//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Heaven // Story: A Secret Admirer 3: Spike's Sacrifice (AU) // by 1jckuhn //------------------------------// TEN DAYS EARLIER Spike felt all his pain suddenly vanish and he felt himself being lifted up off the ground. He opened his eyes to find he was no longer in his regular body. His eyes darted around until they fell upon his beloved harem members, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Fluttershy, sobbing over a destroyed, bloody body that the spirit of the Dragon once occupied. "Girls! Up here!" Spike screamed, trying desperately to get their attention. It didn't work. He did this a good five times, but each time was as unsuccessful as the first. He soon found himself levitating until he was on top of an enormous cloud. In front of him was a large, golden gate and to his left as a cherry wood desk with a pony behind it. She had snow white fur with sky blue eyes and a golden yellow mane and tail. She had two beautiful, large wing that were the same color as her fur and there was a glowing, golden yellow halo levitating above her forehead. He walked up to the desk and the pony took notice. "Hello, little one," she said kindly. "Welcome to heaven, where dreams come true. My name is Sunny Ray. What's your name?" "Um, hello," Spike said sheepishly. "My name is Spike." Sunny instantly became shocked. "Spike?" she asked. "Like Spike the Brave and Glorious?" "Uh, yeah," Spike said. "But," Sunny stammered. "Why did you end up here at such a young age?" Spike sighed and explained about the battle. How he grabbed Grogar's bell due to his lightning-quick thinking, how he had tricked Cozy, Chrysalis, and Tirek into firing blast after blast at the enchanted until it blew up, how enveloped all four of them in a surge of the overloaded magic, how he had told the girls, who made up one half of his harem and who he loved with every fiber of his being, that as long as they were safe, he was happy, and how he had croaked out to them to pass the message the other half of his harem that he loved them as well. When he was finished, Sunny was both shocked and sad. The moment was broken by a blood-curdling scream. Spike peered over the edge of the cloud to find the other half of his harem, excluding Starlight, who was crying silently, Ember, and Thorax sobbing over his dead body. The Princesses and Garble were also there. The Princesses stood solitary and were, like Starlight, also crying silently. Garble had his arms wrapped around his little sister, who looked the most destroyed out of everyone there. Spike had no doubt in his mind that Smolder probably let out that scream. He teared up at the sight and the worst part was, for him, not being able to give the other half of his harem, as well as his two best friends, some kind of sliver of comfort. "Is that your harem?" Sunny asked. "Yeah," Spike said as a tear fell from his face. "All 12 of them are there." Sunny did a double take. "Wait, what?" she asked. "You had 12 girls who loved you?" "Yeah," Spike said. He preceded to point out and name each harem member to Sunny. Sunny felt really bad for him. "At least I know they're safe now," Spike smiled sadly. "I love you, girls. Please don't be sad." Sunny wrapped him in a hug. "I'm sorry, little guy," she said. "Ordinarily, we do give people a little background check, but considering your history of being a hero and saving the ones that you loved most, I think we'll take the expressway to heaven. What do you say?" Spike was shocked, "You mean it?" "You bet," Sunny smiled. "Thanks, Sunny," Spike said. "You're welcome," Sunny replied. Sunny went back behind her desk and opened the gates. "There you go, Spike," Sunny said. "Enjoy. You've earned it." "Thanks again, Sunny," Spike said. "I really appreciate it." "You're welcome, Spike," Sunny said. The two bid each other farewell and Spike walked through the gates. The little Dragon did have a strange feeling in his chest that he'd see his harem again soon, but he didn't know when it'd happen. He soon came across two snow white, female alicorns. They also had one halo each levitating over their foreheads and a golden tiara rested on each of their heads. When they saw Spike, they instantly recognized him. "Hello, Spike," one Alicorn said. "My name is Aris and this is my sister, Erin. We are the twin Goddesses of heaven." "I've heard of you two," Spike said. "I did read a few books about you both, as well as heaven itself, in the Castle library. "We've heard of you as well," Erin said. "You've become a famous hero, a diplomat for two nations, and netted a harem of 12 girls by the age of 16." "You're also here, because you sacrificed yourself saving your friends and lovers," Aris added. "How-How did..." Spike stammered. "We see all that goes on in the land of Equestria," Erin said. "Wow," Spike said. "I don't know what to say. So, you two watch over the heavens?" "Not just that," Aris corrected. "We also like to give any newcomers what's in style up here." "Oh?" asked Spike. "What's that?" "Close your eyes and reopen them in exactly ten seconds," Aris instructed. Spike did what he was told, counted to ten, and reopened his eyes. Erin supplied him with a mirror and Spike was shocked at how he looked now. He had a golden halo just like Sunny and the Heaven Goddesses that stood before him and his small, purple wings were gone. In their place were two large, white, feathery wings. "What do you think?" asked Aris. "It's great," Spike smiled. "Thanks, you two." "You've earned it, Prince Spike," Erin smiled back. "Please come with us. There's actually two people whom I believe you'd love to meet." "Okay," Spike said. The two Alicorns took off and Spike followed close behind. *** The Alicorns flew until they reached a large, white house on a lone cloud. "Wait here." Aris instructed. Spie did as he was told. A few minutes later, the door opened, and Erin and Aris stepped out, followed by two big Dragons, one male and one female. Both sported a golden yellow halo and a pair of snow white, feathery, large wings as well. The male had purple scales that matched Spike's perfectly on the majority on his body. The male Dragon also had a muscular build and had an underbelly with scales that were a lighter tone of purple. His head crest looked almost identical to Spike's, only being a little too pointy, as well as being a very dark purple in color, and he had purple eyes. The female Dragon had a slim build, somewhat like Ember, moderate blue scales on the majority of her body with an underbelly that had light green underscales that matched Spike's perfectly. Her head crest was green in color and was rounded on the top, matching the shape and color of Spike's perfectly. She had Emerald eyes that were also the same color of Spike's. "Tyson and Kimba," Erin announced. "I know you've been watching over your son for 16 long years. Now, he has reunited with you, and I know you all have some catching up to do." She then turned to Spike. "Spike, I'd like you to meet your father, Tyson, and your mother, Kimba. They were killed when the cliff beneath their cave gave way. Your egg was sent airborne and was caught by another Dragon who happened to be passing by. He didn't know what to do with your egg. So, he flew to Canterlot and gave it to Celestia," she explained. "Mom? Dad?" asked Spike. "Is it really you?" "Yes, son," Tyson said with tears in his eyes. "It is." Spike immediately jumped up and lunged toward his parents, wrapping an arm each around their necks. His parents did the same with him. "We will leave you three to enjoy your family reunion," Arin announced. "We must be off. Heaven isn't going to guard itself." With that said, the two Alicorns flew off, leaving the three dragons alone to enjoy the fact that they were now a complete family after over 13 years apart. "Come on, Spike," Kimba smiled as she guided her son through the front door of the house that belonged to Tyson and her. "We have a lot of catching up to do with each other." Spike grinned from ear to ear. He was going to enjoy his new life here, finally reunited with the family he thought he'd never find.