//------------------------------//
// Memories and a Message 
// Story: The Loss of a Dragon 
// by Aetherlord_Ignus 
//------------------------------//

Twilight Sparkle searched her library's shelves frantically.  She was looking for a book.  A book that she rarely dug out.  But on a day like this, it would be needed more than ever.  Eventually she stopped.  The purple unicorn smiled as a single tear ran down her cheek.  It was her old photo album. On which was labeled,


Spike


Twilight's horn began to glow brighter as she levitated the book closer to her, and even brighter as she began to open pages.  She looked at the first picture.  Spike was taken to Twilight's dorm at the School for Gifted Unicorns on the day that photo was taken.  The photo showed him looking around it for the first time.  His eyes wide and his mouth agape in a strong, childlike wonder.  Twilight then looked at the next photo, a photo of both her and Spike.  Her parents had taken that.  Twilight sat on her bed while cradling Spike in her forelegs.  She looked at the camera with excitement.  She had good reason to.  She had become Celestia's student, earned her cutie mark and gotten Spike all in the same day.  Twilight flipped through the album some more.  When she was a filly, she had made sure to document all important events in Spike's life.  His first meal, his first steps, his first words, the time Princess Celestia enchanted him with the ability to send letters and the time that he read his first book.  Twilight had pushed him to read since the day her was born and it payed off eventually.  Twilight eventually reached the end of the book.  She began to cry, Fluttershy may have been right, but Twilight still wanted Spike back more than anything in the world.  The teary-eyed mare looked around the house.  Spike's bed, which was now empty, Owloysius, who now had the ability to magically deliver letters to and from the Princess Celestia, Twilight's dresser, on which rested a glass box containing fragments of Spike's egg.  As hard as Twilight had tried to clear her mind for the past few days, Spikes memory seemed to be haunting her everywhere she went.  She thought she had found salvation when she talked to Fluttershy, but it wasn't enough.  In a blind fit of rage, Twilight levitated Spike's bed and threw it against a wall.  The basket sank on one side and the blanket and pillow fell out of it.  As well as something else.  It was a scroll.  The scroll didn't bear a ribbon or a wax seal, so it wasn't from Twilight's shelves or from the Princess.  Twilight grabbed the scroll with her magic and opened it.  The scroll was a note.  Written in the handwriting of none other than, Spike.  Twilight read the note.





Dear Twilight,
If you are reading this it means that you've found it from under my pillow, as well as me.  As you already know, I'm ill.  What you didn't know however was that I had always had a strong feeling that this would be my last day alive.  I can feel my life slipping away from me, but I at least have enough energy to write you this note and hide it under my pillow.  I know that it was devastating when you saw me like this, but I must say that I believe that my time has come.  Despite only ten pony years, I feel that I have fulfilled my journey down the road of life.  I know that you are on an errand right now, so you won't be with me, but somehow, that's how I feel it should be.  While you are on your errand you will at least have some last feelings of bliss until you come home.  I beg of you to not feel guilty about this in anyway.  You have already done enough for me.

I also want to tell you how lucky I feel to have had a friend like you.  You have taken care of me since I was first born and I am very grateful.  You where always there for me and you always loved me no matter what the circumstances.  Thank you for everything.

Yours truly,
Spike.





Twilight put the letter down, astounded at what she just read and angry at herself for not finding this sooner.  Suddenly, a feeling of bliss flew through her.  She almost felt like she could be happy again.  She realized what was troubling her the most.  It was the feeling of guilt.  But, Spike had forgiven her, and she felt so happy.  Twilight hugged the note tight in her forelegs.

"Oh, Spike," she said looking down at the note, "I love you so much."