//------------------------------// // Uncle Spike // Story: A Shared Bond (NOT 100% CANON TO FAITHVERSE) // by Faith-Wolff //------------------------------// Stella opened the door slowly, shutting it quietly behind her as she looked to the speaker. Shuddering, she clung against her audience's stomach. The speaker was long and tall, his body adorned with purple and green scales along with scaly wings. His emerald-green eyes looked into her deep sapphire ones, concern instantly filling his as he saw the tears. “Stelly? What happened?” he asked, sitting up a bit, a small bundle in his arms. The unicorn sniffed, small tears leaking from her red eyes. “Uncle Spike, Mama and Papa don't want me anymore..” Spike's head reeled back in surprise, confusion evident on his features as Scootaloo flew in. “What's going on?” she asked, looking to see Stella. The aforementioned unicorn just sat there and cried, Spike and Scootaloo sharing a worried glance. Sighing quietly, Spike handed the small bundle to Scootaloo, and she flew to the other room as Spike gingerly rubbed his niece's back. “Talk to me Stelly...y'know I hate seeing you cry.” Stella sniffled, trying to wipe her eyes and speak. Unable to hold back anymore, the little filly clung to her uncle and sobbed. Spike sighed, picking her up and cradling the little one. Stella's voice began to croak due to her crying, “Th-They're replacing m-me w-with someone e-else..” Spike carefully pulled the crying filly close to him as he whispered. “Now why do you think that?”. Stella hiccupped, clinging to her uncle. “Th-They sent me away for a whole week, a-and I come b-back to see that there's a mare a-and a filly with them. P-Papa's wing was a-around the filly..” she explained, her heart hurting. Spike's head lifted a bit, an eyebrow raised. “You mean Sunset Shimmer?” he asked. “Wh-Who?” Stella questioned with a slight head tilt, looking up in confusion. Spike looked at her for a minute, before acquainting his free paw with his face. “Oyyee Twilight the absent-minded alicorn strikes again...” the dragon grumbled, catching Stella's attention. “They really never told you?” he asked in mild disbelief. When she nodded, he groaned once more as he rubbed his snout. Seeing Stella's confusion, he sighed and looked to her. “It seems that they got so caught up in preparation that they forgot to say something to you.” The young filly raised her ears up a bit. “Tell me what?” Spike scratched the back of his neck. “Well, I'd suggest getting the full story from your mother, but here's an abridged version I guess.” He shifted a bit, clearing his throat. “Last week I received a letter from your mother informing me of what was to happen. It turns out that Sunset Shimmer, a mare that your mother and I met from another universe, was returning home with her daughter. The cause for this came from Sunset's husband, who was in a bad accident and...passed on.” he began, his eyes briefly saddened as he recalled that detail. He could practically tell from the writing that Twilight wasn't very stable when she wrote that detail down. “That world is nowhere near as forgiving to a single mother as we are here. As such, your mother and father invited her to return here and live with them.” Stella looked down, taking all of it in. She sniffed, looking back to Spike. “But...why was my father acting so...'fatherly'...to that filly?” she asked. Spike stalled a bit awkwardly before speaking. “It's....coooomplicated, honestly. And it's not really my place to tell you. You couldn't ask them?” he shrugged, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. Stella looked away in shame, her ears lowering. “I kinda got caught up and... teleported away before they could...But, they were acting so weird with me! They sent me away to the Crystal Empire for this whole week. I wasn't even supposed to be home until tomorrow..” she admitted, a tad frustrated both at the situation and at herself. “But it's clear to me, they don't want me anymore..” “About that part. What's got you so convinced about that?” Spike asked her, lowering his neck to try and meet her eye level. ”I-I'm not like either of them! I'm nowhere near as good at magic as mom, I-I'm not brave or strong like dad..! I can't fly! All I'm doing is, disappointing them. I'm not the daughter they deserve..th-this new filly might be..” she retorted, the final thought coming out in a defeated tone. Spike looked to her in saddened shock, hugging his niece close to him. “Stelly, how long have you been feeling like this?” he asked, hushed in tone. Stella clung to him, tearing up once more as she answered him. “Ever since my magic lessons started. But, it only recently started constantly coming up in my mind.” “You never told your mom or dad..?” Stella shook her head. “They'd lie for my sake..” Spike looked ahead, his gaze far away as he went down memory lane. “I've been in your place once.. I know this song and dance” he muttered in a low tone, causing Stella to look up in surprise. “You were replaced, Uncle Spike?” Stella asked in a tiny voice, eyes wide. Spike smiled down to her, his eyes warm. “Well, I felt like I was, but in the end, all I had to do was tell your mom. She told me the honest truth, and went out of her way to make me feel important. Now, I never question her love for me. After all, she and Flash gave me an amazing niece.” he spoke with a slight chuckle, one claw gently placed under the unicorn's chin to lift her head up. “And you shouldn't, either.” Stella felt the cold grip of shame, looking down. “Now, tell me Stelly. Was all of this really about Sunset and her daughter? Or was this about your anxiety?” he questioned, looking to her. “....Honestly, I don't even know them. I....oh Faust, I really messed up!..” she squeaked, putting her face in her hooves. Spike chuckled, gently patting her back. “Shhh...you're young. And just like your mother~” he replied with a grin. “I am..?” “Mmmm-hm~” Stella wiped her eyes with her foreleg, feeling the pain and anxiety slowly lift. Spike nabbed a tissue with his tail, offering it to her with a smile. The little unicorn took it with her hoof, blowing her nose and tossing it to the trash, smiling to her uncle. “Did I help any?” he asked whilst putting a paw on her shoulder. She nodded, gently hugging his arm. “Thank you, Uncle Spike... You're the best.” The dragon smiled warmly, giving Stella a big hug. “Anytime, Stelly. You just needed a moment.” The two parted soon after, Spike setting her back down and rising to his feet as he looked outside. “It's getting late. I'll escort you back home, alright?” he said. Stella looked, seeing Luna's moon beginning to peek over the horizon. “Will you be okay?” she asked worriedly. Spike snickered, spreading his wings proudly. “I'm a big bad dragon! Nopony will dare to mess with me~!” he boasted, gaining a welcomed giggle in reply. He was about to call to his wife when a noise cut him off. Somepony was rapidly knocking at his door.