Chapters University/Midnight Launch
Author's Note
I turned three in december of 2000. I'm old.
University/Midnight Launch
The year 2000 saw a number of changes for Twilight and Spike. The Alicorn began her third year of college at the start of September, throwing herself into her studies to ensure the greatest understanding of her curriculum possible. After the announcement of the PS2, the siblings waited anxiously in anticipation. Three days before its release, Twilight returned to her dorm with a new record in hoof.
"Did you find anything good?" Spike asked.
"The guy at the counter recommended this one."
Twilight levitated the case in front of her brother. The dragon read the jagged font out loud.
"'The Whispered Lies of Angels'...?"
"He told me it sounds a lot like Prayer for Cleansing."
"Oh, sweet. Put it in."
Twilight glided the CD over to her original PlayStation. She used her magic to unwrap the plastic packaging, discarding it in the trash. She opened the case and inserted the disc, booting on the power. To their surprise, the cashier was spot on. The riffs were fast, melodic, and aggressive. What set the bands apart were the vocals. Here, they were throatier and focused more on the diaphragm. The pair listened closely to the lyrics.
"Woah," Spike remarked, "This is a lot deeper than I expected."
"Yeah," Twilight agreed, "I'm used to thinking with the logical side of my brain, but these guys have the emotional side down to a T. Kinda makes me wonder what their live shows are like."
"Guess we'll have to see sometime. First we need to get ahold of a PS2, though."
"What games should we get? I can afford a few at this point."
"The only ones that look good right now are Timesplitters and Street Fighter. The real good stuff's probably gonna be a bit late 'cause of the hardware shift."
"True. We still have to beat Final Fantasy 9 and Dragoon."
"How 'bout we pick up Pro Skater 2? Been wanting to try it out for a while."
"Sounds good."
Twilight returned to her studies, letting the album play in the background while she finished her work.
Two nights later, Spike and Twilight spent the evening at a nearby electronics store. They listened to music and read manga to keep themselves occupied.
"What kind of games do you think'll come out over the system's lifespan?" Spike wondered curiously.
"Hopefully lots of RPGs. If Parasite Eve's anything to go by, the genre's got a strong future ahead."
"You think we'll get another Koudelka or Soul Reaver?"
"I dunno. It's hard to say."
"Personally, I'm hoping for another DOOM title. It's been a bit since the last one."
"The system's supposed to be backwards compatible, so we'll be able to play our entire library, which reminds me: we need to make sure we pick up a couple memory cards, too. Don't want a repeat of last time."
Spike shuddered, remembering the infamous marketing prank Sony pulled the first time around.
"That was a nightmare."
"I bought a magazine that details the console's features. There's a built-in DVD player so we can watch movies if we take it on vacation."
"That's sick! With all the Dragon Ball merch coming out, we might see some movies soon."
"That would be awesome."
"I don't care how old we get. We need to buy happy meals just for the toys."
"I'm with you on that."
"You think we'll be able to listen to music on this thing?"
"I don't see why not if the original could support it."
"I heard a rumor the new 7 Angels 7 Plagues album will be out next year. They supposedly got a new singer, Matt Mixon."
"What happened to Temo?"
"Guess he left the band to become a pastor."
"Should've guessed."
"Most people don't even know they're a Christian band."
"Their lyrics were never really overly-preachy. Guess they were trying to put the music first."
"Still, it's kinda surprising. Their lyrics sound like stuff angsty goth kids would write."
"You mean like us?"
"Pretty much."
"How's that comic book series of yours coming along?"
"I'm making some revisions right now. I think I've almost got it down."
"To tell you the truth, I think you should keep it underground: make it a cult classic only hardcore fans would know."
"Yeah. I think so, too. Mainstream superheroes just don't cut it for me these days."
"That's 'cause you have a big sister who knows what quality content is."
"True."
The shop owner emerged to let the line know the consoles were available.
"Hold on," Twilight halted, holding her brother in place, "We'll have to be sneaky if we want to do this right."
"Gotcha." Spike realized.
The duo waited for the crowd to pour in, providing them with the perfect cover to snag a box without being noticed. They quickly located the games, memory cards, and extra controllers, gathering everything together before disappearing into obscurity until they could make their purchase.
"That's one system down," the dragon counted, "PC's next."
"I know a little bit about system modification. We should start learning how to tinker around with tech for better performance."
"I'm down. For now let's revel in our victory."
"Fine by me. Place was a freakin' madhouse."
Back at the dorm, Spike and Twilight hooked up the new PlayStation to their TV. They inserted their memory cards into their respective slots and booted up Timesplitters.
"What difficulty should we play on?" Spike questioned.
"Let's do hard just to see how fast we get murdered."
"Fitting test run, I'd say."
To the dragon's shock and amazement, Twilight decimated the entire game in one solid run. Her reflexes were comparable to those of a martial arts master.
"Holy crap! How did you beat it so fast!?"
"Shining."
"You mean that military training you guys did before you started school?"
"How do you think I stayed focused so long?"
"Actually, now that I think about it, it makes sense."
"You could probably benefit from a little tough love yourself, slacker."
"I'm eight."
"That's no excuse."
"Butthead..."
Twilight snickered, locking her brother in an uncharacteristically tomboyish headlock.
"You know I only give you a hard time 'cause I love ya."
"Yeah, yeah, ya big sap."
"I think I said the same thing to Shining once or twice."
"Probably."
Spike yawned, checking his watch for the time.
"It's already two in the morning? I'm beat."
"Come on. Let's turn in for the night."
"No complaints from me."
Twilight shut off the system, tucking her brother in before resting her own muscles.
"We'll try out the others when I get back tomorrow."
"Heck yeah. Sounds like a plan."
"Night."
"Night."
Author's Note
Lookie what I found.
Familiar
Spike spent the morning in solitude, starting a new game on Symphony of the Night to bide his time until his sister returned. He made it a point not to wander around campus while Twilight was busy. So far, this mentality had served him well in avoiding unnecessary problems. Between the game and his comics, the hours ticked by like an ever-flowing stream.
Shortly after three, Twilight entered the room with a mysterious stallion Spike had never seen before.
"You brought company," the dragon teased, "HFIL must've frozen over."
"This is Flash," Twilight introduced, "He's training to join Shining's unit. I brought him to help me work on a project."
"You like Dragon Ball?" Flash interjected.
"We've got the entire Buu Saga on tape back home." Spike revealed.
"Lucky."
"Anyway, I'm assuming you guys need room to work?"
"Yeah," Twilight confirmed, "Sorry."
"Don't sweat it."
"I've got a few bucks I can give you for food."
"That works."
Twilight levitated the cash to her brother. He stuffed it in the pocket of his jeans.
"Remember, if you meet a cute mare while you're out-"
"Yeah, yeah. I know. The three Cs."
Spike stood up and stretched, heading toward the door.
"Later, nerds."
Twilight closed the door once the dragon was out of view.
"'The three Cs'?" Flash said in confusion.
"Be confident, be chivalrous, be considerate. It's based on the code of the holy knights."
"Makes sense he'd pick up on it so quick being around you guys."
"You ready to start?"
"Yep."
Flash handed Twilight a manual from under his coat. It was filled with information on computer hardware and security.
Spike felt the warmth of the sun beat down over him. It'd been some time since he last went out during the day. With a soft, cool breeze, he felt the sweet sting of sorrow claw under his skin.
"If there is a god, let me find a love that's pure...A love that's true..."
The dragon's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar tone.
"Spike?"
Spike looked aside to gaze upon the face of his older brother.
"Shining!? What are you doin' here, ya nut!?"
"I had some time off. Figured I'd drop by. Where's Twilight?"
"She's workin' on a project with one of your guys."
"Flash, I bet."
"That's the one."
"Well, since she's busy, you wanna grab a bite? It's on me."
"Thanks, man..."
Over lunch, Shining caught up on recent events in his siblings' lives.
"Knowing Twilight, you guys probably got one of those PS2s already."
"Guess we've gotten predictable."
"I know it's none of my business what you guys do, but you can't stay cooped up all the time shutting out the world. It's not good for your mental well-being."
"I know. It's just...I dunno..."
"What's on your mind?"
"What's really for us out there?"
"Friendship, love, adventure. There's a whole world of opportunities if you're willing to look."
"How long will those things last?"
"As long as you're willing to fight for them."
"Is it really worth the effort?"
"You'll never know until you try, and I'll let you in on a little secret: you're far more capable of achieving those things than we are."
"What do you mean?"
"You're a dragon: the one creature in all existence my army fears. Your power is only limited by your judgement."
"I'm not a warrior like my ancestors."
"You could be if you wanted to. The only thing holding you back is your own self-doubt. Discard that and all your limits will fall away like paper mountains."
"Maybe..."
"Twilight made you grow up faster than she should have. All I can do to make it up to you is help you realize your potential."
"Yeah..."
"I was saving these for her, but I think you should hang on to 'em until we get back."
Shining slid two cases over to his brother. The first was a self-titled demo by a new band: End This Day. The other was written in a script Spike had never seen before. It read "For the Memories" by Dead to Fall.
"How did you even find these?"
"I know you guys are into heavy crap. I emailed the bands asking for a copy of each one. They sent 'em free of charge."
"Now you know why we like it so much."
"There's a sense of camaraderie hard to come by even for armed forces. I guess it's a pocket of sanity in an era where life seems to have lost meaning."
"I don't say this lightly. I think you understand me even better than Twilight."
"Only because you're willing to give me insight."
"You wanna hang out for a bit until they're done?"
"Sure. No problem."
Author's Note
"AS I STARE AT THIS PICTURE, MY MIND DRIFTS ACROSS THE DISTANCE, WONDERING WHERE YOU ARE: WONDERING WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART! MORNING RAYS UPON YOUR FACE EVERY DAY AND FOREVER! MY HEART BELONGS TO YOU! I WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE! I WANT TO FEEL THE WARMTH OF YOUR EMBRACE! I WANT TO SEE YOUR EYES STARING INTO MINE!"
-Dead to Fall, Before it's too Late (AKA 9-8-6)
Visitation
Shining and Spike trained together until the sun began to set. Despite the soreness, the dragon somehow maintained a surplus of energy.
"Not bad for your first day, huh?" Shining praised.
"All that and I'm not even tired. Guess you were right."
"Dragons were built for strenuous activity. Keep training like this and you'll be stronger than all of us in no time."
"Looks like it's about time to get going."
"Yeah. May as well see Twilight for at least a little bit before I head home."
"Hey, would you mind doin' me a solid?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"Can you teleport me back to mom and dad before you leave? It's been a while since we last saw 'em."
"Can't Twilight take you?"
"I was thinkin' of staying home for a few nights. Twilight can't because of school."
"She can drop you off and head back."
"Yeah. I guess that's true. I guess I just wanted to spend a little more time with you, too."
"Hey, don't look so down. You know where to find me. If nothing else, you can always fly to base and train with the rest of us."
"I might take you up on that."
"Come on. Let's head back to the dorm."
"Yeah."
On the way back to campus, Spike asked a question seemingly all siblings inevitably face.
"You think Twilight's okay alone with Flash?"
"She's an adult. She can make her own decisions."
"Not the response I was expecting."
"There's no point interfering where I'm not wanted. Besides, I trust her. She knows what she's doing."
"We all come into our own as people at some point."
"That's pretty profound. You're smarter than you give yourself credit for."
"I did learn from the best."
Shining pulled his brother into a hug.
"I love ya, bud."
"You, too."
Shining's ears perked up.
"Do you hear that?"
"What?"
Spike focused his hearing, jolted to awareness by the sound of a filly's sniffle. He tilted his head right.
"Over there."
"Looks like the kid dropped her ice cream."
"I'll handle this. You go on ahead. I'll catch up."
"All right. See you back at the room."
Shining and Spike parted ways. The dragon cautiously approached the girl and her mother with a steady gait.
"Excuse me, ma'am. Is everything okay?"
"Just a little accident," the mare tried to downplay, "I'm sorry if we bothered you."
"It's no bother. I actually have some spare change if you guys need a hand."
"That's okay. I wouldn't want to impose."
"Not at all. My brother took care of everything today, so this is kinda just sitting here burning a hole in my pocket."
"Are you sure?"
"You need it more than I do. They're only children once."
This struck the mare by surprise.
"You talk as though you think of yourself otherwise."
"Only on the outside."
"Well...If you insist."
"I do."
The mare retrieved the money from the dragon's hand.
"Thank you."
"Of course. Anything to help a citizen in distress."
"You're a kind soul."
"It's how I was raised."
"Your family should be proud."
"They are."
The mare headed back inside the store with her daughter. Spike gave the pair a soft, weary smile...
Back at the school, Shining knocked on Twilight's door.
"That you, Spike?"
"Not quite."
"Shining!?"
"Spike stayed behind to finish something. He'll be here soon."
"Hang on. I'm coming."
Twilight removed the barrier blocking her brother from entry.
"I'm not seeing things, am I?" Twilight second-guessed.
"I doubt any illusion could match my beautiful mug."
Twilight tackled Shining in a crushing embrace.
"Just as energetic as I remember."
"It's been too long."
"Mind if I come in?"
"Not at all."
Shining stepped through, greeted by a salute from his underling.
"Captain!"
"At ease, soldier. Just here on a social call."
"Sir."
"You said Spike was finishing something? Where is he?"
"He should be here any minute. We came across a situation on the way back. I'm sure he's resolved the issue by now."
"How long have you been here?"
"Since earlier this afternoon. Spike told me you guys were busy. Me and him never spend any quality time together. Figured I'd let you work in peace for a while."
"We're actually working on a Christmas gift. Flash said he'd help me build a custom PC for gaming and music. He's showing me the ropes so we can build them on our own after this."
"Funny you should mention that. Spike's got the other half of your surprise."
"You got us something?"
"I got ahold of a couple rare demos from bands I think you'll like."
"For real!? That's awesome! I can't wait to hear 'em."
"I think Spike's feeling a little homesick. It's been a while since you guys saw mom and dad."
"I understand. We'll go together before you have to leave."
"Sounds like a plan."
Spike walked in just as they finished their conversation.
"Wouldn't mind a shower." the dragon cracked.
"Shining told me you wanted to visit home for a couple days."
"Yeah. Missin' the folks, ya know?"
"Give us a couple minutes and we'll go together."
"That works."
"You can hold on to the demos. I'll listen to 'em when you're back."
"Shining told you already?"
"Yeah. Can you do me a favor while you're there and update my posts? Followers are probably starting to wonder where we are."
"Sure."
"I'll let you take the PS2 since you didn't get a chance to play much last night."
"Thanks."
"Don't worry, bud. Your time's coming..."
The room went silent...Still...Somehow, Twilight had read into her younger brother's soul. She knew his deepest secrets. Even stranger, Spike was more comfortable with this than he expected...
As promised, Twilight took Spike home with Flash and Shining. He showered and changed while Velvet and Night Light caught up with their other children. When the dragon emerged, he hugged their parents tightly. He'd grown so much since the last time they saw each other.
"I'm going to bed."
"Good night, hon." Velvet comforted, kissing the dragon's forehead, "Sleep well."
Night Light wrapped his young son in a tight hug, somehow knowing the child was emotionally drained beyond what words could describe.
"Good night, Spike," Twilight soothed, "I'll see you soon."
"Night, bud." Shining concluded.
"Night, guys."
The dragon trudged back to he and Twilight's old room, veiling himself under their sheets, waiting for the world to fall away...
Author's Note
Decided to introduce the others as emotional support characters. I think it's an interesting dynamic actually. It mirrors real life.
Counterbalance
Spike called Twilight early the next morning. Now that his head was a little more clear, he could talk about what had been on his mind.
"Hey, Twilight. Sorry for waking you up early."
"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you're all right."
"You saw what happened yesterday, right? I was an emotional wreck."
"What happened?"
"After talking to Shining yesterday, I was hit with sort of a realization. I felt like I didn't really know who I was, ya know?"
"You were having an identity crisis."
"So that's what it was..."
"Do you know what brought it on?"
"I think so, but it's hard to explain."
"Try as best you can."
"By the time I came around, you were already deep into the dark and morose stuff. I've grown up with that mentality and outlook being the norm. I don't think it's been very good for me."
"It was starting to affect you in a negative way."
"I feel like I haven't had the chance to be a normal kid. When something becomes normal, it invades all aspects of your life. I can't think of a time where I could really relate to anyone outside the family. It was alienating questioning whether interacting with other people was even worth the effort. I think Flash's presence made me realize how isolated and lonely our lives have been. I need to experience a life beyond what we're comfortable with."
"I fully respect and support your decision."
"You're not disappointed?"
"What I think is irrelevant. You need to do what's right for you. Shining told me what you did for that filly yesterday. Somewhere inside you lives a courageous, pure-hearted hero: someone willing to fight for the betterment of our home world."
"Right now I just want to spend time with mom and dad. This is where my strength comes from."
"Take your time to rest and heal. You know I'll always be here when you need me."
"Thanks, Twilight."
"We love you, Spike. Nothing will ever change that."
"I love you guys, too. I don't want to lose you..."
"And you never will. Trust in that."
"I'll try."
"I'll see you soon."
"Yeah..."
Fulfilling his sister's request, Spike updated her public journal. He wrote a brief but comprehensive entry regarding the headspace he was in and what his plans were from there.
"Hey, guys. It's Spike. I know it's been a while. I'm gonna be a little bit selfish here and talk about what's been happening with me specifically. I grew up with Twilight as her younger brother, so the way my personality turned out was sort of predetermined by our collective behavior. We engaged in a lot of entertainment that dealt with themes of depression, pain, loss, etc. Over time, I think it played a role in shaping my perception of reality. The result's been stable, but not necessarily prosperous. If it wasn't for the fact I grew up in a loving household, I would most likely view the world in a warped, nihilistic way. Over the last few years, it's just been Twilight and I while she's attended college. This isn't to put blame on anyone or pass judgement on them. Frankly, I couldn't ask for a better sister. It's just that the overexposure to dark and depressing subjects has affected me in an unexpected way over a long-term period. For now, I'm going to spend time with our mom and dad to try to balance things out a bit. They're very upbeat, positive people. They always showered us with unconditional love and support. For the time being, I'll be taking a step back from the dark aesthetic you guys are accustomed to while I focus on my personal growth and recovery. Thank you for understanding."
The dragon was met with a heartfelt outpour of support, much of which came from people who followed the same dark lifestyle as Twilight. One response by a user under the name "Rarirare" caught his attention. She showed what he felt he needed most at the moment: empathy and compassion.
"You're very brave for admitting this. The way most of us live is a choice we feel comfortable with. Natural conditioning obscures this choice for younger people because we believe so strongly in those we love and admire. As we grow older, we face questions and choices not previously understood to us. If your experience isn't spiritually fulfilling or enlightening in some way, chances are you'll eventually reach a point where you feel as though you've hit a dead end. Continuing down a path you're dissatisfied with will only result in unnecessary misery. Do what's right for you. We'll always be here if you need to talk. Be well, dear."
Her comment received several upvotes from people she knew offline. Of course, at the time, Spike wasn't privy to this information. Still, he was grateful all the same.
"Thank you, ma'am. It means a lot."
"Of course, darling. Now go out there and live. Show this world what you're made of."
Another comment appeared by the user "RainbowSkittles".
"Yeah, little dude. Knock 'em dead."
"Thanks, guys."
Spike shut off the computer and left the room. Later that day, he went on a picnic with Velvet and Night Light. For the first time in what felt like years, he was home...
Author's Note
"BY THE DAY, WE LEARN TO LIVE WITH THIS! WITH THE FEELING, WE CRY SO FAST! ENOUGH HAVE SUFFERED IN THIS LIFETIME; IT WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT LAST! WE WRAP OURSELVES AROUND AMBITION, BUT IT CUTS US OFF AT OUR KNEES! JUST THIS ONCE, FEEL WHAT I FEEL, AND LET ME DO AS I PLEASE! ONE CHANCE IS ALL I'M BEGGING FOR TO MAKE YOU SEE ALL I SEE, FOR WHEN I'M GONE, I'LL BE LIKE DUST TO YOU! THE BEAUTY MOURNS YOUR INDECENCY! I HAVE MORE TO GIVE, TO STRIVE FOR THAN THIS ILLUSION GAVE TO YOU, AND IF I FAIL, THEN AT ANY COST, I'LL FIND A WAY!"
Day of Devils
Twilight returned home on Halloween four days later. Spike, Velvet, and Night Light greeted her with a massive group hug.
"It's good to see you guys. I was overdue for a break."
"I was starting to think you didn't know the definition of the word." her father teased.
"It's truly a blessing and a curse."
"We missed you." Velvet stated tenderly.
"Hey, Twilight," Spike cut in, "I made a friend."
"Cadence told me. Rarity, right?"
"How'd you know?"
"I asked Cadence to check up on you. You've gotten pretty popular with the mares lately."
"Rarity and Rainbow grew up with the others I've been talking to. I told them I was thinkin' of staying for a while and going to school."
"You sure it wouldn't be too boring? With everything I've taught you, you'd probably fly through the next few grades."
"I can just play dumb. If I pretend not to know anything, I'll master it faster since I'll learn twice."
"Sneaky. I like it."
"Shining won't be able to make it back until Christmas," Velvet said with a tinge of disappointment, "I'm sorry he couldn't be here."
"Don't worry about it. I'm here to help Spike readjust to home life more than anything. He hasn't been back for an extended period since he was six. Figured I should help him get comfortable."
"That's sweet of you."
"We stick together, right?"
"That's my girl." Night Light praised.
"Is the old hay ride still up?" Twilight inquired.
"Yep. One of the few things left in town these days."
"We'll head out around six."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Now I know where Shining gets it."
Spike led his sister back to their old room, closing the door so they could talk in private.
"I missed you," Twilight said with conviction, "It's been lonely not having anybody around."
"Now you know why I came back."
"I do."
"It's weird, isn't it? We spend our whole lives chasing after money and status. We end up missing out on the things that actually matter."
"Now I know why we found you. You're here to remind us of that lesson."
"Pulling away from everyone gave the dark thoughts too much power. I couldn't let myself be controlled by the feeling that life has no value. It would've eaten me alive."
"I've felt it creeping up on me, too: trying to convince me that nothing matters - that I should give up."
"Why haven't you?"
The Alicorn booped her brother on the nose.
"Because your existence proves it's wrong."
Spike smiled.
"That's how I feel about you."
"Then I guess we're stuck together, whether we like it or not."
"Fine by me."
"How 'bout we surprise Rarity and the others with a triumphant return?"
"I'll get the camera."
The siblings took a photo together, uploading it to Twilight's journal for the world to see. Spike captioned it with the line "Guess who's back". Rainbow was the first to respond.
"SLIM SHADY!"
"Close enough." Twilight replied.
The siblings played Pro Skater 2 and Mortal Kombat until it was almost time to leave. They decided on their costumes for the evening.
"Think you're up to playing in the dark realm for a bit?" Twilight questioned.
"I think I can manage."
"I think I still have some old eyeliner in the bathroom. I'll go get it real quick."
"Pinkie said we should pull a prank on the ride."
"What'd you have in mind?"
Spike retrieved a small pack of bang snaps from the TV stand. Twilight smirked mischeviously.
"Classic."
"We should hurry. Mom and dad are probably ready by now."
"I'll be back in a sec."
The pair finished getting ready, joining their parents and heading through the woods to town.
"You think they'll notice?" Spike whispered.
"Nah. Just be discreet and get rid of the wrapper when you're done."
"I feel kind of bad, though."
"If we get caught, I'll take the blame."
"We go down together. Ride or die."
Twilight slung her foreleg around her brother, holding him close in protective affection.
Author's Note
Convergence
Not long after Halloween, Spike and Twilight made plans to meet up with Rarity in person. Twilight asked if she could bring Flash for company.
"Of course, dear. The more, the merrier."
On the day of, Rarity requested they meet at a food court on their side of the country. Twilight agreed, teleporting the three of them to the specified location. Rarity's group was already there waiting for them.
"Greetings and salutations, Ms. Sparkle." the unicorn spoke.
"You're even more regal in person than I imagined."
"You'd be surprised how often I hear that."
The mare fixated her gaze on the dragon.
"You must be Spike."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I want to thank you for keeping me company over the last few weeks. You see, I find myself quite lonely at times as well. Despite my reputation, I rarely interact with others on a truly personal level."
"Guess that means we have something in common."
"Yes. I suppose it does."
"It's awesome to finally meet you guys," Rainbow interjected, "I've been a big fan since way back."
Twilight blushed, not used to receiving such compliments from strangers.
"Thanks."
"How long's it been, anyway? Didn't you start posting around '95?"
"I think so. How'd you find me?"
"I was checkin' around lookin' for playlists to spin. Yours caught me off-guard. I'd never heard anything so face-meltingly heavy before."
"I think that was around the time I found Unbroken. They were one of my favorites at the time."
"I figured. Since you came all this way, I brought something special. Well, actually, it's more like two things."
"Now I'm excited."
"Check this out. Think fast."
Rainbow tossed two cases over to the Alicorn.
"Bleeding Through and Eighteen Visions?"
"Those are recordings of their heaviest material. One's a demo. The other's a full-length. There were only a thousand copies made of the latter."
"So these are super rare."
"Yep."
"Thanks. I'll take good care of 'em."
"Feel free to rip the files in case anything happens to the discs. Those tracks need to be preserved at all costs."
"I hear you loud and clear."
"We only have enough time for lunch today," Rarity continued, "We'll have to save more extended conversations for another time."
"You're a fashionista, right? The hours must be killer."
"You have no idea."
The group ordered their meal, returning to their table upon receiving their dishes. Twilight, Flash, and Spike listened intently to their new associates' stories. Each of them had a unique skill that set them apart from the others, which in turn made the conversation all the more engaged.
"I think we're going to get along just fine." Twilight ascertained.
"Agreed." Rarity concluded.
"How about we meet again after the holidays? You're probably gonna be swamped until then."
"I'd like that. However, I'm afraid we must be going now. It's been a true pleasure."
"Likewise. I guess we'll see you later."
"I look forward to it, and Spike?"
"Yes, Ms. Rarity?" the dragon replied.
"You must persevere, no matter how difficult or challenging things may seem. Only persistence will bring you what you desire."
"You know what I'm looking for?"
"No, but you do. You must pursue it, no matter the obstacle in your path. It's the only way you will achieve true contentment."
"I will."
"A bright future awaits you, my young friend, and with each day, it grows closer to your reach."
Spike nodded.
"Farewell. May fortune smile and bring us together once more."
"See you then." Twilight affirmed.
Rarity and the others faded from view, leaving the trio to contemplate the unforeseen encounter.
"I don't know what door you opened, Spike, but I'm curious to see where it leads."
"Same here." the dragon concurred.
Author's Note
"'HOW CAN GOD ALLOW THIS' CRIES SISTER IN LAMENT, BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS, AND REVEALED WHAT THIS HAS MEANT! YOU GATHER WHAT YOU CAST INTO THIS STRAYING EARTH LIFE! WHILE MAN HAS HIS WILL, THE SON PAID THE PRICE!"
Cold Warmth
Between their meeting with Rarity and Christmas, Spike and Twilight discovered a few new bands on their own: namely Dead Blue Sky, State Craft, Ever Last, As I Lay Dying, and Adamantium, with the last quickly becoming one of their favorites. Spike continued to train with Shining, making notable gains in strength and muscle mass. Rarity in particular quickly became enamored by his journey through the realm of self-improvement, complimenting his progress and encouraging him to continue forward.
Christmas day, the family was pleasantly surprised by Shining and Cadence's early arrival. Over a mug of cocoa, Cadence made a shocking announcement.
"I'm pregnant!" The princess blurted out.
"I'm gonna be an uncle!?" Spike asked.
"Yep."
"Holy crap! That's awesome!"
"Congratulations," Velvet said proudly, "I was starting to wonder when we'd have grandfoals running around."
"Guess we're stuck with babysitter duty." Twilight teased.
The conversation was cut short by an unexpected knock.
"You guys expecting someone?" Shining asked.
"I'll get it." Spike offered. He opened the door to a shocking sight.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" five mare shouted in unison.
"Rarity, Rainbow," Twilight called out, "You guys made it!"
"Flash requested we drop off a gift set," Rarity revealed, "It's a good thing I practiced levitation so much as a filly. Goodness, this is heavy!"
"Come on in! I want you to meet our folks."
Spike offered to take the girls' coats. They accepted graciously.
"So you're the mysterious Rarity we've heard so much about," Velvet chuckled, "Welcome to our home."
"Merci, ma belle dame."
"A fluent French-speaker, I see."
"The benefits of private education, I suppose."
"Make yourselves at home."
"We'll do just that."
Applejack, Rainbow, and Pinkie aided Rarity in placing the gifts by the tree.
"Rarity, guess what," Spike said excitedly, "I'm gonna be an uncle!"
Rarity turned her attention to Cadence and Shining.
"Flash told me you were with child. Though I lack experience, I've been told it's quite beautiful to behold."
"If you get past the morning sickness." Cadence joked.
"We'll be making breakfast soon," Velvet informed the group, "Would you like to stay?"
"I'm grateful, but I'm afraid we must decline. Our families are waiting for us as well, you see."
"I understand. Thank you for stopping by with the gifts. Feel free to warm yourselves before you go."
"That's very kind of you. Now I see where Spike's admiration stems from."
"He's a sweetheart, isn't he?"
Rarity gave the dragon a sideways glance.
"You might say I could fall for one such as him."
Spike's heart stopped, leaving him frozen still. Rarity smiled at the display of flattered embarrassment. As soon as she turned her back, Shining put his brother in a headlock.
"(Dude, she's totally into you!)"
"(Knock it off, buttmunch.)"
Velvet watched on fondly. Night Light nuzzled her tenderly, licking her face to widen her grin.
"Wanna embarrass the kids?" he inquired half-seriously.
"Now, now. This is our first time meeting their friends. There'll be plenty of time for that later."
"Excuse me," Fluttershy cut in, "You wouldn't happen to have any spare carrots, would you? I have a pet rabbit at home, and I'm afraid I've run short."
"I think we can whip something up." Velvet assured.
"Thank you."
"Not at all."
The girls waved goodbye as they departed for home. After breakfast, the family designated their gifts. Twilight and Spike received art supplies and a biography detailing the history of extreme metal. Shining and Cadence got two tickets to a theater performance in Neo-Canterlot city. In exchange, the group gave their parents a pair of diamond-encrusted bracelets to layer atop their wedding bands. It served as a symbolic gesture marking their evolution from young lovers to seasoned caregivers.
"We'll treasure these for our remaining years." Velvet remarked, barely holding back tears.
"Don't cry, mom," Twilight comforted, "You've still got a long road ahead."
"It's not that. It's just that it's been such a privilege watching you grow up. I didn't think in a million years we would come as far as we have."
"That's what makes life interesting. You never know what you're gonna get."
"How did we create someone so wise beyond her years?"
"Someone had to, right?"
"Very true."
"I love you guys."
"We love you, too."
Velvet and Night Light wrapped their daughter in a hug.
Flash's gifts were the last ones opened. Spike's jaw dropped when he saw what was inside.
"A brand new PC!?"
"Yep," Twilight confirmed, "Flash and I started working on gathering parts after we bought the PS2. He taught me how to install everything and where to find upgrades."
"So that's what you guys were working on! That's sick!"
"Wanna know the best part?"
"What?"
"It's all yours."
"No way! For real!?"
"The PS2 was more for me since I'm not really a big PC gamer. With this bad boy, you can emulate games we wouldn't normally get from overseas, and with the security upgrades, it's virtually unhackable."
"That's what I'm talking about!"
"You guys really are nerds." Shining jested.
"You condemned us to dirty diapers," Twilight countered, "I think we deserve it for all the effort we'll have to put into raising your kid."
"Touché."
The Alicorn turned back to her younger sibling.
"You ready to set this baby up?"
"Yeah!"
"Hang on," Shining halted, "There's one more gift from Flash."
The stallion threw the package to his sister. Her eyes instantly expanded into the multiverse.
"What is it?" Spike asked.
"A Mortification CD..." Twilight responded, half-distracted by the nostalgic present before her.
"Mortification?"
Twilight cleared her head, explaining the significance of the album.
"I first got into metal when I found a copy of Pestilence's CD 'Testimony of the Ancients' in Shining's room. This was the second death metal album I ever heard. The lyrics were super spiritual and philosophical compared to most other bands at the time. This is what made me fall in love with metal and hardcore in general."
"So that's how you got involved with it."
"You mean you didn't know?" Shining questioned his brother.
"Nope," Spike admitted, "It never came up."
"You guys are gonna have a field day with this one."
"At least one of your soldiers knows how to treat a lady." Cadence teased.
"I am training him to be second-in-command. There's no room for impurity among the best of the best."
"Aye, aye, captain!"
Spike snickered at the Spongebob reference. Shining's displeased expressions were always a riot.
Back in the room, Twilight temporarily moved the TV off the desk.
"It's really important we do this on a hard surface. If the components get shocked by static, it'll fry the system."
"Gotcha."
"There should be a couple anti-static straps somewhere."
"Got 'em."
Spike tossed the straps to his sister. Inside the tower, she showed him how to connect motherboards, CPUs, fans, graphics cards, RAM sticks, Hard Disk drives, and Solid State drives.
"Make sure you note down exactly where each piece goes and where the screws are. If you damage any of the parts, they'll be a pain to replace."
"Got it."
The dragon helped his sister prop up the tower in the corner. They connected the monitor, keyboard, and mouse along with the internet line.
"We're using the most recent operating system."
"Windows 2000, right?"
"How'd you know?"
"I read up a bit on my own while you were gone."
"Impressive. Do you know how to configure it?"
"No."
"I gotcha covered. I'll show you how so you can upgrade when the next one comes out."
"Cool."
Twilight optimized the performance and security settings in the installation menu.
"I wrote down the network password so you could log in without risking our data being stolen."
"Can it turn into a transformer and blow up bad guys?"
"I think we're still a few years away from that, buddy."
Twilight finished installing the system.
"Do you want a password for your user profile?"
"Nah. I think mom might get suspicious if I lock you guys out."
"Smart."
Finally, the system booted up.
"There we go! It's done."
"Sweet!"
"You can customize the background later if you want. For now, let's play some games."
"Works for me."
"I think after I finish school, I'll invest in some instruments and computer equipment."
"You chose your degrees because of what you were passionate about, didn't you?"
"Pretty much how it goes."
"I can't wait. It's gonna be awesome."
"Totally."
Author's Note
Epilogue: 2001
The last bands Twilight discovered for the year were Unearth and All That Remains, tracking down their demos before settling in for the second half of her semester. Meanwhile, Spike began hanging out more with Rarity and the others, eventually meeting Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Despite the mental gap, they got along well: so much so Rarity was almost jealous. After Flurry was born, Spike, Velvet, and Night Light took over babysitting. Twilight chipped in on weekends to help, teaching her brothers how to soothe the infant during fits and building their relationship through quality time.
"This is what we fight for." Shining muttered out loud.
"Yeah." Spike and Twilight agreed simultaneously.
2001 saw the release of Windows XP, the GameCube, Xbox, and several metal records the group had been looking forward to. It seemed like the world was changing so fast, and yet, at its core, it was veritably the same. One day, after an intense training session, Spike and Shining went down to a nearby cliff close to the unicorn's home.
"We're gettin' old." Spike said nostalgically.
"Yep."
Out of nowhere, Twilight tackled Shining from behind.
"Gotcha!"
The Alicorn galloped away, leaving Shining to pursue her in angry surprise.
"Ya nearly killed me, ya weenie! Get back here!"
Spike smiled once more. It seemed like he was doing that more and more frequently these days. He checked his watch, remembering he'd made plans with the girls to watch a movie that evening.
"It's almost time. I'd better get goin'."
He flew off into the distance, employing his newfound strength for a burst of speed. Having gained courage from their experiences the previous year, he looked forward to what the future held in store...
