Tale of the Stars

They who dream by day

Are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.

Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep...

Rays of vibrant sunlight filtered into the small room through the dark ash gray blinds, creating lines of golden yellow and topaz orange lines against anything that they touched. Flecks of amethyst dots sparkled around the room while the amethyst drake shifted in his bed. He groaned as the shining rays of light from his mother's sun brushed against his closed eye lids, threatening to pry them open.

Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep...

Ears flicked, twitched even to the constant barrage of beeping coming from beside the bed where he lie. His eyes remained closed while his ears seemed to be looking for a certain sound aside from the beeping of the machine. Further away, he could faintly make out the sounds of voices, high and soft to all but a trained ear. Listening intently, he could just barely make out what it was they were saying. "Rain, we can't just sit here with her any longer. We need ta do somethin'."

"Applejack, what could we do that the doctors could not. I don't see a horn on your head, or a doctor's pin over your white coat, which you left at home next to your degree in medical science."

"That's not funny Rain. Ya know me, ya now ah can't just sit by idly while I see her and his mother crying for him all the time. Ah feel weak." Soft sobbing could be heard as the first voice seemed to get closer to the second. "Ah feel so helpless, like what Rare felt back in the classroom."

"Shh. There, there. It's going to be okay. Spike is a tough dragon, he is going to pull through, I know it." The second voice sighed, "If, it makes you feel any better... We could always get them something to eat from that little shop down the street. Maybe get the fixins' for a couple of sandwiches."

"Sure, ah reckon we could do that." The near silent thud of footsteps marched away, leaving an echoing trail behind them that rang in the drake's sensitive ears.

A heavy weight was resting upon his slow rising and falling chest, making it slightly harder to breath. Soft snoring drifted into his ears, coming from the weight on his chest, with another more louder snore coming from the end of his bed. Prying his eyes open slightly, he stifled a groan as nothing but a fuzzy haze was all that he could see.

Wafting into his nose was the strong scent of blood, which seemed to be encased of some type of clear tube from the way that is smelled. Bandages could also be told away from the mixture of scents that assailed his nose. Freshly made butter, with a mixture of honey and morning dew was one of the prominent scents, and it was one that he always recognized anywhere. "Momma?" Brushing beside of his mother's welcoming scent was that of vanilla, mixed with ground cherries, a scent that he had come to love over the years. "Rawty?"

The weight atop his chest shifted, though it still remained in place. In almost complete unison, so much so that he thought it was planned, he heard two feminine voices ask, "Spike? A-Are you awake?"

Forcing his eyes open, the young amethyst drake still felt his vision cloudy, but he could still make our various shapes. Sitting at the end of his bed, in a small little chair that he could not make out very well, was his mother. Garbed in her regal white sundress that she always wore during the Summer Sun celebration, he could make out a small smile on her features as she looked at her oldest son. "Spikey..." She could say no more as tears started to fall down from her eyes, prompting her to rise from the bed and pull the injured drake into a warming hug.

Spike could not hold back his own tears as he embraced his mother, neither one aware of the mare who was just now stirring to full wakefulness. She peppered his cheeks with her kisses, her tears sometimes sliding against his own as their cheeks touched. "Don't you ever scare me like that again."

Though she was trying to address her son in a normal matter, she could not help but feel a pain of guilt in her heart. She sometimes blamed herself for sending him away to live with his adoptive sister and older brother. At times like these, where he was put into the hospital by the very ponies that she loved, made her disgusted with them, but it also made her realize how much she missed her sons. For the past few years she had neglected to ever see them aside from the rare times where they would come visit during the Summer Sun celebration or during the times where the drake was in and out of the hospital.

Her heart felt like it was going to shatter into tiny pieces as she thought about the kind of mother she had been. It made her think of her promise that she made the day that their father had been killed, and the promise that he made her say whenever he visited her in her dreams. I promise to love both of our children with all of my heart, and I will always be there for them.

The dam burst, the floodgates opened, and Princess Celestia, ruler over ponies during the day, mother to both Spike and Ryder Guâlhoran, broke down. Tears cascaded down her cheeks like a roaring river during the waking breath of an intense tropical storm. Pulling her son in even closer, mashing her cheek against his own, she could not help but whimper. "I am so sorry Spike. I am a terrible mother. I sent you away to live here, never once thinking about how you might feel. I have never been there for you when you really needed me. I am the worst mother in the world, and for that, I am sorry..."

Princess Celestia was silenced by a single talon placed against her lips, along with her son burying his head in the crook of her neck. In almost a whisper, he said, "No mom. Never say that. You are the best mother in the world. You may not have seen it, but when I always needed you the most, you were there. I love you mom. I always have, and I always will." Pulling back slightly, he placed a kiss on her cheek, "Ryder and I have never ever wanted anything from you, other than your love." He grew silent as he pondered what he wanted to say next. Then, with a grin, he said, "We just wish that you would visit more."

Neither Celestia nor her son could hold back their laughter. Both tried to wipe away their tears while letting their laughter echo down the hall, unaware of the attention that it suddenly drew.

Celestia gave Spike a small peck on his forehead before she stepped back. "You know, Ryder once told me that you thought you didn't have any friends." A sly grin came across her lips as she glanced towards the door, giving it a stern look before Spike once more stole her attention. "I have to ask, have you really looked around recently?"

By some unspoken agreement, Ryder emerged from behind Princess Celestia. He was garbed in his usual blue jeans, with his earthy green t-shirt, a single golden yellow lightening bolt over the heart, and his usual smirk that he whore when he saw his brother in the bed at the hospital. "Guess you never really were one to look at the big picture where you Spike. Just a simple notion ya got from Twilight. Can't say I blame her though, she is a good teacher."

Twilight emerged from the other side of Celestia, garbed in her usual knee-high dress of navy blue with her pink t-shirt, stars aligning the bottom. Her smile was warm, caring, just like his mother's. "Oh Spike." He could see a few tears starting to form in the corner of her eyes, making them sparkle like little stars in his Aunt Luna's night sky. "Look around you Spike, you have friends."

Spike did as she had said, and looked around. Shocked could not even begin to describe what Spike was feeling. Standing in the doorway to the hospital room was Twilight's older brother, Shining Armor, clad in his Canterlot Royal Guard Armor. Beside of him was Rainbow Dash, clothed in her usual sports attire of sweat pants and a tight fitting track shirt. Next was Fluttershy, her pink curls covering her shy face as she hid behind Pinkie Pie, the party animal with of course, frosting all over her face.

In front of the older ponies where the younger fillies; Applebloom, who looked truly happy to see that Spike was alright, Sweetie Belle, who was holding hands with her girlfriend Cobalt beside of her, and Scootaloo, who looked bored and disgusted with all of the sentimental fluff that was going around.

Standing tall behind of Shining Armor was Spike's newest friend in school, the one that he had made over the summer, Kalin Rose, a drake with topaz orange scales and black streaks throughout, making him look like a tiger, with the most respectable amethyst purple eyes that he had ever seen.

Spike took another glance around before he looked at his mother with a quizzical eye, "Where's Rarity?" It hurt him to see that Rarity was not among his friends, as he had thought that she was his best friend in the whole world.

"Spikey-Wikey." His eyes went wide as he heard her voice, making a bead of sweat roll down the back of his neck. Feeling the weight atop his chest shift again, he was blinded by her face. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she placed a kiss against his cheek, making them both blush heavily. Worry quickly set in however as he saw how pale she was.

"Rarity, what's the matter?"
"It's nothing Spikey, just a little tired is all. You are a thirsty drake." She attempted to giggle, but only ended up coughing instead.

Spike looked over her body. No cuts or bruises to speak of, and when she he reached a hand up to feel her forehead, she was just fine. When he pulled out her arms to examine them again, he held his breath. Sticking out of her left arm was a single clear tube, which was busy pumping out her blood. Where it was attached to the skin, he could see a timer, which set the tube to draw blood every hour. Following the tube around, he was horrified when he found that the blood was being pumped into, him. Straight down his throat.

Celestia could see the look of worry on her son's face, and the spark in his eyes that told her he was going to do something reckless. "Spike, don't. You'll end up hurting you both." When he glanced at her, she could not help but let out a deep, heavy sigh. "She refused to let anyone else give you blood. She even tried to fight the doctor when he told her that he was going to remove the tube from her arm." Both Spike and Princess Celestia shared a light laugh at the image of Rarity fighting the doctor. "She really is a great friend Spike. I am glad you two met."

Princess Celestia knew that Spike was in love with Rarity. It was always evident, and all she had to do was pick up on the signs. From the way that he constantly talked about her, to the way that he seemed to always drift away when they talked, to the way that he never seemed to be anywhere without her. At first, she had thought that he was chasing a dying dream, but over time, she realized that what he found was so much more. Every time that Spike had been sent to the hospital, even now, Rarity was there, ready to help him.

"I still remember that day that you two met." Celestia said. "That day, I saw the spark in your eyes that told me that she was going to be one of your best friends. It... it was the greatest sight that my eyes had seen, aside from the first day that I held you, and the day I held your brother."

Thunder clapped overhead. Lightening flashed between the clouds, while rain fell in a torrential downpour to the world below. It pattered steadily against the stained glass windows of Princess Celestia's throne room, leaving wet streaks as the water droplets slithered down the window. Beside her was her sister, Princess Luna, ruler of the night in Equestria. "My sister, was this planned?"

"I am afraid so Luna. The ponies around here need the rain so that their plants can grow. But I feel there is something else out there this storm. Something bigger is around the corner, and I am afraid of what it is." Her gaze was intent on a single painting that hung between two glass window paintings. It depicted Princess Celestia, wearing her golden armor, while standing beside of her was her husband, a dragon with amethyst purple scales and a silver underbelly, garbed in his blood stained silver armor. Neither one looked pleased, but rather at peace. "The day the war ended, the day that he died." A tear fell from her eye, going unnoticed by the midnight alicorn beside of her.

"I fear for our subjects too sister."

"No Luna, I fear for them, but they are not my biggest worry. I fear for my sons, I fear that this 'bigger thing' is meant for them. I can't explain it, but I just know it." 'Something that he had said last night. Something he was warning me about.'

"Would it ease your mind sister, if I watched them for the day? Spike and Ryder would be safe with me."

"As they would be with me. No, I think that it's time for a change of scenery..."

Spike stared out the window of his room, watching the rain drops streak down the window. His talon followed the trail, connecting them together in some sort of game that only he knew the rules to. Behind him, his younger brother Ryder was playing with his toys. Gurgling noises escaped him as he made one of his soldier toys die, having been shot in the chest. "Go... on... without... me..."

"NO! Captain! Die changelings!" Spike turned to watch as his younger brother had the soldiers charge head on into the opposing army. With a battle cry, the two armies merged, but instead of a glorious battle, there was only a massacre. Many of the ponies were wiped out by the overwhelming forces of the changelings, who were better equipped and better trained than the ponies. "I... Will... Not... Die!" With one last attempt at victory, the new commander took a grenade from his chest and took out the head queen, laughing when most of her troops converged on them.

Ryder laughed evilly as his soldier blew up, taking the queen and most of her forces with him. "Fare thee well Lieutenant Taylor. Fare thee well." Ryder rose from where he was playing to give the dead soldier a proper military burial. Raising his hand to his head, he stared straight forward before he completed the salute with a down sweep of his hand. "You will be missed Lieutenant."

"Ryder, what are you doing?"

"What? Was giving him a proper salute to his death."

"Ryder..." Spike could not finish. He began to laugh so hard that his sides hurt, tears pouring down his face as he stared at his brother's face. "That... that was p...priceless." Ryder felt a few tears come into his eyes, feeling more embarrassed than anything else.

"W-What d-d-do you m-mean?" Sensing the hesitation with which he spoke, Spike stopped laughing as he looked over at his brother.

"I'm sorry. It was just the way that you were standing and the face you made." He chuckled a little longer before he calmed down enough to actually speak without having to stop. "I'm sorry." When he saw that Ryder was actually looking more hurt, he quickly ran over to him and brought him into a hug. "I'm sorry Ryder, I didn't mean to hurt you."

Ryder remained in his brother's embrace, never letting go, and never wanting to. Slipping his hands beneath his brother's arms, he carefully placed his fingers against his brother's spines and began to tickle him. The drake fell back onto the floor, laughing as his brother fell with him and continued his assault. "This is what you get for making fun of me." They both laughed uncontrollably as Spike was being tickled, trying his hardest to get his brother's weak spot.

Neither one was aware of their mother's presence at the door, not their aunt's. Both sisters simply stared and watched the two playing, having fun. "You think they really want to go Luna?" Celestia whispered.

"Yes, I do." With a smile on her lips, Celestia knocked on the open door, garnering the attention of her two boys. Upon seeing her, Ryder got up off of his brother and ran to her, embracing her in a hug. When Spike picked himself up off the floor, he did the same.

When they broke apart, she looked at each one in turn. "Alright boys, today I thought that maybe we could go somewhere else. So, how does it sound going to your sister's. I think Twilight would love to see you both. It's been what, a year since you last saw each other?"

"Yes momma! Please oh please!" They answered in unison.

"Well then, I suggest you get changed up, cleaned up, and ready to go in ten minutes." She winked at them both before leaving with Luna. Spike looked to Ryder, and they both grinned at the thought of seeing their sister Twilight.

"Seeing your happy faces brought a certain, warmth to my heart that day. You see Spike, before then, Twilight was the only real friend that you had. But that day, you got to meet Shining Armor, Rarity, and of course, Rainbow Dash." At the mention of her name, the cyan mare stepped forward to stand next to Ryder, who gave her a passionate peck on the cheek.

"Who wouldn't want to meet Spike. He is like, the coolest dude ever. Well, besides Ryder." Her voice was raspy, more masculine that say that of Rarity's. The mare eyed Ryder with a fancy sort of look that no one else but him would ever receive, or had ever seen. "Meeting you both, was the greatest thing that could ever happen to me, or any of us." She said nothing more as she placed a soft, warming kiss against Ryder's lips.

Celestia had to hold back a sigh as she saw Spike's expression. There was no denying that he longed for what his brother had. He wanted that special somepony in his life, he wanted that mare or dragoness that he could call his own, that he could hold in his arms. Often, Celestia had heard from Twilight that Spike sometimes thought that it was unfair that Ryder had been in so many relationships before he got with Rainbow Dash.

Where as Spike had only been with four mares in his life, one of which only wanted to be with him because he was a dragon! Celestia had to stifle a giggle when she remembered the day that her son had finally figured out that the only thing that the mare wanted from him was his rather 'private' region. Nonetheless, she knew how her son felt. It took nigh on seventeen years and over thirty stallions before she found the one that she wanted.

In a whisper, Celestia said, "Reach out to him Rarity, make him see that he is not alone. Show him how much you love him."

Twilight kept her head buried in the book that she was reading as her best friend Rarity paced about the room, stopping every so often to jot a thought down on a peace of paper. Without looking up, she said, "Rarity, you have been walking in literal circles for two hours now. What's got you all bothered?"

With a frustrated groan, said filly threw her pencil and paper to the floor. "Oh, I hate this. This will never do. Here I am trying to design something fancy, and what do I get, filth. I bet Princess Celestia herself wouldn't even look in the direction of any pony wearing this, let alone try it on."

Using her magic, Twilight levitated the parchment over to her eyes, where she quickly began to scan the sketch that Rarity had drawn. "Rarity, what's wrong with this dress. It looks absolutely gorgeous. I'm sure Princess Celestia would like this. The accents match perfectly with the detail and everything."

Before Rarity could make a retort, the sound of the phone ringing downstairs echoed throughout the house. Neither Twilight nor Rarity said a word as they heard Twilight's mother pick up the phone. "Yes, this is Mrs. Sparkle speaking."

Twilight listened intently to every word that her mother said, while still reading her book and retaining all of the information that it had to offer. "Rarity," Twilight spoke in a whisper so that she could still hear her mother, "I don't see what you are getting at. I really don't. Besides, why are you so worked up anyway?"

"Princess Celestia! I mean, Mrs. Guâlhoran, how are you today..." Neither Twilight nor Rarity said a word as they listened to Mrs. Sparkle. "I'm fine... Yes the weather has been terrible here too... Hmm... Why yes, she's upstairs reading that book you sent her for her birthday last year. I swear, that's the hundredth time she has read it."

Twilight could not help but blush at her mother's words. 'Not my fault the book is so good.'

"... Yes... Of course! Twilight would love to see them... We have more than enough room... Oh it's no problem, we were just going to order pizzas anyway... We can sit in the living room, put in a movie or something for the kids while we talk... Yes that would be fine, I think the kids would love that idea... Well, her friend Rarity is over, and we are expecting Rainbow Dash a little later... Okay, alright. See you in an hour then dear... Bye."

"Twilight Sparkle!"

Twilight gulped as she heard her name called, wondering what it was that she had done wrong. The tone that her mother used was one that she used either when she was in trouble, or something important came up. "Coming mom." Rarity watched in silent awe as Twilight bolted down the stairs faster than she thought possible. 'Wonder what that was about?'

The silvery-white filly could heard the near silent thud of Twilight's footsteps as they descended the stairs. Muffled speech was heard through the wall and door that had been left ajar, though it was too low for Rarity to hear anything. Bored, she looked around the room, realizing for the first time in two years, how cozy Twilight's room was.

Oak made walls, with a single skylight above where her bed was, stretching across one side of the room, reinforced with thick glass. There was a window to the left of where her bed was, almost reaching the roof from where it started at the foot of her bed. To the right was a sliding glass door, which led out onto a slightly damp balcony that stretched around Twilight's room to the window. A dresser was beside of a door that was on the left wall, which led into the bathroom.

Seeing the bookshelf that was directly across from her best friend's bed as well as beside of the ajar door, she grew curious. Striding over, she was surprised as to the volume of books that her best friend had. She knew that the unicorn loved to read, but she never thought that is was going to be like this. Over ten rows of books were filled to the brim, with each row able to hold at least fifty books each.

One stuck out the most to her however. It was titled 'Together With the Sun', by an unnamed writer. Looking closely at it, she could not help but feel like it spoke to her. Taking it from the bookshelf, she opened it to see if she could find the writer, with no luck. Although what she did see, changed her forever. A single three-line poem was written inside. It read, 'Gone was the past, With the future ahead of us, But the present escapes us'. For some odd reason, that poem stuck in her mind, yet at the same time it seemed to strike a chord in her heart.

A shriek was heard from downstairs, followed by a quick "Shh, you'll ruin the surprise for her..." Quickly, Rarity slid the book back into the shelf.

"Sorry mom..."

'Surprise? What are they talking about? It's not my birthday, is it?' Rarity was perplexed as to what had caused Twilight to shriek like that, and what this so called "surprise" was. 'Guess I'll just have to wait and see what it is.' Sighing, she resumed skimming through the books.

Rarity chanced a glance up at the drake that she had fallen in love with. Though she would never admit it to anyone but herself, she was scared. She was terrified about what the drake would think of her if she said anything. He was her best friend, and falling in love was something that was not supposed to happen, right?

Spike and myself. A light shudder rocked her body as she felt the giddiness of how her words sounded. To be called his, to be held in his arms, to fly with him in the skies above, To be his world. The thought was enough to make her want to say something, but then her throat stalled as she realized why she had so often held her tongue. Letting her eyes drift down, she rested her head against his chest as she thought over her feelings for him, wondering if they were true, or is they were some fallacy that she had imagined all of these years.

At times it seemed that she was like a child, and had found a poster of a really cute guy. This guy was perfect in every way. Everyday she would want to be with him, but deep down, she knew that it was never going to happen. He was much too old for her, and in real life, he probably did not look that way.

Other times, when she was alone with him, when they would talk openly with each other, she felt as if she was with him. Sometimes, she felt as if they were already together. After all of the suitors that had tried to woo her, all of the colts that found her attractive, and never wanted to take no for an answer, she had almost given up on love. But just as she was here for him, he had always been there for her. When she needed to be comforted, when she needed a shoulder to cry on, when she needed someone to shout at, he was there.

Rain pounded down against the Sparkle home. Wind howling outside as it blew fiercely against the log home, trying in vein to whisk it away. The home shook, almost as if it was afraid of what nature was going to do to it. Chipping could be heard as the rocks from the forest floor surrounding them or from their driveway slammed into the windows. Both Twilight and Rarity were huddled together on the former's bed, clinging close to each other as the storm raged on outside.

Just as the wind seemed to be gathering in strength, almost to the point where a tornado was going to touchdown, it magically vanished. The rain lowered to a slow drizzle, while only the faintest of breezes could be felt blowing.

Fearing the worst, Twilight rose from the bed. Leaving the safety of her friends arms and walking over to the window, she could not help but smile as she watched a single flash of rainbow colored light streak across the sky, 'Thanks Rainbow.' Despite herself, the filly could not contain her giggle fit as she turned to look at Rarity, seeing the perplexed look on her face, "Guess Rainbow Dash wanted us to go outside tonight. Might be a nice night to stargaze."

"In this dreadful weather? Are you crazy? I'll ruin my mane." She whined on in protest. "I just had my fur cleaned, my nails done..."

Twilight giggled at her friends antics, finding it rather amusing that anypony could be so caught up in their appearance like Rarity was. "Oh come on Rarity, it'll be fun." Twilight refused to yield her grin, while Rarity flashed her a look of 'Really?'. Both were steadily silent as they stared each other down, both starting to laugh in the end.

Rarity looked away from Twilight and back towards the bookcase while continuing to laugh. For some odd reason, there was a voice in the back of her mind that was telling her to take the book. There was something special about it, but she could not put her horn on what it was. All thoughts were flushed from her mind however as she froze, hearing the door bell ringing downstairs.

Heavy footsteps could be heard as Shining Armor shuffled across the living room to the front door. "I got it ma." He called as he grasped the door handle. Swinging it open, he could not help but smile as he said, "Welcome Princess Celestia. Please, come in." Stepping aside, he made way for the five guests as they passed the threshold into the Sparkle family home.

Twilight had made her way down the stairs by now, stopping at the bottom step to sit and listen to her older brother talking with the Princess. Beside her was Rarity, who was awestruck to the point that her jaw was quite literally touching the floor. She never would have guessed that Twilight's family knew the Princess' on a more personal level.

Leaning around the banister at the bottom of the stair case, Rarity watched in amazement as the five were introduced. "Shining Armor, so good to see you again." The young colt was garbed in his navy blue running shorts and light blue t-shirt.

Princess Celestia wore a flowing white dress with gold trimming, a pair of sunbathed golden yellow shoulder guards at the top. Celestia patted the young colt's head, "The same cute little colt that could barely walk when I first saw him." To this, the turquoisish white colt blushed, his cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson red.

"This is my sister, Luna." Princess Luna was garbed in a flowing midnight blue dress, with two amethyst purple shoulder guards at the top. Around her neck was a small locket that was silver in color, a small navy blue heart around her throat. Luna nodded to the colt, smiling when he returned the gesture.

"Behind her is Luna's daughter..."

"Cadance." Cadence's voice was sweet, caring, loving. It sounded as soothing as listening to a light rainfall. The pale, light greyish cerise alicorn was attired in blue jeans, and a pink t-shirt with a big sapphire blue heart in the center, surrounding it was a line of gold that formed a sort of protective layer over the heart. When she smiled, her braces seemed to catch the light, making them shine slightly.

Shining Armor could not help but blush as he realized how cute she was. Seeing this, Princess Celestia grew a warm smile. "Behind me are my two boys, Spike and Ryder."

Spike was a little drake; amethyst purple scales covered his body, with emerald green spikes running down his back, not at all sharp however. He wore a pair of blue jeans with a black t-shirt, the bottom tucked in. His emerald eyes looked out from behind his mother's legs with both nervousness, and worry.

Ryder was dressed a little more classy. He was a young colt with an emerald green coat, black stripes seeming to overlap at certain places. He was garbed in a stunning pair of black dress pants and a long sleeved dark amethyst dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. When he smiled, Rarity was a little taken aback when she saw that instead of the flat like teeth that most ponies had, his teeth were razor sharp, like a dragon's.

Shining Armor placed a hand out for the two young ones to either shake or slap. For Ryder, he opted to give the colt a high-five, while Spike weakly shook his hand. Seeing how afraid that Spike was being, Shining Armor knelt down a little to that he was level with the drake. "What's wrong Spike? Twilight says you come over here all the time."

Shyly, he said, "I-It's... I-It's..." He tugged on his mother's dress lightly. When she leaned down to hear what he had to say, she had to stifle a light laugh.

Rising back up, the Princess cleared her throat before she said, "I am sorry Shining Armor. Spikey is a little nervous though because of... well you and uh... the young filly over there on the stairs beside of Twilight."

Shining turned his head to see his younger sister and Rarity sitting silent on the bottom of the stairs, watching everything that was going on. Looking back at the drake, he said, "That white filly over there is Rarity. She is Twilly's best friend."

"R-R-Raw-w-wty." Silence encompassed the room as Spike looked over at the filly, wondering about her. "Does... does she like me? Do you like me Shining Awmor?" The colt could see tears starting to form in the young drake's eyes, with his younger brother whispering something in his ear.

"Of course I like ya Spike. Ya never did anything wrong to my sister, and all I hear from her is how lucky she is to have a friend like you. Or In this case, brother." He smiled when he saw the drake wipe away his tears, emerging a little bit from behind his mother's legs. "Would you like to meet Rarity?" With his hand extended, Shining Armor waited.

Hesitantly, Spike grasped Shining Armor's hand. Together, they walked over to the staircase while Celestia just watched with her sister and niece. "It's nice to see that Spike is at least willing to see if she likes him."

"Yes it is Tia. Just, what exactly are you playing at here? I have never known Spike to be this shy around anyone."

"Well Luna, that because you don't know my son as well as you do your daughter. You only ever see him playing with other kids, you are never there when he meets them. Most of the time he fears that they hate him because, well you know, he is a dragon, that whole ugly war we went through. He is afraid that because of what he is, nopony will see who he is."

"Ahh. Well then, it's nice to see him emerging from his self contained shell. Shall we migrate to the living room to await our host?"

Celestia only nodded as she continued to watch her son over on the stairs, talking with Twilight, before extending a hand out to Rarity. "Ryder, why don't you and Cadance go play with the other kids." Neither one said anything, but simply made their way over towards them.

Spike looked back towards the door to see that his friends were no longer there, most of them having to leave after finding out that he was alright. His mother still remained sitting in the seat beside of him, with Twilight on the other side, and Rarity lying with him in the bed. Not once had she spoken up during their trip down memory lane, and when he looked at her, he could see that she was staring intently at some small speck of fuzz on the blanket he was covered in.

"Rarity?" She remained unmoved, lost deep within her mind as she searched her feelings. "Rarity, are you alright?" With a start, her eyes drifted up towards the drake. When his eyes landed on her own, he could see an intense internal conflict. "I was worried about you. You seem... off today. Something on your mind?"

"Huh?" It took a moment for her mind to register his words. "Oh, no, I'm fine. Just, thinking about some things darling."

He seemed to accept that answer. "Alright then. Remember, if you ever need an ear, I am always here." Smiling back at him, she resumed staring at the fuzzy speck as she once more delved into her mind.

"Spike! Pizza's here!"

All six kids grinned at each other before in unison they shouted, "Race you to the bottom." It was a mad dash as five young colts and fillies took off, not a one seeing the drake.

Spike emerged from the kitchen just as Shining Armor reached the bottom of the stairs, staring dumbfounded at the drake. "But... You... The room..."

With a sly grin, he said, "Trade secret." With the other five in tow, the young drake led the way to the living room, where there were at least a dozen boxes of pizza. Ranging from a supreme to simply cheese, any kind that the kids wanted, was there. Before the kids could dive in, Princess Celestia had something that she wanted to say.

Standing before the six children, she cleared her throat, "I want to thank the three of you, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Shining Armor, for making my son feel accepted. It means more to me than you will ever know. Now, before we eat, I must warn you that, being a pony myself, seeing or even thinking about eating meat is revolting. Unfortunately, my sons cannot just eat leaves or gems, they need meat to survive. So here I ask, is there anyone who will be sick at the sight of meat being eaten in front of them?"

When none of them moved, the Princess looked towards her son, waving them on. "Spike, please do show some respect and remember your manners."

"Yes momma." Giving her a peck on the cheek, the drake made his way over towards his brother, where they found a pizza with which Celestia had taken the liberty of adding thinly sliced chunks of what they liked to call steak. Where she got it from they never knew, but they always enjoyed it when she did. Barely being cooked, almost to the point that it was 'still moving', they dove in. Juices ran down their chins as they bit into the meat, neither one realizing that a silvery-white filly had wanted to sit with them.

Tears tainted her eyes as she watched the two boys eagerly devour the meat that was on the pizza, seeing small trails of red grease running down their throats and staining their shirts. 'That could be me,' she thought. 'They could very well be eating me.' Dropping her plate to the ground, the filly looked to the floor as tears began to fall from her eyes, dropping to the carpet and leaving dark spots where they began to pool. "Please, please, please..." She kept repeating in a whisper as she sank down to the floor, curling up into a ball as she quietly sobbed.

Spike, with his heightened sense of hearing, could make out the quite sobs from the filly curled up in the middle of the living room floor. Dropping his own pizza, the drake made his way cautiously over to the filly, wondering what it was that had her in this state. Reaching out towards her, he placed a hand on her shoulder, "What's the matter?"

Hearing his voice, the mare looked up, but jumped when she saw that it was the drake. Uncurling from her ball, she started to edge away as she said, "Get away from me. D-Don't come any closer. I am not a snack you monster. Get away." With a burst of courage overriding her fear, she kicked up towards the drake's chest, making him fall before she turned around and ran back into the dining room, where Princess Celestia and the rest of the adults were discussing what movie to put in for the kids.

Spike could not help but look at his younger brother, who had seen the whole thing. "I-I-I-I..." No matter what he wanted, no matter how hard he tried to befriend some ponies, whenever they saw him eat meat, they got afraid. He could not get out the sight of all that fear in the filly's eyes as she looked at him. It wasn't just fear, it was absolute terror. She really thought that he was going to eat her.

Feeling his brother's arms around him, he let his own tears fall silently as he accepted the loving embrace, listening to his words. "Don't mind her Spike. She just needs to get to know you. You know Twilight doesn't think that you are a monster. Remember when she first saw you eating meat?"

Both brothers chuckled, "How could I forget, she fell right into her mashed potatoes. She still hates it when I tease her about it."His smile faded as he once more saw those sapphire eyes, filled with terror, the thought that she was going to die. "When Twilight saw me, she only fainted, but accepted what I was. She knew that I needed the meat to survive. With Rarity, you didn't look into her eyes. You didn't see the absolute fear that I saw. Ryder, she was fearing for her life, she actually thought that I was going to eat her."

Casting a glance back over to the box of pizza that was their own, the colt said, "Spike, I saw everything. I saw the way that when you tried to see what was wrong, she lashed out at you. You did nothing wrong, and she fears the wrong person. She should never fear you, you hate meat. You only ever eat it because you have to."

Spike looked up at him, wondering why he was suddenly so protective of his older brother. "Why are you telling me this Ryder?"

"Because you are my older brother, and I don't want to lose you. I still remember what happened that day you were first told that you were a monster. When you tried to do this." With a finger, he pointed towards the drake's throat, where a scar was shown running from his left shoulder, around his throat, and down towards his heart. "You tried to see if you could bleed to death by using your talon, but that failed. I lost you for those months Spike, when you would always try to find some way to cheat yourself out of life. I hated to see you like that, and I would rather die than ever have to deal with you like that again."

A small smile formed over the drake's lips as he looked away from his brother and towards where Rarity had run off. "Your right, if she doesn't want to be my friend, then it's her loss."

"I remember that. It took a while for me to calm Rarity down enough, but once I did, she seemed alright with you." Celestia said. "Although, now it looks like she is more than okay with you Spikey. I've never seen a more closer pair of best friends. If I didn't know you any better, I would say that you were a really cute couple."

Spike blushed heavily at what his mother had said, but kept his tongue. Rarity on the other hand was weeping quietly, her tears not falling just yet. I have been such a fool. All these years, all these emotions, all these feelings for him, their true. I know I shouldn't be, but I am in love with my best friend. With all of my heart I know it to be true, and no matter what I say, no matter how I look at this, he is the only one I have ever wanted. I love Spike. For three years I denied him what we both wanted.

By now her tears were beginning to fall down, leaving small pools where they touched the drake's blankets. Feeling the wet spots made Spike looked down towards Rarity, who in turn looked up at him. The look in her eyes made him want to tear up. The sorrow that she felt, the sudden realization that was etching to be known, and the burning desire to say that she was sorry for all the wrong that she had done burst forth.

In a quiet voice that she felt was going to shatter by a single word, Rarity said, "I am so sorry Spike. I never meant to hurt you that night. I was afraid, I was scared, and I didn't know how to react. My mind seemed to go into a sort of 'safe' mode, where all it thought about was keeping me alive." She embraced the drake in a tight hug, never wanting to let go. A small smile spread across her lips as she felt him kiss the top of her head.

"It's alright Rarity, it's going to be okay now."

"D-Do... Do you remember Winter, after I broke up with Gordon. W-When, you s-saved me from..."

"Don't speak his name!" The anger in his voice subsided with a sigh, "How could I ever forget that night? It was the most terrifying night of my life. I was so afraid, for you."

Snow drifted lazily down from the thin layer of clouds overhead. It stuck to whatever is could get its hand on, not even caring or thinking about it. Because of the thin layer of clouds, the stars could be seen shining brightly, with the full moon to aid their light. It was a beautiful night to say the least, and for two best friends, it would change how they saw each other forever.

"So then I was like, 'Ya, is that the best ya got big boy', then he said, 'Come and find out there drago.'" A gasp was heard, seemingly echoing down the empty street as they walked along the sidewalk. "I wasn't mad, but it was fun to roll around in the sand before hurling three water balls in his face."

"Sounds to me like your mother has taught you too much magic for your own good."

"Ya, I suppose so." A pregnant silence seemed to drift its way in between them, leaving only the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet along with the echoing gentle breeze that threatened to freeze the ears of anypony unprepared.

"Say Rarity? Do... Do you ever think about 'him', or any of your other ex-boyfriends?"

Rarity sighed as she glanced up at the moon. "Your aunt did a wonderful job with the moon tonight. Can't really see why she did though." She looked back down to the sidewalk, "Yes, I do. I think about all of them, Gordon, Deke, Hawkins, Justin, Allen, Lightening Dust, Soarin, Snow Flake, and of course, Jerry."

"What you saw in that colt, I'll never know. And I don't think that I want to either."

"Oh he was an old friend who asked me out on a date. I said yes, and naturally, everything went well until I found out that the whole time he was dating eight other mares. Needless to say, I think that you and I both know how that ended."

Neither one could stop their laughter from erupting, echoing down the street and drowning out the silence and the wind. "Don't remind me, I was there. I had front row seats to the greatest show on earth; watching my best friend beat the crap out of her boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend by that point. Glad I never got you that angry with me. Not like I could." The last part he muttered under his breath, hoping that Rarity did not hear him.

She did. "Well, I wouldn't say that you never made me that angry. There were a few times that I wanted to strangle you, but I didn't. Sure you've made me mad in the past, but I could never bring myself to physically nor emotionally harm you, no matter how mad I ever got. You're my best friend, and I would rather cut off my own arm that lose that." They shared a smile as they looked away from each other, a blush on both pairs of cheeks.

Striding along behind them, was a colt that obviously had no business being on the street that late a night. His mint colored mane was in a messy mohawk, while his silver fur was ruffled in places, and his clothes; beaten, torn, and bloody. To say that he was messed up at the moment was an understatement, with the burning desire in his eyes, and the rage that was pent up inside of him, he was a primal savage, and animal, hellbent on only one thing. "Rarity." His voice was garbled, raspy, dark, and made even the wind shudder.

"Rarity!" When neither of the two turned around to look at him, he took a deep breath, then, "RARITY!"

Time seemed to slow as Spike glanced back towards the colt, his eyes widening in fear as he witnessed the colt in his ragged state. Rarity, who was now looking at him too, was his focus. "You will be mine bitch!"

Spike felt an anger well up inside of him, an anger that he had not felt since he was told the tale of how his father died. Inside of his chest he could feel his internal fire beginning to warm up, getting ready to burn this creep into the ground and even then never stop until there was nothing left, not even ash.

Rarity pushed Spike to the snow covered ground as the colt ran forward, slamming with full force into the silvery-white filly, making her gasp as she fell back, sliding a few feet. The silver colt paid no mind to Spike as he advanced on Rarity, an evil smile on his lips. "It's a little cold out Rarity. I think I know a few ways to warm us up." Reaching down, he grasped the hem of her pants. Still grinning, he gave a hard yank, ripping her pants clean off.

Throwing the tattered remains to the side, he began to undue his belt and his own pants, not even thinking to look behind himself. When he was leaning down to take his pants off, he felt a heat in his rear, starting at his tail. Looking back, he screamed when he saw that his rear was on fire, the undergarments that he wore of pink hearts starting to melt to his fur.

While he sat down, trying to put out the fire with the snow, he was unprepared for the wrath that he was going to face. With his gaze fixed on Rarity, who was backing away from the silver colt, he was unaware of the foot that was coming towards his head.

With a sickening thud, Spike kicked the silver colt in the back of the head, making him roll a few feet away. Rushing over to Rarity, he asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Let's get out of here, now!"

"No Rarity, I am going to finish this." Spike turned back to face the colt, who was still rolling around in the snow gripping his head.

"No Spike. You don't have to do anything. He is out of the game, let's just go. I need pants, or I could freeze out here." When Spike turned back to her, she could see the hate that was in his eyes for the colt, but she could also see the care overriding the anger. Care for her.

Sighing, he said, "You're right Rarity. Let's just go." Quickening their resumed pace, they raced back to her boutique before the colt could have a chance to catch up with them.

Rarity shuddered as she thought about that, about how she was almost raped. If it were not for Spike, then she could very well be a mother, and be doing anything that, that monster wanted. "I hate him Spike, I really do."

"I know Rarity, so do I." Both had a few tears in their eyes, but they didn't let the other see it, though they could sense it.

"I still remember what you said to me that night, when we were by the fire place. It's what keeps me here with you, what makes every day worth living. It's what make you the greatest friend in the world."

Rarity sat before her fireplace inside of the Carousel Boutique. Her eyes watched the flickering flames in the fireplace, the sound of the wood cracking and the trapped air inside popping not startling her in the least.

Feeling a warm body stirring beneath her made her look down, only to see the drake who had saved her gazing into the fireplace. A blanket was draped over him, with another over her shoulders. She wore her usual silk sleeping shirt and pants, both snow white in color. Spike was garbed in his only ever sleep attire of his cotton black with blue stripes sleeping pants. With a sigh, he chanced a glance up towards Rarity, who was preoccupied with the fire.

He could not tear his gaze away from the mare. The way that the flames licked at her neck, the way that the heat seemed to sooth her, and the way that she would always steal small glances at him when she thought that he wasn't looking made her adorable in his eyes. All he wanted to do was kiss her, but that was wrong to do with a friend, right?

'Hold it together Spike. She is your best friend, and you are her best friend. Nothing more.' Although he wanted to believe that will all of his heart, when he saw her smiling, and he saw the flames flickering in her eyes, he knew that what he had said was not true. His heart had started to yearn for her. Whether it was something that had been there all along, or just recent, he could not say. All that he knew, was that what he felt for her, was real.

"Rarity, do... do you ever think that I will find some pony or some dragoness that loves me like I love them?"

Rarity was shocked at what he had said, but she knew why he asked. After three failed attempts at dating, she would be asking the same thing too. "I suppose that every pony has..." She began, but stopped herself. 'What am I saying? This is Spike you are talking about, your best friend. You are going to encourage him darling.'

'But what if you don't want him to.'

Pushing aside the voice that had spoken, she looked back to the fire, thinking. "There is no easy way to answer that, there is only the truth." She sighed, "As much as I want to say that all will be okay, I know I can't. I just can't bring myself to lie to you like that Spikey-Wikey. You deserve better than that. You are a drake who needs to find true love. The way that you are Spike, any mare would be stupid not to date you."

"What about you?"

She was afraid that he would ask that. She was afraid that he was going to slip that in during their talk. She never thought that it was going to be so soon however. "I... I... I..." How could she say anything, how could she bring herself to break his heart? There was only one way to escape the corner that he had forced her into, and it was one that she hated to take. "No Spike, I can't. We are best friends, and if something were to happen, I would hate to lose your friendship over it. I love you Spikey, but not in that way."

Spike didn't say anything. Instead, he reached a hand up to pull her down. Grasping her in his arms, pulling her closer and slipping the blanket over her form, he whispered into her ear, "I'll never let go..."

Rarity was unknowingly holding onto Spike's hand, wishing that it was wrapped around her whole form now. Three years ago she could have had a relationship with him, but she didn't feel this way for him at the time. Don't lie to yourself Rarity. Of course you were in love with him then, you were just too afraid to say anything. What he did at Deltoran made you realize how much his love meant to you. It showed just how much you meant to him, how much he loved you.

"Spike, why exactly did Thunderlane nail you this early in the year?"

Coughing, he said, "Because of what he said about you. 'I saw that b**** today. She was looking so fun, guess I'll just have ta f*** her later.' So when I told him that I was going to kill him, he naturally assumed that I wanted to fight. So we fought, not like there was any choice when his goons pinned me down."

Looking away from Rarity, he said, "You're thinking about Deltoran aren't you?
"Yes, I am."

"Please, I don't want to think about that right now. I'm in enough pain as it is."

"I know Spike, I'm so sorry."

"For what? You didn't do anything, it was Thunderlane and his gang of morons."

"That's not what I meant. You are hurt because you were defending me. Don't get me wrong, I am honored that you would do this for me, but I wish that you wouldn't."

Turning her head to face his, so that their eyes were locked together, he said, "I told you that night I first fought him. I'll never let go. I meant that, and I mean it now. You may not love me as more than a friend, but I love you so much more than that, you and I both know it. As long as somepony is trying to soil your good name, I will never rest. Death can't even stop me."

Rarity watched as Spike lied back on his bed, gazing up at the ceiling. Oh Spike, I love you more than you know...