//------------------------------//
// A Veritable Avalanche 
// Story: Spike's Secret 
// by Strawberry Sunrise 
//------------------------------//

“I’m home!” Twilight called. “And I got you your favorite, Spike!”
Spike’s footsteps echoed in the distance until he arrived at the castle entrance. “The new Power Ponies comic?”
“Well, yes…” Twilight said, hoofing over the comic. Spike grinned as he took the comic, his eyes glowing with joy.
“Thank you!” Spike said. “This is the one where the Masked Matterhorn is finally going to come face-to-face with the Sinister Seapony!”
“No spoilers!” Twilight said. “I still need to catch up!”
“You really do,” Spike said. “Then we can finally talk about who would win in a fight - Super-Filly or the Roan Ronin? I’m thinking the Roan Ronin because just last issue -”
“No spoilers, remember!” Twilight said.
“Right, sorry,” Spike said. He turned to leave.
“Wait!” Twilight said. “I got you this!” She held up a large emerald. “I thought you might like a snack to go with your reading.”
“Oh, uh…thanks,” Spike said. He took the emerald with a quick smile, then dashed off.


ONE MONTH LATER


“I’m home!” Twilight called. “Oh, hi, Spike!”
Spike was already at the entrance this time, nearly bouncing with anticipation.
“Looks like somepony’s excited!” Twilight said, hoofing over the newest Power Ponies issue. “Don’t forget to let me read it next!” She had caught up during the past month and was nearly as excited as him, though she was doing a better job of keeping it in check.
“I can’t believe they left it on that cliffhanger!” Spike said. “But this is the end of the arc, so things have to be resolved this time.”
“I got you a little something else, too,” Twilight said. “Can you guess what it is?”
“A…chocolate cake from Sugarcube Corner?” Spike asked.
“Not quite, but it’s even better!” Twilight said. She pulled out a large emerald and gave it to Spike.
Spike was looking intently down at the comic cover and didn't say anything for a moment. He looked back up and took the emerald. “Oh, thanks!” he said, then he left.


ONE MONTH LATER


“...the new issue!”...
“This one’s the beginning of a new arc! The Power Ponies are teaming up with the Beautiful Breezies to save the rainforest!"...
“And the Broken Bronco; don’t forget him!”...
“Don’t forget this!”...
“Thanks...”


ONE MONTH LATER

“It’s here!”...
“Thanks!”...
“Wait, I also got you…THIS!”
…
…
…
Spike sighed, ran his palm down his face, and took a deep breath.
“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked, putting the emerald she had been holding out back into her saddlebag.
“Twilight, there’s…there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you for…a long time,” Spike said.
“Oh…?” Twilight said. “Is it something to do with the comic?”
“No, it’s not that. Look, maybe it would be easiest if I just show you,” Spike said.
“Sure…” Twilight said, her face betraying a mix of confusion and concern.
Spike sighed again. “Follow me,” he said. The two of them began walking through the castle’s many labyrinthine passages, heading toward the lower levels where only magical torches lit the way.
“You know that locked room we found when we were first exploring the castle?” Spike asked. “The one that wouldn’t open even with magic?”
“Yes…?” Twilight said. “I still have some theories about that. Like maybe we need to do a certain number of missions from the cutie map to get it to open, or maybe we…”
“I got it open months ago,” Spike said, his tone impassive.
“You…you what?!” Twilight exclaimed, momentarily breaking her stride.
“I found the key; it was just in one of the other rooms of the castle,” Spike said.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Twilight asked.
By this point, they had reached the door. A slight glow was emanating from its edges.
Spike sighed one last time. Then he inserted the key, which he had already been surreptitiously carrying with him, into the lock, turning it slowly. “This is why. You, uh…might want to stand back.”
He pulled, but nothing happened. “Um…sometimes it sticks.” He pulled again. And again. And…
The door flew open and a veritable avalanche of gems came tumbling out - emeralds, diamonds, rubies, opals, and many more of all shapes and colors.
Twilight yelped in surprise, her legs skittering as gems spilled all over the floor, but she ultimately steadied herself without falling.
“What is all this?!” she asked. “You had a secret snack closet all this time?”
“Well, I, uh…guess you could say that,” Spike said.
“Where did you even get all of these?!” Twilight asked.
“Some of them were already here,” Spike said. “I think it’s just for storage, and the magic on the door was just to make it especially secure.”
“And the rest…?” Twilight said. “You haven’t been stealing, have you? I know dragons sometimes hoard things they’ve gained through…illegitimate means, but I thought you knew better!”
“That’s the part I really didn’t know how to tell you,” Spike said. He took several deep breaths, then mumbled, “They’re from you.”
“What…?” Twilight asked.
“They’re from you,” he repeated more clearly. “And some of our friends, too.”
“But…” Twilight said.
“I don’t like gems, Twilight. I never have,” Spike said. He paused. “Well, in the culinary sense, that is. I do still appreciate their beauty, of course.”
“You don’t…but I’ve been buying you gems for years!” Twilight said. “I thought you loved them! Especially emeralds.”
“Nope,” Spike said. “Can’t stand them. The first few times I ate them to be polite, and after that it just seemed like it was too late to tell you. Owlowiscious has always said I should - I used to get him to hide them somewhere outside back when we lived in the library - but I just couldn’t do it. Occasionally I’ll eat one and fake enthusiasm if you or somepony else is around and I really can’t get out of it, but otherwise I just hide them here. I’m sorry, Twilight.”
“But…don’t dragons need to eat gems as part of their diet?” Twilight said. “I know you usually eat pony food, too, but you won’t get the proper nutrition if you don’t…”
“No,” Spike said. “We can eat gems, but we don’t have to; we can get proper nutrition from regular pony food just like you or Rarity or anypony else.”
“So when you’ve mentioned chocolate cake before…” Twilight said.
“Yes, that was…sort of a hint,” Spike said. “That’s what I would see as a real treat, the same as you would.”
“Wow, I’m…I’m sorry, Spike,” Twilight said. “I should have known.”
“I’m sorry, too; I shouldn’t have let it go on for so long without telling you,” Spike said. “You must have wasted so many bits…”
“Don’t worry about that,” Twilight said. “It’s okay.”
“So…now that you know, what should we do with all of these?” Spike asked.
“You mean you’re willing to give up your hoard?” Twilight asked in a playful tone.
“Very funny,” Spike said. An idea occurred to him. “Maybe we could just give them all to Rarity?”
“I think she’d like that very much,” Twilight said with a smile. “I’m sure she could use them to make all kinds of lovely dresses!”
“Great!” Spike said. “But can I read the new comic before we take them over to her?”
“Sure,” Twilight said. “Just help me clean these up first.”
“Of course,” Spike said. He set the comic down and started gathering up the gems.
“So what do you think might happen in this issue?” Spike asked.
“Well, we know Saddle Rager is still missing ever since she followed that mysterious animal call off the path in the rainforest, so I’m sure the rest of the team will be looking for her. Unless the issue is about her adventures after that and so we see…”

The End