//------------------------------// // The Truth Hurts // Story: Spike the Fairy // by PonyJoel //------------------------------// "Twilight, can it wait? Discord isn't well," Starlight says. "No. Discord is going to answer all my questions. I want them answered right now!" Twilight is fuming after hearing what Yona said a moment ago. "Twilight, we don't know if it's true or not. Perhaps Discord was protecting Spike when Cozy went after him," Neighsay said. "Heal him. So he can speak for himself," Twilight glares at Discord. Princess Celestia and Luna trot up to Discord. Discord looks at the Princesses. Luna wishes it was under better circumstances, and Celestia is disappointed with Discord for deceiving Twilight and every creature all this time. The two ignite their horns and heal Discord. Discord gets up after being healed and looks at every creature around him. "Where's Spike?" Twilight demands to know where Spike is. Discord turns to his right. Celestia is glaring at him. He now knows he can't hide anymore. "Well?!" Twilight stomps her hooves in anger. The force from her stomp cracks the concrete, scaring the students and everyone around her. "Twilight, calm down," Applejack pleas. Twilight ignores Applejack and focuses all of her attention on Discord. "Don't make me ask twice." "Discord, don't delay and answer her question. She has the right to know," Princess Celestia says. Discord takes a deep breath, he was hoping for the right time, and it backfired like the time he tried to get closer to Twilight during the Storm King invasion. He looks at Twilight in the eyes and sees pure hatred and anger. "Spike isn't here with us anymore." "What do you mean Spike isn't here anymore? Where is he?!" Twilight barks at Discord. "What happened to him?!" Discord takes another deep breath. "The night I saw Spike, he was sad. He told me everything you and your friends, excluding Starlight Glimmer, put him through. He told me exactly what kind of abuse he took from you six. The neglect and abandonment," Discord is sounding serious while he speaks. "That trauma that you gave him had him thinking about what to do next. He was afraid that the rest of his days are to be in enslavement. If I hadn't stepped in when I did, Spike would have committed suicide to be free." The Unity Seven, Starlight Glimmer, Rockhoof, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, every creature else except for the Princesses are in shock and horror to hear such a thing. Twilight's anger turn to sadness. Tears stream on her facing thinking that Spike was close to ending his life. "That night when we last spoke, he made a wish, and I grant it. He said: I wish to live in a world where I can be free and make all sorts of new friends. Going on adventures, partying, creating new memories, laughing, and having fun." "Where is he now?" Twilight asks. "No clue," Discord answers. "WHAAAAAAAAAT?!" Twilight's sadness turns to anger. "What do you mean, no clue? Where in Celestia's name did your magic send Spike?" "As I said, I have no clue where my magic send Spike off to." "Why in the wide, wide world would you send Spike and not know where he's going?! Are you that stupid? Also, how do we know that your wish granted him happiness? You're basically a chaotic deity that deceives everyone for your benefits! Spike could be more miserable than we think!" Twilight snorts. "Spike is not miserable." "How do you know? You don't even know where he is, so clearly you don't know that he's happy!" "Right before I go to bed at times, I would see a star twinkle in the night, and for some reason, I believe it's Spike thanking me." "I want Spike back. You are going to bring him back home, Discord," Twilight demands. "Sorry, that's out of my element." "I wish Spike comes home right now!!" Twilight demands with her wish. "That's technically interfering with Spike's wish. I'm not granting it." "Oh yes, you are. You owe me. There are wrongs you've committed, and you owe me for the pain and suffering I endured because of you! More importantly, the pains and suffering my friends went through. What gave you the intention of turning yourself into Spike in the first place?" Discord sighs heavily. "I was testing you six to see if you are worthy of being friends with Spike. Also, I wanted to answer a what-if scenario. Turns out, if Spike would have gone to Canterlot that evening, instead of making the wish, he would have been fine. I'm sorry that it came down to reveal my true intentions like this." "I know how you're going to make it up to me for denying my dream to become Headmare of the school I built. You are to grant my wish. I wish Spike didn't make the wish he made that night." Everyone gasps at Twilight's wish in order for Spike to remain in Equestria. "I cannot grant that wish. That still interferes with Spike's happiness wish." "What wish can I make that wouldn't interfere with Spike's wish?" Discord sighs. "I don't want to answer that." "Discord," Fluttershy walks up to him. "Please tell us. Spike is our friend." "He isn't Fluttershy. According to Spike, he's done with you," Discord replies. "How can we apologize if he's isn't around?" Applejack asks Discord. "Some things are better left unsaid and to let go," Discord answers Applejack's question. "Please. You've nearly put all of Equestria on the brink of war for how you enacted as Spike. I know there are some things he wouldn't do. Like the blood incident," Fluttershy said. "Yea? What was all that about?" Rainbow flies up to Discord. Discord sighs. "While disguised as Spike, I understand how hard he has it by being with you lot. Unable to do anything, his life being in jeopardy due to careless actions, being used as a tool. If Twilight squeezed Spike for fire, he wouldn't have bled. I did it and, it's a constant reminder of that mistake because I was so angry. Angry in the sense that Twilight was lying throughout the Storm King's invasion. I'm sorry for having you all go through a lot of pain and punishments." "I forgive you, Discord," Fluttershy says. "Same with me. Despite what you did, it gave me time to reflect on my actions and how to better myself," Rainbow admits. "I admit that I've done my fair share of wrongs after counting them. Especially hogtying Spike for sport," Applejack said. "There's no excuse of how I treated Spike and used his love for me as an advantage. I regret using him as a tool throughout the years," Rarity said. "I made my Pinkie Promise to never forget a friend, the way I have forgotten about Spike. I've been blind to my pranking spree when in reality, I was hurting him more," Pinkie said, she uses her tail to wipe some tears away. "I'm still waiting," Twilight said impatiently. "Sorry, I refuse to give you an answer, Twilight." "Please, Discord," Fluttershy asks. "It could help Twilight cope better." "Discord," Princess Celestia walks up to him. "You deceived every creature for many months now. You owe it to Twilight and her friends to see things through. You sent Spike to a world he doesn't belong. All creatures should stay in the world where they are meant to be." "Spike belongs here, not there. No creature should live in a world that they don't belong in!" Twilight said, agreeing with Celestia's statement. "Hypocrites," Discord said. "Excuse us?" Princess Celestia and Twilight are confused by Discord's statement. "You just said that no creature should live in a world that they don't belong in," Discord snaps his claw and a journal appears in front of Twilight and Celestia. "If you truly believe that, then bring Sunset Shimmer back home." "What?!" Princess Celestia and Twilight said in shock. "You heard me," Discord responds. "Sunset Shimmer is a unicorn that originated here and is living in a world she doesn't belong. If what you say is true for Spike, then it's true for Sunset Shimmer." "Sunset Shimmer has a purpose for being in the alternate dimension. She is pivotal in that world!" Twilight said in defense of Sunset Shimmer. "So, what you're saying is, all other creatures should stay while Pony Kind gets to travel between dimensional plains. Is that what you're telling everyone?" "Well, I.., uh..," Twilight stutters a bit with her wording. "Also, Spike could be pivotal in the world he's in now. You're also saying that Sunset's happiness in another world is more important than Spike's?" Twilight grits her teeth while responding to Discord's question. "No. Sunset's happiness is not more important than Spike's." "Bring Sunset Shimmer here and tell her why she has to stay in Equestria," Discord dares Twilight. "Not until you tell me how to make the wish that won't interfere with Spike's wish." Discord sighs heavily once more; he sees how persistent Twilight is in getting her desire. "Discord. Tell Princess Twilight what to say. Please. Twilight and her friends need to see it through," Princess Celestia asks. "And if Spike refuses to come back to Equestria?" Discord asks. Princess Celestia sighs. "We'll try other matter of reasons. If that doesn't work, he can.., stay..." "I think that's fair. Considering the good intentions Discord made throughout the span of being Spike," Princess Luna says. "Very well. Twilight, you need to say: I wish my friends and I can go to the world that Spike wished at the right time." "No trickery?" Twilight asks. "There'll be none of that," Discord says. "However, you need to bring Sunset Shimmer to Equestria before I can make the wish. Until then, I'm going home. I haven't used my chaos magic in so long. I need to reenergize. Once I feel better, I'll grant the wish," Discord teleports back to his chaos realm. "What's gonna happen now with School of Friendship?" Yona asks. Starlight makes an announcement. "The School of Friendship will now be suspended indefinitely until further notice. Every creature is to go home." The students leave the school. The Unity Seven goes to the dorm to discuss what has happened. Twilight storms off to her castle. Starlight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity follow Twilight. Twilight enters her castle, tears stream down her face. She's angry, she's sad, she's a lot of things right now, Starlight and the other catch up with her. "Twilight," Starlight approaches Twilight. "I can't believe that maniacal maniac Discord was Spike this whole time. He told every creature what happened. We nearly went to war cause of his big mouth. He denied my destiny of becoming Headmare to teach students about the Elements of Harmony and how pivotal friendship is. He lied to us, kept Spike hidden from us and, what he did was good for us?" "Twilight, we nearly pushed Spike to commit suicide. If Discord didn't step in, we wouldn't have the opportunity to apologize to him now," Applejack said. "I agree with AJ, Twilight. We were careless with Spike as a friend. It's a hard pill to swallow. We can hope when the time comes to make the wish; Spike would be in a forgiving mood," Rainbow states. "Even though we received unfair punishments due to Discord, we kinda deserved it for how we treated Spike for years," Pinkie said. "I know I deserved it after using his love for me. If he were here right now, I would tell him that I love him. He may not be a pony but, he's kind, sweet, and caring. And I've been looking at the wrong ends in trying to find the right stallion," Rarity admits. "You know what's worse?" Twilight asks her friends. They are silent. "I have to tell Sunset Shimmer she can't live in the other world no more. I have to take her happiness away for us to be happy. I want Spike to come home. I want to redeem myself. I need Spike. I want to correct my wrongful doings and raise him again, care for him, and be the mother I'm supposed to be." "Or, we could let him go and be happy," Fluttershy said. "No way. Spike is coming home one way or another. He doesn't belong there. Plus, Discord is deceptive. Spike's wish for all we know could be a death wish!" Starlight and the others are quiet after Twilight's statement. During this time. Discord is at home eating chocolate-coated potatoes when he hears a knock on his door. "Who can that be?" Discord opens the door to see Princess Celestia and Luna by the door. "How did you two find me here?" "I asked the mailpony to locate your house after I sent him the invitations to deliver to you for the Grand Galloping Gala." "Ooooooh," Discord scratches the back of his head. "May we come in?" Princess Luna asks. "Uh.., sure..," Discord allows the Princess to enter his home. "So, why come all this way to see me?" "I know you know where Spike is. So please, tell my sister and me where Spike is," Princess Celestia asks. Discord groans. "I don't know where Spike is. How many times do I have to say it?" "So if we wish to know where Spike is, will your magic accurate guess Spike's location?" Princess Luna asks. "Yes," Discord reluctantly nods. "If you were to wish, my magic shall grant it. However, I'm in no condition to make any wishes. I haven't used my chaos magic in a long time." "How long will it take?" Princess Celestia asks. Discord sighs. "In a few months. Look. I promise to go to you two and Twilight on the day that I'm 100%. Chaos magic recovery is a longer process than regular magic and alicorn magic." "Very well. When the day comes, no excuses, no delays, and no prolong. Also, my sister and I will be going with you to retrieve Spike." "Say what now," Discord and Princess Luna say in unison. "If Twilight is unable to reason with Spike, then I'll have to. I'll be the one that'll reason with Spike and his importance to all of Equestria. The Bar of Alliance, the School of Friendship, every creature that you impacted, Discord." "Ooooh..," Discord gulps a bit. "Then Luna will show Spike how bad Twilight needs him for her sanity." "Celestia, I didn't agree to this," Princess Luna said. She's a bit disgusted with Celestia's decree. "It's not about Spike anymore. It's for all of our subjects. Imagine Ember, Thorax, Rutherford, and Grampa Gruffs reaction when they find out that Spike was Discord all along. How do you think they'll react?" "I.., I don't know," Princess Luna said. "And, I don't want to find out. It sucks, but now, it's for the greater good. I will allow Twilight to have a second chance with Spike, and if Spike doesn't want Twilight, he'll be free to choose his path in our world." "And what if he refuses to come back, Princess Celestia. What then?" Discord asks. "We'll try something else or let him go," Princess Celestia answers. "So, you're willing to strip his happiness away for the sake of Twilight?" "It's bigger than Twilight, Discord. As I mentioned, it's for all of Equestria, thanks to you," Princess Celestia leaves Discord's home and teleports to Canterlot Castle. "I'm sorry it came down to this, Discord. Once my sister set her eyes on something, there's no going back. I wish it was under better circumstances." "Me too," Discord looks down. "Do you think Spike'll resist?" "Absolutely. Spike will fight for his happiness. I hope that Princess Celestia nor Twilight try to use other methods to bring Spike back to Equestria." Princess Luna sighs. "Only time will tell. Take care, Discord. I'll be visiting you more often." Discord watches Princess Luna teleporting to Canterlot Castle. He slumps on the couch, thinking of the many possibilities that are underway. Especially, Twilight. Taking away Sunset's happiness to bring Spike home. Discord wonders if he made the mistake of disguising himself as Spike or not. "What have I done?" Discord said as he starts to think about everything he did throughout his span as Spike.