Twilight released a tired sigh as she drew another X. Three days. Three very long days had passed. All of Ponyville had been searched; along with all of the Everfree forest. The neighboring villages and city's had been searched as well. But, there was no sign of Spike. If Twilight had anymore tears to cry she would be shedding them. But, she had no more tears to cry. Her movements were sluggish; her eyes had bags underneath them. And, her mane looked like a crow had made a nest in it. She didn't care about her appearance though. Without Spike by her side; nothing mattered to her. She gazed at the map in front of her. It was covered in X's; which felt like salt in her slowly bleeding wound.

“Where are you?” She asked in a voice as soft as Fluttershy's.

She walked away from the map and headed for his room. When she reached his room; she walked up to his bed and layed herself down onto it. For, the last two days she had slept in his bed. His bed gave her a small form of catharsis. But, it was not enough. She would pull his blanket close to her chest. Bury her face into his pillow; trying her best to inhale what little of his scent was left on them. She would weep into the pillow as she cradled the blanket. Calling out for Spike before crying herself to sleep.

She released another sigh before releasing a small sniffle. The tears began to flow; her eyes squeezed shut. And, she began to weep into his pillow. As she cried Starlight had walked into the room. She had a look of sadness on her face as she walked to the mare. She crawled into the bed behind her friend and held her.

“We're going to find him Twilight,” Starlight tried her best to sound reassuring;while at the same time she doubted her own words, “We're going to find him.” She finished.

Twilight immediately turned around and hugged her friend. Weeping heavily into her chest as her emotions poured out of her. All Starlight could do was hold Twilight. She gently rubbed the back of her head; while she also gently hugged the heartbroken princess.

“Starlight.” Twilight whimpered out.

“Yes, Twilight.” She replied as the mare looked at her.

“This is my fault,” She sniffled as tears rolled down her face, “I'm the reason why he left.” She finished.

“No,” Starlight replied while making Twilight look at her, “No, you didn't make him run.”

“I did Starlight!” Twilight shouted as a small amount of anger entered her face, “I did make him leave,” She continued as she sat up in the bed, “I treated him more like a maid; instead of a friend! I would make him clean up all my stupid messes. I almost always treated him like dirt! I......I,” She fell back into Starlight's chest and began to cry heavily again.

Starlight heard her say something; but, whatever she said was muffled by her chest. She moved Twilight away from her, “What did you say?” She asked.

“I wished he was more like Smartypants once,” Twilight answered in voice just barely above a whisper, “I even wished I never hatched him.” She finished.

Starlight remembered when Twilight had told her that the first time. It made her sigh as she pulled her close once more; letting Twilight's tears wet her shoulder and back once more. Both of them lay back down on Spike's bed. Twilight had cried herself to sleep again. While Starlight stayed awake; looking out the window. She watched as Celestia slowly lowered the sun; while her sister raised the moon. She wondered if Spike was doing okay; hoping that he was safe and sound. Hoping that he would someday return.

Twilight gasped loudly as she shot to her hooves. She breathed heavily as she rapidly looked around. She stood in the middle of a large swamp. She felt like she was being watched by something. Something hidden inside the swamp; it infected her with fear. She couldn't catch her breath; she couldn't calm herself down. She felt something; something strong. Something........evil. Her eye's then feel on Spike. Who lay on the muddy ground just a few feet away from her.

“Spike!” She screamed as she tried to run towards him. Only to feel the ground below her sink; slowly pulling her under, “No!” She cried as she tried to free herself.

“Gotta, let him go.”

Twilight gasped as she looked around; trying to find where the voice had come from. She struggled harder against the ground that continued to pull her under. She tried to use her magic but it would not work. She tried to flap her wings but the ground held tight. She looked at Spike again; only to scream out in fear.

Around the dragon stood some kind of monster. They looked human; except they seemed to be covered in oily veins. They had long dagger like fingers on their hands. They had no eye's only mouths filled with large sharp teeth. They slowly began to close in on him.

“NO!” Twilight screamed, “Stay away from him!” She continued.

All she could do was watch as the monsters closed in on him. She felt so helpless. She felt like a mother who could not get to her foal. Her cries echoed through the swamp. Begging for them to stay away from her dragon. Pleading, for those things to stay away from her baby.

“Gotta, let him go. He's needed in this bayou.”

“Help me!” Twilight shouted as she sunk further into the swamp, “Whoever you are! Please, help me! Help Spike!” She begged the voice.

“The bayou wants him. He's needed here.....not with you. Gotta, let him go.”

Twilight fought harder against the muck that pulled her down further. Now, she was halfway sunk into the ground, “No,” She screamed as she looked around for the owner of the voice, “He's my baby! You can't have him!” She yelled before looking back at her dragon.

What she saw made her blood run cold and her heart stop. He was being held by a young girl. Probably the same age as Applebloom in the human world. She wore solid black clothing; her hair looked like it had oil in it. Half her face was hidden behind her long hair. She gazed at Twilight with a twisted grin on her face. As she held the drake like a baby.

“He's.....mine,” She spoke in a voice that was a mixture of a whisper and a hiss, “He's mine now.”

“No!” Twilight screamed.

“The bayou needs him. The bayou wants him. Needed here. Gotta, let him go.”

The voice repeated itself over and over; while Twilight sunk deeper and deeper. Eventually all that stayed above the mud was her nose and eyes. The tears fell from her eyes as the girl began to do something to Spike. His scale turned as dark as night. His spike became bone. His teeth grew sharper and larger; while his tail was pulled back into him. She shut her eyes; and screamed in her head as her baby was taken from her. When she opened her eye's her eyes widen in shock. Spike and two other humans stood in front of her. To Spike's left was a teenaged human girl; with snow white hair. She was dressed in jeans and wore a gray tank top. While to his right was an elderly man; who wore camo jeans, worn boots, and a solid white tee-shirt. Around his neck hung a pair of silver tags. Both Spike and the man had a strange metallic device on their arms. One was on Spikes right arm; while the man had it on his left. The teen held a small short sword; which looked more like a knife.

“They will protect him. They will protect this bayou. They need him. Gotta, let him go.”

Spike then placed a gentle claw on Twilight's horn. Filling her with a small amount of hope, “Goodbye, Twilight.” He said before he pushed her down into the mud.

“SPIKE!” Twilight screamed as she sat up in his bed.

She was covered in sweat. Her heart hammered inside her chest, and she shook violently. Almost as if somepony had thrown cold water on her. The door to Spike's room swung open. It caused her to look towards the door. Allowing her to see Starlight running up to her.

“Twilight,” She yelled in concern as she ran up to the mare, “Are you.” She was interrupted by the mare wrapping her in a desperate hug.

Twilight cried heavily into Starlight's shoulder. While Starlight did her best to try and calm her friend down. She didn't know what Twilight had seen in her dream. But, whatever it was. It scared her probably almost to death. She could hear whispering in a voice that could probably beat Fluttershy's softest whisper.

“Spike, please come home,” Twilight begged as she continued to pour her emotion out onto her friends shoulder and back, “Please, come home my baby.”

Author's Note

Chapter 2 part 2. In this chapter is a hint at what will happen to Spike in the sequel. that's right this story is getting a sequel. I'm also sorry for the long wait. I was kinda away.