4 days have passed since the arrest of Principal Abacus Cinch, and it looked like everything was going smoothly for Spike. Spike's heroic actions had been celebrated, and the school was beginning to heal from the trauma inflicted by Abacus Cinch.

Currently, Spike was getting ready for bed. Today, they went to the courthouse for the trial. Since both Spike and Princess Cadence were attacked by Cinch, they had to go to the trial to state their testimony. After they stated that they were both attacked and Spike was almost falsely confined, they added that to her list of charges. After they stated the charges which included child abuse, false confinement, attempted murder, and assault of the royal family, she got sentenced to 40 years in prison with no chance of parole, with a fine of 65,000 bits.

After the trial, Spike, Cadence and Shining decided to go out for ice cream. Spike got blue moon ice cream with pieces of sapphire in it, while Cadence and Shining got a banana split sundae for the both of them to share. After they had all consumed their confections, they went back to the castle to settle back in for the day. After a few hours of rest, they had a nice dinner. It wasn't as extravagant as the first night, but it was still good nonetheless.

Now that brings us to now. Spike was in his bathroom brushing his teeth, thinking back to the past 4 days. "I wonder how everyone back in Ponyville is doing? I do know they set up defenses around Ponyville, so I know they're protected against King Naeus' monsters." Spike said to himself as he continued brushing his teeth. After he got done brushing his teeth, he went back to his room, to settle into bed.

Just as Spike was about to hop into his bed however, his vision seemed to change. He looked into his mirror and he saw himself, but not in his baby dragon form. He was the size of a mountain, like the time he let his greed control him. This happened in a split second, but it felt like a minute to Spike.

Spike was confused at what he saw, until he heard, "This is the true you Spike. All you are is a monster."

Spike recoiled from the mirror, his heart pounding in his chest. He shook his head, trying to dispel the lingering vision and the haunting voice that accompanied it. He took a deep breath and climbed into bed, pulling the covers up to his chin as he tried to calm himself down.

"Just a bad memory," he whispered to himself. "Nothing more."

Despite his attempts to reassure himself, Spike couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over him. As he lay there, staring up at the ceiling, his mind began to race with doubts and fears. What if Cadence and Shining Armor were just pretending to be kind to him? What if they saw him as a threat, just like Abacus Cinch had? What if everyone did?

He remembered the nightmare he had a few nights ago and how real it had felt. Cadence's words, the guards' cold expressions, the way Cadence dropped him from the top of the castle and ended his life—it all seemed so vivid, so possible. What if it wasn't just a dream? What if it was a warning?

Spike turned onto his side, curling into a ball as he tried to push the thoughts away. He thought about the good times he had shared with Cadence and Shining Armor over the past few days. They had been so kind to him, so supportive. They had even taken him out for ice cream to celebrate the victory over Abacus Cinch. But the voice in his head kept whispering, sowing seeds of doubt.

"They're just pretending," the voice hissed. "They don't really care about you. You're just a monster to them."

"No, They care about me. They all do." Spike tried to say.

"No they don't. You're only around them because you are useful and nothing else. If you weren't useful, they would have euthanized you when you hatched."

Spike buried his face in his pillow, trying to block out the voice. He didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to think that the ponies he cared about saw him as nothing more than a dangerous creature. But the fear was there, lurking in the back of his mind, refusing to be silenced.

Eventually, exhaustion began to take its toll, and Spike's eyes grew heavy. As he drifted off to sleep, he hoped that his dreams would be kinder to him this time, that they would bring him some semblance of peace.

Place: ?????????
Time:???????

King Naeus was using his magic to get his voice into Spike's mind. He was doing this ever since the Tantabus has gone rogue, but that was only his nightmares of his own creation.

"Heh, let's make you lose hope, Spike the brave and glorious." King Naeus said. "This nightmare ought to do the trick."

Using his magic, he created a new nightmare and put it into Spike's subconscience.

Spike's dream

Spike was walking outside in the Crystal Empire, being greeted by the crystal ponies who looked up to him so much. He was getting hoofshakes galore, and he was loving the attention. He looked up at the sky and thought that this was going to be a good day.

Except it wasn't. Clouds that didn't look natural started rolling in. This confused him, because there wasn't supposed to be any clouds at all for the next few weeks. The clouds swirled around the empire, making everypony scared and confused. Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled, and the sky opened up, unleashing a torrent of black rain. The crystal ponies around him screamed in terror, their shining coats turning dull and lifeless as the rain touched them. Spike tried to shield them with his body, but the rain seemed to pass right through him, soaking everything in its path.

"What's happening?" Spike shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the howling wind and the cries of the ponies around him.

In the midst of the chaos, Spike saw a shadowy figure approaching him. He was wearing robe fit for a king, and it looked like a dark phoenix. Seeing this, Spike knew immediately was King Naeus. "Hey Spike, I'm back." he greeted in a melodious voice.

Just then, Shining Armor suddenly teleported in front of Spike and shielded him. "Whoever you are, stay away from Spike. And get away from our Empire too." Shining shouted at King Naeus.

King Naeus just looked at Shining with an 'are you serious' look. he then opened his mouth to create a lasso that tightened around Shining's throat, lifting him in the air.

"SHINING!!" Spike heard a voice he knew yell out. He looked and saw Cadence flying towards them. She dove at King Naeus, her horn blazing with magic, but the dark phoenix was too fast. With a flick of his wing, he sent a wave of dark energy at Cadence, sending her crashing into the ground.

"Cadence!" Spike screamed, trying to run to her, but his legs felt heavy as if he were moving through thick mud. The air around him seemed to thicken, and he struggled to breathe. The rain continued to pour, turning the streets into rivers of black.

King Naeus laughed, a cold, mocking sound that echoed through the empire. "You think you can protect them, little dragon? You are nothing but a pawn, a tool to be used and discarded."

Spike's heart pounded in his chest, his fear mounting. He looked at Shining Armor, still struggling against the magical lasso, and at Cadence, who was slowly getting back to her hooves. The crystal ponies around them were huddled together, their eyes wide with terror.

Just then, King Naeus looked back at Shining and smiled evilly. The then tightened the lasso around his throat so much that his neck broke. Shining fell to the ground in a heap, cold and unmoving.

King Naeus then looked back at Spike. "That was just a warning." he then teleported out of there, leaving the Crystal Empire in a river of black. Spike raced over to Shining, to check and see if he was ok. He couldn't feel a pulse, and he knew he was dead. But he didn't have time to mourn over his loss, as he was blasted back by a magical beam. He tried to get up, but then Cadence used her magic to lift him up and restrain him.

"You," She yelled at him with cold and unforgiving eyes. "You let him die. You didn't even do a thing."

Spike's tears started rolling down his face. "No, I tried. I tried to save him. I tried so hard." He then closed his eyes. "I never wanted this to happen. This was never supposed to happen. I wanted to be loved."

He opened his eyes and she immediately blasted him to shreds.

Spike woke with a start, his body drenched in sweat. His heart was pounding, and his breath came in ragged gasps. He looked around his room, trying to reassure himself that it had only been a nightmare. But the fear and doubt lingered, gnawing at his mind.

He pulled the covers tighter around himself, feeling more alone and scared than ever. He then started feeling tears falling, and he buried his face into his pillow and began sobbing, hard. "I'm trying." He said in between sobs. "I'm trying."

The next morning, Spike woke up with red eyes and a heavy heart. The weight of his dreams and the haunting voice from his nightmare clung to him. He was determined not to let his fears show, but the effort it took to put on a brave face felt exhausting.

As he joined Cadence and Shining Armor for breakfast, he tried his best to mask his unease. They greeted him warmly, their smiles genuine and comforting. Cadence's voice was gentle as she asked about his rest, and Shining Armor looked at him with concern, sensing that something was off.

“Good morning, Spike. How did you sleep?” Cadence asked, her tone warm but perceptive.

Spike forced a smile. “Morning. I slept okay. Just... had a rough night, I guess.”

Shining Armor leaned in, his eyes searching Spike’s face. “You don’t look so good. Are you feeling alright?”

Spike hesitated, the vulnerability he felt from the nightmare holding him back. He shook his head slightly. “It’s nothing. Just some bad dreams. I’ll be fine.”

Cadence and Shining Armor exchanged a worried glance, but they chose to respect Spike’s wish to keep things to himself for the moment. They continued with breakfast, trying to engage him in light conversation, but Spike found it hard to fully participate. His mind was still clouded with the remnants of his nightmare and the persistent doubts that plagued him.

After breakfast, Cadence and Shining Armor had plans to attend to, leaving Spike with some time alone. As he wandered through the castle, he found himself drawn to a quiet, secluded garden. The peaceful surroundings contrasted sharply with the storm raging in his mind.

Just then, he felt a sneeze coming on. He tried to stop it from coming, but it was fruitless and green flame came out from his nostrils and mouth, sending trails of the green fire to where he sneezed, burning a tiny piece of the garden.

"This just goes to show how much of a monster you are. Even when you don't mean it, you still ruin everything." the voice said.

"MY GARDEN!!!" Spike heard another voice from his right yell. He turned around and saw a pony that Spike knew was the gardener. She looked at Spike with a concerned look and asked him, "Brave and Glorious, do you know what happened here?"

Spike's heart sank at the gardener's words. The green flame from his sneeze had singed a small patch of the garden, and the gardener's concerned expression only deepened his feelings of guilt and self-loathing.

"I-I’m really sorry," Spike stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn’t mean to—It was an accident."

"Brave and Glorious?" she asked, caring about his emotions.

"I need to go." Spike muttered, and before the gardener could say anything else, he was gone.

Spike couldn't think clearly for the rest of the day. Spike spent the rest of the day in a fog of unease and guilt. The garden incident had compounded his fears, making him feel even more like a burden. He avoided interacting with others, retreating to the solitude of his room or the quiet corners of the castle.

As evening approached, Cadence and Shining Armor returned, their faces carrying the weight of their responsibilities. Spike noticed them looking tired and smiled at them. They noticed Spike's withdrawn demeanor but chose to give him space, hoping he would open up when he was ready.

Dinner was a subdued affair. Spike picked at his food, his mind preoccupied with the aftermath of his nightmare and the growing sense of isolation. Cadence and Shining Armor exchanged concerned glances but refrained from pressing him, respecting his apparent need for privacy.

After dinner, as Cadence and Shining Armor engaged in some light conversation in the sitting room, Spike excused himself, citing fatigue. He climbed into bed early, hoping that sleep would bring some respite from his troubled thoughts. As he lay there, he couldn't help but feel that no matter how much he tried to prove himself, the dark voice in his head was determined to undermine his efforts. After about half an hour, fatigue washed over him and he fell asleep.

Later that night, Cadence woke up with a need to get some water, since she was feeling parched. So she got out of bed, being careful not to wake her sleeping husband and left the room.

She walked down to the kitchen and used to magic to make herself a glass of water. When she was finished with the water, she left the kitchen to go back to bed. On the way there however, she could hear somepony crying for help.

"No, please no, Why are you doing this? Please don't hurt me." she heard. Cadence recognized the voice as Spike's voice and decided to see what was up. As Cadence approached the room, she heard Spike continuing to cry for help. When she entered the room, she saw Spike tossing and turning, as if he was in a horrible nightmare. She walked over to him and shook him to wake him up.

"Spike, wake up. It's just a nightmare." Cadence whispered.

Spike jumped awake and turned around. The sight of Cadence scared him and made him look down in anger. Cadence then asked, "Spike, I heard you were having a nightmare. Are you ok?"

"Why do you care?" Spike instantly covered his mouth as he realized what he just said. But he sighed knowing what was said has been said and he can't do anything.

Cadence became shocked. "Spike, why would you say that? Of course I care because you're a great friend."

"Am I? Or am I just a monster you want to put down?" Spike asked. "I don't even know if I can believe what you just said."

Cadence felt a little concerned. "Spike, did I do something wrong?"

Now Spike was beyond angry. He couldn't believe what she had just said. Smoke was coming out of his nostrils and tears were coming out of his eyes which worried Cadence.

Spike still stayed calm, so as to not wake anyone else up. "You abandoned me, just like the rest. You always invite Twilight and her friends to the Crystal Empire to have some fun, but you never invite me. You and the others leave me behind to do chores and everyone's work. So tell me, why did you invite me here? Is it because you want to kill me, so I'm not a burden anymore?"

Cadence's face softened, taking her friend's words to heart. "I-I just wanted to have fun with my friend."

"If you really wanted to have fun with a friend, then you would have invited Twilight and the others and never me, just like always. You didn’t even invite me for Hearths Warming last year. That is literally a holiday to spend time with family. I’m apparently not family to you, so what am I really to you? A dragon? A monster that you want put down? It has to be one of those because a friend clearly isn't one of them." Spike said with evident anger and tears.

Cadence started having tears in her eyes. Was she too late?

"Spike" she said in between heavy breathing. "I-"

"NO!! DON'T EVEN SAY WHAT I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SAY!!" Spike said, not caring who would hear anymore. Cadence flinched at his outburst and caused her to have more tears in her eyes.

"Spike..." Cadence tried to say but she was interrupted again.

"EVERYONE TELLS ME THAT! THAT SAME LIE OVER AND OVER AGAIN! THEY KEEP SAYING, 'OH SPIKE, I DIDN'T MEAN TO.' WELL IF YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO THEN WHY DO YOU KEEP ON DOING IT!?!? YOU'RE THE ONE THAT PREACHES ABOUT LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ME YOU SEEM TO BE FRESH OUT OF IT!! I SAVED THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE TWICE, YET YOU TREAT ME LIKE A THIRD CLASS CITIZEN!! I DO SO MUCH FOR YOU GUYS YET YOU AVOID ME AND NEVER CARE FOR ME BECAUSE I AM NOT A PONY!!”

Spike couldn't help but break down crying. "Am I even part of your family? Did you even love me at all? Well apparently not because you don’t even treat me as such. I guess I really am just a monster you want to put down."

Nothing was said for the past few minutes, though Cadence was breathing heavily with an isolated sob every now and then. Spike, hearing these sobs, started to feel remorse and guilt for what he said. "Cadence, I..."

"You're right Spike. You're absolutely right." Cadence said. "But you aren't a monster. You never were a monster."

Cadence’s words, though spoken through tears, cut through the turmoil in Spike’s heart. Her voice, filled with sorrow and sincerity, broke through the wall of anger and hurt Spike had built around himself.

"Spike, I’m so sorry," Cadence said, her voice trembling. "I never meant to hurt you, and I should have been more aware of how you felt. It’s true that I made mistakes, and I’ve let you down. But it was never my intention to make you feel like you don’t belong or that you’re a burden."

Spike looked at her, his anger slowly giving way to the sadness he had been trying to suppress. "But I always feel like I’m just... in the way. Like no matter what I do, it’s never enough. And it took me breaking down for you to see it."

Cadence took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Spike, I want to tell you a story, a story I never told anypony else in my life. I didn't even tell Shining Armor or Twilight this story. May I tell you that story?" she asked. Spike, still hesitant, nodded.

Cadence cleared her throat and began telling her story. "Once upon a time, there was a small filly. She was born to a pegasus and unicorn. Growing up, she had a big heart and she wanted to make the world a better place. She tried every day to make the world a better place and sometimes, it would work and other times, it wouldn't."

Spike wiped his tears, continuing to listen to the story.

"However, her parents weren't as loving as her. They were always out partying and they never spoke to the filly unless it was absolutely necessary. And before she ever got the chance to know them properly, they walked out on her."

Spike started to realize who this story was really about as his crying had stopped, his face glancing up to Cadence's gaze as his eyes widened in concern.

"The filly was heartbroken. She loved her parents, even though she never got to really know them. That was when she vowed to herself to not make anypony feel unloved ever again. So when she was about 15, she decided to get a foalsitting job. She went through numerous foals, but the one she loved the most was the purple unicorn that goes by the name of, Twilight Sparkle."

Spike was speechless. "Cadence..."

"Twilight Sparkle was everything to her. She poured all her love and care into being the best foalsitter she could be, and it was the most rewarding experience of her life. She wanted Twilight to know that she was loved and cherished, even if she had missed out on that kind of love herself."

Cadence's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "When Twilight went to Ponyville and found her own friends, I felt like I had done something right. I was so proud of her and the friendships she made."

"Cadence, I... I had no idea how you felt. I'm sorry."

Cadence shook her head gently. " No Spike. You have nothing to be sorry about. I realize now that I’ve been so focused on my own responsibilities and on making things perfect that I didn’t notice how my actions might have hurt you. You’ve always been a part of this family, Spike. You’ve done so much for us and the Crystal Empire. I never meant for you to feel like you’re not valued."

Spike's own tears started to well up again. "I just... I felt so alone. Like no matter how much I tried, I was always just a burden. And then I had this nightmare, and it felt so real. It was like I was losing everything and everyone."

Cadence took a step closer, her voice soothing. "Spike, you’re not a burden. You’re part of this family, and we care about you deeply. I know I haven’t always shown it the way I should have, but please believe me when I say that you matter to us. I’m sorry for making you feel otherwise."

Spike nodded slowly, his sobs quieting as he absorbed Cadence's heartfelt words. "Thank you, Cadence. I... I really needed to hear that."

Cadence reached out and pulled Spike into a gentle embrace, holding him close. "You’re not alone, Spike. We’re here for you, and we’ll do better. I promise."

Spike, while being reassured, still felt like he needed her for tonight. Spike took another deep breath, still trembling from the emotions he had just unleashed. He looked up at Cadence with pleading eyes. “Cadence… could you, um… stay with me? Just for tonight?” His voice was soft, almost fragile. “You don’t have to, but… it would really comfort me. I… I just don’t want to feel alone right now.”

Cadence’s heart ached at his request. She smiled gently through her tears and nodded. “Of course, Spike. I’d be happy to stay with you.”

Spike let out a small breath of relief as Cadence climbed into bed next to him. She wrapped her wings around him like a soft cocoon, pulling him close as he rested his head against her chest. The rhythmic sound of her heartbeat soothed him as she kissed his forehead tenderly.

For a moment, there was silence as they both settled into the comforting embrace. But Spike couldn’t keep his thoughts bottled up any longer. “Cadence,” he began hesitantly, “why didn’t you invite me to the Crystal Empire for the past three years? I mean… not for Hearth's Warming, or to even set up for the Equestria Games. The Crystal Ponies would’ve loved to see me.” His voice trembled, his claws clutching at the blanket. “Did I… do something wrong? Something so terrible that you didn’t like me or trust me? Did I… deserve to have my heart broken like that?”

Cadence’s breath hitched. She tightened her hold on him, her wings shielding him as though she could protect him from the pain in his heart. “Spike,” she said softly, her voice thick with emotion, “you didn’t do anything wrong. You’ve always been good, kind, and selfless. If anything, it was me who failed you. I was so caught up in everything happening here that I didn’t realize how much I was hurting you by leaving you out. I can’t apologize enough for that.”

Spike looked up at her, his green eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Then… why did you invite me now? What changed? Did you really want me here, or…” His voice broke. “Or is this just because you feel guilty? Are you just trying to make yourself feel better?”

Cadence placed a hoof gently on his cheek, her own tears falling freely. “I invited you because I wanted you here, Spike. I missed you. I missed your smile, your kindness, and your warmth. Yes, I feel guilty for not seeing how much I hurt you sooner, but I also wanted to make it right. I wanted to show you that you’re loved and cherished—not just by me, but by everypony who knows you.”

Spike’s tears began to spill over. “Do you still love me, Cadence? I mean... after everything that happened, I'm starting to doubt that."

Cadence’s tears flowed faster as she pulled Spike even closer. “Spike, I’m so, so sorry. I wasn’t thinking about how that might’ve made you feel, and that’s no excuse. It was wrong of me, and I can’t take it back, but I need you to know that I love you. I’ve always loved you. You’re family to me, Spike—more than that, you’re like a little brother. And I never, ever want you to feel like you don’t matter to me.”

Spike broke down, sobbing quietly into her chest. “It's have been so hard without the love of you and the others,” he choked out between sobs. “I don’t want to feel like this anymore. I just… I just want to feel loved.”

Cadence held him close, her wings wrapping tighter around him as she rested her head on top of his. “You are loved, Spike. So much. And you’ll never have to feel like this again. I promise.”

As his sobs began to soften, Spike smiled faintly at her. Cadence smiled back, pressing her forehead gently against his, nuzzling him with all the affection she could muster. Spike snuggled closer into her chest, his voice muffled as he spoke. “Sometimes… I wish I was a baby dragon again. Back then, everything felt simpler. I didn’t have to deal with all this pain.”

Cadence stroked his spines gently, her voice soothing. “I know, Spike. But you’re so strong for getting through all of this. And no matter how old you are, you’ll always be my little Spike.”

He looked up at her, his eyes heavy with exhaustion but filled with gratitude. “You’ve always given the best hugs, Cadence.” He yawned, nestling deeper into her embrace. “Please… don’t leave me tonight. I love you.”

Tears welled up in her eyes again, but this time they were tears of love and determination. She rubbed his back, soothing him. “I’m not going anywhere, Spike. I love you, too. Always.”

Author's Note

Finally, Spike said what needed to be said.