Sky Asp went searching for treasure to prove to his future mate that he’s a qilin worth his fire.

Instead, he discovers the cave of a dragon — the last dragon in existence. And in that cave is something worth far more than any amount of treasure he could possibly find.

There are a hundred recipes to serve to a changeling, but for Spike they all boil down to just one thing.

Written for the Make Spike Suffer Contest contest.

Special thanks to Astrarian for editing.

"Then Twilight looked up at me with this shattered look, and I realized....
Her foal is dead on account of I let him realize that we’re all just Winonas."

The first draft was a co-bronze-medalist in the the MLPChan /fic/ writeoff for December 2012.

The talented Ponychan /art/ denizen Spirit Shine provided us with a beautifully poignant portrait of Spike's First New Year's Alone as a picture prompt (also: was gracious enough to let me use the image as a cover). I ran with it and decided to have Applejack kill Spike.

It's not as bad as it sounds. Luna's there to keep him company.

On a calm and snowy night, just a few days before Hearth's Warming, Spike decides to check up on Twilight to see if she's doing okay.

Twilight has been through much hardship recently, but thankfully, over the past year she's gotten much better since. However, with fears still lingering in Spike's mind, he wants to be absolutely certain that Twilight's improved well-being stays that way.

And he'll do it by doing what he does best at. By being right by her side. There for her. Always.

Teen Rating: A moment of strong language.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this. You're criticism is much appreciated
ARTWORK by: Seabridge Drive THANK YOU!

Spike carries each of the most important ponies in his life home after a long day.

A commission-turned-gift for B_25

UPDATE: A Spanish language translation for Carry Me Home is now available, made by Spaniard Kiwi on his deviantart.

UPDATE (2024): Them's Writin' Words podcast did a wonderful review of this story. I appreciate all the thought and work put in to their critiques and all the kind words.

Poor Spike, all he wanted to do is spend time near the pony he adores. Now, because of one little lie, he's in real trouble. A geography bee, a macabre doppelgänger, and an icebox all play their part as Spike and Rarity once again find themselves on pins and needles...

The friends we take for granted are often the ones that leave the largest impact on our lives. When Spike falls seriously ill with a mysterious disease and the ponies strive to nurse him back to health, Twilight Sparkle comes to grips with this very realization about her number one assistant--and friend.

EDIT: So this little story made it on Equestria Daily on 10/8/12. Now please excuse me while I pass out on Rarity's fainting couch while murmuring a soft Fluttershy "...yay."

Spike the Dragon has always loved Rarity, from the moment they met. At the time, he didn't know much about what love meant, but as he grew, so too did his understanding. And every day, he found he was still in love with her, if not always for the same reasons.

Rarity has taken a long time to love Spike. It took so long to see him as anything but a child, then somehow longer to see him as more than a friend with an unrequited crush. Every day, she wakes up and finds that it takes her a moment to remember that she is in love.

So, how do such things end? They end the same way things always do with dragons. A great roar, and then an even greater silence.

A belated birthday present for FamousLastWords. No, I don't know why he wanted this either.

There was a question... and Spike wanted the answer. The curiosity of it was gnawing at his little dragon brain like gerbils in a vat of candy corn. In desperation, he turns to Cadence for help, and she's more than happy to assist.

After all, it's just a simple question. What's the worst that could happen?

(Takes place prior to Season 1. Rated for scattered innuendo.)

Spike goes over his thoughts and feelings as he spends time with his sickly love in her final moments.