Solitary as a Space Lion
A beautiful song echoed from the library through the equally beautiful night of Ponyville. A song so beautiful that it captivated everyone that passed by, making them completely stop just to listen to its angelic sound. But all good things must come to an end as the magnificent sound stopped, and in its place came the sound of somepony knocking on a door.
Spike set his saxophone down on the wooden floor of the library and went to see who was at the door. When he opened the door he was met by Rainbow Dash who was wearing a dress with a rainbow pattern covering its surface and at the end of its tail a puffy white fabric that looked as if someone had taken a piece of cloud and stitched it onto the dress.
“Hey Spike, is Twilight ready?”
“Yeah, wait a minute.” Spike turned away from Rainbow Dash. “Twilight! Rainbow is here!” After shouting that his attention returned to the cyan mare. “She will be here in a few moments, she’s probably just double checking everything.”
“Thanks Spike.”
Just as he predicted, it only took a few moments for Twilight to come downstairs. Her navy blue dress reminiscent of the night sky gently swayed left and right as she walked down the stairs. Rainbow was so enchanted by the sight of her marefriend that she didn't even noticed how fast her heart was beating, or the big smile that had formed on her face.
Spike looked at the pegasus and he saw the happy smile that was on her face, and also how her eyes glittered at the sight of Twilight. He turned to his sister and on her face he saw the same smile and the same eyes. He could feel his heart being strangled by something.
When she got to the bottom of the stairs Twilight calmly walked to her marefriend and nuzzled Rainbow’s chest, gently rubbing her muzzle into the soft and vanilla-scented fur. “Hi Rainbow.”
Rainbow Dash responded to the sign affection by resting her head on top of Twilight’s. “Hi Twily.”
Both mares just stayed like that for a few moments, enjoying the warm embrace. Watching all of this was Spike, but instead of being enchanted by the display of affection, he just stared at them. His breathing rapid and his hands clenched into a fist as he tried to keep his emotions under control.
When Twilight broke the embrace Spike quickly mustered up a fake smile. She turned to him. “I will be going now Spike, remember to take care of Owlowiscious and try not to go to bed too late.”
“Okay Twilight,” the baby dragon responded, trying his hardest to maintain his cheery expression.
“Good,” Twilight responded with a smile, then she turned to Rainbow. “Shall we go?”
Rainbow Dash nodded and both mares began to walk out of the library. Just before closing the door, Twilight turned and looked back at Spike warmly. “Bye, Spike.”
“Bye Twilight,” the baby dragon responded with a shaky voice.
As soon as Twilight closed the library’s door Spike’s cheery expression completely changed to one of pure sadness, the cheerful smile disappeared, his head hung so low that the only thing he could see was his feet and the library’s wooden floor, and his shining green eyes had completely lost their color.
With an irregular pace he stumbled his way to the stair of the library. The wooden stair cracked and squeaked beneath Spike as his feet heavily came down on the steps. By the time he made it to the bedroom his vision was blurry, and his mind clouded with a million incoherent thoughts. He stumbled like a drunken pony as he tried to make his way to the bathroom.
Once there, he didn't care for the light or the door, he turned the shower on and fell to the bathroom tiled floor. He let it the shower’s soothing sound take him away from reality, to take him to the furthest corner of his mind, where he could forget about all of this. Tears fell from his eyes as he closed them, and the only thing he felt before leaving reality was the coldness that surrounded him.
How many times has this happened? he asked, his voice just a whisper.
Too many times, a calm, dry voice responded.
Then why is this only bothering me now?
Because before we always knew that she would come back to us. Now we’re afraid that one day she will walk through that door with Rainbow Dash and she will never return.
She would never do that to me.
Are you sure? Tell me, when was the last time we did something together with her?
I... I don’t remember...
Exactly, soon she will not even remember our name.
You lie! Twilight would never do that! She... she loves me.
Oh, you think so? Then why, week after week, does she leave us alone while she goes to have fun with Rainbow Dash! The once calm voice now furiously echoed through his mind, loud as a thunder.
Because... because... He trailed off, trying to come up with an answer, but the only thing he could think of is how both mares were so happy in seeing each other, like they were the only ponies that mattered to them.
Because she loves her more than she loves us. The voice returned to its calm tone. But even such tone didn’t made the statement less painful to Spike.
You’re wrong! Spike yelled with all his soul.
Am I? You know that the ties between two lovers is greater than that of brother and sister. Need I remind you of the wedding in Canterlot?
Even if she does love Rainbow more than me, why can’t I just be happy for her?! he pleaded.
Because we know what will come from that love! First they will move together, then they will adopt a foal! By that point we will just be a footnote in her life! Once again the voice changed its tone to one of pure fury.
Shut up! She is never gonna leave me! Never! He yelled once again, worried he was doing so to convince himself more than the voice.
Stop fooling yourself! It is inevitable! We’re a dragon living among ponies, it is our destiny to be solitary, like a space lion!
A space lion?
Yes, don’t you remember the tale that Zecora told us? Of the lion that lived a solitary live because everyone feared him? That’s what we are, a lion, soon everypony that we know will leave us out of fear, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Rarity... Twilight.
No, they would never do something like that! His mind cracked at that though.
What proof do you have?! Ponies change, Twilight and Rainbow Dash are the greatest example of this, even if they don’t leave us out of fear they will eventually create bonds stronger than the ones they have for us! Just like Twilight! It is inevitable!
The loud voice reverberated through Spike’s mind.
Suddenly his mind was filled with images, images of all the good times he had.
Running away from the market, the Cutie Mark Crusaders by his side. All four of them laughing at the mess they made.
Listening amazed to the beautiful melody that Fluttershy was singing with her birds.
Laughing with all his heart at the look on Pinkie’s face when he and Rainbow Dash had managed to prank her.
Looking with bright eyes at the magnificent sunset after spending a day helping at Sweet Apple Acres. He felt a hoof on his shoulder and he turned around to see Applejack with a smile on her face. “Thanks for the help sugarcube,” she said as she gave him a bright red apple.
He felt like he was in heaven as he took a bite out of the gem cupcake that Pinkie made especially for him. The pink pony just watched with a happy smile, satisfied that her friend was enjoying the treat.
“Thanks, Spikey Wikey,” Rarity said as he handed to her the fabric that she asked for him to get. Those two words, it didn’t matter to him how hard and exhausting helping Rarity at the boutique was, those two words made all worth it.
His eyes darted open and he laid there on his basket, his breathing heavy and his mind working at full power because of the nightmare he had. He got up from his basket and walked to the bed where Twilight was sleeping. He gently nudge her. Twilight slowly opened her eyes to see her little brother. “Twilight, I had a nightmare. Can I sleep with you tonight?”
“Of course,” Twilight responded with a smile.
She moved the blanket up making a opening for him. He climbed on the bed and when he was in it Twilight put the blanket back down. The baby dragon snuggled his sister, his face buried on her chest. Twilight responded by wrapping her legs around her little brother.
You’re right... His voice was firm and calm, all the insecurity, all the fear, all the sadness, gone. But that doesn't matter, because I still have my memories. Even if they leave me I will never forget the good times we had, and I know neither will they! The bond between two ponies that love each other may be stronger than the bonds between friends, but that doesn’t mean that friendship is as weak as you say!
The once loud and furious voice was now reduced to a weak whisper.
Wha- what?
I don’t need you anymore.
A warm feeling enveloped Spike as he came back from his mind, he opened his eyes and proceeded to get up from the warm floor of the bathroom. Without bothering to turn the lights on he turned the shower off. He got out of the bathroom and gently made his way to the stairs. Not a single sound was made as Spike lightly stepped on each step of the stair.
Once in the main part of the library he precisely made his way towards his saxophone, as he stared at the brass instrument he could clearly see on its polished surface his shining green eyes and the peaceful smile that had appeared on his face. As he picked up the saxophone and put it in his mouth he thought back to the song he was writing, and also to the conversation he had with himself.
Let’s finish it, the song of my solitude, and the song of my peace.
A beautiful song echoed from the library through the equally beautiful night of Ponyville. A song so beautiful that it captivated everyone that passed by, making them completely stop just to listen to its angelic sound. Without knowing that they were listening to the soul of a small dragon that has found peace.