Spike sat bolt upright at the sound of his opening door. He was sweating and breathing heavily.
"Spike are you alright?" asked Rarity standing in the doorway.
"Yeah. I'm fine," said Spike looking over at her.
"Well we'll be leaving a about in a few minutes for school. You need to get ready," said Rarity.
"Okay," said Spike looking back at his bed.
Rarity stood there a moment before turning to go.
Spike looked at the doorway again before getting up and packing his things. He tried not to think about the nightmare he'd been having.
It was similar to the one he had before only this time Celestia surprised Twilight while she was mixing a potion. Its acidic contents had exploded and covered her body. Celestia had just stood there head tilted like she was curious. The screams of pain still echoed in his mind. He had clung to Celestia's leg begging for help while Twilight cried out for her mentor.
"You excited?" asked Sweetie Belle running into the room with her saddle bags on.
"I guess," said Spike shrugging his shoulders before he put his backpack on.
"Then let’s go," said Sweetie Belle motioning for Spike to follow.
"Come on you two lets go. I don't want Spike to be late for his first day," said Rarity opening the front door.
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Together they walked into the schoolhouse. Sweetie Belle went straight to her seat and began chatting Applebloom and Scootaloo.
"Good morning Rarity," said Miss Cheerilee with a smile.
"Morning Cheerilee. May I speak with you a moment outside?" asked Rarity.
"Of course," said Cheerilee.
"Wait here Spike," said Rarity following Cheerilee out the door.
Once the door was shut behind them Cheerilee began," So what would you like to speak about?"
"I was hoping I could enroll Spike in class," said Rarity," You see before her death Twilight had always taught him. Now that she’s gone he needs somewhere else to learn."
"I don't see why not. I'm sure he'll be an excellent student once he gets settled in," said Cheerilee," If that's all you wanted to talk about..."
"Actually one more thing. Since Twilight died Spike has been very quiet and antisocial. Would you mind keeping an eye on him and letting me know how he is doing?" asked Rarity.
"I see. Sure. I'll keep an eye on him," said Cheerilee placing a hoof on Rarity's shoulder," Don't worry Rarity. Spike is in fully capable hooves."
"Thank you very much Cheerilee," said Rarity.
"You’re welcome. Now I need to get back to class," said Cheerilee.
"Of course. Have a nice day," said Rarity turning to walk away.
Cheerilee turned around and walked back into the schoolhouse. She found Spike standing beside her desk staring at the floor.
"Good morning Spike," said Cheerilee in a friendly tone.
"Morning," said Spike not looking up.
"Would you like to pick a seat?" asked Cheerilee.
"I guess," said Spike with a shrug. He looked up and down the left most aisle to the seat farthest back. He put his backpack on the floor next to the seat and sat down.
Cheerilee stood there for a second before moving behind her desk.
"Good morning class," said Cheerilee.
"Good morning Miss Cheerilee," said the class in unison.
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The first part of class had passed by quickly and now it was recess. All around him foals were playing but Spike sat alone by the corner of the schoolyard facing the fence.
"Spike?" said a voice that Spike immediately recognized.
"What do you want Diamond Tiara?" said Spike not turning around.
What happened next came by complete surprise. Spike was suddenly pulled into a hug. It took a moment for Spike's brain to catch up to what was happening but before he could speak Diamond Tiara spoke.
"Why does life have to be so unfair?" asked Diamond Tiara letting go and taking a seat next to Spike.
"Uhh...," said Spike not sure what to say.
"I'm going to share something with you that I've never shared with anypony before. Not even Silver Spoon," said Diamond Tiara turning to face Spike.
"When I was four me and parents went on a vacation to Baltimare. We had a great time," said Diamond Tiara pausing to take a breath.
"We accidentally missed our first flight back because I wanted to get ice cream. So we had to wait till night fall for another flying chariot to arrive," continued Diamond Tiara pausing again.
"Our flight had been going fine. I'd had even fallen asleep. Daddy woke me up when we were passing by Canterlot. My mommy pointed out all the neat places to go there...," said Diamond Tiara taking several seconds before continuing.
"She was pointing out the castle when it happened. Our driver was suddenly hit by a drunk pegasus," said Diamond Tiara closing her eyes as they began to tear up.
"The jolt of the collision threw my mom from the chariot. My entire world was suddenly consumed with the sound of my mother’s screams as she fell. It felt like forever... Those ear piercing screams and then they just stopped... The world was silent," said Diamond Tiara tears now falling down her face.
"The fall had been so bad that I never even got to see her body. For weeks afterward I had terrible dreams where I had to watch it happen over and over and over again. No matter how hard I tried to change it she always fell. I never told my dad about the dreams and to this day I still have that them every now and then," said Diamond Tiara turning back to face the fence as she continued to cry.
They sat in silence for awhile before Spike spoke.
"I have dreams too," said Spike turning to face her.
"You do?" asked Diamond Tiara wiping her eyes with her forelegs.
"Every night. Sometimes several time a night," said Spike eyes a little misty as well.
They sat in silence again for several moments.
"Thanks for listening," said Diamond Tiara pulling Spike into a hug again.
"You’re welcome," said Spike hugging her back.
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Miss Cheerilee stepped out of the schoolhouse and was about to call everyone in but then she saw them.
Over in the corner of the schoolyard Spike and Diamond Tiara were hugging.
"I guess a few more minutes of recess won't hurt anypony," said Cheerilee quietly.