It is a good day, thought Celestia, if all goes to plan Twilight would be sending a letter anytime now. She sat at her throne drinking her tea when the letter materialized. Ahh right on time! A smile crossed her face.
She levitated the letter over while still holding her tea in a magical grip. She began to read. Her heart sank as she finished the letter. The tea cup fell from her magical grip and shattered on the floor. She grabbed a piece of parchment and wrote the only thing she could think and sent it.
Celestia sat there staring of into space. She seemed ready... I taught her well and she made it further in her studies of friendship then anypony previous. Tears began to form in her eyes. The fact that I got the letter from Rarity meant she was close. Twilight was close, so close to getting the spell right... Why did this have to happen again? At each thought Celestia grew sadder, tears began to fall down her face a she stared off into space. Just then Luna walked in the room.
"Sister why does thou cry?” asked Luna in a worried tone, quickening her pace to reach her sisters side. Luna knew that this must be about the spell. Surely Twilight did not fail? Luna thought as she finished the crossing the distance of the throne room.
"Did thy faithful student not succeed?" asked Luna, Celestia fell to floor and cried more. Luna comforted her older sister with a hug having not seen her sister this emotional since the day she had returned from the moon.
"She seemed like she was ready,” said Celestia, "and now she dead and it's all my fault."
"Don't blame thyself, we thought she was ready to, “said Luna trying to comfort her sister, "but we must inform her friends of her passing. They have the right to know."
"What am I supposed to tell them Luna?" Said Celestia, peering up into Luna's eyes.
"Just tell them the truth and I'm sure they'll understand" said Luna, lifting Celestia to her hooves.
"Understand what!? That I sent a spell to Twilight that killed her? That I didn't help her or even warn her? That was Twilight must have been so close because you all should have died too!!" Celestia yelled turning her back to Luna.
"We both know that thou couldn't help her. We learned that when Starswirl tried," said Luna moving around to face Celestia, “but standing here crying like a foal with help nopony."
Celestia snuffled as she looked her sister in the face.
"Come sister. Let's go," said Luna.
"Okay...," Celestia replied as she began to walk towards the door.
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Their chariot arrived in Ponyville half an hour later. Luna and Celestia stepped off. Though it had not hit her as hard, Celestia could see sadness in her sister's eyes. When they reached the door Celestia hesitated to knock.
What if they blame me for everything? What if... Celestia train of though was stopped short when Luna placed a hoof on her shoulder. Taking a deep breath Celestia knocked on the door.
Rainbow Dash opened the door, a sad frown on her face. Celestia saw the others as she slowly walked into the room.
Rarity's mane was horribly disheveled, Pinkie Pie’s hair had lost its puffiness, Applejack was shaking, Rainbow Dash frowned, and Fluttershy was hiding behind her long hair.
Luna raised a hoof, about to speak, but Celestia stopped her. Celestia saw the pile of ash and burn mark, she tried to put on a face of stone.
“My little ponies... Twilight is..., “Celestia paused when she saw Spike, the fear and sadness in his eyes, she snapped. Tears began to fall down her face, the room was dead silent and nopony took a breath as Celestia finished her words. “Twilight is dead...”
Everypony in the room stood silently in shock until Rainbow Dash broke the silence.
“Hehe... Good one Celestia, this is a prank isn’t it? Where’s the camera, “asked Rainbow Dash as she began to search around the library.
“Tis no joke Dash, " answered Luna gravely as Rainbow Dash continued to search around the library, disheveling books and looking under the wooden carving in the center of the library.
“No seriously where is it?” said Rainbow Dash still searching the library.
“Did we kill Twilight?” asked Fluttershy in a serious tone standing in front of Celestia, her face changing from scared to concerned.
Rainbow Dash stopped searching, everypony in the room turned to focus on Celestia and Fluttershy. Celestia took a moment to wipe the tears from her face and looked Fluttershy in eyes.
“No the spell did, “said Celestia.
“What was so darn important that you need to put Twilight in such danger?” asked Applejack stepping up to Celestia.
“Immortality, " said Celestia, her eyes still red from crying earlier.
“Say what now?” questioned Applejack.
“The spell will give immortality to the pony who casts it correctly, " Celestia replied.
“Why in the wide wide world of Equestria was that worth risking Twilight's life?” said Rarity as she also approached Celestia.
“Because thine sister has grown so very tired of outliving her little ponies, " said Luna.
“Well Celestia, your plan sure worked well now didn’t it, “said Spike with anger in his voice. Tears still in his eyes.
“I thought Twilight could solve it, she..."
“Well you were wrong!” yelled Spike throwing a book at Celestia's face and running out the door, tears streaming from his eyes.
“Of all the worst possible things you could do Celestia, this IS the worst possible thing, “said Rarity running out the door with the others going after Spike.
Celestia dropped to her hooves and began to bawl shaking on the floor like a little filly.
Luna picked up the book Spike had thrown. It was an old picture album. The cover held a picture of Celestia, Twilight, and Spike when he first hatched. Celestia’s face was burnt away. Luna put the book down and walked over to her crying sister.
“They hate me Luna," said Celestia her crying intensifying.
“Don't worry sister they don't hate you, “said Luna giving Celestia a hug.
“Let’s go Luna I’m not sure they want to see me again right now, “said Celestia as she stood up, dried her face with magic and walked out the door. Luna followed behind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spike charged out the door, tears streaming from his eyes. He wasn’t sure where he was running to but he just wanted to get away from Celestia.
“Spike come back!” yelled Rarity.
He vaguely heard her voice but just kept running.
"Hay there Spike, where are you going?" said Scootaloo turning around as he ran passed. She was nearly ran over by the ponies chasing him.
"Rainbow Dash what's goin..."
"Not right now Scootaloo," said Dash without stopping.
"What was that about?" said Scootaloo as she continued on her way to Ponyville Park.
Other ponies on the street tried to say hi as he ran passed, but he ignored them all and just kept running.
He was nearly to the Everfree Forest when he tripped over a small rock in the road. He just laid there in the dirt crying, not having the strength or the will to get back up.
How could Twilight be dead? It can’t be true... It can’t be..., Spike thought as the sound of hooves got closer. His crying subsided because he was all out of tears to cry.
“Ohh Spike come here, “said Fluttershy pulling up into a hug.
“I’m all alone now, " said Spike looking up at Fluttershy.
“That’s not true, " said Pinkie Pie, "we're all here for you.”
Spike looked over at Pinkie then at the ground.
“I never got to say goodbye to her, “said Spike wiping his nose.
“Awe come here sugar cube, “said Applejack as she gave Spike another hug. The rest of the ponies joined in too.
“I just miss her so much, " said Spike.
“We all do, “said Rainbow Dash.
“What am I going to do now? I have no one to take care of me, “said Spike through a sniffle as the hug broke up.
“You can come live with me dear, “answered Rarity giving him a small smile, "I can make up the spare room for you.”
“Thank you Rarity, " said Spike giving her a quick hug.
“Come on let’s go get you cleaned up and grab your things, “said Rarity as they started walking back in town, the other ponies following behind. When they got back to the library they saw princesses had left.
“Good riddance I don’t think I could look at Celestia again right now, " said Applejack as they walked into the library.
“Hay. I umm... gotta go clean up the rest of the clouds from earlier," said Dash flying out of the library.
“I go to go also. I need to help my animals," said Fluttershy.
“And ma apples need some tendin’ to, “said Applejack.
“I also have to go and start my shift at Sugarcube Corner, " said Pinkie.
All three of them walked out together.
“I'm sure their just looking for a distraction. Spike do you need any help packing up?" said Rarity as Spike started walking up the stairs to his room.
"I can get it," replied Spike grabbing his bed and started placing his belongings in it.
“Are you sure?” asked Rarity as she reached the top of the stairs.
“I'm fine, " said Spike as he grabbed his things and placed them in the basket he slept in. He grabbed the last few things of the shelf and placed them in the basket. Then folded his blanket around them and tied a knot at the top. He tried to pick up but it was too heavy for him.
“I got it, " said Rarity lifting the bundle of items in her blue aurora.
“Put it in the red wagon for me please, “said Spike pointing to the red wagon downstairs in the library. The bundle floated down into the wagon and the blue aurora disappeared.
“Is that everything?” asked Rarity as she looked around the room.
“Yeah..., " said Spike taking one last sad look around the room, "let’s go.” They walked down the stairs and Spike was nearly out the door when Rarity stopped him.
"Don't you want to take this Spike?" said Rarity floating over the photo album with her magic.
Spike grabbed it out of the air and looked at the cover. The photo he had burned had been one of Twilight's favorites. He could almost remember that day... maybe he could get the photo repaired.
He placed the photo album in his wagon and walked out with Rarity. He turned around and looked back into the library. He sighed, closed the door, and they started their walk to Carousel Boutique.
=====================================================================
Rarity opened the door for Spike as he pulled his wagon the last few feet to the Boutique. Once inside Rarity closed the door.
“Give me a minute while I go make up the spare room for you, “said Rarity as she walked off toward the spare room.
Spike sighed while rocking back and forth as he waited. He turned around to face the stairs when he heard hoof steps approaching.
“Hi Spike. What are you doing here?” asked Sweetie Belle walking down the stairs into the main room.
“Ohh hay Sweetie Belle I’m just... umm...," said Spike.
“Spike is going to be staying with us for a while Sweetie Belle, " said Rarity walking back into the room.
“Why is that?” asked Sweetie Belle turning around to face her sister.
“Well... umm...," said Rarity as Sweetie Belle’s curious stare bore down on her, “well you see Sweetie Belle there was a umm... accident with Twilight and Spike needs someplace to stay.”
“Ohh my. Is Twilight alright?” questioned Sweetie Belle with concern in her voice. “Err... yes, “said Rarity looking away from Sweetie Belle.
“What happened?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Twilight was..., " Rarity paused to sigh, “Twilight miscast a spell and it...”
“It what?” said Sweetie Belle her look changing to concern.
“It killed her Sweetie Belle, " said Rarity.
“Ohh my..., “said Sweetie Belle turning to Spike and giving him a hug, “I’m so sorry Spike.”
“So Spike will be staying here for the foreseeable future and will be using the guest room during his stay with us,” said Rarity, “so Spike if you would follow me I’ll show you to your room.”
Spike followed Rarity pulling his wagon into the spare room.
“You go ahead and unpack and I’ll get dinner started, “said Rarity as she walked out.
Spike took a moment to look around the room. It was a medium sized, no windows, plain white, had a small bookcase, and was just a little bit cold. After the quick assessment of the room he started unpacking.
He placed various scrolls and books on the bookcase in alphabetical order, he put his pictures on top of the bookcase, and placed the photo album on top of the folded blanket in his bed.
The smell of dinner floated into his room followed by Sweetie Belle.
“Hay Spike it’s time for dinner," she announced.
“What are we having?” asked Spike placing his pillow on his bed.
“Hay fries and oats, plus Rarity set aside some gems for you," said Sweetie Belle.
“Okay I’ll be there in a minute,” said Spike turning back around.
“We’ll be waiting,” said Sweetie Belle walking out of the room.
Spike took a moment to soak in the new room. Spike walked towards the door of his new room, he stopped and turned around look at it one more time.
“Well time to go eat then,” Spike said to himself. He walked out of his new room and off to the kitchen.