A Cause to Die For

by Jonah Fun


The First Lesson

Twilight, though glad to have been cheered up by her new friend, was still slightly annoyed that her brother had failed to visit her again. Still, she supposed she had more important matters to deal with now, such as the boy. The terrible, terrible boy.

It shouldn’t be that hard. He is, after all, a young colt. They aren’t that complicated. Maybe he’d talk if she offered him ice-cream, or selected assortment of other tasty treats. Even better, perhaps he opened up to spike after she’d gone. One way or another, she’d make the book talk. She entered her home, a confident grin on her face.

The boy was in the corner, quietly surrounding himself in a fantasy world.

Twilight looked at the boy, reminiscent of a simpler time when life was just her, Spike and her books. She walked over to the colt.

“Whatcha reading?” Mika looked up at the mare, dimly surprised.

“Why do you want to know?” Twilight reeled back in surprise, then scolded herself for doing so. She should’ve realized by now the nice approach was not going to work.

“Why are you so defensive?”

“I-“ Mika hesitated, before turning back to the book. “What’s wrong with wanting privacy?”

Twilight took a step back, glaring at Mika.

“Nothing. Well played.” She turned to the kitchen and called for Spike. Mika kept his eye on her until she’d left the room. He refocused on his book. The girl probably knew how to put together all these strange symbols he’d been encountering in the books. He’d have to make a deal with her somehow if he wanted to find out what they all meant...

“Well played yourself.” he whispered dimly.


Twilight walked into the kitchen, a stern look on her face. Spike stood to attention as fast as he could.

“He tell you anything?” Spike shook his head.

“He’s just been reading in there for the past few hours.” Twilight sighed, sitting down so her mane flopped down the side of her face. What on Equestria was she going to do now?

“You shouldn’t have taken him Twilight.” Twilight looked up at her companion with a mixed face of shock and offense. “He could’ve runaway from his home, or may have been brought here accidentally somehow. His parents-”

“Are dead, Spike.”

“And who told you that? Twilight’s face widened before slowly dropping. Spike was right. She had to report the boy to the authorities and they’d take care of him.

“I’m sorry Spike. I just wanted to help him. He’s just so... so-“

“So what?” Twilight and Spike turned their heads. To their surprise Mika was standing in the doorway, hoof on a book.

“... Troubled.” Twilight finished. Mika’s face remained a stone. He slid the book forward.

“Inside this book there are a variety of strange symbols, I was wondering what they all mean.” Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“Symbols?”

“Yes, Symbols. See for yourself.” He opened the book, revealing the words on the pages. “They’re all over every single page.” Twilight and Spike exchanged looks. The boy did not know how to read.

“Well?” The boy asked, sternly looking at the two. He sighed. “I’ll wait in the other room while you two discuss what to do with me shall I?” He trotted off, taking the book. Twilight immediately started after him. Without turning, she said to Spike:

“We’re keeping him.” Spike sighed. He knew at this point there was only one thing left to do.

“Okay.” Spike eyed the nearest quill and parchment, not daring to move until she had left the room.

Sunlight beamed through the windows and into the library in short slits. Twilight stood in the doorway, looking at the boy. Half his face saw the sunlight, while the other stayed deep within shadows. Both eyes stared coldly back at her.

“That was quick.” He said, voice formal as ever. She walked over to him and sat down. Parchment, quills and ink pots floated over to the two all at once, each item surround by the purple glow of magic that showed it was being controlled by Twilight. She spoke sternly:

“The symbols you are on about are letters. These letters make up the words we speak every day.” Mika opened his mouth to speak, but Twilight put a hoof over his mouth. “There are twenty-six letters in all. In a certain order they make up something known as the alphabet.”

Twilight couldn't believe she was going on about this. For a moment she wondered if Spike was right, maybe the boy’s parents weren't dead, maybe he could read and was playing her for a fool. But then she remembered who this boy was. The boy who’s stare was killer and deadly. The colt who could take out a full grown stallion when enraged. The creature whose eyes stood tall and proud defending the pony within.

Spike was wrong, and Twilight would prove it.

“I’ve seen more than twenty-six symbols.” Said Mika, snapping Twilight back to reality.

“Each letter has two forms; a capital and a lower case.” The quill rose, surrounded by magic, and began writing on the parchment. “First there’s A...”


From the kitchen door, Spike looked sadly at his friend. He hated having to betray her trust, but she’d understand eventually that it was for her own good. He took care of Twilight and Twilight took care of him. That’s how it had always been. The boy didn’t belong here. Spike walked back into the kitchen and quietly sent his letter.
“Forgive me Twilight” Whispered the baby dragon as he turned back to his chores.