Soul Serenade

The sun shined brightly from the clear sky through the trees of the forest. Twilight, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack, and Rarity sat around a stone table enjoying breakfast while Spike propped himself against an old oak tree. This particular day, there was a race scheduled at a nearby track. Rainbow, who was considered by many to be the star attraction, would be participating. While Spike listened to music and jotted down his thoughts in his notebook, the mares conversed amongst themselves.

"What do you think your chances are of winning," Fluttershy inquired.

"I'm gonna' mop the floor with the newbs they've got lined up this year."

"That cocky attitude of yours is gonna' come back to bite ya' in the keester one of these days," Applejack warned.

"I'm afraid I have to agree with Applejack," Rarity stated, "Karma does not tend to take kindly to braggarts."

"Trust me, I've got this in the bag."

"It's too bad Shining and Cadence couldn't make it," Fluttershy commented.

Spike looked up from his notebook. He could already see Twilight's face beginning to fall. He tore one of the sheets of paper from the journal and wrote a message, harnessing his transportation breath to teleport it to Twilight's pocket. She subtly removed it from her jacket to ensure the others wouldn't notice.

"Please don't cry. I'm right here."

The Alicorn instantly felt her heart soar. She levitated a blue pen under the table, sketching out the feelings contained within under the note.

"What should we do after we eat," Applejack questioned, "We've still got time to kill."

"Why don't we split up and spend some time in town," Twilight suggested.

Spike closed his notebook and rose to his feet. He temporarily joined the others at the table.

"I've got some stuff to take care of," he vocalized, "I'll meet up with you guys before the race."

"Will you be okay on your own?"

"I'll be fine. What about you...?"

"I'll manage."

"I know you can do it."

Twilight smiled and nodded at him. Rainbow's face scrunched up in confusion. Spike walked away.

"What was all that about?"

Twilight simply shrugged, feigning ignorance. It was enough to sate Rainbow's curiosity.

After breakfast, the party split up. Twilight stayed behind for a while. She texted Spike. All she wanted was to see the loving words of the beast who had stolen her heart.

"Where are you? I miss you..."

"Don't worry. I promise I'll make it up to you. I just need a few more hours."

"Promise?"

"Pinkie promise."

"I'll close my eyes so I can see you until then."

"I'll do the same."

"I love you...So much..."

"I won't say it yet."

"Why?"

"You'll see."

Twilight gave an expression of warmth. Deep in her core, beyond her heated bloodstream, she recognized the honesty in his words. Satisfied with their cliffhanger, she put her phone away and headed for town.

Over the next four hours, each of the mares visited their usual haunts. Shortly before noon, they met up at the race track. Spike was already there waiting for them. Rainbow glanced at the track, gauging her competition.

"Suckers," she thought to herself.

"Hey, Rainbow," Spike said, "Good luck out there."

The dragon gave her a mischievous glare.

"You're gonna' need it."

"What the hell? What's with him today?"

Without another word, the rest of the group left Rainbow to prepare. She felt unusually unnerved. She couldn't shake off the feeling her friend was concealing some secret...

Soon, the contestants were ready. They eagerly awaited the signal to speed off into the distance. The race would take place over a span of twenty miles. As per standard rules, the first competitor to cross the finish line would be declared the winner. With a three-number countdown, the opening shot was fired. Rainbow easily took the lead from the start.

"I think you might've been worried over nothing," Twilight told Spike.

"It's not those guys I was talking about."

"Huh?"

"Keep watching."

Spike calculated Rainbow's location based on her speed and trajectory. Thirty minutes later, he removed himself from his spectator position. He pecked Twilight on the cheek.

"I'll be back. Wait for me."

"Always."

Before she could turn to look at him, he was already gone. Less than a minute later, a mysterious figure shrouded in black appeared at the starting line. Onlookers gawked at the silhouette, then at each other, then at the shadow again. Once the unnamed individual had their fill of notoriety, they positioned themselves in a hovering motion. Before anyone could stop them, they vanished in a blur. Many who witnessed their arrival never even saw them move.

Rainbow Dash was already well ahead of her opponents. Feeling confident her victory was already secured, she slowed to a leisurely glide. She would soon learn the meaning of Spike's words to her. An unknown being materialized merely inches away from her shoulder. The random emergence nearly caused her heart's vital functions to cease from shock.

"Who the heck are you!?"

"Better pick up the pace. It's not over yet."

"Why does he sound like...?"

Before the Pegasus could finish her reflective supposition, the being disappeared. Rainbow accelerated, reaching top speed in a matter of seconds.

"Not on my watch, pal!"

"You're not wearing a watch," he replied jovially.

"Cut the crap, Spike! I know it's you!"

"You'll have to catch me first," he teased.

"Have you lost your mind!?"

"You don't know the half of it."

"You know you can't beat me!"

"Doesn't mean I can't try."

Annoyed by the Dragon's persistence, Rainbow pushed herself to the absolute limit. She wasn't about to let herself be knocked from her pedestal by some young upstart, especially one she knew. She quickly passed her friend.

"That a girl, but I can't let her down..."

In response to Rainbow's action, Spike took a similar course.

Rainbow and Spike were neck and neck for the remainder of the race. The track, which would have normally taken between four and a half to six hours to complete, only took them two.

"Give up already," Rainbow groaned, "This is getting ridiculous!"

"I'm so tired..."

Spike gradually began losing momentum.

"That's weird. Didn't expect him to actually take me seriously."

The dragon fell to his knees. Rainbow halted her own progression. She approached Spike, her expression one of genuine concern.

"You okay?"

"Guess I still have some endurance work to do."

"Why'd you jump in?"

"When I told you I lost my mind, part of that statement was true."

"I could've told you that."

"I wanted to prove I could protect her..."

"Ohhh. I get it. This is about a chick."

"I thought if I beat you, I could show her how far I'm willing to go."

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. Taking me on's a pretty gutsy move. I am considered one of the most gifted athletes in Equestria. Keeping up with me's no small feat."

"You don't understand - this is about more than guts."

Spike extracted his phone from his pocket. He handed it to Rainbow. She scoured through a number of screenshotted messages. Her disgust became clear.

"Holy Christ..."

"I have to be ready if the sick son of a bitch tries anything."

"...Does anyone else know about these?"

"No, and frankly I don't want them to."

"We're agreed on that."

"I was planning to read this for her at the end."

Spike gave the mare his notebook.

"This is really beautiful, man. Where'd you learn to write like this?"

"I taught myself."

"Really? I figured you would've learned from Rarity."

Spike shook his head.

"I wanted it to be as organic as possible."

"I know she'll love it."

"I don't know if I can face her right now."

"Don't be such a wuss."

Rainbow put Spike's arm around her, lifting him to his feet.

"We'll cross together."

"...Thanks..."

"Don't mention it."

The Pegasus began carrying her compatriot forward.

"Sorry for messing with you earlier," the dragon apologized.

"Truth be told, the whole cocky shtick is just for show. Gotta' keep up appearances, ya' know?"

"I hear ya'."

"If you want, I can help you train. You've got the right stuff. You just need a little direction. I'll warn you though: it ain't gonna' be easy."

"I'll do whatever it takes."

"I like that answer."

A short time later, fans and news crews came into view. By then, Spike had recovered enough to walk without assistance. The onlookers were astonished by the approaching sight.

"Go on ahead," Spike instructed, "You've earned the win. I'll catch up."

"Guess a media circus is gonna' come in handy for once."

"Guess so."

Rainbow bolted for the finish line. She would take the brunt of the initial frenzy and lead the crowd back to the starting point. She was already swamped by the time Spike arrived.

"Ms. Dash, how does it feel to be the victor yet again," one reporter questioned.

"What are your goals now," another cut in.

"I couldn't have done it without my little bro here," Rainbow replied, "He reminded me hard work and commitment are what separate the amateurs from the pros."

The cameras focused on the mysterious figure next to the mare.

"Do you have any comment, sir," the first reporter asked.

"...No," Spike lied. Rainbow glanced at him. He nodded back at her.

The media briefly covered the other contestants before loading their equipment to meet up with their associates and the other fans. The crowd clamored around Rainbow during the award ceremony. It was time for her to execute her plan. She took one of the microphones from a reporter and made her announcement.

"Alright, folks, chill out for a sec. As awesome and worthy of the history books as I am, there's something a bit more important we've gotta' focus on, apparently."

She pointed to Spike.

"This whack job showed up and tried to steal my thunder. Imagine my surprise when some crazy lunatic shows up trying to impress a girl and nearly hands me my flank because I got a little too overconfident. What do you have to say for yourself?"

This was it. It was now or never. Rainbow gave Spike the microphone. He spread his wings, levitating himself onto the van behind him. He knelt on one leg, notebook in hand...And confessed his life.

"An array of stars which summon a gentle rain to extinguish the chaotic flames of my inner cosmos. I drift through the darkness of my dreams, content and unafraid. Though at times, I cannot see you, I sense the magnificent flow of your hidden power. Together, we merge our minds and our strength, so that we may form an unbreakable connection of blood, sweat, tears, and joy. I was chosen for you, and you for I. Fear, betrayal, deceit: they stand as nothing before the might of your wisdom - a wisdom passed to me through these years of trials and tribulations. Death may dictate the fates of our bodies, but it can never destroy our eternally conjoined energies. For all time, this profession will ring true. Please, just know..."

Spike pulled back his hood, revealing his face for the world to see.

"...I will forever love you..."

First, a moment of silence, and then...the gentle sound of weeping. The crowd quickly discovered its origin.

"Twilight...," Fluttershy muttered in an inquisitive tone.

The Alicorn burst forward, tackling the dragon she longed for with every fiber of her being. She clung tightly to him, resting her head against his chest as her tears flowed freely. He wrapped his arms around her. Many in the crowd found their own eyes beginning to water as well. For that one moment, suffering would be forgotten, and beauty would assume its ultimate shape. None were to waver as the dusk of nightfall set upon the world...