• Published 11th Apr 2014
  • 11,167 Views, 68 Comments

The School Life of Spike: Book 1 - Dark Matter 101



Join Spike as he faces friends and enemies through out his school years. He'll face fights, break into schools, solving cases, and much more. This is a school life about Spike the human.

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Ch 3: The Next Door Neighbor

Chapter 3

The Next Door Neighbor

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Rainbow Dash asked. She was wearing a blue cap.

"Bring it on, Dashy," Spike commented her. He was some reason wearing a helmet.

"Spike, you shouldn't taunt her like that," Applejack said behind him. "After all, you'll just make her stronger."

"That's the point, Applejack," Spike said.

"Come on, Spike! You can do it!" Twilight yelled behind a fence.

"I didn't know Spike was up," Fluttershy said, worrying. "Go easy on him, Rainbow Dash!"

"Spike!" Rarity called out. "I know you can do it!"

"All I have to do is concentrate," Spike said to himself. "Concentrate... Conce-"

"Will you just throw the damn ball already!?" Rover cried out over by first base.

"Shut up! You're the reason your team is losing!" Rainbow Dash cried out.

"Hey! I want a clean game from both of you!" Pinkie cried out. She wore an Umpire suit.

"You keep calling people names!" Applejack threw her mask down and face at Pinkie.

"That's what Umpire's do, right?"

"I thought this was suppose to be fun not violence," Fluttershy said, covering her eyes. She was in third base.

"Don't worry, darling," Rarity said standing on second base. "Spike can win the game for us."

"Okay, Dash, throw the ball as hard as you can!" Spike taunted her.

"You got it, little dude," Rainbow Dash grin.

"PLAY BALL!" Pinkie yelled.

The gang was playing baseball on a Saturday afternoon. It was Rainbow Dash's team against Rover's team. Rover's team was Rarity, Fluttershy, Spike, and Spot. Rainbow Dash's team was Applejack, Pinkie, Twilight, and Fido. Other students were playing as well with them. Pinkie was both a player and an Umpire. Twilight wasn't much into baseball that much, instead she cheered both team; especially Spike. The score was 16 to 13. Rainbow Dash's score was 16 and Rover's was 13. Spike raises a bat and got into his swinging position while Rainbow Dash held the baseball in her hand and glove. The two stared at each other glancing into each other's eyes.

"You ready, kid?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Ready when you are," Spike answered.

"Remember, Spike!" Rover cried out. "If you mess this up, me and the boys will mess YOU up!"

"Not if I mess you up first," Rainbow Dash whispered clenching her teeth.

"Come on, Rover, It's a friendly game," Spike said. "We're just having fun."

"Still a little baby as usual," Rover teased.

"Throw the ball, Dash!" Spike put his game face on.

Rainbow Dash threw the ball and it went zooming past him, Spike swings too early on his first swing.

"STRIKE ONE!" Pinkie shouted, holding a finger up.

"Don't swing, Spike!" Rover yelled.

Spike nod and got into position again. Applejack threw the ball back to Rainbow Dash and caught still looking at Spike. Rainbow Dash stretch her arm back and threw the ball making it curve to the side. Spike swing too late and the ball went passed him.

"STRIKE TWO!" Pinkie stick out two fingers.

"Just hit the ball!" Rover pulls his hair.

Spike got into position once more. Applejack threw the ball back to the pitcher and caught it. Rainbow Dash gave him a second to focus. The intense on his look made her feel uneasy. So this time she threw the ball straight at the center. Spike swings the bat and hit the ball with a loud CRACK! The ball went flying as it goes over the field and out of the park. Rainbow Dash drops her jaws and was surprised she lost to a ten year old. Then Rover's teams ran around bases to bases and scores four points.

"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle," Applejack said, taking her mask off and gazed the ball flying and went down. "That's what I call a home run."

The team raises Spike and cheered for him, winning the game.

"Let's hear it for Spike!" Rarity shouted.

"Hang on you guys," Twilight walks in disrupting their victory. "Before we celebrate, we need to find the ball and give it to Spike."

"And why would we do that?" Fido asked.

"Because it's Spike's first home run and~ the first time somebody hit the ball from my pitching," Rainbow Dash said. "Twilight, can you find the ball for us."

"Sure thing," Twilight climbs on the scoring board and grabs a pair of binoculars hanging on a nail. She looks through it and looks around town. She soon spotted the ball and smile till she backs up making her smile fade. "Uh-oh."

"What do you mean 'Uh-oh', Twi?" Applejack asked.

"You're not going to believe where it landed," Twilight looks at them.

"Where could it possibly landed at, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

Later

The gang arrived at a house with wood fence panels higher than them and tall grass higher than the fence. Lighting struck behind the house and a gust of wind blew by pass them. Fluttershy slides behind Fido and shook in fear. But she wasn't the only one who was afraid. The whole gang stood in frightful faces. Except for Spike.

"Did anyone notice the lightn'?" Applejack asked.

"The ball went into Zecora's yard?" Spot said.

"The ball is long gone," Pinkie said. "Sorry, Spike."

"It's okay," Spike said in a cheerful way. He walks up to the fence front gate. "We'll just ask for it back."

"NO!" Rainbow Dash stops him from opening the gate. She tackles him to the ground and pin him down on the concrete floor. "Are you mad?"

"Should I be asking the same question?!" Spike talked back to her.

"Spike, deary, do you know who lives in that nasty looking house," Rarity said.

"Someone named Zecora, what about it?" Spike asked, still pinned down.

Rainbow Dash got off of him and helps him up. "I forgot you're new here in town," Rainbow Dash crosses her arms.

"Zecora is my next door neighbor," Twilight spoke.

Spike looks over to the left side of the house and saw her house by Zecora's.

"How did I missed that," Spike said to himself.

"Anyway, I think we tell Spike a short story," Rainbow ash said.

"I'll tell him the story," Applejack said. "Everyone gather round for I have a story to tell." Everybody surrounded Applejack and listen to her tale. "Long time ago, just about two years back, was a women name Zecora. Now Zecora was a quiet woman and still she never comes out of the house. One day, one of the neighbors came by her house, wanted to greet her in the neighborhood. But as they entered the house they never came out. I was a witness myself and saw them go in the house. Till the next morning, I never heard them again. I went to their house and their furniture was gone. All their family portraits were gone as well. Rumors say that she was a witch doctor, who can make black magic and put curses on folks. Then more rumors spread, one of them was about another victim. A kid playing with his ball and accidently bounced it into Zecora's yard. The fence was already up and the grass hadn't been mowed down. The kid searches the ball till he was found by her."

"Did you get a good look at her?" Spike asked.

"Nobody could ever get a good look at her," Applejack continued. "Day after day, month after month, year after year, the fence grew older and the grass grew taller at this very moment. You can get lost in her yard, that's how she gets her bait. And so, Spike, that is why we don't enter the house. Nor do we speak of it."

Spike looks at her, frowning. He looks over to the house and back to Applejack.

"You expect me to believe such mumbo-jumbo?" Spike said.

"Spike, this is serious!" Twilight said.

"Look, I'll go get the ball and come back here in one piece," Spike ignored their warnings. "It's just in the yard."

"Spike, I-"

"Spike is right," Rover said, walking over to him.

"I am?" Spike said.

"He is?" Rainbow Dash questioned.

"This is Spike's ball we're talking about, people," Rover continued. "It's his first home run and the first to beat Rainbow Dash at something nobody couldn't do."

"What are you saying?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yeah, what ARE you saying?" Spike asked, thinking this couldn't end well.

"I'm saying that we too would do anything to get something this important, so..." Rover and Fido pick Spike up and rush to the fence. "Go get your ball back!"

They threw Spike over the fence, making the girls gasp. The Diamond Dogs laughed and hive five each other. Rainbow Dash grabs Rover's jacket collar and pulls him towards her face.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" Rainbow Dash yelled at him.

"Hey, it's his own fault he lost the ball," Rover said.

"But you didn't have to throw him over the fence!" Twilight said.

"Grow a back bone, will ya," Spot said. "We're doing him a favor."

"We're toughening him up a bit," Fido said, pounding his into the palm of his hand.

"That's right," Rover continued, still being grabbed by Rainbow Dash. "We just want to see if he can survive Zecora's fun house. And until then-"

DONG!

Rover eyes widen and tears started to come out. Rainbow Dash saw a foot on Rover's crotch. Applejack kicked him from behind. Rainbow Dash let go of Rover watching him slowly fell to his knees and fell sideways covering his crotch.

"What the hell did ya did that for!" Rover squealed.

"Toughenin' you up a bit," Applejack said repeatedly what Fido said.

"You'll pay for that," Rover snaps his fingers. "Fido! Spot!"

The both of them helped him up and walk away from them. Rover slowly walked still covering his crotch.

"Careful! It still burns stings hell," Rover continued wailing.

"What jerks," Rainbow Dash said.

"Tell me somethin' I don't know about them," Applejack said.

"Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity cried out. "Are you all right! Answer me!"

"I'm okay!" Spike answered. "Luckily the tall grass cushion my fall!"

"Don't worry, Spike, we'll get you out of there!" Fluttershy said.

"Hang on!" Spike got up and looked around. "I bet I can find the baseball somewhere, since I'm in her yard and all!"

"Don't take too long!" Twilight said.

Spike pushes through the tall grass, looking for the baseball somewhere in the yard. It felt like a forest to Spike, as if he was Daring Do on an adventure. Spike suddenly felt a step on his bottom foot. He looks down to see a brick path going from the front gate to the front door.

"Guess I can ask," Spike said as he steps out the grass and walks towards the front door. "It's not like anything scary will hap- GAH!"

Spike fell back on the ground. A scarecrow startled him leaning over the grass. The crows were on its arms crowing. Its button eye was hanging out on a thread and another button was missing. Its mouth was sad and gloomy looking. Spike got up and brushes the dirt off of him. He took a second look at it and started to walk slowly by it while still looking at the unpleasant face.

Spike reaches to the front porch. On the porch was an old rickety rocking chair. He also saw a wind chime hanging on the ceiling. Spike saw a window by the door, the curtains were blowing slowly; a draft somewhere in the house. Spike walks up to the door and took a moment to take deep breathes. He raises his hand making it into a fist and knocks on the door.

But with one knock, the door slowly opens wide. Spike stood absolutely still looking into the darkness in the house. His hand was still raise and shaking. Spike didn't bother to blink his eyes. He looks back and saw the scarecrow looking at him with his sad looking face.

"Better than to stand around with that scarecrow I guess," Spike said to himself and walks inside.

Without Spike noticing, Rarity was peeping through the hole in the fence and saw Spike enter the house closing the door behind him.

"Not my Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity cried out.

"What happen? What's wrong?" Fluttershy asked.

Rarity hesitated to the fence gate and tries to open it. Sadly it was locked. She pushes and pulls the gate jerking the handle making the whole fence shake.

"Rarity, clam down!" Twilight said stopping her from breaking the gate. "Tell us what you saw."

"Spike enters the house," Rarity said.

"WHAT!" Twilight pushes Rarity aside and tried to open the gate.

"Open the damn gate, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash demanded.

"I can't, it's locked from the other side!" Twilight said pulling the gate.

"Unlock the gate so we can get Spike!" Pinkie yells.

"Now how are we supposed to do that?" Applejack asked. She then felt Fluttershy tapping on her shoulder and look back at her.

"I have an idea," Fluttershy said calmly.

(Inside the house)

Spike was in the house all dark. He found a light switch and flicks it. No electricity. He then saw a candlestick holder with a handle on a table with matches lying beside it. He picks the matches up and took one match out. A runs it across the box making a small flicking sound and put the flame onto the candle. It lit the room up a bit more and a bit brighter. He picks the candle holder and sticks it out in the open space looking around the room. The walls were scraping the wallpaper off, cobwebs in every corner, the house was a mess. Spike suddenly got chills as if he was in a horror movie.

"It's okay Spike," he spoke to himself. "Just find this Zecuru- Zecare- whatever her name is, and ask for the ball back."

He walks into a living room and saw old furniture's covered with big white dirty cloths. Spike see's a cloth in a rectangular shape. He set the candle down and grabs a hold of the cloth. He pulls it and dust went flying everywhere. He coughs waving his arms making the dust go away. It was a portrait of African Americans standing underneath a shaded tree. Spike picks up the candle and scan it through the picture.

"Who are these people?" Spike asks himself. "This person must've been traveler."Spike suddenly remembered what Applejack said. "That's right! She's a witch doctor. Most witch doctor lives in Africa who does black magic or something like that. Speaking of which, I haven't seen her anywhere, this is a two story house so maybe she's upstairs. And on plus side, nothing has happen yet."

Spike laughs and felt a chill behind him. A shadowy figure ran past him very fast. Spike quickly swings his candle around wiping the smile on his face. He was stun and his eyes were wide open nervously looks around without blinking.

"Uh… Rainbow Dash… was that you?" Spike softly said still looking around.

He drops the candle holder and stood back up with a broken wooden board in one hand and the candleholder in the other. He swings it left to right making sure someone or something wasn't near him. His hands were shaking uncontrollably. He sticks the candle out of the living room and took a quick peek. He steps out looking around left to right, up and down.

"Twilight?" Spike called out softly, seeing if his friends are in the house with him. "Applejack? Rarity? Fluttershy? Pinkie? Come on guys."

...

"If this is some kind of joke it's not-" Spike turns to see a human size see through cloth standing in front of him with a scary face looking down at him. Spike yelled in fear standing in place dropping the weapon in his hand.

(Outside)

Rainbow Dash yelled as she landed on the other side of the fence. She got up rubbing her aching back.

"That was your idea?" Rainbow Dash asked, moaning.

"I thought that we could throw you over, just like what the Diamond Dogs did to Spike," Fluttershy said from the other side.

"Just get Spike and get out of there," Applejack called out. "We can forget about the ball."

"Okay," Rainbow Dash said, pushing her way through the tall grass. "Spike! Spiiike~~!"

She made it to the brick road and spotted the porch.

"Okay, Spike, if you're in there you better-"

A scruffy white glove hand landed on her shoulder. She took a moment to look at the hand carefully and look up. She saw the scarecrow looking down on her with the crows flying around making it look scary. Rainbow Dash leans back passing out and landed on her back fainted.

(Inside the House)

Spike was breathing hard and took a second glimpse of the figure. Spike tilted his head and removes the cloth. It was a mannequin with a face on it. Spike took a deep breath of relief and continued the search. He went into another and enters a kitchen. The kitchen was a mess and smelled bad. Dishes stacked in the sink, stain liquid was on the floor and table, Spike covered his nose to block the stench airing into his nose.

"Holly, mother of God," Spike took a quick sniff. He uses his sleeve jacket to cover his nose completely. "I doubt the ball is in here."

He waves the candle around and spotted stairs. Spike was happy to see stairs but also scared at the same time.

"Finally," Spike rushes to the stairs and uncovered his nose ignoring the stench around him. But before he could take a step up he heard something roll upstairs.

Spike could hear it coming closer to him. It was too dark upstairs to make out what it was. Then it started to tap heading downstairs. It bounces down skipping two steps each and finally landed on solid ground next to Spike's foot. It was the baseball Spike hit a home run with. It continued to roll slowly until it stops on Spike's foot by a tap. Spike looks at the ball and picks it up.

"Okay," Spike said. "I guess I can head out now."

Spike put the ball in his pocket and heard a noise behind him. He quickly looks back and saw nothing. He could've sworn he saw something in the dark.

"Guy's, if you're here to scare me-"

The stack of dishes fell over making clanking noises. Spike yelp and ran upstairs dropping the candle and made a hard left turn heading to a closet door. He slams the door and hid in the dark. Glimpse of light beams through the door shades. Spike slowly took a peek through the cracks and saw a shadowy figure walk down the hallway. Spike covered his mouth to stop breathing heavily. The figure looks around, looking for Spike.

(Outside)

Rainbow Dash woke up from passing out by the scarecrow. She stares into its button eyes and crawled back away from it. She stood up and walk to the fence gate entrance.

"Okay guys, I'm here," she said.

"What were you doin', Rainbow Dash," Applejack asked.

Rainbow Dash didn't want to say she got scared by a scarecrow.

"That's not important," Rainbow Dash change the subject. "I'll get the gate open we'll go save Spike."

She pushes the fence gate and ram into it. She got confuse when she tried to pull it towards her and it didn't open. She shook the gate and it still wouldn't open.

"Rainbow Dash," Twilight spoke.

"The gate is locked isn't it," Rainbow Dash finishes her sentence.

Rainbow Dash looks down seeing a chain with a lock between the gate and the fence together.

"Dammit!" she yelled.

"Don't worry, Rainbow Dash," Rarity said, pulling out a bobbypin and slide it under the gate. "Do you know how to pick-lock?"

(Inside the House)

The dark figure came closer to Spike and Spike could only stay quiet until it passes by him. It stops for a second. Spike quickly took a step back still covering his mouth. He couldn't hold his breath any longer. The figure looks around and looks at the closet door Spike was hiding in. Spike was staring in the eyes of the figure but it didn't saw him. It fled down the hall and into a room.

Spike opens the door and looks around making sure it's safe. He got out of the closet and closed the door behind him. He made his way to the stairs but was stop by a light beaming through a crack. A door left open just a crack with light pouring out of it. Spike could see a fireplace and a red sofa chair through the crack. He couldn't help but to see what was in there. He opens the door all the way and saw that the room was clean for once. The only room that is nice, spotless, and tidy around the house. Spike was amazed. There were two red sofas, a fireplace, and a tea set on a small table. Spike was surprise of what he's seeing.

"Wait, what?" Spike shook his head trying to figure out why the only room is nice.

Spike saw a glimpse of a shadow leaning over him. He shrugs his shoulders as he slowly turns around. All he could do was show fear and a small breathless gasp.

(Outside)

Rainbow Dash fiddles with the lock and the hairpin Rarity gave her open the gate for them. She finally unlocks it and made the chain fell to the ground.

"Okay, guys, I got the gate unlocked," Rainbow Dash said. "Now we can-"

WHAM!

Without warning, Twilight bash the gate open slamming into Rainbow Dash.

"Hold on, Spike!" Twilight cried out already at the front porch.

"You okay, Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy asked softly.

"Bleeding," Rainbow Dash said in pain. "Head. Nose. Injured. Hospital."

After they helped Rainbow Dash get it together they went inside the house. They each had an expression on their face. Twilight looked aggressive, Rarity was disgusted by the place, Applejack was curious, Fluttershy was scared, Pinkie was happy (of course), and Rainbow Dash was still in pain.

"Eeewww," Rarity said disgusted. "Whoever lives in a place like? I just bought these shoes the other day.

"Quit your whinin' and start lookin' for Spike," Applejack said as she walks through the dirty mess.

"Honestly, you have to be the dirtiest kind I've ever met," Rarity said taking out a small bottle out of her small purse that said Air freshener and sprayed the place.

"Welcome to America, Darlin'."

"Come on, girls, focus" Twilight spoke. "Look for Spike and look out for Zecora."

"What if she gotten Spike by now," Fluttershy asked.

"Come again!" Twilight growled at her, she was still mad of what the Diamond Dogs did to Spike and Zecora for frightening Spike.

"I'm sorry," Fluttershy hid behind another room shaking.

Pinkie went up stairs jumping every step. When she got to the second floor she notices a door wide open that Spike went into.

"A clue!" she shouted. "No wait a minute; it's only a clue when it's an object or something suspicious. This is an investigation!"

Downstairs, Rarity and Rainbow Dash walks into the kitchen and saw the kitchen was a mess.

"At least she could do is clean up the place a bit," Rarity said.

"Hey, Rarity, come here," Rainbow Dash hollers her.

Rarity walks to Rainbow Dash. She was stirring something in a pot filled with carrots, onions, and lettuces.

"What do you make of this?" Rainbow Dash asked as she took a sip off of the wooden spoon.

"I say its soup or a stew," Rarity answered.

"Whatever it is, it's actually taste good in a way."

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Twilight cried out. She rushes at Rainbow Dash and smacks the spoon out of her hands.

"What are YOU doing?!" Rainbow Dash talks back to her.

"Do you know what could be in that stew?" Twilight continued.

"All I see really are vegetables, darling," Rarity said. "What gotten into you."

"Twilight's right," Applejack came in. "For all we know is that witches make stews out of people."

"Making people… out of soup?" Rainbow Dash said. Applejack gave her a nod. "As in I could be eating Spike?"

She nods again.

"Where's the bathroom," Rainbow Dash covers her mouth and without questions she bolted out of the kitchen searching for the bathroom.

"That's cute," Fluttershy spoke to Twilight as she came into the group.

"Come again," Twilight said.

"You care for Spike," Fluttershy smiled.

"We all care for Spike, Fluttershy," Twilight said.

"I mean you care for Spike as if he like a little brother to you."

Twilight froze and looks around the room.

"No, not because he acts like a brother," Twilight turn away from them. "It's because he's my number one assistant."

"Hey guys," Rainbow Dash but in. "I think Pinkie found something."

They all went up stairs and saw Pinkie next to the open door swaying back and forth.

"It's about time that you showed up," she whispered. "The witch is in this room."

They all gasp. Applejack took a peek through the crack and she notice a person with a brown hood on. The stranger puts a cup of tea down on the table.

"Why didn't ya come and get us in the first place?" Applejack whispered.

"She could of use her voodoo magic and disappeared in thin air," Pinkie answered.

"Okay, good point," Applejack said.

"What do we do?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well I suggest we-"

"OKAY YOU WITCH!" Twilight bust the door open walking into the room.

"Dammit, Twi," Applejack said, face palming.

"Where is he?" Twilight continued yelling at her. "Where's Spike! Did you took his soul, locked him in a closet for safe keeping, or did you-"

"Twilight?"

Twilight stops when she heard a familiar kind voice behind the chair. Spike look over the chair seeing Twilight surprise.

"Did you come and chat a bit with Zecora?" Spike asked.

"Er… Zecora?" Twilight raise an eyebrow.

The hooded person pulls the hood back revealing an African woman. Her hair was black and white and a style of a Mohawk. She wore three rings around her neck and a satchel over her shoulder. She also wore clothes hanging down where the bottom meets her ankles. Around her waist was a belt made of strings and wore sandals.

"Ah! Twilight Sparkle if I'm not mistaking," Zecora spoke.

She stood out of her chair and walks up to her shaking her hand. She was taller than her and a bit older.

"Uh…" Twilight was stunned, as so the rest of her friends.

"I'm Zecora and this fine boy was talking about you and your friends," Zecora continued.

"Uh…"

"This young man also told me about a so called witch you keep naming me, is this true?"

"Uh…"

"You have to excuse her," Spike walks up to the two and grabs Twilight's hand and walk out to the door. "She and her friends are a bit confused."

"Uh…" Twilight continued.

Spike close the door behind them and Zecora could hear them going on about what happened. There was a bit of whispers, a bit of yelling, and a bit of crying. Soon they all came back in the room. Twilight's and her friends stood in a row side to side.

"We're sorry," they all said.

"But I was wondering what was the stew downstairs in the kitchen," Rainbow Dash spoke.

"You mean my vegetable stew you tasted," Zecora laughed. "If you like that much I'll lend you some, but I'm afraid it's not quit done."

"She told me about herself and I told her about myself, just to get to know each other a bit," Spike said. "She's also good with rhyming."

"Oh! Oh! Oh! I like rhymes! Tell me one! Tell me one!" Pinkie excitedly jumps up and down.

"Your name is Pinkie if I'm not mistaking," Zecora said to her. "Spike here told me you were a bit breath taking."

"Oh really~~~," Pinkie slides right next to Spike. She grabs him around the shoulder and pulls him towards her.

"You didn't have to tell her that!" Spike threw his hood up and pulls it down.

"And he also said he was a bit shy around older women," Zecora continued. "If I'm not mistaken."

"Stop that!" he cried out blushing hard.

"Wait a bucking minute!" Applejack waves her hands. "What about the neighbors you met and made them never exist and the little boy who you took away?"

"The people I met two years ago?" Zecora remembered. "They were moving away, along with the boy. After all, he is part of the family who visited me, and if you said they never existed then how come you still remember them?"

Applejack was about to say something till she figure out what she was talking about. She taps her chin thinking this through.

"Good point," was all she could say.

"So, no witch," Fluttershy spoke.

"No witch, little one," Zecora smiled.

"Good, because may I ask you something, Ms. Zecora?" Rarity said. "Your house could use a bit of cleaning and decorated a bit."

"Rarity, that's not nice," Spike said.

"She's right," Zecora agreed with Rarity. "I do need help cleaning a bit around the house if you don't mind."

"Well if you insist, we'll be happy to clean the house," Spike said and turned to the girls.

"Sounds like a great idea," Twilight agreed.

"I guess it'll be good to know Zecora a bit more," Applejack said.

"Glad to hear it," Zecora was pleased to hear them say yes.

"Can we start the kitchen," Rainbow Dash asks.

Later they all went to cleaning. Twilight and Rarity cleans the upstairs, Rainbow Dash picks the living room up a bit and dusted the cobwebs off of every corner, Zecora and Applejack was washing dishes as Zecora was telling her about herself and her homeland making Applejack very interested. Rarity was cutting down the grass and took the scarecrow down as Pinkie was putting the fences down while putting up smaller fences around the house. And finally Fluttershy and Spike were putting flower gardens on the front porch. Spike grabs a flower and gave it to Fluttershy. Fluttershy was thankful and peck him on the cheek making Spike throws his hood up hiding his blush. Fluttershy giggled. Finally after a day of cleaning, the house was clean, beautiful, and seemed to draw attention to the neighbors.

The cleaning crew stood outside getting a good look at the house. Zecora was pleased to see her house clean again.

"Thank you for your kind efforts," Zecora said.

"Sure thing," Spike gave her a thumb up.

"Again, sorry about thinkin' you were a witch and all," Applejack said, rubbing the back of her head.

"It's getting late," Twilight said, watching the sun setting.

"I want to do this again another day," Pinkie said. "And another day, and another day, and another day, and another day, and another day…"

Pinkie repeatedly said as she walks off. As so did the rest of the gang. Except for Spike and Twilight.

"Will it be okay if we come over?" Twilight asked.

"After helping me with the house, you are welcome here any time you like," Zecora said.

"Awesome!" Spike threw his arms up.

"And Spike," Zecora continued. "Remember what I told you."

"Told you what," Twilight looked at Spike.

"Oh, uh… nothing important," Spike hesitated. "See you tomorrow."

Spike walk off without hearing what Twilight has to say.

"Sure, I guess," Twilight shrugs and walks off.

"Twilight," Zecora stops her.

"Yes?"

"… Keep an eye on Spike," Zecora said. "He is special to you. He said you were like a sister to him."

Twilight heart was struck making her jump a bit. She blushes looking down. For a second she smiled softly and nods her head. She walks back home waving goodbye to Zecora. Zecora waved back smiling till her smile faded away as Twilight was far off the distance.

"Keep a very good eye on him," she whispered softly. She closed her eyes remembering what she told Spike. They were talking in the red room drinking tea talking.

"I wish I could tell them," Spike's words echoes in her head. "But they wouldn't understand."

"In time they will, Spike," she heard her own voice in her head echoing. "Remember, even if it's a secret to you, it's a secret you can't keep forever."

"So you want me to tell them?"

"That is up to you, Spike. But when you have the last moment, you have to tell them."

"I'll try to tell them, but not today."

"Don't be scare little one, they'll understand. They are your first friends after all who cares about you."

"Yeah, the only friends I have."

"… Why are you afraid?"

"Because I told people and they ignore me for months. But my friends seem to be nice."

"It'll be fine to tell them. You just have to be brave."

"I know… I know."

"OKAY YOU WITCH!" Twilight echoed loudly in her head. "Where is he? Where's Spike!"

When Zecora stops remembering, she looks up to the orange sky with a sad face.

"His life's so sad," Zecrora softly said. "Please give him courage,"