Chapter Three

“Ha-ha! You’re gonna have to try harder if you’re going to keep up with me, Rainbow Dash!” Spike shouted behind him as he soared through the sky over Ponyville, carried by an impressive set of powerful dragon wings. He tilted his wings to slow himself down, and descended onto the edge of a cliff. Shortly after, Rainbow Dash landed next to him.

“You’re lucky you’re still young, Spike. Back in the day, when I was in my prime, I would have had you beat, easy.” The rainbow maned mare gloated over her more youthful days. “Are you kidding me?” Spike let out a little chuckle. “Rainbow Dash, Captain of The Wonderbolts, thinks she’s getting old? Dash, you’re the fastest pony in all of Equestria, and everypony knows it. You are in your prime.”

Dash couldn’t help but let out a little blush at the compliment. Ever since Spike had a set of fully grown wings, the two had become very close friends, especially since Dash finally had someone to really challenge her to be better again. She never would have thought that 20 years ago, when Spike and Twilight had first come to Ponyville, that she had met her future rival of the skies.

“I’m just faster, is all.” Spike’s haughty comment wiped the smile off Dash’s face and replaced it with a bitter frown, as well as tearing her away from her thoughts. “Now don’t like at me like that, Dash. You know there isn’t any beating dragon wings.” Spike looked behind himself at the purple wings protruding from his sides; Spike himself was no bigger than the average pony at his age, but his wings were definitely something to be proud of. He wondered how he ever used to get by moving around on the ground.

‘Oh right; Twilight.’ Spike remembered Twilight would always let him relax on the mare’s backside wherever he needed to go. He really missed those days, sometimes. “Well, that was a really great flying session, Spike. Same time tomorrow?” Dash had returned to her usual playful nature. “You know it! See you around, Rainbow!” With that, the two parted ways. Spike had a few more stops to make today, just like he did every day.

“Heya AJ! How’s it going?” Spike hovered over the orange pony, working hard bucking apples, as always. Sweet Apple Acres had to be one of the only buildings in Ponyville that hadn’t changed over the years. Applejack looked up at Spike, “Nah git down here, ‘fore I sprain mah neck lookin’ up at’cha.” Spike slowly descended to the ground, and smiled at the earth pony. “AJ, why do you keep doing this? You know I can just knock down all the apples with a beat of my wings. Why won’t you ever just let me help?”

Applejack really got tired of having this argument. ‘Nah calm down, Applejack. Spike jus’ cares ‘bout you, s’all.’ Applejack gave Spike a cheeky grin. “n’ what exactly would I do every day, then?” Spike’s laughed slipped out at his friends attempt at humor. “You’re going to hurt yourself one of these days, AJ. And then you’ll say-” Spike cleared his throat to shift his voice to mimic Applejack’s. “Oh whatever will ah do! I’ve done gone n’ hurt muhself! If only ah had listened tah Spike!”

Applejack didn’t look amused at that. “Nah I do not sound like that.” Applejack had to laugh at it though, it wasn’t a half bad impression. “Relax AJ, you know I just worry.” The two shared a kind smile. “Ah now that Spike, but ah can’t just sit on mah flank every single day.” Spike could see the hurt in Applejack’s eyes. Granny Smith had spent her last years in that chair; Applejack didn’t want to end up missing out on her last years because she wanted to ‘take it easy.’

Applejack made a loud exhale to let her next words known. “I suppose-” Spike perked up immediately. He was sure he knew what she was going to say. “You could help me. But just this once!” Spike shot up into the air over the orchard, a huge grin plastered on his face. ‘Alright, he thought. Let’s see if this works.’ He began flapping his wings in long, powerful stroke, whipping up the wind through the branches of the apple trees.

With the powerful gust causing the fruit bearing trees to flail their branches wildly, apples starting falling one by one to the ground. Once he was satisfied with his work, believing he had gotten just about every tree he could see, Spike flew back down towards Applejack. “See? Now all you have to do is put them in the basket. Isn’t that nice?” Spike spoke in the most sincere tone he could muster. Applejack, on the other hand, heard it as condescension.

“We ain’t gonna have this argument again, Spike.” She trotted off to go collect the apples around the orchard, leaving Spike to make his next stop for the day. ‘Nah you know that ain’t true, Applejack.’ She knew she was right too. The two of them had the same conversation every day, after all.

Spike saw his next destination closing in. It was hard not to notice, with all the animals running about. How Fluttershy could manage to take care of so many animals was beyond Spike’s comprehension. He lowered himself to the ground and walked the short distance remaining to Fluttershy’s cottage. It only took him one time to learn how easily a tiny bunny can get whisked away by a breeze because of Spike’s flapping.

Spike knocked on the door, and just as he did every day, heard a tiny “eeek!” come from the other side. And, almost like clockwork, a few seconds later the door opened to reveal the timid Pegasus, cautiously peering through the crack in the door to make sure it wasn’t a snarling monster on the other side. “Oh, hello Spike. It’s so nice to see you. Please, come in.” Spike stepped inside, and looked around at the animals running around the pegasus’ home. It seemed like there were more of them with each day.

“So, what brings you here, Spike?” It was so nice being able to have real conversations with Fluttershy over the years. She had overcome her cowardice quite a lot. But, she never could control herself after sudden noises. “Fluttershy, I come here every day; and you know why.” Spike grinned at the shy pegasus giggling at her forgetfulness. “Um... right. Did I ever tell you how nice it is that you do this for all of us?” Spike never got tired of hearing that. “Every day. So, need any help around here?”

Fluttershy never did accept Spike’s help, and he didn’t expect it to be any different this time. “Oh no, that is quite alright Spike.” He knew why she didn’t want the help; she was afraid Spike would scare all of her animal friends again. Spike always tried to assure her that is was a one-time thing, but she just wouldn’t take that chance.

So the pair talked. And talked. And Talked. ‘Fluttershy was getting almost as chatty as-’ Spike stopped his thought. He just couldn’t bring himself to say that name. “Well, Fluttershy, I think it’s about time I get going. See you tomorrow?” Spike headed out the door and flew off, hearing a little voice say “Oh, um, bye!” coming from behind him. On his way back to the library, he saw a familiar sight; a florist. Spike landed to get a good look at the building.

It was heart wrenching for Spike to think about what used to stand there. But the Cakes had gone out of business, and had to sell Sugarcube Corner. That was the last any of his friends had ever seen of Pinkie Pie either. She never told them where she was going, for some reason. He really did miss Pinkie’s parties; they livened up Ponyville so much more. Without them, the whole town was so much more peaceful and quiet. Spike hated it. It was too different to what he had always known, after all.

What he really hated about it though, was the reason it was quiet. It was all because another friend of his had left, only this time it was without even so much as a goodbye. ‘Maybe she just couldn’t bear to say goodbye to everypony?’ The thought did little ease Spike’s conscience. He and Rainbow Dash spent weeks looking for Pinkie Pie, but never found anything. It was if she was just completely vanished in the blink of an eye.

Spike turned and headed towards the library again. He walked the rest of the way though; suddenly he wasn’t the mood for flying. As he approached the front door of the library, he let out a heavy sigh before opening the door. “Hey Twi, I’m back!” No answer. There never was. ‘Twilight isn’t here. She’s never going to come back. You know that Spike. Why do you keep doing this to yourself?’ He never was able to answer his own question.

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“Come on, Twi! Don’t go!” Spike pleaded for his best friend. He didn’t want to see her leave. He was tired of ponies leaving. “Spike-” Twilight used that stern tone on Spike when trying to lecture him for as long as he could remember. “I’m sorry if you feel hurt, but I’m going, and that is final.” Spike stood still for a moment, just staring into Twilight’s big round eyes. “You’re… welcome to come with me Spike. You know that.” Spike slowly shook his head.

“Twi, you know I can’t do that. You know I have to spend most of my life without my friends. I need to make the best of my time with them.” Spike could figure out himself what Twilight would say next. “What about me, Spike?” ‘Saw that one coming.’ Spike shook the thought out. “It wouldn’t take me more than an hour to fly to Canterlot, Twi. I can still see you any time.” Spike realized the conversational trap he’d just walked into. Twilight now wore the same pleading face Spike had on just only moments ago. “Then why does it matter if I go, Spike? It’s not like we’re saying goodbye forever.”

Twilight was technically right, “But I don’t want things to change, Twi!” For the first time in years, Spike saw Twilight make a face of immense grief. She felt sorry for Spike. He knew she didn’t want to hurt him. ‘I’m sorry, Twi.’ Spike had planned on saying that, but that words never found their way out. After a brief silence, Twilight spoke again. “Sometimes things have to change, Spike. You can’t hold on to what you have forever. We all have to move on.”

That wasn’t what Spike wanted to hear, but he couldn’t find the strength to argue any longer about it. He gave Twilight one last pleading look before Twilight left the library, leaving Spike alone in a deafening silence. ‘Things will be different this time. I’m going to make sure of it.’ He stepped outside the library, where several ponies gave him looks of shock. Everypony around had heard his argument with Twilight, but he paid them no mind. Instead, Spike took flight. He didn’t care where he was going; he just needed to get away.

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The library barely got used by ponies, so Spike would often have a lot of time to himself. He preferred it when he had Twilight there to talk to. But, she was in Canterlot now, being taught under the Princesses. It had been years since they had last sent a friendship report, so Celestia believed Twilight had finished her research on the subject, and asked if she would like to learn directly under herself and Princess Luna.

Spike remembered the day she got that letter; she was so excited she was leaping all around the library. At the time, Spike was happy for Twilight. She got what made her happy, and that made him happy. Then it sunk in what it really meant. Of course, he wanted to go with Twilight, but the other Elements of Harmony had become very important to him too. So, he stayed. He would visit Twilight every few weeks, and she always seemed very excited to see him.

Spike settled down into his bed, or rather, Twilight’s old bed, as he had long ago outgrew his old one. Her scent still haunted the sheets. ‘Or maybe I’m just going crazy.’ Spike thought. Regardless, it meant one part of Twilight that had never left. Before Spike slipped into a deep sleep, one more thought escaped his mind; ‘Even if I don’t see you all the time anymore Twi, at least you’re still here.’ Spike adjusted himself to wriggle deeper into the sheets. ‘For now, I still have you.’

Next Chapter: Chapter Four Estimated time remaining: 28 Minutes