Spike chased after the trio of fillies until they had reached the top of the hill where The Crusader had been parked. Two large rocks were propped up in front of the applewood kart's front tires to keep it from rolling away.

They all stopped in front the kart and took a minute catch their breath. “Alright…” Spike huffed. “So who…is going...to drive it first?” The Cutie Mark Crusaders smirked through their equally labored breaths and each turned back towards the dragon.

“We’ve put a lot of thought into it...” Scootaloo wheezed.

“And we decided...” Sweetie Belle continued.

“That you should be the first ta drive The Crusader.” They all began breathing regularly again, as Apple Bloom finished their statement. Spike’s eyes widened with glee.

“You mean it?!” Spike exclaimed, prior thoughts of exhaustion now cleared from his mind.

“Eeyep!” Apple Bloom stated happily. “Just hop in the driver’s seat and we’ll get ya started.”

Spike didn’t hesitate. He leaped into the driver's seat of the fillies' applewood kart. He felt the kart's leather upholstery cushion compress against his tail as he sat down.

“Leather?” Spike questioned as he ran his hand over the seat.

“Yeah, we found a whole bunch of it just laying in the backroom of Rarity’s boutique.” Sweetie said, suddenly appearing next to the kart. “We're not entirely sure why she had so much of it though?” Spike grimaced at the filly's statement, but ultimately shrugged in acceptance. It was not his place, nor in his interests, to wonder were leather materials came from in world mainly dominated by horses.

Apple Bloom appeared on the opposite side of the Crusader. “The controls are very simple.” She explained as she pointed her hoof about the kart. “The wheel in front of ya is ta turn, and the pedal on the bottom is ta break.” Scootaloo suddenly popped up next to Apple Bloom, she was holding a small hoofball helmet in-between her hooves. The farm filly smiled. “And this is ta protect yer head in case of accidents.”

With a flurry of quick movement, Scootaloo then violently shoved the tiny helmet snuggly on Spike’s noggin. The helmet hugged the dragon's skull so tightly, Spike found he could barely see and he quickly tried to adjust it.

“Any questions?” Spike slowly shook his head from side to side as he tried to pry off his helmet. The three fillies' smiles grew wider with excitement. ”Well if ya don't have any questions, let’s start the countdown!”

The two other fillies cheered unison. "Yeah!"

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo quickly rush towards the front of the kart and each took their places by the big rocks in front of its tires. Spike, for his part, continued to struggle with the helmet.

“3…” Scootaloo lifted her hoof.

“2…” Sweetie Belle lifted her hoof.

“1…” The two fillies each kicked their respective rocks out from under the tires. "Go!" All three crusaders watched zealously as the Crusader began to roll. Slowly it reached the hill's incline, and gravity started to do its work. Quickly their applewood kart started to pick up speed and shot down the hill like a falling cannonball.

With one final tug, Spike lifted the confining helmet out from in front of his eyes. He could feel the kart moving. "Wait, are we starting?" He looked back expecting one of the fillies to answer his question, but soon realized how much distance the kart had traveled since its starting point.

"Aaagggghhhhh!!!" Spike screamed in utter surprise as grasped tightly onto the kart's steering wheel.

“And we're off!” Scootaloo shouted triumphantly. The three fillies raced down the hill after their creation.

The Crusader had begun veering less since Spike took the wheel. The ride became smoother, and an air of confidence soon overtook the dragon. The first turn of the Applewood derby course soon came into view. Spike smiled with conviction and narrowed his gaze at the oncoming turn. Upon reaching the turnpike of the course Spike pulled hard on the right side of the steering wheel, turning the kart so it shot down through the rest of the derby course.

Spike took the next few turns as skillfully as he did the first. He heard a couple whooping cheers. The dragon looked into the Crusader's side view mirror and saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo cheering for him just outside the course. He smiled, and turned so he could wave at the applauding fillies. Suddenly, he felt the car jump as it hit a large stone set directly in the Crusader's path.

The kart began to fly even faster as it veered wildly across and around the track. The fillies gasped. Only when Spike retook his seat did he notice how hard the stone he had hit, and by now it was too late. The right wheels had run over the large jagged stone causing the Crusader to bump and bounce violently on the dirt road. The back right wheel had been broken after colliding with the stone and it shook back and forth unevenly as the kart tried to remain balanced. Spike quickly went for the brake, slamming it with all the fear-addled might he could give. The applewood kart lurched at the sudden stop, and a loud crack sounded out in response. The back wheel had broken off its axel.

The three crusaders released another collective gasp as they watch their creation veer from its original path and careened off the derby track's set boundaries. The fillies continued to watch in shocked silent as the Crusader rocketed towards town. The dragon’s screams of panic finally struck their ears.

“Spike!” They shouted simultaneously before chasing after the drake.

Spike tried spastically to turn the applewood kart, but with the kart’s broken axel digging divots in an unbalanced lurch it did little to change his trajectory. He went for the brake again, it seemed to slow the kart down a bit, but sadly not enough as an oncoming tree suddenly came into view. The Crusader slammed hard into the truck of the tree and with a resounding crash, created a sound so powerful that there was no doubt everypony in Ponyville could hear it.

******
Twilight silently flew through the night like an owl searching for prey. She was deathly worried for her best friend's safety, but that still didn't mean she wanted to rudely wake everypony else up in the middle of the night. She dived and darted through every alley way, over every building, and even under every bridge to find her draconic assistant, but yet still to no avail. Her tempered mood had drastically cooled since she had first left the castle and started searching, leaving only her feelings of concern rather than her frustration.

Twilight gently fluttered back to earth, she noticed Starlight running towards her. A slightly hopeful expression overtook the alicorn. "Did you see him?" She asked expectantly. Starlight only shook head in response, and Twilight's slight smile fell.

"I'm sorry Twilight, I searched everywhere on the ground. I didn't seen him anywhere." Forlornly, Twilight stared down at the dirt road beneath her hooves. A few noticeable hairs where sticking up wildly from her usually well cared for mane.

"Spike... where did you go?" Twilight mumbled silently as if on the verge of tears. She never did like it when Spike went off on his own without acknowledging her. Ever since she befriended Owlowiscious and inadvertently caused Spike to jealously storm off into the Everfree alone, not knowing where he was at all times always created a pit in her stomach. Not knowing where to find him always scared her.

Starlight's look of concern deepened as she stared at the downtrodden mare. She raised her hoof and placed it on her mentor's back. Starlight rubbed Twilight's spine in the most soothing way she could manage.

Twilight looked up towards the other mare for comfort. Starlight frowned, her mentor was actually crying.

"Starlight please..." She wheezed through tearful eyes. "...I want my Spike back." Starlight, despite her deep concern, didn't know how to respond.

A load crash was suddenly heard by both mares. It sounded like wood collided painfully with more wood, and both splintered and broke as a result of the force. Around Ponyville lights in multiple windows and doors began to flicker to life. Twilight and Starlight quickly turned towards the origin of the sound.

Near the outskirts of town, a flock of birds had swiftly taken to the sky, as if recently frightened from their home. Twilight’s heart sank with fear. She couldn’t tell why, but she knew Spike was there. Of all the places he could have been, she knew that sound was a result of his actions.

Twilight galloped towards the crash as fast as she could, the fatigue and perspiration from her frantic searching no longer thoughts in her mind. Starlight was surprised by the alicorn mare's sudden burst of speed, but ultimately followed in pursuit.

"Please be safe! Please be safe!” Twilight repeated these words in her mind as if they were her new mantra. Her wings spread from her body as she took to the air. Starlight followed by engulfing herself in her own magic. Multiple dark outcomes began to race through Twilight's mind, most of them too fast for her to even pick up, as she speeded towards the once roost of the frightened flock of birds. “Please be safe! Please be safe!” Echoed again loudly in her mind, all but overshadowing one other prominent thought in the back of her mind, one far too quiet for her to hear.

“Don't worry Spike, Mama's coming!"

******

In an alleyway overlooking the crashed applewood kart, a small pile of combined refuse ignited. The flaming garbage soon grew as it burned until it resembled a decently sized, green and blue campfire. A pair of pink eyes opened within the fire and blinked. It watched intently as the three fillies from before scrambled towards the kart.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders surrounded the wreckage that was once their cherished Crusader, but at the moment their hard work being lost was the farthest concern from their minds. Their dragon friend was laying face down against the kart's steering wheel, his arms spread limply over the hood of the kart. Apple Bloom's words were shaky as she hesitantly prodded the dragon before her.

"Spike..?" She pushed the dragon back into the leather seat. What they saw made two of the fillies gasp and made Sweetie Belle want to cry. The helmet they had placed on Spike's head was severely dented from the crash and even cracked in multiple places. Spike himself was unconscious, thankfully not wounded, but clearly still was hurt judging by how his limbs hung uselessly at his sides.

Sweetie felt tears stain her ivory cheeks. She whimpered, "Is he...?" The other two fillies gulped fearfully. They looked towards the dragon and hoped to all the powers of Celestia that Spike was still breathing.

"Spike!" The Crusaders jumped in surprise when a sudden voice cried out from behind them. They turned, Princess Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer were staring at them and the wreckage with looks of equal parts shock and fear. The fillies could not hold back their emotions any longer. They rushed towards the alicorn and unicorn mares as tears flooded from their eyes like waterfalls.

"Twilight!" Apple Bloom cried as she an the other Crusaders clamped around Twilight's front forelegs. "We were testin' our new applewood derby kart on the course when the wheel broke off! Spike was drivin' it when it crashed!" Twilight's eyes widened in fear. The Cutie Mark Crusaders continued their wailing as they shouted in unison, "We're so sorry!" Twilight was no longer listening however. She quickly pulled her hooves from the fillies' embrace and bolted towards the crashed derby kart.

The fire squinted its eyes interestedly as it watched the alicorn mare pull the dragon from the wreckage with her front hooves. She cradled the dragon in her forelegs like she would a baby. She levitated the broken helmet off Spike's head to see his sleep-like undamaged form. "Spike..." She whimpered, fighting back her tears. Spike didn't respond, he didn't even flinch. Twilight's frown deepened. She pulled the motionless dragon into a deep hug. "Spike... please... I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you." Her bottom lip quivered, she was searching for the right words. "Spike... I love you."

Starlight and the Crusaders had gathered behind the crying mare as she finished her statement, they couldn't help but tear up at the mare's admittance. Starlight looked up towards the silent dragon resting his head on Twilight's shoulder. Her eyes widened, Spike's eyes were starting to flutter open.

"Tw... Twi-Twilight?" Spike groaned like he had hit his head after a minor spill. Twilight paused in her weeping, she held the dragon out straight in her forelegs so she could look him in the eyes. He smiled sheepishly at the alicorn mare. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?"

A smile spread across Twilight's face, it was the biggest smile Spike had ever seen Twilight give anypony. "Oh thank Celestia, Spike!" She pulled the baby dragon into another tight embrace and smothered his face with kisses. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

Spike blinked in confusion, he had never seen his friend act like this before, especially on his account. He always knew Twilight cared deeply for him, on multiple occasions he would even call her his best friend, but to see her on the brink of tears and turmoil because of something he did was an entirely new experience. He felt his eyes begin to water, it dawned on him that he had nearly killed himself and, what's worse, nearly broke his best friend's heart. All because he wanted to ride a stupid applewood kart.

Twilight felt the dragon wrap his claws around her barrel, he was crying. "I'm sorry Twilight!" He whimpered. "I never meant hurt you!"

The Princess of friendship smiled warmly. "It's okay Spike. I'm just glad your safe." She nuzzled the side of his head affectionately before placing the dragon back down on the ground...

...directly across from the dimly glowing alley.

The fire's eyes furrowed evilly. Now was its chance to strike.

A small trail of flame slither away from the larger mass of blue green fire. As the trail grew longer the fire became smaller, until nothing was left but the burning trail. The fires slowly extinguished revealing a slender slippery form leaving a trail of unburnt feathers in its wake, a snake with scales painted as black as ash.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed past the alicorn mare and quickly glomped onto their draconic friend. "Spike!" They shouted in unison as they hugged him. Spike blushed, since when did he become so popular. He suddenly felt a peck on his cheek, he didn't know where it came from, but fortunately no pony else seemed to notice.

Starlight trotted up next to Twilight, her looks of concern had not yet dissipated. "What were you four thinking?!" She stated authoritatively. "You could of all gotten yourselves killed!" The fillies and Spike broke from their embrace. They all now looked and felt incredibly guilty. "Don't think just because we're happy to see you all alright, will lighten your punishments." Starlight continued.

Twilight nodded. "That's right. Rest assured that we will be telling your sisters and parents about all of this." The children's looks of guilt soon turned to looks of impending doom. But solemnly they nodded in response. The elder mares' authoritative expression made way for warm smiles. "Come on," Twilight said, "let's get you all home. It's way past your bedtimes."

Twilight and Starlight ushered the fillies forward leaving Spike to pull up the rear. An audible hissing was heard, Spike turned back around. His eyes widened with fear. A snake roughly his size in height was cocked back in a striking positon. Spike could not voice his words, his terror kept him still and silent. Twilight looked back upon noticing Spike's absence from the group, she gasped upon seeing the scene playing out in front of her. The snake bared it fangs, Twilight charged, the snake struck and Spike let out a scream.

"Twilight!!"

******

Beep... Beep... Beep...

Spike felt sick to his stomach. He was ringing his hands nervously as the continuous beeps of the hospital's heart monitor rang out throughout the sterile room he found himself in.

Twilight was laying on a hospital bed in front of him, dressed in a blue patient's gown with an I.V. plugged into her left foreleg. A large pair of hole-like gashes were deeply embedded into her right foreleg. They made him feel sick, the fact he could still see them despite them being completely bandaged in gauze. She looked so peaceful, he thought, almost like the alicorn mare was sleeping.

Spike briefly turned back towards the opened hallway door behind him. Starlight was having a conversation with their friends, but he didn’t hear the words. Like his own, their eyes were bloodshot and red. They all had been crying since they had heard the news. He looked back at the pony resting before him, memories of better times were dancing in his head.

Spike squinted his eyes, he felt more tears starting to leak out. He whimpered, he didn't want to cry anymore. Spike clenched his fists at his sides. He bit his bottom lip trying to stay strong...

...but he couldn't take it anymore. He wailed, pointing his snout straight towards the ceiling, his arms hanging limply at his sides. The seven mares paused in their conversation and all looked towards the baby dragon standing alone on the medical floor, their hearts all but shattered.

Like a lost child trapped in the woods without his parents, Spike wailed out every inch of pain he was currently feeling. Pinkie Pie, the naturally most optimistic and hopeful of the group, sniffled. She fought against her own set of tears as she shot towards the baby dragon. She pulled him into the warmest most reassuring hug she could muster in this hour of grief. Spike seemed unfazed as he continued to release his anguish.

The other mares all began to tear, even Rainbow Dash and Applejack who were known for their strong wills, found they could fight against their emotions. Twilight's breathing was shallow and very weak, her chest barely rose and fell. But even despite the wailing happening right next to her, she continued to sleep completely unaware of the situation around her.

Spike screamed. "I don't want her to go!"

"She's not goin' anywhere sugarcube!" Applejack shouted in reply. She trotted over towards the crying dragon, and in a trembling voice said, "The doctors are doin' everythin' they can to make sure she doesn't go anywhere!" She grabbed Spike by the sides of his head and forced him to look her in the eyes. Her brows were furrowed, she was serious. "And if they say they can't do anythin' more, well they're gonna have to talk to me!" She grit teeth aggressively.

"And don't forget me!" Spike looked back over Pinkie's shoulder, Rainbow Dash was floating in their with her front hooves crossed over her chest. Her expression was just as ferocious as Applejack's.

Spike sniffled, his wailing stopped. He felt something soft and glossy rubbing up against his cheek. "Spike, precious scales, I'm so sorry." Rarity sounded about ready to start wailing herself, but continued to nuzzle her friend.

"I can't believe an animal would do something like this..." Fluttershy expressed dourly. "...Attacking a pony unprovoked." Rainbow Dash growled audibly and glared at butter yellow pegasus.

"Well it did Fluttershy! It did!" She shouted hatefully. "That slimy serpent poisoned our friend and then beat it like a coward." Tears were streaming from her eyes. "What I wouldn't give to show him the business end of a shovel!"

Fluttershy frowned, but refused to argue. Right now she didn't trust herself not make good on Rainbow's threats, if given the chance.

Pinkie felt Spike struggle in her grasp. She placed him back on the floor. He was calmer, but the tears never left his eyes. "Thanks everypony." He sniffed. "Do you... do you think she'll be alright?"

The mares were hesitant to answer. A sudden knock on the door pulled them away from the heavy question. Dr. Stables, a stallion with a lab coat, glasses, yellow fur and a finely combed brown mane, was standing in the doorway. His expression was unreadable.

"Can I talk to the seven of you for a minute?" The mares grimaced at each other, before turning to look at Spike.

"We're only going to be away for a minute, Spike. We'll you be okay on your own?" Starlight asked. Spike rubbed his arm tentatively. He faked a brave face as he answered. "I-I'll b-be alright." The mares could clearly note his tremor, but decided to follow the doctor out of the room anyway.

Spike sighed heavily once the mares were out of earshot. He felt about ready to start wailing again.

"Sp-Spike..." A weak voice called out from behind him.

Spike's eyes widened and he turned around. Twilight's head was turned sideways and she was looking at him with half-lidded eyes.

"Twilight!" He shouted in surprise.

******
The mares and doctor continued walking until they had made a good distance between themselves and Twilight's room.

"Now what's all this about." Applejack asked curtly.

Dr. Stables sighed. He levitated a manila folder over towards the mares. "I need one of you to sign this."

"Wh-what is it?" Starlight asked forebodingly. She didn't think she wanted to know the answer.

The stallion levitated his glasses off the bridge of his snout, and rubbed it forlornly. He hated this part of the job. "That is a form that will temporarily give one of you custody over Spike the dragon." The mares collectively gasped.

"But what about Twilight!" Pinkie shouted in shock.

"Whatever bit her is like nothing we've ever seen before here at Ponyville General." He stated. "The snake's venom is infecting her system faster then we can treat it." Applejack began to grit her teeth. "I'm sorry but there's nothing more we can do."

"That's horse-apples!" The doctor was legitimately surprised when he felt the farmer mare collide with his body and press him up again the hallway wall. "I promised the little darlin' in that room there, that you were savin' his best friend!" Dr. Stables noticed that mares wasn't as much angry as she was devastated. "Ya can't just give up on her now!" Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"Again, I'm sorry." He stated this time with a little more tact. "But we can't treat this." The mares' ears each pressed down broken-heartedly against their skulls. The doctor continued. "The most humane thing we can do now is unplug her and stop poison before it eats her completely from the inside out."

Applejack backed off from the doctor and let him fall back to his hooves. The mares were stunned silent, they didn't know how to respond. They looked to each other for answers, but sadly found none. Eventually, all their eyes fell on the manila folder laying on the tiled floor.

Rarity levitated the folder off the ground and held it in front of the group. Applejack looked towards her friends, silently they gave her their answer. Applejack downheartedly sighed. "When ya say unplug, how soon do ya mean." The doctor grimaced.

"I would say in at least a few days. I still need to contact the family of the princess." The mares nodded. The hallway was now dead silent as the doctor stared at their downtrodden looks. Again, he sighed. He really hated this part of the job. "I'll give you all some time to decide." The mares nodded again. Dr. Stables began solemnly trotting down the hall out of earshot.

The mare's looked at the folder. Rarity opened it with her magic. The form was covered in useless legal jargon, that could clearly be stated as "you taking the kid or not?" But what took up the most of the mares' attention was the large bolded line at the bottom of the paper, with a bolded statement next to it that said, "Sign Here."

The mares grimaced. "So... who wants to become a mom?" Rainbow Dash half-heartedly faked a chuckle. The other mares didn't respond. The hallway returned to silence.

******
"Twilight!" Spike shouted ecstatically as he rushed over towards the wounded mare's side. He dug his claws into the sheets of her bed as he smiled at her. "I'm so happy your okay?" He cried.

Twilight smiled warmly. "Your so brave Spike." Her voice was still weak. "First surviving a car crash, now trudging your way through this." Spike smiled back weakly.

"We wouldn't even be here right now if it wasn't for me." His voice was trembling. He lightly hugged her. "I'm so sorry Twilight! I'm so sorry!!"

Twilight lifted her hoof and gently caressed Spike's head. "Sh...Sh...Sh..." She whispered. "It's okay. The important thing to me is that you weren't hurt." Her smile grew wider as she leaned down kissed his forehead affectionately. Unlike the kisses from before, Spike could feel the love from this one. He blushed.

"Besides... if it wasn't for you, I would have never realized how much you really meant to me." She sorely rolled onto her side and wrapped her forelegs around the dragon's neck. She pulled Spike into a deep embrace. "I love you Spike!" She stated happily. "I love you so much, my darling baby boy!" Spike noticed warm tears streaking down his best friend's cheeks. Then a realization struck him.

"Her darling baby boy?" He thought. "What does she mean by..."

Spike felt another kiss pressed against his forehead. "Thank you..." She stated. "Thank you Spike, so much for calling me mom."

Spike blinked in confusion. "But I never..." He paused in his statement. The realization came back to him. "Her darling baby boy..." He thought. "...calling me mom." He remembered back to when she pulled him out of the wreckage of the Crusader. How worried she was, how glad she was just to see him safe. She was acting just like...

Spike put his thoughts on pause as Twilight rolled back onto her back. "Oh Spike sweetie... Oh sweetie..." Her speech sounded dreamy in tone.

"Twilight...?" Spike asked in confusion.

"You'll be okay... I know you will..." Her eyelids were beginning to droop. Spike's blood froze. "...You have our friends, after all."

"Twilight!" Spike shouted.

"Be good now...for me." Her eyes slowly drooped shut as her head sunk deeper into the pillow.

Spike felt the tears return to his eyes. He shook her. "Twilight..." No response. "...Twilight?!" He shook her again. The tears were now welling up on his lower lids. "Mom..." He whimpered. Again, no response.

"No..." The tears were now streaming down his cheeks. "No!" He looked around the room for something, anything that would wake up the alicorn mare. A remote sat on the nightstand next to her bed. He recalled that most hospitals gave their patients remotes, just like that one, in case something serious happened and patient needed immediate help. He rushed over and pressed the button. His sudden burst of speed however, sent him toppling down onto his rump. He continued to cry as he stared up at the mare he now called mom.

Spike could hear the sounds of an entire team of medical ponies rushing in his direction. If he was lucky they could save her and bring her back. Spike squinted trying to wipe away his tears, but sadly they continued to flow. Somehow he knew...

...he was never going to be that lucky.

Author's Note

And thus, the catalyst for our adventure has been sown. This was a very depressing chapter to write. I will not lie to you, I inwardly cried a little bit writing this. Nothing pulls at my sympathetic heartstrings more then childhood tragedy.

Tell me what you guys think, and as always feel free to comment and critique on my work.