going?" Spike asked.
"Just hold on son." Smokestack said. He walked back over to Spike with a harmonica in his hoof and handed it to him. "Here you go. Try this."
Spike took it and looked at it. "How do I play it?"
"You put your mouth where those keys are and blow into them."
Spike took a big breath and played an onslaught of random notes causing Smokestack to cover his ears.
"No, no, no." Smokestack said pausing Spike. "You do it like this." Smokestack wiped off the harmonica and started playing a melodic blues tune on it.
"You make it look so easy." Spike said.
"It just comes with practice." Smokestack said handing the harmonica back to Spike. "Now here's what you do, blow that note right there." He instructed.
Spike played it. "Like this?"
"Yeah. That's a G note. Now go to the next key."
Spike pressed his lips against the next note.
"And that's a C. To do the third, you gotta draw it in, and that's a D note.
Spike began playing all three notes in order, and Smokestack went to get his guitar.
"Alright kid, you ready to play some blues?" Smokestack said coming back in.
"You bet Mr. Lightning!" Spike said enthusiastically.
"That's Smokestack." He said correcting him.
"Oh, right. You bet Smokestack."
"Alright then, 1, 2, a-1,2,3,4."
The two began on a blues jam starting off with Smokestack playing a riff, then Spike coming in with the harmonica. The pair played for what felt like an hour, then they decided to give it a rest so Spike could catch his breath.
Smokestack and Spike were sitting on the front porch of the house, when Spike got to some questions.
"Hey Smokestack?"
"Yeah Spike?"
"How come you live way out here in this swamp?"
"Because there's nopony else around. I love living in secluded areas."
"Don't you ever get lonely?" Spike asked.
"I guess I do from time to time. But when I do, I pick up ol' Betsy and sing the loneliness away."
"Don't you have any friends?"
"Well....no. It's pretty much been me and my guitar."
"How long have you had it?" Spike asked.
"My pop gave me that guitar when I was just a colt."
"Really? Was he a musician too?"
"Yup. He had the best blues band in the whole state of Maressouri."
"When did he give it to you?"
"When I was 12 years old, but I don't like to think about it much anymore."
"Why?" Spike asked.
"That was the first time the blues really found me."
"Well, what happened?" Spike asked.
Smokestack let out another sigh. "When I was about twelve, my old man got real sick. My mom and I knew he wasn't gonna make it, but we did as best as we could for him. And one night, he was lying in bed and he called my name. I went into the bedroom where my parents slept, and he said: "Smokey," he always called me Smokey, "I want you to have ol' Betsy." I asked why, and he told me "I want you to carry on where I'm leaving off." Then I left the room and he fell asleep. That next morning, I came into my parents room, and my mother was at the edge of the bed crying. My father passed away that night. I didn't cry or anything. I grabbed my pop's guitar, ran out of the house and sat under the tree where he would play, and I started to pick at it."
Spike started to tear up from the story. "I-I'm so sorry."
"Yeah. As bad as it was, I'm passed it now."
"You know what Smokestack? I think I do know the blues."
"What do you mean Spike?"
"Well...I'm an orphan."
Smokestack just stared at Spike. "What?"
"You see, I never knew my real parents. I was hatched by a pony, and she took me in and acted as my mother since. I've had dreams about them and I'm always thinking about what they would look like and if they even miss me. I'd like to think so, but if they do then why did they let me go?"
"Wow Spike, I guess I was wrong." Smokestack said. "You do know the blues."
Spike didn't say anything, he just hung his head and looked at the ground.
"I'll tell you what Spike,"
"Yeah?" Spike asked looking up at Smokestack.
"Anytime you feel like you really need someone to talk to, or if you just want to jam a little bit, you come find me."
"Really?" Spike asked. "Do you mean it?"
"I do. You're an alright kid."
Just then, Spike heard a familiar voice.
"Spike?! Spike where are you?!"
Spike turned around and saw a purplish glow.
"Twilight! Twilight! Over here!"
Twilight came through the fog with her horn glowing and saw Spike.
"Spike!" Twilight yelled running towards him.
Spike jumped in her arms and they hugged tightly.
"Oh Spike, I was so worried! I thought I'd never find you!"
"Twilight, I'm so happy you're here!" Spike said breaking up the hug.
"Well Spike, let's go home."
"Wait Twilight, I want you to meet somepony."
"Who?" Twilight asked.
"My new friend. Hey Smokestack!" Spike called. "Twilight, this is Smokestack Lightning, I met him here in this swamp and we became instant friends."
"Nice to meet you." Smokestack said.
"Thank you so much for taking care of Spike for me." Twilight said.
"No problem. You've got a nice boy here."
"Well, we'd hate to intrude any longer. Let's go Spike."
Twilight and Spike were about to turn back until Smokestack stopped them.
"Hold on a second." Smokestack said. "Hey Spike."
"Yeah? What is it Smokestack?" Spike asked.
"I want you to hang on to this." Smokestack said handing Spike the harmonica.
"Really?! You- you mean it?!" Spike asked.
"I sure do." Smokestack said walking back to his house.
"Ready to go now Spike?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah." Spike answered as the pair started walking back home.
Thanks....Smokey. Spike thought to himself.
The End.