//------------------------------// // Wishes (Epilogue) // Story: Endurance // by Symphony //------------------------------// 800 years later It was now over 2000 years after Spike had originally left Ponyville, and 500 years ago he had to leave Ponyville again due to his condition. He had become sick. There was an unknown disease that had never been researched by ponies. It only affected dragons, and Spike was one of the unlucky ones. The disease is a complete lack of control over his fire, even on the inside of his massive frame. It burns his internal organs to ashes in a slow and agonizing pace. His lungs and heart have been lucky so far. He would sadly not live for another 100 years if the disease continues to eat him up from the inside. He was only 2126 years old. It was a young age for a dragon, as most dragons live for a minimum of 8000 years. You could say that it was a tragedy. Celestia and Luna had insisted that he would stay in Canterlot by the castle with them. He had been hesitant at first, but he agreed eventually. The only things he had requested from his hoard had been Rarity’s necklace, the picture of his friends and a few gems. He had willingly donated the rest of his old hoard to good causes. He was lying in the castle garden, lazily watching some Royal Guards train some new recruits. He almost felt bad for the recruits. The gentle clopping of padded hoves filled his ears. He slightly lifted his heavy head to see the source. It was Celestia. He rested his head on the ground and gently smiled. The burning sensation inside made him cringe. Celestia walked up to him with a concerned expression ’‘How are you feeling today, Spike?’’ She ran a comforting hoof across his face. ’‘Same as always, like I’m burning up inside.’’ Spike grinned weakly to try and hide the pain from her. Celestia shook her head in a slow pace. ’‘I’m sorry I can’t do anything to help you. It all happened so unexpected...’’ Celestia sighed. Spike lifted his giant hand and nudged her as light as he could. ’‘Even if you could do anything, it would be too late. I’m just happy I can be here with you and Luna.’’ Spike comforted Celestia at the best of his abilities. ’‘And like you said, my fire growing out of control was unexpected without any hints of it happening...’’ Celestia leaned towards his hand and sighed again. Spike suddenly twitched, surprising both of them causing Celestia to almost fall to her side. Spike pulled his hand back and lowered his head in shame. ’‘I’m just a big waste of space and air now...’’ This time it was Spike’s turn to sigh, making his insides burn. Celestia gasped at how Spike could say that about himself. ’‘You are so much more than a waste of space, Spike! You have me, Luna and the Sparkle family besides you. We all fear the day you will...’’ Celestia choked on the last word, almost hesitating to say it. ’‘Die...’’ Spike was taken aback from Celestia’ sudden attitude, but it was expected from what he had just said. He extended his arm towards her again, Celestia trotted next to him and laid down by his side, leaning towards his side for warmth. Due to the increased heat inside of him he was much warmer than before. The dragon version of a common fever could be an inferno. He lifted his wing and Celestia scooted beneath it before he laid it back down. The sun had begun its decent, making way to Luna’s night. Spike lifted his head to gaze at the stars. They seemed to be endless in numbers. Spike saw a few stars fall. He made a wish that he hoped with his entire being that it would come true. A soft breeze came across the garden. He could feel Celestia shiver against him. Spike pulled his wing closer to him so he could maintain more warmth for him and his precious cargo. It was common that Celestia would come out into the gardens and spend the night with him like she did right now. It made him feel safe. A gentle snore from her confirmed his thoughts of her already sleeping. He chuckled a little at the snoozing princess who had given him a home when he needed it the most. Spike laid his head back down on the ground and feel asleep soon after, taking his final breath. The fire had reached his heart due to the involuntary twitch. ----- Running. He was running through a field. He noticed that he wasn’t barreling ahead on four legs, he was running like he did when he was just a baby. That’s when it struck him. He wasn’t in the garden anymore. He was running through a field in a bi-pedal stance. He tried to stop running, but his legs would not answer to him. He looked down at his hands. They were small again. His adult claws hadn’t come out and neither had his wings. He was a baby dragon again. He reached the edge of the field, gasping at what he saw standing there in front of him. It was Twilight and the others. Tears of joy sprung to his eyes as he kept on sprinting. The girls had noticed him running to them. Twilight was running towards him to meet him halfways. Spike jumped up towards her and threw his arms around her neck, sobbing gently and kept on apologizing for leaving her. He shuddered slightly as Twilight sat down and lifted him up in her arms, still embracing him. He had missed this. Rarity and Fluttershy walked up besides Twilight. ’’We were waiting for you, Spike...’’ Twilight said as she rocked him gently from side to side, still hugging him tightly. ’’I missed you so much...’’ Spike pressed his face into her neck. She was just as he remembered her. He lived through hell when he first left her and for a thousand years he lived in misery. Then Celestia found him and took him in. It hurt to leave Celestia and Luna behind after all they had done to help him. Spike nuzzled his cheek to the base of Twilight’s neck. He decided that living through hell to get where he was now had been worth it. And one more thing that was surprising to him was that his wish had been granted. Never take what you have for granted, or whine when you can’t have enough. Be strong and lead by a fine example because when you least expect it, you can loose everything. Do everything you can do to prevent falling into misery after loss. You will have the Endurance to do so. The End