Chapter Six

The rest of the world wasn't very appealing to Spike. All manner of strange and terrifying creatures resided outside Equestria. Spike didn't know exactly where he was most of the time. He didn't care, though; none of it really felt like it mattered. The days slipped by in a blur, Spike never staying in one place for more than a day. Travelling the vast landscapes helt past the time by.

It had been more than 300 years since Celestia had banished him from Equestria, and Spike had never looked back on it. In that time, he had forgotten about his resentment for the Sun Goddess for locking him out; He also learned to finally get past the passing of his dear friends. It was all too late for him to learn his lesson though.

Out here, wherever 'here' may be, nothing was terribly friendly. So, Spike kept to himself, having nopony around to talk to anymore. Spike hated how that. He finally got over his crippling fear of making new friends, only to realize there wasn't anyone or anything who he could consider a 'friend' anymore. It made the time creep by rather slowly, despite his best attempts to occupy himself.

As much as he hated to admit it, hunting passed the time quite well. Spike loathed himself for letting him finally succumb to it, but he had to eat, and there was little plant life around to sustain him. He at least felt better about it in that most of the creatures he- Spike recoiled at the very thought, choosing instead just to skip ahead to the next part of his thought, -most of those creatures were murdering monsters too.

'Celestia was right. I am a menace.' The thought was a constant in Spike's mind. There was little solace to be had in the knowledge that he at least knew what he did was wrong. It didn't change the nature of his actions. He was glad that nopony he knew would ever know what he was doing. They had always known Spike as the gentle, kind dragon they all knew and loved.

That was really the only thought that kept him going anymore. Thinking about his friends, and the life he had. Everything was perfect. 'But, things always change. There isn't any changing that.' Spike let a little chuckle slip at the pun. Even if he couldn't stop things from happening, he learned not to let him get him down anymore. He was a proud, roaring dragon now. 'Okay, maybe proud isn't the best word.'

Spike slumped back onto the ground, the momentary burst of confidence the thought gave him having so suddenly slipped away. The ground felt rather soft, oddly enough. Perhaps he was just tired, he was nearing his first draconic nap, after all. Soon he would be slipping into unconscienceness, only to wake up hundreds of years in the future, an entirely different world around him.

The thought of waking up and things being different was no longer a prospect that intimidated Spike. As a baby, he had always been terrified of waking up one day and everypony would be gone. Now that they really were gone, Spike had little to fear. Time carried on, and Spike lived on. He didn't really consider it living anymore though. All he ever did was fly, hunt, sleep, repeat.

It was an endless cycle that Spike hated being unable to break himself from; there was no more enjoyment in his life, and there hadn't been for a long time. Spike found himself once again daydreaming of his past, wishing that he could go back, if only for a moment, to stop himself from making the mistakes he regretted so dearly.

'It's too late for that, though.' Spike shook the warm thoughts from his mind. Another thing he had learned with age was to stop holding onto his past, as it held him back from enjoying the future. Spike looked around at his surroundings. A barren wasteland, wrought with horrible abominations roaming its vast emptiness stretched for miles. 'Enjoy the future, yeah right.' Spike laid his head back down to have a quick nap.

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Spike didn't know how long he slept, but he felt ancient. His bones ached, his wings felt heavy agains his sides, and his legs wobbled as he slowly tried to rise to his feet. It had felt like he was asleep for ages. Perhaps he had? Had he really just gone through a draconic nap? It felt as though it passed in an instant. Looking around, things didn't look terribly different, thought that was to be expected.

Spike had a sudden desire burst into his mind. He had to see Ponyville. Even if it was only for a moment, and then The Princess would cast him back to these dreaded plains, he just had to see his old home. So Spike took flight, the land around him being memorized, after all, he had been soaring above it for hundreds of years.

The trip felt like only hours, despite Equestria being days away from where he had started. The time really did fly by in his anticipation of being reuinited with his homeland. He had never beat his wings as hard as he had, not wanting to waste a single second in getting there. 'Maybe I can go see the Princesses while i'm there. I'm sure Celestia won't kick me out on sight. She would at least want to talk for a while, right?'

The sight of Ponyville was not what Spike had expected to see. He had hoped to see his quaint little former village home, but instead was met with the sights of high rising buildings, busy streets, and business ponies in tailored suits, marching around like they had somewhere important to be. His heart dropped. The last part of his life he still had left was gone; wiped off the face of Equestria like it was nothing.

Spike's presence wasn't exactly unknown to anypony, either. The towering creature looming over the bustling city of ponies had thrown them all into a panic, everypony running into the nearest building, screaming as they galloped away. Spike ignored them though, he had no plans to hurt them, so he felt no need to calm them. He chose instead to sit there, unable to fly away in such a grief stricken state.

Time creeped by very slowly for Spike. He left like had had been sitting in that same spot for days, until a voice called to him. "Spike? What are you doing here?" A familiar voice? Spike turned his head, seeing Princess Luna hovering at his eye level. Luna didn't show much sign of aging at all. A wrinkle here and there, but otherwise, Luna hadn't changed in the slightest in all those years.

Spike took a moment to find his voice. "I had to see Ponyville. I don't think it was a smart decision, though." Spike's head dropped, refusing to open his eyes as he listened to Luna's voice. "Of course it was a good idea, Spike. Everypony needs closure, even if it isn't always a happy ending." It had been a long time since Spike got advice from anypony, so it felt good to have that guidance again.

"I know. I just wish-" Spike couldn't find the strength in his voice to finish his sentence. So Luna did it for him. "That things didn't have to change? I know, Spike." The Moon Princess' voice was soft and sweet as she spoke. "But you're going to get past this, just like everything else, we soldier on every day. Tia and I do it too, you're not alone." Spike felt his anger slowly bubbling at that, but quickly recovered his solemn demeanor.

"You at least have each other. I've done this all alone." Spike never turned his head towards Luna as he spoke, so he did not see the pained expression cross Luna's face. "Spike-" She tried to explain herself before Spike interrupted. "It's not your fault, I know. Nopony is to blame here but me. I know it's not safe for me to be here. The bloodlust a dragon feels would have caused me to go feral on somepony at some point."

Luna wished there was something she could say to sway the dragon's feelings, but found no such words for it. So she opted to fly up to his face, and nuzzle against his hard scaled face. "I'm sorry Spike." Spike finally raised his head to look at Luna. "Sorry for what?" Spike looked into Luna's eyes, hoping he could find the answer in there while he waited on a response.

"I'm sorry it has to be this way. You don't deserve this fate, Spike. You were... are a good dragon. Anypony who knew you knows that." The sentiment managed to actually raise Spike's spirits, if only enough to bring himself to his feet. "Do you think I could go talk to Celestia?" Luna seemed to be taken aback by the question, before letting out a heavy sigh.

"You should go, Spike." It was Spike's turned to look surprised. Luna could tell the dragon was confused, and continued to explain. "A long time ago, our parents- A dragon killed our parents, Spike. That is why Tia sent you away. She never got over the loss, and she didn't want to see the same thing happen again." Spike was shocked; all the guilt he held over being a blood-thirsty murderer suddenly weighed a lot heavier on him.

A long silence resided over the two, and the surrounding ponies one by one exited the safety of the buildings to get a close look at the dragon conversing with the Princess of The Moon. "I'm sorry, Luna. I had held onto anger towards Celestia for years for sending me away. I feel so horrible for thinking it now." Luna's lips picked up at the sympathetic words.

"It's okay Spike, I moved on. And so should you." The two looked warmly into each other's eyes, each of them seeming to get a kind of comfort from it neither had felt in a long time. From Spike's eye, a large teardrop rolled from his cheek, and fell with a loud thud to ground. At this, a little filly approaching the distraught monster before her. "Are you okay, mister?" Spike looked down at the little filly and couldn't help but beam at her before her concerned mother pulled her away.

"Yeah, i'm gonna be fine." Seeing somepony who didn't see him as a monster was a heartwarming sight to Spike. Spike gave one last smile towards Luna, before taking off back towards the outer lands from Equestria. Coming here had proven to be a good idea after all. Of course it hurt Spike to see Ponyville disappear, but it was all for the best. He had closure now.

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Spike lived a healthy life. He had surpassed a life of over 3000 years. Even for a dragon, that is a very long time. He had long ago given up any regrets, pain, and anger he had harbored over his many, many years. There was a kind of peace that came with age, one that teaches you to truly appreciate everything you have, or have had. Spike certainly did. His final years were bliss, as he had finally made peace with the tragedies and heartstrain of his life.

It was so nice to be able to just relax and appreciate the beauty of the world around him. Spike had returned to Equestria, as there was no longer any reason for him not to. There were no longer any ponies to be seen, no towns in sight, and Canterlot was but a memory. The land was as barren now as the lands he had occupied for long. He could still recognize where Ponyville once stood. That was something that would never leave his memory, no matter his age.

Spike laid his brittle body onto the soft grass of the vast meadow that was once Ponyville. This was exactly where he wanted to be in his last moment, and he was glad he was able to find the strength to still fly here before it happened. Spike lowered his head, and closed his eyes, silently waiting. When he would wake up, he would see his friends again. Eventually, Spike's breathing ceased. A smile never left his face. He was home again.

FIN

Author's Notes: Thanks everypony for reading! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. (Although getting off my flank and stop putting off finishing this was a miracle in itself) I plan on doing more writing in the future, and am even open to story suggestions, should you have any. I may even create a side story to this, who knows. See you later, everypony!