Our Secret Masque

by Skylarking the Stargazer

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rarity, Romance, Original Character, Spike
Length: 8095

Spike refuses to celebrate Hearth's Warming Eve with his friends as he is left pondering on his past and future.

A winter day that was supposed to be of jolly and love, Spike had something else knocking on his door. He’s supposed to celebrate with his friends for the upcoming holiday, yet his own past begins to haunt him in and out.

Just who, or what, can this mysterious trigger be that fell upon him? Was he really destined to stay with his kind, never belonging in Ponyville?

Published 2018-12-25 01:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2018-12-25 01:00:01 UTC

Unbounded With Silver Lining

Author's Note

And as expected, here's a wonderful journey of a tune... Journey of waiting that served as my inspiration.

Enjoy :)

Unbounded With Silver Lining

A shuddering dusk accompanied by her twilight scenery trimmed the fading horizon, below the dark sky were candy caned candles and prismatic lights dangled across the roads of Equestria. Every mile was a tree that represented the sole holiday celebrated by the Equines at the end of each year. Songs of joy echoed throughout towns and cities. Ponies either stayed in and celebrated with their families, or camped out and lived their life to the fullest with their friends.

Spike sighed, he had no spur whatsoever to leave his tiny bed. He lied there, doing nothing but staring at the dark cobalt ceiling stretched like a vast arch above. It was dark, obscurely dark, but he preferred it that way. The door not too far from him stood firm, until the doorknob clicked and found its way clockwise.

“Spike, aren’t you going to help Twilight decorate the castle? We’re—”

“Yeah,” he replied, barely subsuming his groan, “I’ll be there.”

“Actually, Twilight just finished the last one hundred light bulbs, so I guess we’re pretty much done there. I don’t think the rest of the job will be a drag on for you.” Starlight Glimmer smiled, stifling her giggle. “But you should come out and get some fresh air, being a couch potato won’t tune your mood.”

The drake grunted. “I’m not in the mood right now.”

“Um, not in the mood for Hearth’s Warming Eve? Is this the Spike I know of?” She prepared to chuckle, but was interrupted,

“Yeah, Hearth’s Warming Eve, that’s the thing that ponies in Equestria celebrate. And I do too, involuntarily. Don’t know why didn’t really care, because it didn’t matter at first, but since everypony is glad that I’m part of a species that doesn’t go with my own people, they don’t seem to care about my problem blah blah blah.”

“Spike, are... you okay?” A hesitant step after another, she walked over to the unsettled assistant of Twilight Sparkle, only to be returned with a desolated dragon stare.

“I’m fine." He sighed. "Sorry Starlight. I’m just confused with my identity sometimes, it’s more of a personal dragon tick thing or whatever.” He sighed again, turning his head away from the mare. “I know it’s been well enough of years leaving my past alone and moving on, but now that a new year is turning, I just need to reflect on myself. Eventually, I realized—”

Starlight gave the dragon a gentle nuzzle on his cheekbone, much to the latter’s surprise. She turned her back and began walking towards the bedroom door.

“You can say no more, Spike. We’re on the same wavelength. I’ve constantly thought about my own villainous past as well. But what matters is now, and how I can control the moment to secure a future.” She was returned with silence, but a warm smile curved on her lips nevertheless.

“I think I have nothing else to say, you’ll eventually get it. Just rest here until I come and fetch you when we’re all set for tonight, sounds good?”

Spike, lacking any obtrusion, scratched his eyes. “Yeah, sure... Thanks, Starlight.”

Winking, she gently shut the door and Spike was thrown into the darkness once more. The air was heavy and packed with inconspicuousness, he can still breathe fire properly though. Maybe he should just burn down the entire castle.

He winced at the thought, for why on Equestria would he do such a thing?

“Starlight, do you mind sorting out the chairs by their color? You can change them if you want to, as long as it matches the color and style of our friends and families coming over.”

“Sure thing, Twilight! I’ll call Trixie to come over and help me bake traditional gingerbread cookies and candy cupcakes.”

“Of course! The more the merrier!”

Spike could hear the two mares chuckle, and they did with such enthusiasm and charm. His problem right now is only him and him alone.

‘What’s wrong with me? Do I really know what I’m upset about?’ He thought out loud. From the drawn down curtains of the crystal made windows he could see Luna raising the moon high up into the upper atmosphere, painted with lustrous sapphire that seemed like shards of glass piercing through the dragon’s very own eyes. The moonlight glistered past the windows and onto a wardrobe standing in front of Spike’s little bed. A shadowy slit was cast between the wardrobe doors as if it wasn’t supposed to be there.

Subsequently, it was the princess’s prized assistant who would make sure every minuscule piece of detail must be kept clean. A tiny gap is no excuse to slack off.

Groaning, Spike managed to lift himself upright and walked over to the wardrobe. The shadow inside remained strong even after he exposed it under the silver moonlight. He was, of course, perplexed by the sight.

Shrugging to himself, he proceeded to crawl inside over the blankets, and through the dresses and clothing. As he inched deeper into the wardrobe’s voided light, Spike felt a warmth of glow brushing on his scales. He no longer felt the wooden surface of the wardrobe nor the clothes stored and hung inside, but rather empty air. Though, he felt as if he wasn’t falling at all.

Eventually, he reached a rough surface that could only be testified with a sizzle of claws. Realizing that he was on his knees, he got up and walked ten more steps forward into the pitch blackness. The dark atmosphere soon vanished, and the first sighting of color and light was a large lake that stretched wider, and presumably deeper, than the hollow and perilous Ghastly Gorge. The deep indigo above the lake traced silent heaven that could not be echoed across.

“Where in Equestria am I?” He shielded his emerald gaze from the darting moonlight. Looking ahead, his sight was disturbed from nothing but a series of seiches battering over each other, playful and stupid. Followed the waters under the moon was a tiny island, isolated from everything else there is to be seen.

He recouped his focus back on where he was standing, and soon there was a fiery orange boulder sitting alone at the cliff of the mountainous terrain platform. The luminescence from the boulder’s citrine surface caught his eye, and he blinked.

‘Did it just move? Strange...’

He rubbed his grumbling stomach as it rippled across his hollow belly. Before glancing at the boulder once more, it was the last time Spike turned his attention away from the mysterious gem. As he walked closer towards the land’s end, he ceased all signals to the depth of his neurons. He realized that the figure was not a boulder nor a gem. In fact, it began to lower its—

“Wings...” He plopped onto the ground. In a shard of the second, the creature stood a foot taller, with its orange wings far and wide away from its body. Turning around, it noticed the young dragon and seemed in joy.

“You must be Spike, I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

“You... what?” He scratched his head as he looked at the larger dragon, who was no more bigger than Ember. “I don’t follow.”

She grabbed Spike by his claw. “It’s a long story, but I think it’s best if we talk by the cliff.”

Confused? Muddled? Spike nodded with a bare mind. When they arrived at the cliff in a couple of steps, he felt as if time never passed.

“Do you smell the incense of the colorful sounding lake?”

“Huh?” Spike looked up at the older dragon, baffled as ever with her figurative speech. “What smell? And it’s just plain black.”

A sigh. “I’m aware of that. She hung her legs at the edge of the high cliff. “Probably because I’ve been in this darkness for so long I forgot what colors were.”

“Who are you, and where are we?” Spike asked as he sat down next to the mysterious dragon.

She stared into the edge of the dusky world, never meeting his gaze. “It’s fine if you don’t know who I am because we were fated to part ways until this very moment.”

“You were chosen to leave Dragon's Lair, and entered a world across the Celestial Sea that’s mysterious to us.”

“If you hadn’t known your parents, again, that’s perfectly fine.”

Spike pressed his head. “I haven’t thought about it that much.”

“It’s intriguing.” The dragon held Spike’s claw, gently rubbing over it like a soft piece of fabric. “How a species from one world can abandon his old ways and take on the next, children are easy to influence.”

“I...” Spike repeated, but this time his discouraged voice trailed off. ”... Yeah, I’m practically a pony now.”

“I have craved for your return one day, but that never happened. I didn’t know how much pain my heart can withhold without you.”

“How do you know my name?”

She sighed, glitters of cliff shards sprinkled into the black lake glowing so bright. Her citrine wings seemed to call for the wendigos. These evil spirits came thundering towards them but rapidly flashed before them in a blink of an eye.

“I was informed of your whereabouts by my father, who was a journalist traveling across lands of all species, most notably the land of the ponies, the Equine world, where you’re located. He was someone who understood me and my true feelings: to have you back home.”

“What happened to him?” Spike asked, his voice reaching out to curiosity.

“We parted ways, and I never saw him or my mother again.”

“W-why?”

She put her claws onto the infant’s forehead, slowly adjusting to its ponified texture and scent, and grinned to herself.

“You sure ask a lot, but I like it.”

She continued. “You and I were born on the same exact day, hour and minute. No other youths were born around those times, only you and I.”

Spike slowly tilted his head upward into the drakaina's eyes, much to the latter's humor.

"Yes, I may look much larger and older, but that is the effect of this world. For it is at a disproportion compared to Equestria. Every week out there is a single month here."

Spike blinked.

"Your hatching was delayed for an entire year when you left us. And according to dragon norms, succeeding a year old means you're well off to live on your own, meaning I was able to travel across Dragon's Lair."

"Ohhh. Now that makes a lot of sense—" He blinked again. "But why am I here?"

Casually ignoring his question, she proceeded, “The only quantity that separated us apart was the immeasurable distance. Our parents did not know each other, we had zero connection. However, I was able to stumble upon this mysterious prophet...”

“Do go on.” Spike urged. He noticed the drakaina's claws clutching tightly by her chest. It made him want to do the same, yet he was not ready to share his feelings.

“She... she said... t-that... I...”

He stood up and patted her on the back as if she was going to choke herself. “Look, if it’s too much for you. You don’t have to say it. We dragons aren't good at sharing feelings anyway.”

“No.” The drakaina clenched her claws. “I have to let you understand what I’ve been through just by waiting here.” She gulped. "Because you deserve to know everything."

Respiring, she put her claws onto her laps and seized the trapped air in between as she slowly curled them inwards.

“She told me that I will one day fulfill my happiness and cross paths with a dragon who will uncover our genuine and true love. He was lavender scaled and newborn leaf spiked of green. I was ready to discredit her, I was ready to ignore her fables like any dragon would have... Until the prophet showed me an image of him.”

“Uh, that “him” is clearly me, right?”

The drakaina warmly grinned. “Who else would it be?”

“I was worried that I would never find you because I never met a dragon of your appearance. But the prophet ensured me, that I will succeed, and that even in the despair of our dragon race, this discovery of you will change the course of everything there will be. The following day, the prophet mysteriously disappeared and was never seen again. Without any further information, it was unbearable to even fear the fact that I'm forced on a designated path. And it's some sort of romantic feeling that I just couldn't scratch off.”

“I let it all go, and my knees scraped the rough earth as I just remained there. I spaced out, not understanding what was even going on. I felt my chest being tormented with sizzling of claws and soon fell into a fever. And one thing for sure I learned on that day: I'm not in favor of following destiny. I wouldn’t call it confusion, but fear. A fear of being controlled elsewhere, to seal my future. I would always think to myself later on: A member of the mighty dragon race showing emotional weakness?”

She shed a tear. The liquid glittered as it dashed upon the tiny shards of the cliff. Specks of the remaining particles were nowhere to be found in the great lake of darkness and despair. "Clueless and lost, I could only seek answers from my father, who was like I said, a journalist. He told me that while it’s not obvious, families are personally discreet about the color of their scales. For some strange reason, we tend to avoid those who share similar shades of scale color.”

"But you said our parents didn't know each other."

"Well yes, you're right. I only described your appearance as a means to get more information of individuals who were distinctly related to you."

“Race diversion among us dragons?" Spike scratched his muzzle. "Maybe that was why Ember and Garble didn’t hang out with those of their colors when I saw them.”

The drakaina nodded with a heavy sigh, more towards a blurry anxiousness. "Now this is something I must show you in order to reveal the entire picture."

With that said, she stood up and snapped her claws. Following her lead, Spike stared down into the black pearl as it revealed a visual image of dragons coming to life. His jaw hung in mixed emotions twisting into a fiber and weaving through the cold air as the animation depicted the volatile reality beyond his expectations.

Dragons fought and ravaged the earth into bottomless pits. Females lied and bled with their children before they gave their last drop of energy with mighty roars into the flaring sky. Lava overflowed the channels, flooding and erasing everything there once was to represent the dragon race. Many have lost a wing on one side or the other, or both. Pieces of teeth nailed into chests and stomachs. Everything was debased into flatlands and raining debris of former homes, statues, landmarks, mountains, as well as scales and horns formerly belonging to the Lair's people.

A breathless Spike scratched his eyes as an ageless white alicorn stood on a granite pillar. She looked as if she was a fly when Torch fumed through his nostrils. Their expressions were coldly silent as if this was planned all along. With a nod between the two mythical creatures, the alicorn's tiara glowed in an uplifting manner, painting the aura of her spell into amethyst gold. Within a white flash piercing Spike's eyes, the ounce of truth slowly presented itself before him.

The surviving dragons stopped what they were doing, and as they witnessed the slaughtered corpses of their own kind, they mourned and bellowed with rage. The fine sky, although cleared of the deathly ashes and billowing smoke, was disrupted with the rough noises tearing it apart. Under the command of their Dragon Lord, Torch, they were left with no choice but to rebuild their home and find unified peace (although unstable). As the animated visual returned to the lake of hollow blackness, Spike was on his knees. His claws gored through the cliff and dug into the sediments like tiny drills. The drakaina, on the other hand, was as lifeless as the sediments themselves.

"You— What did you just show me?"

Already stung cold, she was more than ready for those words. “Your parents told me they struck a deal with the Sol Princess years ago: that they would reluctantly offer to allow her to summon your unhatched egg as a test run to see how would a dragon be put up with their culture. Many dragons, especially teenagers and young adults, created uproars in the refusal of equine interference with our dragon ways. It became a matter of stubborn pride against social progression and cultural exchange. Without any other choice, Dragon Lord Torch had his army silence the juveniles through brute force, before it was finally agreed upon by our entire community.”

"And as for the Alicorn Princess, the light she unleashed was a magic spell which erased our memories of your existence, and the very reason why we clashed with one another for the sake of defending the dragon identity. Thus stopping the war once and for all. I would've forgotten you as well hadn't I been informed by the mysterious prophet and your parents."

Briefly snapped into consciousness, Spike asked in excitement. "So you know where my parents are?"

Much to his chagrin, the drakaina shook her head. Her citrine scales glistened under the showering of silver lust. "The last time I saw them, their open-minded approach towards me was out of any dragon, or a pony's expectation. Dragon after dragon, they all rudely turned me down when I asked them of you until your mother gave me the only hug I have ever received. Of course, I was not used to their welcoming manner, but the kindness has forever left a mark in me." She turned to face Spike with a gentle grin. "And I can see that heritage runs in the family, even when he was sent to elsewhere of a completely different society. The Sol Princess spared their memories in respect for their only son, and it was courageous of her to do so under the severe pressure of our lost cause."

"But your parents..." She flicked a gleaming teardrop away from her sapphire eyes. "Torch knew I was the only dragon outside your family who knew of you. And consequently, he banished me to this realm in fear of me spreading the knowledge of your existence, which might infuse the hatred of the juveniles once more."

She noticed Spike silently reflecting on what she’s just told him. To him, there was more to take in than just seeing this drakaina. Everything came toppling down his throat at once. It was as if his spirit already left his body and plunged into the lake to drown.

"So you're saying I'm a genetic experiment used between you guys and the ponies? And I was the reason that we had a civil war? Claiming lives one by one?!"

Tight as her chest condensing her heart, the drakaina's claws gripped into a solidified boulder. "Spike. Please listen to me. I know there's a lot more than you can take at the moment, but you have to trust me, because this is something you must know right this instant, and not anytime else."

"And so what?" Spike raised his voice. "I don't even know you! Yet you're here lying to my face that the two species I belong to have betrayed me as a result of tearing them apart?"

"And I'm trying to get everything across! Alright?" Releasing a sigh, the drakaina's song of melancholy drifted away into the unknown darkness. "I understand your emotional rift, Spike. You're a unique individual who originated from a ferocious species who knows no fear, only honor, and desperation for honor; at the same time the experience of a peaceful species who desires love and friendship. No species are unaware of your four Princesses ruling the Equine world right now."

She pointed to the silver moon as it bled tears for her inner tension. "I've been here, not because I was trapped by Torch's fearsome tyranny, but I chose to be here. I was once raised like a dragon, roared like a dragon, hunted like a dragon, stole like a dragon... I lied, hated, envied, and nothing made me rest. My parents loved me but never had they bother clearing the intoxicated flames that devoured my marrows. Feeling lost and lonely, my toughness soon peeled itself off into insecurity and fierce guilt. I still don't understand how I ever went through the pain of such drastic change. My emotions burned a hole in my heart. My ego has deflated from pride to shame as if I'll ever return to my dragon roots."

She blinked as she took time to check on Spike, who remained idle and crossed. But she knew those words were wiggling through those tiny ears of his.

"To be abandoned by your identity, your family, and your ways of life are represented with a permanent wound. We're afraid because we then have to change, and that change will undergo years of trial and error before we settle past the dust. But there is nothing we can do about such struggle, it's what we have to go through in life. Only I wish... it didn't have to come so soon for me."

"And now, we're here together, after eons of divergence by the sun and moon. Our hearts truly belong to each other. And we can forget about the horrific past, Spike. Just you and me, together, like we were chosen to be. And earlier you were mentioning 'Ember', right? As the successor of her father, she should be able to understand my story and allow me to return to Dragon's Lair.

And we'll happily live there, together."

She reached out her claws to hold the drake, only to be pushed away in a hostile manner. Instead of immediate anger, Spike tossed a pebble into the deep dark lake, a cool tug of breeze engulfed their flimsy contact. The wendigos have returned to crawl into their hollow bones once more.

“So basically, I'm the one who murdered my own kind."

“Spike...”

"And because of me, there was chaos. I was the cause of disharmony and war." He let out a babyish growl, glaring at the drakaina in seething fury. "Thanks a bunch, weirdo. Now I know how much of a mistake I was to be ever born, even before I grew any older."

“And you know what’s wrong with fate? Everyone will eventually become something, whether it be a hero of an entire empire or a sickening evil corrupted by hatred and misunderstanding. You can be whatever you want, so why pick me to bother? Don't bring this stupid religious thing called 'fate' into my life!”

“Spike, I—”

“Don't call me that.”

She stopped cold, to fulfill her lover’s desires. The ripples stopped, the wendigoes retreated without hesitation, and then the universe itself was seized along with the eternal and ethereal spirits watching over them. But the one thing the drakaina wished not to happen was time, and right now the one who controls it was the one standing in front of her, crumbling the wounded core of her soul.

Spiked seethed with a flaming heart radiating from inside out. “I’m the one talking here. And I’m tired of you guys being so darn selfish! Why must I be here with a stranger like yourself? And before you can say your kind into my face, well I’ll tell you what. I don’t care! I’m not a dragon! I don't have to be with another dragon to be happy! I’m a pony, a pony who can talk with other ponies! A pony who sang! A pony who danced! A pony who saved an empire for the sake of his friends! A pony” —

He continued on and on, but one thing for sure is his incoherence of words thumping through giant brick walls and dryly sucked from his shrinking lungs. He barely formed proper sentences with his croaked throat, but they were still understood as he swallowed hard. Eventually, he would come to a terminal, for he was breathless as time translated the words into meaninglessness.

“A pony... who fell in love with another pony on first sight...”

The drakaina could no longer tell what world she was in right now. "You're, already in love...?"

Spike fixed her the most heart-melting glare neither of them would even imagine. "Yeah, and what do you know? You think you can step into my life and control me, help me make my life decisions by by by—" His words nearly slipped in conflict, for he loathed it now. "—Marrying you? You'll never take her away from me. My heart belongs to her, and hers truly."

She clenched her chest again, this time in shame. Looking away, the drakaina was blind. Was she, always this blind?

A moment of silence passed, Spike suddenly shivered. He didn't know why, but it was at something unknown.

"But in the end, I'm just scared. I'm scared that I'll lose myself. I belong in a place where ponies harmonize for the sake of a better future. And it's such a wonderful life, I mean..." He sighed with a slight hint of relief. "Look at it! Equestria is nothing like the Dragon Lands. Why would I ever put aside everything I once had and force myself to adopt a different lifestyle?"

He slowly fixed his gaze upon the drakaina, who was too busy interpreting between his words, clouded in thought. "If I were to go with you, would that mean to return to Dragon's Lair?"

She stared blankly into his emerald light.

"Would that mean I would never get to see my friends again?"

His fears failed to conquer her as she continued staring.

"Would that mean I'm back to where I started?"

Silence.

"What would become of me if I said 'yes'?!" She did not budge a muscle even when the baby was wailing like one. His natural childishness has been peeled down as he repeatedly plunged his fists into her arms, his head into her torso. "What would my friends think of me? A betrayal? A lie? Twilight would never have adopted me had it been that stupidly true!"

The drakaina, acting on her instincts, wrapped her arms around Spike and brought him closer. It was only fair to call her viable when she has done it under his intemperate beatings, which hurt no one but himself.

"Answer me! Y-you whatever lizard freak! I don't even know your name! You hurt me with your words so much, and you're talking about stupid love and fate when you can't even pass the most basic step of making a friend!"

It was then, the drakaina widened her eyes. She grasped Spike tighter into her clutch and lowered her muzzle to press against his premature but leathery skin. He did not care. He just wanted to be home, not having to know the truth that damaged his faithful spirit. All the pictures of his own origin shattered into glass shards and remained in the nodes of his mind. He was just a baby, yes he was. Now he's forced to choose a life towards adulthood: to love or not love, to live alone and end his legacy or espouse and struggle being a father, to figure out his own moral compass and then decide... It suddenly felt as if the whole world was collapsing on his shoulders. Spike was helpless and alone. He could do nothing but continue pounding, wrestling, and fighting for his virtues—

He stopped. A well carved out boulder he was, infrigidated, tiny, soon to disintegrate.

"I... I forgot..."

The immature ruckus died out as soon as he let go of her. His jaws slowly descended. "What did you say?"

The drakaina gripped on her left arm. Her citrine scales flashed before the moonlight. "I forgot. Which was why I tried to hide it from you until you mentioned it."

"Y-you're kidding, right?" Spike raised his voice. Turning his back to the drakaina, the unthinkable words were produced through "You can't be that helpless, right? T-that's just... disappointing."

"I know, I know..." She sobbed as moisture swarmed her eyes like wild vines. Her love's truth could not have struck her harder. "Deep down, I'm a pathetic fool who only yearned for a desire. I'm no different from those beasts from our homeland. The greed bears well within me, and it's something I could never escape. And that greed flares so brightly, it has a mind of its own. Because of it, I'm stuck here wandering in the dark. I've been lost for so long, I can't even remember my own name anymore, other than a dreadful past."

"I'm just... I'm just tired of being alone, searching and searching to no end. And trapped here to wait, wait while suffocating in vain. I need someone by my side, and whom he is... my precious."

She put her claws on Spike's shoulders. Agony pierced the sound barrier as well as the heartless wendigos. This time, to her surprise, the infant did not wail nor fight back. He simply let her, or perhaps the wheels of fate, take over his rational thinking. It felt tender and quite delicate. Her reaction was no more than a series of short breaths pulling strings on her discombobulation. After all the drama they've endured up until now, she pondered, could this be the final trial before the decisive answer? She could not imagine in what world will they live happily ever after together, continuing the dragon race and in their legacy.

A moment of silence. Both were tired. They knew that the other one was tired. Tired of fighting for their goals, yet constantly interfering with each other's methods. It was as if they could not avoid such sickened friction going around and around.

But yet, time heals all bad blood, even when they're black in the darkest hour.

Spike was no longer indifferent to the messy relationship between them. He felt warmly comfortable, not in the sense of a romantic interest, but how important he was to a random nobody. Well, she may not have a name, but she's no longer a nobody anymore, but someone for him to make life meaningful, beautiful, the wordless word that held him well in his heart.

He turned around and seized her claws, much to her surprise. "I... I'm sorry."

Gritting his teeth, he pushed over his own comfort zone with more to say. "I'm sorry for not understanding your struggles."

"W-why...?"

"You're here, not only did you solve my own mysterious past, but you also thought so highly of me, that I'm above all matters in your life. But I was so selfish, only seeing what hurts me despite your well-thought intentions for me... No, us..."

For the first time, he smiled at her. And it could not have been sweeter. "I may not know you, but what matters is that you know me, and you have that chemistry worked out for me. For once I felt unique to be such a value to uphold in someone else's life. I appreciate it, I really do. But your fair share of pain also lies deep down and is as dark as everything around here. I never thought I would have to say this, but..."

The drakaina's sapphire eyes sparkled with wonder as Spike glowed in the essence of time and amazement. By the time she could regain her senses, the little drake was on her again, this time it was a simple hug. She had never received such timely gift on Hearth's Warming Eve. There was never that genuine care from her own kinsman, nor anyone from their race.

"You're a wonderful dragon."

With that, her orange arms wrapped around Spike, bringing the two closer together than never before. Then she too would glow as bright as the new morning star flaring in the distance.

"And," he swallowed, "there's nothing wrong being one. I'm sorry for what I've said. I'm..."

"Shh. It's okay, you're here with me. No matter where you came from, a dragon or not, there is no mountain we must climb to accept each other. When there's love, there's always that gleam of hope to be seen." She could feel her legs being drenched in salt glands called "tears". To her, they're the magical medicine guaranteed for emotional healing. Right here and right now, the emotions came true, and they will stay true to her.

Suddenly, the black lake glistened through the radiant moonlight. Like a silver carpet rolling through the luminous stardust, a visual appeared before them once again.

"Is this another of your planned animations of my past?" Spike asked the drakaina.

She shook her head in hazy confusion. "No... I don't understand. This has never happened before! I have no control over the lake whatsoever!"

But only this time, it wasn't an animation. String lights were hung on both walls as it tangled with the brightest and tallest pine tree Spike has ever seen. Jolly ranchers and gingerbread figures could be found on every corner of the castle, organized by the one and only who would go beyond the need for an organized perfection, or better put, harmony. Spike knew fully too well who the other three unicorns were as they chatted among themselves, happily and so truthfully happy they were. The drakaina, seeing all these unfamiliar creatures, could not take her sight off one of them.

"Wow... That white pony... she's beautiful..."

Naturally, a beating heart and a stifled chuckle. "Yeah..." His liquidated voice reverberated as he flicked away a teardrop. "You really think so?"

She nodded. "I can now see why you have such a wonderful life living with them. They may not be similar on many levels, but they still treat each other like a family."

"Yeah..." He repeated, "I'm proud to be in one."

"And I'm proud of you too."

And they hugged again, for as long as they could, because they're aware of the time that has arrived to bring the finale to their table. Even now, they never moved from that cliff, as if it was their safety zone.

"T-thanks for keeping it true with me. I-I still can't get over it. Every dragon fought limb to limb just for my existence, and here I thought I was being used. Yet even the slightest event can change history for the better or worse. It's just so... mind-blowing sometimes."

A helpless sigh escaped her lips. "Indeed, and there's not much that can be done. Scars may be scars, but the true wounds will heal over time... Oh Spike, I could never understand the pain you're in right now!"

"You're a strong dragon, Spike, just like your parents believed you would be. And I believe you can go beyond your limits, and many times greater than that."

"Heh," Spike rubbed his nose, "I've saved the Crystal Empire on two separate occasions, allowed the world to openly accept a Changeling, and became the ambassador between our people and the ponies. What else must I need do to prove myself?"

"There will be more trials you will face in the future, for you have centuries to come. By then, I'll be waiting for your answer when you return to me. But whatever makes you happy, I'll be more than contented too, even if it means we'll never see each other again."

"You bet I will. And that's a promise."

With that said, they locked claws. She was reluctant to let go and call this the final goodbye, although they both have the chance to see each other once more.

Spike began making his way down the cliff and back to where he came from, hoping to go back before the celebration starts. The drakaina, however, did not follow him and stood there. When Spike sensed this, he turned around, and there was the same citrine boulder which he saw earlier. He didn't ask why, he knew what he was going to do, and he won't falter on that vital promise to her.

So he kept walking and walking... Until his footsteps could no longer be felt, the drakaina's role was complete.

And he was gone, gone until the next time of life where she'll just have to wait like a faithful spouse.

A cool breeze caught her attention. She gazed directly above her.

Snowfall... What a visual entanglement. Her heart beat rapidly, she could not be in any more joy than she was before. A single flake landed into her claws, it had not melted for as long as her heart desired. And when it did, she spread her arms and wings wide, happily tearing up as everything around her was sucked away.

Smiling to herself, the drakaina suddenly stood up as the majestic clouds diverged. Each of her scales painted a piece of the sky. Orange orbs fought their way upwards against the incoming snow, before fading away and never to be seen again.

"I'll be waiting, Spike." Her voice echoed. "Whatever your choice is, stay with it. Do not regret your past, and stay true to yourself."

Tears trickled down her cheeks once again. This time she didn't hold them back, and she was more than glad to have done that. Her feet soon felt lightweight, yet she knew she no longer had feet as they transformed into citrine sparkles wallowing into the air.

A barren world that forever shall remain in the fathomless night.

The bottomless black lake is impenetrable through any source of light.

The moon sadly looks on, waiting for the ripples to churn.

A cliff stood on by no one, so high and strong.

The last wendigo quietly cried, evanescent signs of life.

"Wake up Spike! We're done with the preparations and everyone we could've thought of has arrived. You should go out there and let them know you're here."

"I-I was sleeping... this entire time?"

"Pfft! Well yeah, you must've been in this room the entire time if you didn't want to come out in the first place, right?"

"B-but this can't be right! I promised her I'll be back! It can't be all just a dream!"

"We did make a promise, alright. I said I'll be back, and here I am!"

"N-nononono! This doesn't make any sense! I-I-I-I-I was responsible for the conflict between my families and friends! I caused the death of numerous dragon lives!"

"S...pike? Is something wrong again?"

"She's alone out there, banished... She doesn't deserve this stupid punishment that Torch guy put on her. All by herself, just waiting for me one day." His breathing quickened into rapid gasps. "But neither of us know when I'll ever get to see her again!"

He stopped. The noises and the energy continued flowing outside his bedroom. The beginning of Hearth's Warming Eve carried onwards without him. Starlight Glimmer's smile held on despite being wary of the uncontrollable torrent of emotions ravaging in Spike's chest. With a press of her lips, the unicorn placed a hoof on the tiny drake's shoulder, urging him to move.

"You must've had a nightmare or something. Come on, Spike, I'll bring you to a brighter place and you'll feel better again, I promise."

Promise...

"No..."

"Spike?"

"I said no."

"Spike, this is getting ridiculous. You're missing out on all the fun and meaningfulness there is to be found in Hearth's Warming. I may have to use force if you're choosing to strangle yourself without telling me why you're having such a hard time coming out."

"I don't care if I'm in the darkness as long as I make sure she's alright. Nobody can understand because she fought to live, even when she's alone."

"I don't understand, who are you referring to being 'alone' this whole time?"

"She needs me..."

"Alright, that's it, mister. I'm taking you out there to see your friends. You can't be doing this to yourself, Spike!"

"Make me."

"Look at me, Spike."

"I said make me!"

"And I will—"

As soon as Starlight turned him around, she was stunned to see Spike sobbing with streams of tears rolling down his cheeks.

"I know that look! That was the look when she needed me! When she gave me the attention I never thought I would deserve!"

"Spike!"

"Leave me alone with her! She needs me!"

"Ow!"

"Starlight? Starlight! What's going on in there? Are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine, Twilight! Just a little burn on my hoof. Should've known dragon flames were stingy."

"Spike! What is wrong with you?! You never behaved like this until now. There must be something that's bothering you that you're not telling us."

"That's what I've been trying to figure out too..."

"You'll never understand her struggles because you always had ponies by your side! She always wanted someone special and worthy! But it never came! Forget these stupid presents and money when they can't buy love!"

"Who is this 'she', Spike?"

Silently, Spike gave Twilight Sparkle and (for a longer period of time) Starlight a final look before lowering his gaze onto the crystal floor. His tears were dry, but the heartache remained, strangling him tighter the more he thought about it.

"She's... only in my dream...?"

The two mares exchanged glances before walking over to him, ready to carry him downstairs.

Around the world, families and friends gathered together on the night of Hearth's Warming Eve. Daily commerce was no longer an option. Social interactions are those of mesmerizing all nostalgia in their cozy little homes. It could be either a fireside story, a confession chat, some soothing music to please the sensible ears, or maybe a pet party. As long as everyone was aware of the holiday that defined the wrap up of the year, it could even be crying alone, mentally isolating yourself from everything you once cared for.

In Twilight Sparkle's Friendship Castle, it was no different from anyone else's way of celebrating. Her five finest friends quickly found comfort with each other's family members. Trixie gloated and crowed in front of Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo about her newly improved magic stunts. With her wings out and wide, Flurry Heart flew around the castle in the obsession for the castle's crystallized pillars, shiny and smooth indeed. Discord pranked Shining Armor left and right, and when suspected, he hid behind golden bells and the giant lush of pine. The royal sisters surrounded themselves among the center of the crowd, witnessing the blissful events unfolding.

"I must say, sister. Tis grand festival is nothing short of a glorious euphoria."

"Indeed it is, Luna." Celestia's relaxed features soon stiffened as she stole a glance at the sullen dragon sitting on the long table behind the crowd. "And the merry will eventually come to all of us before we celebrate it as one."

Even when his favorite meal was placed on a plate in front of him, Spike paid no attention, and instead was in a world of his own. He desired something else beyond all materialistic greed. Ponies around him talked, danced, sang, all among themselves without the outlier of a kind.

Not until a familiar unicorn sitting to his left snuck him a kiss to his cheekbone.

"Oh... Hey Rarity."

"Spikey-wikey, my dear." She lifted the drake into her grasp, snuggling him on all sides. Spike was indifferent to her cheeriness. "Why do you look so, forlorn?"

Shrugging, he stared at his pointy toes. Rarity pressed her lips and released a short sigh.

"Spike, since it's the end of the year, I think it's time you deserve to know more about those who valued you in their lives and hopefully have left many influences on you."

Those words alone stung him cold as he remembered the so-called "dream" he had in his room. It took him a while to adjust the essence of reality after attempting to assault Starlight for her Persian blue eyes as if they were the sapphire glow from the friend whom he subconsciously created to hold their love potion. Even though he may not ever see her again, the memory fits in well for him to share with somepony.

Somepony special...

Rarity took a deep breath. "I've always been aware that you had a strong feeling towards me. And yes, I've always reminded myself that I'm a beautiful pony with a beautiful heart, but the heart is what matters in the end. Over the course of this year, your admiration for me has never wavered a bit, and that's something you should be proud of. I appreciated it, as well as every little thing your personality has to offer."

Spike looked into her eyes, finally giving her the attention she needed through the noisy chattering around them.

"Yes darling, that's the spirit I expected from you." Rarity rubbed his cheeks. But then again, he could not fend off Rarity's angelic smile. "There are so many things I can compliment about you, but what's makes you exceptional of anypony else, is that you would walk down the wire for the sake of those whom you love. Even if those who are not truly of your caliber, you would push yourself to embrace them, because deep down your pearl is no less than pure and lovable."

All those words washed over him at once. Spike naturally followed his gut instinct and asked, "... You really think so?"

Rarity nuzzled him, for she could not resist his innocent behavior. "It's Hearth's Warming Eve, Spikey-wikey! How abnormal would it be if I were just to come to you and lie about all that?"

"Lie..." His mind rifted between the desolation of Dragon's Lair, as well as his existence being the sole connection between the two races he was apart of. It sounded almost real until he woke up in a conflict between responsibility and fate.

"Rarity." Spike gently placed his claws on her hoof. He took a gulp, unsure of what to tell her. "Do you ever think of those who, I don't know, aren't as lucky as us? You know, those who are always so lost and lonely in their little world, never seeing a ray of light to envision them to make a difference. There are so many lives out there who are in need of our love and care." He sighed. Through the corner of his eye, he could see Rarity's deep concern hanging on her face. "You know this better than I do, you're the Element of Generosity. Surely you can empathize with the ponies in need. Or, dragons... for my perspective at least."

Rarity tapped her hoof on the table. She peered over to her sister, Sweetie Belle, who was standing on top of Apple Bloom and Scootaloo as they attempted to balance on Pinkie Pie's party cannon. Discord and Fluttershy giggled among themselves at their antics. Smiling to herself, the fashionista had an answer.

"Truth to be told, Spike, not everypony— erm, everyone, will find their happiness right away. Yes, they may look woebegone, but that's because they're working all day and night for a living, or out there keeping the peace for others. But deep down, they're not living a harrowed life. They're always fighting for their virtues, in the name of love and harmony. They know they have a life valuable enough to hold onto, for their loved ones."

Spike said nothing. He peeked through the windows far above him. Moonlight showered blissfully through the glass with intense transparency.

"Like a silver lining, huh?"

Rarity nodded. The chatting in the castle slowly dwindled as Twilight was preparing herself to make an announcement. She placed her second hoof onto Spike's claw. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve, Spike."

He allowed himself to leap into Rarity's clutch, tightly gripping onto her snowy white fur.

"To the best for you too. Happy Hearth's Warming, Rarity."

When the first nimble snowflake drifted through the frosty air, the tuned fable goes merry around them all, and around again.

And again... and again...