Around the World (Spike's Journey)

Applejack’s party roared on for what seemed like forever, everypony was having so much fun dancing, laughing, drinking, or even sitting that they became oblivious to the time. “Alright everypony, ah hope that you had one heck of a good time, but it’s late and ahm beat so have a safe trip home.” Applejack said with a yawn. All of the attendants waved their goodbyes and went home to rest. Spike, Applebloom, and the mane six stayed behind to help clean.

“I hope you enjoyed your party Applejack.” Twilight said while picking up some streamers that had fell.

“Yeah it was the best party that ah have ever had, but one thing is worryin’ me.”

“What is it?”

“Well, it’s Spike. he feels like he needs to leave, and go explore the world.” Applejack whispered, looking over to Spike who was helping Applebloom move around some benches. Twilight thought about it for a moment; the dragon that she literally raised wants to go and see what the world has for him.

“Honestly I think that this is the perfect time for him to go and explore Equestria.” Twilight said in an understanding tone. “We can’t keep him here his whole life.”

“You’re absolutely right, Twi.” Applejack agreed. “But what about all of his friends? How would they take it? Especially Sweetie Belle.”

“I don’t know, but lets hope that they will understand his decision. I always knew this day would come, just not so soon.” she thought, while seeing Spike laughing with Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. They all worked for some time reverting the barn back to it’s original status.

“Thanks fer throwing me such a nice party.” Applejack choked, while pulling all of her friends into a group hug. They all deepened the hug, just enjoying each others company. Spike watched them with a bittersweet smile. He fell back into the deep well of his thoughts; he never could seem to escape them; no matter what he did or what he tried to think of he couldn’t shake the one sentence that played constantly in his head ‘Should I stay or leave’? He didn’t realize that he had been staring out of the window, lost in Luna’s dark perpetual night.

“Hey Spike”? A sweet female voice whispered. He turned to see Sweetie Belle looking at him with worry. “Are you okay, you’ve been having a staring contest with the moon for the last three minutes...”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just keep getting lost in my thoughts.”

“What are you thinking about?”

“It’s just that, I feel like Ponyville is too small for me. I want to get away from all of this, I want to see what the world is really like; I even want to see the lands beyond Equestria.” he spoke, face full of hope, pride, and wonder. Sweetie Belle tried to hold back her tears the best she could, but Spike noticed. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah I just rubbed some dirt in my eyes”. She replied trying to sound as normal as she could. “I won’t stop you if you decide to leave, But look over there.” She pointed to Rarity and all of their friends. “They have never been like this before. Before you and Twilight came here they didn’t even acknowledge each other’s existence.” She stammered. “They might all be the elements of harmony, but, in my eyes, you are a forgotten element.” Spike looked to her with inquiry.

“What do you mean?”

“If there was a seventh element, it would be family, which you embody.”

“How so?”

“Oh my gosh, ya big dummy! They’d fall apart without you! Remember when you started going through your growth spurts and you had to stay in Canterlot because the princesses thought that you were going to go on a hormone fueled rampage?”

“How could I not? that was the longest year ever.” He muttered.

“While while you were gone they hung out less and less; eventually it was like before you and Twilight came. They barely spoke to each other or even hung out, and that was after three months!” She exclaimed. “You are what holds them together; without you, they are lost!”

“So you’re saying that I shouldn’t leave.”

“I’m not saying anything except think about how your decisions will impact others. Well, I have to go to work in the morning, I’ll talk to you later.” She sauntered out of the barn trying to keep her composure. The moment she was out of his sight tears quickly filled her eyes. Spike stood still once again lost in thought.

“Spike, you can go home now.” Twilight called from behind him. He nodded then proceeded to walk out of the barn. He closed his eyes, lost in pure bliss of the cool wind brushing against his scales. Looks like I have a lot of thinking to do tonight,” he thought as he walked on into the moonlit night.

The Next Morning

So another day has begun in Ponyville, citizens busy going about their day and for once in a while the famous dragon Spike has risen with them. He didn’t really have anything to do today, so instead of sitting in bed, like he usually does, he decided to go and talk to some of his friends. He came upon The Carousel Boutique, stopping for a moment he figured it wasn’t best to talk to Rarity at this moment. He was just about to walk away when Sweetie Belle spotted him.

“Hi Spike!” She shouted out of an open window.

“Hey.”

“Where are you headed off to?”

“Well, nowhere actually.”

“Do you wanna hang out sometime today?”

“Sure, what time?”

“When I’m off work.”

“Alrighty then, see you later.” Spike walked calmly away wondering what to do with his day. Sweetie Bell still sat in the window watching him dreamily.

“Please don’t go anywhere,” she thought out loud.

Spike continued to walk aimlessly through town looking for something to pass the time. He eventually walked up to the castle that housed Princess Twilight. Maybe she’s doing something interesting? Then again, this is Twilight  I’m talking about.” He casually marched up the stairs, upon reaching the top he spotted the two guards from yesterday. “Hey guys.” He said while still walking up to them. They stood still and unresponsive. “Okay, that’s rude.” Spike mumbled. Approaching the door he was cut off by two interlocking staffs. “Hey, what gives?”

“Unless you have an appointment or the princess is expecting you, no entry!”

“C’mon, I’m her friend! Heck, I’m almost her brother! Let me in!”

“No entry!” The guards shouted in unison. Spike was about to leave when he heard an all too familiar voice coming from an elevated plane.

“You can let him in, guys, he’s a trustworthy dragon.” Twilight declared out of a high window with her horn glowing. The large crystalline doors slowly slid open. Spike took a few steps forward then stopped, he shared glances with the guards before symbolizing an L on his forehead with his tongue stuck out. He entered the massive foyer once again captivated by it’s size. “It looks so small on the outside.” He muttered while spinning around slowly.

“See what I mean? This is one big castle.” Twilight said with a dozen books orbiting her.

“Wow, what are all those for?” Spike questioned with wide eyes.

“Since I have nothing to do today, I was just gonna read in bed.”

“All of those books?”

“Yes Spike, all of them. Now stop stalling; what brings you by?”

“I have nothing to do, and I need to talk to somepony.”

“Is it about you leaving?”

“How did you know?”

“Applejack told me. Now come on, let’s go somewhere else. The foyer feels too open.” Spike and Twilight went down a few corridors before stopping in her chambers. Twilight neatly stacked her books before plopping down on her bed. “So what’s wrong?” She asked with her hands to her cheeks.

“Well, I feel like Ponyville is just too small. Don’t get me wrong, I love living here, but it feels like I’m trapped inside of a box of mirrors. I run all the way to the edge only to see that nothing has or ever will change.”

“So you feel like a caged bird and you want to fly away, in metaphorical terms.”

“Yeah, but that’s not the only reason. I heard what happened when I had to go to Canterlot for that year, remember?”

“Yeah I do.” She stood up and walked over to a nearby window. “When you were gone, we just... I don’t know, we just fell apart. Pinkie didn’t throw any more parties, Applejack was constantly tired and depressed, Rainbow Dash barely flew anywhere except for when she had to go home, Fluttershy disappeared, and I didn’t even have the energy to read or do anything for that matter. When you left it sucked the life out of us, in a sense.”

“Oh.” He looked down to the sparkling floor.

“I don’t want to hold you back, but then again if you leave the same thing might happen.”

“That’s exactly what Sweetie Belle told me last night.” He sat down on a gilded stool with his claws to his face.

Twilight’s eyes widened at the realization that hit her. “She did?”

“Yeah.” He started while sitting up. “She told me what you said, only in her own words.” He scratched the spines on his head for a little while. “Should I stay or leave?”

“That is up to you, my former assistant. In the end, I will support whatever decision you make.” She walked over to the books and picked one out. “Now shall we read, just like old times.” He smiled warmly then joined her on the bed.

Later in the Day

“Okay, I’ll see you guys later.” Sweetie Belle shouted back into the boutique. It was around five-o’clock, she walked calmly into the densest part of town with one thing on her mind. A double hayburger with a side of large hay fries and a cherry milkshake, but that had to wait. She needed to find Spike, wherever he is. She walked around asking left and right if anypony had seen him. “Where the hay is that dragon? I mean, how hard is it to find the only dragon in Ponyville?” she thought to herself. The sun was beginning to set behind some mountains in the distance. Sweetie Belle was just about to give up until she saw a tall figure with green spines running up its back to the top of it’s head. She bolted towards him as fast as she could, nearly tripping upon approaching him she fell against his back, narrowly avoiding a spine to the eye. He craned his neck to see her panting on his back.

“There you are! I looked everywhere.” He said with a warm smile.

“Oh, you were looking for me?” She panted.

“Yeah... are you okay? You look like you ran a marathon.”

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a little tired.” She lifted herself off his back, opening her eyes she lifted her gaze to his. Even though he was in an awkward position his eyes still looked amazing to her.

“Well where do you want to go?” He asked, fixing his position.

“Oh, um... how about there.” She pointed to a nearby restaurant with a picture of a hayburger in the window.

“Sure. I could use a good burger right now.” Spike said leading the way. They stepped through the door into a medium sized diner with a modern decor.

“Welcome to Sleazy’s Shack, the name’s a put off, but the food is spot on!” A brown female unicorn with a gray mane excitedly hummed. “Oh, you’re that dragon that lives here, aren’t ya?” She asked with wide and curious amber eyes.

“Yeah that’s me.” Spike bashfully murmured.

“Is that your marefriend? If so she’s very lucky.” Sweetie Belle's face became as red as a tomato while Spike nearly turned pale.

“We’re not dating, she’s just a close friend.” Spike stuttered nervously.

“Oh, okay well where would you prefer to sit?”

“Next to a window.” Sweetie Bell muttered with her head down.

“Alright then, follow me.” They walked through a maze of curious eyes glaring at them all the way through the restaurant.

“Okay here you go!” The brown unicorn exclaimed. “Oh by the way my name is Dusk, tell me if you need anything!” She scurried away in a hurry to address any other customers in need of assistance.

“Well, she’s nice. Kinda reminds me of Pinkie, talking in a blur.” Spike said. He looked over to Sweetie Belle who was staring out of the window with a frown on her face. “What’s wrong with you?”

“That was very embarrassing.” She muttered.

“Yeah, that really was. But I get it all the time. Especially whenever I hang out with Fluttershy.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, ponies are always thinking that the moment I’m with a mare we’re together.” Sweetie Belle chuckled quietly before silence fell upon the two. A little time later, a maroon colt suddenly appeared.

“Well hey there, beautiful.” He smoothly whispered to Sweetie Belle.

“Excuse me?” She quipped with a raised brow.

“Sorry for being so rude, my name is Firecharge; but you can just call me

Fire.”

“Oh really.”

“What about you? I bet you have a great name”. He slyly added, while draping his arm over her shoulder.

“My name is buzz off and get a life”. She shot back while moving his arm with her magic.

“Oh come on, baby! Don’t be like that.” He defended while trying to get closer.

“Look, I’m trying to have a meal with my friend so if you could go away, that would be nice.”

“What, you mean the dragon? Really, I’m surprised that they even let him in. He isn’t even civilized enough to wear clothes.” He shot, pointing a finger at Spike.

“Well how would you like to leave with your clothes on fire!” Spike shouted, while baring his teeth.

“What you think that you're something scales? Dragons aren't supposed to be with ponies! Now go crawl back to your cave.” Spike stood up and eyed the sleazebag furiously.

“Leave the young lady alone before I start acting like a real dragon.” At this point smoke began to rise out of Spike’s nostrils while his eyes seemed to catch on fire.

“Y’know what, forget it. Enjoy your dragon, you freak.” Fire scowled while walking away. Spike sat back down calming himself down.

“Sorry about that.” He forcefully sighed.

“It’s okay Spike somepony needed to tell that jerk off.” She scolded in his direction. Soon their waiter reappeared with paper and pen in hand.

“Hey guys sorry about that, he’s even tried to hit on me a couple of times. So what are we getting?”

“I’ll have the hay fries, extra crispy and a hayburger.” Spike answered.

“That all sir?”

“Yup.”

“What about you ma’am?”

“Oh, I’ll have the double hayburger with hayfries and do you have milkshakes?” Sweetie Belle ordered speedily.

“That we do!”

“Okay, can I have a cherry shake, and if you have them, a ruby sapphire shake for my dear dragon here.” Spike’s eyes doubled in size at what he had heard.

“Okay, I’ll see.”

“Thank you.” Sweetie Belle looked at Spike whose eyes were still wide in surprise.

“Are you crazy, how the hay are we going to afford that?” Spike asked with a claw to his forehead.

“Trust me I think this’ll cover our whole meal.” Sweetie Belle pulled a small diamond out of her purse. “C’mon Spike, Ponyville is like a gemstone haven. You can find an emerald laying in the streets.”

“Hmm, true.” They both let out hearty laughs.

“So how’s your big decision going?” She asked.

“Huh?” Spike quizzed with a raised brow.

“Oh sorry I meant are you going to leave Ponyville or stay?”

“I don’t know yet. I talked with Twilight and she supports me too, but there is something that would haunt me if I left.”

“And what would that be?”

“Everything and everypony I leave behind. I really want to do this, but I don’t want my friends to be sad.” He put his head down in defeat.

“Spike, I want you to go and explore the world and see what it has to offer you. If you go, remember to write every day.”

“Thanks Sweetie Belle, you’re a good friend.”

Yeah. That’s all I seem to be: a friend.” she thought while choking back more tears. They sat in silence once again only listening to the ambiance of the restaurant around them.

“Okay here we are, hay fries extra crispy and a hayburger for the handsome dragon, with our first gem smoothie!” Dusk exclaimed with the shake in hand. Spike’s pupils grew enormous as he took the shake and began to gulp it down. “And for you ma’am, a double hayburger with hayfries, and a cherry shake!”

“Thank you!” Sweetie Bell exclaimed with a hungry smile. She looked at Spike and couldn’t help but smile at how cute he looked when he had a big satisfied grin on his face. The two continued their meal in peace as the night began to take over.