It was a fair day at Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Jack and Apple Bloom were preparing breakfast for their family of four. The eldest sister was working much slower than her young counterpart. She had a look of despair on her face, and she wasn’t giving any attention to the Apple family’s dog, Winona.
Just as the two sisters wrapped up their work, Spike limped his way into the orchard. “Hi, AJ!” he said. “Do you mind if I join you for breakfast?”
“Sure, pal,” she responded rather unenthusiastically.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothin.”
“Are you sure?”
Apple Jack acted as if she couldn't hear him. "Hey, I've been saving some juicy, red apples for ya’!”
"Great!"
Though before Spike could sit down, and greet the rest of the family, Apple Jack stopped him. “Hold on, I need to tell you something.” They walked away, to the barn. “My cousin, Red Delicious, passed away last week.”
“I…I don’t know what to say. I'm sorry to hear that.”
“I haven’t told my family yet. They would be so devastated.”
“Why don’t you just tell them?”
“It’s the circumstances of his death. The authorities believe that he took his own life." Spike couldn't believe his ears. Suicide was very rare in Equestria. "This is the third time this year that a pony has been found dead with the same poison by their side.
"I need you to talk to Twilight. She'll know how I can find closure." Apple Jack handed Spike a sack of the red, juicy apples she had promised. "I can't have you here when I tell them. It's too personal. I hope you understand." Spike gave AJ an empathetic hug and left.
Visions of dragons flashed through the young Spike's mind. During a time of distress in the capital city of Canterlot, Princess Celestia had sent Spike on a dangerous mission. He was to raid the dragon lairs of Equestria for their riches. That was not a job that was most suited for him. It was ironic, because he was a dragon himself, albeit a baby. He often had to resist the urge to devour whatever he could plunder.
No task from Celestia, however, was commissioned without the potential for peril. A particularly frightening example of real life peril was being retold through Spike's dream. He was inside of the wall of a mountain - inside of a dragon's lair. The fully matured reptilian cornered Spike. Its sharp talon, costumed by an orange flame, pierced through his good leg. "Twilight!" cried Spike in a fit of night terror. Twilight Sparkle was downstairs in her library, studying by the light of the falling moon. She was oblivious to her weeping assistant. Post tramautic stress kept Spike up many a nights. He decided to prepare for the morning. When he was ready, Spike grabbed his cane and crawled out of the window, just as the sun was rising.
