When Spike came back with the body of Trixie, Sunset had hysterically started to cry. It had taken hours to get her to calm down from her outburst. Spike himself had difficulty trying to hold back tears. He does remember what the mare did in the past but at the same time, it was in the past.

The burial had been simple, Spike had made a grave for Trixie and Sunset had been the one who put her in the grave. It had been a very quiet ceremony with only Spike and Sunset in attendance. They had done it outside the castle.

Sunset decided to stay in the castle because it was here that her lover was. That and she did not feel like she was in the right state of mind to travel someplace else. She would just look so gloomy and sound so as well. Her eyes were dazed and held confusion in them.

As if she was trying to figure something out.

But there was only one problem for the mare; there was nothing to “figure out” if that is what she’s been doing.

That night, Spike had and Sunset had a salad and rice for dinner. Spike had taken some of it from the village that Garble and his group had sort of liberated. Spike was unsure if the Umbrums would be back or not because the village looked already to have been abandoned.

But it could also be a village that the Umbrums themselves had built up for their own needs.

They were eating silent, they chose a table in one of the many libraries that existed within the castle. Sunset was planning on telling Spike that dinner that she would not be coming with him. She hoped that Spike would understand.

“Spike?” She asked, her voice shakey. The bowl she was eating from was huge and blocked some of Spike’s face so it was easier to start the discussion and say what she needed to.

Putting down the chopsticks that he had been using for his eating, he stared at the face of Sunset, only locking eyes with her, the rest of her lower face was covered by the large bowl. He had a hunch about what she would ask but he needed to make sure.

“Yes?” He responded, his voice calm.

“I will ... not be following with you to the fort or anywhere else for a while ...” She stated unsurely. Their eyes were still locked on each other, the other refusing to look away.

“I figured as much,” he said. He picked up his chopsticks and started eating again. Sunset looked sort of confused. That was the only thing some creatures say when they are planning something of them so what was he planning if that was the case?
“Which is why I will be leaving you here, you seem to have been able to take care of yourself. I will send some food and medicine because you never know what might happen.”

Sunset looked at Spike surprised, not expecting that but she was grateful.

*** *** ***

Spike was walking back to the fort together with the large amounts of moss. Luckily, he had only been gone in a total of three hours. Which impressed Spike because it felt like it was longer. But it was depressing in a way. Walking down the empty dirt roads.

It felt so lonely and empty. It did not feel right.

The clouds were not clearing up the skies but whenever he is in the places he liberates, the sun comes shining through which confuses Spike to some extent. If the clouds never change their thickness in blocking the sun then why would they allow the sun to come through whenever he liberates someplace?

Perhaps it was a sign from his ancestor that he was doing something good, it felt nice knowing that he was watching over him ... wait ... watching over him? Wasn’t he ...

Spike shook his head and continued to his location where he would clear up the blood from the disastrous and disgusting water. His steps became heavier by the minute when he started seeing the fort in the distance. There was only one problem he had and that was he needed to sleep.

He had not slept in days and that could not be good for his health. He needed rest. But that was easier said than done. He had put himself in situations where he told himself that he did not need sleep which have cost him some hours of it.

“That is not good, I need my sleep.” He told himself when he was closer to the fort. When he got closer, he started walking up the steps that led to the entrance and the guards who were there saw him and opened the entrance immediately and ushered him inside.

To his mild surprise when he was led to one of the houses, his aunt was there. Luna looked at Spike intently as he handed over the moss which she ordered one of her guards to place all over the water to suck up the blood and other materials that should not be in the water.

They sat in silence for a long while and Spike was drifting off to sleep which concerned Luna because she had never seen him this tired before. They were facing each other, both sitting on wooden chairs that were not the most comfortable but they would do.

“Spike,” she eventually said. “You need your sleep. You have gone several days without it.”

He merely nodded, not trusting himself to speak. When he saw the unimpressed look from Luna he responded; “I know aunt, but I have been busy and I am pretty sure you know why. I was planning on sleeping when I got back here but you wanted to see me.”

He wanted to sort of blame Luna for the situation he was in and Luna knew what he was trying to do but it had its desired effect; she felt slightly guilty. She should have allowed him to sleep but she asked him to meet here or rather, she told her guard to bring him to her.

She was about to have a retort when she noticed that he had fallen asleep.

*** *** ***

Around seven hours later, Spike started to stir in the bed he was laying in. Groggily, he opened his eyes and he saw that he was in some kind of room with wooden walls, a small table, a closet with a small mirror, and a window. The wood was on the darker side, not very light.

Spike got out of the bed and he realized that it wasn’t his bed. He looked around and realized that he did not recognize any of it. He walked over to the small table that was by the window and found a small note. He picked it up and he saw that it was from his aunt.

Dear Spike

You fell asleep in our conversation about how you had not been getting enough sleep. I bought a hotel room for you that will last for you use for the next three days. Good luck, I will be in the Crystal Empire if you need me.

Spike had a light chuckle and looked around for any fruit bowls or rice that he could have for food but did not see anything. so he would have to simply buy some rice.

Checking that he had everything with him from weapons, to mask, he left the hotel room which he would be using for the next three days. The hotel room was on the fifth floor with a bit of a view, but it was not enough to see other Umbrum camps and other places that are under Umbrum territory.

Walking into the lobby, he gave the receptionist the key—He had picked it up near the door on the way out—and walked out into the openness of the fort where the creatures were doing all kinds of things from playing, working, hanging out with friends. They all for once looked happy.

But Spike knew that they would be haunted by the memories for the rest of their life. Remembering what the Umbrums did to them—did to Equestria.

Spike walked around the fort where he was unsure of where he should go. He wanted to go to someplace where he could meditate or write poetry. He felt like he needed one that would give him some kind of strength.

He was in some kind of market where the creatures were selling foods from meat, fish, rice, and fruits. But there were Swordsmiths, Armourers, Bowyers, and Trappers. Spike decided to go to the Bowyer because he needed to promote his half-bow and longbow.

The enhancements could make them stronger, make the enemies wobble a lot more than before. When he walked into the shop he saw a white-coated mare with a black mane and tail. She looked up and smiled at Spike. “Hello my fellow warrior, what can I help you with?”

Spike smiled behind his mask. “I was hoping that I could enhance my half-bow and longbow, let me know the prices and I’ll get whatever it is you need.”

The Bowyer looked at him surprised but smiled nonetheless. “Just place them on the straw beds beside me and I shall look after them.” Her smooth voice carried over to Spike’s ears. He did so, placing his bows carefully on the beds. The Bowyer watched him carefully, seeing his every move and which claw he used the most. She could use all that information to help her costumer the best way possible.

“It will cost two hundred supplies,” She said, hoping that her customer would not leave after she said the price. To her surprise; he didn’t. He pulled out a yellow sack and handed it to her. Inside, there were predator hides, gold, metal, and even some sort of wood.

“I hope you’ll find the use of them in the future,” Spike said honestly. The Bowyer just nodded dumbly and began to work on his bow. It would take at the very least, one hour before it was finished, which was why Spike decided to go to the roof of the hotel so he could meditate.

Leaving the Bowyer, he noticed that all the creatures around him were looking at him with admiration. He smiled to himself as he reached the hotel and retrieved the key from the receptionist.

He started to walk up a staircase where he could get to the door that would open for the rooftop. The endless amount of staircases at one point felt soothing because he could be alone with his thoughts. He started to think about himself over a year ago. It felt so strange to think that he used to be some creature completely different from the one he is in the present. But creatures do change, that is something that he can never deny because it is true. He knew that some creatures that he knew would either not understand his reasoning for changing or they would just accept it and move on; the most reasonable responses that come. But it is a very dangerous game he is playing, killing the Umbrums for what they have done to Equestria. His katana, every time he is killing an Umbrum, it is almost as if he is not in control ...

It is almost as if something is guiding his blade ...

When he reached the final sets of stairs, he walked over to a red door and opened it, revealing the glory on the outside, the nature, the creatures below in their shops, the sky further away that looked so depressing. One thing that he had come to always appreciate is nature. Nothing is stronger than nature. One cannot control nature. The weather ponies only control the rain, storm, and snow, but they can never in their life control nature. That is something way too powerful for a mere creature to control. His mother and aunt can’t even control it, they can try and stabilize it, but they can never control it.

It would be too dangerous if they even tried.

He walked over to the edge of the building where he had a beautiful view over the fort. He took off the katana and placed it in front of him and he started to relax. He sat cross-legged on the hotels’ roof and started looking at everything around him, appreciating everything The Kami had built with their spiritual powers. “The children’s happiness, not temporary...” He began, watching the children playing with each other. “Spirits watching over their loved ones...” He believed that the ones murdered by the Umbrums are protecting their family members at all costs. “The light will shine through the darkness...”

He closed his eyes and for a very brief moment, he felt his soul calm down ... that was the final feeling he felt before he went back to the bowyer to retrieve his bows.

Author's Note

Enjoy!