//------------------------------// // Chapter III: Nowhere To Go But Up. // Story: Spike Origin // by ZombieTwin //------------------------------// A Week Later... Spike awoke the next morning around 7 A.M. He showered and got dressed before heading down to make breakfast for Twilight and him. Since he wouldn't be working the farm today, he decided to spend the day with Rarity. He had volunteered to be her assistant while she worked on her latest project. She had gotten an order from Canterlot. A suit for Fancy Pants. Spike had met him before. He was a pretty nice guy, considering the fact that he had enough money to start lighting his fireplace with it. So to Spike, it was a simple task . But not to Rarity. The last thing she needed was to disappoint a Canterlot elite. Spike scarfed own his breakfast before making his way out the door. As he walked to the boutique, he ran into Thunderlane. "Hey kid, you know I was just joking around yesterday, right?" he asked. "Yeah, sure, I guess." Spike replied reluctantly. "Truce?" Thunderlane extended his hand. Spike took it only to be yanked towards him and received a straight jab to the face. Spike fell to the ground. He tried to get up, only to be kicked in the ribs. "THUNDERLANE!!!" a voice boomed. Spike's vision refocused and he saw Big Macintosh standing only a few feet away. Thunderlane actually looked scared. "Easy Mac, don't do anything you might reg--" "Walk away. NOW!" he growled. Thunderlane backed away slowly and turned the other way. Big Macintosh approached Spike. "Get up." Big Mac helped Spike to his feet. "Thanks Mac." "Don't mention it bub." Big Mac replied. "But remember what I said, stay as far away as possible from Thunderlane. Make no mistake, he will kill you if he gets the chance." Five Minutes Later... Spike arrived at the Carousel Boutique and rapped lightly on the door. When Rarity came to greet him. She took one look at him and gasped. "Spike, what happened to you?" she asked in alarmed tone. Spike put a hand to his face where he had been punched. When he lowered his hand, the was a significant amount of blood. A few minutes later, Spike was sitting on Rarity's sofa while she sat next to him, tending to the cut on his face while he explained what had happened to him. "*Sigh* I can't believe he would do something like this." she complained. "It's okay, I'm fine." Spike assured her, to no avail. "No Spike, it's not okay." she snapped back. "He assaulted you." "I told you, I'm fine." Spike repeated. "I can fend for myself." Rarity gave a weak smile. "I know Spike, but it still doesn't make things right." she replied. Rarity finished tending to Spike' s cut and they started working on the suit. About two hours later, they were finished. As Spike walked out of the store, Rarity bent over slightly and kissed him on the cheek. Spike felt like he was going to faint at any second. A few yards away, a lone figure witnessed the entire thing and glared at Spike angrily. "You'll learn soon enough you little bastard. That bitch is mine." ... At the library, Twilight was writing a letter. Dear Princess Celestia It has officially been one week since our move to Ponyville. So far everything has been awfully hectic. Spike and I have at least been able to make a few new friends, which has definitely helped keep our minds off of recent events. Spike has managed to get a job with the local Apple farmers and he seems to enjoy working with them very much. However, I am also concerned about him. He hasn't displayed any signs of grief over the death of his father. I believe that he may be in denial about the whole ordeal. I feel that you should also know that there has been no activity as far as Spike's claws. I've done some research to see if I can find any answers but nothing has come up yet. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle A Few Hours Later... Spike awoke to the distant sound of wolves howling. He had been having yet another dream about that night at the castle. He refused to let it show but on the inside, he was hurting, badly. All he wanted was for everything to go back to normal. He wanted to go home, to see his mother, to return to his former life. But he knew that wasn't an option. Spike rose from his bed and stood at the window, staring at the moon. He looked down to see a wolf walking towards the library. It stopped several feet away and looked up at Spike. It didn't move or make a sound for well over a minute before raising it's head and howling in Spike's general direction. It then turned around and headed back in the direction of the Everfree forest. Spike backed away from the window dumbfounded. He had seen animals act that calm around Fluttershy, but he would have expected the beast to growl at him none the less. He returned to his bed and fell into a deep sleep before he could give it anymore thought.