Spike awoke from yet another ice cream dream starring his favorite fashionista as a scream pierced the hallways of the Archives. Spike instantly jerked up, looking down the hallway as the scream echoed from the Restricted Wing of the Archives. Spike ran as fast as his stubby legs would carry him, his caretaker already floating above the bookcases by the time he arrived. Her back was to him, but an eerie light emanated from where her eyes were.
"Twilight? W-what's going on?" Spike sputtered, already instinctively backing away from... whatever was in front of him.
The unicorn spun around to face him. Her face was a mask of confusion and simple hatred. The room filled with the stink of burnt paper, the edges of the pages of Twilight’s biography singed by the heat of her magical energy.
“GET OUT. GET OUT NOW BEFORE YOU GET HURT.”
“Twilight, what’s going on?
“I’VE BEEN ACTIVATED. NOW GO.”
“I can’t just leave you here!” Spike yelled, incredibly confused and hurt. Tears were forming in his eyes.
“YES, YOU CAN. IF YOU DON’T LEAVE, I WON’T BE ABLE TO KEEP MYSELF FROM KILLING YOU.”
The tears were flowing freely now, and Spike couldn’t help but come towards his caretaker. The only pony he had ever known, the only pony he could talk with, share his secrets with. The only pony that had ever loved him.
“COME NEAR ME AND I KILL YOU, SPIKE. LEAVE. LEAVE NOW.”
“BUT WHAT IF I NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN!?” Spike yelled. “IT’S NOT FAIR! YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!”
Twilight’s horn glowed bright with magical energy, and a bolt of pure magic struck near his foot. Spike jumped away, yelping in fear. He looked up at his only friend. The pony he’d held close in times of trouble, times of doubt, times of fear.
“Is... Is th-this g-goodbye? Goodbye f-...forever?” The baby dragon sputtered, tears running down his face and hitting the ground with soft plops.
“NEXT TIME I WON’T MISS.”
Spike ran then. He loved Twilight, but he didn’t want to die. Especially not by her hoof.
From somewhere down the hallway, the clanking of gold shoes against the floor could be heard. Twilight knew who was coming for her. She supposed it was only natural.