Chapter 16: Saying Goodbye
The hospital in Canterlot was busy that day. Lorcan has been defeated and so is his Dragon Army. The surviving dragons had given themselves up to the Dragon Council, to be tried for their crimes against Equestria.
But the war has some costs; one of them is close to losing life...
"AHHHHHHHHHH," Rainbow screams in pain as the nurses of the Canterlot are tending to her wing which has been injured during the battle with Psycho Steel.
"Miss Dash, stop your fussing." Doctor Stable said to Rainbow sternly. "Honestly, you weren't this fussy when you were submitted to the Ponyville hospital."
"But that reaaaaaally hurt!"
"Come now. Anyway, you should move around but can't fly for a while so you can go. And try not to break into the hospital for books this time."
"Oh sure, you have to bring that up." Rainbow groans, referencing to when she broke into a hospital just to read a Daring Do book which the Pegasus pony never finished. The pony takes it easy as she leaves the room. "Oh, I hope I am in time..."
Rainbow heads down the hall, passing other patients being tended to by doctors. With the war now over, the staff can take it easy to deal with the ones injured or hurt in the battle against Lorcan.
Rainbow reach a certain hospital room, looking worried as some ponies stood outside. The Pegasus pony ask in worry, "Am I too late?"
"No, he's still here...but how long, who knows?" Shining remarked as he groans a bit. "Oh man, I haven't been in a pain this big since the times with Nightmare Moon."
"I am still upset over how Nexus forces his Blessing on you, back when he was evil." Cadance said to her husband with a sigh. "That's the first time someone messed with your head. I hated fighting with you."
"Yeah, same here."
Rainbow came into the room where her friends, the princesses, etc. are at. Celestia and Nyx wasn't harmed too badly when they crashed. Phobos, on the other hands, is in bandages from when Spike lands on him before.
"Quit scratching, Phobos." Nyx said to her friend as she scratches Phobos's back. "You can barely move as it is."
"Nothing against Spike, but couldn't he have landed on somepony else?" Phobos growls a bit in irritation. "Celestia, I need to scratch."
"You can only be in those bandages for 2 days. You're lucky to still be alive."
"Princess, if I may ask...who or what, was that person from the flaming skies?" Rarity spoke suddenly in wanting to bring up a little something of another matter that happened to them.
"Yeah, that guy that first made it look like he hurt Ben, but didn't and he said he claim the Triforce or something?" Pinkie Pie asked off in recalling the events from Ben Mare's attack, but no wounds, yet someone said they gain that power anyway.
"Right and where it looked like Lorcan was finished off when he gave that power to Spike?" Applejack also questioned off in recalling whoever that strange elf creature was, what happened to Lorcan the first time, seemed to be like the end...so it seemed.
"He's...something only a few of us alicorns know...from ancient times." Celestia spoke from looking away & to the floor, wishing not to bring up such a discussion, which only Luna felt somewhat the same feeling.
"Come on, you can tell us, after all, now with the threat of Lorcan gone, maybe we can..." Rainbow Dash was about to walk up and boost the negative atmosphere there was with a positive confidence when...
"HE'S NOT JUST 'AN' OPPONENT YOU CAN BEAT EVEN FROM AFAR!" Celestia suddenly looked to Rainbow Dash with a very loud voice that was on compared with Luna's 'booming' voice of authority, only it felt more on lashing out in anger.
"Hhhuuuaagh," Many of the Mane Six gasped at seeing their beloved princess act this way and Rainbow fell on her flank in wide-eye panic, never seeing the kind Celestia lash out at anyone.
"Aaaahh, pri-princess...we-we're sorry! We didn't mean to..." Fluttershy spoke a bit nervous towards Celestia, feeling that the gang was sticking their noses where they don't belong.
"No, forgive me; I shouldn't have lashed out on you, my little ponies." Celestia finally regain herself and spoke in apology, feeling that what she did was rude and still, many became more curious to what was making her so on edge
"Princess Celestia, just who is the person we saw in the final battle against the Dragons of Tadaka?" Twilight Sparkle asked in wanting to know, what was happening that even Celestia would lose her cool, it's almost like this 'other' person, might be as bad as Tadaka or even Lorcan?
"Perhaps they need to know sister, if 'he' showed himself after all this time, then even the Dragon Council knows what this means." Luna spoke to try and encourage her sister to stand up straight in what needs to be done, the two sisters need to tell the heroes of Equestria the truth of the matter, now that many have seen it already. "Including the other princess ponies to know too." Luna spoke with much concern and cautious, even Celestia nods with a sorrow face that the matter calls forth...an even more direr need of alert.
"Right, but that will be for later...right now, another individual is our focus." Celestia said sadly.
The gang turns their attention to one individual: Spike is in a hospital bed, his lifeline is attached to a machine via Celestia's magic, but with the way it's slowing down and such, the baby dragon may not have much time longer.
"Couldn't you have done something, mother?" Ben Mare asks Celestia in worry.
"I'm afraid there isn't much I can do." Celestia said, looking down. "Spike's injuries are too much...he won't have much time to live."
"No, not Spike!" Apple Bloom exclaims in worry as she and her friends hug each other. "Ah wanted 'to say...sorry fer yelling at him...when he left. Ah was heartbroken when he insulted me an' so..."
"I forgive ya, kid." A familiar voice coughs; The ponies saw that one of Spike's eyes are opening, glancing at his friends for the last time.
"Spike," Rarity ask Spike, tears in her eyes.
"Hey, you can make it little guy." Rainbow said to Spike with a sad smile on her face. "Just hang in there."
"Sorry...no need to lie to me," Spike said weakly. "It's pointless...now..."
"Spike..." Twilight said in sadness. Spike's lifeline is getting to the point of no return now.
"Equestria...out of danger?"
"Yes."
Spike coughs as he continues, ""Don't grieve, Twilight. it is logical...the needs of the many outweigh..."
Twilight, tears in her eyes, add, "The needs of the few..."
"Or the one."
"Heh, guess we got it wrong when we did it for a email, huh squirt?" Rainbow remark, referring to the time that she and Spike did that line for one of her e-mails one time. The Pegasus smiles half-heartily as the dragon she took for granted lies in the bed.
"Heh," Spike violently coughs out blood, much to the ponies' shock. "I never really knew I. Could use the elements. What you t-think... of me kicking flank for once?"
"Spike...." Twilight said, silently urging Spike to hang in there. Ben Mare and Nyx hugs each other while watching what could be the final times of their good dragon friend. Even Phobos, the mischief one, has nothing funny to say about this for once.
"Oh no..." Pinkie whimpers as her mane and tail went limp.
"Spike..." Applejack said as she takes her hat off, putting it on her chest as if in respect.
"Spike," Rarity exclaims in sadness as she buries her head in Fluttershy's chest, the Pegasus pony cries as well.
"I have been...and always shall be your friend." Spike said as he takes Twilight's hoof. "Live long and prosper..." The dragon falls limp, much to the sadness of his friends.
Doctors came in to check on Spike...no one wants to watch as they shook their head and cover him with a blanket...
Spike is officially gone...
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A week has passed since that sad day. Almost everypony is at the Canterlot graveyard which is located outside the castle to say their final respects and wishes to the one that they lost: Spike.
Applejack was the first to give out her speech, "Shucks, when Ah done met Spike, Ah thought he was 'de most nicest critter Ah ever have met. Ah admit, Ah was a bit hurt by what he said...but now...Ah wish Ah could thank him fully...'dat's de honest truth..."
The audience nods as they look at Spike in his coffin than be cremated, which is the signature dragon way. After Applejack left, Rainbow came up, clearing her throat while saying, "I am not good at these kinda speeches...normally because I prefer to put them in a lot of boom boxes which I planned to give as an eulogy at my own funeral...of course, I don't want a certain egghead to risk taping over it to make a song."
"Hey, come on, you don't know what you're on about." Twilight protests to Rainbow with a frown.
Rainbow roll her eyes then continues, "But I will say this: despite the facts that I may kept some fans or so..." The audience coughs. "All right, a lot, I still appreciate the little guy as a friend and a hero. He gave up a lot to save us and we will all miss him."
Diamond Tiara groans a bit as he remarks, "Ugh, the apple freak and arrogant rainbow...I am getting bored by this."
"Diamond Tiara, sssh!" Filthy Rich hushed his daughter sternly.
Once Rainbow leaves, Rarity, wearing a black veil, comes up. She sniffles while saying, "Spike was...oh, I don't know how to say this...I can't even do so! Saying goodbyes is too much for me!"
"Oh, what a drama queen, Silver!" Diamond Tiara remarks in amusement towards Silver Spoon. "She doesn't even love him like he loves her."
"Diamond Tiara, ssh!" Filthy Rich hushed his daughter again.
"I really wish that I have shown Spike more appreciation." Rarity said in tears. "While I admit, I never did return his feelings...as a friend, I regret even treating him like a slave at times. I hope to see him again in the afterlife."
Rarity now leaves. Fluttershy takes the podium, looking a bit brave for once. She said, "When I first met Spike, I thought he was the most cutest thing ever. He was a good friend and would help me whenever I feel down; And...and..." The yellow Pegasus mare sniffles as she sheds some tears then whispers, "I'm sorry, I don't have any more to say..."
Fluttershy flies from the podium, Diamond Tiara scoffs a bit as she remarks, "Typical. Even when it comes to funeral, that coward don't have a lot to say! Who brought her along?"
"Diamond Tiara, if you don't keep quiet, I am taking you home right now!" Filthy Rush snap to Diamond Tiara sternly. His daughter is showing disrespect at a funeral and he cannot stand her doing so.
"Yeah, don't talk about Fluttershy, Applejack or any of their friends that way!" Silver snapped to Diamond angrily, much to the latter's surprise.
Diamond Tiara groans, scoffing a bit as Pinkie Pie took the podium. The Earth pony is sadder; she hasn't been herself since Spike has died. Pinkie Pie is not sure what to say.
"Uh, well...Spike enjoys my parties...he's a good pal who's fun to hang around with and..." Pinkie blinks a bit then sighs. "Sorry, I can't think of anything else to say. I'm usually good with speeches when I'm happy, but now...I'm not."
"Mentally challenged pink freak." Diamond Tiara said, though quietly so that her father and Silver Spoon don't hear her. The last thing that this bully wants is to get yelled at again.
Once Pinkie Pie left the podium, Nyx and Phobos took it. The black filly said with a sigh, saying, "Everypony...normally when I stand before you, making speeches, they are either mean or dramatic. But here, I am making a sad one. Spike was my brother who looked after me, mommy and my friends. He's a true friend, a good relative and one of the best darn dragons that Equestria has ever seen. We will all miss him."
Phobos blinks, not sure what to say. Then he shrugs while the dragon said, "Uh..." Then Phobos begins to sing, "Beans, beans, they're good for your heart. The more you eat, the more you..."
Nyx puts a hoof to Phobos's mouth, snapping, "All right, Phobos, that's enough."
"Sorry, Nyx," Phobos apologized sheepishly.
"Ughh, why are we here? I hate this attention-seeking games they come up with." Diamond Tiara groans a bit quietly.
Soon, it was Twilight's turn, wearing a familiar necklace; it's the Love of Eternal, the same one that Ben Mare gave her on the day that the couple reunited.
"Spike...if you can hear me...I'm sorry for not telling you everything...and for how I treated you unintentionally..." Twilight said, tears coming out of her eyes, some of which fell onto the necklace. "You are my little brother and my friend whose allows help or look after me before I met my friends. You filled in the void of my heart that was broken when Starlight died...I wish that I could've spend more time with you before it's too late...you were always be one of us, the Elements of Harmony. Your determination save us all; and if determination is an Element, then so be it."
"Ugh, not you, too." Diamond Tiara groans in disgust. But she spoke too loudly, enough for a certain stallion unicorn to hear her.
"What are you talking about?!" Shining demands angrily to Diamond Tiara.
Diamond Tiara continues, "It's so obvious this is all some sort of game cracked by the blank flanks and their stupid friends!"
"You should show some respect for my sister and her friends." Shining demands furiously to Diamond Tiara. Now he can see why his niece and her friends can't stand this filly. "If it weren't for them, Equestria would be ruled by either Nightmare Moon or Discord!"
"Good riddance to the child of that brute, I say!" Prince Blueblood scoffs, agreeing with Diamond Tiara, of course.
"Yeah, ya ask me, all this was all some attention seeking game set up by," Diamond Tiara points to Twilight as she continues, "her, to prove that the," The bully continues in a mocking voice, "'Elements of Harmony' actually exist."
"Young child," Celestia said as she appears. "The Elements of Harmony do exist. They were once the Rainbow of Light, a powerful force that saved Ponyland before it was called Equestria. Its powers have been seen by all and can only be used by the Elements holder…or until recently."
Diamond Tiara, however snaps, "Why should I listen to someone who does a bad job at being princess when she couldn't even stop the recent threats and got her flank kicked by a Changeling? Heck, we may as well burn the dumb dragon and get it over with!"
This causes a certain purple pony with a green mane and fireball cutie mark to glare at her, but before she could consider yelling, a certain pony beats her to it.
"Okay, Diamond Tiara, that's enough!" Nyx exclaims furiously to Diamond Tiara, then she did something shocking: the alicorn kicks her in the face. The bully yelps in pain. "I don't care what happens now for me doing that, but you shut up about the insults to my mommy, my aunts, grandma and Spike right now!"
"Hey, knock it..." Diamond Tiara started, but Nyx cut her off.
"Have you stopped to think that the Elements of Harmony may be real?! And what we've seen is the real thing?!" Nyx exclaims to Diamond Tiara, furious over the bully's ranting. "Well, they truly are! But noooo! You don't care because you're too thick-headed and a jerk to know any better!"
"I...I..." Diamond Tiara begins to tremble looking for support from her parents and Silver Spoon, but all they did was glare at her. The bully looks down and backs away, not saying another word throughout the funeral.
"Mr. Rich, sorry about that," Twilight said to Filthy from the podium. "I know what my daughter did..."
"Relax, Miss Sparkle, my daughter deserves a wakeup call." Filthy Rich said sternly while glaring at his daughter. "And she will get more than that when we get home!"
"Serves her right, that Gob Snob," Jakk remarked as he glared at Diamond. Colby and Matelda nodded in agreement as they also glared at the bully.
With Diamond Tiara keeping quiet, Twilight goes onward, looking to Spike, saying, "Spike...I just wish I could've done more. I will miss you."
Twilight shed more tears that fell onto the necklace and right onto Spike. Just then the necklace it sent sparkles right onto the baby dragon's body. Both begin to glow, much to the notice of the Dragon Council, who is watching this.
"What's this?" Jormun ask puzzled by the glowing. King Spykoran didn't look up; he is too saddened over the loss of his last family members. The grandfather has lost his two grandchildren...just like he did with Tadaka...and maybe with another who hasn't been seen in years.
"Everypony...to honor our friend Spike...I have put up a new glass window at the castle which can be seen from over there." Celestia said sadly.
Everyone looks to see that indeed there's a new glass window in the castle: it shows that of Spike using the Elements of Harmony to beat Lorcan. It shall remain there for the rest of eternity.
"May it continue being there for all of time," Celestia said with a sigh. "Amen."
"Amen." Everyone else said sadly. It looks like to be a sad moment.
Suddenly, a flash appears at the coffin, making everyone yelp in alarm. What's going on? Are they being attacked?
Once the flash is gone, Tough Apple groans as he exclaims, "Hoo, doggy! What 'de Sam Hill happened?"
The Mane Six looks down, apparently not caring about the flash or what happened. They are all mourning over the loss of their dragon friend, the one that they lost...
"Hey, what's all the crying about?" A familiar voice spoke up.
"Quiet, Spike, we're mourning over you right now!" Phobos snaps in annoyance.
Suddenly, everyone looks shocked or alarmed as they turn to the coffin to see an unsuspecting sight: there's Spike, sitting in his coffin...alive and well.
"Uh, what's everyone staring at?" Spike asks a bit confused by the looks.
"AHHHH; SPIKE HAS COME BACK TO DEAD TO PUNISH ME!!!" Diamond Tiara screams in terror then the bully zips right out of the service in fear.
"Spike..." Ben Mare begins to say.
"SPIKE," Twilight and Nyx exclaim happily as they rush over and grab Spike, hugging him happily. "You're alive!"
"Yeah, I'm alive..." Spike said then looks confused. "Where was I?"
"You were dead..." Rarity said as she came in to hug the dragon that she thought that she and her friends has lost, with tears in her eyes. "But you came back to us."
The rest of the gang cheers a bit. Spike is alive again, it's a miracle!
"SPIKE," The other CMC yelled excitedly as they and the Mane Six joined Twilight and Nyx in hugging the purple dragon happily, tackling them to the ground as they did so before Snips, Snails and Truffle Shuffle joined the hug a moment afterwards.
Pinkie Pie's mane and tail goes back to normal. She is her happy cheerful self again. The pink pony exclaims, "He's alive! Spike is alive! Oh I knew it, I knew it!"
"You knew he was alive all the time?" Rainbow asks Pinkie in surprise, "How long have you knew?"
"Oh, since the beginning of this story, duh," Pinkie admits to Rainbow with a giggle.
"Pinkie Pie...for once, your random thing makes sense!" Rainbow remarks to Pinkie with a grin.
Many were feeling such joy and relief that Spike, the dragon who many thought were dead is alive. Now this was indeed a huge commotion, but it only got bigger from another contender at heart.
"SPIIIIIIIKE," The roaring voice came from none other than King Spykoran, as he reached his hands out... "Gripfruvphmm..." And when he grabbed the baby dragon, gave him a big hug unlike any other. "YOU'RE ALIVE, GRANDSON!" The king of the Dragon Clans hollered out while showing such a joyful expression, the kind that would just about match when he saw his friend Megan & siblings return to their world.
"Ugh...um...King Spykoran...The Ooooold..." Spike spoke from a wide eyed expression, as he was having a hard time speaking from his state. "Guuuagh...Grandpa...you're...crushing Me..." The baby dragon finally told the big dragon that he was almost crushing him in this death hug.
"Oh, oops," King Spykoran the Old yelped and released the presses of hugging Spike who took some moments to breath. "Heh, sorry, that was a little, cough...much." The old Dragon smiled sheepishly in feeling that act might have been too much, especially on a baby dragon like Spike, but he was just so happy.
"I'll say, a bear hug from a Ursa Major could compete!" Phobos spoke off in exclaiming how that matter would have been like in the rhetorical sense of the meaning.
Then King Spykoran holds Spike up in his hands, as the two looked at each other. [n]"But in truth, I've felt the heavy lost of family members enough...the last thing I want...is to see you leave me too."[/n] The old Dragon spoke from such sadness in his life that he lost much that were his children, the grandfather did perk up in seeing that Spike here is now alive and well.
"Aaaah don't worry, I'm still sticking around." Spike spoke with some positive emotion as he leans himself over on the giant dragon's claws to hug his snot. "Thanks for helping me out, Grandpa." The baby dragon spoke with such happiness in seeing how much King Spykoran helped him and realizing that the big dragon was his grandfather was nice for the baby dragon to know he had another family with him.
"Heh, now I feel something from those words." King Spykoran the Old smiled in hearing those words of Spike as he settled his grandson on the ground. "The words I haven't heard of such gentle, kindness, those of innocent words from my family in so long." The King of the Dragon Clan spoke from feeling such relief, feeling glad, that Spike was here for not only him...but for others that care for him.
"But how could he be alive?" Cadance ask in amazement and disbelief. "We all saw him die in the hospital..."
"I don't know." Spike admits with a shrug. "I was in limbo, thought that this was it...but then some magic appears along with a sad voice...which was Twilight's..."
"Oh yes, I believe I know why. Twilight, you remember how your Love of Eternal saved Ben from his own death right after the battle with Boris, correct?" Celestia ask Twiight, the purple unicorn brought out her necklace which is still glowing.
"Yes, I remember." Twilight said in amazement. "You mean..."
"It was not just that, it was your friendship and love for your adopted brother that brought him back. You saved him; I am so amazed on how far you have come."
"Amazing," Shining exclaims with a chuckle to Twilight. "One of these days, Twiley, you would be more powerful than the princesses."
"Brrr, don't say that!" Fluttershy exclaims to Shining with a shudder. "We don't want that in our heads right now!"
"Still...thanks, Twilight," Spike said to Twilight a gentle smile then looks down in guilty. "And after everything I said to you and everyone else earlier...and you still saved me."
Twilight pauses, remembering what drove Spike to get upset for the first time besides Lorcan's return. The unicorn then said, "Look, Spike, for what little it may be worth, we really ARE sorry for sometimes unintentionally treating you like a servant."
Rainbow nods while adding, "And for the occasional pranks - well, mostly Pinkie and I - have played on you."
"Yes. I suppose we HAVE been taking your loyalty and good nature for granted more than we've intended to." Rarity admits with a nod of her head.
"I'm sorry too. I lost my temper and said and did A LOT of stuff that I'm probably going to regret for the rest of my life - well, second life, I guess it would be now." Spike said sheepishly while looking down a bit.
"Most o' 'de stuff yew said may have been hurtful, but Ah WILL admit 'dat at least most o' it was true." Applejack said.
"Well, I still apologize for it."
"We'll accept your apology if you accept ours." Twilight said to Spike with a warm smile. "Heck, even if you DON'T accept ours. Still, I promise that, from now on, you'll be treated with A LOT more respect. And that's a PINKIE Promise."
"Consider your apology cheerfully accepted - sis." Spike said as the two hugs one another. The other ponies cheers on with smiles on their faces.
"Well, you know what this calls for..." Pinkie said with a serious look on her face.
"A party," Most of the others guess, though they really don't need to since that's what Pinkie loves to do.
"EXACTLY!"
The gang cheers on. So naturally, this funeral is now turning into a 'Spike's Alive' Party. Everyone begins to celebrate. Lorcan's defeated and Spike is now back to life!
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Everyone, minus the jerks like Blueblood and Diamond Tiara (the bully is gettng punished for her disrespect at the funeral), were partying back in Ponyville, celebrating Spike's return. The construction that was made during the water was put on hold for a while until the party's over.
As the ponies continue with the partying, Spike looks around then motions to his grandfather who leans down and ask, "Yes, my grandson; Is something the matter?"
"I saw someone else while in limbo..." Spike said. He pauses a bit then adds. "It was Lorcan..."
"You saw your brother?"
"Yeah, I was in some spiritual plain, Lorcan appears, telling me to return...and when I get my chance...I should find his original body in the Everfree Forest."
Spykoran looks a bit surprised upon hearing that. He then asks, "You mean the clone that was killed by you before you're supposed death was a clone too?"
"No, he teleported away, I think...but I think he may not have time left either." Spike said with a thoughtful look. "You think, maybe..."
"Go ahead, go to him, makes amends as you can. I will cover for you."
Spike looked back between his friends…and the Everfree Forest. He kept thinking about what happened to Lorcan from Grimmore's dirty trickery, by using him to blast the evil dragon from an unexpected event he never saw coming, as well as the using the Elements on him. In truth, the baby dragon felt responsible and decided to go out and find Lorcan or whatever remains of him in the forest no pony ever goes into such dangers fool-hardly.
It was at this moment, Twilight noticed someone wasn't with them that got her worried. "Wait! Where's Spike?"