Summary: This is just various ways Spike could be a unicorn or a Pegasus, I might throw in one with him as an earth pony upon request. He will NOT be an alicorn, that is just the cover image. These are in no particular order. The constant main characters are always Spike and Twilight. This may seem fast paced, and then it may go too slow, so I am going to say that I am sorry about that.

[Crystal Empire part 2: Alt Ending]

Time setting: Season 3 Premier

Constant Main Character(s): Spike, Twilight

Main Character(s): Peewee

Others: Shining Armor, Cadence, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack, Celestia

Genre(s): Tragedy, Hurt/Comfort, Family, Friendship, Spiritual

Warning(s): Character death

Spike felt his stomach plummet faster than he was, straight towards the ground with an ancient relic and a mad with power unicorn king using shadows to get to him. His green eyes widened as the king got closer, but a flash of pink entered the corner of his vision. Princess Cadence! She was flying towards him to get the heart. And Spike decided she was going to get it.

Spike took a breath and shot off a string of fire, the most powerful one he had ever done that wasn't just a small ember. It had enough force to push the relic to Cadence, who caught it with her magic. Unfortunately, it pushed him towards Sombra. It was fast, and he didn't feel much. Except for a puncture to his scales. Then, everything was gone in a bright flash.

Rainbow Dash flew up and caught the limp scaled body in her hooves, before it could hit the ground, and held it close as she made her descent. She placed him on the stone in the middle of a circle, one made of their friends. Rarity was crying dramatically, Fluttershy had her head down and her mane covering her face. Pinkie was crying as dramatically as Rarity, but she had a handkerchief, Rainbow felt her shoulders quake and Apple Jack pulled her hat down. Cadence had her head down, guilt that she didn't save Spike was eating her up, and Shining had a hoof resting on her shoulder.

Twilight made her way down to them, expecting to see them smiling and cheering, expecting a celebration. What she got a was a sense of grief and regret. "Hey guys, what's.." She stopped speaking when she saw Spike, laying between a circle between her family and friends. "Spike.." Her legs nearly gave out. She rushed over to him, pulling him to her with her hooves. She cradled him close. "Spike.." She said softly. "I'm so sorry.."

Spike was floating, there was no wind, there was no sun, no clouds or sky, there was nothing around him. "Where am I?" He asked, recoiling after hearing his voice echo.

"Welcome, young dragon.." A kind voice said, the soothing sound echoed around Spike and filled his core.

Spike looked around him, trying to find the source, to find something other than darkness. "Where are you? Show yourself! Please!"

The soft voice spoke again. "Very well." Soon there was a bright light, it blinded Spike momentarily due to the level of brightness, before the light dimmed to reveal a bird made of fire. "Hello Spike."

"P.. Peewee?" Spike asked, looking at the bird. He was no longer a little hatchling, but a bigger more mature bird. "What are you doing here?"

The bird laughed. "Your still silly." The bird flew around him, bathing him in warm light momentarily. "I'm here to help you."

At this, Spike's head tilted. "Help me? How?" He questioned the bird.

Peewee laughed again. "I want to help you go back, to them. To her."

Spike hummed. "Go back?" A smile crossed his face. "Do you mean to Rarity? Cause if I did-"

The tip of one of Peewee's wings smacked against Spike's nose. "No. Whose the pony you've known your whole life? Whose the first one you think of when the word 'mother' comes to your mind?"

Mother? Spike took a moment to consider the word. "Twilight." He said, looking at Peewee. "I want to return to Twilight, to go home."

Peewee nodded. "Okay, but.. before we start.. how do you want to return? You won't be able to come back as a dragon or.. oh.." he stopped speaking. "You won't be able to remember anything except for Twilight or anyone that has a family connection to her. Is that okay?"

Spike considered this. "Yes. I just want to go home."

"What form do you want? That is the first question." Peewee said. "And then there's your colors, gender, those things."

Spike hummed. "I want to stay as a boy, keep my colors, and.." he hummed again, trying to decide what form he was to take upon his return. "I want to return as a..."

"Twili," Shining tore himself from Cadence to focus on his little sister. "He's-"

Twilight shook her head. "Shut up, Shining! Shut up!"

The others looked at one another, unable to confort one another, let alone their unicorn friend who must have felt that everything was going to crash down around her because Spike was gone.

Peewee nodded. "It is done!" He flapped his wings, flying upwards for a few feet, and then he spread his wings out fully, a bright flash emcompassed Spike, and lit the void.

Spike closed his eyes as the light absorbed him, hearing Peewee softly say, "we will not meet again, my friend."

Twilight held Spike's body close, until she felt it heat up. It get hot. Burning hot. "Ah!" She dropped him, the tears of fear and sadness rolled down her face.

He began to float up while a light encompassed him. Then, lines of fire spread across his body, before the light blinded them. When it faded, a small unicorn was lowered to the ground, in the same spot where Spike was laying. The little unicorn was the same color as Spike's scales and it's mane was the same color as his spines.

Twilight was the first to approach, on timid hoof steps. She gently nudged her nose against the side of it's head. She smelled it, catching the scent of fire and.. "Spike?" She asked softly, pulling back to look at him.

Small eyes opened, revealing them to be green. And to reveal a familiar shape. "Mother?" He asked, slowly pushing himself up. He took a step on shaky legs to Twilight.

Well, it had Spike's voice. Twilight noted, before she caught the foal as he took a tumble. She received a hug in return. It was him, that hug proved it. "Hey." She said, seeing the young unicorn begin to tear up. "It's okay." She held him close, she had stopped noticing the crowd some time ago, starting to cry but her tears were of joy.

"I.. I passed?" Twilight asked Princess Celestia.

Celestia nodded. "Yes, my loyal student." A smile crossed her face. "You have passed."

Twilight began to jump for joy. Before something occurred to her. "Princess, I have a question about Spike.."

Celestia nodded. "I noticed he looked.. different." A brief pause lapsed between them. "I can not help you because I do not know, but I do seem to recall a letter he wrote to me concerning how to care for a phoenix hatchling."

"Peewee?" Twilight asked, wondering if Peewee had anything to do with what happened to Spike, but since he didn't seem to remember anyone except for Twilight and her family. "Hmm. I should be going, Princess. Thank you for your time."

Celestia nodded. "Until next time, my faithful student."

Twilight walked outside to have Spike, her son as she decided to call him now, rush to her and nuzzle against her which she returned before telling the others, "I passed!"

After they arrived back in Ponyville, late at night, Twilight tucked Spike into his basket. She looked out the window one last time as the sun went down. "Thank you, Peewee." She said before she lay down to sleep.