Stories of Spike

Cold.

All he could feel was cold. In the distance he swore he could hear screaming. Slowly he turned his head to the side, seeing a figure approach him rapidly. His vision blurred and darkness crept in. For some reason he reached toward the figure. He tried to speak but felt as if he was drowning. His body heaved as he coughed, the liquid that filled his throat splattering across the ground.

The figure reached him, catching his arm and placing one of its hands under his head. He smiled, feeling warmth come from the figure. He tried to lean into it, into the warmth but his body refused to answer him. He felt something wet hit his cheek and in his stupor came to realize the figure above him was crying.

He worked his mouth a few times, struggling for words but only managing to let out a fluid filled gurgle. Pain blazed through his chest and throat and the darkness crept in more, blotting out all but the figure above him. Weakly he reached up a hand to the figures cheek, giving them his best smile.

"Its..G~~oi~ng t-t b~e ok~ay"

"Spike!"

His eyes snapped open, the dragon-kin finding himself in bed. He slowly sat up, glancing down at himself.

Just what had happened? Was it all a dream? He shuddered as a memory filled his mind.

"Look out!" Spike screamed with his limbs shifting. He leapt as hard as his legs would allow, pushing Celestia out of the way of the oncoming chariot. The horses cared not for the boy hurtling himself before them, slamming their massive bodies hard into him, their hooves unforgivingly trampling across him until the wheels of the chariot had their way with his frame. The driver only just managed to stop the cart moments after it was too late.

Spike patted himself down, finding his body was completely intact. No hoof marks or anything.

"What?" he mumbled aloud.

"Spike..." Celestia breathed his name as she came into the room. He stiffened at her arrival, turning and giving her a smile.

"H-Hi! Um...I uh..." his words died as he saw her face. Make-up horribly smeared over her cheeks and under her eyes from what had to be hours of crying.

"You f-foolish..." she stammered, rushing to his bed and hugging him tightly. He slowly lifted his arms to hug her

"I'm so glad you're okay Angel..." Spike murmured as he leaned into her. He felt her arms tighten around him. He let out a relaxed sigh as he sat there in her arms, taking in her warmth. Celestia rested a hand on the back of his head, holding him as if he would float away.

"H-How are you feeling?" Celestia managed to ask. He looked up at her in mild confusion, reluctantly pulling out of her arms. He glanced down at himself, running his hands over his body.

"I feel...fine. I guess last night really happened, huh?" he chuckled nervously.

"Spike...I...Y-You've been unconscious for a week," Celestia spat out, clenching her fists. He blinked and scratched at his chin.

"I am a heavy sleeper, huh?" he gently teased.

"That's enough Spike. I...I almost lost you," she grabbed hold of his hand and placed it against her cheek. He tensed up as that night flashed in his mind again. Celestia had rushed to his side, not caring about the mud staining her dress. He gently rubbed his thumb against her cheek, wiping away some of her smudged make-up.

"You let little old me keep you in this state for an entire week? I'm sorry to have worried you..." he chuckled softly and sat up, taking her hands in his.

"I already told you though...I owe you my everything Angel. Whatever power I have...Whatever I can give...If that means my life, then so be it," Spike spoke from his heart, feeling tears sting his eyes. She gently squeezed his hands and cleared her throat.

"I...I'll let you get back to resting..." she murmured, gasping as he tugged her into his bed. He gently wrapped his arms around her, holding her head against his chest and letting her listen to the steady beat of his heart. She had done so for him so many times.

"As long as my heart beats you have nothing to worry about," he whispered. Celestia's mask fell away, the monarch clinging to him and letting the tears fall freely.

Morigan watched from the doorway, biting back her own emotions. She would have her time with Spike. For now, her Princess needed closure.

"Skylar. We're going to properly train him," she decided

"Ye sure o' that?" Skylar scoffed.

"He reacted faster than a Celestian," she pointed out

"And? You o' all people knows Celestia ain't perfect. What makes th' boy special Mori?" Skylar asked her. She glanced at him, seeing knowledge far beyond her own in his eyes. Was he testing her?

"I don't know," she huffed, glaring as Skylar chuckled.

"Ah think ye do know Mori. But it's fine. If ya wants me t' teach 'im, then I will teach 'im. But ah ain't goin' easy on 'im. He's made of sturdier stuff than those sacks of meat ye two call guards,"

"Try not to kill him," Morigan sighed.

Celestia watched in horror as Spike shoved her out of the carts path. How had she not seen it coming? It seemed to take ages but it was over in only moments. Spike's body twisted and rolled across the ground, held together by mere strands of flesh and innards. She cried out his name as she rushed to his side. Her entire form shook as he spat blood onto the ground and her dress.

"S-Stay with me Spike, p-please..." she cried, her magic spinning around his form and dissipating. In her panic she had forgotten about his natural resistance. She bit her lip, shuddering as she slipped her magic around his form, pushing the lower half of his body towards the rest of his battered and bloody form. She paused as she felt his hand on her cheek.

Blood dribbled down his cheek and chin, pooling in her lap and the ground below. He wore a smile as he rubbed a thumb across her cheek.

"Its..G~~oi~ng t-t b~e ok~ay" he spoke through the blood in his throat, heaving against her. She shook and clutched him close, her guards rushing to her side.

"SPIKE!" Morigan cried out, sitting on her knees in front of them.

"H-He..." Morigan trembled as she reached a hand toward him. She placed her hand gently on his arm, tensing as he weakly glanced at her. He offered her a small smile before his body went limp in Celestia's arms.

"He can't..." Morigan began. She paused as Darkness flooded around them. She turned slowly to see Skylar's hair standing on end and darkness pouring from him.

"Princess, yer gonna wanna hold tightly t' yer boy there," Skylar breathed. Morigan stared in shock at him for a moment before turning her gaze back to Celestia and Spike. All at once, hell broke loose. Spike's eyes opened wide as he began to scream and thrash about. His legs, though barely attached to him, kicked and rolled about, held just barely in Celestia's magic.

Little by little, the thrashing pulled his lower half against him. Skin stitched back together little by little until his body was whole again. The horrible sound of bones crunching and reforming echoed around them within Skylars' Domain.

One by one the bruises and hoof marks across his body faded away as if they had never been there.

Finally the screaming stopped. Spike stared up at nothing for a moment before his eyes drifted closed. All held their breath until he began to gently snore.

The only proof he had been injured to begin with was the blood staining Celestia's dress and hands.

"H-He..."

"I thought so," Skylar mumbled, the Darkness around them fading. Celestia glanced around, seeing Skylar had taken the liberty of moving them to her personal chambers. He stumbled a moment before lifting his hood over his head, completely vanishing into the darkness of his cloak.

"Skylar, I..."

"Thank me later. I spents more power than I hads rights t'. I needs rest, but that there boy o' yours is more special than you could knows," Skylar spoke softly before fading away to rest.

"T-Thank the gods..." Morigan breathed, lightly squeezing Spike's arm.

"How could this happen?" Celestia seemed to ask herself.

"The guard are questioning the driver now Princess. This was obviously an attempt on your life. W-We are lucky Spike w-was there...I'm so sorry. I should have gone with you," Morigan bowed her head in shame, tensing as Celestia placed a hand on her head.

"It is my own foolishness that has caused this. I wanted time alone with him...I am just thankful you ignored my commands," Celestia chuckled weakly.

"You can blame Skylar for that one Princess...He didn't feel right without you having a Shadow. Not that he could hide in yours or too close to you," she mumbled back.

"In any case, l-lets make sure he is comfortable when he awakens and then I wish to speak with Skylar after he recovers,"

"Of course Princess..."

Present Day

"We knew the Guardian was special sister, but to hear such a tale..." Luna sat in thought for a moment, watching as Celestia clenched her fists.

"That day still bothers you," Luna remarked.

"He was only a child...A child I put into that situation..."

"You still judge things so harshly sister. You fail to see what he sees. That boy did not see his life flash before his eyes. Nay. He saw his Dearest mother in danger and laid in your arms, proud to have saved you," Luna argued gently.

"His healing..."

"Yes. It is just as we recall Sister. Your Wards did not lie to you," Luna nodded.

"The Dragon's are not keen of sharing their secrets outside of family. Though as the elder of us, we suppose you count," Luna teased gently.

"Mine bond with the Dragons, while weak, still remains. Honestly we are surprised they cared for so long as to maintain it. One of the old ones must still be out there...waiting for us..." Luna sighed, glancing toward the window.

"A flight does sound nice," Celestia giggled, seeing her sister fidget in her seat.

"You taunt us Sister. Perhaps we shall go for a flight...Would you join us?" Luna smiled.

"For this and every other Luna."