A Hero's Not Fit For Love

by Mega T22

Rating: mature
Tags: Sweetie Belle, Twilight Sparkle, Drama, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Sad, Romance, Spike, Rarity, Adventure
Length: 33365

"Spike the Dragon... That innocent, young hero... Always risking it all for some insignificant life or another... I guess that's how they know me. How they'll... remember me. But that's not who I am; at least... not anymore." ~Spike, The Exiled

"Spike the Dragon... That innocent, young hero... Always risking it all for some insignificant life or another... I guess that's how they know me. How they'll... remember me. But that's not who I am; at least... not anymore. Not in their eyes. I became a hero to protect her! I risk it all for her! For if I don't stop it there, then when will it get to her? I can't let that happen! It was all for her! But she does this, for the third fourth time?! It's just like Twilight Sparkle said... Oh, Sun of suns, she knew... It's true, isn't it? A Hero's just Not Fit For Love... are they?"
~Spike, the Exiled.

Published 2016-02-22 04:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2016-03-19 00:15:05 UTC

A Hero's Lamentation

Author's Note

I've had this idea saved for like years, and figured now was as good as ever to get it done. Sorry if things seem rush or pushed around, but the pace will calm down as the story goes on; I simply did not want to write a prequel that would likely span 50,000 words, or make this first chapter immensely long, as it was intended to be a oneshot.
~~Anyways, lemme know if you guys would like it to be left off of here, or be continued, as I've left it off in a way that could be a complete story, or an incomplete one. The readers are the deciders! If not, then it shall stay complete.~~

Don't forget to do some R&R, authors always love it! Mega T22 out ^-^

A Hero's Lamentation

"Spike the Dragon... That innocent, young hero... Always risking it all for some insignificant life or another... I guess that's how they know me. How they'll... remember me. But that's not who I am; at least... not anymore. Not in their eyes. I became a hero to protect her! I risk it all for her! For if I don't stop it there, then when will it get to her? I can't let that happen! It was all for her! But she does this, for the third fourth time?! It's just like Twilight Sparkle said... Oh, Sun of suns, she knew... It's true, isn't it? A Hero's just Not Fit For Love... are they?"
~Spike, The Exiled

Spike stood across from a much larger, bulkier dragon ahead of him. It was red, and looked menacingly intimidating, as they circled each other in combat stances. Spike had grown past his puny days and was now a teenage dragon, even though he was already 24 years of age but, dragons did age differently after all. He was also much more built and taller than before.

Spike is now taller than the average height of a pony and was also quite muscular and toned, albeit still lightweight. He stood against the enemy dragon, in the middle of the Ponyville streets, full clad in golden Royal-Guard armor. Over his right shoulder was a small lavender cape that only spanned across a quarter-length of his back. Upon it, was Twilight Sparkle’s cutie-mark, showing Spike’s allegiance, as well as authority, as only champions of the royal guard were granted royal capes. Princess Twilight Sparkle had finally established her kingdom in Ponyville, and Spike was the only member of her guard. He was also the hero of the fair town, ever since evil had been stepping its game up. In his right hand was a spear, in the left, a gilded shield strapped to his wrist.

“Brother, are you poisoned? Contaminated by such folly? Do you not see that these ponies and creatures are nothing but food? Brother, cure your plagued eyes!” the dragon reasoned, as Spike circled around the street with him, holding a spear, one of his many weapons, within his hand, aimed at the hostile dragon.

“Me? Plagued? You’re something else! You’ve got no right to call me 'brother'!” Spike said in response, as the dragon ran at him on all fours. It was much larger than him, perhaps nearly four times larger. “Bah! Talking to you is useless!” the dragon grumbled, running at Spike.

The dragon headbutted the unsuspecting Spike; Spike was just barely able to dodge the horns on his head, but still took the impact, sending him crashing into the side of a building, cracking and levelling its foundation as screams were heard within the house. Spike stood up, disoriented, as he spotted a few ponies run in to help the family inside.

Spike shook his head and fastened his helmet, feeling the pain of that impact. “So I see you want to do this the hard way then, huh? Ever heard of Spike the Dragon, bud? You’re barking up the wrong tree.” Spike said in a confident manner that nearly came off as arrogance.

“You? You’re so puny! Are you implying that you’ll defeat me? Bah, I’ll devour you with the rest of this puny town.” The dragon laughed, as ponies backed away from the two.

Spike smiled softly, and looked at the dragon. “Do you really want your last words to be such high expectations?” Spike asked.

The dragon chuckled and dragged its foot across the ground, breathing smoke from its nostrils. “I'll just maim you with this attack so that you may hopelessly watch as this hopeless town suffers.” The dragon said, running at Spike again.

Spike's body began to glow a faint pure-white magical aura. He sheathed his spear and shield on his back, lurching forward with both hands out to combat the dragon.

As the dragon met with him, Spike crashed into it, sliding back only a few feet. He pushed back with amazing strength, both hands on its horns, as he slowly pushed the dragon back. The dragon strained, staring on at Spike with wide eyes, surprised that the lightweight and small dragon was so powerful.

Spike’s muscles bulked in strain, as he pulled the dragon’s horns down, and then abruptly kneed the dragon’s chin, still holding onto the horns. In an instant, the horn’s snapped off, as the dragon collapsed on its back from the powerful knee. It roared in pain, having his forehead-bones snapped off.

“You’ll pay, you cretin!” the dragon roared, as it rolled over, and sucked up a large breath, preparing to roast Spike. Spike tossed aside the two horns, watching the dragon intently.

Spike jumped back into the air, hovering, as he too, sucked in a large breath, preparing to release the fiery magic within.

The red hostile dragon released its fiery breath, as it nearly engulfed Spike. However, as Spike released his own, it was much larger, hotter, and more powerful than the enemy dragon’s own, as Spike’s fire engulfed the red dragon’s own flame, as well as the dragon itself, probably searing his flesh.

The dragon’s roars could be heard inside the flame, as Spike landed, black smoke filtering from his mouth. The roars slowly stifled, as the fire died down, and the dragon was seen lying on the ground, defeated, as flames were on several parts of its body. It was scarred and blackened. The usual look for another foolish pawn of evil that decided to challenge Spike the Hero’s town.

Spike walked upon the dragon’s belly, standing on its upper-chest just below its neck, as the dragon forced itself to look upon the green, scaly hero that defeated it.

“B-brother…” the dragon gasped. “We can help each other… These ponies would be no match for you… W could be so powerful together, broth-” the dragon began, but was silenced as Spike unsheathed the spear from his back and held the point towards the dragon. The blade of the spear was jet-black metal, designed for cutting power, as dragons were known to have tough skin and rock-hard scales.

“You have no right to refer to me as a brother. We may be genetically the same, but mentally and morally, you are flawed. You and I both know the anatomy of a dragon; you can live just as well on greens and gems. Your useless crave for meat is a plague to this world, and I am the cure.” Spike preached, as he took the spear and jammed it into the throat of the dragon, as the dragon thrashed for just a few seconds, its breath whistling with the new hole in its throat. As it finally drew its last breaths, Spike took the bloodied spear out, as the red liquid sprayed on him.

Disgusted, Spike quickly jumped off before more could touch him. He coughed and spat. “Ewgh! Disgusting! I think I just swallowed blood that’s not even mine!” he complained out-loud. Twilight Sparkle, his mother, employer, and princess, had finally arrived on the scene, scoping out the situation. She wore her crown, and looked a bit more physically mature, as an Alicorn should.

“Spike! Sheesh, that dragon decided to attack, huh?” Twilight asked, running up to Spike and inspecting him for any injury.

“He sure did. Wasn’t nothing the good ‘ol Hero of Ponyville couldn’t handle though. Say, wanna help me drag the body to the woods and bury it? If it rots here, it’s gonna smell atrocious.” Spike said. “Besides, I got a little something to talk about, if that’s okay?” Spike proposed.

“Um… Sure, but can we make it quick? Royal duties and such, I’ve gotta file some reports for Luna.” Twilight said, as Spike dragged the body out by the stubs of horns, and Twilight helped with her magic.

As they were in the outskirts of the city, headed towards the Everfree Forest to bury it, Twilight popped the question.

“So, what’d you wanna talk about, ‘lil ‘ol Spike?” Twilight asked, as they slowly dragged the body further and further.

“It’s about Rarity…” Spike said quietly. Twilight inwardly groaned, a bit too loud, as Spike noticed, but decided to ignore it.

“Continue…” Twilight said, as she focused on dragging the body between the trees.

As they brought the body to a sunlit area within the forest, Spike decided to continue, dropping the body off to the side, as Twilight used a spell to shred a hole into the earth.

Spike dug into his blood-stained armor, and from it, withdrew a small elegant box. Spike opened it, as a beautiful and brilliant, violet-amethyst bracelet shone from within. The violet hue was the same as Rarity’s mane.

“Spike…?” Twilight asked, her mind racing. Her heartbeat rate increased exponentially, as she stopped the process of burying the body. She could barely hide the smile slowly creeping upon her lips. A heavy blush grew on her cheeks. “A-a-a-aren’t you s-supposed to y’know… Kneel and stuff?” Twilight asked in an extremely quiet voice with a small, gleeful giggle.

“This is for Rarity. I want to ask her to marry me.” Spike said, seemingly not noticing Twilight’s actions and behavior as he stared down upon the box that was showing towards Twilight.

Twilight looked at him, wide-eyed. Her features turned to one of disappointment. She quickly regained her professional/motherly behavior, and turned back to work on dragging the body in the newly dug hole. As she dug, however, she kept silent, thinking. Spike got nervous, as he knew that their minds were both likely on the same thing… His relationship with Rarity was quite complicated; despite them have been living together for nearly 9 months. It was all her fault, but that didn’t stop Spike from loving Rarity. He had pursued Rarity for years, after all! That wasn’t an investment he was willing to give up, even with clear evidence of her endeavors.

“So?” Spike asked, worried by Twilight’s silence. He didn’t want her to bring up that point. As Twilight dragged the body in and earthed it in an instant with her magic, she turned to Spike, her brows furrowed.

“Spike… Are you sure you want to move so quickly? I mean, you know how Rarity’s been lately.” Twilight said. “Who’s to say she won’t tarnish the marriage with her silly antics?” Twilight asked, with a frown. Spike shied away, not really wanting to agree with Twilight. However deep down, something begged to differ…

“Look, I understand why she did what she did, okay? I was gone for weeks on heroic duty. Rarity is a girl who needs sexual release, and I’m fine with that.” Spike said. “It doesn’t mean I can’t marry her.” Spike finished.

Twilight face-hoofed. “Look, Spike, don’t lie to yourself, or me. I emphatically remember you saying that she was developing a romantic relationship with her, behind your back!” Twilight said in a sort of frustration, forcing the words, as Spike winced when she said the last three words.

Spike looked down, suddenly interested in his blood-stained golden royal-guard armor, as he stayed silent.

“Look, Spike, I’m worried about you. We may have been good friends fifteen years ago, when the Elements of Harmony were still frequently needed, but now that we’ve grown more mature, I’ve learned to not hold my tongue on matters such as this: Rarity is a flirtatious and seductive woman that can get what she wants when she wants. And now that she’s becoming duplicitous, I want to save you the inevitable pain that will happen if you become engaged with her in matrimony.” Twilight said. Spike looked up, slightly hurt from hearing Twilight speak her thoughts.

“Look Spike, I raised you… I would like to believe I know what’s best for you… You should hold off on the proposing.” Twilight said solemnly.
“B-but Twilight…! I love her…” Spike said, sadness evident in his voice.

“But does she love you? Does she truly love you the way you love her? Think, Spike! Who goes behind your back like that when you’re off on royal duty to protect the kingdoms of Equestria? You may have been dating for a couple years, and living together for months, but just think what’ll happen. I can’t protect you any longer Spike, we both know how territorial you can be… What’ll you do if you catch her again? Surely, we can’t risk another occurrence like that…” Twilight asked. Spike looked off in thought, as his thoughts returned to one fateful day…

[Flashback]

Spike returned from his 4-day trip, as per royal duty. Weird disturbances in Griffinstone called for his appearance, and true enough, evil was involved: some demon that escaped from Tartarus was attempting a rise in power; didn’t work, especially not when Spike got involved. He would have to leave again shortly to go see why the Cerberus couldn’t hold him, but he wanted to see his beloved first.

As he opened the door to the house, he swore he heard lots of movement and shifting upstairs, and then silence.

“Rarity, honey! I’m home! Not for long though, I just thought I’d stop by to say hello and pick up some things for my trip to the Gates of Tartarus.” Spike called out, slipping off his backpack. He decided to keep on his armor, since it would soon be time to depart.

“Is it alright if I come up, babe?” he asked in a soft shout upstairs, as he started to ascend the stairs.

“N-no! It’s not! I’m… doing something!” Rarity yelled down.

“What could you be up to that couldn’t warrant my presence?” Spike asked with a soft chuckle, as he bounced up the stairs one-by-one. Ever since they had begun to live with one another, seeing her in the privacy of their home was always a great joy.

“I’m changing, Spike! I’m naked, don’t come in!” he heard Rarity yell. Spike raised a brow, and laughed it off, putting his hand on the doorknob.
“As if I haven’t seen you naked before, hun. Come on now, I’m not a pervert.” Spike said behind the door, before opening it.

As he opened it, he saw Rarity frantically trying to push another mare, an earth pony, into the closet. As he entered, he looked at the two strangely, while the other two stared back frantically. Rarity’s mane and hair, as well as the other mare’s own, was frizzled and untidy, as if they were ruffling around.

Spike’s eyes fell on the condition of the bed: untidy sheets, wet stains clear for the eye to see, and the mattress was very unaligned, and nearly falling off of the majestic divan.

Spike’s eyes widened, as he stared at the fearful, heaving chests of Rarity and the other red-colored mare. He pieced things together very quick, as he closed the door behind him, his brows bent in a mixture of anger and some other flaring emotion.

“S-Spike…! W-what’re you doing home s-so early, honey…?” Rarity said, forcing the honey part on. The guilt in her voice was clear as glass.
“Rarity, who is that, and what were you up to?” Spike asked, his arms crossed, as he stood by the door, blocking their exit. The window was clear for escape, but he doubt they’d go that far, seeing as how neither could fly in a moment’s notice.

Rarity sighed heavily and simply sat down on her behind, using her tail to cover her privates. “L-look, Spike… I didn’t mean any harm…!” Rarity said, with her puppy-dog eyes.

Spike ignored her. His eyes turned to the red-mare. “You, come here.” The tall dragon said, gesturing her over. She very timidly began to make her way over, her tail unconsciously pushing itself between her hind legs.

Spike walked over to the window and took the small stool sitting next to the window, and lifted it back over to the door. He set it in front of the mare, still blocking the door, and looked at her with his tired, slit, emerald-green eyes. He was exhausted from his trip, as he wasn’t able to get much sleep over the 2-day travelling battle with the demon.

He now had to deal with this, and his mind and heart raced like crazy. Rarity was cheating! Although he looked calm on the outside, inside was a boiling rage that he felt he soon would lose control of. He noticed that as he grew into an adolescent dragon, those feelings of greed that he once had when he was forced to mature by his selfishness never left. This time though, the greed was in the form of territorial behavior. He liked to have what was his exclusively to stay his unless fairly deemed otherwise.

He stared at the shaking mare. She knew who he was, no doubt. She also most certainly knew that Rarity was his partner, without question. So why would she do this? Was it the first time? Spike’s eyebrows bent even more in a nearly uncontrollable inward-anger, as he thought of the worst. Were they building a romantic-relationship? Did they already have one? So many questions that he’d have to find out.

“Spike, please, let’s just talk this out…” Rarity said, her lips quivering in nervousness. She knew that Spike got jealous easily, and sometimes his temper rose greatly when she was ever flirtatious with other mares or stallions.

“We’re beyond the talking stage Rarity. We both know this.” Spike said, peeking past Rarity with his tired, angry eyes. To the red-mare, he was surprisingly calm, but Rarity saw it in his eyes. That anger, that seething, burning anger… He was pissed.

Calmly, Spike began, turning his attention to the red-mare. “Look, I don’t care for your name, as I hope to never cross paths with you again. But I’m going to ask some questions, and on order of a champion of the royal-guard, you will answer, clear?” Spike asked in a commanding tone, holding his cape with Twilight’s cutie-mark on it for her to see.

The red-mare nodded, not needing physical confirmation to know the Hero of Ponyville.

“Firstly… What’s your affiliation with Rarity?” Spike asked in a tenaciously commanding tone.

“Spike, she’s just a fri-” Rarity began.

“Stop; I’ll speak to you after.” Spike said, in interruption.

“Lie to me, and I will not have mercy on you. You look a bit young for me to have to put you through a legal hell, miss, so let’s just be honest here, hm?” Spike proposed, using the cliché yet reliable scare-tactic.

The red-mare looked down.

“Now, I’ll ask again. What is your affiliation with Rarity?” Spike demanded.

“W-we’re just um… S-she’s an old love interest… I was the one just before you…” she said honestly. Spike’s brows furrowed even further, as thoughts flew into his head, but he couldn’t lose his cool, not yet.

“Do you still love Rarity?” he asked. He wanted to know if he had an opponent. She quietly nodded, confirming his question.

“Final question: is this the first time you two have gotten intimate, or has this been going on for some time? If so, for how long?” Spike asked.

“It’s been just since you left nearly 5 days ago… I-I thought I’d take advantage of the opportunity and…” the red-mare started, but never finished.

“You are aware that I am this mare’s romantic-partner, yes?” Spike asked, as he clasped his hands beneath his chin, miraculously maintaining the seething rage within.

The red mare nodded, guilt and a feeling of conviction encumbering her being.

“Good. Now leave. If I see you here again, this will be much worse.” Spike said, kicking the stool aside, as he stepped aside and opened the door for her. Even in this type of situation, he was a gentleman. The way he saw it, he couldn’t be angry at her; he would be angry at the woman who actually betrayed him.

The red mare gathered her belongings and stood at the door, briefly eyeing Rarity, before bowing her head and leaving. Spike shut the door and turned his eyes to Rarity.

… Silence …

“Rarity, what the FUCK are you up to?!” Spike yelled, being fed up with her silence.

“I can’t believe this shit! Are you fucking kidding me, Rarity? Seriously?” Spike said in disbelief, as he felt his flaring emotion begin to surface. Rarity stayed silent, feeling tears of guilt sting at her eyes.

“You were fucking your ex? Really? We’ve been living together for 5 months! Rarity, come on, woman! This is how you treat me? I go out for a few days to go help Equestria cleanse itself of evil, and I’m thanked by this fuckery? Holy fucking hell…” Spike sighed, feeling sadness replace his anger as he sat on the tainted bed, his head in his hands. He felt extremely stressed.

“Spike, please, I didn’t mean any harm…!” Rarity repeated hopelessly, as she put her hooves around his neck. However, Spike quickly, abruptly, and very forcefully evicted her from his body by punching her away; he had accidentally caught her in the nose, as she slid back on the floor, holding her nose beneath both of her front hooves, feeling the bone shift and blood leak out. She got up and looked at him with a mixture of fear, guilt, and sadness. Spike looked back with surprise, but soon, the anger returned.

“Fuck this, and fuck you, for now. I’m gonna go check up on the Gates of Tartarus and go spend a few days at Twilight’s. You upset me Rarity. You’ve really, really failed me… How will I ever trust you when it’s time for me to leave on a trip again?” Spike asked, as he walked over to the side of his bed to grab a few things.

Rarity was quiet as she watched him, wiping her nose and shifting the bone back in place with a yelp as she felt the burst of pain. “S-Spike, let me make this up to you…” Rarity said, swishing her tail back and forth to send her scent off towards him.

In a fit of anger, Spike took up the lamp from the dresser next to the bed, and smashed it into the wall, cracking the wall and ruining the lamp, as shards of glass flew around the room.

“Don’t, you, fucking, even try to seduce me right now, Rarity. Sick of this shit already.” Spike said, continuing to grab his things, as he heard Rarity go silent, and the scent stopping.

He was itching to trek through the Everfree to get to the Gates, he needed to fight something to release some stress.

“Stay away from that bitch.” Spike said bitterly, as he walked past the silent Rarity, who was still holding her nose, tears at the edge of her eyes.

Without another word, he walked out of the door, slamming it behind him so hard that the wood stretched and cracked, as the bolts holding the door fell out of place slightly, causing the door to lean over halfway, so that Rarity was still able to see Spike behind the door.

She watched him walk away, and simply sat on the bed in shame, thinking about her mistake.

[Flashback End]

That was only the first time Spike had caught Rarity cheating… The intimacy between her and that red mare continued. Cherry-Top, was her name, he had come to find out the second time he caught them… That time, the abuse was worse. He had, in his fit of rage, back-handed the red-mare, severely bruising her cheek, and he had, accidentally, threw a small container at Rarity, bruising her eye. That time around, the commotion was much more noticeable, and due to complaints of disturbances, Twilight was informed, and he was written up by Twilight for not holding his hand.

The third time, was by-far the worst; prior to catching them in a lie the third time, he dug through some things and found various love letters written between the two. Spike was baffled and appalled when he had found them! He tried his best to keep Rarity happy. He bought her what she wished, and more! He loved her unconditionally, took care of house-chores and maintenance, as well as cooking whenever he was home, and tried his best to be the perfect romantic-partner. Despite that, it nearly seemed he wasn’t enough for her.

She had been committing adultery with the red mare, Cherry-Top again. Although the two tried to lie about it, the evidence was clear, and in a fit of rage, he clawed Cherry-Top, injuring her; he also, in a burst of uncontrollable rage at the third time this occurrence happened, let out his fiery-breath on accident, ensuing in a small fire. Bits of the house were scorched away, and severe burns and injuries followed.

Spike was laid off duty and authority for some time due to his reckless behavior; he was also punished by being under house-arrest in Twilight’s mansion for 1,600 hours; Twilight deemed it safer to let his anger die out in that time. He could never seem to figure it out. What had he been doing wrong? Was he doing anything wrong? Sure, he left on frequent trips, but it was all in her favor! He wanted to make sure to quell the evil long before it could reach her. However, it seemed that she was ungrateful.

“Spike, I don’t want to have to act against you again… I don’t want you to be hurt and do something reckless again. I’ve been preaching this for ages, Rarity’s just not for you.” Twilight said, ripping Spike from his bitter reminiscing.

“Yeah, but Twi, I work hard for her, and you know that. Besides, it’s not like she doesn’t love me back. She’s just… Confused, or conflicted, yeah! That’s it!” Spike said, convincing himself, finally.

“Spike, if you act recklessly this time, you realize that I won’t be able to help you, right? As per my decree as a princess, I will be forced to comply with the rules of a ruler and bring you to proper justice. You know what happens when a member of the royal guard is charged with three counts of domestic violence, don’t you?” Twilight asked. Spike looked up at her, nodding.

“They get exiled, never to return to pony-civilization, presumably.” Spike said, answering her.

“Exactly. Spike, I don’t want to see you leave… I lo-, or um! Would lo-ike to think you work better simply as a hero, not a husband. You know, a hero and royal-champion must be dedicated to his people and his princess. I don’t think you’re a hero fit for another responsibility such as marriage, Spike. Not with her committing such adultery.” Twilight spoke. The words, however, missed Spike, as he refused to take her advice.

“I have been pursuing her for years, Twilight. I saved myself for her, gave myself to her, and plan to stay with her. She is everything I work for, Twi. She’s what keeps me fighting in those icky situations; she’s my strength in situations where I seem to face certain death; she’s the mare, despite her betrayals, that soothes me upon arriving home. My life ever since I was old enough to be out of your jurisdiction was protecting the people. The most important of those people is her!” Spike said. In one final try to justify his decision, he spoke up again.

“Look, you have to take chances in life. Will you step, or will you leap? Will you undershoot, overshoot, or hit it just right? You never know, and that’s part of life. I am ready for every consequence, and will accept what comes my way.” Spike said adamantly.

Twilight sighed heavily. “Good luck then, my hero. I hope you find what you’re looking for.” Twilight said. “Shall we leave?” she asked.

“One moment.” Spike replied, as he knelt on the mound of earth under which the dragon was buried. He knelt on one knee and held his right hand over his heart in a fist, while he bowed his head. He was silent for a few seconds.

“Spike?” Twilight asked, confused at what he was doing. He was silent for another thirty seconds, before finally standing and facing Twilight.

“Despite his flawed vision, as a fellow dragon, he deserves at least my respect to his attempt at a battle. Foolish, I know, but I can’t help but feel remorse for my flawed, winged reptiles.” Spike said, standing.

“No, not at all; it’s actually quite respectful. Anyways, Spike, I’ll be off. Royal duties call. Good luck with Rarity, okay?” Twilight said, stretching out her wings.

“Thanks, Twilight. I hope it works out too.” Spike said, as Twilight flew off, leaving Spike within the Everfree Forest. He heard wood move around him, as he sighed inwardly, unsheathing a small dagger that laid on the back of his waist.

“Damn timber-wolves… Never learn.” Spike sighed, as he prepared to fight his way out of the forest.

In an instant, he burped a green fire, as a letter appeared from thin-air. He grabbed it, and looked at the seal. It was Sweetie Belle’s cutie-mark, so it was her, no doubt. With confident expertise, he read the letter, while keeping his other senses on the entities that surrounded him.

“Spike, it is imperative that you meet me in the Sugarcube Corner in ten minutes! I have very… important news for you. ~ Sweetie Belle” It read. It showed a picture of a familiar red-coated mare on the path to his and Rarity’s house. He sheathed the dagger, and held the letter with both hands, studying the blurry picture closely, not believing his eyes. He could already feel the anger arise.

He felt a rush of wind behind him, and as he turned he was met by the vicious snapping jaws of a timber-wolf. Using his fore-arm guard, he blocked it, and with a single powerful punch, he obliterated the unsuspecting wolf. Others appeared, and surrounded him.

“Not the time for this! I’ve gotta run!” Spike said out-loud, deciding he had no time to entertain the creatures. Jumping into the air, he sucked in a large breath, and burned three of the wolves to ashes, clearing a path for himself. The hero dashed away from the wolves, more than capable of outrunning them, his mind set on reaching Sugarcube Corner ASAP.

[Nearly 12 minutes later, at Sugarcube Corner]

Spike rushed in. The timber-wolves had proven to be a nuisance, but he made it nonetheless. He looked around, and thankfully, it seemed that Pinkie Pie was too busy to work today. He felt he wouldn’t’ve had the time or the patience to deal with her, not after getting that letter from Sweetie Belle.

He spotted her sitting in a booth off to the side with two plates of two cupcakes for a total of four. He assumed that one plate was for himself, but he didn’t feel in the mood to eat. His mind was more focused on finding out what the hell was going on with that picture he just found.

He’d really have to keep his cool this time, because this just made his insides boil! On the day he planned to propose, this mare decides to show up again? He had made it very clear the third time that he wanted no trace of her in his property or vicinity.

Sweetie-Belle smiled at him and waved him over as he walked towards the booth. He sat down across from her, setting his spear and shield beneath the table and removing his helmet, placing it on the seat beside him.

Sweetie-Belle looked him up and down, noticing the blood stains that ruined his shiny, gold-gilded armor. “Spike, what happened? Are you okay? Is that your blood, or…?” she questioned.

Spike impatiently replied, “Yeah, some dragon thought it could make the town its feeding place, whatever. Look, why do you need to meet me, and what does that picture mean?” Spike asked, looking at her with his tired eyes.

“Spike, let’s talk for a bit first, hm? I haven’t seen you in ages ever since the CMC and I have been going on our crusades across Equestria. Aren’t you the least bit interested in me?” Sweetie-Belle asked. Spike groaned inwardly; he knew the girl still had a crush on him, but his eyes were for Rarity.

He knew Sweetie-Belle was a quality mare, but he had no eyes for the girl, despite them being very good friends. He’d have to treat this right if he wanted to not hurt her and still get some info on what was going on.

“Of course I’m interested in you Sweetie-Belle! I’m just… very rushed right now. You and I both know this isn’t the first time this has happened and I want to make this quick. Look, how long are you staying in town?” Spike questioned quickly.

“I’ll be here for at least another week or so before we’re set for another crusade.” Sweetie-Belle answered.

“Great, look. Can you please, pretty pretty please just tell me what’s going on so I can go check it out, and then maybe we can go on a date or something tomorrow so we can catch up? I’m sorry Sweetie-Belle, but today is too special for me to get caught up with you, no offense. Gosh, that sounded horrible, but please understand where I’m coming from.” Spike said. Sweetie-Belle frowned, then crossed her front-hooves.

“She just cheats on him all the time anyway! I don’t see why Rarity deserves a great partner like Spike, when she doesn’t even treat him right. It’s not like this is just the first, second, third, or fourth time…” Sweetie-Belle thought to herself, pouting. She would tolerate her older sister’s adultery no longer. Sweetie-Belle was of age to speak her mind, and she would do just so.

“How many times, I wonder? How many times do you know that she’s done it behind your back? It’s not limited to just the times you’ve caught her, y’know…” Sweetie-Belle said, her pout turning more to an upset frown.

“Tell me, Spike, before I give you the information you seek: what do you see in Rarity? What keeps you coming back every. Single. Time? Because we both know that you know this has happened multiple times behind your back in instances you chose not to confront her about.” Sweetie-Belle asked, watching him intently.

Spike’s brows furrowed. “Sweetie-Belle, don’t test me, today is so very special, and it seems it’s already ruined. Can we just finish this up and talk over our date tomorrow?” Spike asked, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

“No Spike, I’m tired of this. I’m tired of watching you run for her all the time. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re wrong Spike.” Sweetie-Belle said. Spike eyed her strangely. “Your approach to “fix” these flaws are wrong. I see the way you operate Spike. Unfortunately, time has not matured you correctly.” Sweetie-Belle analyzed.

“What? Sweetie-Belle, what’re you on about?” Spike asked with confusion and exasperation.

“Don’t you see, Spike? Why are you trying so hard? She’s the one fucking up, not you!” Sweetie-Belle spoke, raising her voice ever-so slightly. “Don’t you think it hurts? Those who love you, watching you get hurt by an obviously flawed woman, too caught up with her own arrogance to notice the greatness she has, wrapped around her gosh-damned pinky?” Sweetie-Belle began. Before Spike could reply, Sweetie-Belle continued.

“This is what happens every damn time you two go through this crap. You get mad, you hurt someone, you’re punished and accept the consequences, you’re released, you find out more about the situation, you seclude yourself in depression, and then what happens? YOU BLAME YOURSELF! It’s not your fault, you idiot! You come back, trying your best to be this better person for her, because for some reason you think you aren’t enough, you think somehow, that you don’t equate to what she needs, and so, you try harder and harder for her! Spike, wake up! Just wake the hell up man!” Sweetie-Belle said, quite loudly this time, grabbing attention from the visitors of the Sugarcube Corner.

Mrs. Cake looked on nervously, ushering her customers back to their own business with small waves and apologies for the disturbances. She hoped Sweetie-Belle would calm down, or she would have to intervene.

Spike watched her with surprised eyes. He should feel angry, furious, invaded and disrespected that she just tried to analyze him like that, but all he could feel was realization… It was true. It was all true. He just stared at her, his pupils shaking ever-so slightly. He didn’t realize it, but it was true!

Every time he had finally returned to Rarity, it wasn’t with anger or some type of punishment for her betrayal… He simply tried to be a better man. Maybe he truly did think he wasn’t enough, and that’s why he tried so hard… And boy, did he try hard. He treated her, massaged her, cleaned for her, cooked for her, he spoiled her. He had felt as if his love wasn’t enough for her, and tried to improve it for her needs, but he didn’t think it was capable. He didn’t realize it, but maybe he kept trying because-

“You’re scared to lose her. That’s why you try so hard, I’d say. You’re afraid to lose what you spent all your life pursuing.” Sweetie-Belle said. Spike grew a frown, and stood up from the table, preparing to return home, with or without that information. He would find out soon enough anyway.

“I’m going now Sweetie-Belle. I’m sorry I’ve upset you, but that’s my mare, and all I can do is try for her. All my life has been thus far is being a hero, fighting to protect her. Don’t think there’s much left for me at this point. So I’ll try.” Spike said simply, putting his spear and shield on his back, as he tucked his helmet under his arms.

Sweetie-Belle stood and grabbed his arm, just as he walked away. Pulling her front hooves around his neck, she pulled him down into a quick kiss, and then quickly shoved a crumpled letter into his chest, pushing him back in a mildly violent manner. "Gosh, you're clueless and ignorant... Forget it." Sweetie-Belle sighed.

“Think of that as a message from me to you; and payment for that letter I stole. I’m sure we’re on the same page.” Sweetie-Belle said. “Oh, and the picture didn’t lie. I spotted Cherry-Top on her way there. Get going, I’m sure you have something to attend to.” Sweetie-Belle said, as she trotted over to the table, taking a plate of cupcakes in her mouth. She handed it to Spike. “They were for you. I’ll be off now.” Sweetie-Belle said to the silent and stunned Spike, as she walked out past him.

Spike was left standing in the bakery, eyes all on him. He cleared his throat, and looked down at the letter. It looked like Rarity’s writing.
“He should be out for a few. He’s said he was taking a trek to the red dragon’s den before it took off to Ponyville like it threatened. That should leave us for at least a day of fun, honey. Come over soon ~ <3” is what the letter read. Rarity hadn’t signed it, but there was no other mare he knew with such eloquent and sassy handwriting.

Spike walked out of the Sugarcube Corner, and burned the letter to ashes in the air, as he clenched his fists, walking over to his house swiftly. So much ran through his mind. He walked more furiously, ignoring the greetings and shouts from the citizens he protected.

He had begun to clench his hands so hard that his claws dug into his palm, causing blood to drip off of his knuckles. “Oh Rarity, Rarity, Rarity, what the fuck are you up to?!” he angrily questioned in his mind, going into a speed-walk. He was hoping, hoping ever-so dearly that it wasn’t true; that this was some elaborate setup! Words of Sweetie-Belle’s echoed in his mind.

“How many times, I wonder? How many times do you know that she’s done it behind your back? It’s not limited to just the times you’ve caught her, y’know…” Spike’s fists clenched as he remembered. He knew it was true.

“You’re scared to lose her. That’s why you try so hard, I’d say. You’re afraid to lose what you spent all your life pursuing.” Yes, he knew it was true, dammit!

He reached the walkway to his house, and was walking down the pebble-covered path hastily. He had to confirm or debunk this!

*Slam!*

As Spike slammed open the door, the first thing he saw was the deal-breaker. Over his counter, he had a view into the living room. On the very same couch that he shared many memories with Rarity, was his love and the mare he hoped to never see again. Rarity was on top of her, as the two stared back at him with fearful eyes. At that moment, the vibrant life in Spike’s eyes left immediately, leaving a dull hue in the emerald green slit orbs.

“Spike! Oh goodness Spike, I swear she was just over for um…!” Rarity tried to make an elaborate lie, but it was too late for the apologies and the likes.

At that moment, something in the dragon broke… Shredded to pieces… Something in him imploded into a black-hole, most likely to never be dragged out from its dense prison ever again. Something in him was crushed, his world fell, as his thoughts ran. He wasn’t angry, he wasn’t furious, and he wasn’t rage-fueled as the last three times he caught them. This time, he was just hurt. Broken. He felt unwanted. He swallowed the hard lump in his throat, refusing to cry.
The two mares got off of each other and sat on the couch, awaiting what they thought was sure to come.

“You've won, Rarity.” Spike said, in a small, scratchy voice. “If you were trying to break me, you’ve won. This is it.” Spike said, as he felt his lips quiver. “If this is how you wanted to treat me for chasing you for over a decade, if this is what you wanted for me trying as hard as I could, you’ve won.” Spike said quietly, as the mood thickened.

“Am I not enough, Rarity?” He asked, leaning over the counter, looking her in the eye. She looked down, avoiding his gaze.

“Do you even love me, Rarity? Or has it all been a lie?” Spike asked again. He chuckled lowly.

“Of course it’s been a lie… It’s no coincidence that you’re suddenly romantically infatuated with her." Spike said, answering his own question, as the two uncomfortably watched him talk to them or himself. His voice was too quiet to tell.

“You win, Rarity. You’ve won it all." Spike said. He dug into his armor, and withdrew the small elegant box, as well as a keyring with multiple keys on it.

“I’m done.” Spike said, as tears unknowingly ran down his face.

“I’m seriously done. Look, here are the keys to our house. They’re yours now.” Spike said, putting the keys onto the counter. She kept quiet, not knowing quite what to say. Rarity could see that something had indeed changed in the young dragon. He wasn’t fighting, he wasn’t using profanity, he wasn’t being extreme.

“Clearly, Cherry-Top provides a feeling of completion that I couldn’t acquire, and that’s…” Spike didn’t finish. He didn’t want to say it was fair. It wasn’t.

“Clearly, she can keep you happy, and I cannot. Maybe I was the rebound you needed for happiness. A hero is supposed to be the buttress for his people, I suppose…” Spike said, attempting to regain some control of his voice, staring down at the box in his hand. His gaze turned to Cherry-Top.

“Maybe it’s the fact that you can be here when I am not. Maybe it is because you are capable to give you 100% of your attention, while half of mine must go to the town. Maybe it is because you are a female, and of the same species. I don’t know, but you’ve won.” Spike said, as the bitter tears dripped from his chin.

“You wanted to be back in her life? By all means, she wishes for it to be so, so I won’t fight against it anymore. Maybe you are what can keep her happy. Perhaps… Perhaps A Hero’s Not Fit For Love. Perhaps that is why you don’t love me like I want you to.” Spike said, his voice cracking. “Perhaps all my years of pursuance were wasted.” He said.

“I’ll just gather my things, and be out of your life forever…” Spike said, with a sniff. He only realized he was crying when he felt the heave in his chest. He trudged up the stairs, and stuffed the few belongings he had into a small backpack: of those, included pictures, memories, a few weapons, artifacts, riches, and other things.

What hurt Spike the most was that in the 20 minutes that he took to pack, he returned downstairs to find that Rarity had not moved a muscle. There was no attempt to bring him back. Either she wanted this, or was too lost to even make an attempt to keep him. As he opened the door, he saw the bright light of the day contrast his mood.

In the bright light, he saw the many memories he had. What felt like real love was nothing more than a memory now. He didn’t know what went wrong: they seemed so happy when they got back together. Was he truly just a rebound? Did Rarity care nothing for relationships? Did she not know he had chased after her for years, ever since he was just a young dragon at 9?

Whatever the case was, he decided to do what his mind told him… “If you love something, set it free.”

He stepped outside of the doorway, listening to the door close slowly from gravity. As he heard the click, that would be it. He would be locked out. There would be no return. Rarity would be… Gone.

*Click*

That was it.

He couldn’t fight to cage her anymore. Rarity was not his. She was a free woman, free to do what she wanted. If that mare could keep her happy, then he was simply not needed there. His services and effort would be better staying as a hero.

“Yes, as a hero… I trained hard to become a champion so that I might protect Equestria from what the Elements of Harmony no longer could protect from. That is my purpose… That is my new purpose…” Spike said.

In the silence of the walkway that lead to the house that was once his, he made a silent vow. A hero was a tool, nothing more: an instrument that was used to protect the people. He would use himself as the shield of the defenseless, in utter disregard for his life. He would fight, day and night, to quell evil now. Maybe then, maybe then…

“Maybe then, you would die quicker? So that you may quell this pain? How selfish.” A voice in his head spoke. He ignored his subconscious.

Spike stood in there in the walkway, feeling lost. He didn’t know where to go. He just left behind Rarity. He just left behind his home. She was all he fought for, he thought… Where would he go? Where could he go…?

[Several Hours Later…]

Twilight trotted past the lanes that lead down to Spike and Rarity’s house. She wanted to check up on him, see if the proposal went alright and things. As she was trotting, she spotted Spike standing on his walkway, staring into the night sky. He had dried and crusty white residue on his face, and his eyes were red. He held his helmet under his arm still, and stood, motionless. In his other arm, was the small bag, full of belongings.

Twilight trotted up and tapped him. He looked down at her. “Spike, are you okay? Have you been crying? Your eyes are red.” Twilight said with worry.

“No…” Spike said simply, clearing his throat, and making his voice normal. “The night-sky must be messing with your eyes, Twilight.” Spike said, as he walked off, putting his helmet on, as to cover his face. Swiftly, he wiped the residue off of his face.

“How did the proposal go? I bet Rarity was ecstatic!” Twilight said, trotting beside him. She had no idea where they were headed.

“I didn’t propose. A hero is supposed to have his life dedicated to the people, not a person, after all.” Spike said, looking forward, his chin raised high. He refused to look down. He refused to remember.

“What? But you were so adamant about it!” Twilight said in confusion. “Something must’ve happened. Did she reject you, Spike?” Twilight asked. Spike was silent, as they both arrived at Twilight’s castle, which didn’t loom far from the Everfree Forest.

Spike stood there, silent. He looked upon the castle. “Twilight, do you have a mission for me? Perhaps, a disturbance that needs to be checked. Maybe, just something to distract me?” Spike requested.

Twilight thought for a second. “Funny that you mention it. Celestia actually did write me today saying that due to a silly accident with the Cerberus, 12 creatures escaped from the Gates of Tartarus: a few demons, witches, ghouls, and the like.” Twilight said. “Why do you ask?” Twilight asked.

“I will take care of it. I will depart immediately. Do you have any leads?” Spike questioned.

“Wait what? Nuh-uh, no way am I letting you leave in the dead of the night. Have you eaten, at least?” Twilight asked. Spike was acting funny, and she didn’t know why.

“It doesn’t matter. A hero is merely an instrument, meant to protect. I don't need to be loved or cared for. I will serve my purpose, Princess.” Spike said solemnly.

Twilight’s face grew serious. Something was wrong with Spike, and she needed to know. “Spike, look at me.” Twilight ordered. Spike stood still, looking on at the castle.

“Spike, this is your Princess, ordering you, my guard, to look me in the eye. Now.” Twilight ordered again. Reluctantly, Spike looked down, and Twilight could immediately recognize the pain in his eyes.

“Spike, what happened? Did Rarity reject you, or not?” Twilight asked.

“It’s not her fault, Twilight. It’s mine. Maybe it’s because I always leave on frequent trips to fight for Equestria. Or maybe, it’s because I can’t fully dedicate myself to her, as I am a hero. Perhaps it was because A Hero’s Not Fit For Love, and I simply was not deserving of receiving, or capable of returning, Rarity’s love. Clearly, Cherry-Top will please her better than I could wish to.” Spike said, giving a hard stare at Twilight. He spoke clearly and strongly, refusing to let his emotion show.

He was a hero now; a soldier; a pawn, meant to protect and serve, not to love and cry. Any feelings like that were to be suppressed now. That was all he was, all he would ever be. In the long life that was sure to come with his draconic ability, he would dedicate his effort to just being a hero. Nothing more, nothing less.

Twilight’s face grew furious. “What did Rarity do?! Oh, that…! She’s gonna get it!” Twilight said in anger, trotting off back towards the house. Spike stopped her, and shook his head.

“It’s fine, Twilight. I am a hero. I wasn’t built to love, or be loved. I was built to protect. Maybe Rarity was the key to realizing that I’m just not fit for love. Twilight, as your hero, I request that you stand down.” Spike said. Twilight eyed him, and sighed, stopping in her tracks.

“Spike, you’re not just some property, or tool. You’re a living being, you’re allowed to feel too!” Twilight said in a sort of plea.

“No, Twilight. One of the things I learned in the Royal-Guard is that romance is a dangerous game when you serve Equestria. I’ve learned this. It’s something that can rip you apart, something that is so comforting, yet holds the potential to crush you.” Spike said.

“I cannot risk your kingdom for such idiotic, useless feelings, Twilight. I will be what I was meant to be, and feel what I am meant to feel: a drive to protect, and that’s all I will ever do, understood?” Spike said, in a solemn tone, looking down at Twilight with hard eyes.

He could try to hide it all he wanted, but Twilight knew he was just acting tough to numb the pain. She could see it in his eyes, and her intuition was top-notch. She knew what Spike was up to, but decided to play along until she had a chance to personally strangle Rarity with her words.

“So… Like I was asking before: do you have any leads on the creatures that escaped?” Spike asked.

“No…” Twilight said, lying. She didn’t want him to leave, ill-equipped to risk his life because he was simply hurt.

“Then I will leave and find my own leads, Princess. I shall return in a few days.” Spike said abruptly, marching off with only his belongings and armor on his back.

Twilight didn’t try to stop him, she knew it was useless. Maybe when he slew the evil creatures, he would calm down, and rationalize… Maybe that, or maybe he would at least listen to her.

“Rarity, you’re so damn lucky I don’t have time for you right now.” Twilight cursed under her breath, as she trotted into her castle.

[Several Days Later…]

Twilight was in her castle, attending to her studies, when her she received four letters, all in quick succession. One from the Princess Sisters, one from her brother, Shining Armor, and his wife, Princess Cadence. She set them all aside to read later, not even bothering to look at the subject written on the front.

Suddenly, her desktop piled with letters, hundreds, probably. All she could see through the subjects were things such as “Your Hero’s Rogue!”, “Stop Him!”, “Princess, Fix Your Champion!”, and “He’s Gone Too Far!”.

Perplexed by the sudden happening, she quickly dug through her desktop for the letters from the four higher authorities, and quickly opened them. Skimming through them, she found that Spike had apparently… Burned large portions of vital land, caused immense fires, caused property damage, and even injuries to citizens of Canterlot and the Crystal Empire. That didn’t seem right, Spike would never hurt others!

Twilight’s heart thumped. Domestic violence such as this would surely result in an exile for Spike!

Another letter came through, this time a personal one from Princess Celestia, signed by her sunprint.

“Princess Twilight, I regret to inform you that I, as well as my sister, your brother, and your step-sister are personally on the way to pass judgement on Spike the Dragon for his actions. The people are not happy with his most recent actions apprehending the creatures he apparently pursued, and wish to have an example made of him. I am arriving within the hour along with the guards to apprehend him. If you wish to help him, I would not be surprised. He is, after all, a sort of child to you, and maybe something more, as you would lead me on to believe. However, I should make it clear that if you do support him, you too, will be apprehended, my colleague. That is all: the others will arrive some hours after I. ~ Princess Celestia” is what the letter read.

Twilight dropped the letter and began to hyperventilate, a bad habit she still had when faced with a stressful situation. She paced her quarters, thinking. What in the world did Spike do?!

After a few minutes of pacing, it hit Twilight! Spike was fighting recklessly, letting out all his anger, probably, and went too far! That idiot! Now she’ll be left to try and fix this impossible mess.

[Some hours later, with Spike…]

Spike was on the outskirts of the Everfree Forest, finally returning from the last demon. He was hurt, his body ached, and he was bruised all over. He had blood and cuts on various parts of his body, his armor was cracked and further bloodied, and he looked severely injured. He walked with a limp, and was very weak.

He didn’t care though. This was the life of a hero; he gave himself to protect the people. If he couldn’t do right for Rarity’s love, he could at least do this, and keep the people safe. Though he may have gone a bit overboard, those demons needed to be apprehended then and there, and he did just that.

He tightened a white bandage on his arm that was covering a bite wound he received from one of the demons. The bandage was stained red. Spike looked horrible, and had tired bags under his eyes.

As he trudged into Ponyville, he noticed that citizens gave him hateful and anxious/curious looks. He was confused at the change in attitude towards him, especially after what he went through to protect them. He also noticed that new faces were in the city.

As he entered the middle of Ponyville, he noticed that there seemed to be a gathering. He spotted Princess Celestia and Princess Luna immediately. Next to them, was Princess Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence. They were accompanied by several royal-guards.

What was the occasion, he wondered. As he trudged on forward, still injured, eyes slowly landed on him, and the group cleared a large path for Spike, as all fell silent. Twilight saw him first, her eyes going wide.

“Dammit, I’m out of time!” Twilight cursed under her breath.

Celestia walked down the path and faced Spike from a distance. “Spike the Dragon, are you aware of the danger you’ve put our people in?” Celestia questioned, getting right into business.

Spike shook his head, too tired to speak.

“Very well. We may discuss this in a more professional setting then. You are to come under custody of the Royal-Guard, Spike. You are under several counts of domestic violence. If you come quietly, we may be able to have mercy.” Princes Luna said, in her booming royal Canterlot voice.

Spike was confused and appalled. Why was he about to be punished? Had he not done them a service? “I’m confused. Did I not rid Equestria of the evil that was sure to arise?” Spike questioned, backing away as guards prepared to apprehend him.

“That’s not the point, Spike. We talked about this in your training regime: under no circumstances is a member of the Royal-Guard to fight in a way that would bring harm to others unless absolutely necessary. Whatever you did, it was far from necessary. The scorched lands and buildings are a testament to that.” Shining Armor spoke, walking among the guards that began to surround Spike.

“I feel threatened and I feel that your actions are becoming unjustified. I will defend myself.” Spike warned, eyeing the soldiers that surrounded him. He refused to be apprehended for this. The citizens watched intently, as murmurs spread across them.

-

“He’s lost it! Gone rogue, I tell ya!” a stallion yelled.

"I didn't think the Hero of Ponyville was so reckless! He needs to be made an example, before he causes more damage!" a mare exclaimed.

“He thinks he’s beyond the law now! Show him different!” another stallion hollered.

-

“Spike, please, don’t make this worse on yourself. You’re my sister’s best friend, I wouldn’t like to see you made a criminal.” Shining Armor said, at the head of the guards that surrounded him.

“I will not yield.” Spike said.

Shining Armor sighed, and shot a magical blast towards him. The beam encumbered him greatly, as it enveloped his body. Shining Armor galloped towards him swiftly.

Spike, with his own magical ability that he gained over his adventures, broke the free from it with his own pure-white magical aura. He ducked beneath Shining Armor and tossed him towards the back.

Two guards approached from behind. One shoulder bashed Spike to the ground, right on his bite-wound, causing him to yell in pain. As Spike was on the floor, the other mounted him, attempting to shackle his hands. With a powerful kick to the chest, the stallion flew far back off of Spike.

In an instant, before things could get any ickier, Spike was lifted into the sky by a lavender-colored magical aura, one he could not break free from. It was too powerful for him. He looked down, and saw the embarrassed Twilight constricting his movement.

“Twi, come on! You know this isn’t right!” Spike groaned, struggling against the magic. Twilight was silent, as she cuffed his hands, dropping him.

“Don’t make this worse, Spike. Trust me.” Twilight said. “Just go with it.” She continued. Spike got up with a frown. He was still heavily injured from his long battle against the demons.

“Take him to the square, guards. We will judge the damage and scale the punishment.” Shining Armor ordered. Others scattered to make preparations, while Twilight watched on fearfully. Spike let his body go limp, forcing them to drag him over.

[Several Minutes Later…]

Spike was upon a stage, standing in front of a crowd of hundreds of furious and anxious citizens from all over Equestria. There were several camera flashes, as this was sure to be an amazing news story.

“Spike the Dragon, Hero of Ponyville. Take a look at the images produced.” Celestia ordered. Above them, a slew of images were played by Celestia’s magic, showing whole blotches of forests wiped out by fire, some burned parts of houses, and even injuries to people who were caught in fires that spread.

“All caused by you. A hero meant to protect the people. Tell me, Spike, what are you to do as a champion of the Royal-Guard?” Celestia questioned.

Only after seeing the images of what he had done, had Spike begun to feel the guilt. He was so tied up in his emotion, his foolish follies with his emotion over the situation with Rarity, that he had acted recklessly in his pursue of the demons. In retrospect, he didn’t expect his actions to be so severe, but he violated the one thing he had left now: his status and his allegiance to the people.

“I am to protect the people from physical harm. Never to be the cause of the physical harm.” Spike recited.

“You understand why the punishment is just, then?” Celestia questioned.

He nodded, bowing his head in disappointment. Not in anyone else, but only himself. He was upset that he had recklessly let his emotion out in the fires that consumed valuable forestation and even injured people and precious property. As he bowed his head, he could see Rarity in the crowd, with Sweetie-Belle close by. “So they were here too…” Spike thought.

“The punishment for domestic violence of this scale is… Unfortunately, Spike the Dragon, exile.” Princess Celestia said.

Spike was undeterred. He hadn’t a home to go to anymore anyway, he was likely to live off in the wild at this rate.

“As such, you will lose your status and anything that belongs to the Royal-Guard. This includes your armor and your cape of allegiance.” Principal Cadence continued, as Shining Armor reluctantly shed the dragon’s armor, and removed his cape, leaving him in only the ragged under-suit of the armor that clung to his built body.

“Your things have been gathered, Dragon. You will leave immediately.” Princess Luna spoke, as a bag floated over next to him, packed with things.

“Do you have any last words, before you are exiled, Spike?” Princess Twilight questioned, trotting up to him, and putting a hoof on his shoulder.

“Zecora’s Hut.” Twilight said under her breath in a low cough, as she removed her hoof from his shoulder.

Spike nodded, before turning to the crowd in front of him.

“I have nothing to say, besides that I am sorry.” His eyes fell on Rarity, before quickly averting to the other hundreds of ponies in the crowd. “I only acted so rashly because I lost everything dear to me. Something I fought years for, something I wished to have dearly, was grabbed from me right under my nose. But, as I learned in the Royal-Guard, not every battle can be won. This was no exception. I suppose this exile is the loser’s punishment.” Spike said with a rather hopeless smile, feeling his eyes water. But he held the salty tears away with a hard stare. A hero, a soldier was not meant to show such emotion.

“Congratulations to the winners. It would seem that the loser is truly that. If it brings any feeling of content to any who are upset with me, I do, truly lose everything after this. My friends… My Home… My…” Spike looked at Rarity again. “My everything.” Spike said.

“Maybe in the cold life of an exiled, I will realize my mistake, if that is what you, the people, wish for. Maybe, I will be blotted out of existence. I don’t know what awaits me now. But I want to say this: if you take into consideration the bitter feelings I had, then you may be a little patient and more sympathetic to the situation and understand the lamentation, but…” Spike continued on, his voice starting to get weaker.

“But fuck it.” He said crudely. His hopeless smile and watery eyes looked up again, as his features only grew bitterer. He kept his smile, vowing that he would go out with a smile on his face, at the very least.

“Life’s handing you lemons, make lemonade then, huh? But if I couldn’t please just one person, how will I please all the rest then?” Spike rhetorically asked in a manner that was cryptic for all but the four (Sweetie-Belle, Rarity, Cherry-Top, and Twilight) who understood, as his smile quivered.

“That’s… Enough.” Shining Armor said, swabbing the corner of his eye. He didn’t understand one thing, but the tone and mood was enough to evoke emotion. The guards lifted Spike, and dragged him off the stage, beyond the following crowd.

They brought him to the far outskirts of Ponyville, as the crowd behind him watched intently. They unlocked his shackles, as they dropped onto the floor.

“Spike the Dragon, it is with a heavy heart that I now declare you… Exiled. If you are found in any province under Equestrian rule, you will be apprehended and be done with as is seen fit by the authority. Any that associate with you will be apprehended and labeled as Exiled as well. Hopefully, you may prove yourself worthy again. Until then, Equestria bids you farewell.” Princess Celestia spoke with authority, as she turned and walked away.

“Good luck, Dragon. We are not heartless, we know something is wrong here, but we cannot risk putting our people in danger, nor can we risk making them feel uncomfortable by having you run around freely without punishment any longer.” Principal Luna said to Spike, following her sister shortly after.

“I don’t know what’s wrong, Spike, but I hope that you can be with us soon again. Please, be more careful with how you use that power you have; we both know it’s gnarly, but you’ve gotta rationalize it.” Shining Armor said, walking off with Cadence.

Twilight was the last. They looked at each other. Twilight mouthed “Sunset” to Spike, indicating when he should head to Zecora’s Hut.
“I’m going to have a nice, long talk with Rarity. She’s really bonked this one up! Don’t worry Spike, I’ll try my best for you, just stay out of trouble.” Twilight said, walking off.

Spike picked up his bag of belongings and fastened it over his shoulder. He watched as the crowd walked away, and he was left alone outside the city, nobody with him anymore. He could feel the tears well up, as he was left all alone.

He walked the opposite way, knowing that this was it. He was Spike, the Exiled. The first to ever be exiled. He was an example, and a loser.
He walked a fair distance and sat beside a tree in a fairly forested area. He was alone, he was finally alone.

As he realized this, the dragon sat against the tree and let his tears flow. The dragon was twenty-four years of age. He had been chasing after Rarity since he was nine. All those years of investment, all those years of emotion, all those years of effort, all those memories… Gone.
He was exiled, stripped of his hero status, and none could help him without him dragging them down with him. He felt hopeless. He didn’t have the courage to move anymore, so he figured he would simply sleep here. To be truthful, he didn’t know where his life was headed now.

“I’ll probably just off myself fighting evil, I guess.” He thought bitterly.

“Not like my heart isn’t already dead.” He thought some more.

“Yeah, maybe I’ll just do that. I’m never letting anyone into my head and heart again. I will never let myself feel like this again, not even the day I die. I will become a perfect hero that lives only to protect, or die trying. And these feelings, these emotions? I will suppress them, never allowing them to resurface. They are only a plague, something that I should not dabble in. This is it… The start of my solo adventure. Maybe it is better that I am exiled… At least this way, I am bound to never have an opportunity to love again. Yes, that is best, because…” Spike thought, slowly falling into a slumber.

“You will make yourself a pawn, a soldier, a sacrifice for the millions of lives you wish to protect. You will lock away such useless emotions. They are the worst burden a hero can have. Clearly, you have finally realized this, and may finally assume the level of protection you aspire. You made this decision. This is what you will pursue. This is what you want. Because, A Hero’s Not Fit For Love.” Spike’s subconscious etched this into his mind, changing his being as he slept.

This was to be the new Spike. This was his philosophy, this was his belief. This would be his religion, and his cult. This was the path he would walk alone, never to trust anyone in his heart again. Not all will understand, or perhaps, are not capable of understanding, but this? This, is the beginning of… A Hero’s Lamentation…

A Hero's Desolation

"In this day and age, people need heroes. Tirek, Discord, and Queen Chrysalis are perfect examples why.

I will answer that need. I am nothing more than an instrument meant to protect: nothing more than property to my Princess Twilight. Nothing more than a tool exiled from its shed, but still fully wanting to serve its purpose.

I have no worthiness to prove. I have no want, no desire to have people be grateful or loving towards me. These are follies, flaws that will only serve to weaken me. Thus, I shan't return to them... It would be for their best... I suppose... This brings upon a revelation…

I am a Hero. A Lone Hero. I will fight, alone. I will protect them, alone. I will hurt, alone. I will suffer, alone. I will cry, alone. I will heal, alone. I will die, alone . . .

I. Am. Alone."
~Spike, The Exiled

Spike was caught up in a depressed type of sleep. Although he had refused to show the emotion, it was hard to deny that he felt it. He tossed over this way and that, having heart-wrenching realization within his dream that marrying the mare of his dreams was a now foreign idea: exiled, just as he had been.

He shuffled on the hard, earthy ground, his dream disturbing him…

[Within The Young Dragon’s Dream…]

The dragon stood behind the counter in the entrance of the house, peering into the living room. He was watching Rarity and Cherry-Top sexually engage with one another, whispering sweet nothings, exploring each other's body... loving every bit of it...

Spike was frozen behind the counter, watching them beyond its frame. He was devastated, at what was happening right before his eyes. Spike began to place his hand on the counter’s frame, in an attempt to stop this madness.

However, he touched glass, and as he observed his surroundings, he was in a pitch-black space, looking into a mirror, which was what the counter’s frame transformed to. From within the mirror, Rarity dismounted Cherry-Top, and walked up to the mirror, facing Spike.

“Rarity, what’s the meaning of this?” Spike asked, hurt, as if this was his first time realizing that he was being cheated on.

“It’s not what it looks like Spike, I love you!” Rarity cried out in a plea. Though her voice sounded sincere, a rather indifferent look was on her face, as if she didn’t care.

“Are you kidding? Lying to my face, after I watched you do that?! Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” Spike questioned, hurt. "Spike, it’s not what it looks like, I promise!” Rarity said, her face still one of indifference.

“You were such a waste of time!” Spike cried out, pissed and hurt. How bad it hurt! He turned in anger, about to float off into the pitch-black darkness.

“Spike, I love you…” Rarity said, putting her hoof onto the glass of the other side of the mirror.

Spike turned back, a sudden look of anger on his face.

“It’s a lie!” he cried out, punching the mirror, as it cracked slightly. The image of Rarity dissipated, scattered, rendering the mirror empty as he struck it; the mirror instead assumed his own reflection. He felt the pain from punching the mirror, as if he were beating himself up.

“IT’S A LIE!” Spike yelled again, punching the mirror again, as it cracked more, turning the reflection into several Spikes. He felt the pain multiply as he punched at his reflection.

“IT’S A LIE!” Spike roared, as he gave the mirror one final punch, shattering it into many pieces. He felt his own being break into the many pieces that the mirror shattered into, as he watched the reflections of him drop into the pitch-black, unassailable darkness that surrounded him.

He panted heavily, as he sat there, alone in the darkness. The mirror and reflections of himself gone into the black abyss. As he looked down at his body and arms, he realized that they were shattered and broken, just as the mirror had been.

“Will you not learn…?” the familiar voice spoke… His subconscious. However, it seemed foreign to him.

In an instant, he dropped into the dark abyss, and landed on something hard and solid, further rupturing his already shattered body.
As he stood, he saw a version of himself, but it was drained of color, and had a jet-black aura around it. It was silent, without a mouth, and only black darkness for eyes, and crimson red for its pupils.

“This is what you make us to be. This is what you will bring us to. Was this what you’d have wanted?” the familiar voice spoke.

“How fragile.” It said, as a tentacle whipped from its jet-black aura. It barely whipped at Spike, but when contact was made, Spike’s body shattered into many tiny pieces, floating off into the black abyss, as darkness consumed his consciousness…

…

[Back Into The Material World…]

Shuffling was heard around Spike; he stirred slightly, looking around. As he looked around, he noticed it was pitch-black dark… Dark… Midnight…

“Wait, midnight?! Oh crap, I totally forgot to meet Twilight!” Spike cursed, gathering his things in a frantic rush. He heard the rustling again, and this time, was sure that it wasn’t his drowsy-state, now that he was fully-alert.

Spike reached for the hilt of the dagger strapped to the back of his waist. He heard the rustling continue.

“Identify yourself. I will not hesitate to strike if you confront me.” Spike called out in warning. This time, he heard another rustle, one behind him. Spike now carefully paid attention to both.

“This is your final chance to come out now. I will not hesitate to strike, I repeat, I will not hesitate.” Spike said in fair warning.

He saw a figure walk out from the bushes into the darkness. “Spike, calm down, it’s me.” The figure said in a sweet, alluring voice.

As she stepped closer, the figure came into clearer vision.

“Where have you been, Spike? Twilight sent me, she’s worried to death about you!” Sweetie-Belle asked, worry on her voice.

Spike began to warm up quickly, a smile coming to his face. What was she was worried for? It didn't matter: that felt so nice, being worried for. A feeling he was sure he wouldn’t’ve felt again, after… Oh, never mind that. He was about to walk up and speak casually, until he remembered…

Spike had almost made a mistake. He almost screwed up and it wasn’t even far into his exile yet. He almost opened himself for a connection. A connection he knew he shouldn’t make: a connection that could possibly break him again. He didn’t want to go through something like that again. It hurt too much, and truthfully, it still did.

He stepped back from Sweetie-Belle slightly, wiping the smile from his face and refusing to assume the comfortable atmosphere. A hero was protection, nothing more. Not a friend, just… a Hero.

“I overslept irresponsibly. Twilight has no need to worry, she should know that I will do my job without fail.” Spike said professionally, as he strapped on his bag, securing the dagger onto the back of his waist. Most of his other weapons were the Royal-Guard’s, and as such, were confiscated. All he had now was a dagger and some utilities.

“So… Shall we go to Zecora’s Hut then? Let the Princess know you’re okay?” Sweetie-Belle suggested.

“That would be best. She has information for me anyhow, it would probably be imperative that I hear it out. You can leave now, Sweetie-Belle.” Spike said, not once making eye contact with her, as he began to walk the path to the Everfree Forest so that he could find Zecora and Twilight.

“Leave? But why? Why would I leave you?” Sweetie-Belle asked with worry, trotting towards Spike. His lack of emotion and his seclusion worried her.

“You have fulfilled your assignment of relaying the information to me. Your job is done. You may leave me alone now.” Spike said in a militaristic manner.

“Spike, I don’t want to leave you alone! Aren’t you hungry? Tired perhaps? Don’t you even just want someone to talk to?” Sweetie-Belle asked, giving off a tone of pity, as she trotted closer to him.

Spike held his palm out to her face, stopping her. His face was solemn and unreadable.

“I am Exiled. What are you even doing here in the first place?” Spike asked with a hard stare.

“What do you mean, Spike? Why wouldn’t I be here, supporting you, my friend?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“Are you deaf, Sweetie-Belle? Blind, perhaps? Unperceiving? I know you were there at my exile when they made an example of me. You know what happens to those who dare associate themselves with an exile. It is an act of subtle treason, and would not be forgiven.” Spike spoke.

“Go home, Sweetie-Belle, you’ve done enough.” Spike said simply, walking off and beginning to leave Sweetie-Belle. However, she followed. Spike stopped. Sweetie-Belle stopped.

“I’m not going home, Spike. I’m with you, not them.” Sweetie-Belle said adamantly.

“Why do you want to be with me? So I can fail to please you too? So I can simply not be good enough for you in the end? So that you could betray me, and make me feel like shit, when I tried my hardest? So I can let you down, too?” Spike began, turning to Sweetie-Belle with bent eyebrows. His eyes betrayed his desire to not show emotion, and so did his words.

“No, you’re not with me, Sweetie-Belle. Your allegiance is to the kingdom, not some exile that will soon be forgotten and unloved. You deserve better, and I know it.” Spike said, his voice finally assuming emotion. Sweetie-Belle cringed at that last sentence.

“Go home. Go find someone worth the sacrifice. I’ll just fight and fight till I die anyway, then I’ll be forgotten like everyone else rotting in the ground. It’s not like…” Spike began, as his voice wavered more, as his eyes became shiny.

“It’s not like I have anything to offer you anyway. Not in this sorry state…” Spike began. He cursed under his breath and shook his head, mentally scolding himself for breaking character. Sweetie-Belled watched him, feeling the hurt dragon’s emotions, even from the distance between them.

Returning to his professional, solemn mood, Spike turned to Sweetie-Belle again, with a hard stare.

“Spike, let me help you, please!” Sweetie-Belle requested.

“I am exiled. You have no business with me. Go back to Ponyville. Every second you walk with me is only a danger you commit to yourself.” Spike spoke.

Sweetie-Belle refused to move, standing across from Spike.

“Sweetie-Belle, I am ordering you to go home. You have no business with me. As per my allegiance to the people, I urge you to stay safe by not associating with me. Go. Home.” Spike said, turning and walking on.

He sighed when he sensed the girl following him adamantly. Sweetie-Belle fell into a deep thought.

“Twilight was right… He acts tough, but the poor thing is hurting so bad on the inside… And even then, he wants nothing but to protect us! How sweet, yet how sad! Rarity, when Twilight and I get back, you’re gonna get taught a good lesson! If you thought today was the end of it, you’ve got another thing coming!” Sweetie-Belle thought in silence, distracting her from the outside world.

In an attempt to distract himself from the painful thoughts, he let his mind wander to what happened after his exile? With Twilight? With Rarity…? Did anybody even care…?

“I wonder…” Spike mused, letting his mind wander…

[Several Hours Earlier, Closely Following Spike’s Exile…]

Twilight looked back over her shoulder, watching Spike trudge off into the distance. She felt her blood boil inside. She didn’t care for her duties anymore, Rarity needed to be talked to, pronto!

Twilight couldn’t help but have a blind rage for Rarity at the moment. She was such a horrible partner! Always caught up in old affairs, prancing around with that red mare.

Rarity was the reason her Hero just got exiled. Wherever she was, she was about to learn a thing or two! Twilight angrily trotted beyond Celestia, Luna, and the other high-authorities.

She knew she saw Rarity in the crowd with Sweetie-Belle… Where were they?!

She trotted round the streets, the thoughts coming into her head angering her by the minute.

“It’s not her fault, Twilight. It’s mine. Maybe it’s because I always leave on frequent trips to fight for Equestria. Or maybe, it’s because I can’t fully dedicate myself to her, as I am a hero. Perhaps it was because A Hero’s Not Fit For Love, and I simply was not deserving of receiving, or capable of returning, Rarity’s love. Clearly, Cherry-Top will please her better than I could ever wish to.” The words replayed in Twilight’s head, as she trotted round the streets more angrily.

“Oh-ho-ho, that whore’s gonna get a goddamn earful!” Twilight thought angrily, as more memories of Spike’s words came into her head.

“I cannot risk your kingdom for such idiotic, useless feelings, Twilight. I will be what I was meant to be, and feel what I am meant to feel: a drive to protect, and that’s all I will ever do, understood?” Twilight only became more enraged. Rarity had caused this: she made him feel like this. She made him do this. She would make her pay. Not today, but in the long-run, she would pay so dearly…

“It doesn’t matter. A Hero is merely an instrument, meant to protect. Love and care are unneeded burdens. I will serve my purpose, Princess.” Twilight’s mind got stuck on the two middle sentences, as she felt her blood boil. How dare she make her Spike feel like that!? How dare she get her Hero exiled!? How dare she toy with her Champion’s feelings!?

“How dare she hurt my lo-?!” Twilight began in her thought, but was ripped from her rage-induced thoughts by a yelling voice.

“Twilight!” a voice cried out. As Twilight turned, she saw Sweetie-Belle. “Sweetie-Belle, perfect!” Twilight called out, as the two met each other.
“Twilight, what’s happened to Spike? He didn’t really do all that, did he? What’s going on?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“I don’t know what she did, but Rarity is going on. It seems like Rarity cheated again, on the day he was planning to propose!” Twilight said in exasperation, her brows furrowed in discontentment.

“Is that why that day was special? Oh no…” Sweetie-Belle murmured.

“Yeah. Sweetie-Belle, where is your sister?” Twilight demanded, her face showing emotions of anger, despite her best attempts to hide the flaring emotion.

“I’m not sure… We split after the gathering. She seemed frantic, like she wanted to avoid something.” Sweetie-Belle said. Twilight grew a crooked, sly smile.

“Oh, she’s not escaping a thing. Coming with me, Sweetie-Belle?” Twilight asked, as her wings spread. Sweetie-Belle nodded, as Twilight lifted the young mare onto her back, taking off.

They flew towards the only place they’d suspect she’d go: the very house Spike had purchased for the both of them. “Do you think… that Spike will be okay? You know, after this whole thing?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“If there’s anything I know about Spike, it’s that the little guy is tough and resilient. He’ll be back on his feet… I hope.” Twilight said.

“Twilight, below us! It’s Rarity! Few paces from the house!” Sweetie-Belle said, pointing down. Twilight descended swiftly, landing in front of Rarity.

Rarity trotted in place frantically being met with somewhat-pseudo-mother of Spike. Rarity tugged her ears down briefly, before calming down a bit, playing cool.

Twilight smiled. Her intuition and intellect would make a mess of this mare, and she would take pleasure in doing it.

“Hi Rarity!” Twilight greeted with a friendly smile, as Sweetie-Belle climbed off, glaring at her sister. Rarity got mixed feelings from the different reactions of the two, but decided it’d be best to play along for now.

“Oh, Twilight! What a pleasant surprise!” Rarity giggled. “And Sweetie-Belle! What a fine young mare you’re growing into!” she complimented.
Sweetie-Belle grunted, ignoring her, while Rarity simply laughed it off, feeling a bit awkward.

“Anyway… It’s such a tragedy what happened to poor Spike, isn’t it? You must be hurting, huh?” Twilight said in a sad tone, walking up to Rarity and throwing her hoof around her neck in ‘comfort’.

Rarity feigned a cry, dramatically putting her hoof over her forehead. “Oh yes, dear, it is quite tragic indeed! Who will I love at night anymore!?” Rarity ‘woefully’ cried out.

“Oh, you poor thing!” Twilight sighed. “How will you ever sleep at night knowing that you broke that poor dragon’s heart a few nights ago?” Twilight cried out in a feigned woeful yell.

“W-what? W-w-what could you mean?” Rarity stammered, the hot guilt beginning to arise from her stomach.

“Yes, you must feel devastated by the tragedy that now you’re free to whore around with your ex in Spike’s absence like you usually do; how tragic it is that you can freely be the fucking slut that you were being the whole time you had such a great partner in your care.” Twilight cried out in her feigned dramatic woeful shouts, releasing the anger she felt.

Rarity’s heart hammered into her ribcage as she tried to feign statements and looks of confusion, but ultimately failed due to the rising feelings of guilt and shame encumbering her ability to even make a half-decent play of emotion.

“Fifteen years later and your acting’s still horrid and overdramatized, sis.” Sweetie-Belle snorted in disgust at her sister’s display of dishonesty.
“Couldn’t’ve said it better, Sweetie-Belle. I guess now you’ll be free to love Berry-Bop or whatever her name is at night, now that Spike’s gone for good, huh?” Twilight said, her friendly mannerisms dropping entirely.

Rarity stepped back from the two, feigning confusion. “W-what ever do you mean?” Rarity questioned.

“You know exactly what the hell I mean. Must I point out the part of you being a whore again? How many times have you done this shit without Spike finding you two?” Twilight said.

“To answer your question, I mean that you can go ahead and freely stab Spike in the back now that he won’t ever return again! You can go sleep with your fucking whore friend, Rarity. Hope she’s worth that great partner you lost. Hope she’s worth all the friends you’re gonna lose when everyone finds out about the real reason Spike was out of control in pursuance of those demons. Hope it was a worth it, Rarity, I really do.” Twilight scolded angrily.

“T-Twilight, darling…!” Rarity tried to make something up, but failed, backing away from the two.

“Rarity, I knew that sometimes you could be a bit… Snobbish, but this? Now you’re just making yourself out to be an arrogant bitch.” Twilight said, letting the word roll out of her mouth smoothly.

Rarity flinched at the insult. “You ever think what’s going through Spike’s head when you do this fucking nonsense?” Twilight said, slowly exerting her anger into speech. She walked towards Rarity, as Rarity backed away, Sweetie-Belle following closely.

“Do you understand how hurt he is when he comes crying to me that you’ve cheated again and again? Do you have any fucking idea how HURT, he is every time he comes to me because of your bullshit?” Twilight questioned, getting closer to the retreating Rarity, whose ears were now laid back in shame and guilt.

“Do you ever realize how hard the poor kid tries, because he thinks he’s not enough for some backstabbing bitch? That He, a hero with such an innocent heart and gold intentions, isn’t good enough for some corrupt, betraying mare like you? Ridiculous!” Twilight said, pushing her face into Rarity’s, causing her to stumble back. Twilight stepped over her, keeping her face close, as her nostrils flared and her wings extended in anger.

“Do you know what you’re doing every time you go horse around with this mare every time he’s gone on royal duty, which is, by the way, for the good of all of Equestria, further showing how much of an ungrateful cunt you are? You’re betraying the person who fights for you! Risks his life for you! The person who does everything in his power for you!” Twilight yelled, as an unstable magical aura grew around her body.

“You. Don’t. Deserve. Him!” Twilight yelled loudly in anger, stomping her hoof on the ground besides Rarity, as the magical aura released in a powerful blast, sending a powerful wind through the streets that sent small bits of debris flying and shook the ground mildly. Attention now turned to Twilight and Rarity, with Sweetie-Belle nearby. Rarity laid on her back, her chest heaving in fear, guilt, and shame, as tears started to run down her muzzle.

“As your Princess, I would like to respectfully request that you stay far away from Spike. In fact, I will file a restraining order, and if you are caught in the same vicinity as him from this point on, I will personally apprehend and punish you, is that clear?” Twilight said. Rarity simply nodded, her crying too much for her to speak.

The guilt from what she had been doing now hit her in full-swing, and it did not feel good at all. Twilight stood over from her, folding her wings and walking beyond the crowd that had gathered.

Sweetie-Belle walked up and held her hoof out near Rarity. Rarity reached for it, but suddenly,

*smack!*

Sweetie-Belle had swung her hoof across Rarity’s face, slightly swelling her cheek.

“Spike deserves so much better than you. You’re my sister, and you carry a part of you with me when you act. So please, learn from this, and never tarnish my name again. I’m almost ashamed to be your sister. I hope you know that it’s your fault Spike’s been exiled. I don’t hate you, but I sure as hell don’t like you right now Rarity.” Sweetie-Belle began, leaving the shocked Rarity on the ground.

“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you, but take this, sister-to-sister: get your shit together, and do what’s right from here on in. Oh, and be prepared for the inevitable consequences when people realize this whole exile thing was on you.” Sweetie-Belle finished, walking off with Twilight.

Rarity was left on the ground, the curious crowd’s beady eyes burning holes into her skin. The embarrassment, shame, and guilt made her body feel as if it reached over 1000 degrees Celsius. She itched all over abnormally, and tears ran down her muzzle. She was left there, to think, learn, and be punished… “What have I been doing…? What have I done…? What will become of me…?” Rarity questioned silently, picking herself up slowly. She decided she would need to have a talk with Cherry-Top about their future…

…

…

…

As Sweetie-Belle caught up with Twilight, she breathed out slowly.

“Think she’ll learn from this mistake, or…?” Sweetie-Belle questioned.

“I don’t know, but I do know that I wanted to do so much more to her… If I didn’t have to be a Princess, she’d have likely left that conversation in stitches.” Twilight muttered between her gritted teeth. Sweetie-Belle gave a small, uncomfortable smile in response.

“You sure do feel strongly for Spike, huh?” Sweetie-Belle commented, noticing Twilight’s excessive anger.

Twilight blushed, immediately calming down. “Look, he’s just my guard and my hero. I don’t like having what’s mine being taken from me!” Twilight said, hiding her red cheeks.

“Yours?” Sweetie-Belle asked, with a slight curiosity.

“What I mean is… He’s special to me… I mean that as in he’s under my command special to me, and um… Gosh, look, you know what I meant, Sweetie-Belle.” Twilight said, fumbling over her choice of words.

“Hm… I see.” Sweetie-Belle hummed, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “What now?” Sweetie-Belle asked, as they walked aimlessly through the streets of Ponyville.

Twilight stopped suddenly and faced her. “I told Spike to meet me at Zecora’s Hut. We need a way to get there discreetly… People won’t just take their eyes off of me; not after this.” Twilight explained.

“Hm… You’re right. But even if you do manage to sneak out, how will you explain your sudden absence?” Sweetie-Belle questioned.

“Oh, dear Sweetie-Belle, can’t you see that my soul is woefully struck by the exile of my hero and bestest-friend ever? Of course I would seclude myself for the night!” Twilight cried out dramatically, winking at Sweetie-Belle.

“Oh, I see… Let’s go scour your castle’s library for some useful camouflage spells then.” Sweetie-Belle suggested.

Twilight shook her head in disagreement. “You do that. I need to start studying on how to legally bring Spike out of exile. There’s gotta be a way other than “proving himself worthy”. There’s just gotta be! I know he didn’t do what he did on purpose, and even the others know it too. The people don’t realize that without Spike, we’re in a danger… The Elements of Harmony are no longer free of responsibility: we lead our own lives now… Without a Hero, a constant guard-” Twilight began, but Sweetie-Belle shushed her.

“I get it. Let’s split up, I don’t want Spike out there in the wild all alone… Poor guy must be hurting. Let’s make him feel welcome at Zecora’s Hut when we meet there, okay?”

“Understood and agreed. Good luck Sweetie-Belle.” Twilight said, walking off to do some last-minute negotiations with her fellow royal-authorities, who were set to depart within the hour, now that the impromptu exile ceremony had come to an end.

[Back To The Present With Spike and Sweetie-Belle…]

Spike and Sweetie-Belle both walked, both in deep thought. They walked a distance from each other, as Spike still refused to have Sweetie-Belle close to him, while Sweetie-Belle adamantly followed.

Spike was shredded from his thought however, when his senses tingled, and his intuition nagged at him. He looked around in the pitch black darkness of the night… It was cloudy, preventing most of the moonlight. He eyed around Sweetie-Belle, and then spotted a shadowy figure suddenly appear behind her, approaching the mare.

“Sweetie-Belle, watch out!!!” Spike yelled out. Bashing Sweetie-Belle to the side, Spike took the impact of whatever he warned her about.
As Sweetie-Belle flew back through the air, she saw Spike get slashed right across the chest by another pony wielding a dagger in its hoof.

Luckily, the small padding of his tight leathery under-armor (resembling a tight agent spandex-like suit) highly minimized the weak slash. It looked like a no-good bandit was the culprit. Its face was masked.

Spike flew back, sliding across the ground, clutching his bleeding chest.

“No fucking armor… Shit.” He muttered in pain.

“Spike!” Sweetie-Belle called in worry.

“Sweetie-Belle, stay back!” Spike said. As they looked around, 5 more bandits showed up, some unicorns, some earth ponies.

A few of them wielded more dangerous weapons, such as swords and spiked/bladed maces.

“Well, well, well, boys. Look what we have here! An old, exiled hero… He ‘oughta have some riches with him, huh?” the bandit said, as they all surrounded Spike.

“Tch!” Spike hissed, as he remembered when Sweetie-Belle first came to him… There were most definitely two different rustles in those bushes… She was followed.

The one who attacked Sweetie-Belle looked to be the leader. He wore a black fedora and was in a suit and tie. The rest were dressed quite formally as well, despite being nothing more than no-good bandits.

“Got a lot ‘ah riches kid? Let’s have a look through the bag, hm?” the leader spoke, closing in the circle on Spike.

Spike was undeterred. He had fought the most powerful of creatures; the sorry bastards wouldn’t even last a full minute. He didn’t even bother to unsheathe his dagger.

“Look, you guys are making a big mistake right now. I would say leave now, and it’d be alright, but it’s clear you shouldn’t be walking these roads free. Let’s make this nice and quick, huh?” Spike proposed, with a small smile. “Been looking for a stress-reliever anyhow.” Spike said, rotating his shoulder.

“Oh, he’s real confident, haha! What, did you think we’d singlehandedly take on one of Equestria’s most powerful head-on? Come on kid, grow up.” The leader spoke. He stood on his hind legs and clopped his hooves together twice.

“Oi, that’s your cue!” he said out-loud.

In an instant, Spike heard Sweetie-Belle yelp, as the bandits backed off from Spike. One held a knife to her throat, while two others guarded her with swords. The rest stood not far from her, cocky and arrogant smiles on their faces.

Spike’s face stayed neutral. He’d been down this road before. He eyed the 7 bandits, attempting to devise a plan.

“Spike! Spike!” Sweetie-Belle yelled in fair, feeling the cold, sharp metal against her neck.

“Alright kid, now hand over the bag, and this pretty lady might just survive.” The leader spoke, standing in front of the group. The one holding the knife to Sweetie-Belle’s neck pushed it against her neck, causing a slight cut, forcing Sweetie-Belle to lift her neck higher to avoid the blade.

“And make it quick, my boys are real blood-thirsty.” He said with a chuckle.

Without hesitation, Spike removed his bag of his personal riches and mementos, and tossed it over. The stallion caught it with his mouth, and then kicked it back.

“Good, good. Bambino, toss it.” The leader spoke, gesturing towards Spike with his head. Suddenly, a sword slid over to Spike, lying there in the grass.

Spike looked up, confused. “Won’t you release her?” he asked.

“Not while you’re still standing. Now here’s what I want you to do: I need you to pick up that sword, and impale yourself, right in the gut. Make it pass all the way through too, I don’t want no bullshit kid, clear? Either that, or you’ll see this pretty lass’ throat slit and witness her body grow cold with death.” The leader spoke, as the air became tense and thick.

There was an eerie silence, as Spike and Sweetie-Belle’s shaking pupils met.

Tears began to drop down Sweetie-Belle’s face. “Sp-Spike…! Don’t d-d-do it! Th-they need you!” Sweetie-Belle cried, realizing that she would have to be the sacrifice here for the better-good.

Spike picked up the sword, as it shone in the moonlight. His face was unchanged.

“Spike, no!” Sweetie-Belle cried, attempting to free herself. “Sp-Spike, don’t do it!” Sweetie-Belle cried.

Spike held the sword high, aimed at his gut. His face wrenched into one of determination and resolve.

“If a Hero cannot protect just one of his people…” Spike began, looking on with a hard face.

“Then how will he protect them all?” He asked rhetorically.

“Honor! Valor! Allegiance!” Spike yelled heartily into the night.

“That is what Shining Armor insisted we have before we were deemed worthy of the Royal-Guard.” Spike said, as the blade shook in his hands. His lips started to quiver a bit as well.

“Honor thy kingdom, serve it well! Have an infinite reservoir of Valor to combat the Darkness opposing the kingdom and its people! Allegiance must always be with the Princesses and Her Peoples.” Spike said, as the blade shook more. His mouth and voice wiggled as he spoke.

“The boy’s scared.” One of the bandits commented.

“I. Am. Worthy!” Spike yelled, as he began to bring the blade towards his gut.

*Schling!*

All that was seen in the moonlight was the back-end of a redly-painted metal sword. As the camera panned down, it showed Spike, the sword lodged into his body, as his pupils dilated and shook. Blood leaked down the corners of his mouth as well.

“By and by, the idiot actually did it!” the leader laughed cruelly.

“SPIKE!” Sweetie-Belle yelled in horror, as Spike fell to his knees, the pain crippling him.

She bashed the face of the bandit holding the knife to her neck, allowing her to run to Spike. Tears dropped all over Spike as Sweetie-Belle frantically paced to-and-fro in front of him, not knowing what to do.

“W-w-why Spike?! I said let them take me! Spike, Spike…!” Sweetie-Belle cried, drooping onto the floor.

Spike’s wound leaked thick drops of blood. He could feel himself weaken.

“Oh, Spike! I should’ve listened to you! I should’ve left when you told me to! I’m so sorry, Spike!” she sobbed, tears running frantically down her face, as she looked at the impaled Spike.

Spike’s hand made it to Sweetie-Belle’s mane, messing up her hair with the blood. But she didn’t care. She looked up at him with her teary-eyes.

“You… You are…” Spike began, speaking with a wheeze.

“… the little sister… of someone so, so special… You are a person of the kingdom… who required protection…” Spike began. Suddenly, he punched the ground hard, making a small (yet large for the size of his fist) crater in the earth.

“Besides…” Spike started, beginning to stand up and face the bandits. Sweetie-Belle’s lips trembled at Spike’s words.

“If I can’t… Protect one person…” Spike began, as both of his hands shakily took the hilt of the sword lodged within him.

“Then how… How could I ever be worthy…?” Spike asked, sliding the sword out inch-by-inch, as he groaned in pain, the blood coming faster as the sword began to leave him.

“Spike... Why? Why would you do it…? Stop, stop! You don’t have to move!” Sweetie-Belle cried.

“You don’t understand… What a Hero is…” Spike said, as he pulled out the sword in one extremely swift move.

“AGGHCK!” Spike yelled, as blood splattered across the ground from him. He stumbled a bit, holding the sword with his heavy eyes, as blood dripped from his wound.

“Well, well, well… It seems the media really doesn’t oversell you propaganda. You’re everything they said you were. Too bad this is your end.” The leader spoke, as the bandits approached him.

“Stay back, Sweetie-Belle… I mean it.” Spike spoke with a wheeze, as his shoulders heaved in hard breaths.

“What can you do in this state?” the leader laughed. “You’re no good to the world like that.” He said, laughing it up.

“You sick bastard. You’re no good to the world when you would sacrifice a life for riches. Move on to the next life, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two there.” Spike said simply. Despite his injury, in a quick move, he was already in front of the stallion.

In a swift move, he slashed upwards at the pony’s shoulder, as his left front-hoof came clean off. Blood spurted and gushed out, as the stallion cried in agony. The other bandits watched in surprise.

“Agghhh!!!!!” The stallion yelled in pain and horror at Spike’s impossible speed. He swing the dagger at Spike with his only fore-hoof. Spike simply sidestepped it and slashed his other shoulder clean off, as blood splattered out from that appendage as well.

He fell onto the floor, no longer having balance without his front-hooves, as blood leaked from his severed arms and his face grew pale. Spike made sure he felt the suffering he had felt from the wounds that now lay in his body.

“Oh-ho-ho my goodness, just kill me!!!” the leader yelled in agony at the pain. The other stallions all looked at each other, waiting for the other to interfere first.

Before they could react, Spike then took the sword, and jammed it into the stallion’s throat, as his screams of agony fell silent. Spike took the sword out and watched the lifeless body with not a single drop of remorse, as he held his own stomach, blood still leaking from it.

The other bandits watched in horror at Spike’s combat finesse. They hadn’t even seen him move from his position! And the way he easily and fearlessly approached the man and dodged his attack! This Hero was a seasoned killer…

“It’s one guy, get him!” One bandit yelled, as they all ran at him.

Spike coughed up blood, his wound affecting him worse.

“Only 6 more… Live until then, Hero…” Spike thought to himself, witnessing his vision haze.

He ducked under the slash of one, then jammed the sword into his abdomen, puncturing his lung. He had no time to pick up the sword, as another swung at him with the bladed mace. Spike caught the handle of it, and pushed the weapon back into his forehead, disarming him in the disorientation.

In another instance, he side-stepped past the stab of another, slamming the mace into his skull, as he dropped, silent.

“Come the fuck on, guys! He’s just one person! Get your shit together!” one yelled to the other three still standing.

Spike unsheathed the dagger that lay on the back of his waist, as the four surrounded him. Spike stumbled, and his visions started to double and triple, as he felt blood trail down his body. He coughed and spluttered up more blood, feeling ever-weaker.

Before they could make the first move, Spike ran at one, dodging the swing of his mace and slashing his throat. The man’s throat whistled as he screamed, before it grew silent.

Another stabbed at Spike, but in an agile manner, Spike side-stepped and twirled around to his back, grabbing both of his hooves that wielded the sword. In a display of brute strength, Spike broke his front-hooves to bend backwards, and forced his own hooves to lodge the sword into his body, as he dropped silent as well.

The other two watched Spike in horror. He was too skilled for the lowly bandits.

One backed away. Spike shook his head, and tossed his dagger at the stallion that attempted to flee. The dagger lodged itself into the back of his hind-hoof, as he dropped. Spike jumped over him, as he sucked in his breath. In a powerful breath, Spike roasted the (poor) bandit into a being of black and burnt flesh.

The final one, wielding a sword, knew running wouldn’t work, so he confronted Spike. He ran at him, slashing and stabbing crazily, while Spike dodged seamlessly, his reaction-time far surpassing the bandit’s own.

As the bandit slashed downwards at Spike, Spike smiled, finding his opening. He jumped above the blade, and stomped on the top of it, causing it to flip out of the bandit’s hooves, into the air. Spike skillfully caught it, and mercilessly slashed right through the neck of the bandit, rendering him headless, as he too, dropped.

Spike stepped back in pain. He then stumbled back, the pain overwhelming him, finally. He could see the trail of death he left in just under two minutes, but he was not unfamiliar with it. It was a Hero’s job and duty to make sure those who threatened lives were not to walk this plane of existence. The townspeople have witnessed this death many times before; though, Spike had never made them witness gruesomeness such as this. He usually made it a point to make his killings much cleaner, but they tried to hurt Sweetie-Belle… A sister of someone special… They tried to hurt someone who still cared for him. That was unacceptable.

Sweetie-Belle ran up, and hugged Spike from behind, her tears soaking his back, as the wound on his back put blood onto her coat.

“Spike, why?! Why are you forcing yourself? You were injured! You should’ve just let them take me! L-look at you!” she cried, gesturing to his nasty wounds. A hole in the front and back, from the sword, was defacing his body.

Spike stood, as he stumbled over towards his belongings, including his bag and dagger, picking them up from the deceased bandits. He then began to stumble towards the Everfree Forest again, ignoring Sweetie-Belle, probably because he was too weak to speak.

“Spike…” Sweetie-Belle said lowly.

“What if you don’t…?” Sweetie-Belle asked in horror.

Spike held his hand in front of Sweetie-Belle, as his face stayed in its hard position.

“You don’t understand what a Hero is, Sweetie-Belle. We don’t feel pain unless those we are destined to protect feel it. This is nothing but a flesh wound. You are mostly untouched, and as such, I am happy. A Hero is nothing more than an instrument, a tool, meant to protect and serve. I did just that. Whether or not I make it after this is inconsequential, as long as you are safe.” Spike said, stumbling over as he walked. The pains started to get to him, as he felt his body begin to lose feeling.

Sweetie-Belle was silent. She wasn’t sure how Spike thought, or why, but she knew he was much more than some tool. Although she knew this was far from the time for this, she noticed how the moonlight shone upon the Exiled Hero.

“I can’t believe he really impaled himself, without a second thought, for me.” Sweetie-Belle thought, her heart thumping, as she helped the stumbling hero towards Zecora’s Hut.

She noticed how the under-armor clutched against his defined body, and she could feel how sturdily his career built him. She blushed under the close proximity of the two, as she aided him in walking, his wound crippling him slightly.

Sweetie-Belle violently shook her head, scolding herself for getting lovey-dovey. This was no time to be affiliated with this petty crush on Spike! She had to help him get to the Hut, pronto, before he bled out!

Spike walked on, trying to gather his focus. He could feel the blood soak his hand, as he tried his best to cover the nasty wound.
“A life well-spent…” he recited.

[Some minutes later…]

“Spike, Spike please! You have to keep going, we’re just a few steps away!” Sweetie-Belle said in a plea.

Spike had lost almost all feeling, and his vision began to blur and blacken. He was trying to continue on, but kept stumbling back onto his face, as blood splattered from him each time he fell…

He struggled up again, as he coughed up more blood. Sweetie-Belle’s heart wrenched in pain for the Hero.

Suddenly, Spike simply collapsed, as he lay there. Blood gushed from him in greater volumes, as his body lost the ability to further hold it in and clot the wound; he quickly gathered his own pool of blood in the spot. Everything was silent to him now. He could sense that Sweetie-Belle was trying to stir him, but all he felt now was darkness and comfort.

…

He now sensed that Sweetie-Belle was gone… Yes, he was hurting alone. Suffering alone…

He couldn’t feel it, but he knew he was crying in the warmth of his own blood. The tears dropped down, each one emphasizing his pains.

Although he would die protecting someone, he felt unfulfilled… Unloved… Unwanted… This was what a Hero was, I suppose… They never did live to see the happy ending… But knowing that they brought it was supposed to be the happiness…

But why couldn’t he be happy? Why couldn’t he smile? Why…?

“So naïve, so young, so immature. You hurt because you are alone. You cannot be happy, because you will die in the woods, bleeding out, alone, like the uncared-for instrument you are. Is this not what you wanted? To die protecting the people? Did you not yourself feel that you needed no recognition? No acceptance? No love? You are getting what you want. Surely, this will end that horrid pain that your ex-beloved caused you. Surely… this is what you wanted?” It spoke.

The tears dropped more heavily from Spike’s face, as the puddle of blood beneath him only grew thicker. He thought this would bring him happiness… That the death, the end of it all, would bring him happiness and contentment.

He felt that he would find relaxation in knowing that he tried, failed, and died doing something for a denizen of his kingdom, yet, all he experienced in this moment of death was a shelly feeling of incompletion, loneliness, and further depression. He felt like now, he needed to live… He had to live… He did not want to feel so horrid in his final moments… However, as much as he tried to get up, he only fell back into his puddle of blood, splashing the red substance around him, and onto further parts of his body… He was over his limit.

“There is more, isn’t there? Do you refuse it, or will you embrace it? Will you be too scared to accept what you clearly seek? Perhaps, you will pursue your life of a lonewolf, or perhaps, you will take another risk. Even I, your greatest intellect, do not know. I know this though: you seek something beyond simply protecting the people. Whatever path you take, we should both know what you truly want… Realizing your desires is an unavoidable path. However, I am not even sure you will live past this. Perhaps, you will get what you thought you were seeking: perhaps you will die here, alone, unloved, and forgotten.” It spoke, as Spike’s tears kept flowing.

“All Alone... Alone. Alone. Alone.” It repeated, in a sort of mechanical agony. Its voice sounded altered, or malfunctioned.

“You will die, alone.” It said, as Spike’s senses and consciousness started to be devoured by the blackness and darkness of the ever-starving death…

Author's Note

Sorry that this chapter's short, I do usually make it a point to make my chapters at least 10,000 words plus or close enough. I made this one short specifically because the ending made it that much more dramatic. Totally worth sacrificing the 10,000 word limit.

Not to worry though, the next chapter will be at least 12,500 words to compensate for the lack of words on this one.

Apologies if the chapter seemed sloppy or rushed, but I was trying to fit things in so that it would reach 10,000 words (which it obviously didn't); I also got real crazy with the text effects, haha.
Special Thanks To My Editors SShonix and DivineLioness27
Another small thanks to DL27 for helping me with that awesome quote in the beginning!

Anyways, that's it. Don't forget to do some R&R, I love it and will respond 90% of the time! Mega T22 out ^-^

PS: If there are any surviving fans of The Third Duel out there, do not worry: I will continue it, as it is my greatest idea yet, I personally feel. It is not on hiatus, and is not forgotten, so no worries.
PPS: I'm such an idiot. This isn't meant to be up till Thursday (keeping in line with my 12-16 day upload schedule), but dummy me accidentally hit "Publish" right next to the "Edit" button........ Looks like I've just bumped up the amount of writing I'll have to do now, haha!:ajbemused::facehoof:

A Hero's Revelation

BDUs

Sub-Chapter 1: A Hero’s Ignorance And Denial

“Often, people become confused or lost at some point in their life. They chase things aimlessly, because they don’t what exactly they’re doing with their life. Then, when they’ve finally attained it, they realize it’s not what they want; not in the slightest.

Maybe I am Alone… Maybe I am Exiled… Maybe I have lost what I chased for Years and what I fought so very hard to Protect, but… Death isn’t what I want. There’s no comfort in that dark abyss.

What I want is something to fill this shelly feeling of emptiness… Somebody to fix this loneliness… I think… I think what I want is another risk. But do I want to take that chance…? Do I want another Rarity…?

No!

I don’t think the people deserve such a thing; they don’t deserve another incident of an unstable Hero. I think the only thing I should do is live to protect. As much as it hurts, I will have to forcefully mold myself into just an instrument of Princess Twilight, void of emotion, void of the capability of love; this is what I am meant to be.

It is my philosophy, it is my belief; it is my doctrine, it is my politic; it is my religion, it is my cult… An instrument of protection, that’s all I am, it is all I shall want to be… Just a tool to Your Kingdom, my Highness.

But the pain of knowing I’m just that… That that’s all I ever will be… That pain is like being stuck in a dream… Like I’m stuck in a dream, and I’ll never wake up…!”
~Spike, The Exiled

Spike lay on the ground, his own pool of blood warming him. He had lost almost all feeling in his entire body, and he saw nothing but a black haze in the dead-silence of the night. The only thing he felt now was pain; Pain and Regret…

“On the ground I lay, motionless in pain. I can see my life, flashing before my eyes…” Spike thought, as he felt the red liquid he was in.

“Lying on the ground… wondering when will it all collapse…?” Spike thought to himself, feeling his senses go.

The tears fell more, as he remembered everything he did. What drove him to fight so hard in these past years. Why he was always so valiant and valorous. How much he did, and how hard he tried, all for naught.

“So much regret… I did so much… For what…? To lose everything? My home, my love, my status. To die here, alone in the woods, unnoticed and unloved, like some dirty, mangy mutt?” Spike questioned bitterly, with a hard sniff. He still struggled to get up. He wanted so badly not to die now.

“Please, if there is some higher power out there… Please, just please… Don’t let me die! Not like this!” Spike thought, as he collapsed into his pool of blood again, this time falling on his back, as he watched the moonlit sky…

[With Sweetie-Belle…]

Sweetie-Belle galloped frantically through the woods, getting cut up by shambles and vines and stray branches all over, but she didn’t care. Her Hero was dying, and he wanted to get her help ASAP!

Tears ran down her muzzle as she remembered the images. The look of fear on his face as he impaled himself for her.

“Why didn’t I listen?! I should’ve gone home!” Sweetie-Belle thought to herself angrily and full of guilt, as she bashed head-on into a tree, the tears in her eyes distorting her vision. She felt the nasty wound on her head and could feel the blood leak, but she didn’t care. This was minor, so very minor, in comparison to Spike.

She got up and kept running. She remembered the faded look in his eyes, as he stumbled over from his wounds. How he was already so dead…

“You don’t understand what a Hero is, Sweetie-Belle. We don’t feel pain unless those we are destined to protect feel it. This is nothing but a flesh wound. You are mostly untouched, and as such, I am happy. A Hero is nothing more than an instrument, a tool, meant to protect and serve. I did just that. Whether or not I make it after this is inconsequential, as long as you are safe.” She remembered Spike preach to her.

“No! That’s not true! You’re not just some instrument or tool, Spike! You’re something so much more! It doesn’t matter what this whole thing with Rarity made you think Spike, you’re so much more important! Please, just hang in there…!” Sweetie-Belle thought, as she hopped over several bushes. Zecora’s Hut was finally in view.

Sweetie-Belle ran in and bashed through the front door. Twilight and Zecora looked up at her with wide eyes. Twilight immediately pushed aside her studying books and stood.

“Sweetie-Belle, dear Celestia, what happened to you! Your forehead, it’s leaking blood all over the floor!” Twilight said worriedly, trotting up to her to treat her. Sweetie-Belle slapped her hoof away, and started rambling in between gasps, absolutely out of breath.

“Slow down and be calm, Sweetie-Belle; only then can we understand what it is you wish to tell!” Zecora said frantically, being excited by Sweetie-Belle’s own frantic uproar.

The tears dropped from Sweetie-Belle’s eyes. “Spike needs help! He’s in the woods, alone, bleeding to his death as we speak!” Sweetie-Belle sobbed loudly, not even bothering to explain how. There was no time.

“WHAT?!” Twilight gasped, rushing out through the door. “Oh my goodness! We have to go, like now!” Twilight said frantically, trotting in place.

“Twilight wait, don’t let franticness make you a fool! Spike would simply die if we don’t first gather some tools!” Zecora said, running around the Hut to grab medical tools and such.

Twilight stomped her feet in place impatiently and then ruffled her mane in an extremely stressed and frustrated manner.

Zecora slapped the things into a bag and slung it across her back. She then gestured with her head that they should leave.

“Go Sweetie-Belle, lead the way, and quickly!” Twilight said, as Sweetie-Belle dashed off at top speed. Twilight and Zecora followed suit, dashing away through the dense forestation of the Everfree.

[With Our Dying Hero…]

Spike lay there in his own blood. He no longer had the strength to even attempt to get up anymore. All he could do was watch his surroundings as the black haze only grew stronger, eating out the dull moonlit sky.

He had been in many life-or-death situations before, but none ever made him feel this scared. He was never scared of death. Being killed in protection of that which he was destined to protect was the only way he ever wanted to die, yet…

“Yet, I don’t want to die like this…” Spike thought.

Something was incomplete. There was an emptiness in him that he just couldn’t deduce, or rather, refused to deduce.

He saw the black haze begin to eat his vision up, as his surroundings began to fade. His eyes began to close against his will, and the tears on his face ceased. His breathing hitched, and heart-rate slowed drastically…

…

…

…

He felt his body lift upward, and just before the black gaze engulfed his vision, he saw a familiar lavender-coated mare.

“T-Twilight…?” he coughed weakly, his face completely pale. His body couldn’t function properly, and he couldn’t quite make out her words, but he could tell that she was worried.

Spike could see her yelling and hollering at him, but the words were inaudible due to his near-death state. Twilight shook him slightly, and then tears spilled from her eyes, her words still being inaudible to her. She brought him into a quick hug and quickly pecked his cheeks multiple times.

She gently laid him back down, as he simply stared into the sky, not being able to do anything else. Thankfully, his body’s near-death already sedated him, and he couldn’t feel what was happening to him:

Zecora quickly cleaned his wound, disinfected the entire area, and Twilight used her magic to force the wound as closely-shut as it could be.

Zecora then quickly and skillfully sewed the wound shut as best she could. They did the same for the opening in his back, and then laid him on his back once again. The stretching and melding of the flesh would’ve probably been eons more painful had Spike been more conscious, but thankfully, he wasn’t.

Twilight and Sweetie-Belle lifted Spike onto a clean white sheet, away from his small pool of blood. Zecora took a long needle that had a long, slender tube attached, and jabbed it into Spike’s gut, near the wound, close to his heart. She then turned on a pump-like device that pumped a red liquid into his body.

She would counter the blood loss by injecting Spike with the blood of previously slain dragons that she had tested the anatomy of (in an attempt to learn more about Spike, of course) after their encounters with Spike. It was risky since they didn’t know the compatibility of dragon blood when mixed with other dragon blood, but it was the only way to counter the fatal amount of blood loss Spike just experienced.

Although the hustle-and-bustle was clear and obvious, Spike only heard all the excitement in a form of inaudible chatter, sort of like what you’d hear in a densely-populated marketplace.

Things calmed down slightly, and Spike’s senses returned, albeit him still being weak and mostly immobile. His body had gained just enough strength to barely register his senses back online.

Twilight trotted over to him and stood over him. Spike looked up at her weakly. They both stared at each other for several seconds.
“You cute, reckless little idiot.” Twilight finally spoke, tears welling in her eyes again.

Spike was still in a dazed state from near-death, and couldn’t quite act properly, so he just gave a half-way smile, as his eyes fluttered, struggling to keep awake.

“Seriously, Spike. When Sweetie-Belle told me what happened, I was so worried. That was too damn reckless.” Twilight said in a scold. She then smiled.

“I’m just glad you’re okay, Spike.” She said, lifting him up into a hug. His arms hung lazily to his side, even as she hugged him, since he was still half-unconscious.

“You don’t know how worried I was, Spike. Don’t ever do that again, okay? Don’t you ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever! Worry me like that again… I can’t tell you how my heart almost stopped when I saw you lying there, in a puddle of blood.” Twilight said lowly, talking close to his ear.

She heard no response, and no reaction, so she figured he was still dazed out of consciousness.

“Don’t ever worry me like that again Spike, because…” Twilight began, as her heart-rate increased, and she felt her cheeks grow hot.

“I love you, Spike, my Hero.” She said very lowly, so that only the two of them could hear.

Although still dazed, Spike lifted his arms, and returned Twilight’s hug in response. Twilight gave a slight yelp, as her body grew hot in embarrassment that Spike may have been conscious enough to register what she whispered. Her face grew red, and she stood there frozen.

As either released the hug, Spike slipped back into the white sheet laid out for him, and his eyes quickly fell as his body forced him to sleep to make repairing the damage he received easier.

Twilight sighed a breath of relief, under the impression that he most likely didn’t hear her. She sat next to Spike, watching him breathe gently. She was extremely relieved that the Hero was alright.

Zecora and Sweetie-Belle decided that the privacy was no longer needed, and joined Twilight.

“How is he?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“He seems alright. He’s sleeping peacefully, at least.” Twilight said in a relieved tone.

“That sounds quite good. Everything is being as it should.” Zecora said, examining the young dragon.

“So… What’s the plan now, Twilight? How’re we gonna handle this whole exile situation?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“Well, I was doing some studying, and-” Twilight began, but was interrupted by rustles in the leaves, and what sounded like the movement of stretching wood.

“I hate to interrupt, but I think now would be best to head back to the Hut.” Zecora suggested, as all three stood around Spike defensively.

Although unconscious, the aura of protection, care, and love gave Spike a sense of comfort that brought a smile upon his unconscious lips.

As they all had their backs facing each other in a makeshift triangle protecting Spike, Twilight spoke.

“I’m gonna slowly pick up Spike, guys. I need you to watch and protect me, because he has to be carried delicately.” Twilight said, as a faint magical aura began to cover Spike.

“Understood, Princess.” Sweetie-Belle said, as Zecora nodded, both not taking their eyes off the surrounding forest.

Twilight gently picked up Spike in her magical aura, along with the pumping device that was stabilizing his blood-levels.

She then turned and slowly began to head back towards Zecora’s Hut. Zecora took the lead, while Sweetie-Belle watched from the back, her horn glowing and ready to attack.

The rustling in the bushes got closer as they walked on.

“Contact!” Zecora yelled, as 2 timber-wolves jumped out in front of them all. Zecora, using her front-hooves as a base, lifted herself and delivered a powerful kick to one timber-wolf, shattering it with her hind-hooves.

The other one lunged at Zecora, but was quickly blasted away by Sweetie-Belle’s destructive blast. “I gotcha’, keep moving.” Sweetie-Belle said, as they all kept walking through.

More rustling…

“Guys, we’re almost there, don’t screw up.” Twilight said, as they trudged through the forestation. Zecora and Sweetie-Belle nodded.

They reached the clearing that led to Zecora’s Hut, finally. Just as they had, three timber-wolves poured out of the forest behind them.

“Twilight, take Spike into the Hut. Sweetie and I more than capable of handling the mutts.” Zecora said. Twilight nodded, and trotted to the hut, Spike floating beside her. She disappeared inside.

“Careful Zecora.” Sweetie-Belle said, as they both circled the wolves, surrounding them.

“Worry not about me Sweetie-Belle; I can handle myself so very well.” Zecora said with a smile.

“Now is only better for me; I am no longer encumbered by Spike’s injuries.” Zecora said, as she dashed at one of the wolves. She jumped high and did a powerful spin, connecting her back-hoof with the jaw of timber-wolf, crushing its head. The other two tried to jump at her, but Zecora simply stood on both hind legs and clotheslined both of them into the dirt, pulverizing and decimating them.

Sweetie-Belle watched in great astonishment. She didn’t even have a chance to make a move.

“Holy cow! Zecora, I didn’t know you were so strong!” Sweetie-Belle commented, mouth agape.

“I have lived in this forest for years at a time; as such, its creatures force me to always be at my prime.” Zecora explained, as she trotted towards the hut.

“Come, let us check up on our good Hero, Spike. Then we may discuss what our plans for the future are like.” Zecora suggested, as Sweetie-Belle nodded and followed her inside.

Both went inside. Zecora frowned at the smashed door, and then sent a small glare towards Sweetie-Belle. She shrugged sheepishly. Zecora sighed, and both entered the doorway.

Twilight sat next to the gently-sleeping dragon. His face was still pale, but it looked like the blood returned to his skin.

Zecora examined the pump, and saw that the blood was depleted. She removed the needle, and disposed of it. She then got white bandages, and wrapped up Spike’s wounds, as they still bled slightly, the stitches not quite holding it together. He would simply have to rest now to heal the remainder of the injuries.

“What did you find out Twilight? How is it that we can remove the title of exiled from our fair Hero Spike?” Zecora asked.

“Oh, about that… So little people have been exiled before that it’s quite hard to say. Usually, only villains that were extremely tyrannous such as Tirek or Chrysalis have ever been exiled. There’s pretty much no information on the redemption of an exile…” Twilight started.

Sweetie-Belle gasped softly. “You don’t mean he’ll be exiled indefinitely?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

Twilight smiled. “Yet, Discord was once exiled for his acts of tyranny and anarchy. Yet, he walks among pony-kind today. Why is that, do you think?” Twilight asked, her smile growing.

“Of course, he was rehabilitated! But, how do we do that with Spike?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“It’s easy. All we have to do is convince the people that Spike has absolutely realized his wrong, have him perform an act of redemption, probably slaying a potential threat to the kingdoms of Equestria, and then he can come back to Ponyville!” Twilight said, with a cheery smile.

“Yes! He can come back!!!” Sweetie-Belle said with great awe. Zecora smiled greatly.

“It is good to know that Spike will be able to return. Now I feel a decrease in my levels of concern.” Zecora said, pleased.

The three cheered and laughed, happy that this whole ordeal would be over.

“The people will love him again!” Sweetie-Belle cheered.

“We can love him again!” Twilight said happily.

“His return will be filled with love!” both chirped excitedly, smiles on their faces.

Love…

Love…

Love…!

Spike’s hand reached up and grabbed Twilight’s shoulder. He lifted himself up, his head bowed, and an eerie shadow was cast over his face, hiding his emotions.

“Spike, you’re awake!” Sweetie-Belle cheered, with open hooves.

Spike held his palm out to her, indicating for her to keep her distance.

“Spike?” Twilight and Sweetie-Belle questioned. Zecora watched intently.

Spike looked up, the bags underneath his eyes apparent. He looked at the inhabitants of the room with a hard, militaristic stare.

“I won’t return. I am exiled, let it stay that way.” Spike said. He lifted his legs off of the bed he was placed upon, sitting up, despite his injury.
There was a dead silence in the room…

“W-what?” Twilight began. She then laughed nervously. “Oh, you joker! Of course you’d want to come back home!” Twilight said, with a nervous snort.

“What home? I don’t know if you know, but I relinquished my home to… Her… To them.” Spike said, as he stood.

“Oh, she’s inconsequential, Spike! You can’t be serious! Come back, the people want you, they need you. We, and the people, love you!” Sweetie-Belle said. Spike cringed at the word.

“I’m a Hero. We don’t need that stuff. Everything I ever need is right here in the real world. Food, space, and resources. I realized something: with Rarity, that is.” Spike said, as he faced them. They focused their attention on him.

“Love is inconsequential. Something not needed. If I am to protect the people efficiently, then I can’t have something that would potentially hurt my users and benefiters. What use would a hammer be if its handle was spiked?” Spike asked. He began to gather his things, and fastened the dagger to the back of his waist. Zecora watched him intently.

“So what’ll you do then, Spike?” Twilight asked, pain on her voice.

“Protect the kingdom from the shadows. I won’t fail you, Princess. I’ll never truly abandon my people.” Spike said formally.

“Why…? Why won’t you come back, Spike?” Twilight asked, her lips quivering.

“I’m better off alone.” Spike said, as he frowned.

“Dear Spike, I can already see your blight.” Zecora thought with a small smile.

“What will I do without my Hero? W-who will stay with me now?” Twilight asked with shiny eyes.

“You have a kingdom full of people and access to the royal-guard, Princess Twilight. I am forever yours, I will simply be a protection that is no longer tangible.” Spike said, as he picked up his bag.

“But they’re not Spike…” Twilight sighed in pain, as she saw Spike walk towards the door.

“Are you planning to leave already?! You’ve barely healed!” Twilight said, running to the door and blocking it.

“Y-you can’t leave yet!” Twilight said frantically as she guarded the door. Spike stood in front of her with a frown.

“Princess, this isn’t necessary. I will be fine.” Spike said, walking up to her.

“No, no, no! Stay with us, just for a few more days, please! Spike, don’t go!” Twilight said in a plea. Spike walked up to her, and picked her up, walking out and putting her down. Twilight turned around and watched Spike.

“You aren’t gonna let him leave, are you?!” Sweetie-Belle asked, running outside to watch, pained herself.

“Spike…” Twilight said, watching Spike back away from them. Twilight’s lips quivered more, as the water piled on the edges of her eyes. She dug into the ground with one front-hoof in constant stomps and frustrated/frantic stamps.

Spike saluted, keeping his hard-stare. “Trust me, it’s better that I’m not loved. It’s just a danger to you all.” He said, as he brought his hand down and started turning around.

“That’s the blight that plagues our Spike!” Zecora mused.

“DON’T LEAVE!” Twilight cried out hopelessly, as the tears began to run down her face.

“Twilight quick, there is no time to lose! To rehabilitate him, it is your love that you must use!” Zecora said. Twilight stood there, dumbfounded.
“Don’t just stand there, go, do what she says and bring Spike back!” Sweetie-Belle said in an exasperated manner.

Twilight wiped her tears and nodded. “Spike!” Twilight called, as Spike turned around.

Before Spike could react, Twilight ran up to him and tackled him in a hug. Spike attempted to pry her off, but Twilight only hugged harder. Spike lost his strength to some powerful force Twilight was making him feel.

Zecora watched with a knowing smile. Sweetie-Belle watched with a slight tinge of jealousy.

“I hate Rarity for making you this way!” Twilight said, hugging him harder. Spike tried to keep his face hard, but the embrace weakened his wall.

“I hate you for being so selfish!” Twilight said, clutching him harder. Spike’s strength drained even more, as he felt his eyes sting. He shook his head in denial, as he tried to pry Twilight off, but that mysterious, forceful power took over him again, his arms weakening.

“I hate my stupid kingdom for exiling you! I don’t want to be princess if you’re leaving, Spike! When the Mane Six broke up, you were the only friend who kept visiting me every day, even though you and I were both equally as busy. You were the one who kept me company on those long nights of work, who helped me make those big decisions I couldn’t do alone, who helped me through times of crisis with your sheer willpower. I… I don’t want to be a Princess if I can’t have you anymore, Spike! Because…!” Twilight began, as a single tear fell from her muzzle.

“I love you!” Twilight cried, as the tear hit Spike’s face. That tear dropped all strength and whatever wall of defense he had left to keep attempting to pry Twilight from himself. Spike’s own eyes watered. He tried to keep them back, attempting to pry Twilight away, but he couldn’t keep them from leaking down his face, draining his strength.

“I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, Spike! Please, don’t leave us…!” Twilight pleaded in sloppy sentences, sobbing against the dragon. Her heart ached. She didn’t want the closest person to her to suddenly disappear into darkness. She hugged the now limp Spike harder and harder, shoving her face into his neck, holding him. Spike was silent…

Sub-Chapter 2: A Hero’s Acceptance

Everything was silent, save for Twilight’s soft sobs, as she held Spike to the ground with her powerful hug.

Twilight loosened her grip, feeling defeated. He would leave… She would be alone… Rarity would’ve won… She would never see him again… Twilight’s eyes watered more, as her grip loosened more and more.

A single sniff/snort was heard. Twilight looked at Spike, who now had tears cascading down his face. He was biting his lip to keep from sobbing. He pulled his arms around Twilight and hugged her back harder than ever.

He began to sob quietly, despite trying to hold it back. He hugged her harder and harder, his emotions falling out more with each drop of salty tears that dropped from his face. He hugged the surprised Twilight harder and harder.

As his crying eased, he kept her in the embrace.

“This is what you’ve wanted. Your time with Rarity made you forget what it was like to feel loved. You tried so hard every single time, but you never received true love. You began to forget how great it feels to be appreciated. You were scared to open yourself up to such a thing because you didn’t want to get hurt again, but in reality, you are more hurt by the thought of never being loved again. Your ploy of being the perfect Hero ends here. Nobody is perfect, and you are no exception. This is what you seek, this is what you want. Love. You do want acceptance, and you do want love. You need this. It is what kept you fighting, have you not said it yourself many times? You deserve this, Hero. You are something great. Do not ever let any one person make you think differently. Never seclude yourself, and always remember that you have ones that truly love you.” His subconscious echoed.

Spike sniffed, as he let go of Twilight.

“Twilight thank you, I neede-, mmph!” Spike began, but she put both hooves around his neck and abruptly pulled him in for a passionate kiss.

Spike felt his heart flutter, as he closed his eyes. A slew of colors played in the blackness of his closed eyes, as he returned the kiss. He hadn’t felt joy, acceptance, and love like this since the first time he kissed Rarity, yet somehow, this was even better, even more elating.

They kissed for what felt like an eternity, until either ran out of breath. As they separated, a single strand of saliva trailed from eithers’ bottom lip.

Sweetie-Belle respected the moment, and quietly pouted; she was very jealous that Twilight was the one that got to kiss Spike, but nonetheless, she stayed put. Zecora chuckled at the expression.

“Does this mean y-” Twilight started to ask, but was shushed by Spike putting a finger to her lips as he stood up. He wiped his teary face, and genuinely smiled for the first time in days.

“Spike the Dragon, our Hero, how does it feel? To finally not be pseudo-loved, but to be loved for real?” Zecora asked with a smile.

“It… It feels great. It’s a feeling I never got with Rarity. I’m… I’m glad you guys helped me. I’m so glad I didn’t die. I see that there is more, and now I see that I’m not just a Hero… I’m a normal person, like anyone else. Capable of love, and… I appreciate you all, so much.” Spike said with a smile.

“What is our next course of action, my liege?” Spike asked, kneeling to Princess Twilight with a playful smile.

“At ease, soldier. We must now figure out how we wish to undo your exile.” Twilight said with a giggle.

Sweetie-Belle trotted up and hugged Spike from behind. She gave him a small peck on the neck.

“Glad you’re back to normal, Spike.” Sweetie-Belle said quickly.

“About that undoing your exile thing though… Twilight, you said there aren’t many cases of exile, right? You said redemption was pretty much our only chance?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“Correct.” Twilight replied. Sweetie-Belle hummed in thought. Spike laid back in the grass, staring at the moonlit sky. This night seemed to go on forever.

“Twilight, do you have any idea where my armor might be, by chance?” Spike asked.

“It’s up on display in my castle. Why do you ask?” Twilight queried.

Spike breathed fire calmly into the sky, creating a nice orange glow. He stopped after a while, as the black smoke left his mouth.

“Just curious.” Spike said. “My cape and weapons there too?” he asked.

Twilight nodded.

“I see.” Spike said, closing his eyes to the moonlit sky as he enjoyed the presence of his new home. He had said he had no home, but he knew now that that was not true. His home was with any of these three. They were his home. He sure did love home…

“Twilight, you mentioned that Spike could do something similar to Discord, but I wonder… Just how viable is such a small amount of record?” Zecora said, in reference to the fact that there are barely any cases of exile.

“She raises an excellent point, y’know.” Spike said,

“I don’t think there is a way that this could be done as it is “meant”; perhaps we should undo his exile with a new precedent.” Zecora said.

“What do you propose then, Zecora?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

Zecora grew a smile, as she was sure her plan would work.

“Although this would not usually be my endeavor, this is a method that I find myself to favor.” Zecora said with a small chuckle. Spike listened intently, his eyes still closed, as Twilight and Sweetie-Belle watched her intently.

“First, we remind the citizens of Spike’s tremendous charity; then we go ahead and expose the slandering mare we know as Rarity; to seal the deal, we can tell the story of Spike’s recently-lived tragedy; finally, the citizens of Ponyville will be aware of their own foolish naivety.” Zecora said.

Spike chuckled, then began laughing out loud. All eyes fell on him, in a confused-interest.

“Okay, first off, that is a brilliant idea Zecora. I’d love to expose that traitorous woman.” Spike said in between giggles.

“But second, holy crap! How do you manage to keep up that rhyme thing? Seriously, it’s impressive!” Spike laughed. Zecora smiled and bowed.
“I’m glad someone appreciates it; my people do it to keep us on our wit.” Zecora said with a smile.

“How fascinating. So, when should we start preparing for my return?” Spike asked.

“Why not now? It’s the dead of night, and nobody’ll be up to question us moving around.” Sweetie-Belle proposed.

“Agreed. Shall we decide on what to do then?” Twilight proposed.

“Personally, I’ll organize Spike’s several deeds for presentation and write some letters to the other Princesses and my brother to attend an imperative ceremony.” Twilight offered.

“I’ll retell Spike’s Exile Aftermath. I lived it all too well…” Sweetie-Belle said.

Spike’s face grew hard, as he finally stood up from his relaxed position. “That means I’ll expose Rarity. I’ll sneak back into the house and retrieve those love-letters the two mares have been writing.” Spike said.

“Spike, you don’t have to-” Twilight began, but Spike interrupted her.

“No. I want to do this. She’s gonna realize she her fuck-up with me, because of me. I’ll have it be no other way.” Spike said adamantly.

Twilight nodded, understanding his determination.

“In that case, the conclusion and persuasion is what I will do; don’t screw this up companions, we may not get a chance two.” Zecora said. The other three nodded in agreeance.

“Twilight, while you’re gathering stuff for the ceremony, could you do me a favor and grab my belongings? Something tells me that Spike The Hero is coming back.” Spike said in a confident tone, donning a toothy smile.

The two mares and the zebra smiled at Spike’s statement.

“That’s what I like to hear. Let’s do this right, guys! Let’s split up; I’ll go with Spike to Rarity’s, Zecora and Twilight, you guys need to scour Spike’s records for all his latest and greatest good deeds.” Sweetie-Belle said.

“Guys, be careful. If I’m not with you, and you two are seen…” Twilight said.

“What? Spike was the only royal-guard in Ponyville, what’s the worst that could happen?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“About that… Celestia was worried that I’d be sneaking Spike around after, since we’re so closely-knit. She said as a Princess I couldn’t really be accommodating him as an exile, and as such, she did assign small squads of royal-guard to Ponyville in Spike’s place Even worse, Shining-Armor offered his own men, and his corps isn’t just some run-of-the-mill guard. Her excuse was that she couldn’t leave my small kingdom unprotected, which I suppose is alright… The problem is though, as Spike is an exile who “threatens” public-safety, they’re meant to apprehend and subdue Spike on sight if he’s within premises. So if they see you, this could cause extreme complications.” Twilight informed.

“What? They thought some run-of-the-mill soldiers could hold my place? Haha, they wouldn’t’ve stood a chance against the dragon that attacked recently.” Spike said, rubbing his nose.

Twilight bopped him in the nose playfully. “Now, now, let’s not get cocky.” Twilight chuckled. “Besides, these ones were part of Shining Armor’s Crystal Empire unit; you didn’t think he’d leave his little sister ill-protected, did you? If you get out-numbered, this could actually go bad, so just be careful.” She informed.

Spike chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head. “No kidding. Shining Armor’s training regimes are vigorous! Those soldiers aren’t a joke then.” Spike said.

“Exactly. So stay to the shadows, don’t get seen. If any alarms are raised, including by the denizens of Ponyville, then we’re a bit screwed.” Twilight said.

“So don’t get seen, infiltrate Rarity’s, extract incriminating evidence, and then where do we meet?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“The stage in the center of Ponyville; we’ll begin to set up there once everyone has gathered.” Twilight said.

There was a silence as the mood of preparedness settled in.

“So… I guess it is time to go.” Zecora said, starting off.

“Yeah… Good luck everybody. And be careful Spike. You too Sweetie-Belle.” Twilight said, joining Zecora.

“Good luck to you two as well.” Sweetie-Belle said.

Spike smiled and began to walk off with Sweetie-Belle. “Good luck everyone!” he said, waving.

As all walked off, two pairs in different directions, the shadowy moonlight casted a glow on their faces. The smiles were now gone and replaced with determined and focused frowns, their brows furrowed. Only two things lay on their mind: Expose Rarity; Redeem Spike.

Sub-Chapter 3: A Hero’s Return

Twilight and Zecora had just entered Ponyville and were trotting down the quiet, empty streets. They passed the occasional pony here-and-there, but it was mostly empty. When they arrived to Twilight’s castle, they noticed royal-guards standing outside. However, these ones were clad in a pure-white, crystal-like armor and seemed to be of a different standard: Shining Armor’s special personal corps, no doubt.

Twilight approached them, followed closely by Zecora. The royal guards all slammed the butt of their halberds onto the ground and saluted.
“At ease, soldiers.” Twilight ordered. They all dropped their stiff stances, yet maintained a rather professional and militaristic air.

“Where’ve you been, ma’am? The whole town was afraid you deserted after the exile of your Champion.” One spoke.

“I would never abandon my people. Now, soldier, I demand that you answer a couple of questions.” Twilight said.

“Of course, my liege.” The soldier agreed.

“You are part of my brother’s corps, no?” Twilight asked. He nodded.

“How many units did he assign here?” Twilight asked.

“About 35 of us, including the five of us here. The others are on patrol.” He informed in a matter-of-fact manner. Twilight gasped with a wide mouth.

“He assigned seventy percent of his own corps here?! What in the…!” Twilight said in disbelief.

“Yep. Shining Armor was too worried about you. He said even though Spike would probably still protect the ville, he couldn’t take any chances. And so, here we are, ripped away from our families because of your damn dragon.” The soldier said with a hint of hostility. Twilight giggled nervously and swallowed.

She put her hoof on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. You’ll have the true plague to blame soon, and then you’ll be able to return. This, I promise you, soldier. Just sit tight.” Twilight reassured. The soldiers all looked at her in a suspicious manner.

“Anyways boys, respect my privacy. My colleague here and I are about to work on a sensitive project. You screw this up, and you’ll be here longer than you want to be, trust that.” Twilight said as she trotted past the guards.

“She’s up to something, alright. Think we should check?” one guard asked.

“Dude, what? Fuck that, I wanna go home! My kids ain’t gonna take care of themselves! Let her work.” Another guard said in an annoyed manner. The others nodded.

“Fair point. How long till we get to have some rest?” The guard asked.

The other gave a heavy sigh and stared off into the moonlight. “I’d say at least another fifteen hours…”

[With Spike and Sweetie-Belle…]

Spike and Sweetie-Belle ducked behind a gardening fence.

“Sheesh, they’re everywhere! We’ll never get anywhere like this!” Sweetie-Belle complained.

“Yeah, no kidding!” Spike said, peeking over to get a plan set. There were currently four guards standing around, and two headed down the corner they needed to get to.

“I think the only way through is combat, as much as I’d rather not hurt my own.” Spike said.

“Also for the sake of the action, plot, and reaching word-count, right?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

Spike looked at her with a very confused look and a raised brow. Sweetie-Belle shrugged.

“Guess I’m still the only one who sees the Fourth Wall, huh?” Sweetie-Belle asked rhetorically.

“… I’m gonna just ignore you and hope you’re not going mentally-ill, Sweetie-Belle.” Spike chuckled.

“Right. What’s your plan?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

Spike dug into his tight under-armor and removed a mask. He put it on. It gave him an ominous look and only showed his eyes and nose.

“What was once supposed to be an extreme-weather facemask is now one to conceal identity. The plan is: I’ll either sneak past them successfully over the rooftops and distract them with a few ominous noises, or I’ll fail this entirely and then incapacitate them. Either way, watch for the signal, and only come when I tell you, clear?” Spike said.

“Why use the facemask if you’re probably gonna knock them out anyway?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

Spike shrugged. “I’d feel bad just knocking them out, since they likely wouldn’t take me seriously since I’m kind of an idol to the Guard and all.” Spike said.

“But they’re armed, Spike. What if they show no mercy since you’re just some shady stranger?” Sweetie-Belle asked, worried. “After all, you’re still injured! What’ll happen if we have another incident like tha-” Sweetie-Belle asked, but Spike cut her short but putting his finger to her lips and shushing her.

“I’ll be fine. These guys won’t play dirty, and I’m much more skilled than them, even if they were trained by Shining Armor himself.” Spike said. “At least, I hope I am.” He added on in his mind.

“If you say so… But if things get icky, I’m stepping in, clear?” Sweetie-Belle insisted.

“Heard and received. I’m moving, stay put, keep your eyes on me.” Spike said, crouch-running to the side of a nearby building.

He grabbed a piece of loose brick and tugged himself up to the pipe extending from it. He climbed up the pipe skillfully and swiftly, landing on its roof. He stayed low, and focused on the soldiers, waiting for his moment to move.

“Well, apparently we’re here because of that Hero. You know, Spike? That dragon guy?” one of the guards spoke.

“We’re his replacement? He’s the reason we’re here? Oh, goddammit, I didn’t get ripped from home for this shit.” Another guard replied, annoyed.

Spike winced as he leaned just over the edge, listening in.

“Come on, let’s continue the patrol. Only more than a dozen hours of this crap before rest time.” A guard said, walking away, as three others followed. Spike realized they were heading down the lane that Rarity’s place was on.

“Oh crap, gotta move quick!” Spike thought. He broke into a sprint across the roof and jumped over to the next one, doing a skillful roll to break his fall. He sprinted again and jumped to the pole of another building, swinging down upon it. He then put his feet against the wall as he slid down, and then jumped over to the building in front of the guards. However, as he put foothold on the building, the brick gave way and collapsed, causing Spike to crash into the ground. The six guards all immediately turned towards him in confusion.

“Fucking poorly-built buildings man… Goddammit.” Spike cursed under his breath, picking himself up. He had four of the guards in front of him, and two in the back. He looked back between them awkwardly.

“Identify yourself, this instant!” one of the guards yelled. Spike figured just from the way he spoke that he was fairly new to the guard. Spike figured he’d get his pseudo-arrogance on; acting as such was always such great fun.

Spike nonchalantly shrugged and smirked. “Oh, y’know. Just the Royal-Guard’s cavalry.” He said, swishing his tail back and forth. Thankfully, it had grown non-proportionally with the rest of his body, and was now quite hard to notice in the night.

“What? Identify yourself now, or we will be forced to apprehend.” The royal-guards spoke, holding forth their spears and halberds.

“Hope Shining Armor trained you guys well, because you’re about to need it.” Spike said, rubbing his nose cockily.

“Who the hell does this guy think he is? Alright, that was your last chance, buddy! It’s six on one guys, get him!” a royal-guard spoke.

Two charged from the front. Both slashed with their halberds. Spike seamlessly jumped, ducked, and rolled over the two’s attacks swiftly, and stood behind them. They turned around, mesmerized by his speed.

Spike playfully tapped their helmets. “Gotta be quicker than that, guys. Work on those reflexes.” Spike advised.

“Wha-?” one started, but both were quickly knocked unconscious as Spike bashed their helmets against each other. They dropped, knocked out.

“This guy isn’t run-of-the-mill. Careful guys.” A guard spoke, as the other four surrounded Spike in a square. One charged at him with the spear. Spike ran at the spear, slightly unnerving him. The guard nervously stabbed at Spike, but Spike slightly lifted his arm and the spear went under his arm, between his armpit.

He ran down the length of the spear, grabbed the handle, and turned the spear up vertically, bashing it into the guard’s head, knocking him back. Spike grabbed the spear and held it by the blade, smiling.

“Nervousness isn’t something you’re allowed to have in battle. Also, never hold a spear so far by the end, or you can easily be disarmed like you just were.” Spike said in a matter-of-fact tone.

He then swung the handle of the spear into the guard’s neck, incapacitating him as he slid across the ground.

“Come on guys? Is this who they sent in replacement of Spike? You guys couldn’t protect Princess Twilight if it depended on ponykind.” Spike taunted. The other three ran at him with their weapons born.

Spike chuckled. These guys had to be the less-skilled of Shining Armor’s corps. Either that, or he was just so good that he saw right through them.

Spike ran at the center guard and used his wrist to block the pole of the halberd, effectively stopping the blade from swinging down upon him.

The two approached from the side. Spike used his other hand to tap the other halberd off-course, and skillfully positioned himself so that the final guard’s halberd hit the dagger on the back of his waist, effectively blocking it.

The air thickened as the guards realized this ‘creature’ was way out of their league.

Spike with quickly disarmed all three of them, as the weapons fell to the floor.

“Game over. You guys need to go back to the academy; you’re nothing but cannon-fodder at this rate. I like the effort though, nobody tried to run.” Spike said truthfully.

[Everything goes slow-motion briefly…]

All three began to punch at Spike, but a pure-white magical aura glowed around Spike. His eyes flashed an emerald green, and the magical aura compressed around his arms. Suddenly, a large blast of air was released, and Spike acted quicker than the soldiers could react:

He punched the soldier on the right of him right in the gut, denting his armor and incapacitating him on impact. He then quickly elbowed the soldier behind him, giving the same effect. Finally, he uppercut the one dead-center, knocking him out as well.

All three guards were taken out nearly simultaneously, as they all slowly began to fly off in different directions at Spike’s powerful attacks.
Spike removed his mask and placed it back into his under-armor. He took a breath and held his hand on his hip, looking away from the guards still flying through the air.

[Slow-Motion ceases...]

As normal speed returned, three crashes were heard as Spike smiled. The three guards crashed into separate walls, sliding to the ground, unconscious. Spike shot his fist in the air.

“Oh yeah! Another score for badass Spike!” Spike quietly cheered, excited by his combat-finesse.

Didn’t even break a sweat. And not a crazy amount of noise made either, hopefully nobody woke up.” Spike said. He looked around at the houses. Windows were still dark and void of light, and the silence of night was as strong as ever. Spike released a relieved sigh.

He made a waving gesture with his hands. Sweetie-Belle immediately trotted over.

“You’re all good? Not hurt? They didn’t get to touch you, did they?” Sweetie-Belle asked, examining him. She tightened the white-bandage over his abdomen.

“I’m fine Sweetie-Belle, really! I told you I’d be fine. I am a honed Hero, after all.” Spike said, dusting his shoulder off and chuckling sheepishly at Sweetie-Belle’s nursing.

“Good to hear. Your house is just down the lane, isn’t it?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“Rarity’s house… And yeah, it sure is.” Spike said in correction, as they both walked down the lane in the silent night.

“Shouldn’t you uh… Do something about those bodies? What if some other guards come by and find them?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“Ah, it’ll be fine. They’re still breathing, and they’re not too hurt, so they’ll shrug it off and just look for me. Besides, hiding the bodies will take too long, and dawn might break soon. We gotta hurry.” Spike said.

“Right, right. Alright, let’s go then.” Sweetie-Belle agreed, as they both went up the path to the house.

Spike stopped at the door. “Oh fuck. Know what I just realized?” Spike asked Sweetie-Belle.

“What?” Sweetie-Belle asked.

“I don’t have my damn keys. Ugh!” Spike groaned. Sweetie-Belle laughed.

“All good. Hand me your dagger.” Sweetie-Belle said. Spike shrugged and unsheathed his dagger, handing it to her.

Sweetie-Belle jammed the point into the lock and precisely played with it as a series of shclunks and clicks were heard. After a few minutes, the door clicked open and swung open slowly.

“Where the hell did you learn that??” Spike asked, amazed at her skillful burglary ability.

“Oh, you’d be surprised what the girls and I learn on our Crusades.” Sweetie-Belle chuckled.

“Fair. Alright, scour everything. Anything incriminating you can find is fair game: gifts, letters, whatever. And remember, if we’re caught, the ultimate excuse is that I still have rights to the house, which is technically true. Let’s split up, I’ll go upstairs, you search things down here. And search thoroughly, they’re sneaky ones.” Spike whispered.

Sweetie-Belle simply nodded. Spike put back on his facemask and crept up the stairs. He quickly searched each of the rooms, memories coming back to him. He shook his head and furrowed his brows.

As he finally searched all of the things, he found that he had little to work with. He heaved a heavy sigh as he realized he’d have to search where the jackpot likely laid; their bedroom. He gulped, as he slowly cracked open the door. He saw the familiar purple-mane, and a red-coated mare next to it. Spike’s fists clenched hard.

Whatever shame or guilt Spike thought he’d feel from exposing Rarity like this was now absolutely gone. Though he knew not the circumstances they were sleeping in, or why, he knew that seeing those two together, despite all he tried for, boiled his blood.

He crept very slowly and very quietly over to Rarity’s nightstand. He slowly went through each drawer quietly. Finally, he found some red-hearted envelopes. Taking a quick-look through them, he nodded, content. Just as he closed it, he accidentally got up too fast and knocked the lamp over.

“Shit!” Spike hissed, as the lamp hit the soft carpet on the ground. He stood silent. Rarity turned, but Cherry-Top was quiet, still in slumber. Rarity turned her head and faced Spike. She was still asleep, but her face looked pained and stricken with guilt and grief.

“Sp-Spike…! Don’t leave, please…!” Rarity groaned in her sleep. Spike was stunned for a second. His heart thumped at their closeness, and he could see the emotion on her face. She really was hurt by what she did… Maybe…

“No!” Spike said, shaking his head. It was always that cuteness and beauty that tripped him up. She fucked up, not him. What kind of kiss-up would he be if he took her back after all this!? “After she cheated so many times? Likely more than the three times I’ve caught her? What the hell are you eve thinking, Spike?!” Spike scolded himself angrily.

“I-I’m… I’m sorry… Spike…” Rarity mumbled in her slumber, clenching up in the sheets, as her breathing became slightly irregular.

Spike smiled bitterly. He brought his face close to her sleeping face. His smile stayed, as he brought their faces closer, and closer, and closer…

…

…

…

“You will be.” Spike softly whispered, the bitter smile on his face being replaced by a frown, as he backed off slightly. “Nobody is ever sorry, then goes back and do what they promised not to an additional two times. See you at the stage.” Spike whispered, as he stood and quietly replaced the lamp, relieved that nobody was woken by the ordeal.

Spike turned and exited the room, descending the stairs. He found Sweetie-Belle still searching hard.

He tapped the wall softly instead of calling to her. Sweetie-Belle looked at him. He held up the red envelopes as well as some crumpled letters and notes. He then leaned his head to the door, signaling that it was time to leave. Sweetie-Belle nodded. She abruptly tossed the dagger at him that he left with her. He caught it skillfully and then frowned at Sweetie-Belle for being reckless.

She shrugged and smiled sheepishly. He sighed, shook his head, and simply walked to the exit, sheathing the dagger onto the back of his waist again. Sweetie-Belle followed, and they slowly clicked the door shut, leaving everything as it was.

“Okay, that went pretty flawlessly, actually. Didn’t think it would-” Sweetie-Belle started, as they were interrupted by the sound of chatter. They looked off and noticed guards inspecting the incapacitated bodies while others began to search the lane.

“… be so easy…” Sweetie-Belle finished. Spike grabbed her hoof and started running.

“Quick, we can’t let them catch us!” Spike said frantically.

“Hey, you! Both of you, stop!” a guard yelled, spotting them.

“Aw, shit!” Spike cursed, turning the corner, Sweetie-Belle right next to him.

They ran through the streets for several minutes, but Sweetie-Belle began to tire; she slowed noticeably.

“Sweetie-Belle, the mayor’s stage is around the corner; hide in the props booth, I’ll join you shortly, okay?” Spike ordered, his speech slightly muffled due to the mask over his head.

She nodded, panting and out of breath. They hit the corner and Sweetie-Belle disappeared around it, as Spike stood his ground. These soldiers were more quick and alert than the others and strategically surrounded Spike within seconds.

“Give yourself up, and this will be easy.” One guard spoke. The same pure-white magical aura enveloped Spike’s body again, and his eyes flashed that emerald green.

“Don’t think so.” Spike said, before he appeared in front of the guard. Just as Spike punched, the man blocked it with the flat side of his halberd. “Oh, you guys are a bit quicker than the last ones.” Spike commented. “Not every day that someone can keep up with my speed.” He said in a chuckle.

The guard slashed, but Spike ducked, kicking the halberd out of his hands. The halberd got him slightly, creating a slash on his back, but it was nothing so serious as to hinder his combat-ability. The guard prepared for hand-to-hand, his weapon now gone.

Spike ran at the guard. He punched with his forehoof, but Spike slid under the pony, grabbed his under-belly, lifted him, and then smashed headfirst into the ground, incapacitating him.

Spike heard clopping behind him; another guard approaching.

“He’s done.” Spike thought. He brought his elbow back behind him in a twirl, followed by his opposite arm in a fist, two-piecing the guard into the ground, incapacitating him with the powerful and unexpectedly swift combo.

“Uh-oh! REINF-!” the guard tried to yell for help, but Spike quickly approached him and chopped his neck, as he too, dropped.

Spike dispersed the magical aura, breathing only slightly heavily. He removed the mask and wiped his forehead.

“I hope Twilight and Zecora are having an easier time.” Spike thought, backing away slowly, as he broke into a jog for the stage’s prop room backstage…

[With Twilight and Zecora…]

Both of the equine creatures searched through the several records Twilight kept of Spike; even the censored ones of his more violent protections; they would need all the evidence they could get.

After a few minutes of searching, Twilight deemed it to be enough.

“Alright Zecora, that’s time. Allow me to write the letters, and then we can depart. Hopefully Spike and Sweetie-Belle didn’t get into any conflict.” Twilight said.

“I had no idea that that little dragon was so capable; the dangers of not having him on our side is unmistakable. I am happy that I it is un-exiling that in which I will partake; exiling him in the first place was already a mistake.” Zecora said, reading over some of the incredible files.

She read over a censored one, in which Spike single-handedly destroyed a cult of demons headed to Equestria. The odds of survival were 10 to 1, but somehow he pulled through.

Another censored one was defeating an enemy army of about 1,000 griffons with just 4 other skilled Royal-Guards with him. This one was quite gruesome, and they had a hard time cleaning up, it says. Nonetheless, his service was undeniable.

The final one Zecora read was quite interesting… Spike personally took it upon himself to travel into the fiery depths of Tartarus because of rumors of Tirek growing power. Luckily, Spike caught him before the Elements of Harmony were inevitably needed, and in an epic struggle, defeated the demon-heir. He returned with a newly learned possession of magic from the now slain demon; apparently, he was able to harness it and purify it, turning it from the blackish-red color to the pure-white one he now has. Although he can’t use it like how unicorns do, he can use to physically change himself, if only for a brief period of time at the cost of stamina.

“So that’s where he got his magical ability; I wondered how that dragon manifested his magical fertility.” Zecora thought to herself, reading through the immense amount of files they gathered.

(What’s this? Ideas for prequel-stories? Huhhhmmm…)

“What will you put on the letters; exactly how will you get such high authorities to stop their endeavors?” Zecora questioned.

“Easy. They’ll come if I call the meeting and presentation as a national crisis. Although that’s stretching a bit far, it’s the best way to get them to come ASAP before this all falls apart.” Twilight said.

“I see, I see. That is indeed, not a bad plan, my liege. Whenever you are ready, we may leave.” Zecora said, as she tossed back on her brown cloak.

After a few minutes, Twilight sealed the final letter and sent it off.

“Alright, quickly Zecora; we only have until the break of dawn to set this up.” Twilight said, swiftly trotting out of the room. She was followed by Zecora.

As they exited the castle, the guards stiffened up and saluted. Twilight gave orders to one of the guards.

“When dawn breaks, wake the ville. Tell them there is a national crisis to be discussed and everyone is expected at the stage within the hour of the break of dawn. Are you clear?” Twilight asked.

The soldier saluted again. “Yes, my liege. It will be done.” The guard said.

“Excellent. Inform the rest of your guard. I want it done, and I want it done right.” Twilight said in an authoritative-tone, walking off with Zecora, carrying the files in a backpack.

[Some Time Later, At The Stage…]

Spike and Sweetie-Belle sat in the room. Spike was on a stool, his back hunched over, while Sweetie-Belle nursed the slash that lay on his back.

“Sweetie-Belle, really, it’s nothing serious; it’ll heal in a few days on its own.” Spike said.

“Nuh-uh. What if it gets infected or something, hm?” Sweetie-Belle said, dipping a white bandage in a dab of disinfecting alcohol. She then wrapped the bandage around Spike’s body, covering the wound as Spike hissed from the burning of the alcohol.

“All done.” Sweetie-Belle said. Spike stood and stretched.

“Man, those guys better hurry. Break of dawn’s probably only a few hours away.” Spike thought out-loud.

“Maybe they’re just-…” Sweetie-Belle began, but both fell silent as they heard clopping against the wooden stage.

Both listened intently as they heard murmurs.

“Think they’re more guards?” Sweetie-Belle asked quietly.

“If so, it’s only two… Doesn’t sound like there could be more.” Spike said, his head against the door of the prop room.

“Shh!” Spike said, backing away, as they heard the clopping come towards them. He backed away and prepared for another scuffle.

The door creaked open…

“You guys! There you are!” Twilight said, seeing them backed off from the door.

“I don’t know what you guys did, but those guards are riled up!” Twilight said with a small giggle. “Spike, you got anything to do with this?” Twilight asked.

Spike removed his mask to speak more properly. “What, me? Pssh, nah.” Spike said with a small chuckle. “Just incapacitated a few.” He said, shrugging.

“Right… You didn’t hurt them too bad, did you?” Twilight asked with a hint of concern.

“Pssh, if Shining Armor trained them, then what I did was nothing. Your brother left me in the middle of a forest to find my way home once, y’know! And with not even a single thing but the clothes on my back! That guy…!” Spike said with in a tone of pseudo-annoyance.

“Right… Anyways guys, let’s begin setting up. Zecora, set up the poles around the perimeter: we want to keep everyone organized. Sweetie-Belle, you’re with me: we gotta set up displays and microphones, you know, presentation stuff. Spike, help with what you can, but just try to stay out of sight: if the guards catch you, this will turn icky real quick. Everyone got what they’re supposed to do?” Twilight asked. Everybody nodded with a simple “yes”.

“Alright then, let’s get to work guys. Only a few hours before the guards are set to inform the town. Hopefully the Princesses and my brother got the letters… Anyways, let’s make it happen!” Twilight said, clopping her hooves together, as they all exited the prop room, beginning work…

[Some Hours Later…]

All of them stood on the edge of the stage, watching the crack of dawn arise.

“Everything’s set up as it should, right guys?” Twilight asked.

Spike touched Twilight’s shoulder. “It’s fine, Twilight. We did what we could.” Spike reassured her.

They heard drums and bells off in the distance, making quite the racket.

“That’s time! Spike, get ready to hide.” Twilight warned.

Spike nodded, and backed into the recesses of the stage.

Twilight looked up, and noticed a large chariot flying in. It gracefully landed, and her brother as well as the three Princesses exited. They quickly joined Twilight, Sweetie-Belle, and Zecora upon the stage.

“Twilight, what is this of a national crisis? Has Queen Chrysalis returned? Is Discord up to his old ways? What is going on??” Princess Celestia asked feverishly and near-frantically. Calling a meeting for a national crisis was usually only for the utmost important of things.

“Take a rest, appreciate the beautiful day, Princess. It’ll surely be one to remember.” Twilight said to her with a big grin.

Celestia eyed her strangely. “I should hope that this isn’t a fluke, Princess Twilight Sparkle. If you’ve filed false reports, you will be punished: you understand this, right?” Princess Luna spoke in an authoritative tone.

“Yep.” Twilight nodded with a smile. The four figures left the stage and joined the arriving crowd that made space for them in the front.

People had begun to arrive at the stage in greater volume. Curious and anxious murmurs quickly filled the air, as guards surrounded the perimeter. Nearly the whole of Ponyville was present already.

Spike peeked from beyond the curtain. He scanned the crowd. Finally, he found her: Rarity was at the ceremony, alone… Cherry-Top was nowhere to be found.

“Makes my job easier.” Spike sighed. He figured that by moralistic code, he owed Cherry-Top no anger; she promised him nothing. Rarity however, promised him her undivided love and loyalty when they decided to be in a relationship: Rarity was his focus.

Twilight began to set up. She stood in front of the microphone and tapped it. Sweetie-Belle and Zecora stood on either side of her.
“If I may please have your attention!” Twilight said, as things silenced. A white-flash went off.

“Hold off on the pictures, please.” Twilight said quietly, before continuing.

“You have all been called here today to be the first to realize this national crisis.” Twilight began.

“Our Hero Spike was exiled two whole days ago. Now all of you may not realize it, but this is a national crisis at its finest. The Elements of Harmony can longer unite as easy as they once could. Have you taken into consideration what would happen if we were to get attacked at a time like this? Could you imagine the devastation? I may be powerful, but I can only do so much.” Twilight began.

“Allow me to ask you, citizens of Ponyville: why do you think Spike did what he did?” Twilight asked, waiting. She heard a myriad of confused, unorganized shouts.

“Sweetie-Belle, set it up.” Twilight said to her while they yelled a multitude of things at her. Sweetie-Belle used her magic to drop a white sheet from the roof of the stage. She then hit it with her magic, enveloping it.

“Quiet, quiet please!” Twilight called out, as the crowd simmered down.

“Among all of you, I heard many things: maybe he’s gone rogue, power gone to his head, and many negative connotations. But tell me, could you associate such a Hero as this with such negative thoughts?” Twilight asked, as pictures of Spike’s deeds began to play.

“Just a week ago, Spike risked his life for each and every one of you when he single-handedly confronted that dragon.” Twilight stated. The looks of hostility and disagreement now began to fade slightly.

Pictures of Spike’s triumphs played on the white screen in a collage/montage.

“Can we really forget all of this Hero’s Service over this past decade? Can you all really afford to lose such a Hero?” Twilight beckoned Spike over from beyond the curtains.

As Spike walked onto the stage and stood beside Twilight, gasps and murmurs arose like wildfire.

“She’s brought the exile into Ponyville!” one pony gasped.

“Twilight’s sure screwed up now! They’ll exile her too!” another pony sighed.

“Could you all really exile a face of such heroism? Of such valor, such loyalty? Could you possibly turn down such an innocent Hero with such gold intentions?” Twilight asked.

Celestia began to walk onto the stage to stop this and assert her authority, but Luna stopped her. She shook her head, denying her sister. Celestia stayed quiet and listened on instead.

“Sweetie-Belle?” Twilight said, stepping off the podium. Sweetie-Belle nodded, walking up onto it.

“Just hours after his Exile, his true heroism lived on! Held hostage by six bandits, this great hero impaled himself without a moment’s hesitation, all for me! Some pony that’s not even so well-known. His exact words after he did it, and was facing near-death?” Sweetie-Belle started. She pulled Spike closer and motioned over his bandaged wounds.

“You don’t understand what a Hero is, Sweetie-Belle. We don’t feel pain unless those we are destined to protect feel it. This is nothing but a flesh wound. You are mostly untouched, and as such, I am happy. A Hero is nothing more than an instrument, a tool, meant to protect and serve. I did just that. Whether or not I make it after this is inconsequential, as long as you are safe.” Sweetie-Belle recited. The crowd fell into a solemn silence.

“Could you deny such heroism?! Could you all really be as ignorant and hopeless as to turn down such potential? Surely, you couldn’t!” Sweetie-Belle said.

“You see, what you all fail to realize, and what our Hero once failed to realize, is this: he’s just like me, or you, or you, or even you! He has emotions too. As such, he’s not perfect. The real question is, what triggered his emotions to cause him to act this way? I believe it would be best for him to say it himself…” Sweetie-Belle finished, walking off the podium.

Spike swallowed hard. Sweetie-Belle patted his back, as we walked up to the front of the stage.

“As you all know, I have the honor of being the boyfriend of the most beautiful mare to walk this planet.” Spike began, speaking smoothly and soothingly, with a warm smile.

The crowd parted, and there was Rarity, at the very back. Her eyes opened wide at how instantaneously she was noticed. The perks (or disadvantage, in this case) of being engaged with a Hero, it would seem.

“Or so I thought.” Spike said, his smile disappearing. The crowd watched him intently, and Rarity’s feet shook in place.

Spike held up three red envelopes. “She was never mine alone, it would seem. Stuck on an old-mare, Rarity would systematically cheat on me regularly. Despite me having tried my hardest for her, it happened again and again. More times than I’ve caught her, it would seem. The evidence is right here.” Spike said, tossing the envelopes on the ground. Nobody moved for them, but the hearts and flirtatious comments upon them were obvious for all to see.

The crowd gave glares at Rarity.

“I loved her with all my heart. She was my everything. My exile speech? It was all about her. I lost her. I lost my battle with life, I thought, after I lost her. I had caught her three times prior to a few days before that exile speech. I figured that Third Time’s the Charm, and so, I kept trying. But when I saw her cheating for the fourth time in a row… Something snapped, and something broke. Something shattered. I knew from that moment on, that it was over.” Spike said. Rarity bowed her head in shame and embarrassment, as the crowd glared holes into her skin.

“Rarity.” Spike called. She looked at him with shiny eyes.

“Your trust was always trippin’ up. Your love was never living up. Always tried my best for you; fought through hell and the snow for you. Yet, this happens. I’m not doing this to shame you, and I’m not doing it because I hate you. I’m doing it, because I’ve learned something new about myself. I too, have emotion. I too, have desires. And my desire right now, is revenge for everything you did.” Spike said, as tears materialized on the corner of her eyes.

“We’re done, Rarity. You can run back to Cherry-Top. That house is yours now. I hope you enjoy it.” Spike said. Rarity’s lips trembled, but she refused to cry. The crowd sent her hostile glares.

“While under the depression and stress, I acted rashly whilst pursuing those demons. I apologize, Ponyville. I’m sorry, Princess Celestia. I’m sorry, Princess Luna. I’m sorry, Princess Cadence. Most of all, I’m sorry, Shining Armor, for disrespecting your teachings.” He said, bowing to each one, who simply smiled back in response.

He turned to Twilight, Sweetie-Belle, and Zecora. “Although this isn’t the time.” Spike began, speaking loud enough for those around him to hear.

“I’m grateful: thank you for things you say and do to keep me faithful. Thank you for the time you take to keep my heart from danger. Funny how three strangers stepped into my life and make all these changes, for the better.” Spike said.

He walked up to Twilight. In an instant, he brought their lips together, before pulling away. Twilight was stunned for a few seconds. “Thank you for everything you’ve done since my birth, Twilight.” He said.

Sweetie-Belle pouted, but Spike walked up to her too.

“Thank you for being real with me, and letting me know about Rarity. Thank you for being a good friend.” Spike said, as he cupped her chin, bringing her lips closer. As their lips met, Sweetie-Belle leaned into it, enjoying the short connection. As their lips glistened from the saliva, Sweetie-Belle smirked a bit and sent a small glance at Rarity, who watched the ordeal feeling jealous, despite her disloyalty.

Spike pulled away. Zecora looked off awkwardly, feeling left out. Spike walked over to Zecora and knelt. Zecora watched him intently.

“Thank you, Zecora, for agreeing to help me, an exiled person, even though we barely even associated over the past years. I feel like this is a relationship is one that will blossom.” Spike said. Zecora blushed heavily, as Spike brought their lips close.

Even though their kiss lasted short, Zecora’s heart fluttered, and she was speechless when she tried to speak. The Hero had sucked the confidence and outgoing-nature right out of her with that one.

The crowd cheered on stage at Spike’s actions. Maybe in a two-legged world, this would be scandalous, but here, it would seem not, since Spike was no longer engaged.

The crowd was slightly riled up by the actions taking place.

Spike waved his hand in the still-stunned Zecora’s face. “Earth to Zecora? We kinda need your summation now.” Spike said.

“O-oh… Um…” Zecora murmured and stuttered over to the podium. She cleared her throat.

“Heartbroken, defeated, depressed, and stricken with grief, our Hero’s only option seemed to be combat for relief. However, he would get too far ahead after a while; soon, before he really realized it, he was exiled. Even after the trial, his heroism was not in denial. Come now, citizens of Ponyville, do not be taciturn; give a hoot, a shout, a yell, if you want SPIKE THE HERO TO RETURN!” Zecora summated.

Shouts and cheers were heard. Spike was accepted without much trouble.

“Then with a happy heart, I will return Spike to his status. Zecora, if you would?” Twilight asked. Zecora entered the prop room, and rolled out with something.

As she stood aside, she saw it was an armor stand with Spike’s attire upon it. His armor, sword-sheathe, and most important, his royal-cape with the cutie mark of Twilight Sparkle. It was the very essence of his status. Besides the armor was a chest of his weapons. On top of it was his signature sword, crafted of the same jet-black metal that was designed for unimaginable cutting power.

“Spread your arms and stand tall, Hero. You’ve earned this.” Twilight said. Spike obeyed.

One by one, Twilight dressed Spike in the armor. She then sheathed the sword onto his back. Finally, she placed the cape on him, as he knelt and bowed.

“I have returned, Your Highness.” He said formally.

“At ease.” Twilight returned, as the crowd cheered.

All three of the girls that stood across from Spike smiled at him lewdly with knowing smirks.

"So..." Twilight began.

“So…?” Spike continued.

“Which one of us are you going to choose?” Sweetie-Belle asked, voicing Twi’s and her/Zecora’s question as well.

“Huh? Choose for what?” he asked, oblivious.

“Which one of us will you take with you to carry? Which one of us will you decide to marry?” Zecora asked.

“Oh? Why do I have to only choose one?” Spike asked, with a smirk.

Celestia made her way up onto the stage.

“We’ll talk later, gals.” Spike said, as Celestia beckoned him over.

“I personally declare Spike the Dragon not exiled! He is, in fact, our Champion again! He is, Spike The Hero!” Celestia said in high-spirits. While the crowd was busy cheering, she turned to Spike.

“Although, you must still do an outstanding act of redemption to be officially excused, Spike. Think you can handle that?” she asked.

“No problem. Evil bites around here every once in a while.” Spike chuckled.

…

…

…

As if on cue, something began to blot out the sunlight. The cheers and excited activity quieted down, as all eyes looked up. Something was flying in the sky.

“It can’t be… Didn’t I personally kill and bury that guy?” Spike said. True to his words, there was a large red dragon, descending towards the city.

“Everypony, run! Something’s coming!” Spike yelled. Everybody scattered.

*Smash!*

The dragon landed with a loud crash, quickly scanning the crowd. In an instant, he spotted Spike, and charged for him. The others fled. Just before he could smash into the stage, Spike jumped over the dragon agilely, unsheathing his sword.

“Whoa buddy, calm down there!” he said. The dragon, however, was quick. Before Spike could land, the dragon smacked him into the ground with his tail. While stunned, the dragon coiled its tail around Spike and suspended him in the air.

Coming face-to-face with Spike, the dragon let out a long, deafening roar that was so loud the ground shook. Spike’s cape flapped in the force of it.

“Holy shit, calm down buddy! What’s stuck up your tail?” Spike asked, in the dragon’s grip.

“Do I look familiar to you, dragonslayer…?” the dragon asked bitterly.

Spike looked him up and down. “Yeah, but you’re a lot bigger than the last one I put in the dirt.” Spike said nonchalantly. The others gathered and watched the ordeal.

“So it’s true! YOU are the one who slayed my brother!” the dragon roared furiously. It increased the pressure of its tail on Spike, as Spike felt his own armor crush him.

“Agchk!” Spike squelched, losing air. “You will pay for your treachery!” the dragon growled.

“Hands off, monster!” Twilight yelled, charging up a beam on her horn. The other Princesses and Shining Armor joined her, as their magic all transferred into one large ball of colors.

Suddenly, the ball fired a beam at the dragon.

“Trivial.” The dragon muttered, as he released a single ball of flame that consumed the beam and exploded, blasting back the five authoritative figures that opposed it.

It squeezed Spike harder. “Your victory was short-lived, young dragon. To kill one of your own… you sicken me.” The dragon spoke.

Spike’s felt his bones start to weaken and grind against one another. He groaned in pain, losing more air.

“How fragile…” the dragon grinned.

“Wait!” a voice yelled.

“Wouldn’t you rather take something dear to him, like he did to you? Someone like me?” the voice said. As Spike looked down, he saw Rarity. His eyes widened.

“Graaah!” Spike yelled, mustering his strength and removing one arm from the dragon’s coiled grip.

“R-Rarity…! D-don’t…!” Spike squelched out, still having the life crushed out of him as he attempted to free himself.

The dragon smiled in amusement at Rarity’s offer and Spike’s sudden increase in effort.

“What a splendid idea. I can tell from his increase in struggle that you must mean much to him. Come then, mare.” The dragon beckoned, placing the palm of his hand onto the ground.

“No, Rarity, wai-!” Spike began, but the dragon hurled him into a building. Spike crashed into the building, as debris fell over him. He pushed the debris off, and fell onto the ground, coughing in pain. Before anyone could make a move, the dragon seized Rarity.

“Dragon, attention on me.” The large dragon spoke.

“If you wish to see this mare be anything other than my midnight snack, you will come to my den in the mountains and face me. Bring whatever and whoever you want, all the more food for me. Last one alive wins the mare. Are my conditions clear?” the dragon asked.

“The only thing that’s clear is that I’m about to kick your ass if you leave with any of my ponies!” Spike said, brushing himself off.

“Heh. Talk tough at my den, big guy. I’ll eat you over there later. Will you save her, or will you let her die?” the dragon asked rhetorically, flying off with Rarity in his grasp.

Spike walked over to his sword on the ground, sheathing it again. He watched the dragon fly off, thinking of his exact next move.

“I guess that’s her way of saying sorry, huh?” Twilight said.

Spike nodded in agreeance. Sweetie-Belle and Zecora trotted over.

“Spike, are you okay? Were you hurt by the fray?” Zecora asked.

“Wasn’t much of a battle there… God that sucked. No time to lose, I suppose.” Spke said, picking up his sword on the ground and sheathing it and already preparing to depart.

“So you three were in cohootz with the exile, hm?” Celestia asked, as she walked up to check on Spike herself.

“Whaat? Pssh, nah.” Twilight said with a small chuckle. Celestia gave a hopeless smile and rolled her eyes.

“What will you do, Hero?” Celestia questioned.

“Do you even have to ask?” Spike questioned with a big grin. “I’ll do what I always have. Protect my people.” Spike said.

“And he’s not alone this time.” Twilight said, as Sweetie-Belle and Zecora stepped up too.

“Then go, Hero and company. Let that dragon know why he shouldn’t mess with ponykind.” Celestia ordered.

“With pleasure, my liege.” Spike said, walking off, as the others followed.

“Shouldn’t we plan first?” Sweetie-Belle inquired. Spike playfully flicked her nose.

“Rule number 1 of being a Hero, Sweetie-Belle: the only plan is protection and justice. We depart now.” Spike said, as they began to walk over the hills towards the mountains on the outskirts of Ponyville.

“GO GET ‘EM, SPIKE THE HERO!” one pony yelled, seeing them off. With that, the whole crowd went wild, cheering the Hero and his companions on with good luck and wishes and cheers.

Spike grew an extra-determined smile, as he unsheathed the black sword for it to gleam into the sunlight, as a symbol of sure-success. The crowd cheered on. Celestia smiled warmly at Spike’s return.

“Our Hero… He’s back.” Celestia hummed to herself.

“Even if all odds seemed against you, and life seemed finished, the worst thing I could’ve done was shut myself way. Twilight, Sweetie-Belle, and Zecora showed me that life is never truly over until it is. One little heartbreak isn’t the end of the line, even if you did spend a great chunk of your life trying to avoid it.

It’s just as I once stated…

‘You have to take chances in life. Will you step, or will you leap? Will you undershoot, overshoot, or hit it just right? You never know, and that’s part of life.’ And part of life is also being absolutely ready to accept those consequences, not just say that you’re ready.

I learned something valuable today… Something that I will keep with me for life…

I learned that… A Hero IS Fit For Love.”
~ Spike, The Hero

Author's Note

Before anyone asks, I know I ended it in an iffy way, but this is NOT the end of the story. We are near though, maybe 2 more chapters.

Welp, not much for me to say here... Don't forget to R&R! Authors love that! Enjoy your night.

~Mega T22 out! ^-^