A friend in need

Spike sat calmly inside a dimly lit cave. In front of him was a small campfire he had made. His knees were pulled up to his chest. He stared deeply into the fire; hearing the occasional crack or pop coming from the wood. But, that was not the only thing he was hearing. In the distance he heard the howling of the Timberwolves. Their howl's chilled him to the bone. The howls were followed by the flash of lightning and the mighty boom of thunder. Looking towards the entrance of the cave; he saw a large downpour of rain. He released a heavy sigh; before reaching around and grabbing his backpack.

He had learned from the last time he had ran away. Instead of just tieing a small sack filled with a couple of snacks to a stick. He actually planned ahead; after all he did not know how long he would remain in the forest. This time he had brought a sleeping bag with him. Along with a few other things that may sustain him for a temporary time. But, at the bottom of the pack were three comic books. He layed out his sleeping back and pulled out a bag of hay jerky. But, unintentionally he had pulled out something else. It was a small piece of paper that had fallen to the ground. He reached down to pick it up; only to sigh in sadness. It was a torn picture of him. Although it was a torn picture of him his image was not torn in half. Or, damaged in any other way. No, only the edge of the image was torn.

He held the picture in his claws for a few seconds. Only to crumble it into a ball and chuck it into the fire. He stared at the image of him slowly burning with the fire. Slowly, fading from all of existence. Just like he would eventually. A single tear rolled down from his right eye; it rolled right down to his chin. And, then it fell to the cave floor below. He quickly wiped his eye of any more tears; before he walked over to sit on his sleeping bag.

Another sound of thunder echoed through the cave. He had already finished his bag of hay jerky and had crawled into his sleeping bag. His campfire had already died down to that of barely lit embers. All he did was lay on his back while looking up at the ceiling. Sleep, was doing a very good job at avoiding him that night. It wasn't that he was having trouble sleeping. In fact he longed for sleeps peaceful embrace. But, thoughts from earlier still floated in his mind.

“I wonder if they know I'm gone?” He asked himself before turning to his side.

Yes, he was wondering if his friends had noticed he was gone. While at the same time he was wondering if they cared. After all they had said about him. Did they even care that he ran away again? Their words echoed in his mind. The pain he felt in his heart had returned and the tears feel from his eyes again. It was hard to accept what they had said about him. After all each of them were important ponies his life. But, the most important one was Twilight. She had hatched and along with Celestia; had raised him.

“I miss you, Twilight,” He whimpered out as he tried to keep himself from crying again, “I miss you so much.” He finished before finally entering the realm of dreams.

A few hours later he woke from his sleep with tears falling from his eyes. He sobbed quietly as he tried to hide inside his sleeping bag. As he slept he suffered at the hands of a very good dream. A dream he wished was real. A dream he knew would never be real. He shook a little bit before burying his face into the pillow the bag.

“I loved all of you,” He whispered to himself as his tears soaked into the pillow, “Why? Why can't you all love me?” He finished with a heavy heart.

For some reason he started to hum a gentle tune. Slowly he sat up and hummed a little louder. The thunder and lightning proving him with a little music.

(Am I making the right choice?)

He sighed heavily as he stared at the entrance of the cave. The rain poured heavily; but, all he could see was the image of Ponyville. Although everything there was a lie; it was still his home. A home he missed greatly.

(Leaving those I love behind.)

He shivered as he felt the storms cold air blow through the cave.

(Knowing that they don't want me around.)

He looked over at his pack; only to slowly get up and walk towards it.

(My heart aches for their love and kindness.)

Opening his backpack he reached in a pulled out a small photo album.

(I long for their warm and loving embrace.)

He opened the album; but it only had a single photo. The photo was a group photo of Twilight and her friends. But, he was no where in the photo.

(But, they don't want me.)

He slowly slid one of his tallons over the picture.

((They don't want me.))

He hugged the picture close to his chest.

(They don't want me!)

Tears fell from his face as he remember all the good times they shared. The good times that were all lies.

(No, they see me as an annoying pest. They wish I was somepony else. Somepony who they could actually rely on. Somepony smarter. Somepony braver. Somepony stronger. I'm none of those. I'm just a lame dragon who causes nothing but trouble.)

He could hear all the words he said to him. All the time they told him he was a friend. All the times they would hang out with him. A wave of pain shot from his heart. All of it was a lie.

(When I heard what they said; I heard joy and laughter in their voices.)

He started to remember everything he had heard earlier.

(Unknowingly they finally opened up my mind.)

He began to shake again. Only this time it was in anger.

(Even though the broken pieces of my heart have fallen to the ground.)

He growled a little in anger as his grip on the photo tightened.

(Oh, how I wish they didn't see me as something useless.)

He looked at the photo once again.

(Now, its the world I must face.)

He focused on all of their faces. He saw how they smiled; possibly happy that he was not in the photo.

(I though I was family.)

His anger started to rise.

((I thought I was family.))

His anger finally took over his mind. And, in a instant he shot a jet of his fire-breath at the photo. Burning it to a crisp.

(I though I was family!)

Again he started to sob heavily. He was so angry at them. While at the same time; he couldn't stay mad at all of them. For, he had to much love for each of them.

(I didn't want to leave but it was for the best. My heart has shattered like glass. I bet they're happy that I'm gone. I wish that our friendship was for real and would last forever. But I should've known better. I should've known nothing lasts forever. Now I've been hit with the hardest of all blows. I wish I had somepony to cuddle.)

He sobbed heavily as he walked to the front of the cave.

(Although they never loved me; their the only ones who filled my heart empty spaces.)

He stared out at the rain. Watching the lightning streak across the sky. While the thunder roared loudly.

(I'm tired of being selfish; so now I'm going to do something kind.)

He walked away from the entrance. As he gently wiped his tears from his eyes.

(I guess I will no longer be dragging them down.)

He slowly got into his sleeping bag.

(I'm sorry for being so clueless.)

He shivered again as more cold air blew through the cave.

(I'm sorry for being such a disgrace.)

He stared up at the ceiling. Sighing in depression as he closed his eyes.

(I'm sorry.)

one final tear fell from his eye.

((I'm sorry.))

He started to curl himself into a small ball.

(I'm so sorry!)

He pulled his tail in between his legs and held it against his stomach and chest. He longed for Twilight's warm embrace.

(My heart has been ripped from my chest. Hopefully I will be left in the past. Not going to lie, its been fun. This pain may stay with me forever. I'll miss all of us being together. But, I;m making their lives easier. I feel so empty and hollow. But, hey, at least I will no longer be causing trouble.)

Eventually, he did fall asleep. He felt so cold and alone. His heart was empty, hollow, and broken. He longed for his friends. But, they did not want him. This was his life now; a life that he had to accept. A life that was cold, heartless, and unforgiving. A life in reality.