"...bow!"

"Mmmgmm"

"Rai...ow!"

"Five more minutes..."

"Rainbow! Wake the fuck up!"

"Huh? What?" Rainbow awoke to find herself moving. "What's going on? Spike?"

"Down here."

She looked below her and found the baby dragon carrying her above him as he was running. She took a moment to get her bearing and started to fly next to the drake.

"Spike! What's going on? Why are you running?"

"That thing you said was stalking you came to the camp! I tried to wake you up before it got close but you sleep like a fucking log. I did the only thing I could think of and grabbed you and ran."

Rainbow looked back to see a pair of red orbs following them from above. The leaves dropped en mass as the unknown creature chased them down. Rainbow picked Spike up and started to give it her all. She weaved through trees and into the ravine looking back only once more to see if it still gave chase. Unable to see anything behind them she started to slow down and searched for a place to land.

"Rainbow! Watch out!" Spike yelled too late as a gigantic shadow descended upon the both of them knocking them into the water. "Rainbow!"

Rainbow tried to get her balance back only to have her wings tumbled around as she hit the rushing water. As she was pushed around by the current; she hit a rock and got knocked out.

"I remember! We fell into the river and I got knocked out! But how did we get here?" Rainbow asked as she tried her best to get closer to the chasm between her and Spike.

"We more than likely got pushed in here by the current. There are probably countless caves along the ravine. The falls might be visited by a lot of ponies but that doesn't mean anyone has explored all of the area."

Rainbow could see the torch moving from one side to the other. She watched in silence until it seemed to get further and further away.

"Spike?! Where are you going?!"

"Calm down. I'm trying to see if there's a way out of this place."

"Don't leave me here alone Spike. What if that thing comes here."

"If it does then I'll be the first to encounter it since you're on that side."

"That doesn't make me feel any better."

"Well, what the fuck do you want me to do then?! I can't help you if you want me to stay here the whole time and you can't do anything since you're hurt! You expect to get out of here by sitting around doing nothing?!"

The echo of his shouting went on for a while. Spike could only stand still as he tried to listen for any response. Unbeknownst to him Rainbow had started to cry silently as the stress of the situation finally hit her.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm just a bit stressed about this. I shouldn't have yelled."

"No. I get it. Sorry for being so unreasonable Spike."

The silence between them seemed to grow as neither of them said any other words. Rainbow heard Spike shuffling after a while and tried to see what he was doing as her eyes were adjusting to the dark. She could barely make out an outline of him holding something new before his flames once again temporarily lit the area. The new torch he made was then thrown and landed to left of Rainbow with it's emerald glow.

"There you go. I can't do much else as that was the last of the papers I carry."

"Thanks. Why do you carry papers with you?"

"Twilight."

"Oh... yeah."

The silence grew once more only to be stopped by Spike speaking once more.

"Listen, Rainbow. I know that this isn't the best situation to be in and I understand if you're feeling scared."

"I'm not scared!"

"Rainbow. This isn't the time for your false bravado."

"..."

"It means your need to impress or intimidate. Listen, I'm going to search around and see if there's a way out of this place. If not that, then maybe I can find out where we are so I can send a something to notify Twilight. Try not to move around much while i'm gone; I don't want you to get hurt anymore than you are now."

"Don't take too long and be careful Spike."

"I won't and don't worry. I'll come back as soon as I can."

Spike's footsteps could be heard echoing through the cavern as Rainbow tried to collect herself. She stared at the torch that was close to her and at the emerald flames that danced on the paper. Time seemed to stop as she stared at the captivating flame. She thought about a lot of things. About her life, her friends, and about Spike.

"I never really took the time to ask him anything. Am I really so selfish as to never ask about his life? He's been around us for so long but I've never made time for the little guy." She turned the torch around as she continued to keep it from going out.

"The last time I ever got to be with him I think I just made fun of him. I never took him seriously at all even when he was having trouble finding out who he was. I'm supposed to be the element of loyalty but I can't even be loyal to a friend who needed me."

Before she could think of anything else a noise echoed from in front of her. It was garbled due to it being the end of an echo but she could barely make it out.

"..ow!"

"Spike?! Spike!!"

There was a loud crash and a massive gust of dust came blowing Rainbow's way. As it dissipated she could hear thunderous footsteps and a bloodcurdling roar. The faint green light of what could only be Spike's torch started to come into view and moving sporadically. It would sometimes be blocked by a moving shadow; all the while heading her way.

"Spike! Lure it over here and put out the torch!"

Spike did as suggested and the beast followed after him. With the light of her torch Rainbow could barely make out the size of the monster as it came close and Spike put out his torch. She saw he creature try to stop as it apparently saw the hole before the torch had been extinguished.

"Spike watch out!" Rainbow shouted as she heard the beast howl once more and claw at anything to keep it from falling.

"Ahhh!"

The scream came as sudden as her warning and was the only indication she had that Spike had been caught. She watched the shadow of the beast drop down into the pit it's scream mixing with Spike's and a sickening echo of two separate thuds. The world was silent as Rainbow tried to wake up from her nightmare. She stayed motionless for the longest time as the torch to her side started to dim. It wasn't until it went out completely that she seemed to regain awareness. It was then that she started to scream; tears rolling down her face as she pounded her hooves nonstop.

"Spike! Spike! I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry! I'm sorry I was a lousy friend! I'm sorry I was never there for you! I'm sorry for always making fun of you! Please! You don't have to forgive me but please be alive! Please, Spike! Don't leave me alone..."

The water continued to drip onto the floor as it had been since the formation of the falls. It was the only other sound besides Rainbow's breathing and occasional attempt to fly.

"How long have I been down here? I can't tell whether or not it's been days or weeks. Twilight must be looking for us by now. She's the only other one that knows where we were going. Is she going to find us though? Find me?"

Rainbow moved closer to the edge of the hole; her eyes had become well adjusted to the dark and could barely make out the massive unmoving creature. It was too far to see what it looked like but she could tell it was still breathing as the body rose with each breath.

"What am I going to tell Twilight? I was supposed to find out what Spike was doing and now I've killed him but, that... that thing... that fucking monster is still alive!" She threw the dead torch down at the beast only to receive a low growl in return.

Hunger and thirst weighed heavily on the prismatic mare at this point and her vision started to blur. She could hardly speak without it hurting her throat and she could barely hear the sound of the water dripping anymore. Just as she was about to pass out she heard something that made her blood run cold. An echo of claw on stone came from below and the last thing she saw were two large red eyes staring at her as it reached the top.

"Spike, I'm sorry."

The creature climbed out of the chasm and stopped short of the mare front of him and, instead of eating her, lifted the her onto his back. It disappeared deeper into the darkness with the mare in tow.

Spike found himself near the edge of the forest clutching a feather from his cyan friend. As he came closer to where Fluttershy's cottage was located, he could hear the animals start to hide. He connected with the ground as the cottage had come into view and saw the animals running away from him. The commotion had apparently stirred their caretaker's curiosity from inside and the last thing he heard was his name being shouted by a mare.

"Did you find anything?"

"Nothing. Twi, I'm beyond worried. We've all seen how Spike came back and what he was holding. I don't want to think anything bad happened to her but... it doesn't look good."

"We can't know that for sure Applejack. However, it's been three days since Fluttershy found him and he's still out cold. The only thing we can do is wait until he wakes up to find out what happened."

Twilight shared a moment of silence as A.J took a look towards the stairs leading to Spike's room. It had been three days since the shy pegasus had found the baby dragon at the edge of her property bruised, bleeding, and holding a cyan feather. His left leg was broken and the wound was treated with rudimentary first aid Twilight had taught him.

"Twi, I know what I'm going to say might be something you don't want to hear but..."

"What is it Applejack?"

"Don't you think this is somehow related to how Spike has been acting lately?"

"W-What are you trying to say A.J?"

"I'm saying, that Spike might have had something to do with Rainbow disappearing."

"Applejack!" Twilight yelled stomping her hoof and making A.J turn towards her.

"Look, I'm sorry Twi but, the fact that he's been doing things in the Everfree no pony knows anything about and how he had these chilling moments at times isn't helping me not think the worst. Not to mention that, despite being the only pegasus to reach Rainboom speeds, Spike is the only one to come back at all."

"Didn't realize you thought so little of me Applejack. At least, much like your element, you're being honest about what you have to say."

The two mares to see the baby dragon holding onto the rails of the stairs as he descended them. Twilight ran towards him and tried to help him down only for him to refuse it. He reached the bottom and sat down on a couch so as not to overexert himself.

"Spike, A.J didn't mean..."

"Hold on there Twi, I meant what I said and I've still got doubts about him." The farmer walked over to the couch and stood in front of Spike. "Where is Rainbow? What the hay happened out there?"

"I can't remember."

"You... you can't remember?!"

"Yea. The last thing I do remember doing was seeing Fluttershy's animals. I can't remember anything before that other than falling asleep. So stop yelling, I've already got injuries to nurse, I don't need a migraine added to the list."

"Don't you care about what happened to Rainbow?!"

"Can you lower your voice?"

"I'll lower it when you tell us exactly what happened out there. You can't have forgotten everything! You were practically dying when Fluttershy found you! There has to..."

"I said, shut the fuck up!"

Applejack took a step back at the sudden outburst from the injured dragon. His eyes glowing and eerie green.

"I don't know what happened out there at all. I found myself outside the forest and near Fluttershy's that's all I can remember. I don't know where Rainbow is and I have no idea why I'm the way I am right now. Apparently being the element of honesty doesn't mean shit if you can't tell I'm being truthful!"

Anger flashed across A.J's face but before she could say anything Twilight stepped between the two. Her face took on a look of regal intimidation as she visually warned her fellow element to calm down. She looked at Spike who remained stoic despite the look he was being given.

"Spike, I believe you."

"What?! Twi, you can't be serious!"

"Applejack!" Twilight shouted causing the farmer recoil from the use of the Canterlot voice. "I think it's time you go home for the day. I know the searching for Rainbow is important but you haven't taken a break since Spike came back. It won't help any pony, especially Dash, if you end up in poor health due to lack of sleep."

"Fine, but this conversation isn't over. I know you're hiding something Spike and I'm aiming to figure out what." She walked out of the room and down another set of stairs. The last sound they heard from her was the front door slamming.

"Spike... I'm so glad you're alright and I'm sorry about Applejack. We've all been on edge ever since you returned sans Rainbow. Can you really not remember anything?"

"So you're doubting me as well?"

"Spike?"

"I already told you what I know. Believe me, if I could remember what happened I'd tell you immediately."

"Maybe, I can help. If you don't mind."

"Sure thing, Twilight. Anything for you."

"Y-Yea... just try to remain calm." Twilight said with a slight nervousness in her voice. She gathered her magic and a soft aura overcame Spike.

"What are you doing?"

As the aura became stronger her eyes, along with Spike's, turned white. The spell itself was one to look into past memories. As her mind delved deep into Spike's memories she watched as he collapsed onto the ground by Fluttershy's cottage. Like a recording, everything started to rewind. He got up and started to walk backwards from his final destination.

Twilight observed him walking for a while clutching the feather in his hand through the dirt paths leading up to Rainbow Falls. She watched him struggling to walk at times and rest at intervals.

"Twilight? Wha-What's going on?" Spike's voice echoed as he was made to remember everything.

"Just keep calm Spike."

The memories seemed to distort the closer it came to the night. It wasn't until she saw him crawling into a ditch that she started to feel resistance. It was slight at first but the deeper she went the harder it was to keep up the spell.

"Spike, calm down..."

"Twi... light"

When he finally got into the hole she saw him crawling backwards into the dark. The space was only big enough for him crawl so she figured he must have dug his way out. As he was nearing what seemed to be the start of the tunnel everything stopped. The memory was no more and despite how hard she concentrated, nothing seemed to work. It was then that the image of Spike vanished and she found herself isolated. She looked around and tried to conjure her magic once more only to encounter pain.

"Ow! Wait... this can't..." she stopped herself as she felt another presence. Twilight looked around the room to find nothing but the darkness. It was then she looked up and found a pair of bright red eyes looking at her. The blow came swiftly as she was hurled from the space and back into reality. Her magic rebounded and caused her to collapse in place covered in a cold sweat.

"Don't."

Twilight looked up from where she collapsed to see Spike looking down at her. "Spike?"

"Don't ever do that again. Got it?" His eyes glinted green and his face remained stoic.

"I-I'm sorry.. I..."

"Got it?!"

"Yes... I'm sorry Spike."

"Good. Now, I'll get started on dinner." He limped away from her and headed downstairs. Leaving Twilight shaking not only from what she encountered in the memory but from Spike's warning.

Author's Note

Kinda had this floating around after the last chapter despite my best efforts to work on a completely different story. I did manage to pump out another new story but I'm being flippant about everything lately. Regardless, new chapter out for this story ahead of schedule by a month.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please leave a comment or critique below as any critique helps me grow as a writer. Have a wonderful day!