A Boy in an All Girls School

Spike had spent another day avoiding Faust and Topaz. He just finished his lunch, which meant school was over for the day and he was free to spend some time with Ember alone. He walked through the hallway until he heard crying coming from one of the offices. He looked over to the door it was coming from and saw it was Faust's. He crept up to the door and listen closely.

Topaz tried to calm her mother's crying saying, "Mother, it's not your fault Bahamut left! Please, I'm sure he'll come to his senses and come back!"

Faust continued to cry saying, "I wish I could believe that Topaz... I smothered you two... I pushed him into running away!"

Spike was shocked, he never thought his mother would blame herself for him running off.

As he continued to listen, "Even with the money he took, that was only enough to rent a motel for two months at the most! He's probably living on the streets now! My sweet baby boy... all alone, cold and starving! I can't stand to think about how hard his life is now!"

Spike walked away from the door and met up with Ember. When Ember saw the sorrow on his face, she asked, "Something wrong Spike?"

He sighed and said, "I-I was listening in on Faust and Topaz... my mother... she blames herself for me running away... Listen, I know we planned to go out into town after classes were over, but I need some time alone. I need to think..."

Ember kissed his cheek and said, "Don't worry, I understand. We can go out another time. If you ever need support, me, Twilight and the girls, and Cadence are always here for you. Keeping this bottled up isn't going to help, you'll need to talk to somebody about it." she walked off and Spike went back to his dorm room. Cocoa was sleeping, so he decided to have a little talk with the only other people here, the voices in his head.

He sat down on the floor, crossing his legs. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes before opening them quickly with a sort of glare. As he did this, he imagined the voices in a physical form in the room with him. There were five voices, and each of them had a name. The first voice who came into his vision was named Jr., and he represented Spike's lost childhood. The second one was named Sally, she was the big sister he never had, but always wanted. The third, who was the memory of when Spike hung out with Garble, was named Abodash. Next was Magnus, which represented the loneliness he felt while living in the motel. Finally, there was Eleanor, who was similar to a guardian angel, she was always there for him when the others weren't.

Magnus scoffed and said, "It's been a long time since we've talked like this Bahamut."

Spike growled and said, "Don't call me that Magnus. My name is Spike now."

Abodash rolled his eyes and said, "Bah, Spike. We all know that's just a facade. Deep down in your heart, you're still Bahamut."

Eleanor smacked Abodash and Magnus from behind their heads. "Enough, Spike did not ask us here to argue about his identity. You all heard what Faust said. This is not a good development."

Magnus rubbed his head and said, "For once we agree on something Eleanor. I may represent the loneliness Ba- eh Spike, felt during the stay in that motel, but I still feel a certain kinship towards Faust. We're all figments of Spike's psyche, we share his emotions, in one way or another."

Abodash crossed his arms and said, "True, but all this time, we thought Faust was furious. The day she blames herself is the day we become actual people. Saying that now it moot though."

Jr. whimpered and said, "W-Won't Faust be mad at Spike if he confesses who he is?"

Spike told them, "I'm not telling my mother the truth. Now yet anyway. If things keep going like this, I might get caught in a guilt trip though."

Sally put a hand on Spike's shoulder and said, "You should talk to someone who actually exists in the physical world, Cadence, Ember, or the girls perhaps?"

The others voiced their agreement and Spike caved in saying, "You're right, talking to the voices who are a part of me won't help. I appreciate your help though, even you two." looking to Abodash and Magnus. He got up and the visions of the voices faded away.

Topaz had been walking past Spike's door and heard him talking to himself. When he came out of his dorm she asked, "Uh... I hope I'm not being rude, but... who were you talking to in there? I-I wasn't eavesdropping, I swear!"

Spike smiled lightly and said, "It's fine Topaz. I was just talking to myself about some issues I've been having. I know I've been kind of rude towards you and o- your mother since you arrived. I'd like to make amends. Maybe we can grab a bite some time?"

Topaz smiled back and said, "That's very nice of you to offer, but my mother's going through some inner turmoil. My older brother Bahamut ran away from home when I was younger, and our mother blames herself. I am worried about my brother, it's been so long since I've seen him, I might not recognize him anymore."

Spike gave her a light hug and said, "I understand. I'm having some family problems too. I hope your brother comes to his senses and returns soon. I'll see you around."

As Spike walked downstairs to go and see Cadence, Topaz thought to herself, "So Spike has troubles with his family too? I never would have guessed... Maybe talking to him about it will give mother somebody to relate to. That might make her feel better. But something's strange... Spike's voice... it sounds so... familiar, as if I heard it before... No, I'm just imagining things. There's plenty of people who have similar voices." and continued on her way.

Spike knocked on Cadence's office door and heard a voice say, "Come in." When he opened the door, he saw Cadence who looked up from her desk and said, "Oh, Spike! Did you need to see me for something?"

Spike sat down and said, "I've been having a bit of trouble with my family. I wanted your advice on it, but you have to promise me. What happens in this room never leaves it."

Cadence removed her glasses and said, "Of course Spike, you of all people should know I take professionalism very seriously. Client confidentiality is of the utmost importance to me. Every word you say to me will not be repeated."

Spike smiled and said, "Thanks. I should start off from the beginning. The parents you've met... their my adopted parents. I ran away from home back in '04. My mother, Faust, was going nuts after our father disappeared. I couldn't stand the way she was smothering me and my sister. My entire life, I thought she would be fuming and angry. But after hearing her in her office with Topaz... she blames herself for me running off. She's worried that I'm cold and starving on the streets... I-I don't know what to do..."

Cadence listened intently to his story, not saying a word until he finished. "I must say, I wasn't expecting Faust to be your mother. But I believe I understand. My mother and father were always pushing me to be the best, and it did get stressful at times. It was only when I was honest with them, that I couldn't handle trying to be their vision of perfect, that we reached a compromise. A family reunion with your real mother and your sister would certainly be bumpy, but it could make the guilt start to go away. I'm not supposed to give advice to students, so I can't tell you what you should or shouldn't do. Your choice has to be yours and yours alone, but remember this. Family doesn't always have to be by blood. Twilight, the girls, they're like family aren't they?" When Spike nodded she continued, "Even if you go back to your real mother, your extended family will still be there."

Spike smiled and said, "Thank you Cadence, I feel a lot better now. I still don't know what to do, but I'll find out on my own."