Under the Purple Hood

The smell of ash, mixed with the damp stench left behind by a tropical storm, wafted into Spike's nostrils, who, shivering with fear and cold, lost in his mind and on that insipid island where he had found the Fire Ruby, walked senselessly through the blackened vegetation.

The nomag's eyes were wide open and filled with tears as little flashbacks of what had just happened ran through his head. In his mind, he saw Thunderlane falling again and again into the lava, staring at him in horror and cursing him.

His face, his melted body, his last words began to torment the boy's mind, giving him a horrible headache, spreading from his neck, all the way to his temples.

The G-shaped mark on the back of his neck began to throb as his veins turned even blacker.

Spike kept crying as he heard in his head, in Thunderlane's voice, the same word.

"Murderer" the voice said, as the boy looked around in terror, gritting his teeth and crying like never before, forming a stream of tears running down his cheeks. "Murderer. Murderer. Murderer. Murderer. Murderer..."

Spike began to pound his temples with both of his fists, however, the voices would not stop.

"Murderer" the tone of the voices grew darker and worse as they repeated the same word over and over again "Murderer. Murderer. Murderer. Murderer. Murderer..."

" ENOOOOOUUUUUGH!" shouted the nomag uselessly in desperation, as the voices would not shut up. " SHUUUUUUUT UUUUUUUP! PLEAAAAAASEEE! SHUUUUT UUUUP!"

"Murderer. Murderer. Murderer. Murderer." Said the voice over and over again, until, emerging from behind a tree, Thunderelane's corpse, completely burnt, eyes missing, melting and clothes burnt all over, came out pointing its finger at him, completely flayed, bone gnawing "YOU ARE....A...MURDEEEEEREEEEEEEEER..."

"THUNDER!?" shouted Spike in fright, as everything around him began to change color, going negative.

Thunder's corpse was slowly advancing towards Spike, who was taking small, shaky steps backwards.

At that moment, out of nowhere, confusing the nomag, a song that the boy's mind had completely erased, began to rumble across the island, coming out the voice of the pegasus corpse's lyrics.

As the corpse sang, Spike began to run, trying to get away from it, however, it appeared out of nowhere, in front of him, having to change direction again and again.

As he twisted another grove of trees, the ground cracked, causing Spike to fall backwards from fright. Crawling out of the rift, emerging with their bodies completely rotting and vomiting black blood from their mouths and eyes, Tank, Owlowicious, Opal, Peewee and Winnonna crawled towards Spike, wanting to catch him as they sang.

Screaming and terrified, the nomag got up and ran away, however, he didn't get far.

Emerging from behind a huge rock, his brother Michel, came out with bloodshot eyes and marks of having been pierced several times by a knife, which, like the other six, began to chase him.

Spike did not stop crying, running and screaming while the undead appeared out of nowhere.

When they reached a purple lake, coming out of the water, like an army of demons, almost a hundred nomags, all of them dead, began to emerge from the water and cornered the nomag.

The boy looked back with the intention of running into the forest again, however, the zombies of his friends, Thunder and his brother were approaching as the song played.

Not knowing where to go, Spike found himself suddenly surrounded by the singing and pointing undead.

Back to reality, right next to the lava river, a flash of light caused Discord, Fleur and Fancy to appear, who immediately, split up and began searching for Spike.

"I'll take the right, towards the beach," said Discord.

"I'll take the left, towards the volcano," said Fancy.

"I'll go into the forest" said Fleur.

All three nodded worried and determined to find him.

"Whoever finds him, let the others know." Said Fancy pulling out the syringe "We don't have much time left."

Each of the three began to run and search, worried that it wasn't too late.

Meanwhile, Spike, frightened, went back to pounding his fists against his head, as the army of undead continued to close in on him, never letting up on the song.

"PLEASE!" cried the boy crying in terror "HEEEEEEEEEELP!"

From the waters of the lake, emerged a black horse with completely white eyes, to which, the zombies made a passage for him to pass. On its back was Elizabeth, holding her decapitated, eyeless head in her right hand as she approached, singing, with the horse.

Upon reaching the shore, after walking on the water, the equine let Smolder down, who joined his fellow zombies.

The black horse, began to approach Spike as it changed shape, turning into a small black swirl, which pulled Spike to the ground, attaching itself to his shadow.

The nomag could only weep and shiver as his own shadow began to come to life, as the zombies chanted in chorus, summoning whatever was possessing it.

Fleur ran through the forest, looking at every nook and cranny, every tree and every clearing, until, under a hillside, lying down and convulsing she found Spike.

"DISCORD!" cried Fleur shining her horn to telecommunicate with the Draconequus and her husband "FANCY!"

Both of them, looked in the direction of the forest and with their powers teleported to where Fleur was.

As the three of them were there, they all started running down the hillside to where Spike was.

The nomag was spasming as his eyes rolled back in his head and he was sputtering out of his mouth, as if he was having an epileptic attack, with the difference that all the veins on his body, including those on his face, were completely black.

In his head, Spike watched as his own shadow began to form a body, one identical to his own, only completely black except for his eyes and mouth, which were completely white.

After it finished forming, it lunged at Spike and began to choke him with its left hand, while from the other, it pulled out a huge knife that raised above its head with the intention of stabbing him.

Fancy, in a hurry, grabbed the syringe and hoping it wasn't too late, stuck the needle directly into his jugular vein, injecting him with the blue liquid.

In a second, all his veins were returning to normal, causing the black color to fade, leaving only the black G on the back of his neck.

Spike stopped convulsing and woke up suddenly hyperventilating.

"Easy Spike!" said Fancy as he hugged the nomag by the head to hold him down "It's us!"

Spike, scared and not knowing where he was started looking everywhere until his vision cleared.

"Easy sweetie" Fleur said caressing his face "Breathe...it's us, it's okay..."

The nomag began to calm down and breathe softly, being released from Fancy's embrace, tears still falling from his eyes.

"Are you all right boy?" said Discord trying to get him to speak.

Spike, however, was staring up the hillside.

All three of them there, looked to where Spike was looking.

"Shit..." said Fancy, knowing what Spike was looking at.

Slowly climbing down and laughing like a maniac, the shadow that had attacked him in his head, was approaching the boy.

"I've comeeeeeeeee baaaack!" the being said as he finished descending and stood about three feet away from Spike. "How you been Spikey???!!! ready for some fun!!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

Spike didn't say anything, just stared at that dark duplicate of his.

Discord, Fleur and Fancy couldn't see what Spike was seeing, however, they knew perfectly well what was going on.

"Listen to me Shadow!" shouted Fancy in the direction where Spike was looking "We will not allow you to possess Spike again! I assure you this time I will find a way to destroy you!"

Shadow Spike, looked at Fancy, teleporting to his right side.

"Uuuuuuuuh you scare me Francis... hahahahahahahaha" he said laughing like a maniac, as he started to ghost walk in front of the three of them "you were lucky... three more seconds and I would have taken control..."

"I don't know what he's saying to you, Spike," Discord said to the boy, who was standing still, staring at Shadow "But don't even listen to him, he can't take you."

"I can't take him... that's true Discord... but he'll let me in eventually... and you know that, don't you Spike? Oh...it's going to be so much fun when you let me take over...we'll have a great time Spikey, just like old times." Shadow said grinning ghoulishly at him.

"Honey" Fleur told him sweetly "He doesn't have you trapped, you have him trapped, you can control him...trust yourself..."

"Until he can''t anymore...and the time will come Spikey...that I assure you...you can't escape me...I AM YOU..." he said laughing again as he disappeared into the darkness of the forest.

When Shadow disappeared, Spike slowly got up, helped by the Pants marriage.

"Is he gone?" asked Discord looking back into the forest.
Spike simply nodded, still shivering.

"We should go back to Bora Bora" said Fancy concerned about Spike's condition.

"No..." said the nomag, causing the three to look at him quizzically.

" What do you mean?" asked Discord in confusion

"I'm not going back... Shadow's right..." he said looking at the ground saddened.

"Louis honey" said Fleur crouching down to his level "You're shivering with cold and fear. Shadow is a teaser, whatever he told you, he's not right."

"That's what you told me last time..." said Spike without looking at them and taking two steps back " And what did happen?"

The three of them were speechless, not knowing how to respond.

"I can't go back... it's not safe for me to go back... not for me, not for anyone... and especially not for the girls..." said Spike looking up, exposing his teary eyes. "I'm going to finish what I started... I' sorry."

Spike started running into the scorched trees of the island of ruby. Fleur wanted to go after him, but Fancy stopped her, shaking his head.

"We can't change his mind..." the unicorn told her sadly.

"Only they can..." said Discord, with the same look.

"But... *sniff*" tried to say Fleur as she started crying

"We'd better go... talk to the Harmony's... they'll know what to do..." said Fancy hugging his wife to comfort her.

The unicorn looked at the Draconequus and nodded, to which Discord snapped his fingers, making them disappear from that island.

Meanwhile, the sun in Bora Bora began to emerge from the sea, illuminating the silent Harmony hut.

Inside, the atmosphere was cold and quiet, in line with the eleven people who were there. All of them were awake, not speaking, not looking at each other, their eyes were watery and their facial expressions were downcast.

The Dazzlings were sitting on the same couch, in the same pose, looking at the floor, holding their heads with their right hands, resting their elbows on their right legs while smoking a cigarette that was being consumed in their left hand.

The Crusaders, were on the couch in front of the sirens, also in the same pose, all three of them, lying down and looking at the ceiling.

Pinkie was sitting in a chair, leaning forward, with her hair completely straight, covering her face and with her hands clasped together while her left foot kept moving, showing uneasiness.

Sunbrust was standing, holding a tea which he clutched in one hand and leaning against the wall, looking at the herbal water without even having taken a sip.

Shy and Rarity were behind the projector, looking out to sea, each leaning against a pillar, unable to stop crying without making a sound.

Applejack and Sunset were on the couch in front of the projector, sitting with a cup of coffee each, holding it in both hands, looking each to one side.

Dash, meanwhile, was walking around smoking a cigarette, not looking at anyone, behind the couches. Her gaze was fixed on the projector.

Twilight, was sitting on the floor right in front of the couch where Applejack and Sunset were sitting, looking down and staring blankly.

Dash's face, unlike the others' sad expression, was one of deep hatred. Her eyes could only stare at the picture still displayed on the projector.

The pegasus finished the cigarette and threw it on the ground, stepping on it. She leaned with both her arms on Sunset and Applejack's couch looking at the picture angrily.

"Fucking... murderer..." she read the message on the projector out loud. "Do you even have the slightest fucking idea what he's been through!"

"Maybe we don't know the whole story..." said Sunbrust finally taking a sip of tea.

"The story you say Sunbrust?" said Dash and walked towards him with teary eyes "We don't have a fucking clue about the story! And your little friend doesn't have a fucking clue either!"

"Leave him alone Dash..." said Sunset with a saddened and tired tone "Sunbrust is not to blame for anything..."

Dash, holding in her anger, sighed loudly and looked down.

"You're right... sorry Sunbrust..." apologized the pegasus to him.

"Don't worry Dash... we're all a little overwrought..." said the unicorn sipping his tea again while looking at Rainbow "But... what I mean is that... Thunder told me that Spike had taken something very precious to him... I don't know what he means... but anyway, that day, something changed... something broke in Spike, something snapped..."

"What do you mean?" asked Aria, stubbing out her cigarette in an ashtray.

"I mean... a person is never the same after... well... that..." said the unicorn going towards the couch area

"Spike... he always blamed himself for what happened to Smolder... maybe he went into some kind of post-traumatic shock" said Sonata sitting up a little on the couch "That would explain for example... what happened to me with him in his cabin on the Celebrity, when I saw the picture."

"I... I don't really know what to say..." said Applejack looking at the projector "Maybe... maybe Spike... didn't program Fredbear right that day and..."

"What are you insinuating Applejack?" said Dash, again infuriated "That Spike killed his sister on purpose!?"

"I'm not insinuating anything Rainbow" said the earthling somewhat upset and holding back "I'm just trying to shed some light on all this... he may not have killed her on purpose... but accidents in programming do exist."

"Are you stupid Applejack?!" said Dash crying in anger "Spike would never endanger his little sister!"

Applejack, already angry got up from the couch and faced the pegasus.

"Look Dash!" she said pointing her finger at her "I'm not saying he exposed her to danger! I'm saying he might not have noticed!"

"You're accusing him without proof!" the pegasus told her "Or did you see the robot programmed?"

"I'm just saying it's a possibility!" shouted AJ

"Then shove your possibility up your ass!" yelled back Rainbow Dash.

"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!" yelled Pinkie Pie much louder, abruptly standing up and crying like a waterfall, scaring everyone and making them look at her, even Rarity and Shy, who seemed to be engrossed in the ocean. "DON'T YOU ALL FUCKING REALIZE IT WAS THAT SON OF A BITCH OF WILLIAM AFTON!!! WHAT A COINCIDENCE THAT HE SNUCK BACKSTAGE JUST BEFORE THE SHOW STARTED!"

They all looked at each other, remembering what Pinkie was referring to, enlightening them all.

"His face... the face William made when he chose Smolder instead of Gabby... That bastard knew what was going to happen!" said Rarity turning from sadness to anger.

"Exactly!" said Pinkie somewhat calmer.

"And not satisfied with that he blamed it on Spike!" said Shy, the same thing happening to her as it did to Rarity

"But..." said Twilight drawing everyone's attention "That being the case... Why would he want to kill Gabby?"

"Because he's a fucking psycho?" said Scootaloo rhetorically.

"I don't think it's just because of that..." replied the alicorn "There's something we're missing..."

Twilight got up and walked over to the projector, pulling the picture out from inside and looking at it more closely.

"What the hell happened?" said Twilight puzzled.

"There's only two people who could answer that for us... Fancy and Spike..." said Adagio getting up and going over to the alicorn.

"Or Henry... but no one knows where he is..." said Aria getting up as well.

All the girls started to think of a solution to the puzzle, until Sunbrust cleared her throat after drinking her tea.

"*ahem* Girls... I don't think it's healthy to think about what happened..." said the unicorn, causing them to look at him confused "I mean... whatever it was and whatever happened... it happened... we can't remedy it now. You should focus on the present, on Spike, on him being okay..."

The girls, at that moment, turned to look at each other somewhat sadder again.

"You're right Sunbrust... he was the one who suffered the most and the one who, to this day, is still torturing himself..." said Twilight pocketing the photo "He needs all our love and affection..."

"That reminds me... any word about Discord, Fancy and Fleur?" asked Sweetie Belle quizzically to which they all, shrugged their shoulders.

On the beach at Bora Bora, a whole line of ambulances was assisting students and hotel members. In one of them, taking Blueblood's pulse, were the T-Wings.

"I repeat again..." said the nurse, with a tired expression, removing the blood pressure cuff from the unicorn's arm "It was just a drop in blood pressure, take something sugary and you'll feel much better."

"I'm telling you it's a heart attack, you insolent plebeian!" shouted Blueblood totally offended "How can you tell you belong to social security and not private! You wouldn't differentiate a heart attack from a flu!"

"Fucking mama's boy..." muttered the fed up nurse between her teeth, without him ever hearing her, as she left for another ambulance.

"How classless the poor people are..." said Blueblood getting up and standing next to his friends, who were surrounding the ambulance in a semicircle.

"Maybe the nurse is right and it's a drop in blood pressure..." Soarin said somewhat confused

"Do you even know how my heart is?" said the unicorn dramatically "They've been about to kill us all!"

"There you are right" said Caramel taking out a cigarette and lighting it "I don't know how Sunbrust survived, really..."

"At least everything turned out alright." Cheese said with a smile "And as soon as Thunderlane shows up, we'll throw a big party. How about it?"

"Perfect!" said Soarin with a smile "A good party, with some nice girls is what we need."

"What do you say Flash?" asked Caramel positively as he puffed on a puff.

The pegasus was leaning against the wall of the ambulance with his eyes closed and a frown on his face.

"What's the matter?" said Cheese after looking at the other T-Wings.

"I'm just thinking..." said Flash still with his eyes closed, opening them seconds later "I haven't seen Flash since yesterday morning... any of you have any idea where he might be?"

The rest of the T-Wings shrugged and shook their heads.

"As far as I remember" said Soarin trying to recall "He came out of the bathroom after talking to Sunbrust and stormed off like a miura bull."

"Nothing else?" said Flash quizzically.

"Nothing else" reaffirmed Soarin.

Flash closed his eyes again trying to think where Thunderlane might be until Zephry walked past them.

"Hey, loser!" shouted Flash, "You wouldn't know where Thunderlane is by any chance, would you?

"Well, I don't know, but wherever he took the nomag to kill him, I hope he made it..." said Zephry angrily as he continued walking and cursed under his breath.

" What did he say?" asked Cheese in astonishment and amazement.

"As usual, that shitty midget..." said Flash rabidly "If we find the nomag, we find Thunder..."

"What are we waiting for then?" said Soarin cracking his knuckles.

Each of the T-Wings scattered, starting to search for him all over the island.

In the area where the Main Hall was, Captain Tempest and Deputy Commissioner Shinning Armor were giving orders to the cops to cordon off the area with police bands and keep the press pleaded.

At that moment, behind the two of them, they glimpsed a flash of light in the trees. They both looked at each other and slyly went there, where they spotted Discord, Fancy and Fleur, the latter still crying in her husband's arms.

"What happened?" asked Tempest worriedly as she saw Fleur crying.

Fancy preferred not to speak, so he lowered his gaze as he hugged his wife tighter.

"Let's just say... something that shouldn't have happened, has happened." Discord said taking out a cigarette and lighting it for her.

The two policemen looked at each other quizzically.

"What do you mean?" asked Shinning Armor.

"What I mean is... if what I fear may occur happens... may all the gods catch us in the act..." said the Draconequus after taking a big puff.

"Could you speak a little plainer Discord?" said Tempest to him somewhat annoyed "And the boy?"

"The boy will be dead in less than an hour if we don't talk to the Harmony's..." said Fancy breaking the embrace with his wife, as she was calmer

"What do you mean he'll be dead?" said Shinning frightened.

"Yes... *sniff*" spoke Fleur brushing a tear from her cheek "He'll be out of the way for the greater good if we don't talk to them..."

"Greater good?" asked Tempest quizzically.

"It is for now... the only solution to the problem that is coming our way..." said Discord with a blank stare and taking puff after puff.

"And there's no other solution that doesn't include the suicide of a fifteen year old boy?" said Shinning nervously

"Sixteen freshly turned..." corrected Discord bringing his right hand to his cheek to rest his head after sitting down on a rock

"He doesn't want to leave me time to investigate..." said Fancy massaging his forehead "That's why, I need the girls to convince him to wait..."

"And what the hell are we waiting for?" said Tempest heading for the Harmony's hut "A young man's life is in danger! Let's go!"

The other four started to follow the captain hoping they could talk to the Harmony's in time.

Meanwhile, on the island of ruby, Spike was walking slowly through the trees, shivering with cold, trying to find a way out.

"Hehehehehehe" said Shadow appearing on a tree branch in front of the nomag "Good thing you're immune to disease... you look like jelly..."

Spike simply ignored his evil counterpart, continuing onward.
Shadow, however, appeared right next to Spike, walking beside him.

"If I'm being honest, it was a pain in the ass to be locked in your mind" he commented with a macabre grin "You should go get yourself a psychologist hahahahahaha it's not like you're very right in the head, trust me, I know what I'm talking about."

Spike continued to ignore him as he walked on aimlessly.

"I'll tell you something else too, those sexual fantasies you should look into..." said Shadow "I know the masochism thing is all the rage, but I think that's a little over the line..."

"Shut the fuck up!" shouted Spike angrily and embarrassedly.

"Now you're talking to me, eh birdy?" he said with a smirk "Admittedly it's well put what you want done to you in bed, but if you take your life now what's the fun in that? Wait till Shy rips you apart and die like a man."

Spike simply rolled his eyes and continued forward.

"Of course... that is if you don't kill her first..." he said malevolently, standing behind Spike.

The nomag stood still for a second, only to turn around and lunge towards Shadow to hit him, however, he was run through like a ghost, falling down a nearby embankment facing the beach, hitting his back and foot, breaking both.

Spike, lying on the ground and writhing in pain, began to cry, looking up at the sky.

Shadow stepped in his gaze above, looking up at him as he laughed.

"So much IQ and so much dick to then not remember that you can't attack entities created by your psyche." Said Shadow ghoulishly laughing.

The nomag, badly, got to his feet, helped by the tree where he had been extrelled. He then looked to his left and admired the sunrise coloring the black night sky next to the blackened sand of the beach.

"It's as pretty as a good homicide on Halloween night don't you think?" sighed Shadow, admiring along with Spike the sun emerging from the waters.

Spike, simply ignored Shadow again, and focused on the orangey sun illuminating his face.

In Spike's head, only images of the Harmonys, CMCs and Dazzlings flashed through his mind, both before the magic and after, remembering those little moments in his life where he was genuinely happy.

He remembered the afternoons in the Arcade Zone of the restaurant with the Dazzlings, the walks, soccer games, console games with the Harmonys, the rainy days telling stories with the CMCs and above all, those moments he shared with all of them at the same time. In his mind, also came those memories where, already with the magic, he helped them hiding in the shadows as in the Battle of Manhattan or in the special operation in Las Pegasus, he also remembered the moments he spent with them disguised as Patriot, before and after the cruise.

A small tear escaped the nomag, turning into a saddened smile.

"Fuck dude I'm gonna cry how cute please!" said Shadow mockingly, putting on a very nasty effeminate voice "What a great story dude *sniff* what an epic ending *sniff*"

Shadow, to complement his mockery, had dressed up as a woman from the 50's, complete with pamela and blowing his nose with a cloth handkerchief.

"Aren't you going to let me even remember pleasantly?" said Spike, tired of him "Don't you have something else to do?"

"Emm... let me check my schedule..." he said as he pulled out a book and glasses, starting to read "Mmmm... Spinning at nine... goose bumping at ten... nope, nothing better to do..."

Spike rolled his eyes and slowly turned his head to look at the tree trunk. Tearing off some of the burnt, hardened bark, he sat down leaning his aching back against it.

"What a sad death Spikey..." said Shadow, who had teleported over and sat on his left side "I mean, I was hoping for a more epic death for both of us... because what the hell, you don't get killed by the ruby traps or the Thunderlane crusher, but a piece of wood does? Anyway, sad you were and sad you will die... what a good phrase for the tombstone, don't you think?"

"I'm not going to let you ruin the lives of the people I care about Shadow..." said Spike holding the piece of wood in his hand "This time... you're not going to screw up everyone's lives again..."

"You're going to kill yourself for me?" he said falsely surprised as he disguised himself as a baroque woman, with an exaggerated wig and a dress of fine fabric, holding a rose in his right hand "That's sooooo romantic my Romeo."

"You won't change my mind...it's time to finish you once and for all." Spike said seriously as Shadow made the disguise disappear, however, his smile didn't fade.

"I don't want to change your mind Spikey...I like you just the way you are...it's what keeps me here...next to you...forever..." said Shadow getting up as he walked backwards, disappearing.

Spike sighed softly as Shadow disappeared, staring straight ahead, his gaze fixed on the sea that was illuminated by the rising sun of dawn. Without taking his eyes off it, with two tears falling from his eyes, he stabbed the sharp piece of wood into the crook of his left elbow. After a thin line of blood emerged, he began to pull downward. Trembling with pain, he reached the wrist, filling his arm and the sand beneath him with his blood.

Next, and almost without feeling it, he cut his right arm in the same way. Just as he reached the right wrist, he dropped the now bloody piece of wood from his hand. His gaze began to blur, falling sideways and lying down, staring at the sky.

Both of his arms turned completely red, staining the tattoo Sunset gave him, as well as Dash and Twilight's rings.

In perfect symmetry, Shadow was lying with a devilish grin as he looked at Spike and Spike at him, being his counterpart, the last thing he saw before closing his eyes.

In Bora Bora, suddenly and without warning, the Harmony and Crusaders, who were in the hut, began to have stabbing pains in their chests, causing them to drop all ten to their knees, scaring the Dazzlings and Sunbrust. Each began to cry as in their minds, they saw like flashes, Spike's severed and bloody body.

"Twilight!" shouted Adagio as she grabbed her shoulder in fright, "What's wrong with you?!"

Neither Twilight, nor any of the Harmony or Crusaders could speak, they were just clutching their chests, crying and staring blankly.

At that moment, in came through the door Shinning, Tempest, Discord, Fancy and Fleur.

Seeing the tense scene in the hut, they were speechless. At that moment, Dash turned to look at Fancy, whose face said it all.

Abruptly, she turned her head toward the sea. Crying and screaming, she flew off, creating a huge sonic boom that reverberated throughout the hut, knocking back everyone present, who fixed their gaze on the rainbow trail heading out to sea.

On the beach, the T-Wings also stared at the rectilinear rainbow that was heading into the ocean, being all of them amazed except for Flash, who angrily, nodded his head and commanded the others to follow him, heading towards the cabin of the Harmony.

At a velocity almost equal to the speed of sound, Dash looked to every side of the vast ocean in search of Spike. From one second to the next, she stopped suddenly, causing a sonic shock with the water that caused a small tidal wave. She looked to her right and saw the volcanic cone of the island of ruby.

"Please... hold on..." she thought without stopping crying, heading at full speed to the island.

The Harmony and Crusaders, were starting to get up, still clutching their chests in pain as they cried.

"What's going on here?" asked Sunbrust looking at Discord.

The Draconequus was about to speak, when he was interrupted by Flash, who stormed into the hut along with the rest of the T-Wings.

"That's exactly what I want to know!" shouted the pegasus, rushing past the five adults and facing Twilight who could barely move.

"Where's Thunderlane Twilight!" he said to the girl "I know you know bitch!"

"Hey!" said Adagio interposing himself between Twilight and Flash "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth!!!?"

Without a second thought, Flash punched Adagio hard in the mouth, drawing the ire of Shinning and Tempest, who tried to go towards Flash to stop him, but Soarin, Blueblood, Caramel and Cheese stepped in, making a barrier.

"Stand back the four of you!" shouted Tempest at them as he tried to cross "You're all going to end up under arrest!"

"As long as justice is done we're indifferent!" shouted Soarin angrily.

"Where the hell did Dash go?!" said Flash turning to face Twilight who didn't answer, just cried "He went after the nomag!!! didn't she?!!! what did he do to Thunder?! HE KILLED HIM DIDN'T HE?!"

"ENOUGH!" said Discord exploding and freezing the five T-Wing with his magic.

"LET US GO DIRECTOR!" shouted Flash out of his mind "WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW THE TRUTH!"

"YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KEEP SILENCE ASSHOLE!" shouted Tempest and Shinning at the same time as they began to handcuff each of the T-Wings.

Once they were chained, Discord unfroze them, knocking the two cops to the ground to Soarin and Flash.

Cheese and Blueblood tried to escape through a window, only to be thrown to the ground by Discord and Fancy's magic.

Caramel, meanwhile, slowly made his way to the door, but got hit in the back by someone, who turned out to be Big Mac, who glared at him.

"Bro...Brother-in-law...How are you?" he said fearfully to the big earthling standing in the doorway.

Big Mac only answered him with a powerful punch that left him unconscious and lying on the floor.

As the big earthling entered, Granny Smith stepped inside the hut as well, watching as Big Mac put on a satisfied smile.

"You've been wanting to do that for as long as you've known him haven't you?" sneered Granny Smith to him.

"Euuyeeeeeep!" said Big Mac cheerfully.

Over their walkie-talkies, Shinning and Tempest alerted a few cops, who immediately showed up to take the T-Wings into custody.

" YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HIDE THE TRUTH EVER!" shouted Flash as two unicorn cops took him away "I'LL TAKE YOUR PARPIECE AND THAT NOMAG AWAY!"

"AND YOU TRAITOR!" said Blueblood referring to Sunbrust as he was taken away by an earth policeman and a griffo police officer

"YOU ARE EXPELLED FROM THE T-WINGS!" shouted Soarin contemptuously at him as he was carried away by the minotaur cop, loaded like a sack of potatoes "DID YOU UNDERSTAND!!! EXPELLED!"

" GET PUT IN HELL SUNBRUST!" shouted Cheese at him as he was taken away by a female earthling cop and a female pegasus cop, to whom quickly, the boy gave them a seductive look "Are you doing anything tonight hotties?"

The two policewomen at the same time hit him in the belly with their elbow, making him shut up while they took him away.

Caramel for his part, was being dragged away by two earthling cops while he hummed dizzily and bewildered, not having fully awakened from the blow.

As the five T-Wings were taken away, the atmosphere felt sad and cold again.

The elderly earthling woman then turned her attention to her two granddaughters.

Applejack was sitting on the floor, crying as she covered her face and Applebloom was holding onto the couch with one hand while clutching her chest with the other.

"What happened sugarcubes?" she asked both of them as she walked over to Applebloom and Big Mac to Applejack.

"Brother... *sniff*" AJ said to Big Mac as he sat down next to her and let her rest her head on his shoulder as he hugged her.

"Relax Jackelyn...it's going to be okay..." her brother was telling comforting her.

"Amelia..." Granny Smith said to her as she hugged her, under the sad gaze of the Dazzlings, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Discord, Fancy, Fleur and the rest of the Harmony's "What happened?"

"He's dead *sniff* grandma... Spike is *sniff* dead..." said the young Crusader girl crying disconsolately

"Is that true?" said saddened Granny Smith looking at Fancy and Discord.

They both said nothing, just looked down.

"Let's hope..." said Fluer taking a deep breath "that Dash makes it in time..."

Rainbow reached the shore of the island of rubi, her heart racing and her eyes glazed over.

"Spike where are you!?" she shouted at the top of her lungs, hovering in the air and looking at every part of the island.

The girl got no answer, so she flew into the island, soaring at full speed over every part of it.

"Spikey please... Where are you?" she thought as her desperation grew.

Using her powers as she flew over the forest of burnt trees, she used her electric vision to detect Spike's body. Her fright came when, on the east side of the beach, she detected a body lying on the beach, its energy fading.

"Spike!" she screamed as she flew over.

Landing on the sand, she was in complete shock for a few seconds as she saw, just mere meters away from her, Spike's bloody body, slashed at the wrists.

"No... NO! NO! NO! NO! SPIKEEEEE!" cried the pegasus beginning to cry again as she ran towards the body.

Upon reaching it, Dash dropped to the ground to try to see if he had vitals, however, she couldn't find them. She could only see the bloody piece of wood he had used to cut himself.

"NO! NO! I WILL NOT LET YOU DIE SPIKE!" said the pegasus grabbing Spike's limp head and bringing their foreheads together.

Rainbow, picked up Spike's body and began to fly towards Bora Bora at a speed that broke the speed of sound, generating a sonic wave around the pegasus.

Within seconds, after Granny Smith broke the embrace with Applebloom, Dash arrived generating a huge wave as she slammed on the brakes just a short distance from the hut, alerting everyone and causing the wave to almost reach the ambulances on the beach.

"PLEASE HELP HIM!" shouted Dash as she arrived, causing everyone to rush to the pool area, where she laid Spike's body.

"LOUIS!" cried Fluer in horror as she saw the blood still flowing from the cut veins of the nomag.

"MY GOD!" cried Fluttershy at the sight of him "SPIKE!"

Twilight, seeing him dead, was shocked, shaking her head as she ran to him and got down on her knees as Dash, being on her head.

"PLEASE DISCORD SAVE HIM!" begged Dash to the director, who was examining the body totally freaked out.

"I can't!" he said in desperation "I haven't fully recovered from the fight with Chrisalys, the Vulnera Sanentum spell requires a lot of energy..."

"Then I'll do it!" shouted Twilight getting up as well as Dash, making everyone move away from around "VULNERA SANENTUM!"

From the alicorn's hands came the healing ray that, like a scanner, ran through Spike's body, returning the blood into him and sealing the wounds on his arms, as if they had never happened.

Twilight dropped back to her knees and put her ear to the nomag's nose, yet she didn't hear him breathing.

"He's not breathing...WHY IS HE NOT BREATHING!!!?" the alicorn cried out in despair looking at Discord and Fancy.

"He's dead Twilight!" shouted Sonata going to her "We have to resurrect him... We need the grimoire!"

"No!" said Fancy upset "The grimoire's spells could kill you."

"We don't give a shit!" said the three sisters at the same time.

"Go get the book Aria!" said Adagio getting on Spike's feet.

Aria was about to head towards her hut flying for the book, however, before she could do anything, Dash stood up with an idea coming to her mind.

"Get out of the way!" shouted Dash, weirding everyone out "No one here is going to be put in danger! I'll take care of it!"

"What are you saying darling?" said a quizzical and worried Rarity.

Rainbow placed her left hand just above Spike's heart and raised her right hand to the sky.

At that moment, her element began to glow much brighter than it had ever glowed before. In the sky, completely black clouds began to form in a spiral shape, scaring everyone and causing them to move away from Spike and Dash.

Rainbow Dash's entire body began to release sparks everywhere and her eyes lit up like two suns as they turned totally white.

"I'm going to mark a Frankenstein..." she muttered as she looked up at the sky and immediately after, she looked at Spike "Come back... please..."

A second later, a powerful lightning bolt, fell from the darkening sky, striking Dash directly, which served as an energy diffuser, transmitting the necessary electricity to Spike's body, which was completely electrocuted, convulsing accompanied by a zapping sound of short-circuiting.

After a few seconds and stopping at the same time as the electricity from the lightning, Spike inhaled heavily with his eyes closed, returning to breathing and to life.

Seeing Spike's chest go down and up, everyone present took a calming breath again. Dash, weeping with joy, lowered her head and kissed the nomag's forehead.

All the Harmony girls began to hug each other with joy as they cried with emotion.

Discord, smiling, walked over to Dash and put a hand on her shoulder.

"You did well Iris..." said kindly the Draconequus.

"He's alive... *sniff* he's alive..." said the pegasus as she gave kisses on the boy's forehead. "Thank goodness... he's alive..."

"Now he needs rest" said the Draconequus "I'll take him to his hut to repose."

"Can we go *sniff* with him?" asked Shy still excited.

"You'd all better get some rest...you haven't had any sleep and you should." Discord said, disappointing Fluttershy.

"I'll stay in his cabin" said Sunbrust with a smile "If he wakes up, I'll let you girls know, but Discord is right, you should rest..."

"Thank you Sunbrust really..." said Sunset putting a hand on his left shoulder.

Discord and Sunbrust started walking towards Spike's cabin, holding Draconequus the nomag in his arms.

Meanwhile, in a police van and with handcuffs in their hands, the T-Wings were trying to free themselves, Blueblood and Soarin being on one side and Cheese, Caramel and Flash on the other.

"This is an outrage!" shouted Blueblood trying to free himself "Don't you know who I am? I'm Albert Blueblood! A direct descendant of the founders of Equerica! Arrest me? This is disrespectful and I won't be silent! No one has told me I have the right to remain silent and I won't!"

"Blueblood!" shouted Flash angrily at the unicorn "You have the absolute right to remain silent! What you don't have is the ability!"

"So what do we do now?" asked Cheese in annoyance.

"Yes, because there is little we can do here detained" said Soarin trying to free himself without success.

Caramel, little by little woke up, leaving on her chin and on Cheese's shoulder a puddle of saliva.

"What... happened?" said yawning the earthling as he situated himself "Why am I in handcuffs, where are we?"

"At an sadomasochism convention don't you fuck..." said Cheese rolling his eyes "We're in arrest Caramel!"

"And why is that?" asked the confused cowboy as he situated himself.

"I think for fuck's sake, Big Mac has given him amnesia" whispered Soarin to Blueblood, who nodded.

"Hey Flash... do you really think Thunder is...?" asked Cheese quizzical about what the pegasus said earlier

"Dead?" said Flash finishing the sentence for him "Yes... and that the nomag was his executioner, I'm sure of that too.

"And how do you know that?" asked Blueblood "It's not like the nomag is a minotaur, Thunder could have killed him with a thumb if he wanted to... besides we don't know anything about either of them."

"I just sense it... I know the nomag has made our friend disappear... and as our friend he is and has been... it is our duty to avenge him..." said Flash angrily

"That's true!" said Caramel with determination.

"No mistake!" said Cheese smiling angrily "That dwarf will pay for what he's done!"

"We'll finish him off!" said Soarin joining his friends.

"No doubt about it gentlemen... the nomag must die..." said sinisterly Blueblood.

"Patience boys..." said Flash cracking his neck "First... we have to tear him apart... starting with proving to the world, that under the purple hood... there is a monster... we're coming for you, Spike Drake!"

All the T-Wings shared evil grins and cheers, from one another, as Flash's eyes filled with anger.

All the adults, hugged the girls, comforting them of what had happened just minutes ago and left them in the cabin.

"You're going to have a lot of explaining to do when we get back sis..." said a smiling Shinning before heading out the door

"I know gossipy..." said Twilight brushing a tear from her eyes and curling them "Come on, leave in peace."

"You're going to rest aren't you?" said her brother suspiciously.

" Yes, bother, come on." Said the alicorn with a light laugh.

Shinning left the hut, closing the door as he gestured with his hand and two fingers that he was watching her.

Twilight, rolled her eyes again and turned, startled to see the Harmony and Crusaders folding their arms and staring at her, while the Dazzlings giggled and whispered amongst themselves.

"Is... everything okay girls?" said the alicorn nervously.

"Well... you see..." said Applejack sighing "Since Spike is recovered and resting, out of danger, we'd also like you to explain a few things..."

"Starting... about that kiss with Spike..." said in an angry and envious tone Sunset

Twilight, fearing a big scolding, closed her eyes and turned her head away a little.

After a few seconds, after hearing no retaliation or shouting, she looked back at her friends, who were sitting on the floor staring at her with excitement.

" How was it?" asked curiously Fluttershy "What did you feel?"

"Yeah!" said Pinkie excitedly and smiling "Details, details!"

"What are his lips like?" asked Rarity "Are they soft and sweet?"

"Does it give as much pleasure to kiss him as we think it does?" asked the Crusaders at the same time

"He put you in tune huh?" said Dash with a provocative smile.

"And who doesn't Dash?" said Sunset laughing.

"We're waiting for an answer Tamara Sparkle and we're not moving until you answer us" said Applejack.

Twilight, blushing and nervous, looked at the Dazzlings, who were watching her smiling and waiting for an answer too.

"Well... I don't know how to start" she said with a nervous laugh, sitting down on the floor as well, making the other girls move a little closer to her, creating a semicircle. "It was... no... no... no words can describe it... it's like when you're on a roller coaster, about to fall on the first dizzying drop, you're just filled with adrenaline, wishing it would start already... and when I brushed his lips... never... never felt something like that ever.... It was as if all the adrenaline was running through my whole body, as if it was a drug, you just want more and more and more and more and it's never enough, you start kissing him over and over again without separating your lips from his for a second... as if you were afraid he would escape... I kissed him over and over again and I didn't want to stop putting my tongue inside his sweet mouth... I could feel sometimes how he wanted to dominate, but in the end I couldn't hold back, I needed him to be under my control... inside me and me inside him... you feel a shiver run down your spine... it goes down from your head to your parts... his lips are soft like a cloud and tasty like a strawberry... you would just like to put his whole body inside your mouth and lick him like a lollipop... At that moment... you just know that you want to spend the rest of your life together with him... that he will protect you and you will protect him... because, at that moment, there is nothing else but him and you... that you are fused, one with the other. "

Twilight, while relating what she felt when she kissed Spike, looked at the ground and when she finished, she looked up only to obvserve her friends completely red, silent, eyes wide open and trembling.

Fluttershy, is the one who was shaking the most and the one who was blushing the most, having her eyes and veins completely purple, almost on the verge of transforming back into Genormishy.

The Dazzlings, for their part and with a blush, were looking at Twilight with their mouths open.

After a few seconds of silence, Pinkie raised her hand as if in class.

"Twilight... how to say this without sounding too brute... how come you didn't bang him right there!" said with obvious envy and excitement Pinkie.

"Well... mainly because the fight against Thorax and Pharynx started... I had even done my ponytail, with that I say it all... but there was something else... that puzzled me." Said the alicorn somewhat quizzically.

"The what darling?" asked Rarity curiously as they all did.

"Well... while kissing him... something happened to me... I remembered something..." said Twilight a bit saddened

"A lost memory?" asked Aria worriedly.

"Yes... from the night after the night of... the bite..." said the alicorn "Spike was devastated... we were all at his house... it was huge, that place... and on the roof was Spike, crying inconsolably... apparently, that night, I gave him his first kiss, both of us up on that roof..."

" You' re not kidding?" said Scootaloo in astonishment.

"Really?" said Sweetie Belle.

"Yes... apparently, I have been his first and second kiss in life... as I watched the memory, I felt that... somehow, we are all destined for him and he for us..." said Twilight somewhat smiling

They all smiled at that moment, looking at each other friendly.

Applejack, at that moment, got up and went to the pool area, followed by all the others.

"Do you think we'll ever remember all the memories?" asked Applejack to the girls staring at Spike's cabin.

"That only time can tell AJ..." her younger sister told her "For now, we can only be with him, for better, for bad and for worse."

"But how will we do that if he won't tell us everything that torments him?" said Applejack sighing "I just want him to trust us... not hold back if something happens to him..."

"Well... let's show him that he can trust us again." said Twilight smiling like the others.

They all looked confidently towards the nomag's hut, sighing in love.

Lying in bed, mouth half open, Spike was in the middle of a strange dream from which he awoke suddenly, taking a huge breath of air, opening his eyes abruptly.

His gaze, blurry at first, began to clear as he looked this way and that, focusing on where he was. When his body relaxed enough, he pulled himself up so he could sit up. He was completely weirded out to see that he was in his room.

"No... this isn't right..." he said not quite knowing how to feel "I shouldn't be here..."

With some fear he looked around to see if he was really alone in the room, seeing that this was so, he breathed calmly, sketching a smile.

"I'm still aliiiiiiiiveeeeeeeeeeee!" suddenly shouted Shadow Spike, appearing from inside a drawer of the bedside table.

Spike's face, in a second, went from happiness to disappointment.

"Hahahahahahahaha that was close this time" said Shadow popping out of the drawer as if it was a hole "You really had managed for a few minutes that we were dead... it's an achievement Spikey... that's something..."

Shadow, with his ghoulish grin, teleported right in front of Spike.

"Why so serious Spikey? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha" said Shadow grabbing the side of his face gently " Not like you just saw a ghost... Or did you? Hahahahahahahahahahaha!"

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" yelled Spike at him blind with rage.

" MAKE ME!" replied Shadow laughing at the nomag.

The shouting of the nomag, caught the attention of Sunbrust, who was sitting downstairs on one of the couches drinking a green tea.

"Spike?" the unicorn asked quietly in a quizzical voice as he heard the nomag's voice arguing with someone.

Spike stood up from the bed with a great expression of hatred.

" You' re a big son of a bitch Shadow!" said Spike to him full of anger.

" Oh you know my mother?" said Shadow hesitantly and smirking "Don't pay the anger of being alive with me... hehehe... it was them who brought you back..."

Spike, trying to calm himself, turned, facing away from Shadow Spike, resting his hands on the dressing table in the room, looking at himself in the mirror as his eyes glazed over.

"As in the good plays of the golden century... their love... will kill them..." Shadow told him as he approached Spike teleporting towards him slowly "Naive as any... they don't know that if you stay alive... you will finish them off... in a grotesque and gruesome way... because no matter how much you avoid me... hate me... attempt to kill me..."

Shadow disappeared when he was mere inches away from him, taking advantage of Spike looking down trying not to cry, only for him to look up and see that his reflection in the mirror, was Shadow.

"I AM YOU! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" he yelled back laughing devilishly

Spike's hands, suddenly filled with dripping blood, as if he had dipped them both in a bucket of red paint.

The nomag began to pull at his hair as he couldn't help but look in the mirror at Shadow laughing. Crying, he looked around, being able to obvserve that he was surrounded by bodies, those of the whole Apple family, Discord, Celestia, Luna, Shinning Armor, Fancy, Fleur, as well as those of the T-Wings, Sunbrust and his classmates. All of them dismembered, sliced open, their heads cut off and with an expression of horror etched on their faces.

Spike began to cry inconsolably, still pulling his hair. Turning around, still in shock from seeing the corpses of all those people, he looked down at his bed, provoking him to start screaming falling to his knees, as he saw the disembowelled and skinned bodies of the Harmonys, the Crusaders and the Dazzlings, looking straight at him, like the others, with horrified expressions.

Pulling his hair a little harder, he noticed he was gripping something, looking at what it was, trembling with fear, he found a huge sharp knife, completely bloody. At that moment, the nomag turned his gaze to the mirror, only to see Shadow in his same position, on his knees and clutching the knife. However, his white mouth had a big grin on it, from which came a coal black tongue that licked the blade of the knife, licking the blood that was on it.

Spike seeing it, dropped the knife, closed his eyes very tightly and began to scream in despair.

"Spike?" said a worried voice, drawing the attention of the nomag, who for a few seconds, his eyes had turned totally purple, this being unnoticed by Sunbrust whom he looked at in fear. "Are you all right?"

Still shaking and crying, Spike stood up looking around seeing that everything around was clean, no bodies, no knife and no blood. The boy looked in the mirror and saw only his saddened reflection.

The unicorn approached him, holding in his hands, a fresh cup of black tea, which, he handed it to the boy.

"Here," he said with a friendly smile as he helped him back to the bed to sit up. " It'll feel good for you."

Spike, still recovering from what had just happened to him, took a sip of tea, calming down a bit.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" asked Sunbrust in concern.

The nomag didn't answer, not even looking at him.
"If... you don't tell me what just happened to you... I won't be able to help you Spike..." he said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

The nomag, got up again, setting the tea down carefully on the bed and began to pace slowly around the room as Sunbrust looked at him.

"What are you doing here Sunbrust?" he said in a tired and sad tone.

"Seeing that you recover well from the resurrection." Said the unicorn getting up from the bed as well.

"Won't the T-Wings be looking for you?" he said to him as he reached for his pack of cigarettes, finding it and lighting one.

"They have expelled me from the group..." said the unicorn seriously "Although... it was more a mutual agreement... I didn't feel comfortable with them... because... they were never my friends... you are..."

"Friends?" he said quizzically "I don't know if you've hit your head Sunbrust... but that's not it... you and I have never been friends... I don't have any friends."

"I haven't hit my head, but I've worried about you, I've tried to get the T-Wings away from the Harmonys and I've helped bring you back from the dead..." the unicorn told him trying to talk some sense into him.

"Badly done," Spike told him seriously, with an angry expression. "You don't understand Sunbrust... I should be dead and forgotten..."

For a few seconds, there was only silence between the nomag and the unicorn, which the former looked away from him, taking a long puff of the cigar and the latter, folded his arms, sighing deeply.

"Well... I don't... I don't get it Spike... you've got wonderful girls by your side, who would even give their lives for you... great friends like the Dazzlings... Fancy... I don't understand why you tried to kill yourself." Sunbrust said noticeably miffed.

"I don't need you to understand Sunbrust...I just need you to leave me alone...get out of here...I'm not your friend..." said Spike aggressively walking towards the door of the room to leave.

"How do you explain this then Louis?" said Sunbrust pulling out the picture of the pizzeria, leaving the boy paralyzed as he heard him say his real name.

The nomag turned his head slowly to watch as the unicorn, held up the picture of all of them on his birthday. Again, a tense silence formed between the two of them.

"What did you remember?" he said in a totally sad tone and lowering his gaze, missing the unicorn a little bit.

"The day... of the... Smolder... incident..." said Sunbrust not knowing how to do it tactfully.

"Has anyone else seen that picture?" asked Spike still not looking at him

"Yeah... they were with me... all of them... even the Crusaders..." said the unicorn as he watched Spike's face sadden by the minute "It was Thunder's trap... he put it on a projector and we couldn't do anything... we all remember that night..."

Spike didn't say anything, just stood static as the cigarette burned through the air.

"You can't deny me what is obvious Spike...you and I were always friends..." said the unicorn, returning to worrying about the nomag

"We weren't friends Sunbrust... we were best friends... but that belongs to another time..." said the nomag heading towards the terrace of the room.

As he stepped outside, he noticed how the air whipped his green mane gently, he leaned with his arms on the railing that separated him from the fall of the second floor of that cabin. He leaned back and rubbed his face with his hands, trying to think.

The unicorn, walked slowly out of the room onto the terrace, looking at the nomag with sorrow and concern.

"This isn't right... none of this should have happened." Spike said with great frustration "I knew perfectly well this was a possibility... Why the fuck did I have to listen to my heart again?"

Sunbrust, as Spike spoke, walked over to the railing and struck the same pose as him.

"I never had to get close to them...any of them...I should have asked Discord to modify their memory... they wouldn't have found out anything...everything would have gone on as it should have gone on...them being the most beloved girls in Canterlot High and me..." he said as his eyes filled with water again

"And you going on being the nomag they hated for no reason?" said Sunbrust to him seriously

"That's the way things should have been..." said Spike after a few seconds of silence

"Spike... what's done... is done, that's for a start" said Sunbrust adjusting his glasses tightly "What's happened these past few weeks, is what had to happen... I don't know what you did but you altered the order of things, of the friendship and love that was between all of us, between this group of friends."

Sunbrust took the photograph again and showed it to him.

"Now, time itself is getting things back on track... still, all this has happened because we should never have forgotten what we were." Sentenced the unicorn.

Spike picked up the photograph and looked at it saddened, no longer able to bear to cry at the sight of Smolder in the picture, silently releasing the tears.

"I don't know what happened Spike, nor am I asking you to explain why or how you made us forget and why... I'm just asking you to let us into your life... into your heart..." said Sunbrust looking out to sea "I want to be your friend... because since I've remembered that night, plus, I've remembered the feeling I had when, for example, we had a dance competition... before, I just couldn't get away with being as bad as the other T-Wings... now I know why."

Spike, took a last puff on the cigarette, which was consumed whole, stomped on it and expelling the smoke from his lungs made his way back into the room.

"I'm sorry Sunbrust... but I'm not going to let everything go to shit... I'm not going to let your life go to shit..." he said as he walked, without looking back, out of the room, under the frustrated and sad gaze of the unicorn.

A few hours later, in the Harmony's hut, they all started to wake up after having rested practically all day.

Still sleepy, but with a smile on their faces, the Harmonys, Crusaders and Dazzlings stretched themselves clear as they made their way down to the living room.

"Oh fuck..." said Dash as she woke up yawning "It's been fair and necessary this break."

"You're telling me, it's been days since I've been able to sleep soundly..." said Sunset heading for the nespresso machine in the living room. "Who wants coffee?"

"Please and thank you..." said all thirteen girls at once, only to burst out laughing at the coincidence.

Scootaloo, after grabbing a cup that Sunset had given her, noticed the couch. He was a little startled to see Sunbrust sitting motionless, staring at the nightstand opposite.

"Fuck Sunbrust, what a scare," Scootaloo said at the sight of him, causing them all to look at him.

Rarity and Fluttershy approached him somewhat worried.

"How's Spike?" asked Fluttershy.

"Has he woken up yet?" asked Rarity.

Sunbrust didn't answer, just looked at the nightstand. Only when the girls looked too, they checked what was obvious: a note.

"What's that?" asked Applejack as she picked up her coffee cup and walked over to the couch.

Seeing that Sunbrust didn't say anything or move, the earthling cowgirl grabbed the sheet and began to read.

As she finished reading, AJ's expression, who had risen genuinely cheerful, changed to one of shock.

"What's wrong sis?" said Applebloom concerned to see her sister like that.

Sunbrust stood up wordlessly, followed by Applejack's gaze.

The unicorn grabbed a cigarette from a pack on the table and started smoking.

"What are you doing?" said Sunset quizzically as she put on her coffee "You don't smoke... you hate tobacco."

" Imagine that..." said Sunbrust drawing the attention of all of them, who were worried about Applejack seeing that she, like him before her, was not reacting. "I've had two so far this trip..."

To the earthling cowgirl, a tear began to roll down from her left eye and then her right.

"Why are you crying Applejack?" said Twilight quizzically "What does it say on the note?"

Twilight grabbed the piece of paper from her friend's hand and began to read it. Applejack, for her part, leaned against the wall and began to cry loudly.

The alicorn, much like her friend and Sunbrust, froze.

Neither of the girls understood anything and they were starting to get scared.

" He' s gone..." said Sunbrust worrying them all and causing Twilight to show them the note at the same time.

"Hi girls... I know it's not the nicest way to do this, but it's the right way. I love you, I have always loved you and I will until my time in life is over... but you should not have brought me back, right now, an evil looms over this world you protect and the source, is me. You are each and every one of you unique and incomparable. Dazzlings, I know that one day everyone will be able to see the potential you have, you will be the queens of the world, I assure you. Crusaders... I haven't had the chance to see you and I'm burning inside with rage for not being able to do it... just tell you never stop believing in yourselves, you are part of my girls and as such, I love you, go for it all and you will achieve your dreams. Harmonys... my dear girls... I have felt fortunate to be able to call you my girlfriends, even if it has only been a few days, you will make someone very happy, that's for sure. You are the heroines of this world and some of the most amazing people I have ever met, I am sure, you will move forward and make this world a better place. If all this sounds like a farewell letter... that's because it is... I'm leaving, girls, not only from Bora Bora... but from Canterlot... it' s not safe to be among you... don't search for me, you won't be able to find me... I only ask you to live, live for me, for you, and above all, be happy. Forever yours, Louis Afton Drake. Spike."

They all, as well as Applejack, began to cry disconsolately.

"When did he go!" cried Dash crying out to him.

"About half an hour ago..." replied Sunbrust "I've been trying all day to talk some sense into him that he didn't do it... but it's been impossible. I don't know where he went... he left the note, grabbed the suitcase and headed inland."

"If it was half an hour ago he might still be on the island!" said Twilight running to the door and out of the hut, followed by all the others.

"Search for him like he was the last piece of candy at a birthday party!" shouted Pinkie as they all started flying and running to find him.

In another part of the island, Discord and Fancy were on the cliff by the lagoon, where Spike fell with the quad during his race with Dash. In front of them, was Spike, sitting on his suitcase, looking down into the lagoon.

"Are you sure about all this?" asked Fancy.

"Absolutely." Spike said dryly and seriously

"You know they'll suffer like never before, don't you?" said Discord saddened.

"They'll suffer more if I stay." The nomag replied in the same way.

The Draconequus and the unicorn looked at each other worriedly and then sighed.

"And you won't come back?" asked Fancy again.

"Never." Spike said as he picked up a cigarette and lit it, letting the smoke escape from his nostrils.

Fancy looked back at Discord, who shrugged worriedly as he shook his head.

The adult walked over to the boy and grabbed his left shoulder with his hand.

"It's okay..." he said taking off his watch "It's your decision..."

"It's the right one." Spike said taking the watch from him and putting it on his wrist.

"It may be the right one Spike..." said Discord coming closer, standing to the right of him. "But it's the most painful... and I don't know if it's worth it."

"You have the ruby and the plans for the tower," said Spike without even looking at him "I'm of little use anymore, you just need the precise calculations done to use the Fire Ruby safely. Besides, they''ll suffer now, but in time, they''ll forget all about me."

"There you are wrong Spike... they will never forget about you..." said Fancy saddened.

Spike said nothing, simply stood up and grabbed his suitcase, turning away. At that moment and watching as dusk began to set in, he looked at the ruins of the castle with some gleam in his eyes.

"Give... a kiss to Fleur, Celestia and Luna for me... to the students and authorities... tell them I died in the battle..." said Spike sadly

"Aren't you going to tell us where you're going?" asked Discord somewhat tensely.

"It's better that no one knows... so no one can find me... thank you... for watching out for me all these years... both of you..." said Spike turning his head and smiling at them one last time

They both smiled back at him and without waiting any longer, the nomag headed off into the jungle.

Each one of the Harmony, Crusaders and Dazzlings desperately searched every corner of the island, without stopping for a second longer than necessary.

Pinkie looked in every cave on the island, Twilight searched the whole village and the scenery, Sunset looked all over the ruins of the hotel, Fluttershy went to the jungle on the mountain, asking every animal and plant if they had seen him, Applejack went over every inch of the beach in Bora Bora, Dash flew over the island together with the Dazzlings and finally, the Crusaders asked every person on the island for him.

Rarity, for her part, was in an area where there was no one, on the cliffs of the castle, desperate.

"Spiiiiiikeeeee!" she was screaming his name at the top of her lungs "Spike, darling! Where are you!!!?"

The unicorn, couldn't stop crying, looking in every direction as the sunset lowered lower and lower.

"You can't leave us like this! Please!" cried Rarity again, with no response.

At that moment, she looked up at the castle, where she made out a hooded figure.

Wiping tears from her eyes, smearing mascara under them, she ran over.

Spike, atop one of the castle's defense towers, gazed gloomily at the sunset. He watched as every particle of blue in the sky turned a warm orange.

"You know, I've always loved sunsets Spikey..." said Shadow appearing sitting on the rampart "It lets me see with greater vision a whole world of possibilities... a whole world to subdue hahahahahahahahahahahaha."

"You're not going to subdue anything or anyone Shadow...we're going far away...out there where they can never find us..." said Spike as he activated the clock and opened a portal where only a blizzard could be seen.

"We're going skiing?" said Shadow with a ghoulish grin, teleporting to his side, having changed into an anorak, hat and scarf as well as carrying skis on his shoulders, all black like him.

"To Kireria, to the most unsuspecting place on the planet..." said Spike with decision in his gaze.

Shadow, looked him up and down with a poker face.

"You know you're wearing shorts, don't you?" said Shadow "At least put on the flea market pants you usually wear, I'm getting cold just looking at you."

"Nothing is going to change my mind Shadow... you won't destroy anyone's life, you damned demon." He said glaring at him angrily.

Shadow looked behind Spike and smiled grimly.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that Spikey..." said Shadow Spike motioning him to look back.

Turning, he saw Rarity running towards him and up the stairs to the wall.

"Spike!" shouted the unicorn to get his attention.

"Rarity?" said the nomag strangely.

"Don't go Spike, please..." she said coming to where he was, dropping to her knees to his level height and clutching the sweatshirt in her hands.

The nomag's eyes glazed over at the sight of the girl pleading with him.

"Rarity...believe me...no one hurts this more than me...but I have to go...I have to disappear from your lives...for your good." Said the boy saddened

"Damn, it's like the end of Casablanca..." said Shadow excitedly sitting on a movie seat and eating popcorn "Tell him that thing about how we'll always have Paris! Or Bora Bora in this case! Hahahahahahaha!"

"Spike...it doesn't have to end like this...you don't have to leave, darling," Rarity said gently caressing his face "We can get through anything, all of us together, just like before..."

"Like before I killed my sister?" said Spike sadly as he took Rarity's hand gently and slowly pulled her away from him.

"That wasn't your fault..." said Rarity as tears began to fall again.

"Of course it was!" said Spike in agony and looking away from the unicorn "I kill my sister Rarity! Because I made that damn robot she's dead! Everywhere I go...misfortune follows me...and if I stay by your side...I'll disgrace your lives..."

"Why would that happen Spike? *sniff*" Rarity asked him getting up from her knees. "What just happened? Everything was going fine."

"No Rarity, *sniff* it was never going well, I should never have gone near you girls..." said Spike turning his head towards her, crying like a waterfall

"It was us who made that decision *sniff* I found out that poker night that I was not only dating you Spike *sniff*, but my best friend Patriot...." she said crying, moving closer to him "When I'm with you, I'm not only with the person I love the most, but with the most loyal friend I've ever had, the one who helped my sister with her homework, *sniff* who went to the social lunchroom to help the underprivileged, the one who ate my crying after work and who put up with my pet peeves... the one I trust the most... You are my world Spike... not only mine, but all of ours..."

Spike cried silently listening to Rarity's words.

"I only ask that you let us be in your life Spike...I only ask the same thing you do... trust in us... trust in me...please *sniff*" Rarity said almost pleadingly, crouching and getting down to Spike's level again

The nomag was trying not to look her directly in the eyes, but his saddened look, prevented him from doing so. As he stared back, Rarity's eyes turned emerald green.

"I love you *sniff* Spike..." she said tearfully and caressed his face again, this time with both hands.

Without thinking, the unicorn threw herself into the nomag's mouth, kissing him passionately and sweetly, surprising the boy at first, but letting himself be carried away as he noticed how her tongue timidly entered his mouth with each slow kiss given by the unicorn, whose eyes began to roll back in her head as she kissed the nomag, forcing her eyes to close.

Falling into a black emptiness, Rarity ended up on a floor that she knew quite well. It was of a brightly lit house, where pale pink and white dominated.

"What the heck?" she said getting up and looking around, checking that it was her house "Another memory?"

The unicorn, at her back, heard small footsteps running. Entering through a door that led to a large room with a bed, a desk with a green sewing machine, full of dresses and a large window at the back, she saw how her parents were talking to her.

As she looked, Rarity realized that she would be no more than four or five years old and was gently swaying a rocking chair. Inside the rocking chair, was a small brown-haired baby, asleep and calm.

"How good you are at this honey," Cookie said to her daughter.

"Thank you, I like to watch him snooze and play with Sweetie... it gives me peace" said the little Rarity with a big smile

" Marta and William have done well to leave their son with us while they are away...Rares fell in love with the boy as soon as he left the outpatient clinic in his mother's arms" Hondo said with a smile to his wife.

"Well, she and her friends alike..." said Cookie with a sweet laugh.

"And the babies too, you just had to see them when we introduced them to the little one" said Hondo cheerfully "How they were laughing with happiness and going with him, they didn't want to be separated any of the ten of them."

The older Rarity, looked more carefully at the baby in the rocking chair, realizing it was Spike.

"Awwww, I'm really dying of tenderness," Cookie said as she watched her daughter softly swinging and stroking little Spike's hair.

"And me mama, and me..." said the older Rarity smiling, looking at both of them smittenly

"Your mother and I are going to make dinner" Hondo said sweetly to his daughter "Take care of little Louis in the meantime, see to that he doesn't wake up."

"And if anything happens, you tell us, okay?" Cookie said smiling.

"Yes daddies" said the little Rarity looking at them happily.

Both adults left the room, passing through the older Rarity as if she was a ghost, leaving both of them alone in the room with the baby.

The little Rarity looked tenderly at the child as he slept peacefully. The adult one, sat just opposite the rocking chair.

"So... we've known each other since forever Spikey..." she said going across the child's face as she tried to cuddle him "I knew our connection was a lot more than I thought..."

"You're the second cutest baby I've ever seen Louis..." the younger Rarity told him, catching the older one's attention "After my baby sister of course... I can't wait for you to get older so we can play together, go to the amusement park and make you thousands of outfits and clothes. We are all really hoping you will join us, even the Dazzlings. Between all of us, we have decided on your nickname... you will be Spike... because of your hair. But sleep now, you've got to grow up. You'll be my sparring partner Spikey... I'm looking forward to that day."

Little Rarity gave a kiss on the baby's forehead, who smiled at the touch of her lips, drawing on both of them, a big smile, as everything around began to fade.

Back to reality, Rarity opened her eyes slightly and slowly kissed Spike again, while gently, they both brushed the tears from each other's eyes.

"Stay Louis..." said Rarity as a sigh "Stay with me..."

They both opened their eyes again and stood looking at each other tenderly, as well as sadly.

"Please... tell me... What happened?" the unicorn asked worriedly.

Spike, silently looked behind the girl, staring at Shadow, who was smiling macabrely at him.

"You don't have the balls hahahaha" Shadow said to him, teasing him.

Spike looked back at Rarity, who was staring at him waiting for a response. The nomag sighed loudly and nodded shortly, moving the watch and closing the portal.

"I killed Thunderlane..." said Spike crying again, shocking Rarity, who opened her eyes like saucers.

"What?" she said surprised and scared.

"We fought... *sniff* he took me to the island of rubi *sniff*, he tried to throw me down the lava gorge... he slipped... and now he's dead... *sniff* I didn't mean to do it... I swear it wasn't on purpose... I jumped so he wouldn't throw me and... *sniff* *sniff*" he said as he began to cry inconsolably

"My god..." said Rarity holding her hand to her mouth.

" He couldn't fly *sniff* to get out of there... I unintentionally shot him in the wing... I watched as he *sniff* fell to his death and the horror in his eyes" said Spike helplessly, trying to brush the tears away "I killed him... like *sniff* my sister... I'm a fucking murderer *sniff*.

" I cannot argue you there mate hahahahahahahahaha" Shadow said as he paced around the nomag and the unicorn.

"You're not a murderer Spike" said Rarity jumping in to hug him, completely thrilled and saddened "You weren't to blame...you were defending yourself and he slipped..."

"If I hadn't *sniff* shot him... if I' d let myself *sniff* fall into the lava he'd be alive..." said Spike hugging her tighter and her back

"It's not your fault Spike...it's not..." she said trying to comfort him

"Even if it wasn't... no one would believe me... that's why I'm leaving... so I don't get you in trouble... not with the police, not with his parents... not with anyone..." said Spike lowering his gaze, knowing that wasn't the reason he was leaving.

"Holy cow, you're going to grow a nose like Pinocchio," Shadow said macabrely, rejoicing.

Rarity broke the hug and stared into his eyes again, still holding her green ones.

"Spike... we told you we were in this together... in everything... for good, for bad and for worse" the unicorn said with a smile.

"Rares... it's already complicated for a nomag like me to have a simple friendship or companionship... it's impossible for us... and even more knowing that I have..." said Spike discouragedly.

"If you cry again, I'm going to puke," Shadow said with a roll of his eyes.

"Hey... Louis..." she said grabbing his hand and squeezing it a little "We want to be with you... you with us... so, with love, affection and trust... we will make the impossible, something possible... we just have to stick together... we told you a thousand times and if necessary we will repeat it every day until you get it into that hard head of yours... you will never be alone again."

Rarity, after saying that, slowly threw herself back to his lips, to which Spike responded by kissing her as well, intertwining their mouths to give that soft, tender kiss some passion.

The unicorn, before breaking the kiss, gently grabbed his bottom lip, biting it delicately and tugging it free.

"Twilight was right" she said with a cheerful laugh "Makes me want to never stop kissing you."

"Heh... I'm glad you relay that..." said Spike with a slight smile.

Rarity stood up and held out her hand to the nomag, who accepted.

"Come, darling... they're all very worried..." she told him as they began to walk holding hands

"I'm so sorry about all this..." said Spike somewhat embarrassed that he had tried to run away.

"Oh Spikey... and more than you're going to be sorry..." said Shadow in Spike's ear as he disappeared "This is going to be so fun..."

"Don't worry, sparring partner, it'll be fine..." said Rarity smiling at him, surprising the nomag who looked at her and she, winked.

Spike smiled and grabbed the girl's whole arm, hugging it to him as they walked together out of the Hispanic's castle.

Meanwhile, in a completely dark place, where only an oval table, dimly illuminated by a conical white light that did not even let you see the faces of the nine people gathered there. Two of them were through a TV.

"A mission as simple as stealing candy from a child and you are not capable of accomplishing it!" shouted one of the beings, which had yellow eyes and a black and gray beard.

"You recreated yourself too much Chrysalis..." said one with red eyes and black horn "You had to grab the ruby and get out of there..."

From one of the chairs of those present there, Chrysalis leaned forward, who looked at the red-eyed being with contempt.

"If you say it's so easy... do it yourselves." She said in her usual tired tone.

Across from her, leaning forward as well, was Torch.

"It's the fucking Harmony girls! No children! It's not that easy!" said the dragon offended by the beings' words.

"Oh... poor little Torchy" said a good girl voice, coming from pink eyes, with hints of orange, which was sitting next to the yellow-eyed being "Your three hundred tons of ass wouldn't let you defend yourself?"

"Fuck you!" the dragon shouted at him "What the hell are you doing here? You just got out of kindergarten!"

"And you go drink beers you bastard!" the voice shouted back, being completely irritated.

"And what about the nomag!" said one of the beings on TV, this being a blue-eyed, black-haired, black-haired earthling, dressed in a navy blue suit and red tie, which, it could be seen through the screen, was stuck in a cell. "Because of that son of a bitch my whole family is in the clink! Fucking nomags!"

"Hey, hey, hey... watch what you say about the nomags, Filthy Rich..." said the being in front of him, who was distinguishable by his green eyes.

"Yes... remember that it's our competence to have you more or less time in that hole" said the other being that was in front of him and that had the same color eyes, distinguishing him from the other one with a red moustache.

"That's enough!" said a distorted voice emanating from the other television, which presided over the table and a black and white static image could be seen. "I don't care about the nomag... I don't care about the Harmony... and whose fault was it that you failed in Bora Bora... I just want the ruby... and all you should want now..."

"Yes... Don Bruto... forgive us..." they all said at the same time, somewhat frightened and looking at the static TV.

"Our primary objective is to get that jewel..." said Don Bruto "But we have to be careful... it will be guarded by Fancy, along with Discord's protection and the help of that nomag. No one here will do anything without a solid enough plan to take down these three threats..."

"Threat? A nomag?" said the girlish voice "Please, he sure is a pathetic being who puts on that purple hood to hide how ugly he is..."

"Don't underestimate him... that boy has proven to be extremely intelligent... he's a tough adversary... and with the Harmony's help, even more so." Said Don Bruto silencing the voice "Let the war begin, get that ruby, even if you have to pry it from his cold, dead hands..."

Everyone in the room, looked at each other with complicit glances, plotting in the depths of their minds, the perfect stratagem to finish them all off and get the Fire Ruby.