Heart of Scales

Heart of Scales

Turn 3: Dead End

At last, the day of the Fashion Show had arrived. The skies were cleared by the pegasi, creating warm welcoming weather for the event. Outside were the many ponies that had come from far and wide to see the best of the designers present their works on the runway. The hotel was now packed. Every room was booked and even though Spike had all the morning to himself, he wasn't able to make plans with Brandon due to the sudden surge of guests. However, he was able to get a few words out of him in the elevator as he carried a very large suitcase into the small cramped space.

"I really can't hang right now," Brandon said. "These muppets are swarming the lot of us. But you're in luck. I'm being sent over to the fashion show to help with services or something like that for the opening banquet. If you're around, me and a few guys from other hotels are gonna get some food together and get a little thing of our own started, you're invited if ya ain't too busy posing for them snobs there."

"I won't be missed," Spike said. "I can sneak off to hang out."

"Great, I'll be out in the garden on punch duty. You'll know where it is when ya get there." Brandon backed out of the elevator with the suitcase. "We'll go as soon as my shift ends. Sit tight until then."

"Sure thing," Spike said, before the door closed.

The afternoon was very uneventful. Spike thought about Rarity who had left early to get herself ready for the fashion show. Some of her duties included meeting the models that'd be modeling her dresses, getting acquainted, and teaching them how to put on the dresses, making sure make-up was spot on for the runway. Things like that. She had promised to meet Spike at the entrance of the party so they could go in together. He sat in the bathtub, wanting to be as clean as he could be for the big day. The warm water provoked a small stinging sensation in his missing scales. The soap even more so. He couldn't stay too long in the tub. He tried to keep any water from getting on the spot where Rarity had kissed him.

Right on time, the clock in the bathroom let Spike know that he better start getting ready. The sun began to set as Spike opened up the closet to find a lone tuxedo hanging on the rack. He pulled up a chair to get it down and then laid it out on the bed. If he was going to follow her to the banquet he would need to look as fancy as possible. It was a miniature tuxedo Rarity had made for him sometime back in Ponyville. To his disappointment the tuxedo fit just right. He had hoped that he had at least grown a little bit since it was made. Still, he put it on with pride, wondering what Rarity was doing at the moment.

Spike caught a carriage to Canterlot Castle, where the Fashion Show would be held. Traffic was very unpleasant. Every carriage in the streets of Canterlot seemed to be heading for the same destination. Spike still made it just on time at the flashy front entrance. Good thing the bathroom clock was accurate.

The overall mood was similar to the Grand Galloping Gala. There seemed to be less ponies attending the fashion show party. Maybe it was because only ponies with special passes were allowed to enter. Spike looked up and saw what he believed to be the Wonderbolts in the middle of some practice drills. Perhaps there was a show planned later on in the night.

Spike saw Rarity in her special pink party dress when he arrived at the gate. She was greeting a few ponies passing the gate into the party. She seemed pleased when she saw Spike in his tux.

"Looking sharp Spike," she said. "Now remember, mind your posture, and act refined. This isn't just any party you know."

"You don't have to tell me." Spike smiled as he entered the outdoor party area.

There were even fewer ponies at the garden party than what Spike had seen at the entrance. It was then that he noticed that the party was for the VIP ponies. Designers and other important ponies, very important ponies at that. It was the VIVIP area. Spike decided that it was best to lay low and to bring as little attention to himself as possible.

The other ponies with regular passes and were not yet permitted to enter were right outside the castle area. Spike had seen them as he inched along in the Carriage while he was stuck in traffic. He remembered seeing them having their own good time at the parks, restaurants, cafes, even roadside gatherings because they simply had nowhere else to go. Spike thought that he probably would've had have more fun at the parties outside than in here with all the VIVIP ponies. Pinkie Pie would have enjoyed either party in her own way, but after giving it some thought Spike would bet on the outside ponies to be more accepting to Pinkie's antics rather than the ponies here.

When it had become dark enough, the lanterns over the party area lit, illuminating it with a soft but bright yellow light. These lights were probably magic powered. No matter how bright they were, Spike had no trouble seeing the stars in the night sky above. That reminded him. Was Princess Luna going to be attending the Fashion Show with Princess Celestia? Of course they were, it was being held in their own castle. He didn't have to hear from some pony else to know that they were going to be in attendance. He began to feel concern for Rarity knowing this. He hoped that the pressure wasn't going to get to her. She's come so far. He watched Rarity migrating all around the area, as if the party was one big ocean and she was a small fish riding the currents. Meeting other fish, bigger fish.

The party area was rectangular, surrounded with tall, be-flowered hedges. There were arches of flowers on the four sides of the rectangle serving as ways in and out of the area. The center of the area was open, allowing ponies to move around and socialize. A little off to the side, away from the main commotion, were round tables and chairs, large enough for groups of two and three. There were two long tables for food and drink. One long table with an incredible assortment of hors d'oeuvres and desserts that Applejack was sure to frown at if she ever saw any of it being served next to her apple stand. The other long table was for the fruits, glasses, dishes, napkins, and dining utensils that Spike could say outnumbered the types of fabric in the storage room back at the studio.

Spike entertained himself with imaginary scenes of Applejack being socially retarded at the party. He wasn't making fun of her. She was the friendliest pony he knew, and was the best at getting along with other ponies. But one has to consider what she would be like trying to live up to the standard of society Spike was in the middle of at this moment.

"What in tarnations?" Spike stood on chair in front of the assortment of utensils, imitating Applejack's accent, cross eyed, pretending to have a hard time deciding which fork was the right one to eat salad with. He wanted to laugh himself silly but held himself back. This wasn't the place to do it.

"I am bored." Spike smiled, talking to himself, dragging out the last word. He was looking for Brandon, but it didn't seem like he was around at the time. Maybe he was at the wrong garden party.

At that moment Rarity approached Spike with two other ponies as he was pouring himself a glass of punch. She was with an older mare wearing a ridiculous hat and a gentlecolt with an absurdly shaped mustache that was sure to make any average pony from Ponyville point and laugh.

"Is that the one?" The older mare asked her.

"Here he is," Rarity said. "Spike, can you pour us a couple of drinks please?"

"Alright, sure," Spike said, handing Rarity the cup that he was pouring for himself and began pouring a few more.

"How fascinating, a dragon that knows fashion?" The gentlecolt said.

Spike was tempted to laugh at his moustache. He knew that it was because he just didn't understand the meaning of it. Maybe it was because he didn't have enough money mashed up his trousers at the moment. Was it some sort of a fad here in the rich pony circle? Spike wondered why Rarity wasn't with anyone close to her own age. He looked around as he poured the punch to realize that all these ponies at the party were older, or older looking, than Rarity. Was she really the youngest one here? Maybe it was because she was the most beautiful, but that was just Spike's opinion.

"How in the world did you manage train him?" the older mare asked.

Spike's eye immediately began twitching as he missed the glass, drizzling his claws with the fruity purple liquid.

"He picked up very fast," Rarity replied. "Amazing, don't you agree?"

"He's quite charming. Where can I procure such a creature?" the gentlecolt with the moustache asked.

"You have to hatch him from an egg," Rarity replied. "But he doesn't belong to me. I borrowed him from a very good friend of mine."

Spike slowly turned and looked Rarity in the face with a disbelieving look. Rarity returned it with an unreadable smile. The same she had on since she entered the party area, the smile that appeared to be frozen on her face this whole time. Why was she talking like this to him? Was there something wrong?

"I used to own a very exotic lizard. It was capable of many tricks. However, yours simply takes the cake, Rarity dear," the older mare complimented.

"Why yes," Rarity replied, having nothing else to say.

"That dress of Rarity's, the dragon one, don't you remember dear?" the gentlecolt asked the older mare.

"Why yes I do," she replied.

"The scales on the head piece," he continued, "don't tell me Rarity, that you used actual scales from this dragon here?"

"Yes I did," she nodded.

"It must have been extremely difficult to obtain them," the mare said. "I'm very impressed. I understand that this is a mere baby dragon, but acquiring scales from any dragon is no easy task. Did it struggle?"

His sores began to prickle at the word "scales".

"Oh yes, it was difficult alright." Rarity laughed as the other ponies patted her on the back.

"Fascinating indeed, Rarity, you are a genius. I would have never thought. Dragon scales, Of course! I must have a closer look at this rare material," the gentlecolt said, reaching for Spike's face to feel him.

As soon as his hoof made contact with the surface of his scales, Spike shut his eyes in pain. All the points of missing scales seemed to ignite at one. The burning sensation lit up on every sore around his body. It was a sudden stab of pain, causing a brief lapse in consciousness.

When he came to, he opened his eyes. He was staring at the three ponies in front of him, all of whom looked absolutely astonished, staring. The gentlecolt had retracted his hoof and was covering it with his other, looking very distressed. Spike realized what he had done. The cup and ladle were floating around in the punch bowl. He had slapped away the gentlecolt's hoof. Telling from the pulsating feeling on the back of his hand, he had done so pretty hard.

"Why I never!" the gentlecolt grunted, his moustache flapping lividly. "It seems that you haven't trained him well enough!"

Rarity was at a loss for words. All she could do was keep her head down as she listened to the gentlecolt scolding her. Spike couldn't get himself to speak either. Even if he was able, he didn't want to. He wanted to see what Rarity was going to do.

"Apologize this instant, dragon!" the older mare demanded.

There was a heat building under his tuxedo. His sores were still burning, slowly smoldering under the cloth. He wanted Rarity to say something but Spike realized that she couldn't. She couldn't bring herself to talk back to these ponies. Spike didn't know how important they were here. Those values didn't apply to him, but they did to Rarity. Spike was outraged, but he was doing all he could to keep his temper under control. Rarity had backed off timidly behind the ponies who were looming over him, expecting an apology. For her sake, he should swallow his pride and just give them what they wanted.

"Well?" the gentlecolt said, angrily.

Spike opened his mouth, but before any sound was made he heard something that he wished he would never have had to hear.

"Apologize now Spike!" Rarity said, sternly.

Spike's lips were sealed immediately. He couldn't believe it.

"Rarity, if an animal misbehaves, you must discipline him," the older mare said to her. "Go on!"

Spike wanted Rarity to stop. All along he thought she was unable to stand up for him. He could have at least understood that if not played along. There was no hint, or even a wink to let him know that it was all an act. Was she serious? Was she this insensitive to begin with? Not Rarity, not her.

"If you won't apologize, I'll have to tell you to go back to your hotel room!" Rarity ordered, as the older mare nodded in approval.

She turned her head and the group left the punch area.

"I'm so sorry," Rarity said, turning to the gentlecolt. For a moment, Spike had thought she was talking to him.

"Don't worry about it dear," he replied, wiping his hoof with a handkerchief. "I'm quite fine."

"Be sure to keep it on a leash next time you take it out," the older mare added as they walked away.

"Of course." Rarity laughed.

Spike was left standing alone on the chair feeling defeated, humiliated, and most of all betrayed.

"She was on their side after all," the voice told him.

"I don't know anymore," Spike replied. "We're more than this."

He suddenly felt himself being lifted up. Brandon had placed him on his back.

"Hey buddy," Brandon said. Meeting him was a pleasant surprise, but now was just not the moment to enjoy it. Spike just had too many worries at the moment.

"Sorry for skipping out. These ponies can pour punch just fine on their own. They've got hooves too, am I right?" he said, leaving the party area to stroll down a quiet path in the garden. "I don't want to do more work than I have to."

"That just fine," Spike muttered.

"Hey, I saw what happened," Brandon said, sympathetically. "I don't want to tell ya 'I told ya so'. That's just how things are here, I'm sorry to say. I've seen nice ponies fall to peer pressure too. Shame, I know, but ya have to accept it. Ya haven't forgotten about that party I told about this morning, have ya? We've snuck a lot of food from the kitchen. You'd think the cooks would be friendly just because they do service too, but they think they're a step up from the other work ponies. I don't blame them. If I knew how to cook like they did, my head just might be fatter than my gut. Classy little gits they are, aren't they?"

"I guess so," Spike sighed, feeling horrible knowing that he was probably on the way low in this social pyramid. To Rarity he was probably the biggest stepping stone to reach the next level.

"Oh cheer up." Brandon smiled. "Get over it, that's what we're going to do tonight, you follow?"

Get over it? Was that even an option? To give up on Rarity, then what was the point of this trip? Everything he had worked for, everything that he had done until this moment was for her, for her respect, acceptance, and most of all, that kiss on his cheek had faded. Realistically thinking, a kiss was less valuable and easier to give than a ruby. He had worked for cheap. Spike needed Rarity, but the possibility that she didn't need Spike was now clearer than ever.

"So that's it?" the voice asked.

Spike didn't reply.

They reached a hidden entrance on the side of the castle. It was really hard to spot the wooden door, concealed behind all the green growing over it. They headed down a dark stairwell. Spike could see a light at the bottom from behind Brandon. This was the place all the work ponies went to enjoy their evenings during their nights of work. Inside was a chamber, an old one at that. The walls were stacked with old bricks that probably dated back to before any of Spike's friends were born. This must have been some old forgotten part of the castle. There were a few ponies still in uniform, gathered around a round table in the center of the room, playing cards. There was a separate table for the food. Spike could tell that that there used to be a whole lot, but the plates were only about half full. This private party had been going on for quite some time. It was hard to get into the party mindset. There was one ceiling light illuminating the room. It was adequately bright, but it cast eerie shadows on the circular walls around them.

"Aha, Mr. Flowers!" a brown work pony called Brandon. He looked tired and overworked. He mostly likely had a long day. "I almost thought you weren't going to make it. Is this your dragon friend?"

"I haven't missed a single party and you know it Ted." Brandon laughed.

"Good evening." Spike waved half-heartedly.

"Let's start by loosening that bow tie," Ted suggested. "Relax, this is where we come to be free of all cares. You don't need any of that fancy stuff here."

Spike took Ted's advice a little further and just took off the entire tux. His scales finally felt free. He had forgotten how much heat had gotten trapped under the clothes. He set his clothes down next to the half empty plates of food. He and Brandon joined the other ponies at the round table as one of them passed them drinks.

"What's the matter?" Ted asked Spike as the other ponies continued their card game around him. "You look under the weather."

"Love troubles," Brandon said.

The other ponies at the table took interest.

"Is that so?" Ted asked. "Well Spike, tell me the tale! Who is this babe?"

"You know, the one in the room next to his, the one who almost broke your back with that mother-load," Brandon said as Spike let him answer Ted's question in his place.

"That mare?" Ted asked, winching, the pain in his joints returning with the memories of the day Rarity came to the hotel. "Oh boy, this is going to be difficult. So what seems to be the problem?"

"He's helping that pony; Rarity's her name, make dresses for the fashion show," Brandon explained. "He likes her but she treats him like some underling. Back at the muppet party, you should have heard how they were talking about him, as if he was some common animal. You see, this idiot with a mustache tried to touch him, but he slapped that hoof away like a boss. A dragon has his rights, but of course he was going to get some scolding for that. I didn't expect his lady, Rarity, to be so harsh on him afterwards. She didn't even do anything to back him up. She actually helped in the roasting."

"I can see where she stands already." Ted nodded. "We understand Spike. We all need to be prepared when the hammer comes down."

"Spike's always had a thing for ponies." Brandon laughed. "Weird isn't it?"

"She's nothing but trouble." Ted laughed as well, swirling the contents of his cup. "It's best if you forget about her, move on. You know, you'd be killer with the dragon ladies eh? There are plenty of others, better ones out there."

Spike only felt worse at hearing advice telling him to move on. What did Ted know? What did any of them know about Rarity? Did they think it was that easy to just cut everything off and move on? Rarity might as well be keeping him alive at this point. He was hopelessly dependent. It irritated him to hear these ignorant ponies insult Rarity like that. She's unlike anypony they've ever dealt with. He didn't come here to hear these things and he didn't need to either.

"So that's it?" the voice repeated.

"I don't want to," Spike said. "I have to find a way to get back on her good side. I just have to tell her that I was sorry. If I keep helping her with things, maybe she'll come back around."

"You're still going to chase her?" Brandon asked. "But it's hopeless, however you see it."

"I'm sorry Spike." Ted sighed. "It doesn't look like any else is going to convince you to start making sense. I'm going to be very frank with you so don't take it too hard. It's best to let go when it's as difficult as it is. Don't build yourself up just to let it all go down in flames."

"As your friends, we're doing this for your own good," Brandon said.

"You can't be with that Rarity," Ted said. "You two just don't belong."

Spike swallowed a lump, but it went down like a rock. Scratching his insides until it made a painful splash in his innards.

"Yeah, first off, you're a dragon, and she's a pony," Brandon said.

"Not just a regular pony at that," Ted said. "She's way up there. She's got class. I'm sorry to say, you've helped build her up to it."

"Think about it, once she reaches success, stallion suitors will be lined up at her door," Brandon added. "If I were you, I'd just get out of the way, before she starts asking me to make dinner for the two of them."

Spike sat stone faced, looking down at the table, beat down by the harsh reality Ted and Brandon were exposing him to. They were right. There were better ponies, stallions for Rarity. Why in the world would she choose him instead? He saw which way she decided to go at the party. She didn't stand up for him when those ponies were talking down to him. He was nothing but an assistant, a pet. He didn't help Rarity. Rarity let Spike help her. Rarity didn't take him here, he followed. Why? Why would she be so misleading to him? Why wasn't he angry at her? Why did he want to continue to follow her?

"I love her," Spike said.

"I give up," Brandon said, getting himself another glass of punch.

"You're an idiot," Ted said bluntly.

"You haven't seen Rarity, spent time with her," Spike said, clutching the edge of the table. "You haven't heard her laugh, cry, or get angry. You don't know what it feels like when she touches you, physically or otherwise. What do you know? I felt it; I know there is something between us. It's an unmistakable truth."

"What do you know?" Ted asked.

"She has to love me back," Spike said, looking up.

"You're desperate." Ted shook his head. "Prove it, prove that she loves you. Not to me, not to anypony in all of Canterlot. Prove it to yourself. Go and tell her how you feel, see what happens. Now I want you out of here. I don't care where you go, I gave you my advice, but if you're so sure, do whatever the hay you want."

Spike pushed back the chair, and got off. The table was scratched where he had gripped it. He ran up the stairwell and flung the door open. The night air felt fresh compared to back in that chamber. He retraced his steps through the trees and grass back to the garden party. There was nopony around. The lanterns were off, leaving the area in darkness. Spike looked up and saw searchlights in the direction of the Canterlot Castle. The Fashion Show, it was starting. Everypony was at the castle. Rarity was going to be there.

"Hey you!" a guard called out from afar. There were two of them coming after him.

Spike tried to escape. He couldn't get caught here. He wanted to see Rarity. There was an overwhelming urgency to find out what he was to her. Before he could get far, he was unable to continue forward. The guards had caught him by the tail.

"A baby dragon huh?" a guard said. "You're not supposed to be here. C'mon, we'll take you back to the woods where you belong."

"Stop," Spike said, "I have to see Rarity. Let me see Rarity."

"Come on, let's get out of here." The guard ignored him, pulling him further back.

"Let... me... GO!" Spike yelled. His scales burned and he felt incredible pressure coursing through his veins. His eyes were forced shut by it. He didn't know what was happening. After what felt like being pressed in complete darkness for a few seconds, he came to.

He was breathing heavily, down on all fours on the grass. The guards were on the ground behind him stumbling to get back on their hooves.

"What was that? Who goes there?" he heard more guards from the woods. Spike didn't know what had just happened and he didn't care to find out. He continued on to the castle.

His scales were still hot, feeling as if they were falling off of his body as dried leaves did from the branches during the Running of the Leaves.

"She loves me," Spike breathed with every heave of his chest. Spike ran as fast as he could in the direction of the castle. He climbed over walls and fences, tackled through hedges and bushes, not caring how he was scratched or knocked during his desperate run.

"She loves you not," the voice said.

The castle came into view. There were plenty of ponies that were still wandering outside the castle's main audience room where the fashion show itself was to take place. The huge structure illuminated the entrance square with light from its enormous windows. Spike searched and searched and eventually spotted Rarity, who was heading up the stairs into the castle, she was still with the ponies from the party, and to make matters worse there were more ponies in the group that looked just like them. Spike's legs wouldn't move. He was scared of what it might mean to go ahead with what he was about to do. There was no other way. The guards were searching for him, to throw him out. he didn't want to face Rarity as he sulked in his hotel. He didn't want to find out if she was going to continue to scold him or apologize at what she said at the garden party. It's about time that he ended this silent game that was driving him insane.

He held his breath and made one last run to Rarity.

"Rarity!" Spike shouted at the foot of the stairs leading up to the big double doors into the castle. Rarity, who was just about halfway up, turned around, as well as her group of her associates. She looked absolutely surprised.

"Spike!" Rarity exclaimed, coming down the stairs. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you wearing your tuxedo? Why are you so sweaty? You look absolutely horrid!"

There he was, the lowest he's ever been or felt in his entire short life. He had nothing to show, nothing to give. It was him alone. This was assuring though, if she did return his feelings, it would be a genuine answer.

"Rarity, I love you!" Spike shouted.

The entire area went silent. All heads turned in their direction. A few gasps were heard, scattered around the square. Rarity looked back at Spike, her mouth open slightly. Spike's scale sores were hotter than ever.

"W-what are you talking about?" Rarity asked, struggling to speak over the shock of it all. She tried her best to speak quietly so nopony else heard any more of this conversation than they had to. Rarity's group returned to the base of the stairs to get involved.

"A dragon in love with a mare?" The familiar mustache laughed. "Preposterous!"

"Disgusting," a younger stallion spat.

"Since I first came to Ponyville I've always loved you," Spike said. "I just want you to know."

Rarity looked from left to right, trying to digest what was happening.

"Don't be silly everypony. He's trying to say he loves me as a... friend." Rarity said, clearly about to faint. "Spike wouldn't mean it any other way. Don't you Spike? Tell them!"

"No! I do mean it. I sincerely love you!" Spike denied, trying to speak straight despite the intense pain his sores were causing him. "Now tell me, do you love me back?"

Rarity stood still as if she believed that if she waited long enough, everything around her was going to pass away and disappear.

"Enough!" the mustached gentlecolt yelled. "Guards!"

Spiked turned, sure enough there was the royal guard, searching for him, asking other ponies where they might have seen him. They were all pointing in his direction.

"There he is!" the guards shouted.

They quickly surrounded Spike and restrained him by the arms. They kicked his knees into the ground. He was now kneeling in front of Rarity and the others. The guards forced his head downwards, giving him nothing to look at but the paved stones beneath him.

"Answer me," Spike said, "please."

"Silence!" the guard shouted.

Even in these crucial last moments, fate was not going to allow him to see Rarity's face.

"I can't Spike," Rarity replied in a monotone voice. "I can't be with you. You do understand, don't you?"

His scales stopped burning immediately, the pain was nonexistent. Everything stopped.

"I do." Spike smiled bitterly. He didn't even know what it was he was supposed to be understanding. He couldn't accept it. The maddening curiosity was stopped, but was replaced with something far worse.

"Take it away," the gentlecolt ordered.

Spike felt himself being dragged off. He was able to look up again, to see Rarity heading up the stairs with the other ponies. She looked back, but Spike's vision was too blurry to see her face. Rarity's words of denial settled in his insides like acid, melting away at him, slowly, but surely. What was left? What was his purpose? He planted his feet firmly into the ground.

"Hey!" the guard shouted. "Get moving!"

They tried their best to budge him, but he was unyielding. What was this new strength pouring forth from within? He looked up at the sky, but could not see the stars. His scales gave one final, fantastic, explosive burst of pain and heat.

"She loves me not," Spike whispered, before succumbing to sleep.

Spike felt cold. There was a strong wind blowing against him as he lay face down on a floor surface. He had regained consciousness, but did not move an inch of his body, not even to open his eyes, or to shiver at the cold wind sweeping through every surface of him. He was aching all over. Just what had happened before all this? It wasn't too long before he remembered and decided that he was to continue to lie on the spot until he eventually wasted away or somepony came and buried him somewhere.

A particularly strong gust of wind blew over him. A chill filled his insides. Something about it got his brain working once again. He strained to stand, he almost fell over a few times trying. Now that he was back on his feet, he began to feel light headed. He covered his forehead with his hand to try and ease the throbbing.

Spike realized that his vision had now returned to him. The first thing that he realized was that he was up very high. The clouds were just above his head. He felt as if the sky was sucking him in. The moon was gargantuan, feeling almost artificially amplified. Its craters were almost visible although it shed its bright yellow light as if it were a star itself. The stars were so close, Spike was tempted to reach out and touch them.

He raised his hand before looking down, realizing why it had been so windy. He was on an arch bridge connecting two towers together. Standing on the very edge of it as well. After yelling out in surprise, he fell over backwards and crawled away from to a safer spot. He feared being carried off by the wind. Keeping himself anchored with his claws, Spike crawled over to the ledge and looked down. He saw that most of the castle was beneath him. The expanse of towers and ramparts, turrets and balconies, the waterfalls on the mountain faces, he was never given this kind of view from such an angle of the castle. Not only the castle, but he could see Ponyville and the apple orchard from a bird's eye perspective. Such a breathtaking sight was enough to numb any pain he was feeling right now. He was so far away from everything.

Then he noticed the bridge under him. The royal guards were running across it, into the tower nearby. Where were they going?

"They're after you," the voice told him.

Then Spike began remember, beginning to feel a falling sensation even though he was holding on tight with his claws.

"How did I get here?" Spike asked the voice.

"You lost control," the voice said. "You got here on your own."

"Why here?" Spike asked.

"Perhaps you did it to escape the guards."

Spike tried with all his might to remember what had happened after he had blacked out. He remembered intense rage and despair, screaming, voices, yelling and fire, fire everywhere. He immediately stopped trying to remember, but he had already delved too far to return them back to being forgotten. He hadn't noticed before, but he saw blackish smoke, rising into the clear night sky. Coming from the direction of the castle entrance.

"What happened?" Spike asked, his eyes wide in horror, beginning to break into cold sweat, feeling extremely sick. "What have I done?"

He turned his head from the scene afar to the sound of clinking of armor. The guards were coming his way from the doorway of the tower on one end of the bridge. The guards saw Spike and began to cross, there were three of them.

"Be on your guard," the middle one commanded. "He breathes a mean fire."

The guards approached Spike, slowly. Holding their golden shields up to their snouts in case Spike breathed fire at them. However, Spike had no ability to do so. He forgot why the guards were here. He forgot about what has happened or will happen to him. There was only one thing he cared about.

"Rarity..." Spike said desperately to the guards, inching towards them. His eyes were downcast. he stared emptily into the ground in front of him. "Is she alright?"

The middle guard stared closely at him before lowering his shield. Even with a poor sense of smell, anypony could have picked up the scent of fear and panic in Spike, although everything about his outward appearance seemed to leave no trace of it. The other two followed his lead and also lowered their shields. The middle one walked up to Spike.

"Please," Spike began,"tell me if she's-"

Before he could finish, the guard slammed his shield into Spike's face with a deafening clang. Spike's limp body flew across the bridge, landed at the opposite tower behind him and rolled dangerously close to the edge. The clang from the shield still echoed in his head. It was noisy, disorienting. His face was in a whole other level of pain. His head hung over the edge as he opened his teary eyes allowing him to see his fate. The drop seemed bottomless. Only a few wisps of cloud and the mist from the waterfalls way below. He saw a drop of his blood fall into the depths. He shut his eyes, it hurt to use them.

"How long do you think you will fall before you finally shatter?" the voice asked from the darkness. It was louder, clearer than it had ever been.

"I already have," Spike whispered to himself.

"He's harmless," the middle guard said.

"A tough little dragon isn't he?" another taunted. "We've got a nice cold spot for you in the dungeon. Breathe all the fire you want. It's not going to get any warmer."

He was hit too hard. He felt as if he was in a dream, drifting in and out of consciousness.

"There is a solution to everything." the voice said over the chat of the guards.

"Everything? No there isn't. It's over, I can't continue. Not after everything that I've done."

"You don't believe that," the voice said.

He saw a blue light before his eyes. He hesitated before reaching for it and felt glass. It was a round flask, containing glowing blue potion.

"What is it going to be?" the voice asked.

Spike gripped the neck of the flask. He thought he'd finally lost it when he came to and was actually holding a flask of glowing blue potion in his trembling hand. What was this? He stood up and held the potion to the moonlight.

"He's got something!" one of the guards yelled. All three immediately raised their shields.

"It's a potion!" another yelled. "Where did it come from?"

"Back off!" the middle pony ordered the other guards, taking large steps back.

"Put it down!" the guard ordered Spike with enough force to let the flask slip slightly out of his grip. Spike gripped the neck of the flask even tighter. It was real. It was really in his hand.

Spike didn't see it, how any potion, brew, or liquid could solve his problems. Was it really that easy? There had to be a cost. Spike just knew it. There was no time to think. Spike uncorked the flask and gulped it down. He stood for a few moments, turning his tongue in his mouth. He could taste no traces of the potion, only blood from being hit with the shield in mid sentence. The flask had also disappeared. The guards stared at him, blinking as if they'd just seen a hallucination. Spike also began to doubt if the potion had really existed.

It felt like after being hit square in the head with a mallet. There was no pain, but this sudden feeling of dizziness was on a completely different level, unlike anything he had experienced before. He began to lose control of his body. It became even harder to keep steady on his feet. He tipped left and right, forwards and then finally...

He barely heard the guards yelling. The wind whistled through his ears drowning out any other sound. Spike knew that he had fallen off the tower. He couldn't feel a thing besides his aching head and scales. It was hard to tell if he was falling at all, or in which direction, but he knew he was. The moon and stars were shrinking in front of him and the rock faces quickly sped past. He didn't see how any of this was going to work. The jagged rocks at the bottom of the waterfall were probably waiting for him down below. Whether this was the end, or the end of his problems he wasn't sure.

At that moment Spike saw through his disoriented vision, something with great white wings and flowing mane flying towards him. It's heavenly wingspan blocked out the light of the moon, casting a shadow over him. He couldn't see exactly what it was, for he could see nothing more than a large silhouette.

"I can't. I can't be with you. You do understand, don't you?" Spike heard the wind whisper.

"Rarity," Spike mouthed, using the last of his strength to will his arm to reach out to the great white creature in front of him.

Spike lost consciousness right after he realized that Rarity couldn't fly, and that she definitely wouldn't risk herself to save him either.

Shh! Shh...

It's oh so quiet.

Shh! Shh...

It's oh so still.

Shh! Shh...

You're all alone.

Shh! Shh...

And so peaceful until...

You fall in love!

Zing boom!

The sky up above!

Zing boom!

Is caving in!

Wham bam!

You've never been so nuts about a guy!

You want to laugh, you want to cry!

You cross your heart and hope to die!

It's over and then.

Shh! Shh...

It's nice and quiet.

Shh! Shh...

But soon again

Shh! Shh...

Starts another big riot...

You blow a fuse!

Zing boom!

The devil cuts loose!

Wham bam!

So what's the use!

Wham bam!

Of falling in love...?

Shh! Shh...

It's oh so quiet.

Shh! Shh...

It's oh so still.

Shh! Shh...

You're all alone.

Shh! Shh...

And so peaceful until...

You ring the bell!

Bim bam!

You shout and you yell!

Oh oh!

You broke the spell!

Gee this is swell!

You almost have a fit!

This guy is George and I got hit!

There's no mistake!

Cause this is it!

Till it's over and then.

Shh! Shh...

It's nice and quiet.

Shh! Shh...

But soon again.

Shh! Shh...

Starts another big riot...

You blow a fuse!

Zing boom!

The devil cuts loose!

Wham bam!

So what's the use!

Wham bam!

Of falling in love...?