Dear Spike
I've gotten your letter, and I thank you for writing to me after so long. I'm happy to know that you are still around and kicking. I am never too busy for my favorite dragon.
To answer a few of your questions, I'm doing fine mostly. Thank you for asking. I'm also very glad to hear that you have rejoined the police department. I knew they'd be happy to have you again. I hope you've gotten your original badge. I kept it safe for you.
I have taken your assumption into consideration, much more than you think. It is the main reason why I took so long to respond. I do believe you have a point. If you want I would like to do you one more favor: I'll have your next assignment to go to Ponyville. You'll get to see some friends and even try and make peace with a few of them. Maybe you'll even make some new friends. If you find any evidence that suggest Twilight was, much as I hate to say the word, murdered, then you are to send me a letter as soon as magically possibly.
Lovingly
Princess Celestia
Spike watched the stars twinkle like diamonds. His mouth watered at the mention of such rare stones. He wiped his mouth and wiped the slobber on the grass next to him. The moonlight reflected off the grass, creating a natural ambiance. The ambiance felt very similar to something he'd felt...a long time ago.
"Hey sugar cube." a voice said from beside him. He knew that accent anywhere.
"Hey Apples. Come to give me another whack in the head?"
"No, although I wish I could." Spike heard a rustle of grass as he assumed Applejack had repositioned herself, "Spike, look at me." Spike did so. To his right lay Applejack, or at least his memory of her. Her body a silhouetted version of herself. She had a slight glow to her body giving off a radiance that made the grass itself appear to burn.
"Look sugar I know this must be very hard for ya, what with losing everything and all that, but you can't start chasing after things that aren't there." Spike hallucination took a breath, "Just...telling the truth is only a part of honesty, it includes believing that truth. You have to tell yourself the truth before you can tell anypony else."
Spike sat up and looked into the stars, his eyes watering slightly, "I...understand what you're getting at Applejack but...what if...I'm right? What if, in honest truth, Twilight was murdered and didn't commit suicide? I've been sitting around believing she killed herself for over fifty-five years now, ten of those spent sleeping. I need to make sure that what I believe is the truth."
He waited for the response of his minds delusion, expecting something along the lines of 'you don't have to do this' or 'you're foolish for thinking that way'. What he got was a chuckle and a smile. "Sugarcube, I never told you not to go find out. If this is what you need, then you should do it as soon as possible. From what I know you have next weekend off right?" Spike nodded, "Well then, gosh dang it, go for it!"
The drake smiled, a lot of trouble having left his mind. He thought about it. Of course the Element of Honesty would tell him to find the truth.
"Thanks Applejack."
The orange earth pony smiled happily at Spike and stood up. Leaning towards him for a hug the two were about to share an embrace. Instead Spike felt nothing but air, the mare removed from his grasp once again like so many years ago. His claws fell to the ground, the only physical thing there worth touching.
Why? Why did he have to be a dragon? Why couldn't have been born a pony, or maybe even a dog? Any thing was better than watching those he loved pass away into the sands of time. Enveloped like quicksand into the end of the cycle of life.
Spike stood up and looked into the distance, his dark-vision allowing a view of the entire landscape. He imagined it the way it was. Much as he hated it, the world changed, inwardly and outwardly. It had only been a matter of time before he had changed too. He knew that long before Twilight had died. She'd taught him enough, that he would change, and that had terrified him. Now that it's happened, he could only smile at the memory of being afraid. It was a past that no other remembered, a part of his mind no one explored. Now he had to delve as deep into that cave as he could and pull out the truth he wanted.
Spike trudged down the streets of Manehatten. It was surprisingly quiet but Spike wasn't going to complain, at least not until he hears a gunshot. He continued to walk, taking in all the sights, not that that was what he was here for. He had important matters to attend to.
"Oh don't start doing that." Spike looked at Shades with an eyebrow raised.
"Don't do what?"
"That." she motioned a hoof at his face. "The whole, brooding thing you do. You look like you're on your way to a funeral most of the time. If someone had to guess, they'd probably assume you were going to your own funeral with the way you carry about." Spike felt a little offended at the remark and it showed on his face.
"I do not brood."
"Oh yes you do! Your brood a whole lot, and you used to brood before you went to sleep."
Spike set a claw on his face with a groan, "Please tell me why I had to be friends with one of the few creatures that age at the same rate I do." Shades merely giggled, not answering Spike's question. They continued to bicker amongst themselves as they finally reached their destination.
"All aboard! Next stop Ponyville!" a voice over the nearby speakers announced. After a short exchange of tickets, they boarded the train and found their room.
Spike lay on one side of the small room, staring at the roof. His thoughts wandering. His batty compatriot sat reading a book, The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Moowis. As Spike lay their thinking, Dark Shades noticed his other worldly stare and closed her book.
"Alright, I can't read with you like that, so at least tell me what's going on in that head of yours."
The drake didn't say anything for a few seconds and Shades was afraid that he may not of heard her. Her thoughts were held at bay as he spoke. "I'm...just thinking about a few things. Nothing import..." telling the truth is only a part of honesty "Well...on second thought I guess I could use your help. As you know, I'm from Ponyville." the bat winged pony nodded, "And you remember me telling what...happened, right?" another nod. "Well, I think it's time I told you all the details."