It was a beautiful and snowy day in the village of Ponyville, as everyone lived their lives in the humble toastiness of their homes. In the beautiful castle owned by Princess Twilight Sparkle, there was nopony other than Twilight herself and her humble servant, Spike the dragon. They were preparing some dishes in order to create the special Ponyville feast Twilight was making. Spike was holding plates and setting them up on the large table, which was wooden and covered with purple fabric.
Spike smelled the air, and noticed the food in the oven was done: large baked tofu. "Oh! They're done!" Spike said. "I'll get it!" He set down the plates and rushed over to the oven, only to have Twilight block him.
"No, Spike, it's alright." Twilight said with a soft smile. "But thanks, Spike."
Spike went back to setting up the plates on the table, and once he was finished, he sat down. He noticed Twilight was still busy with cleaning and dealing with the food. "Hey, Twi," he said. "Need a claw?"
"No thanks." she said. "But again, thanks. Say, how about you take a look around the place and see if everything is in check?" Spike gave a quick salute, and made way out of the kitchen and dinner room, and looked around the castle. He looked around, noticing all of the special decorations. The white-blue streamers, the ice sculpture of Twilight, and little snowflake cutouts from the students from Ponyville Elementary. It was cute to look at them.
Spike smiled as he looked at everything being set, but smiled even more noticing the best part of the castle: the tree. Every Hearth's Warming, you have a tree, which at when the day finally comes, you open presents given by Santa Hooves, family, and friends. Already, presents were laid underneath. He recognized the presents from Twilight and the rest of the Mane Six: Twilight's gifts to her friends were purple with her cutie mark on each side of the box except for the top and bottom. Pinkie's was pink with polka dots and swirls. Dash's were rainbow. Fluttershy's had animals all over it, such as turtles, racoons, bunnies, and more. Rarity's was blue and had a single real gem on each side of the box for elegancy. And finally, AJ's was orange with apples in the background.
But of course, he couldn't forget his presents' look. His had the color of green, but each one was different. For AJ, his gift to her had a red tie, Rarity's was white, Dash's was blue, Fluttershy's was yellow, Pinkie's was, of course, pink, and last but not least, Twilight's was purple. He stared at Twilight's present from him very hard. This was the best gift out of all of them, being that Twilight was the best pony to him. She was caring, kind, smart, and amazing. Without her, he wouldn't be born for one, but also, he wouldn't be as happy as he was now. He never hated Twilight, and never will.
Spike made Twilight a claw-made necklace. With the help of his crush, Rarity, he managed to make and create a beautiful solid necklace made of gold, and also with attachments of jewels and gems that he was going to eat, but thought it was better for Twilight to have them than his appetite. She meant that much to him, and even she knew that. He couldn't wait until Twilight opened up her gift and saw what Spike made for her.
Twilight then came into the room. "So, everything set?" Twilight asked, admiring the room. Spike gave a thumbs up, then her friends came through the door.
"Howdy, Twi!"
"Hello, darling!"
"Yippee!"
"Woohoo!"
"Yay..."
All of the princess' friends came through the door and looked in awe at the decoration. "Got yourself quite the job done, Twilight." Dash commented.
"Yes, darling! Magnificent, Twilight, magnificent!" said a star-eyed Rarity, who was about to faint. Pinkie got a hold of Rarity before she fell.
"Yeah, Twilight, this looks amazing!" Pinkie said with a jolly smile on her face. "I love it! This party's going to be rule!"
Fluttershy flew lightly around the castle, looking at the paper snowflakes. "Aw, aren't these adorable?" Fluttershy said, giving a light-hearted smile.
Applejack took her cowgirl hat off. "I gotta say, Twi, you worked your patootie off here! Honestly didn't expect this from you and Spike alone, but it's still rootin'-tootin' amazin'!"
"Thanks, guys." Twilight said, giving a sheepish smile and blush. "We really did our best we could, and we're glad you really like and adore it." She looked at the clock on the wall, and it was an hour before the feast was held. "Oh! It's an hour left! How about we have a little chat, guys?"
Everypony nodded, and they had a little group chat, catching up on the day they were having on this faithful and merry day. Spike joined in, but he stared back at Twilight's present, smiling. He REALLY wanted Twilight to open up the present already and see the reaction on her face. Eventually, Twilight noticed this. "Hey, Spike." she said. "Whatcha looking at?"
Spike got out of his long stare, and looked at Twilight. "Oh, n-nothing." he said. Twilight looked where he was staring, and noticed the presents under the tree.
She gave a soft smile to Spike. "Want me to open up presents now, Spike?" she asked, assuming that was what he was staring at, which he was.
Spike nodded. "Yeah." he admitted. "Just really anticipated to see how you would react to my gift to you." Rarity softly smiled, while Twilight flew over to the presents.
She picked up one of Spike's gifts to the Mane Six. "This one, right?" she asked, holding up the one with the pink bow.
"Nope." Spike said. He could've also told Twilight it had a name tag, but he forgot to add one. Thank goodness for the different-colored bows.
"This one?" She held up the one with the blue bow.
"Nope." Spike said again. Twilight held up the yellow-bowed present. "Nuh-uh." he said, softly giggling at this. He didn't know if Twilight was teasing him or what, but he went with it. She held up white-bowed. "Nada." The red one. "Try again."
Twilight then looked at the final present that had the same wrapping, but with a purple bow. She honestly felt like a geek for not noticing they had different bows. "So that means... this one!" she said, holding up the present.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!" Spike said, giggling afterwards. "Yup, that's mine, alright!" Twilight used her magic to hold the present and take it over.
"I suppose you really want me to open this thing, huh?" the princess said. The dragon nodded. Twilight had the present in her purple aura, and was heading towards the warm and comfortable fireplace, which it's fire glowed and gave off a warm feeling. "Well then, I think I'm gonna-" She was then interrupted after the rug next to the fireplace wasn't all the way flat, and she tripped. "Woah!"
The present was soon not surrounded by her purple aura, and launched into... the fireplace. The large and cozy fire then got larger, and everypony gasped. Twilight shook her head after she got dizzy from the trip, and tried to get the present back. "Oh no, no, no!" Twilight said, then trying to claim the present once more, but was hard to see through the yellow and orange flames.
Spike was biting his claw, while Twilight finally found the present, but it wasn't in good shape already. She quickly pulled it out of the fire and blew on it to put it out, along with Pinkie, who took a deep breath and blew the fire out in one whiff. And in Twilight's grasp... was Spike's present, which was once beautifully wrapped and all such. Now, it was nothing but a burnt-up mess, and was ruined. Twilight looked at it, and felt really guilty. "S-Spike, I-"
She turned around to look at Spike, but noticed his teary and sad expression. He wasn't happy at the slightest, and though his outside appearance showed him heartbroken and sad, he was furious on the inside. His gift from him to Twilight... ruined... burnt... what he worked on for such a long time, was nothing but melted junk. Twilight took a step forward to give Spike an apology hug, but Spike took a step back. He clenched his fist. "S-Spike?" Twilight said, feeling even more guilty.
"You ruined it..." Spike muttered under his breath.
"What, Spike?" Twilight asked.
"You ruined it..." he said once again.
"Spike, i-it was an acci-"
"Likewise! It was an accident!" Spike yelled, quickly making the alicorn take a step back, alarmed by his behavior. "You know what you did? You let something I built for such a long time RUINED! And it's your fault!"
"Spikey, deary, it was an accident." Rarity said, defending Twilight. "The rug was a little jambled up. She didn't mean to ruin your necklace."
"Necklace?" Twilight questioned. She opened up the present to take a look at her gift, and there it was: her beautiful necklace crafted by Spike, with the help of Rarity. It wasn't in it's once shiny form, though. It was instead melted and ruined. In horrible shape. Like Spike said multiple times, ruined. "Spike... I really didn't mean to-"
"Yeah, sure you did." Spike said sarcastically. "You think I'm some sort of fool? You really think I'm just going to go soft on you for this?" He stared at the ruined necklace that Twilight had in her magic grip. "That necklace was something I made for you, and now, it's RUINED!" He looked at everypony, noticing their sorrowful and yet scared expressions. "What?!" he said, confused on why they were cowering back a bit.
"Spike..." Fluttershy said in a soft tone. "I-I really think-"
"Fluttershy, please, this is between me and my 'amazing guardian'." the upset and enraged dragon stated. The yellow pegasus was on the verge of tears already, being so soft and not thinking of Spike shouting... especially on such a holiday meant for good and happiness.
"Spike, I think you may be overreacting this a bit here." Dash said, getting in front of a frightened Fluttershy.
"Oh, really?" Spike asked, which Dash nodded, sure of herself. "Then you would be happy if you made Twilight a hoof-crafted item, something you're not good at but you tried SO hard on, and then right here, she just ruined it on 'accident'?" Spike questioned, giving finger quotations.
"W-Well, no... but-"
"But nothing!" Spike shouted.
"Spike, please calm down!" Twilight said, raising her voice. "You're not like this!"
"Well, guess who's fault that is?" Spike said, crossing his arms.
"Spike!"
"What?!" he yelled, on the verge of tears himself. "You really think I'm taking it easy? You think I'd be fine with THAT happening?! You'd be fine, too, princess of friendship?! So much for a friend..."
"Spike, it's an acci-"
Spike walked away and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yea-"
"SPIKE!!!" Twilight finally yelled, using the royal Canterlot voice, which erupted through the castle, and maybe even outside, too. Spike stopped where he was, and turned back to the alicorn. He was clearly frightened, and Twilight took a step back in realization of what she did. "Spike... I didn't mean to yell at you..." She took a step forward. "Please, I'm-" Spike quickly ran out the door with tears flowing. "SPIKE!" Twilight said, reaching out.
"I wish I never was never with you! Matter of fact, I wish I was never born!" he shouted as he ran. Spike rushed out of the castle and ran as fast as he could. He never ran so fast in his life, and he took a look back to see if they were chasing him.
Back at the castle, Dash looked at Twilight. "We gotta go find him! C'mon!" She bolted out of the door, and tried to search for Spike, and while this could've been a ten-second-flat catch, but it started to snow. Violently in the cold, stinging blizzard. Pegasi can't fly so well in cold blizzard, even Dash herself.
"I can't... see! WOAH!" Dash was then pushed back by the wind as it blew the opposite direction, and she flew back into the castle. Twilight shook her head.
"Spike..." Rarity put her hooves around Twilight's neck. "Spike..." Then Dash. "I'm so..." Then Fluttershy. "So..." Then AJ. "Sorry..." Then finally Pinkie. She quietly sobbed, thinking she may have just hurt Spike, and worried about him in the harsh winter. "We need to find him... Start a search on the ground..."
Meanwhile in the snow, Spike walked towards a taxi, which was stopped and had a driver in it. The pony looked to his left. "Oh, Spike!" he said, noticing him. "What're ya doing out here? It's freezing!"
Spike hopped on the taxi and put his arms around himself. "J-Just t-t-take me to the Sugarcube C-Corner, Taxi Track."
"Alright." he said. And with that, he drove Spike to the Sugarcube Corner, which wasn't that far.
They finally made it. Taxi Track dropped Spike off in front of the packed bakery. Spike tried finding bits on him, but Taxi shook his head. "No need to pay." Taxi said.
"Thanks." Spike said, waving him goodbye as he went off. The dragon entered the bakery, then noticing how packed it was. Ponies were having a little chat, while a Hearth's Warming bake-off was going on, with also the Cakes making special snow cupcakes, which were white and blue. Spike looked around and bustled through the crowd of ponies.
He then made it to the counter, where Mrs. Cake was. "Oh, hey, Spike." she said, turning around and noticing him. "How's your Hearth's Warming going?" She gave a soft smile, but noticed he didn't look too bright. He for one had bloodshot eyes, visible dried stains of possibly tears on his face, but she thought it might've been the snow from outside, in which also, he seemed to be alone on this kind of day. "Spike, you alright?" she asked.
Spike slowly nodded. "Yeah, I'm doing fine..." he said gloomily. Mrs. Cake hated to see sad people walk into their bakery, especially on Hearth's Warming, so she looked at the snow cupcakes she was baking. Spike looked down at the counter, but he felt something on the side of his claw, in which case he looked up, seeing a special white-blue cupcake. He looked up at the blue pony. "Huh?"
"Just for the holidays." she said with a smile. "Everypony needs to be happy for the holidays."
"Yeah..." he said, then eating the cupcake. "At least that's what I thought."
"Is something wrong, Spike?" she asked. "You really don't seem happy? Maybe I can help?"
Spike shook his head. "Nah, it's alright." he said. "I'm just... in a mood." He then scooted off and got out of the bakery, entering the blissful cold once more.
He walked a long distance up until a small bridge was in view. He got up to the bridge, and sat on the ledge. He playfully kicked his feet and looked at the river below, which was frozen solid. While the rushing snow touched his bare scales, he chuckled to himself. "Gee, what a way to spend the holidays..."
"I know, right?" said a pony with a British accent.
"Yeah... wait, huh?" Spike said, quickly turning his head left. There was nopony there. "Huh, strange." He then looked back down.
"What's with the long face, cheerio?" said the same voice. Spike quickly turned to his right, and saw a white stallion with his grey mane down, and noticed his blue eyes. He quickly backed up.
"Woah." Spike said. This pony felt... strange. After all this time in Ponyville, he had just about everyone's face and name down... Though, this stallion could just be visiting family. "Who are you?" he asks.
"Oh, I'm Clike." he responded with a little smile. Spike rolled his eyes, but heard something else from him. "I'm your guardian angel."
Spike raised his ears up, and looked at the man very closely. "Uh... okay..." He looked at his body, and noticed he was nothing than an earth pony. Meaning no wings, which is what an angel has, according to legend. "Pfft." he said. "Angels have wings, man. Clearly you must've been drinking too much eggnog."
Spike walked off, but the so-called 'angel' spoke again. "Eggnog? Oh dear heavens, that stuff is putrid!" he said. "I just keep myself a tidy and happy fellow. And I've kept that attitude for so long."
Spike looked at him with a brow. "For how long?"
"Well, ever since I was born, two hundred and ninety three years old... My birthday is actually tomorrow!"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Well, happy early bir-" Spike slowly turned around with the most stupid and confused look on his face. "Two hundred and ninety three years old? Uh... you sure you haven't drank any eggnog? Any beverage that could give you a little tipsy?"
The stallion shook his head. "No, no. I really am that old! It's a little wonder, right? But really, it's such a young age, so why are you so bothered?"
Spike facepalmed. "Okay... one: ponies don't live that long, except for princesses." he pointed out. "Two: that isn't young! Even Celestia thought it wasn't!"
The stallion shrugged. "Well, for an angel like me, that is quite the young little age." He looked at his body. "And yet, still no wings..."
"Oh, quit it with the wings." Spike said. "You're just some crazy stallion walking amiss."
The white stallion then scared Spike a little when he spoke his next words. "Your name is Spike, your crush is Rarity, you ran away from home, and your guardian is none other than Princess Twilight Sparkle." he said.
Spike stepped slowly back, the snow picking up. "Uh... how do you know that?"
"Guardian angel." he answered. "I've been telling you, but you don't believe in something real in this magical universe."
Spike then walked up to him and stared at him eye-to-eye. "Alright then, Clike, my 'guardian angel', if you really are what you say, you think you can do a little wish?"
"Like all angels, I do grant wishes." he said. "What is your wish?"
Spike then scratched his chin, thinking of some sort of wish to just see if this stallion is really some 'angel'. He then thought back at home... Twilight yelling at him... then came his thought of her hating him... then came the last words he said to the alicorn...
"I wish I never was never with you! Matter of fact, I wish I was never born!"
Spike smiled as he looked at the stallion. "Clike," he said. "I wish... I was never born..."
Clike raised a brow. "Is that your wish, young dragon?"
Spike crossed his arms and grinned. "Yeah. Do it."
Clike looked at him, then clapped his hooves. Spike stood there, waiting for his wish to come true, if it even will. A sound of a small bell chime was heard, and Clike stood there. Spike looked around, and noticed the harsh snow stopped. He looked at him in confusion. "There you go." he said. "You were never born. There is no Spike. There is no baby dragon. Your name and identity doesn't exist here."
Spike looked around, noticing about everything was the same. He looked back to see the houses looked exactly the same. Style, decorations, everything. He looked back at Clike and said, "Hold up, you-" But he wasn't there. Instead, there was nopony. Spike held his head like he just got dizzy. "Maybe I took something else back there... Oh well."
He shrugged and walked in the streets of Ponyville. Same old, same old, nothing new. Of course that pony was a fake, why would he be able to make someone like him never be born? Impossible! He then passed a green pony with white hair and mint highlights. "Howdy." he said with a sure smile.
The unicorn was Lyra, and he knew her well, but something was... off. She raised a brow at him, like as if she never knew him at all. "Do I... know you?" she asked, a little shaky in her voice.
"You know me!" Spike said. "Who can forget about Spike the dragon?"
Lyra nervously smiled. "O-Oh, S-Spike the dragon. Yeah, uh, I remember you." she said, trotting in place. Spike was about to speak, but she interrupted him. "Uh, I gotta go!" And she trotted off in a hurry.
Spike scratched his head. "Huh... Strange." he said, feeling a little confused. Lyra knew him well, and he knew her well, too, and she never seemed to act like that before... He simply shrugged, and moved on to Sugarcube Corner. On the way, he passed Bon Bon, who reacted just he same, and then the CMC, who all looked away in fear, and finally the Mayor, who reacted turned the other way and ran. Spike shook his head. "What's with everypony?" he said to himself.
He then passed a white stallion wearing a top hat, reading a newspaper. He decided to fool around and just scare him for the heck of it, and walked up to him, only to get scared by the stallion himself. "Boo!" he said, startling Spike. What surprise Spike is that it was the pony he met earlier, Clike. "So, how's life?"
"Uh, good." he said. "Why?"
"Oh, just wondering how you'd react to this... alternate universe." he answered. Spike shook his head.
"What alternate universe? This is still the same." he said, then pointing at a poster that was up on the wall of a house earlier that said, 'Merry Hearth's Warming!'. "Same old stuff, same old Ponyville."
"Well, doesn't seem like ponies remember you." Clike said back, throwing Spike a little off-guard.
"Oh, them?" he asked. "They're just in a rush for something." He stood there, looking at all the ponies passing by, but then opened his eyes wide and turned back to Clike. "Wait a sec, how do you know?!" His heart started to race. "Y-You stalking me?"
"No." he said. "I'm simply taking a glimpse at how you're reacting to this newfound life you've wished for."
"Wished?" he asked. He then remembered literally minutes ago he wished to never be born. "Oh yeah, the 'wish'." he said sarcastically. "You really don't fool me."
"Fool? I don't mean to fool nobody." he said, then getting in front of Spike. "I only wish to show good in life and good choices. It' my duty. Besides," He looked at his body once more. "I need my wings. So that I may finally be with Beatrice." He looked up at the sky with a smile, but Spike raised a brow.
"Beawho?" he asked.
"Beatrice." Clike answered, still staring into the sky. "My lovely mare." He then stood there, and looked like he was listening to something, but there wasn't a single sound, not even wind or chatter. "Yes you are, my sweets." he said to nopony.
Spike really started to think he was being stalked by some psycho who managed to escape a mental asylum not too far. "Uh... Who are you talking to?" he asked, looking around.
"Beatrice." he replied. He then looked back at Spike. "So say, how about we take a lovely stroll, huh? Admire Ponyville as we go?"
Spike shook his head. "With you? Yeah right, bucko." he told him.
Clike shrugged. "Suit yourself." he said, before disappearing from Spike's vision as the dragon rubbed his eyes when something was caught in it. As he noticed the strange stallion wasn't there anymore, he looked around, and looked at his arm.
"Am I dreaming?" he asked himself, pinching his arm. He felt a jolt of pain and yelped, nodding. "Nope." He held his head and continued walking through Ponyville.
He couldn't help but feel... strange around Ponyville. He'd feel fine, usually, but now it felt so odd. He thought a little... did he really- No, no, he couldn't. That's impossible. He didn't even have a horn to conjure some magic and whatever crazy thing somepony would do. He was an earth pony. Earth ponies don't do real magic, especially some sort of wish of him never being born.
He then looked at the ground, pondering thoughts going through his head. He then bumped into somepony, in which he fell down on his rump. He looked up to see the pony he bumped into, but before seeing who it was, he saw apples scattered around. He knew who this could be. "Applejack!" he said with a sure smile, then wrapping his arms around the mare.
Er, stallion. Spike opened his eyes to realize he was hugging Big Mac, in which he blushed and backed up, but DID notice AJ next to him, so technically, he was still correct on AJ being there. "H-Hey, guys!" he said with a smile. Applejack raised her brow, in which Spike felt confused. "Guys?" he said. "You alright? Big Mac, Applejack?"
AJ then got up to his face. "How in the appleseed hay do ya know our names?" she asked the dragon.
"Oh, uh... we're friends!"
AJ looked at Big Mac. "Do you know this here thing?" she asked the big stallion, which hurt Spike a little being called a 'thing'.
"Ee, nope." Big Mac replied.
AJ looked back at the dragon. "I don't know ya either. So who are ya?"
"Spike!" he answered immediately. "Twilight's assistant! You remember me! Like I saved you from Timberwolves after you saved me!"
The earth pony would soon smile, which made Spike smile, too. But, he was down as he heard AJ laugh absurdly. "Haha... Woowee!" she said, wiping a tear out of her eye. "Listen here, dragon," she said, getting right in front of his face. "Ah don't know how you know of us, and Ah'll asure ya that nothing has ever come to the rescue for me, and Ah've never seen a single dragon in mah life!" Spike tripped on a rock as he stepped back. "So Ah do believe you have the wrong pony!"
"Applejack, c'mon!" Spike said. "I'm Twilight's dragon!"
"Who's Twilight?" she asked. Spike was about to answer, but she turned her head away. "Nevermind. Big Mac, let's just go home."
"Eeyup." And with that, the Apple siblings vanished, going away with the apples that were knocked down thanks to Spike. Spike wanted to say something, but thought something worse could happen, so he decided it was best to keep his mouth shut and move on. Maybe towards... Fluttershy's hut!
"Oh!" Spike said out loud. "Fluttershy! She remembers me, or at least I know she isn't so rude!" He then ran his way towards Fluttershy's little hut, where a bunch of critters were going to be smiling at him. But just as he made his way, though, he saw her hut from afar. He noticed Fluttershy watering her plants, and singing with the birds. She's sweet, innocent, gentle, and lovely. What can go wrong?
While Fluttershy was doing a beautifully done duet with the birds, Spike came in. "HEY, FLUTTERSHY!" he said absurdly loud, startling Fluttershy and the birds, whom flew off immediately.
Fluttershy immediately clung onto the tree closest to her, and hid from the dragon, even though she was visible. "Sorry about that Fluttershy!" Spike yelled, feeling a little stupid for not remembering that the pegasus gets scared very easily. "How's it going?"
Fluttershy poked her head out, then back in the tree in terror and fright. "G-G-Go away! Leave!" she yelled. She then peeked at the dragon once more. "Wh-Who are you?"
"Uh, Spike." he said, then worrying if this was going to go the same way. "You know, the cute and cuddly dragon you love and adore? Like, ever since we met?"
Fluttershy showed her face, and shook her head. "Nonono. I don't like dragons! I fear of them! Begone!" she said, giving a shooing motion with her hoof. Spike was very confused now.
"Wait, Fluttershy, do you not remember me?" he asked. "I'm Spike. And even though I'm a dragon, I'm not vicious or anything. I'm really not. I'm just a baby dragon."
Fluttershy shook her head once more. "I don't believe you." Then, animals such as rabbits, turtles, and the birds that flew off earlier then surrounded Spike. "I-I'm sorry, but I would really, REALLY like it if you could leave, please... if that's alright with you..."
Spike looked at all the animals, who gave him a glare. Literally every animal. He sighed deeply. "Alright... But I know you remember me."
"I don't!" she said. "Honestly!"
Spike shook his head as he left. Geeze, he met two of the Mane Six, and they immediately just brush him off like he was nobody. And he wondered, why did they think that? They know him, he's the faithful assistant of Celestia's faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. He cringed upon thinking of the name Twilight. He still didn't have it easy.
"I see you are still having problems, dear dragon?" Clike appeared out of the bushes, and Spike looked at him with anger.
"What did you do to my friends?!" he yelled.
"I didn't do anything, Spike." he answered. "To tell you the truth, you did something."
"What do you mean I did something? I said 'hi', and they act like they don't know me." the dragon said, blowing smoke from his nostril. "You know, I really don't like you right now. Not at the slightest."
"And you don't have to Spike." he said. "But all I want you to know, dragon, is that this is reality. This really is real life, and all that's different, is you." He pointed at Spike. "You said what you wanted to happen: you wished to never be born. I clapped my hands, a little bell played, and everypony in Ponyville doesn't know you. You wanna know why?"
"Because I wasn't born?" Spike asked.
"Exactly!" Clike said, noticing Spike was still not buying it. "Here, how about we share a little drink at the Sugarcube Corner? I heard they're giving out smoothies, kid!"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Fine. If it stops you from yapping..."
The unlikely duo made their way to the sweet shop of success: Sugarcube Corner. Clike turned to Spike. "You're gonna love it here!"
"I've already been here." Spike said blankly.
"No you haven't." he said back. "In this reality you didn't." Spike looked forward to see the Cakes.
"Oh really?" Spike asked. "Look, there's the Cakes. Still doing their thing. Boy, what a change."
Clike shook his head. "Oh, you just took a look at the cover. Everything can have the same cover, little guy, but it is much different in the text." He got up to the counter and sat on one of the stools next to Spike.
Mrs. Cake went up to the counter. "And what can I get you two on this day?" she asks the two.
Clike looked at the small dragon. "You first, little guy. It's on me."
Spike rolled his eyes. "Don't call me little guy." he muttered under his breath. "Uh... I'll have one of Pinkie's smoothies!"
The baker looked at him funny. "Pardon?"
"Pinkie's smoothies. You know, the one where she has a bunch of strawberries and blueberries with strawberry and chocolate milk mixed together. The usual she makes for me." Spike gave her a toothy grin, while Mrs. Cake was still braindead.
"And you are?"
Spike seemed even more shocked. "Spike." he said, now getting tired of answering the same question over and over. Clike gave him a small smile, while Spike glared at him.
"I don't remember anyone named Spike who goes around here. Nor do I remember Pinkie giving out specialties."
Spike dropped his jaw. "What? What do you mean Pinkie doesn't give out specialties? She always did that when Twilight came here!"
"Who's Twilight?"
Spike let out a long sigh. "Nevermind. Just a chocolate smoothie."
Mrs. Cake looked at the white stallion. "And what can I get you, mister?"
"Uh..." the stallion said, thinking straight. "Perhaps you can... Oh, maybe- no, no... OOOOH- nah... A baaaa- no no no..." He rubbed his temples, thinking of what to have.
Spike looked at him, very irritated. "Just get the-"
"Alrighty, I'll have the vanilla smoothie, please, ma'am." he ordered. Mrs. Cake walked to the back, while Spike smacked his head on the counter. "What? Aren't you happy? You should be enjoying this, kid!"
"Why?" Spike asked, face still against counter. "This sucks."
"How? Being unborn must be amazing."
"Just stop it alright?"
"Stop what?"
"The stupid wish!"
"Wish? The one I granted you?"
"YES, THAT ONE!"
"Well, you wanted it."
"Yeah, well I sincerely think I'm going to knock your teeth out!"
"Woah there. I don't think that's nice. Why can't we just look out for one-another than have some violent relationship?"
"Violent relationship?" Spike said, pinching his forehead. "Listen here, man, I-" Spike stopped, as he noticed a pink mare with her mane straight down, holding two smoothies. "Hi..."
"Hi..." the mare said back, giving out the smoothies. "I hope you enjoy." Spike quickly grabbed his smoothie and started drinking, until the mare spoke back. "And, when did I ever give you specialties?" she asked.
Spike looked at her, then immediately, he noticed who it was. Pinkie Pie! Yet, she seemed... off. He remembered this little bizarre look she had when she thought her friends were abandoning her, and how she went googoo and crazy. "Pinkie?"
"Yes, that's my name." she said.
"You know what my name is?" he asked her.
"Spike."
"Yes!" he said, giving out a cheer. "Spike's right! Spike's right! Woohoo!"
"But that's only because Mrs. Cake told me you thought I gave specialties."
Spike then halted and had a blank expression. "Really?" he said, then slamming his face against the counter, then staring at Clike. "You really have something behind this, don't you?"
"Behind what?" Pinkie asked, then looking at Clike. "By the way, that would be five bits..."
"Ah, here ya go, cheerio!" He then handed her a green piece of paper, which had Celestia's face on it and the number five on each corner.
Pinkie looked at him "Five bits." she said.
"I di- Oh. Bits. Oh, okay." He then tried looking for bits, whatever those are. "Uh, mind if I ask, what are bits? If I remember correctly, bills are the economy that was used two hundred years ago."
"Welcome to the modern world, bucko." Spike said. He rolled his eyes and put his face flat on the counter.
"Well, I'm sorry, but if you can't pay, I'll have to take them back." she said, feeling more sad. "Sorry..." She took the drinks, and went to the back, looking down on the floor all sad and mopey.
Spike looked at him. "You know, for somepony who could make me a nobody here, you sure have a dull mind on one of the most simplest things here." he said, getting off his stool.
"I'm not the brightest tool in the shed. That's what me mum used to say." He looked at the sky as soon as they exited. "Yes, I love her a lot, Beatrice. Please tell her that once more."
Spike still looked at him like he was crazy. "Let's just move on, crazy stallion."
"Yes, dearie, I-" His chat with the clouds was then interrupted by a dash from a mare with rainbow mane. "Oh, would you look at that?"
"What?" Spike asked, looking at him. He then noticed a mare who was going several miles per hour.
"Watch out!" the mare yelled, but it was too late. They collided, and both fell down. Spike rubbed his head and opened his eyes, only to notice Rainbow Dash. "Hey, watch where you're going, kid!"
"Rainbow?"
"Yeah, my mane's rainbow. Got a problem?" she asked, confronting him.
"No. Rainbow. That's your name. Rainbow Dash." Dash then got off her hooves and start flying above the ground.
"Uh, thanks, but no thanks, kid." she said, pushing the dragon away. "I don't already wanna be baffled as the 'loser who quit the Wonderbolts', again."
Spike raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
The mare shook her head. "Shut up. You know what I'm talking about, punk!"
"No I don't! As far I remember, you never give up, especially on your Wonderbolt dream!"
"Says who? Matter of fact, who are you?" Dash's voice started to rise.
"His name is Spike." Clike answered. "He is a dragon of your dear friend, Twilight Sparkle."
Rainbow started to laugh obnoxiously for a minute, then getting herself back together. "Her? No, no. I'm more awesome than that dork."
Spike stepped back a bit. "Dork?" he said. "You're friends with her, Dash."
"As if." she responded. "Listen, I don't know where you heard this junk, but I'm out!" She then blasted off into some other place, and that was the last time Spike saw her.
"She never gives up." Spike said. "She never gave up in her life. Especially when her friends are there to help her, like Twilight." Spike winced upon saying that name, where Clike looked at him.
"Ah, but see, Twilight has no friends." he told him. "Not in this reality." Spike looked around him, noticing every single pony avoiding him and Clike. "Life sure seems different, huh?"
He then grabbed Clike by the nose and pulled him close. "Enough with the reality!" he shouted, then suddenly, a taxi driver appeared. "Taxi Traffic!" he then shouted, letting go of Clike and heading for the taxi. He hopped on the taxi, then looked at him. "Hey, man, you think you can give me a ride?"
"Sure. Where?" he asks.
"Twilight's Castle, sir." he said, sitting back. The taxi didn't budge.
"Castle? Here in Ponyville?!" he asked. "Son, the only castle we have here is in Canterlot. There's no such thing as Twilight's Castle in history, anyways. Unless I'm bad at my history."
"There's no history, Taxi. It's there! Just go to the far side of Ponyville. It's gotta be here! Like that way!" Spike pointed at east, and the pony looked at him, like he was expecting something. Bits... Suddenly, Clike hopped on board.
"Here ya go, ol' chap!" he said, giving him bits.
"Alright, to the 'castle' we go." he said before moving towards where Spike wanted to go.
"Where'd you get the bits?" Spike asked. "If I remember, you had bills."
"Oh, I found bits on the side of the road. Just thought it was a stroke of good luck!"
"Yeah, for you." Spike said. "This whole 'wish' thing you're doing to me, just stop it already."
"I can't." the white pony replied. "Why should I? Isn't this being fun?"
"Well, this just seems like a pitiful act. You bribed like the entire Ponyville to no remember me to make it seem like I'm in some 'different universe'." He looked forward. "Just wait, Clike. Soon, you'll see something you can't hide. The castle. Which is right-" He stared forward, then saw nothing but hills in front of him with some houses on the side of the road. No castle. "Er, maybe over there!"
"There's no castle here, bud." Taxi said. "Get out." Spike got out of the taxi with Clike, and Taxi rode off.
"You were saying?" Clike said. "But I do think there is no castle, either, so I'm on the taxi guy."
Spike then started to get a glimpse at shock and awe. The castle was gone... You can tell ponies to treat him like dirt and forget about him, but you just can't get rid of a castle... Especially Twilight's, which sprouted out of the ground... "You're... You're kidding..." He walked up to where the steps to the castle once were, and then all over. There was no fooling, it was really gone. "How'd you-"
He then looked up, only to see nopony. Clike was mysteriously gone, again. Everything was just quiet. He stared at the large area of dirt that the castle would cover, and then turned around to see something even more shocking. "The library!" he screamed, then running towards the large building that was a tree. The Golden Oak Library still stood... but it was destroyed long ago.
He stared straight ahead, before a quick certain glimpse of white fur caught his eye. He halted, and turned his head. He couldn't see the face, but it was definitely Clike. He wanted to deal with Clike once and for all. He walked up to Clike, who seemed to wear an obnoxiously large hat, covering his face. Yeah, like he'd fool Spike.
He quickly grabbed the pony, or should he say, 'angel'. "Alright, bud, listen- WHA?!" He quickly stepped back, after noticing he may have grabbed a mare, instead. His cheeks flushed red, but the mare's didn't. It was Rarity, the fashion diva, and she didn't seem to take Spike grabbing on her too kindly.
"AGH! GET AWAY!" she yelled.
"Wait, Rarity, you know me!" he said, trying to make her understand. "Just quit the gimmick! Spikey-Wikey here! Hello?!"
"Spikey-Wikey?" she questioned. "Who are you?!"
"Spike! Your best dragon! Your fashion assistant!"
Rarity shook her head, even more scared. "Nonono... I don't THINK I met a dragon in my life, 'thing'!" she shouted. "I don't even work in a boutique!"
He shook his head. "What do you mean? You love fashion! You-" He was then suddenly grabbed by a police pony. "What?"
"Get him away! Get him away!" she shouted dramatically.
"You're coming with us. You've been acting funny around here, lately." said the stallion, who was brown and had stubble on his chin. He was very buff, too.
"Why? Come on, guys! It's me, Spike!" he shouted, getting really scared at this point. "Come on! Let me go! I'm just a dragon! You all know me! Quit faking it!"
"Good Celestia, cap, he's bollocks insane!" said the little officer next to him, who was purple and had a black, slick mane. "What do we do?!"
"We just arrest him or something, I guess." the officer answered, which made Spike's pupils shrink. All of the ponies he saw earlier appeared, and came in a crowd.
"Come on, guys! Really! Please!"he shouted, before being thrown in the back of a steel carriage. The police was about to send off immediately, but a voice called out.
"WAIT!" shouted a unicorn. Everyone gasped, and so did Spike. He looked through the three small bars to see a silhouette of a unicorn stand out in the crowd. "Is this the dragon who keeps talking about me?" the mare asked, then showing her full form. Her purple fur... her violet hair with bright, rose highlights... her eyes... Twilight.
"Twilight!" Spike said, letting a tear flow from his eye. "It's me! Your number one assistant!" He gripped the bars tight, and looked at her with sad eyes. Twilight only cocked her head in confusion. Spike let more tears flow. He was terrified. "Please! You gotta remember me!"
Twilight slowly shook her head. "I don't remember anyone named 'Spike'." she said. "I never remember having some dragon as my assistant. I don't even remember anypony even named Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, or Pinkie Pie."
Spike shook his head violently. "No, Twi, you gotta remember! I-I'm..." He started to sniffle, and cried much more. "I'm your favorite guy..."
She still shook her head. "I'm sorry, whoever you are, but I'm not helping someone I don't know."
"PLEASE!" he begged. "Please..."
She shook her head. "No! I just... can't! And also, I'm no princess, either!"
"But-"
"No!" she shouted. "I'm nothing now! I used to be some student of the princess herself, but that didn't turn out well! I've tried my hardest, but now, I'm here in this stuck-up town! I'm alone! I have no friends! Wherever you come from, just... go away!"
Spike stood there, while the carriage moved. "Twi... Twilight?" She was long gone from his view, and he sobbed quietly. "Twilight..."
Then, Clike was behind him. He softly touched his shoulder with his hoof. "You see how much you've done?" he asked softly. He didn't say it in anger, or as some smart-horse, but in a rather soft tone that made Spike feel... like he should now understand... "You thought the world would do best without the so-called 'Spike the dragon'. But if you look around..." Spike then held the bars and looked outside and around. He noticed a long, black, thorny vine sticking near the Everfree forest. The wind also slightly picked up as well. "The place you call home doesn't bode well without you... Matter of fact, goes worse for some ponies..."
Spike looked at him with slightly bloodshot eyes. "I can tell..."
Clike explained the future to him. "Without you, the Mane Six would be something else. The six friends would never have met at all. Rainbow would give up on her dreams to become a Wonderbolt. Rarity wouldn't bode well with fashion as much as she does in the reality you were around, and the rest seemed uneasy, too... Especially Pinkie, I must add." He put his hoof on his shoulder once more, and gave him a quick hug. Spike stood in silence, and cried in his fur. "You see, Spike? Your life can touch everyone else's. You're not a 'nothing'. You're a 'something'. Even the smallest thing can be 'something'. And nothing can heir the name, 'nothing'."
Spike looked up at him. "I-I understand now..." he said, then releasing the hug. "So, the wish really did come true... I... I guess I've gone too far..."
"I didn't really do this myself, Spike." he said. "You did. And honestly, I was a little hurt myself. Seeing one who has so many friends who love and care. Taxi, giving you a free ride. Mrs. Cake, looking at you while you were in a horrible mood, and she did what? She gave you a special treat on the house. And you know who the best one is?"
Spike stared outside, white snow covering everything, and the carriage rocking side to side. "Tw... Twi... Twilight." he said, covering his face with his claws and sobbing once more. Clike gave him another soft hug. "I'm so sorry... Twilight..."
"Spike..." he said while Spike dug his face in his fur, sobbing away. "I must go..."
Then suddenly, Spike started to feel nothing. He was... disappearing! "Wait, don't go! No!" But it was too late. Spike was left alone in the carriage, being taken away to some asylum, probably. And there is no way to get free... Unless... Spike looked at the bars, or basically the door. He could melt them, right? His dragon fire has gotten powerful, so surely it has to.
He blew his dragon fire on the bars, and one of the officers noticed. "Hey!" the captain shouted, making Spike sweat heavily. The bars were melted, and Spike hopped out while it was moving, but thankfully, he landed softly in the snow-covered road. He immediately ran. "Stop!" The carriage stopped, and the officers started to chase after him.
Spike looked back, noticing how close they already were. They were like beasts. This was the worst moment yet. He can't be in this reality anymore. And he knows exactly what to do now... He ran as fast as he could in the forest which they were traveling in, and rushed zig-zag through the forest full of oak and timber. He eventually bursted out of the forest, and caught sight on the bridge he was once on. The bridge he met Clike on. The place where this all started.
The winds got very cold, giving off a vicious sting of bitter cold on his scales. This would affect a pony in ways, but this harmed a baby dragon like him even more. The wind blew in the opposite of his direction, and he slowly made his way towards the bridge. Once he got towards the bridge a minute later, he slipped on some ice. He yelped, and looked at now his skid knee. Not bad, but it was painful. That didn't stop him, though.
As he got up, he looked at the sky and saw images of this reality he was in. Ponies not knowing him, the Mane Six not knowing each other, how they look now... and Twilight... his sweet, sweet helper... his mother... the one who loved and cared for him most... He put his claws together, and wished out loud, "Clike! Clike... I don't know if you can hear me, but-" The wind blew much harsher, and got even more louder. So, he screamed louder. "I wish to be back to reality! Take me back! I don't want to be here no more! Please!" He looked down, and weeped in his arms. "Please..."
And though he couldn't see what was happening around him, due to burying his face in his arms and crying immensely, the wind started to die down, and something that hasn't happened in the shocking alternate reality started to trickle down from the clouds. Snow. It started coming in again, and though it was cold, it felt soft and comforting. Even the very light breeze made a noise that soothed and calmed the baby dragon. Soon enough, he looked up. He looked around, wondering if the wish was done for. If it really has been back to normal.
A pony tapped his shoulder. He turned around to notice Lyra, the first pony he met in the alternate reality. He braced for what she was going to say. Luckily, it gave him happiness. "Spike, you alright?" she asked. "The feast is about to start soon. Just a quick- Oof!"
She was then given a tight hug from the dragon, now letting out tears of joy. "Lyra!" he said. "It's really you!"
"Well, of course it's me, Spike." she said, having an awkward look in her eyes. "Why wouldn't it be me?"
"N-No time to explain. Long story." he said, still giving her the tight hug. "I'm just glad to be back!" He finally let go, and smiled joyfully. "Merry Hearth's Warming!" He ran off, leaving a confused Lyra, who just simply shrugged.
Spike then bolted into the streets of Ponyville, seeing that everything was back to normal. He was around the Golden Oak Library's location, noticing it wasn't standing anymore. He couldn't be any more happier now. Now that he was finally here. Home. "Merry Hearth's Warming!" he shouted while running. "Merry Hearth's Warming, everypony! Celestia bless us! Merry Hearth's Warming!"
Everypony poked heads out of their houses, or were getting ready to head to the castle, and looked at Spike running. They smiled and waved at him, some saying the same thing back. "Merry Hearth's Warming to you, too, Spike!" said Mrs. Cake, who had a batch of the special cupcakes in a carriage behind her.
Spike smiled as he then caught a little sparkle in his eye from the castle. The castle was standing, and he only prayed that they'd still be there. Wait... they... Spike slowed up for a second, thirty feet from the castle. He had to make this right. He almost forgot what got him here in the first place, which was a little fight caused by nobody else but him. He had to apologize. To every single pony in that castle, especially Twilight. He wanted to hug her so bad right now.
He took a deep breath, and walked up to the doors. Slowly, he opened them, and saw everything set in place like before. The streamers, snowflakes, and all the other stuff needed to make the feast look dazzling like the winter they were enduring. He opened up his mouth to speak up. "H-Hello?" he said out loud, expecting a response. It echoed a bit, and he felt like nopony was here. He started to think that they were probably working on a search for him.
He looked around, and saw nothing. No single pony lived in this castle. He gulped and sighed. "I really hope they're not too worried." he said to himself, as he moped towards the table with a bunch of eggnog, cider, and punch. Before he sat on it, though, he heard a sudden voice.
His ears perked up immediately as he heard, "Spike?" He looked behind, expecting to see the whole company just behind him right there, but it was only Fluttershy. Her voice almost cracked and her eyes started to tear up as she saw him. Before he could speak, Fluttershy cut him off with a quick hug, which he returned. "Spike... We were looking all over for you, and- and we thought you were gone..." she said, almost choking on her words as tears flowed a little more.
Spike patted her on the back. "I'm alright." he said, making her feel much better to know he's fine. "And, I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier..."
The shy mare sniffled. "It's alright..." she said back.
Spike wanted to know where everypony else was. "Where is everybody?"
Fluttershy separated the hug and looked at him. "Well, I know for sure the rest is upstairs, cause I was with them. I immediately came down for you, and they'll probably show up right now." And right as she finished, the rest of the Mane Six popped in the room. All smiled and seemed happy to see me, and approached me with heartwarming expressions. What got Spike was that there was one missing: Twilight.
"Where's Twilight?" he asked the gang.
Fluttershy answered, "Twilight's looking for you. She was so, so worried about you. I mean, it was freezing out there, it was like a blizzard, and it isn't safe for you to be out there by yourself." Spike's eyes grew wide. "She was crying before she left, and was so determined to find you. And that was the last we've seen her. Even when we went on a huge search for you, we didn't spot her. Oh, I do hope she's alright."
"Me, too." Spike answered, softly hugging Fluttershy for comfort again, with the rest of the gang joining in. He was freezing, but when he got in this hug, his skin AND heart felt more warm and fuzzier. Much more better. He looked up at everypony. "I'm just glad to see you guys again."
"Me, too, Spikey." said Rarity.
Spike was about worried sick for Twilight when a minute passed, the group still hugging. He stared at the door, which he closed on his way in and was still closed. He then noticed the clock. "The feast is almost happening!" Spike said.
The group looked at the clock. "So it is." said Dash. "Well, Twilight's gotta be back now, or else we're gonna have to do another search."
Spike broke up the hug and walked up to the door. Once he got there, he slightly opened it. Nothing. No sign of Twilight, or any other pony. He closed the door and looked back at them. He sat down and put his face in his knees. "I feel horrible... If I didn't backlash, none of this would happen..."
AJ got up to him and put a hoof on his shoulder. "Aw, cheer up, Spike." she said with a smile. "I know Twilight, we all do, and we always know she's fine." She rubbed his back, but it didn't make him feel any happier.
"I just... snapped at her... for no reason, whatsoever. All because of..." He looked at the burnt present, still near the fireplace, which was lit up again. "Because of that stupid present. She did it on accident and I just shouted. At all of you..."
Then, a knock was heard on the door, which made Spike jump. Slowly, the door opened, and a horn popped in. "Guys, have you seen him?" asked the pony. She moved her entire body inside, and showed herself. Twilight was here. "I'm really getting worried that-" Then she froze. She caught sight of a little dragon, who was standing right in front of her, starting to tear up. "Spike?" she questioned, then getting tackled by the dragon.
"Twilight! You're home!" he cried in her shoulder. Twilight got up with the dragon still hanging on tightly. "You're really ho-o-ome..."
Twilight returned the hug, and was very happy in seeing Spike again. "Spike, where were you?" she said nervously. "I-I've been looking everywhere for you, but I couldn't find you."
Spike broke the hug, and looked at Twi. "I'm... I'm so-" Twilight blocked his mouth with her hoof.
"No. I should be sorry, Spike." she said. "I yelled at you and destroyed your gift to me."
Spike shook his head. "No, it's my fault." he admitted. "I knew you did it on accident, but I thought you meant to do it just cause it meant so much to me..." He got up and hugged her again. "I'm so, so sorry... I'm sorry I hurt you, I'm sorry I scared, and most importantly... I'm sorry that I left you..."
Twilight softly smiled, and let a couple of soft, cooling tears trickle down her cheek. "You were always there f-for me." Spike weeped. "Always."
Twilight only smiled more. "I'll never mean to hurt you or make you feel bad, Spike. And I would never destroy something so special on purpose." She rubbed her hoof on the back of his head, making him feel calmer and more better. "I love you like a brother."
"I love you like a mother." Spike said into her shoulder, which got to Twilight. She only smiled more and hugged him tighter. "I... I promise to never hurt you or leave you again." He broke up the hug and sniffled. "And that's a promise."
Then, everypony got to the castle. It was time for the Ponyville Feast, and the herd moved in carefully, trying not to make someone fall or bump into each other too much. They said hi to the princess and her friends. "Finally!" said Vinyl.
"Come on, fellas, allons-y!" said Doctor Whooves.
Pretty much, everyone was happy to be there, but before they started to have a little party and the amazing feast, they looked at Spike. The dragon noticed their faces, but didn't notice the presents in their hooves. "Here you go, Spike!" said Applebloom, handing a small present wrapped in yellow bows and had red wrapper.
"Merry Hearth's Warming, sweetie." said Rarity's mother, who handed him a present with blue wrapper and white bow.
He kept getting presents randomly from everyone such as Octavia, the Cakes, Taxi, Bon Bon, and every pony in Ponyville. He felt... happy... joyful... very warm in the heart. He moved back as the pile of presents were overwhelming him, and placed them on the ground near the tree. He panted, and Twilight trotted next to him. "So, guess everypony got you something special, huh?" she said with a proud smile. She nuzzled Spike on the cheek. "Don't think you're ever alone, Spike. You have a wonderful life ahead of ya."
"Come on, Twi!" said Dash. "We got a crowd to entertain!"
Twilight smiled, and looked back at Spike. "Let's go." she said. She trotted happily, and Spike was about to follow, until he saw something sparkle his eye. It was in the pile of presents, about buried in the pile. He moved some of the presents gingerly and looked at what seemed to be an envelope. It was golden paper, and had a red bow on top. What closed it was a very shiny bit in the middle, taped on the envelope. He then noticed something on it: a name from somepony special.
The envelope read: 'To: Spike the Dragon. From: Your Guardian Angel, Clike Dragoncross.' Spike quickly grabbed the envelope and opened it up, reading the little white paper inside. It read:
To Spike,
Remember, dear dragon, no being is nothing when he has something like friends.
Merry Hearth's Warming,
Clike
Spike smiled, but noticed another piece of paper, but much smaller. He held it and the paper read:
P.S. Thanks for the wings! And have this bill, too, just so you can remember me, pal.
There was a little bill that Clike tried to use earlier, and Spike took it off. He smiled and chuckled a bit, then looking out the window. He not only saw the snow softly falling and making its gentle way down, but he also noticed Clike, smiling. He moved to show Spike his torso, which had something new: wings. The man laughed in joy, and gave him a little wave. Spike waved back, and Clike slowly flew up to the sky, now with his new pair of angelic wings.
Twilight popped her head from one of the rooms that everypony was having a chat in. "Spike!" she said. "Come on, Pinkie's entertaining the fillies!"
"Coming!" Spike said, putting the envelope down, but also clutching the small bill. Before setting off, he stared at the bill. "I'll never forget ya, Clike."
