Twilight is sick. Spike does all he can to help her, but Twilight knows he is fighting a losing battle. But miracles have been known to happen, even if they do come with dire consequences.
Twilight has gotten sick, over the past few weeks, Spike has not left her side. He has done everything Twilight has asked him to do. But when Twilight asks him to leave, Spike soon has to face a truth he had never wanted to think about. But miracles have been known to happen, even if they do come with dire consequences.
Twilight had recently gotten sick. This wasn't just any illness though, Twilight had been bedridden for weeks now, with no sign of recovering. She assured her friends that she would be fine, but they just couldn't believe her, all of the medicine they had tried had failed so far. It looked as if there was nothing left to do, but they never stopped. The most hardworking of all was Twilight's number one assistant, Spike.
He had stayed with her every moment she breathed, every time she snored, and even during the times she suddenly blacked out. It was taking a toll on his mentality, seeing his best friend like this. He had no intention of stopping, he couldn't live if he didn't help her recover. But he couldn't take the stress, and it was driving him insane. She knew she had to make him leave, he was wasting his life for hers. He was making a mistake. He was throwing his life away along with hers.
Every night he had slept beside her, she always felt the almost unending stream of tears coming from him. He managed to hide any audible noise, but that was all he could do. Slowly losing his control on that too, leaving him wailing some nights. Twilight knew what had to be done, he had to leave her, even if it was just for a short while, she knew he wouldn't be able to handle her death. Much less even think about it... but I'm sure he has. It was taking a toll on his personality too. All joy and energy had been taken away from him. His only reason to live now was to keep Twilight alive, And he was losing the battle.
"Cough Sp-spike, could you, g-get me something real q-quick." Twilight muttered.
Spike quickly looked up, seeing his friends face, she looked as if all life had been taken out, and replaced with a cardboard cutout of a smiling Twilight. She looked fake. She didn't look real.
"S-sure, sure, anything Twilight, do you w-want a glass of water? S-some books to read? Maybe just a quick snack?" Spike quickly replied.
Twilight had to do it, she wouldn't be able to live with herself, or... die happily... as the situation made apparent.
"Do you think you c-could... go to... Pinkie Pie... a-and... get me a cupcake? You.. can.. get yourself one t-too."
Spike's mood quickly changed, he didn't want to leave Twilight, even for just two minutes, her life was depending on him. He couldn't let her down.
"Twilight, I... I don't want to leave you... what if something.. happens."
"Spike, please, just this once? Do it for me? I'll even pay for it." Twilight said, handing over some bits.
Spike glanced at the bits for a second, and quickly looked back to Twilight, disregarding his idea.
"N-no... I don't want to leave you... please Twi..."
"C'mon Spike, you won't be long... just a... cupca-"
Twilight was about to black out again, but Spike quickly leaned over and grabbed her.
"No Twilight, please don't go... p-please... I need you!"
Twilight stopped, just barely regaining conscience.
"S-Spike, I'll be right here... you can hurry back, just please, I haven't had a c-cupcake from P-Pinkie in forever... you could bring her with you.. and any.. other......... cough..... friends you... see."
Spike shuddered hearing her cough, but he didn't want to abandon her, or say no to her. He didn't want to lose her, he was getting selfish, he knew she wanted to see her friends, and he was keeping her to himself... and he hated it.
"...Okay... what flavor?"
"Just get me vanilla, with purple icing.. you can have whatever.. you... want."
"Alright.. I.. I..I'll be on my way.... d-don't go a-anywhere...please."
Twilight sighed as Spike left. She would have to ignore his requests. She used all of the might left in her, to move the blanket off of her, and struggled to get off the bed, eventually falling and smashing her head on the side of a table, leaving bloodstains on the floor.
"Augh!"
Twilight's scream was quieter then Fluttershy's, but that was all she could muster now. It pained her to just try to talk. Nonetheless she eventually made it outside, along with a few more cuts and bruises. She couldn't stop now, she had to hide in the Everfree Forest... away from everypony, especially Spike.
"Twilight?!"
She heard six familiar voices calling her. That included Spike.
"Why aren't you inside.. you're.. you're bleeding!"
She looked at them, maybe one last time, before shedding a single tear, and bolting in the opposite direction of her friends. She could practically hear her hooves giving under the pressure.
"Twi?! Where are you going?!"
She continued to ignore them, until she finally crashed into a root sticking out of the ground, toppling over a small hill and crashing directly into a tree. Her screams almost surpassed the sound of bones braking.
Quickly, her six friends finally caught her, she was laying next to a tree. Spike was the first to reach her.
"Twilight, are you okay? Why did you run off like that..please, talk to me!"
Against all odds, Twilight stood up, albeit one hoof was pulled up so there would be no pressure on it.
She finally muttered something to Spike, but he couldn't hear.
"Whats that? H-hold on, I'll get closer!"
Spike slid down the hill, now he was standing next to Twilight.
"...There is something I need to tell you Spike..."
Spike was more nervous then ever, what would she need to say that she went so far to hide.
"M-my illness... doesn't have a... cure..."
Spike went into complete hysteria, he lost it. Any sense of sanity left, was torn apart.
"What... did... you... say..."
"I am going to die Spike.... you can't stop it..."
"I can try Twilight! You'll be a-alright... p-promise!"
Twilight knew he was just lying to her to try and make her happy. He would do anything to make her happy, more then he had ever done for even Rarity.
"No Spike.. very few ponies have ever gotten this disease... but none of them have lived... I know you don't want me to go... I don't want to go either... but there is nothing you can do.."
Spike just stood still, he was still crying, but he even lost his frown, he just quietly walked up to Twilight and hugged her. "Why... why do you have to go? I need you... Twilight, your my best friend. Out of any pony I have ever met, you are my favorite... I know I help you out... b-but what will I do without you? I... I need you with me... I....I... I love you Twilight!"
"I love you too."
"No Twilight... not the way I do."
Twilight was confused now... what did he mean?
"You see... I know I like Rarity and all... but I liked somepony else long before that... and let me tell you, she was one heck of a bookworm."
Twilight blushed, but looked away again, she didn't forget her current situation.
"Spike..."
Spike quickly jumped and got even closer to Twilight.
"What?"
"I won't be here much longer... but before I go... I want to give you something to remember me by. I hope it answers some questions."
Spike could barely hear her, even being so close to her. He could however, hear her straining.
"Twilight..."
Twilight looked back up at Spike, looked him right in the eyes and... fell down.
"Twilight?! No no no, come back to me.. please!"
She had stopped breathing, soon she would become very cold.
Spike crawled over to her, wiping the remaining tears off of her face, he leaned down to get a closer look at her face... a final look. However, he noticed her twitch, and she quickly moved her hooves to him and pulled him close. Their muzzles practically touching. Then she kissed him. Slowly but surely.
Before Spike had time to acknowledge what happened, Twilight fell down again, only this time, there was a smile on her face... a real one.
"Twilight I... I love you too."
Spike sat there motionless, over his best frie... no, she was more to him then a best friend. She was his everything... he was her everything too. But now she could never give him another kiss, or even hug... she could never even say his name... and neither could he...
The rest of the mane six were at the top of the hill, they used the last of their energy to let Spike go.
They saw him walk away from a now... deceased... Twilight Sparkle, but he had a Smile on his face... it didn't last long, but the best things in life usually don't, at least, they go by faster then most ponies would want.
The rest of the day, everypony was silent. No one could process what just happened. Eventually, after the mane... five... left, Spike starting crying. He was looking through a scrapbook. All of the pictures had at least him and Twilight in them. He even found one of the first day they became friends.
Celestia had taken care of Spike for a while, until he could at least walk and talk. She even taught him how to send letters to her. At first, he didn't know what to do with the power. Until he met Twilight. She had him send letters to Celestia all the time. Even though she had made countless new friends. She had never left him, she had never abandoned him once, and he had been her number one assistant all the while. He might have spent some afternoons with Rarity, but he spent every night with Twilight... well... he used to.
Now all he has is memories. He would live a long life. But all he had with him now were just memories. Nothing more, nothing less. But he would never forget the things Twilight had done for him. She may not be there to help him anymore, but she continued on in his mind and his heart.
They could never really be apart.
The memories of Twilight Sparkle, had lived on, through centuries, maybe even millennia. Spike had never forgotten, and neither had her friends.
Two weeks had now passed by, leaving Spike only worse. He was already developing insomnia, and rarely ever ate. The only thing keeping him going now was something he promised to Twilight years ago, when he had first became her assistant. He promised that he would always be sure that she would wake up to a spotless house, and he knew she deserved it. So every night for the past two weeks he had cleaned every single nook and cranny, even reshelving the books all throughout the night. It wasn't all he had though, he would remember everything Twilight had taught him, no matter how big or small, it would all be useful eventually.
But he had to keep himself well until then, as much as it mattered to him, he had to spend his time on himself, not moping around. Whether he deserved it or not.
Before he cleaned up the Library tonight, he decided to... visit... Twilight. She was still.... gone... but he had left her a short distance from when... it happened. He told the other ponies he just couldn't bury her... he could never do that, not with all of his will... he could never.
He mostly wanted to be sure her body was okay. Maybe he could find a way to help the situation, but no medicine could bring back the dead. He was slowly walking down the hill Twilight had originally fallen down. It pained him to just be in the same area, he knew this whole thing was hurting him but he couldn't stop himself... maybe he really did lose it.
He walked to a nearby tree which had 'T + S' on it, with a heart he carved on it recently. He gulped and looked behind the tree. 'Nothing was there.'
He started panicking and looking all around, this had to be the tree, he didn't remember writing it on any other trees. Well, not in this area at least.
He noticed the ground where Twilight would have been was more damaged then the surrounding area. This is definitely where she was, but where did she go?
There seemed to be patches of grass and overturned soil moved around in an almost straight line leading away from were Twilight was. Somepony must have taken her away... who would take a... a deceased... pony.
Spike was already feeling sick just coming down here, but now he was getting freaked out. Maybe he should follow the trail.. for... for Twilight.
Spike did his best to follow the path, ignoring the small amounts of blood rarely located on the path. It was very little amounts of blood, and it was already a dark, dark, red. This was Twilight's, not the thing that took her.
The path didn't look familiar, it looked as if the thing that pulled Twilight didn't know where it was going either, just away from back at that tree.
The path was very long, Spike was deciding on camping, but his curiosity and insomnia caused him to continue, late into the morning. He was nearing a part of the path which looked more damaged then the previous, and the blood rate was higher. The thing had sped up, it was also damaging Twilight's body even more.
Spike thought of what terrible condition Twilight's body was in, but it only made him cry and barely hold back vomit.
Spike ran faster and faster, maybe even faster than his legs were meant to go, but it didn't stop him one bit. He realized the speed of the thing had slowed down because the path wasn't really damaged anymore, but still had patches of grass missing.
Spike finally realized where he was... on the other side of the forest. He had somehow made it all the way through the Everfree Forest without any encounters. Maybe the thing had something behind that. What if it scared all of the monsters away... or what if it defeated all of the monsters on the way... Spike wouldn't stand a chance.
Eventually he found himself walking through a valley, until he realized the trail ended not to far ahead. He could see Twilight's body over in the distance, not as damaged as he had thought it would be, luckily. Only... there was a second pony there, not a.. dead body...she was alive. She looked... familiar? She hadn't noticed him yet so he slowly crawled around her, and he got a good view of her cutie mark, a sun.
Was this really Celestia? Why had she taken Twilight all the way out here? Spike had lots of questions buzzing through his mind, but he decided to eavesdrop a little, just to find out what Celestia is up to. Nothing personal.
“Oh, my f-faithful student... Twi... Twilight...”
Celestia was talking to her, probably just as much in denial as Spike.
“I... I sure am going to miss you... I hope whatever happens... it all works out... I am going to miss those... those friendship reports...”
Spike was getting upset at the fact that he was watching Celestia cry here while mourning in a secluded area. He shouldn't be doing this...
Suddenly Celestia's horn was glowing, and Twilight was levitated into the air. Spike was confused at first, but continued watching to see what she would do.
“It's about time I left here, I've been in charge for too long...”
Celestia's horn was now shooting out particles of light and the power was growing stronger. Suddenly, her eyes shot all the way open, only they were completely white, she was using all of her power in this spell, whatever it was.
Suddenly, there was a big explosion, and Celestia and Twilight both fell. Spike rushed over to Celestia to see what had happened. Celestia was still conscious, but she looked like she was in serious pain, like she could die any second now. She noticed Spike.
“Spike..? What are you.. doing here?”
Spike was startled, Celestia was talking so calmly.
“I... I wanted to see what happened to.. Twilight.”
Celestia looked over at Twilight, who was still not moving.
“Spike... I was about to use one of the strongest spells an Alicorn can learn... I noticed a presence near me so I stopped it, which caused that explosion. Please, if I am to tell anypony of how I died... I will tell you... Spike, you will have to tell the others.”
Spike was really confused... how she... died? Not Celestia too!
“What? What did you do?”
Celestia didn't talk for a moment, but finally spoke up.
“I... its my time to go... I was transferring my magic into Twilight... all of it. If done successfully, she should revive.”
Spike's eyes opened in shock.. 'revive her?!'
“Please, you will be the only witness of my death... I have to give her the last of my magic... please... tell Princess Luna... that I... I will miss her...”
Spike started crying now... Celestia had raised him until he could run around and use that spell to send letters. And now she was leaving him... but could she really bring Twilight back?
Celestia's horn lit up again.. only to fade away a few minutes after... Celestia's cutie mark had vanished too. And soon, as Spike checked her pulse... she... she....wasn't there anymore. She was already becoming cold... but could Twilight really be alive... if Celestia died... did it work?
Spike ran over to Twilight... he checked her pulse.........
nothing
Spike was already upset enough, he had made a big mistake. He had hoped for something, something that just couldn't happen. And now he was even more depressed. He simply laid down a few feet away from Twilight. And just laid there, sobbing. Until he finally fell asleep.
When he woke up, he was in a completely new place... no.. it wasn't new... he was back at the library... in his bed?
He even smelt breakfast... what had happened last night?
Spike looked around... this was definitely the Library, and he was even in his room! Somepony took him here... who? Spike heard a noise coming from downstairs, he slowly walked down the stairs and looked all around.
"Good morning!"
Spike went into shock, that was Twilight's voice... there was no doubt the he had finally gone insane. It was bound to happen eventually.
"Spike? Come on, it is the real me."
Spike was still standing there, with no signs of stopping.
Twilight trotted over to him and tapped him.
Spike turned around and saw Twilight. She was there, perfectly fine, like nothing ever happened.
Twilight noticed Spike's shock and tried her best to comfort him. When she woke up, she was just as confused, and even more so when she saw Celestia. But she had plenty of time to think about things now. She had came to accept what had happened, and eventually took Spike home and made breakfast.
"Spike, I know what... happened, a few weeks ago, but I really am fine now, this is the real me.... I am fine."
Spike wanted to scream, wanted to cry, but wanted to hope and wanted to fly. Could she really be fine now?
Twilight leaned down to him and grabbed him. She spun him around holding him as close to her as possible. Spike was finally realizing this was real, this was happening.
Eventually, they stopped spinning, and started on breakfast. Twilight had made herself a simple daisy sandwich. She had given Spike a giant green gemstone, which he gobbled up almost instantly. It helped the situation a little bit, seeing as he didn't eat much the past few weeks.
Spike decided to speak up first, eliminating the awkward silence between them.
“So, Twi... what do we do now? You actually managed to come back... should we tell the others? I mean, what would we say?”
It was a good question... you can't just walk up to someone and tell them someone has came back to life and just expect them to believe it on the spot.
“We can't really say anything else, it would take too long to explain it without confusing them even more.”
“So we are just going to walk out there and tell everyone that you rose from the dead?”
“Spike, it's not like I am a zombie, as much as I like brains, I don't like the taste of them.”
“How would you know?”
“I was kidding. I haven't ever devoured any brains.”
“Yeah, I was kidding too... you are definitely the same Twilight. Can't take a joke.”
“This isn't really a time to be joking Spike. What are we going to do about Celestia... I was worried I would have to raise the sun, but it seems like Luna did it, she is probably looking everywhere for Celestia now.”
“What do you mean? When I found you it was already morning.”
“Well Spike, it took me a while to get back home, and you only just now woke up, so, it has been a day. Celestia has been gone for a day.”
Spike was getting worried again, Luna is not going to be happy when she hears the news.
“Well, I don't really feel like lounging around in here any longer, I already finished my gem, have you finished your breakfast?”
“Yeah. But what if somepony spots me walking around before we tell anyone. Or should we let them see me?”
“I think it would be best if you used a cloaking spell, that way we could at least try to explain the situation first, and if they don't believe me, you could walk in.”
“Okay.. I think that's a good strategy. Shall we head off now?”
“Nothing else is keeping us.”
Twilight's horn lit up, only to be interrupted by Spike hugging her.
“Twilight... I just want to say I really did miss you... I am glad you are back.”
“Oh Spike, you don't need to worry now. I will make up the time I lost after this. I Pinkie Promise. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my -ow! I really need to work on that last part.”
Spike quickly pulled Twilight closer and nuzzled her a few times.
Twilight did the same. Then kissed his forehead.
“Come on now.” Twilight finally cast the spell, leaving her invisible.
“Be sure to stay close to me, you might get lost.”
Twilight laughed at how it was Spike talking to her, and not the other way around.
The two finally made there way outside. Ponyville was just as it always had been. Hopefully their friends weren't too far away. Spike headed off to find Rarity and Pinkie Pie, because they lived closer to them then the others did.
Spike found Pinkie first, but her hair had flattened, so rather, he had found Pinkamena. He told her he had something really important that he needed to show her, and Pinkamena asked the cakes if she could take a quick break, to which the said yes. Pinkie followed Spike on the way to Rarity's as he explained to her he need to show it to them all.
Just before arriving Pinkie starting talking about how her Pinkie sense was acting up again, saying this was bigger than all of the others combined!
Spike did the same to Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and finally Fluttershy. He brought them all back to the Library. They all grouped up, eager to see what Spike had to show them.
“So uh, I don't really know how to say this without confusing you, so.... Twilight is... alive.”
All of the ponies, except for Twilight, who was still invisible, and Spike, were looking around, some were nervous, some were confused.
Applejack finally spoke up.
“Look Spike... I know you miss 'er and all, but, you see, we all do, and I know it may be hard for you to accept that she's gone... but she really is...”
Spike knew he couldn't explain it to them, but he tried anyway.
“Applejack... I know what you're saying, but when I found her, that's exactly what I thought... but she really is fine... I know it sounds crazy but I have proof.”
Applejack just looked even more saddened, thinking Spike was too far in denial.
“Fine, where's yer proof?”
“Twilight is in here... I asked her to cast a cloaking spell on herself. Twilight uh, can you take it off now?”
Applejack looked around for a second, for a second, she believed she would see Twilight appear.
“Spike, I know it is gonna be hard to get over bu-”
“I am right here.”
Everypony turned and looked at where Twilight's voice was coming from, right next to Spike, a figure appeared.. Twilight appeared. For a second the other ponies didn't say a word, or move an inch.
“T-twilight? Is it really you?”
“Yes... but I didn't just come back... you see... somepony gave their life to make me live again.”
A minute of silence passed.
“Who Twi?”
“P-princess... C-Celestia...”
The ponies again were speechless, they were just now realizing the fact the Celestia was gone.
After a while, Fluttershy trotted towards Twilight, and when she finally deemed it safe, grabbed hold of her and started crying. Soon after, the other ponies followed suit.
Spike joined in on the group hug, which lasted a few more minutes, then Twilight decided she would have a personal talk with each of them, to help sort things out.
Twilight decided Fluttershy got the first talk, because she was to first to hug her. She didn't really have anything else she could go on that wouldn't offend anyone.
“So... Twilight. Now that Celestia... is gone.. does that mean you will take her place?”
Twilight had already wondered the same question, and she always had the same answer.
“I don't know.”
“Well... okay.. I have one more question... if that's alright with you that its.”
“Oh it's fine.. go on.”
“Well, Spike hasn't been... very healthy...as in... his... well... his sanity... since you... passed away. And I just wanted to ask if you could... do something for him...”
“Oh... uh... I already Pinkie Promised him I would make it up to him after this.. but thanks from thinking about Spike too.”
“Oh... uh... it's nothing... I'll go get Applejack.”
Soon AJ walked in with her question in mind.
“So uh, Twi... I really don't mean this in any bad way... but... why did Celestia bring you back? I mean, there are lots of other ponies that have passed away too... but... do you know anythin'? But I honestly don't mean to offend you or nothin' I am glad to have you back now.”
Twilight hadn't thought of this question before.
“She obviously had some reason to do it, but I don't know why.”
“Oh well... bye Twi, I'll send Pinkie up.”
A little bit later, Pinkie finally arrived, luckily her mane was crazy again, she was her.. 'normal' self.
“So Pinkie, anything you want to talk about?”
“Well yeah, do you want me to cancel your funeral? I mean, I always make those respectable, no party canons whatsoever. But I could see why you might now want to go.”
“Uh Pinkie, you can cancel it. I don't want to be buried alive.”
“Okie Dokie Loki!”
Pinkie Pie happily bounced over to Rarity, pointing her hoof at the stairs.
The rest of the morning were other questions that weren't really important, but had to be asked anyway. Such as, “You are really fine darling?” or other previously asked questions.
Eventually Twilight asked the others to leave, but only because she just wanted to time to herself... and Spike.
Normally right now, Twilight would just start re-reading some of the many books in the Library, but she wanted to talk to Spike.
Twilight trotted upstairs, Spike already following her, and the two sat on Twilight's bed.
“Spike, I wanted to just lay down for now, but do you think you could accompany me?”
Spike, looking extra excited happily agreed.
“Sure Twilight. So, do you need anything? I mean, it is close to lunchtime, I could make you some early if you want, or maybe a glass of water?”
“No need Spike, I can get those easily myself, I'm fine remember?”
“Yeah, but my offer still stands.”
“Well, alright then, you can make lunch, I suppose it isn't too early.”
Spike had already ran off, starting the usual lunch. But he planned on making it special.
Twilight sighed when she saw Spike had left, it would probably be another five minutes until he came back.
She used those minutes to think of something she could do with Spike, after all, he had spent all of his time trying to help her, and he probably did help keep the body healthy enough for Celestia to use her magic on, without his help Twilight might not have been brought back. Twilight knew she would probably never be able to repay him, but she was willing to try.