After Smolder left to the village that was nearby the Marshes, Spike and Ori left to gather the wisps that could save her brother, and Ku's life too, she had so much to process now that she's lost her brother, while the chance of him coming back is possible, the thought of him being gone forever just.. hit her in different ways she's never felt before.

Smolder was always the younger sister to him, but she always often helped him out of bad situations he got himself into, the crew he hung around with back in Equestria made a bad influence on what he did, she never liked the dragons Garble used to hang around with, they were clearly intimidating him when no one was looking, she can tell Garble was not comfortable with being constantly pushed to do something he doesn't want, it was kind of obvious on her perspective.

But now, they were thousands of miles away from Equestria, from them, and she and her brother already went through so much, they only came here to find Spike and hopefully can bring him home, but given his condition, things may not be able to be normal ever again, she only just met Twilight and the other's recently, and even here she can tell Twilight is gonna have a rough time with handling Spike's.. unique problem.

Smolder had arrived back at the village by sunset after her Ori and Spike left, and her brother.. died. She felt extremely sad at the thought she was alone in this world now, Garble was really the only person she could go to when she needed it, and now that he's gone.. she has no one left..

"Why.. why did it have to be you? You were just trying to help us? Why did you have to.. leave me?" Smolder asked with tears while she looked at the sunsetting through the forest, it was a beautiful sight to behold, but nothing was helping the grief she was trying to go through, she always hated the loss of a loved one, having to go through this loss is painful, no matter who passes on, she and Garble spent so much time together as siblings, and she hoped this adventure would be what finally has him get the respect he needed after all this.. but it only costed him his life.

"I don't know how I can go on without you.. You meant so much to me.. and now.. I'm.. all on my own.." Smolder said while she was crying heavily, she didn't know what to do, she wished they never came here, he would still be alive, he would still be with her.. they would still be a family..

"You were all I had.. we were all we had.. and now.. one of us has to face this world on our own, and I don't know if I can do it without you.." Smolder said with sadness while she didn't stop crying, the loss of her brother hit her so hard, there wasn't much she could do, except grieve the loss of someone who meant so much to her..

Spike and Ori were finally arriving back at the village after retrieving the first wisp, while they were glad to have retrieved it, the loss of Kwolok left them feeling really upset, they could've done something to save him, but they weren't able to do anything.. They could only put him down after that monster took him over.. even with his last words, Spike felt like he was responsible for all of this..

"Well.. we have the first wisp.. but.. if we keep losing close ones to us like this.. is it even worth it to keep going Ori?" Spike asked sadly while they slowly walked through the place, the villagers were going into they're houses tonight, and even with they're new moves, they needed time to process the loss.

"I don't know Spike, we're only at the first of the 4, while we know where to go, I myself am unsure if we should keep going, Kwolok was old sure, but he was still the forests guardian, and without him.. what will become of the place?" Ori asked with concern as they saw the beautiful place, even with how it looks now, they fear the spreading darkness, and Kwolok's death, will lead it further into darkness.

Ori and Spike both had a look of regret seeing how this place may be without the forests Guardian, but maybe they'll be able to find a way to help the forest move on when they're journey is over. And that's when Spike remembered a certain friend of theirs that's still here, and he was worried for how she's feeling right now.

"Hey, Ori, think we should check on Smolder? I think she may be still upset about.. you know?" Spike asked referring to what happened with Garble, and she looked regretful being asked that.

"I think it's best we check on her, she must have a lot on her mind, and we do too, I think it's best we try to help her through loss, we know the feeling.. right Spike?" Ori asked while they walked through the place, and took in how calm it was.

"Yeah, come on, I think I hear her just up ahead.." Spike encouraged before the two quickly made they're way to her, Spike had a feeling this was something she really needed right now, and hopefully a little support can help her get through this.

Smolder was still crying at the edge of the ledge, still watching the sun get lower and lower by the minute, but as each second past, she just felt more sad the more she thought about her brother.

"Why couldn't it have been me? I know you were wanting to make up for your mistakes.. but.. this was.. too much.." Smolder said regretfully while she kept on crying. It didn't take long for Spike and Ori to show up and they saw her crying by herself, they both figured she would be really upset by this still, and they at least wanted to help her process this grief.

Smolder felt a light come next to her and she looked to her right and saw Spike and Ori had finally come back, they both looked really worried for her given what she's feeling right now.

"Hey.. you doing alright Smolder?" Spike asked with worry for her, but she still couldn't understand his language right now, but she could perfectly see what they're asking her.

"No.. I'm not.. I.. haven't been doing too well since.. my brother.." Smolder said with guilt while she couldn't even finish that sentence.

"Don't worry Smolder.. we understand this pain.." Ori said regretfully while they all sat down next to her.

Voice came out to help translate for her so she could understand them, but Smolder seemed to far into her mind to focus right now on what's been happening. They all were in a rough state right now with what was taken from them, and even if Spike and Ori got the first Wisp, it wasn't without a big cost..

Voice came up to Smolder in order to help translate again, while Spike wishes he could speak to her normally again, with the state he's in now, this is the only option they have now.
"So.. did you two.. retrieve the first Wisp?" Smolder asked hopefully, these were the only things that could save this forest, and maybe even Garble and Ku's lives, Spike and Ori confirmed it by simply nodding they're heads in response.

"Yeah, we managed to get it at the Luma Pools, but that's only one of them, there's still a few more we need to get before we can really restore things, it really is like what happened back in Nibel honestly.." Spike said with guilt as he and Ori sat down next to her to look over the sunset.

Smolder was told this through Voice's words, it was good news to hear that they got the first Wisp, and as much as she wants to help them get the rest, she just doesn't have the ability's they do. As she looked at Spike, she can see just how much this last adventure affected him, and she was just really worried for him.
"You know Spike.. I don't think any of us would've expected you to become like.. this, even if you and I haven't met before this, I never would've expected something like this happening to you.." Smolder said with guilt as she looked over his pure white body, not a single scale of him was purple like before, he was really a hybrid of Ori's kind and the dragons at this point.

Spike looked down with some level of guilt again hearing that, he's been questioning this kind of thing for a while now, and with this new adventure they're on here, Spike just doesn't know if it'll help him or not..
"I don't think any of us would've Smolder, one night.. I was looking out my window, wondering if there would ever be a moment where I could do something great like Twilight and the others, then it happened, and.. it ended up with me looking.. like this..." Spike said with regret as he looked over the view, he could see his reflection in a river just next to them, and Spike's worries just wouldn't go away from seeing it.

"Spike, you know this doesn't change who you are, your still you, your still Spike. Even if you look different, it doesn't change it, I thought we talked about this before right?" Ori asked with concern while Spike looked back on that talk they had.

"I know we did.. multiple times if I remember, but I just.. can't get over the feeling something might happen to us.. we just lost our sister Ori, and Smolder lost her own brother, who just wanted to try and make up for what happened back in Equestria. And.. it ended up costing his life..." Spike said with sadness as he remembered what Garble did to save him..

Smolder could hear this talk through Voice still, and Garble being mentioned just had tears come from her eyes again, she wished he was here so much right now, she never thought this would happen to him, but he did it in a way to save them all.
"I know.. but.. he.. did it to save us.. he saved you.. when I saw Shriek for the first time.. I.. felt like we wouldn't make it out of that situation, she just felt so monsterous.. cruel, and wicked, full of nothing but anger, and sorrow..." Smolder said with fear as she remembered how terrifying she was.

Ori and Spike had felt the same way about this when hearing her name, she looked like someone they may not be able to save, if she's an obstacle that won't get out of they're way when it comes to saving Nibel.. they.. may need to put her down to end it..
"I know.. I just.. wish there was a way to learn more about her, if there was more about what caused her to be like this.. maybe there might be a way..." Spike prayed while hoping there was something they could find out about her out there, but that just made Ori more concerned by the thought of it.

"I do too Spike.. but.. if we do find out something about her, what if it only shows us that there is no saving her? What kind of cruel fate is that? To be in that state, both full of anger, sadness, and loneliness forever? On one hand it could help us find a way, but on the other.. it may only show us we can't save her either.." Ori said with sadness, even if she did kill Garble and Ku, they wanted to at least know more of the reason behind it, and whether or not it can help them save this land.

"Sometimes.. there just may be no other way.. if you had to make that sacrifice when saving Nibel Spike, you... may have to do something similar for this land too.." Smolder said sadly while thinking over this, she still felt awful for what happened to Spike back in Nibel, every dragon who saw it did, even if it showed how strong willed Spike is, the cost was something that will forever be known.

Spike looked down sadly hearing that, as much as he wanted to try and find a way to help Shriek, the more he thinks about it, the more he sees that this.. just may not end up the way they'll want it..
"All of this happened so suddenly.. we ended up in this land separated from Ku, while it seemed like another adventure at first like our last one.. the more we went into it, the more we could see how much bigger it is, and even if we got the first Wisp.. it wasn't without another tragedy.." Spike said as he still felt grief over Kwolok's death.

Smolder had a bad feeling something may have happened to Kwolok once he left for the Luma Pools, and hearing this from him just showed they were true.
"He's.. not here anymore.. is he?" Smolder asked with regret which made Ori cry a bit.

"He.. got taken over by the same monster that held up the Water Mill's gears that prevented the waters from being safe, it.. tried using him against his will to destroy us, while we managed to free him and destroy the monster for good, he.. was just too weak to carry on.. we only got the first Wisp.. after he was already gone.." Ori said with sorrow as she remembered that moment.

"I'm.. really sorry for this you two.. I.. wish I could've helped, but with how dangerous it's said to be, and.. with the loss of my brother, I.. don't think I could've done anything.." Smolder said with tears as she thought over this.

This made Spike curious on hearing it, while he still had trouble with Garble back in Equestria before all of this happened, seeing what Garble did to make up for this, and him having a sister like Smolder made him curious about some things.
"Smolder.. what was he like? I never really got to know him too personally outside of that incident, what did he like to do? How close were you two?" Spike asked with interest which made Smolder reflect back on her life.

"He.. was the only one there for me when I needed it, the Dragon Lands aren't exactly the best place to make friends like the rest of Equestria is Spike, even the crew he hung around with was a bad influence on him, making him do things he didn't want, and making fun of his own likes and hobbies, and he left them because of it, so he could spend more time with me.." Smolder explained with a small smile as she remembered how much fun she used to have with him.

"I'm glad to hear he left those jerks, but what did he like to do? What happened before you all.. found out what happened with me..?" Spike asked with worry once more.

"Garble was really into poetry, he just liked doing stuff like this other dragons wouldn't have even thought of, he and I stayed together and supported eachother like any brother and sister would. Even if he seemed like a tough guy at first, deep down, he was a real softy, and often just liked to play around. Once you got to know him, he was just a really great person to be around with.. especially considering how most dragons can be like.." Smolder explained some more which was interesting to them.

"I wish I could've gotten to know him, even if we barely knew him, with how you've described him.. I just wish that we could've stopped this.. if we hadn't gone out to fly a few days back.. none of this would've happened.." Ori said with regret, all they wanted was to help they're own sister Ku with flying, but it was because of that storm they ended up in this land.. and now.. they're both gone..

Spike closed his eyes and had tears coming from him too, all of this grief, loss, and guilt they shared told Spike just how much is at stake here, even if they do save the forest, what may have to be sacrificed for it is something Spike just can't describe.
"We've all suffered through loss from being here.. even if we gained some things like some new powers, learning a bit more about the Spirit Guardians, it just didn't stop tragedy's like this from happening.. and.. we can't let it keep happening like this.." Spike said as he was starting to stand up.

Smolder and Ori looked at Spike as he wiped away his tears, and tried pushing past this again, he didn't want people to keep losing things like this, and if they don't get the other wisps soon, things will only get worse.
"We may have the first Wisp, but we need to get the other two to save this forest, and hopefully Garble and Ku, the next one should be in the South part of the land which was shrouded in darkness from what we saw of it, if we're gonna stop this, we need to get moving." Spike said with a serious look while Ori was standing up too.

"Spike's right.. we can't let you just suffer through this pain even more Smolder, we won't do anything by sitting around here, we need to go out and get it. I'm really sorry for what's happened with you Smolder, but we will make this up, we will save our family's." Ori assured while Smolder still felt unsure about it.

"Are you sure? What if something happens while you two are out there again? What can I do to help?" Smolder asked with worry while Voice went back to Spike and Ori again, and Spike got an idea on what she could do to help.

"You think you can find where Twilight and the others are? If they're on they're way to this land right now, they shouldn't be too far off with Gumo and Naru, think you can handle that?" Spike asks with hope while he helped Smolder up, while Smolder wanted to go with them for this, Twilight and the others need to know what's going on, and she just hopes that they'll handle themselves when going to get the next Wisp.

"I.. think I can handle that, It shouldn't be too hard to find them, but what about you? Will you two be okay?" Smolder askes as Spike and Ori look to the exit of the village, and they knew that they needed to go now.

"Don't worry Smolder, we'll be okay, we've made it out of bad situations before, I promise you we'll make it back." Ori assured while Spike looked up at Smolder, and gave her a calm smile to help her too.

"I promise we'll be safe, we'll save Garble and Ku soon, please just be careful yourself, when you find Twilight and the others, tell them I promise I'll make it back to them when this is over." Spike promised which gave Smolder some hope that they can do this.

"Okay.. I'll.. be back when I can, I'll head back here for an update on what's happening with them soon, just be careful with where your going okay?" Smolder asked while she was starting to spread her wings, and Spike spread his own so he could flap them too.

"Don't worry Smolder, we will, be safe." Spike encouraged as Ori hopped on Spike's back before he took off and flew out of the village to the South of Nibel, while Smolder was just left worried on what may happen with them.

"You be safe too.. thank you.." Smolder said gratefully before she took off to the skies too and started heading off land, she had a feeling Twilight and the others were on they're way, and she prayed they can meet up with Spike before something worse comes..

Author's Note

Hey guys thanks for reading this. I am very, VERY sorry for this long delay on the next chapter, I just had so many other stuff to work on, and tried getting those out too. I know this story has gotten multiple delays for the chapters like this, and I'm very sorry for it, but with where I am now with my writing experience, I'm wanting to give this story my all, and make it the best it can be before we reach the conclusion.

I'm going to be updating the story's grammar to how it is here in previous chapters, but it's just so I can make this story better to read, again, very sorry for the wait, but I will make sure the story is properly finished like my other ones, I just hope you liked this chapter, feel free to leave me ideas on where to take the story next, and I hope you look forward to more of it!