//------------------------------// // In the beginning // Story: Future days that may yet be // by logisticbumm //------------------------------// Ponyville, equestria. A wonderful town full of mystery and surprises. It's inhabitants had dealt with all sorts of problems and enemies over the years. Over all, the residents of ponyville were a happy bunch. There was, however, one exception. His name was spike. He was, besides the fact that he had scales, could eat gemstones and could breathe fire, just like any one else living in ponyville. But he was in love with a pony named rarity, and he wasn't even sure if she loved him back. Everyday, he would help her with whatever she needed, trying to build up the courage to ask her out, only to trudge home at the end of the day, waiting for tomorrow. Tonight was just like any other night, and as we begin our story, spike is heading home. He sighed. Another flop at romance. All around him, the town was falling asleep, and it felt like he was the only person with a problem. He looked to the night sky, hopping princess Luna might have some answer to his predicament. All he could see was a shooting star in the clear night sky. Spike took a deep breath, "I wish I lived a life where I knew rarity loved me like I love her." There was a bright flash, and spike stumbled backwards, covering his eyes. "What the...?" He couldn't move his body, and he feel himself loosing consciousness . He inwardly groaned. Could the day get any worse? ------- Spike blinked his eyes, the morning sun on his face waking him. He sat up, yawned and stretched. 'Thats odd. Why did I sleep on the couch?' Spike thought to himself as he looked at his surroundings. Not only had he slept on a couch, but it looked like he had slept at rarity's house. Confused, spike tiptoed to the kitchen. He located the coffee and put a pot on to brew. He sat at the kitchen table, still puzzled at why he had woken up at rarity's house, especially after he remembered leaving the night before. The last thing he remembered was... What was the last thing he remembered? He was still trying to figure it out when the light flipped on to the room. "Good morning spike." Rarity wrapped spike in a hug from behind and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Erm, good morning." Spike barely registered that he had said anything. Rarity had just kissed him, and although she had kissed him on the cheek numerous times, this felt different. "Did you sleep well last night? You fell asleep while we were watching a movie, and although I tried to wake you, you were quite tired." Rarity had moved from right behind him, and spike sat dumbstruck in his chair. When no reply was given, rarity walked back over to the mystified dragon. "Spike?" She turned his head to face her. "Are you ok darling." "Yes. Fine." Spike could feel himself turning red. "You haven't changed out of your pajamas?" Rarity looked down at the night gown she was wearing. "Wh-yes, but what is the matter with you spike! It's as if you had never seen me like this before. We're married!" Spike'a eyes were the size of dinner plates. "We are?" Rarity looked hurt. "Yes, we are spike. What's wrong with you? How could you forget that, and on our 5th anniversary no less." Pain was evident in her voice and spike could tell that she was trying not to cry. He stood up and grabbed her in hug. She tried to pull away, but he just hugged her tighter. "I...I didn't forget. I promise you that. I'd never forget something that important to me. But... I... " he paused. "I don't know if you'll believe my explanation." Rarity looked into his eyes. "Spike. I know you. Whatever you tell me, I promise to believe you." Spike sat rarity down in a chair and poured her a cup of coffee. He sat down across the table from her and opened his mouth to speak. He paused and closed his mouth. With a sigh of resignation he began. "From what you've said, we've been married for five years. But when I went to sleep last night, we were not married and..." Spike took a deep breath. In, out. In, out. "I don't think that was gonna be an option." Rarity looked at spike with a blank look. Then she laughed, quickly covering her mouth with a hand. "Spike this is probably the farthest you've gone to hide a secret for our anniversary." She leaned over and kissed him. Spike looked disappointed. "So you don't believe me." Rarity put a hand on his shoulder. "Spike. I believe that you love me. I also know that you often use crazy ideas to set up some of the best things ever for your friends. But five years is five years spike." She took a sip of coffee. "I don't know how you could forget what you told me yesterday was 'the best 4 years and 364 days of your life'." She stood up. "Tell you what, We can go see twilight. She might be able to shed some light on your partial amnesia." Spike sighed. "Sure. I guess it might have just been a dream or something." Even as he said the words, he didn't believe it. Rarity was right, there was no way he could forget what would have been the best 4 years and 364 days of his life. The fact that he was having trouble remembering anything was a problem, and he was going to get to the bottom of this mystery. ---------------- After getting dressed, spike was much less embarrassed by this, and even found himself wondering if maybe he had just dreamed the whole scheme up to act like he hadn't forgot their anniversary. But that was wishful thinking. Wishful? His train of thought was interrupted by rarity calling his name. "Coming!" He hurried down the stairs to the kitchen. He peaked his head around the door frame. "Whatcha need?" She grinned at him. "If we're going out, breakfast will need to be made, and I would be ever so grateful to have a strong, handsome drake help me cook." Spike stared at her. 'Oh Luna, please, don't let this be a dream.' He smiled back. "Of course. I'll do anything for the most beautiful mare I know." He crossed the kitchen and grabbed an apron from the cupboard next to the sink. Tying it, he turned to rarity. "What does the beautiful woman need me to do?" She handed him a knife and some tomatoes. "If you would chop these and those peppers, I'll wash the spinach and chop the onions." She smiled at him. "Sound like a plan?" Spike saluted her with his tail. "Yes ma'm." She laughed. "Get cooking soldier." It all felt natural as he and Rarity moved around the kitchen in what could only be described as a dance. They never had to break stride, never bumped into each other, and picked up where the other left off when needed. Once the meal was cooked they say down to eat. It was only after the first bite that spike realized two things. The first was that he didn't have omlets often enough, and the second was how hungry he was. He ate as fast as he deemed safe in the presence of rarity, and after three plates, he set down his fork. As the two sat in silence, spike could tell that rarity had something on her mind. He desperately wanted to speak, but he had no idea what to say. He sighed and looked down at his plate. Today was going to be a long day. ------------- "I'm telling you rarity, I can't find any traces of his memories." After cleaning up from their meal, spike and rarity had gone to golden Oakes library in search of answers. Spike had almost been suprised when flash sentry opened the door. Almost. Twilight had never been good at hiding her feelings, so spike had to smile at the fact that things had worked out for her like it seemed to have for him. After a quick magic scan, twilight came to the conclusion that spike did not have amnesia. His memories just weren't there. Rarity and twilight had moved to the kitchen to talk, leaving spike in the main sitting room with flash. "So." Flash sipped a glass of lemonade that twilight had brought to the group when they had sat down. "So....?" Spike glanced at flash before looking back down to his claws. "How are you feeling? If I'd woken up to find out I'd been married to twilight for years with no recollection , I'd be a bit shaken." Spike sighed. "Honestly, I don't know how to feel. It...it's something I've been dreaming of for as long as I've known rarity, but..." He looked towards the kitchen. "Yeah, I'm definitely confused." "Do you remember anything from yesterday?" Spike closed his eyes and focused. His memory was cloudy still, but he could remember leaving the boutique, looking up and... Nothing. "I can remember leaving rarity's house, but that's where it all gets hazy and I can't remember." He shrugged and sighed. "I just feel so lost." Flash looked at his drink, swirling it. "I wish I could tell you I understand, but twilight and I have yet to have an experience as bizarre as this." Spike scoffed. "You make it sound like you know something crazy will happen to you." Flash shrugged. "You of all people should know that living with twilight is an adventure in and of itself." Spike sighed. "I guess." He glanced over his shoulder at the kitchen. "I honestly want to enjoy this while I'm here. You don't happen to know what plans I might have had for today?" Flash shook his head. "From what you'd said to me, you were going to make it up as you went." He chuckled. "Almost like you knew you wouldn't remember anything." Spike groaned. Of course he wouldn't plan anything. He really must have a death wish. A hot, sexy death wish. "I guess I had better start planing." He shook his head, a grin appearing on his face. "And I think I have an idea." Rarity and twilight walked back into the room. Twilight drained the last of... Whatever it was that she was drinking before turning to spike. "I don't think there's anything more I can do to help your memory, but if you remember anything, I expect a full report for documentation of this event." She gave rarity a hug. "Do try to enjoy yourselves today." "Thank you twilight. We'll be sure to let you know if anything develops." Rarity smiled. She looped an arm through spike's. "We'll see you later." As they left the library, spike could tell that rarity was lost deep in thought. "You ok?" Rarity started. "Hm? Oh, yes. I'm just... Thinking." "Oh?" "It's just... This is all so much." Her shoulders drooped and she looked away from spike. "When I fell asleep yesterday, I was so excited... For... For..." Her shoulders shook, and spike knew she was crying. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into hug. He put a hand under her chin and raised her head to meet his eyes. "Hey. We'll figure this out, ok?" He brushed a strand of her mane from her face. "Everything will be fine." Even as spike said it, he wasn't sure.