“Are you sure about this?”
Spike wasn’t sure himself when he asked this question. This task was impossible, chances of things going exactly as planned were slim to nothing, and even he couldn’t say that it didn’t scare him carrying this out.
Sweetie responded with a determined face, with a hint of fear in her eyes as well. “I have to. She’s my sister.”
It was the exact answer he was expecting, and although he knew he had to do this as well, he knew he had to save his friend no matter what the cost, a very small part of him just wished the answer could have been different, that they could end this journey and go home, back to their friends, back to Twilight.
But hopeful dreams like that weren’t for now, he had to stay in reality right now, no matter how harsh it was. Only when the group was reunited could they go home. They already left someone who died, they sure as hell weren’t going to leave behind the ones who were still alive.
That is, if they were alive…
So much had changed since they left just a couple of days ago, and even if they made it out of this, Spike knew he was in for so much more in the next couple of days, no matter how impossible, and how much it killed him thinking of it.
Saving Rarity would be just the start, Rainbow would be next, then finding the supplies we lost in the process would be after, otherwise this trip would have been a waste, not even thinking of the dangerous trip it would take to get back.
And even if they did get back, after every impossible scenario to the next, each having a large possibility of death or worse, would it seem worth it having to look Applejack and Applebloom in the eye and say that their brother wouldn’t be coming home?
Like he thought, he was in for a hell of a few days, he just had to survive each one as they came along, protecting his friends every step of the way until he made sure they were safe, behind fences where the horrors outside couldn’t get them for now.
Only then could Winter begin.
That meant Sweetie too. Above all else he needed to protect her, he just knew it. He knew he needed all his best friends, but with her, it felt different, at times she helped him remember what the world used to be, when times weren’t hard.
He sure as hell wasn’t going to give that up without a fight.
He looked at her. Preparing and packing for the upcoming storm. Although when he explained the plan to her, she kept a strong face, ready for anything, and even though that was better than an angry response telling him of the insanity of carrying out such a plan, it still left Spike uneasy. Her face may had been like stone, but Spike could see through it, he could see past the veil and see the fear in her eyes, just like she could for him. They both had a way like that.
“Sweetie.” he called out blankly, causing her to pause her packing. “You know you don’t have to come with me. You could stay here and let me do this…”
Sweetie didn’t answer at first, just looking at Spike with hardly a change in expression, as if she was expecting him to say these words, and instead rose from the ground and stood eye to eye with him, her eyes no longer in fear.
Without saying anything, she struck her hoof on Spike’s arm, not hurting him due to his thick scales, barely affecting him physically, but surprising him at the sudden outburst nonetheless.
“We stick together.” she confirmed, her voice not leaving it up for discussion, but still wasn’t stopping Spike. “I’m letting you get away from me after all we’ve been through.”
“I just want to keep you safe.” Spike argued. “I would never forgive myself if I let you get hurt because of me being careless.”
“This my choice, and I’m choosing not to let my friends and family get killed while I wait here. Even if I do die, I’d be dying, fighting for them.” she countered, her voice remaining strong. “You need me to have your back out there, just like I need you....”
Spike paused, trying to think of something strong back to try and convince Sweetie not to follow him into darkness, but after a few seconds, only a few words came out.
“You’re right. I do need you. Which is why I don’t want to put you in danger…”
That sentence seemed to break both of them. Without a response, Sweetie pulled him into a tight hug, quickly making them forget what they were arguing about.
“I guess we won’t have a chance to do this when we’re outside…” Sweetie said quietly, her hooves still wrapped around Spike, not having the faint chance of letting go.
Spike knew what was happening was final; he couldn’t convince Sweetie to stay here, and that meant if he was going to walk into hell, Sweetie was going to have to be there with him, all they could do was look at the goal in front of him.
They just stare at each other eyes, both of them gripped together without saying anything after that, not even trying to think of everything that was happening around them, just thinking of right now, right here. They were so close together Spike could feel every little movement Sweetie had, her heart beating, her breath on his scales, their lips being inches apart…
No. They couldn’t right now. Not with everything going on.
Before anything else could happen, Spike finally broke the hug, bringing them both back into reality, even if both of them still wanted to finish that hug.
“We should get going. While the sun is still up…” he said faintly, not mentioning what just happened.
For a moment Sweetie looked slightly disappointed, but within a few seconds she understood, and gave a slight nod in agreement.
Whatever was happening between them, even if they both didn’t know, it had to wait.
The sun shot down at them the second Spike opened the door, causing them to shield their eyes and realise how little light their temporary camp had, a camp they will most likely not return to, even if everything did go as planned. Their mission had begun.
With one final look at each other, the pair set off on their journey, even more cautious on their surroundings based on the information they had received, not just from the walkers, but from the killers that apparently lurked around every corner.
The pony they had interrogated had said the Hunters fortress was located at the hospital, so that was their destination, even if every step felt like simply walking into the lion’s den.
The only thing setting them both straight was the thought of Rarity, and how much she needed them right now, her friends, and with that, it gave Spike the energy against an army, no matter how dire it seemed.
Questions still went through his mind through this journey through, with no indication in whether he would ever get answers to any of them.
Who is this group’s leaders, and how much of a threat are they alive? Is Rainbow Dash still alive? Was she captured too? Will we make it in time? Will we make it home? Can he keep Sweetie safe?
He was beginning to develop a headache with all these questions.
He said it once, and he would say it again, it was going to be a hell of a few days.