At the very start, it was an innocent search for a few lost animals. The faunas had run and disappeared within the depths of the Everfree Forest. Consequently, Fluttershy entered the daunting forestry without a second thought, and Spike, who had been her only company at the time, followed in tow. They initially predicted their search for the missing animals would come to a successful conclusion. Though as they traveled deeper into the chilling woodland, they found themselves face to face with a pack of menacing, snarling timberwolves. Charing forward, the timberwolves attacked with the intent to kill, and it was at this moment Spike knew he had to act.

With his teeth and claws, Spike fought with all his might. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he clashed and tussled ruthlessly with the savage beasts. Bites and scratches, screams and howls, and blood and entrails splashed across the soil. Throughout the entire skirmish a shocked Fluttershy recoiled as she watched her dear friend struggle with their merciless aggressors. Speechless, the pegasus gazed in utter terror as Spike received critical damage from mindless assaults. Yet despite these hindrances the baby dragon pushed on, and after successfully scaring off the predators he stood proud and triumphant.

The light of day was at its brightest for Spike, until the swift buckle of his knees and eventual collapse brought him back to the truth of his tragedy.

(Play music)To Be Strong

“I never told you how beautiful you truly are. I’m so stupid. I can’t believe I’ve never told you that you’re so beautiful.” Spike smiled shamefacedly, eyes narrowed and unfocused. “I’m sorry I’ve never told you that. I’m so sorry if I’ve never made you feel as beautiful as you really are. I-I’m so s-sorry…”

The realization pierced at Spike’s heart, bringing the baby dragon into a soft cry.

“When we first met…I remember thinking to myself ‘that mare is so beautiful’…” Spike sniffled, maintaining a quivered smile. “Please forgive me, Fluttershy. But you are so beautiful. So very, very beautiful.”

Fluttershy’s hooves shook as she held Spike in a loving embrace, taking care not to cause any hurt or discomfort for her dear friend. She didn’t respond to the baby dragon’s heartfelt confessions. She couldn’t mutter a single word. Every racing thought stabbing at her cerebrum created a state of muddled panic, inevitably ceasing any movement or actions the pegasus felt she should or shouldn’t do. It all came down to senseless clutter. And in the end she could only find the strength to produce frightened whimpers.

“You’re so sweet and kind, and your smile always causes my heart to flutter…I guess that’s why they call you Fluttershy, huh?” Spike sniffled, chuckling dryly. “Can you believe it? I’m making little puns even now. Is this what you call ‘irony’?”

A sudden shudder in his tiny chest had Spike coughing madly. His haggard choking brought the terrified pegasus out of her frozen state. Fluttershy found it painful to breathe. The effort it took to look directly at her friend’s agonized countenance was too much for her to bear. Yet she also feared staring at his limp, ragged frame. The baby in her arms had been terribly wounded. He was torn and chewed up by the horrors of the world, and she didn’t know what to do.

“Those timberwolves came out of nowhere…” Spike breathed hoarsely, his voice slightly faltering. “B-but I…couldn’t let them hurt you. There’s no way I’d let them get near you. A-and I was able to fight them off, right? They didn’t…touch you, right?”

Spike’s pauses between breaths were becoming more frequent. His strength failing and his blood pressure slowly depleting, the baby dragon’s vitality was gradually drained second by second. In contrast, Fluttershy’s heart thrashed violently, as if about to rip out of her chest. Her lungs couldn’t have been functioning correctly, because with every intake of oxygen no relief came. Cyan eyes darted frantically over Spike’s mortal injuries, allowing her to fully comprehend the reality of the situation.

“Please tell me you’re okay, Fluttershy. Please…I need to hear your voice…” Spike pleaded weakly.

“I-I’m not hurt, Spike.” Fluttershy muttered faintly, tears beginning to well up. “I’m not hurt anywhere. You protected me. Y-you…saved me. And we’re going to be able to tell everypony about it. When we get home…w-when we get home…we-we…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence, because she knew deep down that she couldn’t lie to Spike without her throat closing up. They weren’t going back home. Just moving the baby dragon an inch sent sharp jolts of excruciating pain coursing through his nerves. She wasn’t strong enough to handle such trauma. She wasn’t brave enough to make the tough decisions. The lack of initiative on her part only suffocated the pegasus. For all she could muster was holding Spike gently as his consciousness faded.

Spike tenderly brought a palm to Fluttershy’s wet cheek. “Don’t cry…It’s okay, Fluttershy. It’s…okay. I’m just happy that you’re safe. No matter what, a friend’s health is priority…always. So be happy with me…Because you’re going to be fine.”

“Don’t say that! Don’t say those things! You’re going to be okay!” Fluttershy sobbed anxiously, trembling. “We’re both going to be okay! You’re…not leaving me! You’re not going…anywhere-“

Fluttershy wept uncontrollably. She couldn’t concentrate. She was dizzy. She was claustrophobic. Her brain was bombarded by billions of commands, screaming at her all at once. Bound by the cruelty of fate, there was no escape. She understood this but she didn’t want to accept it.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving you, Fluttershy. I-I…promise.”

Spike’s palm traveled to the pegasus’s silky mane. He opted to caress it affectionately, but the power to do so had already left his arm. As it lifelessly fell to his side, the baby dragon noticed his surroundings were growing dimmer. His time on this land was coming to an end. But before his soul could be released in its purest form, completely separating the dragon’s essence from his shell of scales, Spike knew he had to stay strong. For Fluttershy, he had to be strong.

Spike inhaled. “You know why I’ll never leave? It’s because your thoughts…bring me life. When you think of me, I’ll be alive. My place will…always be in your heart.”

“W-why is this happening? Why? Why?” Fluttershy wailed vulnerably, releasing the angst built up within her. “I don’t want to be alone, Spike! I’m scared!”

Spike smiled warmly. “You’ll never be alone. We have amazing…friends that love us. They’re always there for us. We’re so…lucky to have them.”

“B-but…” Fluttershy wheezed, choking through her sobs and feeling defeated. “I want you here with me. I want you…to be here with me. So…I beg you, Spike…Don’t leave.”

Spike hacked as he vomited blood, his innards staining Fluttershy’s torso. The rancid, coppery smell filled the baby dragon’s nostrils. The salt of its metallic flavor had him gagging until his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Breathing was laborious now. He couldn’t take much more of the agony any longer. His body was failing him, and it was time to pass on his final words.

“As long as I remain in your memory…” Spike whispered. “We’ll never be apart.”

He had so much to say, so much to experience, so much to do and so much to be. He had wanted to love. To kiss. He had dreamed about growing old with those closest to him. To observe as the world around him changed and developed. Yet it seemed destiny had different plans for the baby dragon. And at the very moment prior to his plummet into total darkness, Spike felt the warmth of his friend gripping tightly to his frame. At least, Spike thought, in death he could be held by this exquisite little angel.