Kaiser

Chapters

Face of Tranquility
Steps of the Forsaken
A Thousand Miles
Ghosts of the Past (Part 1)
Ghosts of the Past (Part 3)
Ghosts of the Past (Part 4)
Ghosts of the Past (Part 5: Arc End)
Beaten Path (Part 1)
Beaten Path (Part 3)
Beaten Path (Part 4)
Beaten Path (Part 5)
Beaten Path (Part 6: Arc End)
Brothers in Arms (Part 1)
Brothers in Arms (Part 2)
Brothers in Arms (Part 3)
Ghosts of the Past (Part 2)
Beaten Path (Part 2)

Face of Tranquility

Author's Note

"This is someone trying to offer a solution to you, and I hurt. It's not easy. I'm not necessarily the type of person that walks around with a smile all the time, but I still think of a reason to be positive and push forward. There's nothing wrong with being hurt. There's nothing wrong with depression. It's natural. Don't let people tell you you're a freak because you're depressed or you're hurt."

-Dan Weyandt, Zao

Face of Tranquility

After high school ended, Spike retreated into isolation. Over the years, he'd seen the others less and less as time went by: including Twilight. Most of the people he knew left town after graduation, leaving the dragon with only his thoughts and his strength to guide his way. Of course, he still had his mother and father, and he was grateful for their presence, but somehow, it felt as though an important piece of his life had disappeared. One question remained now that haunted him daily.

...Why was he alive...?

Spike awoke early one mid-August morning to find his throat exceptionally dry. He assumed the humidity combined with his breath were the culprits. He slowly arose from his place of slumber, stretching his limbs to ease the stiffness of the night before.

"I can't wait until summer's over. This is ridiculous."

He opened the door to the room he once shared with his sister, exiting its confines and heading toward the kitchen.

"Mom and dad must still be asleep."

The dragon retrieved a cup, filling it to the rim with fresh orange juice.

"Hopefully they'll wake up soon..."

He stared blankly at the beverage until he noticed a wet sensation creep down his cheeks. Tears had begun streaming down his face with no conscious effort on his part. He quickly wiped them away.

"Crap. I really gotta pull myself together..."

He returned to his room until it was time for breakfast.

The years of training with Shining made Spike powerful beyond measure. His physical and magical prowess far exceeded that of even the most adept unicorns. The only ones who could stand against him now were Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and...Her...Even still, without combining their abilities, taking him head-on would prove an insurmountable obstacle. Fortunately, he had no interest in causing any of them problems. Still, it felt odd possessing such resolve with no reason to use it. Better to have it and not need it, he supposed. It was during this process of continuous development that a familiar force made herself known...

"Just as much a force of nature as I remember."

Spike felt a jolt surge through his body, as though the voice had shocked him into wakefulness for the first time in centuries. He turned back to find his sister gazing into his soul.

"Twilight...!?"

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Is it really you...!?"

The Alicorn's eyes softened. She wondered how much suffering her brother had endured to elicit such a powerful response.

"You look tired. You should take a break."

"Y...Yeah..."

Spike and Twilight rested on an old trunk not far from their house. They shared a sobering moment of silence, using their time to collect their thoughts.

"How long has it been?" Twilight wondered.

"Five years..."

The Alicorn looked away, directing her attention forward.

"Too long..."

In truth, it felt even longer. Since their last reunion, Twilight had given birth to a son. Unsure what to say, Spike asked about her home life.

"How are Flash and Nova doing?"

"You know boys. They're an energetic bunch."

Spike chuckled. He couldn't explain why, but he felt nervous speaking so freely after such prolonged silence.

"How are mom and dad?" his sibling asked in kind.

"Still kicking. Dad finally got his pension from the city, so...I guess I don't have to worry about looking for a job for a while...Not that I really needed one to get by..."

"I haven't heard much from Rarity lately. Do you know how she's doing?"

"Everyone's fine. She's just been busy with work and family stuff, so..."

"I guess I should ask the real question now...What happened to you...?"

Spike sighed. There was no point trying to hide it. He broke down, telling his sister everything that had been on his mind.

"Exactly what I expected. We grew older and drifted apart. Big surprise I was the one left behind..."

Twilight looked up at the sky, lamenting her brother's pain.

"I should've never left you here alone."

"It wasn't your fault. You had your own life to live. It's not like Rarity could wait on some punk kid forever, anyway..."

"I could've at least taken you with me - given you something beyond this. The level of isolation here would drive anyone crazy eventually."

"I was stronger for it in the end..."

"You don't need to suffer to build character. Acting as nothing more than a zombified observer isn't a life. It is Hell on Earth. Very few people have lived to tell of the feelings you're describing. It's a miracle you survived this long."

"I know you gave me the best life you could. I just miss hanging out with you guys and being a kid, ya know? There's nothing left of that life anymore..."

Twilight slid off the log, turning to her brother with a reassuring glare.

"Then let me help you build a new life: one where everybody knows your name...One where they care..."

Spike's eyes shot open. The drowsiness of morning vanished in an instant.

"What do you mean?"

"You and I will travel the world, hand-in-hoof. We'll meet new people and try new things. We'll find new purpose in the decayed husk of our foregone existence."

The dragon scoffed, convinced this was a stunt to try to make him feel better.

"Yeah, right. You make it sound so easy. You can't just leave Nova and Flash behind."

"Things have changed a lot since you were little. Communication is easier now than it was before."

"You mean to tell me you had this all planned?"

"I had an idea something like this might happen. I always come prepared for a fight - especially when it comes to family."

"You're scary sometimes, ya know that?"

"Come on. Let's go see mom and dad so you can pack before we head out. It's time for a major change in operation."

Velvet and Night Light were overjoyed to see their daughter again. Upon explaining the situation, they were completely baffled. Neither of them had any idea what their youngest son was going through all this time.

"Why didn't you tell us," Velvet questioned, "If we'd known, we would've done everything we could to help."

"I didn't want to burden you," Spike revealed, "You guys didn't deserve that. My problems are mine. It's up to me to fix 'em."

"Initiative is great, but you can only handle so much alone."

"That's why I'm here," Twilight intervened, "There's a hole in our lives we're having trouble filling, so we'll push ourselves to the absolute limit if that's what it takes to make things right."

"If that's what you feel is best, we'll support you how we can."

"Don't worry about us. I'm sure you guys wouldn't mind some peace and quiet for a while, though I guess things were pretty mellow already."

A clear expression of worry overcame the elder mare.

"Please be careful. It's a dangerous world out there. I don't want you getting overconfident and ending up in a gutter."

"If there's one thing Shining taught us, it's how to stay on guard."

"We love you...Very much."

"We love you guys, too..."

The family joined together for one final hug. They made it last as long as they possibly could, separating only to say goodbye...

Steps of the Forsaken

Twilight followed her brother to their old room. Spike packed a duffel bag with spare clothes, hygiene supplies, and non-perishable food.

"What do you wanna do about the shelter situation?" he asked.

"I say we rough it and build 'em from scratch. Figured we could continue your training while we were on the road."

"Fine by me."

"Shining really toughened you up, didn't he?"

Twilight noticed the computer in the corner. It was the exact same system she'd built for him all those years ago. To her surprise, it had been well-maintained. There wasn't a single scratch or fingerprint to be found.

"I can't believe you still have that old thing."

Spike examined the direction his sister was staring in.

"It was a meaningful gift from a better time. I never upgraded past XP because of its significance to our history. I still have a lot of things from back then..."

The sentiment struck a deep chord with Twilight. It wasn't the objects he was emotionally attached to, but the people and places they came from.

"Did you find any new bands?" she questioned, attempting to avoid the depressive undertones of the atmosphere.

"Most metalcore lately really hasn't been so great. It sounds nothing like what we grew up with."

"You just haven't been looking in the right places. Why don't we boot this old dinosaur up and I'll show you what I've found?"

"Guess it couldn't hurt."

Twilight switched on the power. It booted up relatively quickly, though not quite as fast as its modern successors. Twilight typed in the name of a band Spike actually hadn't heard before. Renounced had made their extended play "Conditioned From Birth" publicly available not long after its release. Just as she said, it sounded exactly like what they grew up hearing. The only difference was the improved recording quality with modern tech.

"You're not the only one displeased with the state of metal these days. I've read a couple interviews where the vocalist said the same thing."

"Guess there's more to the world than I thought."

"Told you so."

"I still have those old CDs we made back in the day."

"Our goal back then was to spread a positive message through a typically dark and nihilistic art form."

"Ironic, isn't it?"

"I think some time away will help bring you back to that optimistic mindset we had back then. I know you're probably feeling doubtful right now, but I need you to trust me."

"You know I do."

"As long as that's the case, I'm confident you'll make a full recovery in no time."

"I promise I'll try."

The duo said one last goodbye to their parents, heading into the unknown with cautious resolve. Spike wondered if it would really be possible to change his outlook in such a short amount of time...

Author's Note

A Thousand Miles

Author's Note

"THE VISION WILL KEEP THE FIRE INSIDE FROM DYING OUT! IT KEEPS THE DEMONS FROM TYING THE NOOSE! A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS! EVEN IF IT'S A THOUSAND TIMES, YOU LOOK! HOLD ON, AND PROMISE YOURSELF IT WILL BE OKAY! BUILD WALLS TO SURVIVE! NOTHING STAYS FOREVER!"

A Thousand Miles

The siblings flew above the forest for a bird's eye view. Even in the car, it took a significant amount of time to reach town from home. However, between their enhanced speed and strength, it was a fairly straightforward trip.

"Should we say goodbye to everyone before we leave?" Spike asked.

"Sure. We should stop by the market anyway and pick up a few more supplies. I have some cash reserved in case there's an emergency."

"I figured."

"Bill's place is right over there. Let's go."

The pair descended in front of Bill's Goods and Services. They headed inside together.

"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle," the earth pony exclaimed, "If it ain't Mrs. Sparkle Sentry!"

"Hey, Bill," Twilight greeted, "How's it hangin'?"

"You know business 'round these parts. Laid back as usual."

"We're just dropping by to pick up some supplies before we head out."

"Where ya headed?"

"Spike's been in kind of a funk lately. Figured helping him expand his horizons a bit would put things in perspective."

"Chin up, buckaroo," Bill encouraged, "Things'll turn around."

"Keep saying it enough I might actually start to believe it." Spike teased.

"You should. Everybody goes through rough patches. Ain't no reason to throw in the towel."

"Well, now that Twilight's back in the picture, you're probably onto something. She always had a trick up her sleeve when it counted."

"Ain't that the truth."

"We'll see you around, Bill." Twilight assured.

"Y'all take care now, ya hear?"

"Will do."

Bill left the siblings to their own devices to talk amongst themselves.

"See," Twilight pointed out, "Bill treats us like family. You'll find a strong sense of community in small towns like these with old-timey folks. Granted, it's not quite as prevalent as it used to be, but it's still there. You just have to make yourself known."

"I guess."

"Come on. We should try to make at least a little progress before dark."

"Yeah."

After collecting the necessary tools, the siblings purchased everything and headed back outside.

"Where should we go first?" Spike questioned.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. We should head to the next town north of here. I have enough left for food and lodging for the night. From there on, it's us against the elements."

"Least we'll have a decent challenge."

"If we train hard enough, by the end of this, we'll be strong enough to take on Jason Voorhees."

"That's a bold claim. Guess we better put it to the test."

The pair flew off into the distance, aiming for the first of what would be many challenges along their path of redemption.

Ghosts of the Past (Part 1)

Twilight and Spike reached the town of Hollow Falls before nightfall. When they arrived, Spike was surprised to find a city approximately the size of their own.

"Before we build your reputation in larger cities, we have to build your confidence first. Sleepy towns like these where everyone knows each other feel more secure in a sense. Their eyes will be on you."

"No pressure, right?"

"Just remember what I told you when you were little: be confident, be chivalrous, be considerate. Be empathetic and take their feelings into account and things should turn out fine."

"Got it."

"One more thing. Before we go too far, you should know this town has a history of spiritual encounters."

"You mean ghosts?"

"Exactly. I would leave that out of the conversation for now. The people here don't know you, meaning they're less inclined to trust you. On top of that, injecting yourself into tricky situations only serves to make you a target if you go in without a plan."

"Understood."

"I think that's about everything."

"Guess we should get goin'..."

"Yeah..."

The sibling's checked into an inn in the middle of town. The innkeeper seemed friendly enough, asking them about their travels in a curious manner.

"How long y'all stayin'?"

"Just for the night," Twilight replied, "We're on an extended trip away from home."

"Out for a romantic getaway?"

Spike felt his face flush. Unsure how to respond, he panicked, laughing nervously as he attempted to correct the situation.

"Nononono! Nothing like that!"

"He's my brother," the Alicorn explained, "We're on a training expedition."

"Y'all military folks?"

"Kinda. You can think of us as reserved special forces."

"We've got a veterans discount if y'all need it. Just need the name of your commander so I can confirm your registration numbers."

"Shining Armor."

"That name sounds familiar..."

The innkeeper was struck with a sudden revelation.

"Wait a minute! You're not referring to the governor of Crystal City, are you!?"

"Yes. He's our brother."

"Well, why didn't you say so!? Room and board are on the house for government officials!"

"Are you sure? We don't mind paying. I know small towns like this don't get much business these days."

"Ah, don't worry about the financial jargon. Didn't get this far without knowing a thing or two about management."

"Thank you for your kindness."

"Not at all, Ms. Sparkle."

"You know my name?"

"Of course! I'd recognize that face anywhere!"

"One correction. It's Mrs. Sparkle Sentry now."

Twilight showed the innkeeper her bracelet.

"My apologies."

"No harm done."

"Have a pleasant night."

"For you, as well."

After settling in for the evening, Twilight called their parents. They were relieved to hear their daughter's voice.

"Where are you?" Velvet inquired.

"We just made it to Hollow Falls. We managed to get a room for the night. Shining's connections come in handy when we need them, that's for sure."

"We're just glad you're safe."

"Is dad there?"

"He's right here."

Velvet handed the phone to her husband.

"Hey, sweetie." Night Light said comfortingly.

"Hey, dad. Just wanted to call to let you know we made it safely."

"I'm curious. You were never this quick to use Shining's status to your advantage before. What changed?"

"I was saving it for when I needed it."

"Saving it? Did you know this would happen?"

"I had an idea."

"Playing the long game like your old man, I see."

"I think this is the best way for Spike to live authentically to himself. Even if I'd shielded him from his own emotions, there was no guarantee the cracks wouldn't seep through. Now that the damage is done, we can build a much stronger foundation than before."

"I'm interested to see where this goes. Shining sought glory and success climbing the political ladder, but Spike's different. He's a tranquil soul."

"To tell you the truth, I always felt closer to him than Shining. Even to this day, I'm not sure why."

"Can't say. Maybe that's something you'll figure out as your journey progresses."

"I have a feeling you're right."

"Take care of yourselves. Call us when you can. We'll be waiting. We love you."

"Love you, too."

"Bye."

Twilight hung up, grateful their parents' concerns were stifled somewhat compared to earlier.

"Phone's pretty nifty." Spike admitted.

"Told you it was easier to keep in touch these days."

"Should probably call Flash before he gets worried."

"Already ahead of you."

Twilight dialed her husband. He answered almost immediately.

"Hey, hon." he spoke sweetly.

"Hey. How are my two little guys doing?"

"I just started dinner for me and Nova. How about you?"

"Spike and I managed to find a place to stay for the night."

"I knew you would."

"I just wanted to make sure you guys were okay."

"We're good. Can I talk to Spike for a sec?"

"Sure."

Twilight gave the device to her brother.

"Hey." Spike said.

"Hey, bud. How ya doin'?"

"I'm a little nervous, not gonna lie."

"I wouldn't worry. Twi's got your back. I doubt you could ask for anyone better."

"She always knew how to scrape by."

"Hey, listen...I know you and Twi were always really close...You care about her a lot, don't you...?"

"Of course. She's looked out for me my whole life - even now."

"I know this might sound kind of weird, but if you guys decide you want to get...Intimate...I'm willing to look the other way for now: at least until she gets home."

"Nah, man. I respect you too much to betray you like that."

"You love her, don't you?"

"I'll admit, after Rarity moved on, I may have thought about Twilight during some of the more cold and lonely nights, but like you, I was brought up to believe in honor and dignity. Trust is something we can't afford to break."

"You're a real one, brother. There aren't many like us out there anymore."

"We go out, we go out swingin'. That's all there is to it."

"That's it, man. Only true warriors can see through the deceptive veil of temptation. You'll find the right woman someday."

"Thanks, man..."

"I've gotta go. We'll see you when you drop by."

"Yeah..."

Flash hung up before Spike fully grasped what was happening. The discomfort he felt was nothing short of crushing.

"Did you really think about me while I was gone?" Twilight questioned.

"Sorry...You probably think I'm a real creep now..."

"I don't mind."

"You don't...?"

"I'm actually kind of flattered. I was self-conscious about how settling down would affect me in the long run. At least I know I haven't lost my touch. You confronted the issue and resolved it with compassion and a will of steel. In my eyes, that's the mark of a true hero and a true man."

"Flash is lucky to have you. Maybe in another life, things would've gone differently..."

"Don't look so glum. We have a long road ahead. I'm positive you'll find someone who loves you as much as Flash and I love each other."

"Yeah..."

"Come on. Let's get some sleep. We've got a long day tomorrow."

Author's Note

Ghosts of the Past (Part 3)

Author's Note

"MY HEART BLEEDS FOR YOU! MY SOUL BLEEDS FOR YOU! THE SICKNESS WILL END! THE SICKNESS WILL END!!!"

Ghosts of the Past (Part 3)

Spike spent the rest of the day training in the woods, pushing his body to its threshold before collapsing in an emotional puddle on the ground.

"Stronger...I have to get stronger..."

His life flashed before his eyes. He reflected on everything that transpired since he was a child: the loss of his love, his brotherhood with Flash and Shining, the grieving soul haunting the streets in the present day - everything.

"I can't let things end this way...I promise to whatever gods are out there, this will end on my terms..."

Returning to the room, Spike jumped in the shower so he could lay down to rest.

"Feel better?" Twilight asked.

"Today turned out rougher than I expected."

"I know. It's not every day you find a ghost stuck here because she was lonely. This whole situation reminds me of Acetone by Clear."

"How?"

"Your heart and soul bleed for her."

"Yeah, well...You're not wrong..."

The pair were silent for a moment, unsure of where to go from there...Or at least...One of them was...

"Hey, Twilight?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think she can feel what I'm thinking?"

"Why don't you ask her?"

"How?"

Twilight pointed to the other side of her brother's bed. Behind him stood a white mare with a brown mane and eyes. A sparkling aura danced around her form...

"Jesus Christ!"

Spike nearly fell off the mattress from the shock. Even more surprising, Maple found this to be amusing.

"Sorry," the dragon apologized, "I uh...Didn't hear you come in..."

A sudden echo reverberated across the room.

"Can you hear my voice?" the apparition asked.

The expressions on the guests' faces told her everything she needed to know.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"I don't understand." Spike voiced.

"Without vocal chords, I can't exactly communicate directly. Fortunately, some limitations were removed upon my passing."

"You know you're dead!?"

"Twilight told you death doesn't work like in the movies, didn't she?"

"Yeah, but...How did you know that?"

"In order to speak with you, I have to look into your mind. I know everything you know."

"Talk about invasive. Guess it's a good thing I have nothing to hide."

"I'm sorry. I should've asked first."

"Don't worry about it. My humor's become a bit more cynical with age."

"I understand more than you think."

"I guess that's true."

"I can see her...Rarity...You miss her, don't you...?"

"Every day. I feel pathetic because I can't let it go."

"You have one advantage I didn't. Emotional scars heal with time. Physical...It all depends..."

"Listen...I'm really sorry for what happened to you. You didn't deserve that...Nobody does..."

"Don't grieve for me. I actually kind of enjoy being a ghost."

"You do?"

"People recognize me in a way I never knew was possible. Tourists seem to enjoy the legends, though I wish they'd do away with the murder and gore parts. As I'm sure you've discovered, that's all a bunch of BS."

"Yeah. We figured that out from the reports."

"I can see into your hearts. I feel the light reaching out from deep inside, but it's been tainted by longing. As it happens, I wouldn't mind some company as things stand. I know you can't stay long, but maybe we can spend some time together before you leave."

Spike's smile was warm and genuine. Twilight could see where this was going. She was happy to sit back while the two got acquainted with one another.

"Yeah," Spike agreed, "I'd like that."

Ghosts of the Past (Part 4)

Maple spent the rest of the week getting to know her accomplices. She learned about their lives and what led them to this point.

"Things started to go downhill about three years ago," Spike began, "Rarity had already gotten in a relationship a couple years before that, but after Nova was born, Flash and Twilight weren't able to come around as often. They didn't need me to babysit or anything, and the others were caught up in their own lives, so I was basically left to my own devices to figure things out. There wasn't anything to do in town either. On top of all that, I was getting increasingly frustrated with the direction the entertainment industry was going, so I was caught up in this mind-numbing loop of going back to things I liked as a kid. I felt stuck in this sort of negative feedback spiral, and it ultimately led to me feeling more and more miserable as time went on."

"Why didn't you look for a girlfriend or try to make friends at school?" Maple wondered.

"Because I knew the consequences of high school drama. I didn't want my life turn into a soap opera. That was something I could do without."

"I guess that's fair."

"I couldn't even talk about it online. Who wants to hear an emo teenager whine when there's bigger problems, ya know?"

"Your problems aren't as insignificant as you think. You're far from the only person who feels this way. It's happening all over the world every day, and from what I've seen, it's arguably getting worse."

"Worse?"

"The world's in a transitional period where technology's evolving at a rapidly increasing rate. The prevalence of direct contact is falling away in favor of impersonal interaction. In cyberspace, there aren't any ramifications for sickening behavior. Now we're seeing the worst come out in people because there's nothing we can do about it."

"Nothing except mind our own business and unplug when we can."

"You're consciously aware the changes taking place are more harmful than beneficial, but most don't know that yet, and it's hard to say when they'll realize it."

"Not soon enough."

"I agree."

Twilight, who had been sitting silently through the conversation, finally voiced her thoughts.

"I'm sorry things were so hard on you, Spike. I really am. If I'd known how bad things were, I would've tried harder to reach out. Can you ever forgive me?"

"It wasn't your fault," the dragon assured, "Like I told ma, they were my issues and I had to fix 'em."

"How could you when there weren't any tools at your disposal to help you cope?"

"Then that meant there were only two options."

"Endure or die trying..." Maple realized.

"How did you?" Twilight delved further.

"Sleep. Every chance I could, I relinquished conscious thought. When I was asleep, I felt nothing - no fear, no pain, no loss: just peace."

"You learned to find comfort in the dark."

"The exact problem I had as a child. I traded one issue for another."

Maple nuzzled the dragon's cheek.

"Maple, what are you...?"

"Hearing your story made me feel closer to you. In just days, you taught me what it would've been like to have a life-long friend. Even after learning who I was, your desire to gain strength never dwindled. If anything, it only grew. I want to make things right. I don't want you to hurt anymore..."

"I..."

Twilight took this as her cue.

"You guys go back to the room. I'll hang around town until you're ready to meet up."

Spike sighed, closing his eyes in relief.

"Thanks, Twilight..."

Ghosts of the Past (Part 5: Arc End)

Twilight called Flash after the group separated, window shopping to pass the time. She knew it would be difficult to convince him of the situation, but it was worth a try.

"Hey, hon." she spoke.

"Morning, love."

"How've you been?"

"Fine. Took a bit of adjusting, but Nova and I managed to settle into a routine."

"Remember the night we conceived him?"

"Yeah. I wasn't sure I was ready to be a father, but...You believed in me, and for me, that was enough..."

"Guess which one of us was right?"

"Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, why don't ya."

"We'll be out of here in a couple more days. I already know where our next stop's gonna be."

"Where?"

"The town we went to college."

"Feeling nostalgic?"

"Yeah."

"I get it. Those were good times."

"The last time I saw him, Spike told me he thought we wanted him gone so we could bone."

"I wanted to, but obviously we didn't know each other that well back then."

"If you wanted some, all you had to do was ask. Might've seemed a bit fast, but remember, I was a frustrated university student."

"Well, I wasn't exactly confident around women either."

"Fair enough."

"Is Spike there?"

"Not right now. That's actually the other reason I called. Little bro's finally gettin' a taste of the opposite sex."

"You mean he's-"

"Yep. Found himself a nice girl he has a lot in common with. Looks like you were worried for nothin'."

"But...How!?"

"I could tell you, but you gotta promise you'll keep an open mind."

"I promise."

"Do you believe in ghosts?"

"Not especially, but when I was under Shining, I heard stories about other units coming across strange things on patrol. The one that stuck with me caused a combat vet to break down in tears."

"Those stories? They're more than likely true."

"I already see where this is going. I'm assuming you have proof."

"I will soon."

Before the conversation could continue, Spike approached his sister by the frozen meat aisle. He seemed calmer than before - more euphoric. His shirt was still untucked on one side.

"Speak of the devil. Spike, tell my husband about your little spectrophilic romp."

"Flash is on?" the dragon asked, snapping back to reality.

Twilight nodded, handing the receiver to her brother.

"Hey, man." he greeted.

"Little birdie told me you finally got some action: and with a ghost, no less."

"You don't believe it, do you?"

"It's a hard sell, not gonna lie."

"Would you believe me if I told you her name?"

"May as well."

"Maple Glaze. She was born March 3rd, 1979. She died on April 14th of 2000 at the age of 21. She's been haunting the town ever since."

"It's interesting, but that's easy to check online."

"I'll try something more personal, then. She actually likes being dead."

"Now THAT one threw me for a loop."

"Her presence is a big reason people come to this town. She stayed all this time because it was all she knew."

"Is she there now?"

"She stayed in the room. She didn't wanna scare the townsfolk, ya know?"

"The real question is, how did you get her in bed so fast?"

"If you compared our experiences over the last few years, you'd think we were twins."

"Now I get it. Everything fell into place at the right time."

"I think I'm in love, man - way deeper than I ever was with Rarity."

"Cling to that for all it's worth. Ain't got much in this world. What we do, we gotta treasure."

"For real."

"I think I may have a spell to give her a physical form for a while," Twilight interjected, "If it works, I'll send a photo."

"Okay, hon," Flashed accepted, "I'll see you soon."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Give Nova kisses from mommy."

"I will."

Twilight ended the call, knowing full-well what her brother was about to say.

"Twilight, I..."

"Shhh. Don't say anything. I already know. She wants to come with us."

"But-"

"The look on your face told me. You're both ready to move beyond your comfort zones."

"I reiterate: scary."

"Shall we be off? I have a sneaking suspicion you wanna suck face with your new girlfriend, anyway."

"Tact was never your strong suit."

Spike woke Maple with a gentle kiss. From Twilight's view, it was like something out of a fairy tale. Despite the claims romance was dead, she would've begged to differ.

"Hey..." Maple spoke sweetly through a smile.

"Didn't think it was possible to wear out a ghost."

"Maybe you're just that good."

"Don't big me up too much. I might actually start to feel good about myself."

"That's the goal."

"Hey, Maple," Twilight asked, "There's a spell I'd like to try. Would you mind acting as my guinea pig?"

Maple cleared her eyes, wiping the sand away with her hoof.

"Sure. Just give me a minute to wake up."

"No rush."

Twilight ignited her horn. She gave the others the rundown on how the spell worked.

"Revitalizing tissue and fabric particles is tricky, but not impossible. It'll only last a day though before they begin to break down again."

"How many times can you use it?" Spike questioned.

"Enough." the Alicorn assured.

"I'm ready." Maple voiced.

Twilight nodded. After a few moments, a well of cellular mass sprang from below the spirit, enshrouding her as her body reformed piece by piece. When the veil cleared, she opened her eyes...

"I am...Alive..."

Spike fell to his knees, an expression of divine witness etched upon his features. Tears not of sorrow, but joy spilled to the floor he knelt upon. In the town of Hollow Falls, within the inn's walls, a memory seared itself into the darkness - one he would cherish for the remainder of his years...

Beaten Path (Part 1)

As Twilight predicted, the spell wore off the following Sunday morning. The day after, the group packed their belongings, making sure everything was set before they took off.

"Are you sure you wanna do this," Spike asked their new companion, "We could be gone a while."

"I'm sure," Maple replied, "Being the local freak show was fun for a while, but there's something greater waiting for us out there. I can feel it..."

"Guess it's settled, then."

"Guess so."

"I'm still curious how you guys managed to...Ya know...Do it." Twilight cut in.

"Your brother possesses great spiritual power. With both of us working together, it was a simple task."

"So you're saying he's like a god or something?"

"Nothing's out of the realm of possibility. You did meet me."

"That's true."

"Don't worry. I doubt it'll go to his head."

"How do you know?"

"Because he was raised better than that. He already resisted temptation once. The second time should be much easier."

"It's rare I lose a debate, but your points are airtight. I just hope they hold up."

"I think he's got a pretty powerful incentive. I'll make sure he's a good boy, won't I honey?"

The spirit squeezed her partner's rear. The dragon blushed profusely, but he had to admit, he appreciated her boldness.

"At least you don't have to worry about me slowing you down."

"That's true." Twilight acknowledged.

Spike finished packing, zipping his bag and slinging it over his shoulder.

"That's everything," he informed them, "I guess we should get goin'."

The dragon led his compatriots out the door to the front desk. Maple ducked under to avoid startling the keeper.

"Y'all ready to go?"

"Yeah." Spike confirmed, returning the key to their room.

"By the way, congratulations on that marefriend of yours. Definitely sounds like you have a passionate journey ahead."

"They know." Maple warned.

Mortified by this discovery, Spike bowed apologetically.

"I'm so sorry. We didn't mean to disturb the other guests."

"All right, all right. No need to freak out. I'm sure they'll get over it. Ain't no shame in young love."

"Yeah, right." Maple and Spike thought simultaneously.

"Y'all take care now. Hope you'll come around again at some point."

"We'll stop by on our way home," Twilight assured, "May as well end the same way we start."

"That'll do it."

Outside, Spike sighed in dismay. Twilight being Twilight, the Alicorn was compelled to get a playful jab in on the situation.

"So. You guys really went at it, huh?"

Spike rolled his eyes.

"Don't be too upset with yourself," Maple comforted, "I was partly to blame, too."

"It's cute when you do it, though." Spike countered.

"Ya think?"

"Okay, you two lovebirds," Twilight halted, "We gotta get outta here before you get us in trouble. Come on!"

Twilight spread her wings, ascending into the air. Maple grabbed on to Spike. The pair followed close behind.

"Where are we going?" the dragon asked.

"You'll see."

Twilight increased the pace. Spike copied her curiously.

"What is she up to?" he wondered.

Beaten Path (Part 3)

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Beaten Path (Part 4)

Author's Note

"FROM FLESH TO STEEL, I FORTIFY THIS EASILY-SPLINTERED BONE INTO A STRONGHOLD OF WILL AS THE BALANCE OF MAN LAY BEATEN IN THE WAKE OF ITS OWN FRAILTY! HOLLOW WORDS WILL BURN! HOLLOW MEN WILL BURN! A HORDE EAGER TO ACCEPT DECEIT, AND MORESO TO SPEAK IT! WORDS WILL SEAR THE THROATS OF ALL WHO FREELY BEGUILE! THE TRUTH BURNS THROUGH MY VEINS IN MY BLACK HEART! BREATHE THE FLAME THAT WILL OVERWHELM YOU!"

Beaten Path (Part 4)

Maple modeled several new outfits for her draconic companion. Each one, he found endearing in its own special way. To tease him, she got up close, murmuring sensual phrases to set his blood aflame.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were undressing me with your eyes."

"What if I am?"

"Then I guess I'll have to up the ante."

"You look beautiful..."

"You're rather dashing, yourself."

"It's a strange feeling being this close to someone."

"Strange, but in a good way."

"Yeah."

"I know you felt pride when we did it back home. It's not every day someone makes it with a ghost."

"I felt a kinship with you I didn't have with anyone else. Even though our circumstances were different, the end result was the same."

"I felt the same way. There was something inside me begging me to ease your pain. I couldn't just ignore it."

"I guess that's what Unearth were referring to when they wrote The Stings of Conscience."

"I have an idea of what your life was like as a child, but I'd like to hear the specifics."

"Twilight and I spent all our free time back then playing games and listening to music. It wasn't a particularly exciting existence, but I was content with it. I guess I should've know it was gonna end sooner or later."

"You preferred living life on the fringes of society. You did what you had to so you could spend time with friends and family. It was a powerful philosophy for someone your age."

"Seems to have served me well anyway. I'm dating a woman in her thirties fresh out of high school. Most guys my age struggle to get along with their own demographic."

"Most of them aren't sure what they want out of life yet. That's what sets you apart."

"I guess that's one way to look at it. I don't look down on them for it or anything. I just see us as cut from a different cloth."

"That doesn't have to be a bad thing. Like I said before, your family raised you to be a sweet, kind-hearted boy. So long as you keep their lessons in mind, things will work out."

"You're too good to me, ya know that?"

The couple briefly locked lips, breaking apart to plan their next course of action.

"I know you're eager to find that girl. I think I've seen enough here for one day. Try not to be too disappointed if she doesn't show."

"I won't be."

Outside the ice cream shop, Spike examined the parking lot. Just like with Twilight, everything looked the same.

"I'm surprised this place is still open." he voiced.

"This city's bigger than the ones back home. Business is probably more stable here."

"Probably."

"Should we go in?"

"After you, my lady."

Spike held the door open for Maple, following close behind.

"Hey, y'all," the employee behind the stand greeted, "What can I get ya?"

"We're actually just here to meet a friend. You wouldn't happen to know a mare with blonde fur and a light brown mane, would you?"

"You mean Ms. Vanilla?"

"So that's her name..."

"She comes in almost every day. You know each other?"

"We ran into each other when we were kids. We're passing through town right now, so I thought I'd drop by and see how she was doing."

"Wait a minute...I think I recall her mother mentioning something about a dragon: somethin' 'bout giving her money for a replacement cone."

"Looks like I've been found out."

"Golly...That must've been about ten years ago...You ain't seen each other that long...?"

"I was living with my sister for a while before I left. This is my first time back."

"Wonder if she'll recognize ya."

"I doubt it. We've both changed a lot since then."

"Tell ya what. Since you came all this way, how about a cone on the house?"

"Mind if I get one for my lady friend, too?"

"Sure thing. What's your name, son?"

"Spike. This is Maple."

"Gregory. Nice to meet ya."

"Likewise."

The dragon shook the stallion's hoof. A few moments later, Spike and Maple received their cones.

While waiting for Vanilla, Maple further questioned her lover about his childhood.

"I've been searching through your memories for a while, but I can't figure out which ones stand out the most."

"Probably everything between 2000 and '02. That's when things felt like they really started to pick up. We were finding bands left and right everywhere we looked. The games, the movies, the toys: all of 'em were the greatest thing since sliced bread. We even had our own band, Fields of Grace. We wanted to change things up and bring some positivity to a dark and depressing genre."

"I think that's a noble pursuit, especially considering what you found later."

"The metal scene was so divisive and filled with so much hate. Dudes in their forties were acting more angsty than I was. It was really fucking sad, actually."

"It must have been if it upset you that much."

"Sorry."

"Don't be afraid to express yourself. The older generations were supposed to act as role models, so I understand your frustration."

"It got to a point I just quit using the internet altogether. I only used the computer to play games and listen to music. By then, I had enough music to last me the whole year. If I listened to just one record a day, I could refresh my memories of the others during the next cycle. That's basically how things went from the time I was thirteen onwards."

"So your best memories have a specific timeframe - 2000 to 2005."

"After that, everything changed. I was completely alone. I had nobody to turn to - not even Twilight. I told everybody I was fine, but in reality...I was one bad day away from snapping..."

"Think about it this way, though: with the internet being what it's become, it's a lot harder to get away with shitty behavior."

"Ya know, I actually thought about that. Now that everybody's keeping tabs on each other, there's more accountability. For that trade-off, it's definitely worth a couple assholes."

"See? It's all a matter of perspective."

"Meeting you opened my eyes to a lot of things I never noticed before. If I'd given up, I never would've seen them. For that, I'm grateful."

"Now, why don't we lighten the mood a bit? Tell me more about the stuff you guys were into."

"There are a couple bands that stand out like Dead to Fall and Undying. We found them around the time all this started. Same thing with the PS2. It's tied for my favorite game system with PC. I used to watch the DBZ movies on both all the time."

"Since we're on the topic, what was that one game with the devil dude with the horns and big muscles?"

"You mean Devil Jin?"

"That's the one."

"He's from the Tekken series. His human form's been around since Tekken 3, but he couldn't use his demon powers until five."

"He's the one who inspired you to take up the kyokushin style."

"His grandpa Heihachi tried to kill him at the end of the third game. He switched out his fighting style to distance himself from his demonic bloodline. Ever since, he's used a mix of karate, jiu-jitsu, and judo. It's hard to decide which form I like better."

"One's the story of redemption. The other is retribution."

"I feel like I relate to the former more."

"I think so, too."

"I've never wanted to hurt anyone. That's why I train so hard. I'd rather be strong enough to subdue an opponent than kill them."

"Makes sense. I wouldn't want to kill anyone either."

"It makes me wonder how things would've turned out if I'd died instead of you..."

"Hard to say, but I'm fine with how they are. We might've never met otherwise."

"Yeah. That's true."

The parlor door rang. Spike turned around. It was Vanilla. She'd shown up as expected with a group of friends. After ordering their cones, Spike and Maple made their way to the group's booth.

"Vanilla?" Spike asked.

The girls went silent. Vanilla gave the dragon a look of confusion.

"Do I know you?"

"You probably don't remember me very well. We only met once."

"I'm sorry. I can't remember."

"It's okay. My name's Spike. I met you and your mother when we were little. You dropped your ice cream and I gave you money to get another one."

The realization hit Vanilla like a freight train.

"That was you!?"

"Long time, no see."

"I've been trying to find you since that day! Where have you been!?"

"I never got the chance to tell you, but I went home the day that happened. My sister Twilight was attending the university here. I ended up staying with her for a while until I got homesick."

Vanilla looked between Spike and the mare next to him.

"Is...That her?"

"Nah. This is my girlfriend, Maple."

"Gotcha."

Vanilla shook Maple's hoof.

"It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise." the spirit replied.

"How've you guys been since I left?" Spike asked.

"Fine," Vanilla stated, "I wanted to thank you back then, but there wasn't enough time. We had to get home before it got dark."

"I just did what I thought was right, ya know? It's good to see you again."

"Yeah. You, too."

"Twilight's in town right now, so I figured I'd drop by and check up on you. It's almost time for us to meet up at the campus, but I figured we could trade info to stay in touch."

"We can do one better. Let us finish our ice cream and we'll go with you."

"For real!? That'd be sick!"

"Just give us a few minutes and we'll pack our stuff."

"Hell yeah! I can't wait for you to meet her!"

"You came all this way. It's the least we can do."

"Awesome! We'll be a few booths down when you're ready."

"Works for me."

Spike clenched his fist in victory. He'd expected their encounter to feel awkward and uncomfortable. Instead, the opposite had happened. Twilight was in for the shock of her life.

Beaten Path (Part 5)

Twilight waited patiently for Spike and Maple at the campus. A few minutes later, she saw them approach with four other mares in tow.

"Building a harem already?" the Alicorn cracked.

"You remember the night you took me home," Spike reminded, "I showed up late to the dorm while you were talking to Shining."

"I remember."

"The reason I was late was because I was helping Vanilla and her mom."

Twilight approached the teen, shaking her hoof in a jovial greeting.

"It's good to finally meet you. I always wondered who he ran into that night."

"He told me you were studying here at the time." Vanilla revealed.

"It's true. I actually met the current occupant just a while ago."

"Someone else is there now?" Spike questioned.

"Yeah. His name's Larry. I got his number and email address so we could keep in touch with him."

"We keep up at this pace we'll have a full army in no time."

"I picked up a couple things while I was in town."

Twilight levitated two band shirts, a set of armbands, and a skateboard over to her brother.

"I remembered you used to love the pro skater games. Thought you might wanna try the real deal."

"Aw, sick! Thanks!"

"Why don't you try 'em on?"

Spike removed his coat and shirt, swapping them out for a top with a Divine Souls graphic.

"Remember when we first found them?" Twilight reminisced.

"Yeah. Their sound reminded me of the old treehouse dad built when we were kids. Seems like such a long time ago now..."

"How long ago was it?"

"He built it in the fall of '93. I was only a year old, so you would've been about thirteen."

"I'm getting old."

"Nah. You've still got some juice left in ya."

"True."

"Ya know, we never finished our fight this morning. What do you say we tie up some loose ends?"

"Sure."

The pair assumed their fighting stance. Twilight asked the others to stand back. She established the rules to avoid dragging spectators in by mistake.

"No magic or fire. Everything else is fair game."

"Got it."

The siblings charged at each other, opening with a series of punches and kicks. As the fight progressed, a crowd began to gather around them. Maple and Vanilla spoke amongst themselves while their companions continued to spar.

"Did you see his bod," the adolescent swooned, "Holy crap, he's hot."

"I've seen more than you might think." Maple replied, hinting at the events which transpired in Hollow Falls.

The fight eventually shifted to the air. Several onlookers placed bets on who they thought would win.

"The dragon dude's got this in the bag." one stated.

"Don't count the chick out yet," another dissuaded, "She's holding her own."

The pair rushed in for one final strike. Spike vanished, reappearing right in front of his sister. The face of another dragon projected itself before Twilight. It seemed ancient and powerful. The Alicorn froze in place, taking the full brunt of her brother's attack and being knocked into the campus wall.

"Twilight," Spike shouted, flying toward his sister to make sure she was all right, "Are you okay!?"

"Yeah..." Twilight assured, rising to her legs.

"Why did you stop!? Any harder and I could've killed you!"

"You didn't see it...?"

"See what?"

"That dragon...Who was he...?"

"What are you talking about? It's just us."

Maple and the others sprinted toward Twilight's direction.

"Is she okay?" Vanilla asked.

"Yeah," Spike consoled, "Did you guys see anyone else up there with us?"

"No?"

Twilight rubbed her back, bringing attention back to the matter at hand. Maple, however, was still distracted by the previous comment. Someone else? How could that be possible...?

"Can one of you guys get her an ice pack," Spike requested, "She's probably gonna feel that for a bit, now."

"Leave it to me." Vanilla offered.

Beaten Path (Part 6: Arc End)

Maple held the ice against Twilight's tailbone. It was a bit sore, but luckily, nothing seemed to be broken.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Spike asked.

"You should know by now I'm tougher than I look. Besides, healing magic's come a long way with medical tech. If there was a problem, it'd be a simple fix."

"I'm really sorry..."

"Hey, don't look so down. Come here."

Spike embraced his sister in a remorseful hug.

"It's all gonna be okay." she soothed.

"You guys really went at it," Vanilla pointed out, "I couldn't tell who was gonna win."

"Can you tell us more about this other dragon you saw?" Maple inquired.

"Sure," Twilight obliged, "It was a lot bigger than any other I've seen. It's face was ancient and fierce, like something from a bygone era."

"Whatever it was, it caused Spike's power to explode. I didn't even see him move before you went flying."

"I want to say it was just adrenaline, but I can't shake the feeling something's watching over us - something old and powerful..."

"Why don't we ask Shining when you guys switch out," Spike suggested, "He knows a lot about combat magic."

"That's actually a really good idea," Twilight praised, "If anyone will know what's going on, it's him."

"So...What now?"

"Now we have a little fun. We'll only be in town for today. May as well make the most of it."

"What do you wanna do?"

"Well, it's been a long time since we hit up an arcade. How 'bout a round or two for old times' sake."

"Are you sure you're okay to walk?"

Twilight stood up to prove her point.

"Guess we're on." her brother agreed.

At the arcade, the party split into two groups. Vanilla ordered pizza with her friends while Spike, Maple, and Twilight explored to find games they liked. The siblings searched for a machine tailored towards co-op play. Outside of their training, neither of them were particularly competitive: a fact that took Maple somewhat by surprise, though in hindsight, it made sense. They eventually stumbled across a horror-themed stand. The first player was given a gun while the other held a sword.

"Wanna try this one?" Twilight asked.

"Sure," Spike replied, "Looks pretty unique compared to the others."

"Which weapon do you want?"

"I'll take the sword."

"Always a classic."

Twilight inserted money into the machine. The story was a generic premise about zombies in space, but the gameplay stood out. The mechanics allowed for players to swap weapons in-game, adding an extra layer of challenge to the experience. In addition, upgrades were available to power up weapons and armor.

"It was really sweet of you to be concerned about me, ya know." Twilight encouraged.

"Of course. You know how much you mean to me."

"I think it's time I hung up my gloves, so to speak. Even if it hadn't been for that surge of power, I would've run out of steam eventually. Your body's better conditioned than mine."

"Guess everyone has to move on sooner or later."

"Shining's closer to your level. Training with him will be far more effective."

"I'm gonna miss you..."

"We'll see each other again before you know it. Things are different than before. I can feel it..."

"Yeah..."

The pair continued their game until they emerged victorious.

"Ya know, I never heard anything more about your comic series after that night." Twilight spoke.

"I finished it a few years ago. It's up on the journal if you wanna read it."

"Yeah...I'd like that."

"We should send Vanilla and Larry our old recordings. They'd probably be interested to hear what we sounded like back then."

"Definitely."

"I love you, Twiight..."

"I love you too, Spike..."

Maple reflected on the events of the day. Not only had Spike gone the entire time without thinking of Rarity, but he'd come to terms with his feelings for Twilight and accepted his role in her life. The road forward promised to be very interesting...Very interesting indeed...

Brothers in Arms (Part 1)

Knowing the group didn't have anywhere to go, Vanilla invited Twilight, Spike, and Maple back to her place for the night.

"I'm sure mom would be happy to see you again. It's been a while since we've had a sleepover."

"Are you sure," Twilight asked, "We wouldn't wanna impose."

"Absolutely. I'm dying to hear what you've been up to the last few years."

"What do you guys think?" the Alicorn questioned her companions.

"I say we go for it." Maple agreed.

"What the hell," Spike concluded, "I'm curious to see what a normal girl's room looks like anyway."

"That sounds super creepy." Vanilla pointed out.

"Oh, no, " Spike apologized, I didn't mean it like that! I just meant you could probably tell we're more into the dark stuff. Twilight was never one for chick flicks or pop music."

"Well, you're in luck. That's like our whole thing."

"Maybe we can trade info. Teach each other somethin'."

"Sure. No harm in trying, I guess."

Vanilla paced forward, leading her friends back home. The trio followed at a distance so they could talk in private.

"(That was close)," Maple murmured, "(I didn't think you'd let your guard down enough to make a mistake like that.)"

"(Sorry)," Spike replied, "(Guess I was overwhelmed seeing her after so long.)"

"(Try to be more careful. I'd rather not have to visit you in jail.)

"(Tell me about it.)"

Vanilla opened the door to her house. It was a modest two-story building not uncommon in the suburbs. The inside was decorated with paintings and general decor one would expect to find in such a place.

"Mom, I'm home!" Vanilla called out.

"In here, dear!"

The group headed toward the kitchen where her mother had begun cooking dinner.

"We brought company."

The elder mare nearly dropped their plates. That face...Could it really be...!?

"Spike!?"

"Hello." The dragon stated, smiling warmly. It really was him.

"Where have you been!? I was worried sick when we didn't see you in town all these years."

"Sorry to worry you. I left town after the ice cream debacle. My sister Twilight was studying at the university here at the time. I got homesick and decided to go back after everything went down."

"That would explain the mysterious disappearing act. You must've felt like that for a while."

"Yeah. I graduated high school a few months ago. Me and Twilight are taking a trip across the country to help clear my head."

"Is everything okay?"

"Not sure to be honest. Over the years we kind of parted ways with our friends. It left me feeling lost and hopeless. Twilight figured seeing the world would help me find a sense of purpose that was uniquely mine."

"I agree. Sometimes expanding our horizons is all we need to break out of our shells. You've grown into a fine young man."

"Thank you for saying so. I'm trying anyway."

"Dad in his office again?" Vanilla asked.

"Yes. Would you mind fetching him for me?"

"Sure."

Over dinner, Vanilla's father got acquainted with the dragon. Having never met before, he found himself curious how a young child could possess such a heart of gold.

"Back when Laura and Vanilla first told me about you, it seemed so unreal. The way they described you sounded almost comically absurd, but it was all true."

"I definitely wasn't your typical kid at the time. I'd been living my life in this weird in-between state bordering optimism and nihilism. As time went on, the former became consumed by the latter. I was lost in a dark place for years. I wanted nothing more than to disappear, and as far as the world was concerned, I may as well have been dead."

"Your teens and twenties aren't easy. You're fresh off the block trying to find your place in the world, and your hormones and brain are still in overdrive. Your frontal cortex doesn't even fully develop until about twenty-five. Based on what you've told me, you're finding your place now."

"Sorry to put all this on you. I know it's a lot."

"You were kind to my family when you had no reason to be. The least I can do is offer some advice."

"I appreciate it. So far our experience on the road's been positive. I'm grateful for what's transpired up to this point."

"That's good to hear. Hopefully things will continue to improve over the course of your journey."

"Thank you."

On the second story, in Vanilla's room, Spike showed her their music from the old days along with his comic series.

"This stuff is pretty cool. You should rewrite the comic as a novel. There's lots of room for detail."

"Ya think?"

"Yeah. I've never seen a superhero story built around music before, especially this metal stuff. It's really different."

"You should check out the games we used to play. Emulation's pretty popular online these days."

"Sure. Send me a list and we'll check 'em out when we have time."

"Anyway, that's enough about us. What have you been up to all this time?"

"Just the usual teen stuff - hanging out with friends, going to school, listening to music and so on."

"Hopefully you don't make the same mistake I did. I took it for granted and it all passed me by. I don't want to see you fall into the same fate."

"I'm not worried. Wanna know why?"

"Why?"

"'Cause when it's over we'll still have you."

Spike was touched and surprised by this unexpected sentiment. It sounded like something he'd hear from an adult: not a teen in her sophomore tenure.

"You're the link that ties our worlds together. We all have traits that make us special. Yours is the ability to connect people from all walks of life. It's one of the rarest skills out there. Treasure it."

"Damn. That's deep. You sure you're not on acid?"

"May as well be."

This was enough to elicit a hearty laugh from the dragon. Twilight, Maple and the others joined in as well. For a moment, the tension lifted, and the feeling of youth returned. Maybe parting ways wasn't the end after all.

Vanilla picked out a movie. She made popcorn and stocked the group up on concessions to make it more enjoyable. It was Spike's first time watching films most dudes would consider girly, but he didn't mind. If it helped take his mind off the pain, he'd take it. He didn't need to be macho all the time to feel secure in his masculinity. Vanilla took the opportunity to tease him and Maple.

"If you and your girlfriend wanna do it, it's cool. Just 'cause our folks don't want us foolin' around doesn't mean we can't watch."

"You're nuts, ya know that?"

"Why else would we wanna see yours?"

"Crazy..."

"And don't you forget it, bitch."

Brothers in Arms (Part 2)

During the night, Maple experienced something new - a recollection which blended dream with memory. Around the time of her death, Spike developed a longing for romantic affection. What he desired was more than a happily ever after. It was something true - something pure. He wanted to bring both the good and the bad without fear of judgement. Over time, he would iron out his flaws to become someone worthy of an angel's mercy. In the background, Maple noticed an album cover not present during her previous withdrawals. It's release coincided with Spike's return home. The label consisted of bold white lettering. She read it over in her mind.

"Sky Came Falling...10.21..."

Maple attempted to reach out, extending her hoof to comfort the dragon. As she wrapped her legs around him, the scene faded away in a veil of white...

Before the spell wore off, Maple asked Twilight about the record. To her surprise, the Alicorn didn't know anything about it.

"Let me look it up real quick."

Twilight opened her browser, locating the wiki after a few taps.

"It says it was released November 11th, 2000. It was titled after October 21st: the date the vocalist broke up with his ex. No idea how we missed it."

"Now it makes sense."

"How so?"

"Spike might've seen it in passing. The theme probably resonated with him when his view on relationships took a nosedive."

"He never told me. I would've talked some sense into him if I knew."

"I don't think you could've. Once he saw how bad things were in high school, the emotions clouded his mind. There were tons of breakups and fights between other students, especially early on. He wasn't thinking rationally. Most people thought he was weird for keeping to himself. It was a coping mechanism to deal with the stress."

"Can't say I blame him. High school's a mess. It's possible a failed relationship would've pushed him over the edge, especially after Rarity. Much as I hate to say it, he probably made the right call."

"Yeah..."

Maple gazed upon her lover. He'd suffered so much for so long. This couldn't be allowed to continue.

"No more..." she uttered, stepping to his side. She leaned down, planting her lips upon his sleeping form, "If the world tries to tear us apart, we'll burn it to ash with its rotten inhabitants. Rest well, my love. Our forever begins today..."

Brothers in Arms (Part 3)

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Ghosts of the Past (Part 2)

The first night went off without anything out of the ordinary occurring. After breakfast, Twilight and Spike visited the store in town. Twilight picked up a copy of the daily paper. She scoured the headlines for ghost sightings.

"Anything?" her brother asked.

"Not today."

"That makes me think there's some truth to this whole thing."

"Everyone assumes supernatural encounters work like the movies, but truth is often stranger than fiction."

"That's how I've felt for years."

"Do you wanna talk about last night?"

"Later. There's too many people."

"Gotcha."

The siblings used their leftover funds to purchase a few more supplies. On the way back, Twilight pointed out a rather interesting statistic.

"Out of all the sightings, not a single death or disappearance has been reported, which means..."

"We're not dealing with an evil spirit..."

"Yahtzee."

"Then...What should we do...?"

"Wait. If she shows, all we have to do is establish communication."

"'She'?"

"You didn't know it was a girl?"

"I didn't see the whole article."

"From what I read, this is similar to your typical 'woman in white' deal. She wanders the town, but nobody knows who or what she's looking for."

"Considering what we know, it's either a departed lover or a guide to her killer."

"I don't know...Something about this doesn't add up..."

"We can do more research at the inn. Come on. Let's head back."

Back at the inn, Twilight asked the innkeeper if she could borrow the computer.

"Sure. Mind if I ask why, though?"

"I wanted to do a little research on this."

Twilight held up the article.

"You a fan of ghost stories?"

"Something like that."

"Have at it. It's one of the few things that bring people in these days, anyway."

"Much appreciated."

"Sure thing."

Twilight typed in the town's nickname for the deceased soul - the Hollow Falls Specter.

"Well, lookee here."

Spike took a closer look at the monitor. Sightings dated back over a decade, with the first being reported in April of 2000...

"She was reported to resemble a resident of the town," Twilight discovered, "Her name was Maple Glaze. She died in her home of natural causes..."

As Spike read on, he became more and more despondent. Shortly before her death, she had fallen into the same cycle of isolation and despair as he had.

"She was...Like me..."

Twilight grimaced. The hardest part of empathy was seeing oneself in the victim's shoes...

"If only I'd known..."

Beaten Path (Part 2)

Spike lit a fire to keep the group warm. Now that they were further north, the temperature fluctuated significantly more between day and night. He held Maple in his arms while Twilight sat across from the pair.

"Wanna tell us where we're going now?" the dragon asked, slightly annoyed after being strung along.

"It's a surprise."

"It'll be worth the wait," Maple promised, "I'll give you a hint, though. It's somewhere you know well."

"Somewhere I know?" the dragon questioned.

"Try to think. Where did a significant part of your life take place?"

Spike thought back to an era of his life that seemed so distant now. The walls...The gray carpeting...The desk...

"You don't mean...!?"

"Mm-hm."

The dragon gazed down, eyes wide and mouth agape.

"Holy crap..."

"You remember now?" Twilight questioned.

"Yeah...That was where everything started..."

"You wanted to know how I knew your mental state was deteriorating. That year was my first clue. That's why I tried so hard to make you happy. I couldn't just sit back and watch my baby brother fall apart - no way in hell."

Spike sighed again. He felt horrible dragging his sibling away from home.

"I'm sorry, Twilight."

"What for?"

"You sacrificed so much for me, and I took it for granted. I'm a horrible brother."

"You really think you were that much of a burden?"

"Wasn't I?"

"What you saw was the bare minimum of what I was willing to do. I would've died for you, because that's what family does. That never changed."

"Even still, I'm cutting into time you should be spending with Flash and Nova. They need you most right now."

"We'll be seeing them soon. Don't be so hard on yourself. Everything will be all right."

"Yeah...You're right."

"I'll tell you what: after we get there, I'll stay home for a while and you can ask Shining to tag along. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"What about Flurry? Doesn't she need help with homework?"

"Leave that part to me."

"Then I guess...It's a plan."

"No more feeling guilty for needing help. Deal?"

"Deal."

Spike shook his sister's hoof over the fire. The Alicorn groaned, stretching her limbs from exhaustion.

"Well, I guess we should turn in. Big day tomorrow. You guys don't mind waiting until we get there to have some private time, do you?"

"Not at all." Maple stated.

"I think I can wait a bit longer to get it up again." Spike joked.

"All right," Twilight concluded, "Night, guys."

"Night."

Spike put out the fire with a few handfuls of dirt. The trio tucked themselves into their makeshift shelters, closing their eyes to wait for morning...