Chapters At the spring dance, Twilight sits down sad and alone, knowing her lifelong companion will never return. Fluttershy walks over to Twilight concerned about what is going on.
"Twilight? Are you ok?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh my gosh! This is terrible! He could be in horrible condition!"
"It seems rough when you mention whoever is going through a tough time."
"Does Rarity have a new coltfriend?"
"That must've left a mental scar inside of Spike."
"Who else can be your assistant?"
"She looks like a nice assistant."
"Twilight? Is something going over your mind?"
"Oh dear me! Why would he abandon you so hard?"
"Was it my nephew Blueblood?"
"I don't know if Spike can handle it. He may not make it."
"I hope it's ok. The world is cruel out there. He could get hurt."
"I don't think he should run away from home. We need a search party."
"What in the hay is going on between you and my wife?!"
"How about ya tell me what you done to her!"
"Oh yeah, I bet you did something stupid to her!"
"I see how it is! Maybe you need a break from women!"
"Ever since you broke up with that one pony, you just had to hit on my wife!"
"What I think you're doing is trying to steal my wife!" A hoof hits him and a fight breaks out. The mad one then grabs a bottle of finished liquor and smashes it on his opponents face. The bartender walks through the door before another hoof goes back.
"Hey! Break it up and just stop this stupidity!"
"Are you saying that cause your jealous?!"
"Hey! Keep your dad gum hooves off my brother!" Another stallion lunges in before a huge fight breaks out. Spike grabs a cue stick from the stand and calls out to a stallion wearing a leather jacket.
"Listen up kid! This ain't a place for you! Get out or I'm gonna spank ya hard red!" Spike grabs a paper towel and opens a bottle up while placing a small portion of it in.
"Woah man! Don't you even dare light it up!" Spike reads the label saying "Fireball" and another part saying "Do not mix with flames".
"Please don't do it! Here, take my money and go." Spike picks up a bag of bits and goes out the doors feeling relieved from his stress. Walking on the streets of Manehattan, he finds someplace to eat food for now. In the restaurant he see's everypony enjoying a fancy meal and starts to feel uneasy at first. Waiter comes in asking Spike what to start off with and he responds with "Just water, no ice". Looking at the menu, he finds a good entrée for 10 bits. The waiter comes back with a tall glass of water and Spike orders a bowl of clam chowder with a salad. After dinner he leaves some money behind and goes to an alley where he can call it a night. He goes dumpster diving to find an old cloak and something to make it look like somepony else. The Next morning, he grabs a donut for breakfast and heads back to his alley for extended periods of time until lunch and dinner. Days pass on as he continues the cycle over and over. Until he felt like he was getting low, he went back in the bar another night to find somepony all sober and feeling like garbage. Slowly walking over to the counter while being eyed by some tough stallions, the drunk lays his head down not caring whatever is going on as long as he stays there until it was closing time. Spike climbs on the chair and quietly sits when the drunk notices company.
"Feeling down bud?"
"Same here. My lady keeps telling me to quit playing some poker with my friends. It's not like I am losing the money I make for every dad gum game. Heck I even dominate them with no mercy."
"The one I got is beautiful and seems like my dream come true until the next year your together, things go downhill and you just get into pointless arguments and wish you made better decisions."
"Lucky for you. I'm stuck married to somepony who doesn't care about what I want to do and instead forces me to go shopping and eat at those places that serve nasty food."
"Nope. Costs too much money and makes me want to just live in this dumpster of life."
"I guess I should take ya with me since there's no other place." Spike decides to accept what comes next as he walks to the drunks home on the second floor of his apartment.
The door slowly creaks open with a small light shining from the inside.
"I don't think she's still happy. That doesn't mean you can't sleep on the couch tonight. Just lay there and don't make a sound." Still whispering as quietly as possible, he almost knocks down a vase before Spike jumps out of his disguise catching it before seeing the look on his face.
"Spi.." He grabs his mouth shut and shushes quietly.
"Ok" Spike climbs onto the couch whispering goodnight and falls asleep. The next morning a mare whips up some breakfast and brews a cup of coffee before she starts reading her local newspaper. Spike sleeps while the Stallion is dealing with a headache as he tries to regain his balance from the night he had too much.
"Again?"
"Ugh! I hate it when you do this crazy thing!"
"I don't have time to put up with your dumb behavior and try to patch up your mistakes."
"What about the time you got sick and threw up all over the host?"
"What about when you broke someponies collection?"
"Wait a second! Where's the paper?"
"The paper that was on this table!"
"Don't play dumb with me. You know where it's at."
"Why is there a dragon in the house?"
"I want him out! Now!"
"I don't care! Get rid of this unwelcome guest and don't let him back in."
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry for what I said." Spike lowers his eyebrows staring at the mare who said all those mean things.
"Wait don't go. I'll give you anything."
"Anything for an amazing dragon like you." She hands over a bunch of gems to Spike and he walks out the door with his sack of things saying "Goodbye everypony".
Meanwhile in The Everfree forest, Fluttershy cares for her animals while thinking about when Spike will ever return. Discord, resting on the couch, snores as the animals in her cottage roam around, while Angel grows impatient waiting on his meal to be served. The rabbit could not wait any longer, so he jumps onto Discord and hops around on his gut until the draconiquis finally wakes up stretching.
"What is it Angel?" He tries talking, but all that would come out of his mouth were squeaks and high pitched noises. Growing tired of this utter nonsense (in his perspective) he goes back to sleep and ignores the hungry rabbit. Fluttershy comes in seeing a hungry rabbit, begging for food.
"Poor thing. You must be hungry." She grabs some carrots and gives a generous portion to eat." After devouring the whole bowl he tells Fluttershy that Discord could not understand a word he said.
"Sorry to hear that. Discord can't talk to animals like I can." Angel rambles on until Fluttershy decides to wake up Discord.
"Discord darling." Fluttershy called softly. He wakes up slowly seeing his friend looking a little down.
"It's just that, Spike has not been around since he left."
"Now are you getting the picture?"
"Discord?"
"Perhaps maybe you need to try a different approach."
"Oh Discord! I did not expect you to be here. Anything I can help you with?" Asked Twilight.
"Alright I'll brew some. Please find a comfortable spot." Twilight walks into her dining room where Discord was waiting patiently.
"When was the last time you saw him?"
"Spike."
"Let me rephrase this. By what time was he last here?"
"Interesting. Was she by any chance with another stallion?"
"Alright. Care to explain how she managed to get back with him?"
"How does this affect Spike?"
"I believe I have enough words from a witness to help me crack the case."
"If I know him enough, he has a craving for gems, correct?"
"Or maybe he had something else left behind."
Discord knocks on Rarity's door to find that the place is still a mess.
"No no no, not at all. Please come in." Discord looks at how bad it still is to this day and sits on a chair.
"About Spike."
"How did he react to your 'acquaintance' in particular?"
"Did he happen to leave anything behind?"
"And where are they?"
"This isn't enough to help me find him."
"What.. Who.. Huh..."
"Yeah. I saw him go that way."
"Discord?!"
"What are you doing here? Get lost!"
"You're not the boss of me!"
"Fine if you can't go without me we'll stay right here."
"I accept your challenge." Spike sits down with his arms crossed, while Discord pulls out a book and a pair of glasses designed for reading. Many hours pass until he closes his book to see Spike still sitting there in the same position as he was before.
"Felt like this for days."
"Nope, not one bit."
"They can laugh all they want. All I am is just a useless dragon."
"Prove it!"
A town is all quiet when Spike and Discord arrive at the reality where Spike never existed.
"A world where you don't exist."
"Not yet." A rainboom goes off out of nowhere and then Spike notices what point in time they're in.
"Oh yes, but one had a rather different fate." He see's Twilight corned in terror, looking at what terrible mess she made.
"No Twilight! You had one simple task and you failed to show responsibility in your magic!"
"Apparently this is a result of poor teaching from your parents!"
"You will transferred to a regular school where fillies like you will not be using your magic for such horrible acts."
"I wouldn't try if I were you." Spike tries to pick up a rock but instead it passes through his hand.
"Nopony can see or hear you."
"She gets what she asked for and that is a suspension for destroying you completely."
"Now you're gone forever."
"Nonsense, tis but a mere illusion."
"Oh no, this is a real reality alright."
"It's all there black and white, clear as crystal."
"Wrong. This is where the show really begins." Discord snaps his fingers showing a sky dark as it could ever be.
"Since Twilight never learned to control her magic, she never traveled to Ponyville. And if she never went there, the elements of harmony would've never ceased to stop Nightmare Moon."
"Not with raw power alone."
"Nope" Discords fingers go off yet again to where a place full of darkness is set.
"Very sad to see those poor, terrible ponies, suffering from what fate has handed over to them."
"It's all gone. Even me could never come forth since my magic could never trump over the great and powerful...."
"No! Tirek."
"Indeed."
"There's more." The human world without Spike shows up with The Dazzlings laughing with pride."
"Without you, Twilight would've never entered into this world, Sunset would've started a great war that could tear up lots of things."
"They keep feeding off of dark emotions which allow them to rule over without worry."
"Now you see why you matter?"
"I don't know. But right now, everypony is worried sick about you and you still have not returned home."
"This is complete stupidity! All you are thinking of is Rarity with that stallion by whom you consider your worst enemy by all means!"
"Did he save The Crystal Empire?"
"Isn't that enough appreciation for one?"
"Do you know she's an adult?"
"You're a child!"
"Isn't it obvious? She does not feel anything romantic since she is older than you and you are just lost within your own thoughts."
"Actually, it's a crime for her."
"If you look closely, the laws clearly state that young adults at the age of 18 may not date someone who is a minor of any sort."
"Come on now, lets head back home."
"Just to make sure you are never escaping, these chains are fireproof." Spike breathes even more fire while Discord yawns in boredom. Seconds later, Spike runs out of breath and summits to surrender.
"Come along now, we must get going. The clock is moving and we must go."
Twilight looks at the horizon, waiting hopefully for her friends return. After 10 minutes of waiting, she gives up for another day. A puff of magic comes out of nowhere before Twilight jumped.
"Spike?" The helpless dragon couldn't move one bit. He was well chained before being dropped on the ground. Discord removes the chains with a snap of his fingers, while Spike sits there with his head turning away from Twilight.
"Spike, I was so worried about you."
"Rarity felt terrible about you leaving."
"They're still together."
"Don't beat yourself up."
"Go away Twilight! I'm not in the mood!" Starlight walks through with a concerned look on her face.
"Cause I've had enough of this garbage and wish I could be left alone for good!"
"Ever since I met her, I felt like she was my special somepony who would be my darling."
"Easy for you to say. I wish I could be older."
"Who would want to marry a dragon?"
"Whats the point? All I am is an outcast with nopony interested in me."
"Woah! Can't you give me a little space?"
"No thanks Pinkie. I'm not in the mood." Pinkie starts to look a little concerned until she notices a jelly filled donut.
"Hey! Don't you have any manners?! At least you could've asked and maybe I would've let you have it!"
"Find somepony else to bother." Pinkie walks back inside the sugarcube corner before coming back out with another donut.
"What is this?"
"Thanks Pinkie." Spike grabs the donut and eats it without expression.
"Fine I guess...."
"Ever since I saw Rarity with another stallion she hated before, I felt betrayed."
"I thought we'd be together for as long as we live."
"Like what?"
"Seems harsh."
"Thats not really true, I am famous in the crystal empire. A statue was made after me."
"I guess I should see Rarity and tell her that we are no more."
"I don't know if she will change the way she feels." Spike finishes his cocoa and donuts before heading to Rarity's Boutique. He nervously knocks on her door before it creaks open.
"Hello?"
"Hey! I was here to see Rarity."
"I need to talk to her." Spike walks in slowly with a little tremble down his spine. As he enters through Rarity's door, he see's her focused on work itself.
"Rarity?" The white mare turns around with a little disappointed expression.
"Look, I'm sorry about what I did back there. I let my emotions get the best of me."
"I know. But sometimes when you are struck with strong emotions, you can't help it that easy."
"I'm over that."
"After seeing what monster I've become and how reckless I was, I decided that you don't belong to me."
"Well now you know why I came. I'm done loving on you. You belong to Blueblood." Rarity felt a little sorrow from such strong words and looks at Spike before he turns around.
"By the way, don't call me 'Spikey Wikey' anymore!"
Spike gave Rarity a strong word. There was no turning back for him since he felt a little better now that his relationship with Rarity was all, but different. Spike crawls onto his bed going back to sleep.
An hour passes before he was disturbed by a knock on his door.
"Spike. I heard you were a little rough on Rarity."
"You didn't have to go this far."
"Promise me that you'll never run away ever again."
"What's out could be dangerous. You could've got hurt." Spike looks back at Twilight with a small tear running down his right cheek. Starlight notices something was still up and about.
"Not really. I'm done with Rarity."
"Why should I even think she deserves me. All I am is just a dragon."
The next day, Spike wakes up and prepares some crepes for himself while making Twilight some fruit salad. Starlight walks in to see him working hard to prepare the most important meal of the day.
"Spike?" Asked Starlight.
"Somepony here wants to see you."
"I guess they can wait."
"Spike?" Called out a familiar voice. He turns around to see Prince Blueblood with a bit concerned look.
"I know we've gotten off the wrong hoof. So I want us to amend fences."
"I guess your still not over it yet."
"You don't need to love each other, you can still be friends."
"Maybe he needs to be left alone for about a week." Said Starlight.
"He does have some pride when it comes to his accomplishments."
During the day, Spike is at the local comic book store reading "Spider Stallion: Issue #55" . The door jingles to a white filly with a purple and pink mane.
"Spike?" He looks up to see it's Sweetie Belle.
"Hey. Can you put it down for a second?"
"Spike, listen to me." Spike sighs and puts the comic down.
"I know we've been a bit awkward for months now."
"What I'm trying to say is.... I.... love you." Spikes eyes widen a bit in shock.
"No matter what happened, I forgive you for your troubles and ask that we bury the hatchet."
"Not really. I haven't told anypony else but my closest friends."
"A lot. You hold a special place in my heart. I don't want anypony else but you."
"Alright. Well.... Promise me you will not tell anypony else." Spike was beginning to question himself whether or not he is that attractive to anyone out there. Shrugging it off, Spike goes back where he left.
The next week after Sweetie Belles Confession, Spike is doing his daily chores in the castle. In the kitchen, he scrubs every plate, cup, fork, knife, spoon, and tool. A sudden knock on the door causes Spike to jump, thus accidentally tossing a plate in the air. With every bit of energy he had, he jumps onto the floor to save the plate from shattering.
"Phew! That was a close one."
"Well. I guess I have a few left."
"I...I...I got this." Spike was feeling rather unusual since he didn't care to be around Rarity one bit, but her sister was another different story. After Spike was done with the dishes, he sits down somewhere quiet where they can talk.
"What brings you here?"
"Sometimes I wish I could get a better grip on my emotions, but whenever I am confronted with something extreme, I can't help it that easy. Not everypony has what it takes to pull through that quick."
"Tell me about it. I can't be prepared for anything that comes my way. The only thing I can always be prepared for is me to expect the least of things to happen and try to make the best with whats there." Sweetie Belle comes closer to Spike and hugs him with her deepest of warmth. The ice that lived in his heart for days finally thawed out, thanks to somepony who was good enough to cure his depression. And with that, a large weight was lifted off him and they become small lovers. Rarity on the other hand was not visited as much since Spike has been paying more attention to Sweetie Belle more than her, but she accepts the fact that she doesn't need him to feel happy since she has plenty of other friends.
Spike never thought this day would come, the day he would use to earn the love of his life. It wasn't hearts and hooves day, no it was the spring dance that was coming the next day. He worked very hard on looking as good as he could ever be. He wore a fancy bowtie, a nice tuxedo, and a top hat, even brought flowers. Once he got to Rarity's house he knocks on the door and waits patiently. Sweetie Belle answers and opens the door slowly.
"Spike? What brings you here?"
"She's in her fashion room."
"Oh Blueblood... How could I ever treat you like this... Who am I to blame?" Quoted Rarity
"There are some amazing things you must try. Some of which are quite fancy."
"Why are you doing this?" Said Spike.
"I thought you and Blueblood were never coming together again!"
"How can I ever believe you after seeing you with somepony else that ruined your special night."
"Well you can forget about me!"
"Yeah it is!"
"Spike?"
"What is going on? Is anypony having issues with each other?"
"Wait! Please tell me what's going on."
"Spike, why are you upset?"
"She would never leave you behind."
"I do not have one."
"Please settle down. This is going too far."
"Why are you saying this?" Starlight walks in with a confused look on her face.
"I don't know what's really gotten into Spike, but he might be reaching a point in life where frequent mood swings are more common."
"Why did you turn her against me?!" Asked Spike.
"You are nothing but a traitor! You stole her from me!"
"Don't lecture me bloody murderer! I see the lies you were full of! I have brought peace to everypony in the Crystal Empire! All you brought upon her is sorrow!"
"Then if your not with me, then you're my enemy!" Spike jumps onto Blueblood and begins punching him with his fists leaving a few bruises on his face. Blueblood picks him up with his magic and moves him away before he could throw more on him. Before Spike could attack once more, Rarity jumps in between before she is scratched a bit by his claws leaving a mark. Shocked by his actions, he runs off to his old home, the treehouse, burned down from a battle of the past. In his state of anger, he see's Rarity and Blueblood together while he lays in the shadows of despair with tears coming down as they were together. Soon he has a vison of them having a family and enjoying a luxury life of happiness. Realizing the damage he done, he runs to the woods where nopony else could find him, no more friends, no Celestia, and even no gems to eat. All he had for himself was a blanket, a pillow, some snacks, and his walking stick. Wandering lonely in the forest, he see's a rabbit come by, but refuses to interact with it. Never wanting to turn back, he see's somepony in the distance sleeping with his hat over his eyes. He had dirty brown hair, a torn up jacket, and a long beard, plus somewhat rotten teeth. Spike tries to avoid making contact until a eagle screeching startles the stallion.
"Huh, what! Who goes there?!" Spike falls down in fear seeing the reaction to a normal sound. The wanderer looks down to see somebody unique came by.
"What in the hay are you doing here?"
"Ran away? Why in the world would you do that?"
"Nah phooey. I dealt with worst things."
"Oh it was bad. First I sent to 10 years prison for a crime I didn't commit, then I found a way out through a tunnel that somepony else dig through without getting noticed. Once I escaped prison, I found a rotting corpse that had some clothes I could wear to hide well, but I never wanted anypony to see my face for as long as I live. Now I live in the woods with nothin to eat except fruits and vegetables, and I can't have any perfect water except by the waterfall, so all I have now is a poor life."
"No way kid, you can't be out here in the wilderness without shelter, there's dangerous creatures ready to attack at any moment."
"Dragon or not, you won't make it far if you go further."
Day 1: Life could never be the same. First somepony triggers Rarity one night, next thing you know, It all comes crashing down when that one stallion returns for love. Running away was the only thing I could do to rid of this pain, but I question myself if it was the right choice... Nah, I don't need advice, I can live on my own.
