//------------------------------//
// A broken promise, and a new friend 
// Story: From the Ruins 
// by Doctor Derpin 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 7
A broken promise, and a new friend
--Galvanic Spark--

Twilight's warning still echoed in Galvanic Spark's mind as he walked toward his new house. Looks like you were wrong Shine, he thought to himself, she can't even stand my presence, let alone love me. "You know, Twilight doesn't realy dislike you." A familiar voice said from behind him, Sweetie Belle.
"Who?" Spark tried to play it off, and failed.
"I know you're not stupid, Spark. You talked just like Twilight back there; and I know that you know who I'm talking about." The filly said with the same cheery voice she had greeted him with earlier that day.
"I'm sorry to disapoint you, but I have no I idea what you're going on about." He said, trying to stay cheery while making it clear he wanted space.
Sweetie Belle sighed in exaspiration, "I don't think Twilight dislikes you." she said, still pushing the issue.
"I'm not discussing this right now." Spark said in a rather forceful tone, so they walked along in silence for the rest of the way to his new house.
Once they arrived and Spark was about to open the door Sweetie Belle looked at Spark with her big green eyes and asked something that caught him a little off guard, "Are we friends?"
Spark froze, the whole reason he had been wandering for so long was to avoid attachment and, by extension, the pain of loss. Say no. Just get it over with and move on in a day or two, she'll be fine. Odds are you'll be forgotten in a couple weeks. he told himself, but when he turned and saw those two questioning eyes he thought for another moment and chuckled "Yeah, I... I guess we are." Then he opened the door grabbed his bags and went in to get situated.
It only took about an hour to get everything where it needed to be in his new home No, not home.. HOUSE... Home implies attachment, you're leaving in a couple days! he scolded himself. His headache was returning, I'll figure it out later, Spark promised himself for now, I just need sleep. So, he walked over to the little bed he'd made up with the blaket from his pack as he looked it over he said to himself "Something's missing." then he walked back to the little packs and took the only thing left out. The picture had gotten worn from all the traveling it had done, but the memories it held were still just as powerfull. It was a picture of them at their last school dance together, Shine was wearing the most beautiful orange dress Spark had ever seen; she was giving him the look she gave him whenever he did something dopey that said 'Boy, what am I going to do with you?'; that night was the greatest night of his life. Underneath all the happy memories, though, was pain. "You," He said as the tears welled up and begain to run down his face, "You're what's missing... This would all be okay if I still had you with me Shine." Normaly, Galvanic Spark tried to avoid crying. Now, however, there was nothing to lose; so he let it all fall out until he cried himself to sleep.
Spark "awoke" in his old dorm room again, his heart fluttered She's going to be here! He bolted out of bed and opened the door, but there was nopony there. Just a note. The unicorn picked it up with his magic and opened it. He read it and dropped it to the floor, his heart broken. The letter simply read: "I never thought you were one to break a promise. I guess I was wrong." It had been in her writting, he had let her down. Falling to his knees he choked out between sobs "I'm sorry Shine, I just can't love anyone else." Then, everything went black.
Spark was woken by little knocks on his door. He looked out his window, It's the middle of the night, who would be coming for me at this hour? He asked while rolling out of bed. Mabye I did something wrong and Twilight's here to do good on her warning, but what would I have done? He reached the door and opened it slowly. It wasn't Twilight at all, it was Sweetie Belle "Do you know what time it is?" Spark asked.
"I'm sorry, but Rarity told me to take a walk for a couple hours. I'm kinda scared to go out alone, and Scootaloo's still sick." The fear was obvious from the look on her face. "Would you mind walking with me? It's really nice out."
She was right, the cool night air felt good on Spark's head, "Sure, why not?" He responded, stepping out onto the front porch, Sweetie Belle was visably relieved.
"Where should we go?" She asked
"Why are you asking me? YOU'RE the one that knows this place, I'm just along for the ride."
"Hm, let me think." Sweetie said.
"Come on in while you think," Spark said, "I've got to get a couple things fixed up before we go."
He brought her in and she sat on his bed. Spark went to make a new bandage for the cut on his head, while he was working with a bit of cloth his new friend walked in with something in her hooves and asked "Spark, who's this a picture of?"
He turned to see her examining the photo that he'd been carrying with him since the night it was taken. His first instinct was to grab it, but he scolded himself for that She isn't going to ruin it, and you can't just keep her a secret forever. "That's Golden Shine." He said, trying to keep the anguish from his voice.
Sweetie Belle examined the picture for a little longer then looked up to Spark, "Was she your marefriend?"
He sighed "Yeah, she was."
"They killed her didn't they... the destroyers?" she asked sympatheticaly.
"No... no... we made it out of Canterlot together." he said as he started to tear up again, but this time, it stung because of all the crying a few hours earlier.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did she die?"
Spark choked back his tears and prepared to answer, "I did something stupid, and she died helping me."
"I'm so sorry, Spark." she said.
"It's alright, I'll be okay. I think we should get some fresh air."
Spark almost jumped when he first felt Sweetie Belle's hug, but it comforted him none the less. "There's a place in the orchard not very far from where you can see the moon and stars really well. It's a good place to think." She said as she let go.
How do you do it, Sweetie Belle? You're so young and yet you understand that sometimes all ponies need is some quiet thought. he thought as they walked out the door. In about five minutes the pair had arrived, and Sweetie was right, the place was beautiful. She showed Spark to her favorite spot, just under one of the bigest apple trees still alive. After a moment of silence, there was a rustling near them. Spark bolted to his feet ready to protect the filly. The pony that emerged was one of the most flamboyant looking ponies he'd ever seen. He knew the spell that would break her neck, but before he could cast it Sweetie Belle happily called out to the mare "Pinkie Pie!"