The worst thing a friend can say

by Emblis

The worst thing a friend can say

Dear princess Celesta.

What is the worst thing your friend can say to you? Egghead? Leave me alone? I hope I never see you again? No. Those are only words, trifle things without meaning, carrying no weight, they are all forgiven and forgotten within a week. I know what it is. The worst thing a friend can say to you. I heard it from my number one assistant.

Spike was not very old, I still considered him a baby dragon even if he took care of me as much as I took care of him. We had some wonderful years together. Back then we thought we would be happily together for many years to come. We took our happiness and each other for granted, enjoying ourselves in ways we should not have.

And then the cruel world came crashing down, my little baby dragon had cancer. It was just a week since we had celebrated his birthday. And without even having grown up he was going to die. How could this be allowed? Why could I not protect him? Why had not noticed it earlier?

But it was too late.

Why had not noticed the usual tiredness? The subtle change of color in his scale? I was heartbroken when the news came. Spike asked me why I was crying. What was I supposed to say? How do you tell a lifelong friend that he was going to die? How do you tell someone who has never doubted your talents that you cannot magically make everything right? That not even the power of Celestia could fix this?

I wish it had been me. That it was me the news were about. I have to admit, it is an odd feeling wishing yourself sick, but that is precisely what I did. I wished with all of my heart and all of my soul.

In and out. In and out. We were constantly running to and from the hospital, it was like when Celestia relentlessly sent us out on dangerous quests to save Equestria, only more frequently. Only it took longer time. Only it was not an exciting adventure we went off to but a white room with a bed dressed in white sheets. I can’t count all the hours we spent inside those walls. Tests, results, reports, again and again. At times we stayed for the night, keeping him for observation they said. Had to make sure he did not eat anything, make sure he had drip.

Eventually we stopped returning to the library. It just wasn’t any point. Got a white room with two beds with white sheets. He laid in one and me in the other. I don’t think I ever actually slept in it. I spent most of my time sitting beside him, talking and comforting. I read for him, mostly old stories, the ones about the old pony sisters, adventures of Starswirl and even a Daring Doo novel. I told him stories from my foalhood, all the games I played with my brother and Cadence and how I first got interested in magic at the summer sun celebration.

Only left him when I had to get more coffee so that I would not fall asleep, so that I would be able to stand vigil over him a little while longer. So that I would be able spend as much time as possible with him.

Everyone I knew came to check on him, every day. Applejack always brought a big red apple with her, polished and very juicy. Fluttershy made sure to keep the flowers next to his bed fresh, she picked a different kind of bouquet every day, the new one somehow always looking prettier than the last. Pinkie Pie completely refurnished the room, colorful paintings covered the previously empty walls, the floor was mostly hidden under a soft and fluffy rug. Neither nurse Redheart nor I figured out how she managed to get Spike´s personal bookcase from the library into the room.

Rainbow Dash never stayed for long and she never brought anything. Soon after arriving she would claim she had work to do and leave in hurry, not wanting anyone to see her tears. The view outside Spike´s window was never cloudy, every day the sun shone brightly into the room and every night all the constellations could be easily spotted from the window. Even the days the rest of Ponyville suffered dark clouds and heavy rain.

Aside from me it was Rarity who spent most time with Spike. Whenever she came to visit Spike´s mood would improve. The big plate of rare gems was always appreciated but the expensive treats were never the highlight of her visit. At first the gems were quickly devoured but with each passing day he needed more and more time to empty the plate. Eventually he stopped eating altogether.

The last days were not peaceful. He could not do much more then lay still in bed, but that is not what I mean. He was not in a pace of mind, he did not want to accept that his life was soon at its end. He wanted to travel around the world with Rarity, grow wings, build his own hoard of gems and gold and more than anything, stay with me.

I knew these were things he would never get to experience. All the important things he would never get to do. He would never get to grown to be a teenage dragon, never get the chance to make his own life and he would not be with me as I grew old. How do you comfort someone when you yourself grief all those lost years? HOW?

Then the day arrived. The last one. It was as if he knew it. That tomorrow he would not be with me anymore. I sat next to him the whole day. Gently stroking him across the back. Nuzzling his nose. Speaking softly to him. He did not say much. He did not have the strength. But he smiled and nodded often. He loved it when I told him of the time he was newly hatched and all the trouble he got me into. Of all the happy moments we spent together.

But then he interrupted me. I fell quite when he squeezed my hoof in his claw.

“Twilight.” He whispered, so quite I almost did not hear him.

“I love you Twilight. I love you so much. Please don’t leave me.”

I squeezed his claw back with my hoof, as hard as I could.

“I love you so much Twilight.” He said again. “Please do not let me die.”

Spike slowly closed his eyes as his head rolled to the side and the claw in my hoof slowly turned limp.

What is the worst thing your friend can say to you? Egghead? Leave me alone? I hope I never see you again? No. Those are only words, trifle things without meaning, carrying no weight, they are all forgiven and forgotten within a week. I know what it is. The worst thing a friend can say to you.

Your faithful student
Twilight Sparkle

Comments

[Muhanoid]

Good... Good.
I remember reading same kind of story with Twilight being sick and Spike helping her.

While stories have same premise and overall structure, this one has a good punch. The line that Spike said.
Good build-up and very well done release.
Maybe it will sound odd, but I enjoyed it.

But it would be right to say I enjoyed how it was written.

Edit. Btw. Tragedy and Sad tags usually don't mix. It would be appropriate to leave sad tag.
Tragedy at least shows that characters struggle and have at least some hope. Oh wait... Wanderer D (one of moderators) has full explanation on all tags in his How-To blog.

[OminousBrony]

Solid idea, but it just didnt hit me like some other things do. However I give it a for the effort

[Emblis]

2003400
Aye, it is hardly a very original idea but as long as it is entertaining it is good. Glad you enjoyed it :)

[SuperPinkBrony12]

R.I.P. Spike. Twilight's number one assistant.

This was good but the end just didn't quite have enough punch to really hit me in the feels, it was still sad but it just didn't seem to capture enough emotion. Perhaps we could've heard Spike's last word which could be something like "Goodbye Twilight." or "I think it's time."

[III Clyde The Third III]

Nooooooo Spike!!!!

[Jeb4700]

Beautiful story, but why did I find this under the Clop section?

[TheFierySkyMare]

One word: FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Meta Knight]

24.media.tumblr.com/0a9d40da47ff29a217e057320c974757/tumblr_mglcre504P1rp9xv4o1_500.gif

[Classyasfukrainbowdash]

God damn this is sad. When I saw the label it peaked my interest. I regret it. But it was a moving story nevertheless.

[Sausagefanclub]

2003519
When you're in a colossal fandom such as this, it's quite hard to make anything original. Often when you try to do something, chances are it's already been done before.

Also, loved it. That last part really hit me in the feels, and showed just how strong the bond is between Twilight and Spike. It expresses how much of a caring parent she truly is.
This fanfiction was good and you should feel good.

[Kiryu123]

Sounds like a certain story of mine.....
Nah, but this a really good story!

[Emblis]

2003649
I swear I did not put it there

2006939
2006650
2004982
2004797
2003581
Glad you liked! If I ever write more fanfic I will pick a happier theme, it feels a bit strange writing about such a dark subject in an otherwise very happy and innocent world.

[Corvo]

Not bad.

Few mistakes here and there, but not bad. The only thing I'm disappointing in is the lack of stuff happening before Spike's dome got cracked.

I think there should be more, But it's good all the same.

[Swashbucklist]

2003538 A goodbye from Spike would have meant Spike was accepting his end, which is not what the author wanted. The tragedy in his story comes from the fact that Spike is still afraid of death even in his last few seconds and is asking Twilight to do something she can't.

[SuperPinkBrony12]

2008655 Well the letter doesn't say what the worst thing is, I really think they should reaffirm what it is.

[Emblis]

2009102
And here I thought I was too obvious with it

“I love you Twilight. I love you so much. Please don’t leave me.”
“I love you so much Twilight.” He said again. “Please do not let me die.”

[SuperPinkBrony12]

2009133 Well I don't really know if that's the worst thing a friend could say. Regardless I want to say that ending had me tearing up inside but I don't know, something just seemed to be lacking.

[Jubilancy]

All in all, pretty good story. The plot was sincere, as were the feels. I would suggest getting an editor or editing it yourself, because there are few mistakes.

How do you comfort someone when you yourself grief all those lost years?

Might wanna change "you yourself in grief all those lost years" to "you yourself will grieve for the lost years"
Anyway, very good story. Sad, sweet, and to the point.

[Emblis]

2013226
You are welcome to if you are up for the task

I have never been good with editing, I am character blind to my own text and the language barrier is not helping much either.

[andreya225]

poor spike

[Awesomer Than Prussia]

[Crom251]

You bathe in our tears, don't you?

[Doublesims]

i wish there was one with twilight crying

[Librarian]

In and out. In and out. We were constantly running to and from the hospital, it was like when Celestia relentlessly sent us out on dangerous quests to save Equestria,

This is the letter to Celestia(Apparently also known as "Celesta"). Why Twilight uses her name and not "you"?.

Fine story otherwise.

[Spike120812]

Reading this while listening to "Ronan"... not the best idea. Tears achieved.

[Fury of the Tempest]

Short, but filled with sad.

[The Descendant]

Only one quick question: This is a letter addressed to a princess named "Celesta". Is that another princess, or a misspelling of "Celestia"? The reason I ask is because Princess Celestia is mentioned in the letter... so, "Celesta" is either another princess (in which case, I'd suggest using a different name, like Luna), of it's a misspelling of "Celestia". If that's the case, then you should change the "Celestia" in the body of the letter to "you".

Other than that, a little tearjerker that is just enough to make me sigh heavily and wonder how long it will take me to get to sleep. Always good to find a new Spike/Twi relationship exploration fic, even if it's sad.

[Emblis]

3390767
It is a misspelling.

3390428
This story is the product of me needing a outlet for my feelings. I wrote it simply to do something when my dog died. Looking back at it I am not very pleased with it and I can not see myself writing a story this sad again.

Also, could anyone please tell me why sudden influx of interest in this story? I had almost forgotten about it until it started getting comments.

[Fury of the Tempest]

3394006
I read it cuz it got added to a group.

[Lionblaze103]

The worst thing a friend can say is... goodbye.

[Me Myself and J]

Coincidentally, I happen to be listening to an appropriate song for this fic...

[MLP BRONY 27]

that hit me right in the feels... great job.

[Minccino27]

this struck my heart like a sharp knife

[bowe13579]

I cried my eyes out soooooooooo sad but I love it!!!

[ThaStrangr]

Quite possibly the only story I've read that genuinely made my eyes moisten. Not crying, but as close as possible.

“I love you so much Twilight.” He said again. “Please do not let me die.”

It was that line right there that did it.

[FUZZYBEAR]

Wow......this is sad

[SShonix]

That's, sad...

[Zubric]

The feels . Oh god spike no . So heart felt

[Cupcakes03]

[ChronoMitsurugi]

Dear princess Celesta

it was like when Celestia relentlessly sent us out

...

Other than that tiny mistake, good job.
This story had all the feels

Have a thumbs up

[iShatYouNot]

“Twilight.” He whispered, so quite I almost did not hear him.

So how quite was spike????

SPELLING ERRROOOOORRRRRRRR

[Magos Xenos Disathairne]

2009183
It is, because Twilight would be left knowing he was afraid, but could not help him.

[Flicker Flame]

In and out. In and out. We were constantly running to and from the hospital, it was like when Celestia relentlessly sent us out on dangerous quests to save Equestria, only more frequently. Only it took longer time. Only it was not an exciting adventure we went off to but a white room with a bed dressed in white sheets. I can’t count all the hours we spent inside those walls. Tests, results, reports, again and again. At times we stayed for the night, keeping him for observation they said. Had to make sure he did not eat anything, make sure he had drip.

Isn’t this supposed to be a letter to Celestia? Then why does it say “Celestia” instead of “you?”