Spike’s eyes were closed, but he wasn’t sleeping. He wishes he could sleep! But unfortunately… he can’t sleep. With all that’s happened lately, what, with the defeat of Tirek, getting a castle (and living in it, booya!), he has been exhausted. Saving the world is hard work, and he has definitely earned the rest. Oh, yeah, I guess his friends deserved some credit. They’ve been acting weird lately. Although, who wouldn’t act weird after the past insanity. It’s not just them though, a lot of ponies have been acting weird. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom seem to be the only normal ponies. And when I say strange, I don’t mean abnormal. Wait, those two mean the same thing don’t they? Well… what I’m trying to say is they’re acting strange! When I ask somepony what’s wrong, they avoid the question.  Were they sick? Was everypony sick?? Why wasn’t he sick? So many questions raced through his mind, questions that kept him up at night (which was rare).

He thought to himself ‘That’s it, today I’m going to get some answers!’

But the answers he seeked weren’t something that he was going to get easy. He was going to have to try a lot harder than just asking. He wasn’t going to hurt anyone of course, far from it! But he had ways of getting to people. Ways of twisting their minds to his desire. His devious manipulation playing them like cords on a violin with his words as smooth as soft-serve ice cream. Yeah, you heard me! That smooth.

“Spike, stop it!” Twilight ducked behind her couch just as a book went sailing by her head.

Spike threw another book, and another, and another. “Tell me!”

Twilight rapidly caught each book. When her hands were full, her magic lent its aid in acting like a big, violet bookshelf. Her worry started to overflow from the container of her mind as the magical shelf started to get more and more filled, losing the will to make more space (and the mental strength to hold the weight up). Her entire focus had been to organise each book back onto the shelf, and maintaining the shelf to keep things in line as she tidied up. It took her a few indistinguishable moments to regain her thoughts to realize that the hail of books had stopped entirely. A whole new world of dread ignited her body in flames at the sight behold. Spike had a book in his hand, and the book was slowly burning with a bright green flame. She held her hand out as if to lunge at the book, but was too late as a wall of flame straight from the draconic source engulfed the pages in an instant.

“Spike!” Twilight shrieked, her hands on her head and practically tugging her hair out. Spike snatched another book and held it out threateningly.

“Tell me why.” Spike’s tone was that of annoyance and outrage. He was furious! He couldn’t understand what everyone was hiding from him. And not just that, they were hiding something from Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo, and that was just not right!

“Just think about this for a minute… what is this going to accomplish?”

Spike didn’t hesitate to spray another torrent of flames onto the book. Twilight cringed at the sight of the paper ashes falling down into the forgotten remains of the last. “Every time you don’t tell me, I’ll burn another book!”

“What do you want me to say?!” Twilight’s flustered tone signified that his efforts were affecting her, a sight that inspired him to continue.

“I want you to tell me why you, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity have all been acting like this.”

“Like a pyromaniacal dragon who has a grudge against J.K. Rowling?”

Spike’s eye twitched, spinning around and grabbing seven books from the shelf and piling them up in what looked like chronological order. Twilight’s eyes snapped open, her thoughts of attempting to sweep Spike off his feet with her magic, protect each book with an anti-fire spell, and locking the library with a dozen fireproof locks came to mind. But she didn’t? Why didn’t she? Spike knew full well of what she was capable of, but she just stood there and let it happen. “I haven’t had a chance to finish them yet!” Twilight’s exasperated and still shocked tone rang out in a futile attempt to stop his physical tirade.

“Snape kills Dumbledore, Harry dies and comes back, and Neville kills Voldemort.” Spike finished, the stack of books engulfing in the usual green fire. Twilight let out a high pitched squeal of discomfort, covering her mouth at another wonderfully spoiled series faded into dust. Or rather, ashes.

“You monster!” Twilight whimpered.

“For burning books?” Spike cocked his head in an expression of surprise.

“Noooo… for killing Dumbledore!” Twilight sobbed to herself.

Spike facepalmed, groaning loudly before snatching one last book. Twilight’s noises all but stopped. Spike seems to have gotten her attention. ‘Finally!’ He thought.

“So, are you going to talk?” Spike’s tone was serious, scarily so.

“Spike… you wouldn’t.” Twilight’s tone trailed off to that of a whimper. Thoughts of telling him the truth darted back and forth in her head with every passing second, turning into a denied mewl with every attempt the thought gave to shove itself from her mouth.

“We’ve been friends for so long now, you don’t have ANY right to keep secrets from me! I deserve the truth!” Spike declared, his claws digging into the book he was holding. The thought that maybe he was going to far hit him at the sight of tears in the corner of her eyes. Spike knew she loved books with a passion, but she could just buy new ones…

“S-Spike I… I’m… Y-you…” Twilight’s chest was pounding, heaving back and forth with waves of anxiety.

“All you have to do is tell me. Tell me, and all this ends.”

Twilight seemed to tremble at those last words. She was shaking for an entirely different reason than the book burning taking place within her own home. Her eyes shut tightly, her fists clenching so tightly it hurt. The pain running through her was more than any physical trauma she could go through, so she paid it no mind. In an instance of acceptance, Twilight breathed out slowly, letting her fingers uncurl and relax. She opened her eyes and looked at Spike. Something happened that he did not expect, that I don’t think anyone could have expected. She smiled.

“No.”

Spike’s emotions were running rampant. He was confused, to say the least. She said no, but was smiling. Why was she smiling? Was she making fun of him? Did she not think he’d do it? He clearly emphasized he was capable, so why?

“I mean it!” Spike scoffed, about ready to bring a flaming embrace to yet another pointless book. All these books were pointless to him, they were just pieces of paper to him. At least, they were at this moment.

Twilight sniffled quietly, nodding slowly. “I know…”

Spike snapped, roaring a mighty cone of fire that practically singed the hair from Twilight’s brows. But she didn’t flinch, she didn’t even move. Once his tantrum died down, silence shrouded the rambunctious dragon. When his focus finally returned, the first thing he saw was the expression of utter horror on Twilight’s face, her mouth covered with her hands. Spike didn’t know what to say, he was stunned. He’d never seen such dread expressed from his closest friend’s face. The only thing that stopped him from speaking up, was the pain washing over his hand. “AH!” Spike dropped the book he was holding and clutched his hand. He caught the flicker of a flame of his own making from the corner of his eye. The blood drained from his face as he saw the source of the flame, and the pain he experienced. The book he had grabbed, was Twilight’s journal. It was HIS journal, it was everyone’s journal. It was their lives, their thoughts, their emotions and experiences. And it was burning…

“Oh no!” Spike gasped, diving to the ground and patting the book rapidly in an attempt to release the book from his flame’s grasp, but he was simply fanning the flame. It was so quick, so sudden. When the flames died down, Spike’s eyes were wide, his gaze never leaving the pile of ashes that were now crumbling through his fingers. The first sign of movement from his crouched body, were the tears pouring down his face. “No… oh no, no no…” He whimpered, clawing at the burnt waste on the floor. The ashes slowly grew wet as his emotions dripped on top of them, mixing with the tragedy he had just created.

“Spike…” Twilight’s voice was much closer this time.

“I… I can fix it…” Spike quivered, scraping and grabbing at the ashes as if he could simply staple it back together. His efforts were futile, as if attempting to solve a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle, when every piece was from a different picture. It was a puzzle he was never going to solve.

“Spike, stop.” Twilight

Spike was simply lost. Lost amidst a sinking ship of his own creation. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” His squeal bled into sobs of regret. His pain crescendoed through the room like a broken violin that made Twilight cringe. The true pain she felt was nothing compared to her friend in his current state. She couldn’t take another second of the anguish. Without a word, her arms took hold of him. Spike was given an embrace he didn’t believe he deserved, but had not the will to reject it. He was sobbing into his hands, his face too ashamed to be seen, so he hid it. He hid, and never wanted to look his friend in the eyes again. “You’re right… I-I am… a monster.” Spike uttered quietly.

“You’re not a monster, Spike. Please stop crying…” Twilight pleaded. Spike could hold back his tears like she asked, but he couldn’t stop shaking. Although all his thoughts told him not to, he looked up. Twilight was smiling, like moments before. Was it moments? He couldn’t tell, all he knew was that she didn’t seem worried, or sad, or anything he was expecting. “Please.” She said again, this time her tone was warm. She wasn’t angry, she was happy.

“...why?” Spike sniffled. Twilight cocked her head in a questioning manner. “Why don’t you hate me…?”

Twilight’s smile only grew at his words. “You should be furious! You should be kicking me out, shunning me, you shouldn’t ever want to see me again…” He shook as another wave of silent tears slid down his face.

“Oh, Spike… I could never hate you, you silly dragon. You’re my best, and closest friend. There is nothing you could do, no amount of books you could burn, that would take that away.” Twilight’s comforting tone only made her words hurt that much worse. He didn’t know what to feel. The tears running down his face were no longer just from sadness. Spike was happy. Twilight ran her hand across his cheek, wiping both tears and ashes from them. Spike hadn’t realized he had gotten himself covered in the stuff. “Our friends and I have done the impossible… we stopped Discord, and reformed him! We defeated Chrysalis and her changelings. We stopped Sombra and saved the Crystal Empire, or rather, you did.” Twilight laughed. Spike couldn’t help but smile as well, getting immersed in the nostalgia of his memories alongside her. “Great ponies are forged in fire. And you, Spike, you lit that flame. You inspired me, and many other ponies. I don’t know where I’d be without you. And that is a fire that will never, ever stop burning.”

“Twilight…” Spike’s eyes seemed to inflate with the glimmer of his tears. All he could do was hug her. He hugged her, and never wanted to let go ever again.

“I love you Spike.” Her words rang more truthful than any she had ever uttered.

“I love you too Twilight.” Spike lied his head against her chest, the embrace only growing more loving with each second they spent in each other’s arms. They both shared a slice of their own little eternity, one that could never be taken away.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow… I promise.” Twilight’s words startled Spike from his peaceful oblivion he was having in her arms. He looked up at her with a small smile and nodded. He perked up and looked to the door.

“I’m gonna go see Sweetie and the others.” Spike said happily. Twilight frowned, seeming desperate to think of something that would keep him here, but the words that came out were the opposite.

“Sure. Just don’t stay out too late… okay?” Twilight’s reluctance was obvious, but Spike chose not to question it.

“Alright.” Spike nodded, giving Twilight one last warm, draconic hug, before traveling out the front door. Twilight was left inside her castle, alone with nothing but the silence that filled the halls. The only noise that was heard, was the sound of her fervid resolve crumbling. Spike had been known to stay out late. She only hoped he would be back before midnight.

---------------------------

Earlier that morning:

Twilight and the other five of her friends sat silently in their respective throne, not budging, barely giving a hint that they were even breathing. They would occasionally give each other a glance that indicated their existence, but other than that, silence. Rarity hadn’t bothered to put on new clothes since the day before. She hadn’t even put on makeup. Applejack, the most stoic of all of them, showed the sign of sadness having passed through her face at the dried tears on it. Fluttershy had gone to sleep, kept company by Rainbow Dash’s embrace.

“S’no way tah stop it?” Applejack finally broke the silence.

“Celestia, Luna, and Cadence all tried.” Twilight slowly shook her head. Applejack’s head sunk down to the cold, castle floor.

“Ah can’t take lyin’ to em.” Applejack enforced her thoughts with a stomp that jolted Fluttershy awake. Rainbow Dash tightened her grip around Fluttershy, causing the jittery pegasus to slip back to the blissful company of sleep.

“I don’t like lying to Spike, but I want him to be happy. I’m not going to subject him to…” Twilight snapped, her tone defensive and hostile. All eyes were on her, leaving her in a sea of regret. She didn’t mean to shout, and her friends knew it. “I’m… sorry.”

“It’s alright dear, really.” Rarity comforted. No matter the words, nothing seemed to help what they all knew, the only comfort they got were from each other. Twilight was certainly comfortable, but she was restless. Mostly because she could see that her friends had something on their mind.

“Come on girls, no more secrets between us…” Twilight said, hoping to scratch the surface of what was troubling them.

“Well… I was hoping I could spend the rest of the day with Sweetie Belle, if that’s alright.” Rarity said in a slow stammered tone. Her voice was genuinely pained, and brought equal pain to the rest of them. But it was something they completely understood. Twilight gave a forced smile and nodded before she spoke.

“Then go, be with your family.”

Rarity stood up and froze. She bit her lip, looking around at everyone. Applejack was the first one up to hug her goodbye. To many, the hug may seem like it had lasted uncomfortably long, but there are exceptions. Applejack was reluctant to break from the hug, but didn’t want to keep her too long. Rarity went to Twilight, giving the same bout of kindness, then Rainbow Dash. Her and Dash glanced down at Fluttershy, who was still resting peacefully in Dash’s lap. Rarity kneeled down and gently kissed Fluttershy’s forehead. “Goodnight Fluttershy…” Rarity whispered in a cracked voice. Rainbow bite back a whimper at seeing her friend walk away. Pinkie had been silent the entire time, but had not been forgotten. Rarity had came over and given her the same treatment, leaving the pink mare trembling in her seat. It wasn’t until Rarity left, that the awkward silence had returned. Or was it awkward? I don’t think even they knew.

“I’m not going to keep any of you here, you can go.” Twilight admitted aloud. Deep down she was hoping no one else would leave, but she knew that wasn’t going to happen.

“Ah have family too.” Applejack said, wiping her eyes and standing up. Much like Rarity, she just stood there, as if her legs lost the will to continue. Surprisingly to the rest of them, Pinkie stood up to.

“There’s two babies that are going to be lonely without me.” Pinkie said with the first smile they’d seen out of her in days. “Oh, Pound and Pumpkin will be too.” She giggled. The others couldn’t help but laugh alongside her. It felt good to laugh, really good. It felt even better to receive a hug from the party pony. Applejack and Pinkie took each other’s hands, walking towards the door. Twilight waved them goodbye, leaving just her, Dash, and Fluttershy. The silence was driving Twilight crazy. Normally she loved the thoughts she had, enjoying the quietness of reading a book alone. This, however, was one time where her thoughts were her enemy. One thought in specific that just couldn’t stay silent anymore, one she had been regretting to say.

“You want to leave too, don’t you Rainbow?” Twilight deadpanned, glancing over at Rainbow Dash. Dash’s silence was all the confirmation she needed.

“I… Scootaloo just doesn’t have any family, and…” Rainbow stammered, avoiding eye contact with her friend.

“Go.” Twilight motioned her off.

“I just… I don’t want her to be al- alo…” Dash’s tone trailed off. Her face fell into Fluttershy’s long pink hair, unable to hide her draining sadness any other way. Twilight couldn’t bare to see her friends cry anymore, so she made her way to Rainbow’s side, comforting her. The close presence of their leader was all Dash needed to regain her confidence. It was also making her feel twice as terrible.

“Scootaloo needs you, go on… be with YOUR family.” Twilight assured with a gentle smile that slowly spread onto Rainbow’s face. It wasn’t until she tried to get up, that she realized that she wasn’t getting up alone. Fluttershy clung tighter to Rainbow’s body as if by instinct. Dash just looked up at Twilight for advice. Twilight closed her eyes and sighed. “Take her with you, I’m sure she won’t mind.”

Dash slowly nodded, lifting Fluttershy up with her. The yellow pony cracked her eyes open, looking wearily up at Rainbow. “Hey Dashie…” Fluttershy yawned. Dash couldn’t help but smile down in response. “Where are we going?”

“We’re gonna pay Scootaloo a visit.”

“Oh, that sounds nice.” Fluttershy nodded, nestling as much of herself against Dash as she could.

“Why don’t you go back to sleep, I’ll wake you when we get there.” Rainbow assured with a confirming nuzzle against Fluttershy’s head with her own. Fluttershy had already gone back to sleep, letting Rainbow’s facade of happiness slip slightly. Rainbow was halfway out the door when Twilight started to follow.

“Hey…” Twilight started. “Maybe I can come with and send you of-”

“Twilight!” Spike’s voice echoed through the castle. Twilight bit her lip as she made a choice at that moment.

“Never mind… I’m just going to stay here for awhile.” Twilight corrected herself, giving Dash a reassuring smile. Rainbow was reluctant to leave, but was reminded of her task as Fluttershy squirmed around to a more comfortable position in her arms. Rainbow gave Twilight a sad nod before finally leaving. The door shut, its sound crashing through the recurring silence once more.

‘At least I won’t really be alone… I still have Spike.’ Twilight thought. Finally, a thought that made her happy. There isn’t anyone she’d rather be with than her trusty assistant, and best friend.

--------------------------

Present:

“Sweetie?” Spike called. He approached the CMC clubhouse, expecting his filly friends to be hanging out inside, like always. To his delightful surprise (both for lack of having to search, and just seeing them), they were indeed there. At least, all but Scootaloo.

“Hi Spike!” Applebloom and Sweetie both said simultaneously from the window, waving him inside. Spike was happy to hurry inside, at least until he actually made it through the door. The orange filly he had been wondering was indeed inside the clubhouse, but she seemed different. Sad…

“What’s wrong with Scootaloo?” Spike cocked his head, his heart seeming to sink at the sight of the usually stoic and energetic little pony.

“Ah dunno.” Applebloom shrugged.

“Yeah, she won’t talk about it.” Sweetie nodded, a look of sympathy seemed to radiate from the three of them as they stared at Scootaloo.

“Do you think it might be what everyone is hiding?” Spike suggested.

“That’s what I was thinking.” Sweetie shot Spike a surprised look, almost happy that someone else had thought of it too. Applebloom’s hand shot up in the air, signaling the hive mind they must have to have. That’s probably the reason.

“Great minds think alike.” Spike chuckled, receiving a nod from the other two.

“But we still dunno what they’re hidin’, and Scoots ain’t talkin.” Applebloom huffed, crossing her arms to show how frustrated she was.

Spike’s brows furrowed. He wanted answers. If Scootaloo is sad because of this secret everyone is keeping, then it must be something bad. Really bad…

“Scootaloo.” Spike uttered slowly.

Scootaloo’s ears perked up momentarily, but slowly sunk back down, along with her glistening eyes full of a deep sorrow that no pony in this clubhouse has seen before. Spike was genuinely surprised. A part of him wanted to leave her alone because of the mood she was in. But on the other hand, it only made the burning curiosity start to tear him up from the inside out. He had to know what was going on, and why even Scootaloo was wallowing in a sea of her own dread.

“What is wrong Scootaloo?” Spike asked, taking a seat beside the crestfallen pegasus and crossing his legs. Scootaloo slowly looked up at Spike, seeming happy by his presence. But her happiness slowly degraded to her previous demeanor. A look of dismay washed over Spike. He immediately hugged Scootaloo in an attempt to cease her descent into melancholy. “Scoots, please… None of us like seeing you like this. Tell us what’s wrong.”

Scootaloo was silent, her eyes closed tightly and her lids seemed to swell with what they could imagine were tears. Scootaloo wasn’t against the embrace. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were quick to join them. “It’s okay Scoots… you don’t have to say it if you don’t want.” Sweetie assured.

Spike couldn’t agree more. As much as he wanted to know the cause of her woes, this was not the right way to do it. The most he could do now was comfort a friend in need. He certainly wasn’t going to take advantage of her. “Well, I guess I’m going to find out tomorrow anyway, so what does it matter?” Spike sighed, ignorant of the fact he was reading his thoughts aloud.

“What?” Sweetie cocked her head. She seemed genuinely interested in his words, for two reasons.

“Yeah, Twilight said she’d tell me tomorrow.” Spike added.

“Rarity said she’d tell me tomorrow too!”

“Applejack said she’d tell me tomorrow…” Applebloom’s voice was a stammer that was drowned in an eerie, unsettling atmosphere that seemed to engulf the room. The air grew thick with questions. Why tomorrow? Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were going to be told tomorrow, and so was Spike. Was it because he went off at Twilight? Or was she going to tell tomorrow regardless of his actions. Was his tantrum in vain, or better yet, unnecessary?

“What… brought it up?” Spike swallowed dryly. Something wasn’t right here, something was wrong. Very wrong…

“Brought what up?” Sweetie asked, quickly being blind sided by Spike’s voice.

“The secret! Rarity telling you tomorrow, why did she say that? What lead to it?”

Sweetie took a step back, her eyes darting around as she forcefully grabbed the memories from her mind and tried to organise them. “She… I-I just…”

“Spit it out!” Spike shouted impatiently. Sweetie flinched at his tone and nodded quickly. Even Applebloom was leaning in, hopeful to gain at least a small piece to the puzzle that surrounded the town they lived in.

“I just… I was fed up with the lies. So I tore a bunch of her dresses.” Sweetie finally stated. Her eyes were wide with confusion as she stared at the frantic dragon. Sweetie and Spike grew to the same conclusion almost in sync. They turned slowly to Applebloom, their gazes asking the same question.

“Ah… ah locked mah’self in mah room… ah told her ah didn’t want to speak to her until she told me.” Applebloom deadpanned, her eyes growing as wide as the others.

“They… all said that because we fought with them.” Spike’s tone was that of eureka, seeming like he had stumbled on yet another question.

“They’re lyin’ to us?”

“But… why would they?” Sweetie questioned, the same surprise and befuddlement in her voice as the others were showing in their expressions.

“More importantly, why tomorrow? What’s so special about tomorrow. They all gave the same answer, so…” Spike scratched his head. What was happening tomorrow? They were so adamant on keeping this secret for the past week, yet they were just all okay with revealing it tomorrow? Something is very, very wrong…

“Midnight.” Scootaloo said out of no where. The other three of her companions snapped their attention to the silent Scoots.

“Huh?” Sweetie blinked a couple times, trying to understand the vague word given by their depressed friend.

“Midnight…” Scootaloo repeated. Spike, Sweetie, and Applebloom seemed absolutely bewildered. The fact that their usually eager and lively friend was quiet, skittish, and blatantly forlorn. The chilling part of this was the word she uttered. Midnight? Why so cryptic? For the first time since he woke up, Spike felt something new. He wasn’t angry, curious, happy, or sad. He was terrified…