//------------------------------// // Loss // Story: Hard Court Press // by Hillbe //------------------------------// Loss Spike sat in the grass staring at the tombstone the inscription all so newly carved and it stung his heart. He laid a single red rose across the image he so dutifully cut by his own claws and shed a single tear. As a useful assistant and ever helpful dragon Spike felt useless, his lady Rarity would be proud of how the Drake handled the arrangements, It had been a week after that terrible night when she awoke. _______________________________ "Spike?" Rarity whispered in a shaky voice "Spike look at me". He looked at the frightened mare, she was as radiant as the first day he saw her in the hall decorating it for that Summer Sun Celebration and he then realized she was back to before she was pregnant with his foals. Her petit claws were gone and her pony features returned. "I'll get Twilight stay put!" Spike was only gone for a moment as he dragged the half asleep Princess of Friendship back into the room. Rarity looked awfully tired her pleading looks were answered with Spike crawling in the bed with her and holding her close, he could feel her cool skin under her fur as Twilight examined her to get to the extent of the medical emergency. "Spike I need you to stand back I need to use a containment with a stasis spell, I've got to get her to the hospital stat!" Rarity held his cheek gave him a weak peck on the snoot "The foals precious scales..." Spike and Rarity locked their eyes to each others heart and in a flash of magic the two mares were gone. Crimson Red, Ruby and Unique Sapphire slept soundly, Spikes little clan needed a sitter but he couldn't just leave to find one at this hour of the night and a thought crawled from within his mind, so he scribbled out a quick note and let it burn. Luna watched Spike leave the crystal castle in haste. Her heart broke at the news of this couples plight, The moon princess did something she hadn't done in over a thousand years. She wept for the foals as a mother would her own. _______________________________________ Spike waddled slowly along to the graveyards exit the iron works rusted and stones faded with time, he studied the plaques of those who passed on, some alone, others as couples and even whole generations buried for histories untold. Some had lived long lives full of happiness, some had died in battle. Some had glorious tributes, some epitaphs were humorous, some seemed to be written by Pinkie Pie herself. Spike thought at that moment that some dragon would have a little serious talk to Mrs. Pie about morbid comedy but not now. Later much much later. Right now he had to pick up his dracony foals from Fluttershy. __________________________________________ The castle bustled with activity, ponies coming and going some reminiscing of times old and comforting each other. Apple Jack remained quiet as she removed her hat giving her regards and gave him a reassuring hug. He saw a moist set of eyes and understood her pain of losing her parents so long ago "It's ok Apple Jack we'll be fine" her breath answered in a stifled hush. The draconic foals gathered around her hooves trying to comfort the sad farmer with hugs "I know ya will partner" AJ softly said returning the hugs to the little ones. Rainbow, Pinkie and Frosty sat at the castles reception area addressing visitors and friends concerns. Seeing to everypony needs and answering question for the crown. Spike made his rounds thanking the visitors and family, he gathered his offspring and set off to see Twilight. "Dad, when can we see mom?" "Soon" Spikes thought went to the marble slab with the red rose "We need to see Auntie Twilight first". "Why?" "Crimson Watch you little sister please" Spike hoped that the task of watching his little sister would keep the twin busy instead of asking anymore questions that would take an encyclopedia or Auntie Twilight to answer. Clinical Twilight was the Twilight ponyville most feared only next to Crazy Twilight and this week was a combination of both crazy and clinical and for a soul to expire for no reason was reason enough for the Princess to blow a few gaskets, get vapor locked and to just break down in frustration screaming at the gods for not being able to do anything with the saving of a life. She had actually preformed the examination only to be taken by the hospital staff to the local mental ward for observation. "Twi? Spike asked "How ya doing?" "I think I'm Okay for now, I'm sorry I couldn't do anything But I did find out it was caused by a common virus I'm sure next..." "Twilight! please" Spikes forceful tone softened "lets go see everybody and ask the doctors to remove your restraints again". Spike didn't care for hospitals all that much but understood that medical science advances often stood on the shoulders of tragedy. "It's okay Twi I know we'll be fine everypony has our backs like we've got yours. You did your best even if things didn't end for the better". As the two walked down the hallway the Crusader mares were volunteering a little time and a little blood and a bit of tears as the needles drew blood to be used for the sake of others, the line of other waiting donors stretching down the hall and around the corner. "Sir Spike" a Doctor called "We have the results of the tests, if you may come with us? "Ah can you release Twilights restraints?" Spike motioned to the cocooned princess of delusional powers of what ever "please?" "Only if she promises to behave herself and not get so deeply involved that it compromises her own well being, Can you DO that?" The twin pongons snickered at the sight of a restrained auntie princess "Auntie Twi was bad" and "She looks like a purple hoofball". Spike followed the foals as the three little ones scampered through the door ahead of him. Twi took a deep calming breath and walked in. Twilight entered the room where Spike and the rest of his clan sat around waiting for the Princess of Worry, she looked around seeing all the relatives Hondo, Cookie, Sweetie Belle, Frosty, Crimson, Red, Sapphire, Spike, a soothing voice caught her ears "Twilight my dear If it wasn't for Spike keeping tabs on you I believe the whole kingdom would falter and crumble into chaos". Rarity was laying propped up on a mound of pillows her hooves wrapped around her clan, Spike held her up and cradled the lady softly as she returned the favor "Thank you for taking care of Angelicas arrangements we'll take time to visit once I'm well". Spike thought back to the red rose and Angelicas plaque. Some days you feel helpless and alone powerless against fate but most days like today you do what you can. The papers epitaph for Angelica was a single line in the obituary section somewhere in the back next to the cheap advertising for garage sales and date pick ups for singles. It was published like the others with the usual fanfare hot off the presses. Spike thought of that single red rose.