A Hero's Desolation
"In this day and age, people need heroes. Tirek, Discord, and Queen Chrysalis are perfect examples why.
I will answer that need. I am nothing more than an instrument meant to protect: nothing more than property to my Princess Twilight. Nothing more than a tool exiled from its shed, but still fully wanting to serve its purpose.
I have no worthiness to prove. I have no want, no desire to have people be grateful or loving towards me. These are follies, flaws that will only serve to weaken me. Thus, I shan't return to them... It would be for their best... I suppose... This brings upon a revelation…
I am a Hero. A Lone Hero. I will fight, alone. I will protect them, alone. I will hurt, alone. I will suffer, alone. I will cry, alone. I will heal, alone. I will die, alone. . .
I. Am. Alone."
~Spike, The Exiled
Spike was in his depressed sleep. Although he had refused to show the emotion, it was hard to deny that he felt it. He tossed over this way and that, having heart-wrenching realization within his dream that marrying the mare of his dreams was a now foreign idea: exiled, just as he had been.
He shuffled on the hard, earthy ground, his dream disturbing him…
[Within The Young Dragon's Dream…]
The dragon stood behind the counter in the entrance of the house, peering into the living room. He was watching Rarity and Cherry-Top sexually engage each other, whispering sweet, loving, nothings into each other's ears.
Spike was frozen behind the counter, watching them beyond its frame. He was devastated, at what was happening right in his eyes. Spike began to put his hand through the counter's frame, in an attempt to stop this madness.
However, he touched glass, and as he observed his surroundings, he was in a pitch-black space, looking into a mirror, which was what the counter's frame transformed to. From within the mirror, Rarity dismounted Cherry-Top, and walked up to the mirror, facing Spike.
"Rarity, what's the meaning of this?" Spike asked, hurt, as if this was his first time realizing that he was being cheated on.
"It's not what it looks like Spike, I love you!" Rarity cried out in a plea. Though her voice sounded sincere, a rather indifferent look was on her face, as if she didn't care.
"Are you kidding? Lying to me in my face, after I watched you do that?! Did you think I wouldn't find out?" Spike questioned, hurt.
"Spike, it's not what it looks like, I promise!" Rarity said, her face still one of indifference.
"You were such a waste of time!" Spike cried out, pissed and hurt. How bad it hurt! He turned in anger, about to float off into the pitch-black darkness.
"Spike, I love you…" Rarity said, putting her hoof onto the glass of the other side of the mirror.
Spike turned back, a sudden look of anger on his face.
"It's a lie!" he cried out, punching the mirror, as it cracked slightly. The image of Rarity dissipated, and now showed his own reflection. He felt the pain from punching the mirror, as if he was beating himself up.
"IT'S A LIE!" Spike yelled again, punching the mirror again, as it cracked more, turning the reflection into several Spikes. He could feel the pain in him multiply as he punched at his reflection.
"IT'S A LIE!" Spike roared, as he gave the mirror one final punch, shattering it into many pieces. He felt his own being break into the many pieces that the mirror shattered into, as he watched the reflections of him drop into the pitch-black, unassailable darkness that surrounded him.
He panted heavily, as he sat there, alone in the darkness. The mirror and reflections of himself gone into the black abyss. As he looked down at his body and arms, he realized that they were shattered and broken, just as the mirror had been.
"Will you not learn…?" the familiar voice spoke… His subconscious. However, it seemed foreign to him.
In an instant, he dropped into the dark abyss, and landed on something hard and solid, further rupturing his already shattered body.
As he stood, he saw a version of himself, but it was drained of color, and had a jet-black aura around it. It was silent, without a mouth, and only black darkness for eyes, and crimson red for its pupils.
"This is what you make us to be. This is what you will bring us to. Was this what you'd have wanted?" the familiar voice spoke.
"How fragile." It said, as a tentacle whipped from its jet-black aura. It barely whipped at Spike, but when contact was made, Spike's body shattered into many tiny pieces, floating off into the black abyss, as darkness consumed his consciousness…
…
[Back Into The Material World…]
Shuffling was heard around Spike; he stirred slightly, looking around. As he looked around, he noticed it was pitch-black dark… Dark… Midnight…
"Wait, midnight?! Oh crap, I totally forgot to meet Twilight!" Spike cursed, gathering his things in a frantic rush. He heard the rustling again, and this time, was sure that it wasn't his drowsy-state, now that he was fully-alert.
Spike reached for the hilt of the dagger strapped to the back of his waist. He heard the rustling continue.
"Identify yourself. I will not hesitate to strike if you confront me." Spike called out in warning. This time, he heard another rustle, one behind him. Spike now carefully paid attention to both.
"This is your final chance to come out now. I will not hesitate to strike, I repeat, I will not hesitate." Spike said in fair warning.
He saw a figure walk out from the bushes into the darkness. "Spike, calm down, it's me." The figure said in a sweet, alluring voice.
As she stepped closer, the figure came into clearer vision.
"Where have you been, Spike? Twilight sent me, she's worried to death about you!" Sweetie-Belle asked, worry on her voice.
Spike began to warm up quickly, a smile coming to his face. He was worried for? That felt so nice, a feeling he was sure he wouldn't've felt again, after… Oh, never mind that. He was about to walk up and speak casually, until he remembered…
Spike had almost made a mistake. He almost screwed up and it wasn't even far into his exile yet. He almost opened himself for a connection. A connection he knew he shouldn't make: a connection that could possibly break him again. He didn't want to go through something like that again. It hurt too much, and truthfully, it still did.
He stepped back from Sweetie-Belle slightly, wiping the smile from his face and refusing to assume the comfortable atmosphere. A hero was protection, nothing more. Not a friend, just… a Hero.
"I overslept irresponsibly. Twilight has no need to worry, she should know that I will do my job without fail." Spike said professionally, as he strapped on his bag, securing the dagger onto the back of his waist. Most of his other weapons were the Royal-Guard's, and as such, were confiscated. All he had now was a dagger and some utilities.
"So… Shall we go to Zecora's Hut then? Let the Princess know you're okay?" Sweetie-Belle suggested.
"That would be best. She has information for me anyhow, it would probably be imperative that I hear it out. You can leave now, Sweetie-Belle." Spike said, not once making eye contact with her, as he began to walk the path to the Everfree Forest so that he could find Zecora and Twilight.
"Leave? But why? Why would I leave you?" Sweetie-Belle asked with worry, trotting towards Spike. His lack of emotion and his seclusion worried her.
"You have fulfilled your assignment of relaying the information to me. Your job is done. You may leave me alone now." Spike said in a militaristic manner.
"Spike, I don't want to leave you alone! Aren't you hungry? Tired perhaps? Don't you even just want someone to talk to?" Sweetie-Belle asked, giving off a tone of pity, as she trotted closer to him.
Spike held his palm out to her face, stopping her. His face was solemn and unreadable.
"I am Exiled. What are you even doing here in the first place?" Spike asked with a hard stare.
"What do you mean, Spike? Why wouldn't I be here, supporting you, my friend?" Sweetie-Belle asked.
"Are you deaf, Sweetie-Belle? Blind, perhaps? Unperceiving? I know you were there at my exile when they made an example of me. You know what happens to those who dare associate themselves with an exile. It is an act of subtle treason, and would not be forgiven." Spike spoke.
"Go home, Sweetie-Belle, you've done enough." Spike said simply, walking off and beginning to leave Sweetie-Belle. However, she followed. Spike stopped. Sweetie-Belle stopped.
"I'm not going home, Spike. I'm with you, not them." Sweetie-Belle said adamantly.
"Why do you want to be with me? So I can fail to please you too? So I can simply not be good enough for you in the end? So that you could betray me, and make me feel like shit, when I tried my hardest? So I can let you down, too?" Spike began, turning to Sweetie-Belle with bent eyebrows. His eyes betrayed his desire to not show emotion, and so did his words.
"No, you're not with me, Sweetie-Belle. Your allegiance is to the kingdom, not some exile that will soon be forgotten and unloved. You deserve better, and I know it." Spike said, his voice finally assuming emotion. Sweetie-Belle cringed at that last sentence.
"Go home. Go find someone worth the sacrifice. I'll just fight and fight till I die anyway, then I'll be forgotten like everyone else rotting in the ground. It's not like…" Spike began, as his voice wavered more, as his eyes became shiny.
"It's not like I have anything to offer you anyway. Not in this sorry state…" Spike began. He cursed under his breath and shook his head, mentally scolding himself for breaking character. Sweetie-Belled watched him, feeling the hurt dragon's emotions, even from the distance between them.
Returning to his professional, solemn mood, Spike turned to Sweetie-Belle again, with a hard stare.
"Spike, let me help you, please!" Sweetie-Belle requested.
"I am exiled. You have no business with me. Go back to Ponyville. Every second you walk with me is only a danger you commit to yourself." Spike spoke.
Sweetie-Belle refused to move, standing across from Spike.
"Sweetie-Belle, I am ordering you to go home. You have no business with me. As per my allegiance to the people, I urge you to stay safe by not associating with me. Go. Home." Spike said, turning and walking on.
He sighed when he sensed the girl following him adamantly. Sweetie-Belle fell into a deep thought.
"Twilight was right… He acts tough, but the poor thing is hurting so bad on the inside… And even then, he wants nothing but to protect us! How sweet, yet how sad! Rarity, when Twilight and I get back, you're gonna get taught a good lesson! If you thought today was the end of it, you've got another thing coming!" Sweetie-Belle thought in silence, distracting her from the outside world.
In an attempt to distract himself from the painful thoughts, he let his mind wander to what happened after his exile? With Twilight? With Rarity…? Did anybody even care…?
"I wonder…" Spike mused, letting his mind wander…
[Several Hours Earlier, Closely Following Spike's Exile…]
Twilight looked back over her shoulder, watching Spike trudge off into the distance. She felt her blood boil inside. She didn't care for her duties anymore, Rarity needed to be talked to, pronto!
Twilight couldn't help but have a blind rage for Rarity at the moment. She was such a horrible partner! Always caught up in old affairs, prancing around with that red mare.
Rarity was the reason her Hero just got exiled. Wherever she was, she was about to learn a thing or two! Twilight angrily trotted beyond Celestia, Luna, and the other high-authorities.
She knew she saw Rarity in the crowd with Sweetie-Belle… Where were they?!
She trotted round the streets, the thoughts coming into her head angering her by the minute.
"It's not her fault, Twilight. It's mine. Maybe it's because I always leave on frequent trips to fight for Equestria. Or maybe, it's because I can't fully dedicate myself to her, as I am a hero. Perhaps it was because A Hero's Not Fit For Love, and I simply was not deserving of receiving, or capable of returning, Rarity's love. Clearly, Cherry-Top will please her better than I could ever wish to." The words replayed in Twilight's head, as she trotted round the streets more angrily.
"Oh-ho-ho, that whore's gonna get a goddamn earful!" Twilight thought angrily, as more memories of Spike's words came into her head.
"I cannot risk your kingdom for such idiotic, useless feelings, Twilight. I will be what I was meant to be, and feel what I am meant to feel: a drive to protect, and that's all I will ever do, understood?" Twilight only became more enraged. Rarity had caused this: she made him feel like this. She made him do this. She would make her pay. Not today, but in the long-run, she would pay so dearly…
"It doesn't matter. A Hero is merely an instrument, meant to protect. Love and care are unneeded burdens. I will serve my purpose, Princess." Twilight's mind got stuck on the two middle sentences, as she felt her blood boil. How dare she make her Spike feel like that!? How dare she exile her Hero!? How dare she toy with her Champion's feelings!?
"How dare she hurt my lo-?!" Twilight began in her thought, but was ripped from her rage-induced thoughts by a yelling voice.
"Twilight!" a voice cried out. As Twilight turned, she saw Sweetie-Belle. "Sweetie-Belle, perfect!" Twilight called out, as the two met each other.
"Twilight, what's happened to Spike? He didn't really do all that, did he? What's going on?" Sweetie-Belle asked.
"I don't know what she did, but Rarity is going on. It seems like Rarity cheated again, on the day he was planning to propose!" Twilight said in exasperation, her brows furrowed in discontentment.
"Is that why that day was special? Oh no…" Sweetie-Belle murmured.
"Yeah. Sweetie-Belle, where is your sister?" Twilight demanded, her face showing emotions of anger, despite her best attempts to hide the flaring emotion.
"I'm not sure… We split after the gathering. She seemed frantic, like she wanted to avoid something." Sweetie-Belle said. Twilight grew a crooked, sly smile.
"Oh, she's not escaping a thing. Coming with me, Sweetie-Belle?" Twilight asked, as her wings spread. Sweetie-Belle nodded, as Twilight lifted the young mare onto her back, taking off.
They flew towards the only place they'd suspect she'd go: the very house Spike had purchased for the both of them. "Do you think… that Spike will be okay? You know, after this whole thing?" Sweetie-Belle asked.
"If there's anything I know about Spike, it's that the little guy is tough and resilient. He'll be back on his feet… I hope." Twilight said.
"Twilight, below us! It's Rarity! Few paces from the house!" Sweetie-Belle said, pointing down. Twilight descended swiftly, landing in front of Rarity.
Rarity trotted in place frantically being met with somewhat-pseudo-mother of Spike. Rarity tugged her ears down briefly, before calming down a bit, playing cool.
Twilight smiled. Her intuition and intellect would make a mess of this mare, and she would take pleasure in doing it.
"Hi Rarity!" Twilight greeted with a friendly smile, as Sweetie-Belle climbed off, glaring at her sister. Rarity got mixed feelings from the different reactions of the two, but decided it'd be best to play along for now.
"Oh, Twilight! What a pleasant surprise!" Rarity giggled. "And Sweetie-Belle! What a fine young mare you're growing into!" she complimented.
Sweetie-Belle grunted, ignoring her, while Rarity simply laughed it off, feeling a bit awkward.
"Anyway… It's such a tragedy what happened to poor Spike, isn't it? You must be hurting, huh?" Twilight said in a sad tone, walking up to Rarity and throwing her hoof around her neck in 'comfort'.
Rarity feigned a cry, dramatically putting her hoof over her forehead. "Oh yes, dear, it is quite tragic indeed! Who will I love at night anymore!?" Rarity 'woefully' cried out.
"Oh, you poor thing!" Twilight sighed. "How will you ever sleep at night knowing that you broke that poor dragon's heart a few nights ago?" Twilight cried out in a feigned woeful yell.
"W-what? W-w-what could you mean?" Rarity stammered, the hot guilt beginning to arise from her stomach.
"Yes, you must feel devastated by the tragedy that now you're free to whore around with your ex in Spike's absence like you usually do; how tragic it is that you can freely be the fucking slut that you were being the whole time you had such a great partner in your care." Twilight cried out in her feigned dramatic woeful shouts, releasing the anger she felt.
Rarity's heart hammered into her ribcage as she tried to feign statements and looks of confusion, but ultimately failed due to the rising feelings of guilt and shame encumbering her ability to even make a half-decent play of emotion.
"Fifteen years later and your acting's still horrid and overdramatized, sis." Sweetie-Belle snorted in disgust at her sister's display of dishonesty.
"Couldn't've said it better, Sweetie-Belle. I guess now you'll be free to love Berry-Bop or whatever her name is at night, now that Spike's gone for good, huh?" Twilight said, her friendly mannerisms dropping entirely.
Rarity stepped back from the two, feigning confusion. "W-what ever do you mean?" Rarity questioned.
"You know exactly what the hell I mean. Must I point out the part of you being a whore again? How many times have you done this shit without Spike finding you two?" Twilight said.
"To answer your question, I mean that you can go ahead and freely stab Spike in the back now that he won't ever return again! You can go sleep with your fucking whore friend, Rarity. Hope she's worth that great partner you lost. Hope she's worth all the friends you're gonna lose when everyone finds out about the real reason Spike was out of control in pursuance of those demons. Hope it was a worth it, Rarity, I really do." Twilight scolded angrily.
"T-Twilight, darling…!" Rarity tried to make something up, but failed, backing away from the two.
"Rarity, I knew that sometimes you could be a bit… Snobbish, but this? Now you're just making yourself out to be an arrogant bitch." Twilight said, letting the word roll out of her mouth smoothly.
Rarity flinched at the insult. "You ever think what's going through Spike's head when you do this fucking nonsense?" Twilight said, slowly exerting her anger into speech. She walked towards Rarity, as Rarity backed away, Sweetie-Belle following closely.
"Do you understand how hurt he is when he comes crying to me that you've cheated again and again? Do you have any fucking idea how hurt he is every time he comes to me because of your bullshit?" Twilight questioned, getting closer to the retreating Rarity, whose ears were now laid back in shame and guilt.
"Do you ever realize how hard the poor kid tries, because he thinks he's not enough for some backstabbing bitch? That He, a hero with such an innocent heart and gold intentions, isn't good enough for some corrupt, betraying mare like you? Ridiculous!" Twilight said, pushing her face into Rarity's, causing her to stumble back. Twilight stepped over her, keeping her face close, as her nostrils flared and her wings extended in anger.
"Do you know what you're doing every time you go horse around with this mare every time he's gone on royal duty, which is, by the way, for the good of all of Equestria, further showing how much of an ungrateful cunt you are? You're betraying the person who fights for you! Risks his life for you! The person who does everything in his power for you!" Twilight yelled, as an unstable magical aura grew around her body.
"You. Don't. Deserve. Him!" Twilight yelled loudly in anger, stomping her hoof on the ground besides Rarity, as the magical aura released in a powerful blast, sending a powerful wind through the streets that sent small bits of debris flying and shook the ground mildly. Attention now turned to Twilight and Rarity, with Sweetie-Belle nearby. Rarity laid on her back, her chest heaving in fear, guilt, and shame, as tears started to run down her muzzle.
"As your Princess, I would like to respectfully request that you stay far away from Spike. In fact, I will file a restraining order, and if you are caught in the same vicinity as him from this point on, I will personally apprehend and punish you, is that clear?" Twilight said. Rarity simply nodded, her crying too much for her to speak.
The guilt from what she had been doing now hit her in full-swing, and it did not feel good at all. Twilight stood over from her, folding her wings and walking beyond the crowd that had gathered.
Sweetie-Belle walked up and held her hoof out near Rarity. Rarity reached for it, but suddenly,
*smack!*
Sweetie-Belle had swung her hoof across Rarity's face, slightly swelling her cheek.
"Spike deserves so much better than you. You're my sister, and you carry a part of you with me when you act. So please, learn from this, and never tarnish my name again. I'm almost ashamed to be your sister. I hope you know that it's your fault Spike's been exiled. I don't hate you, but I sure as hell don't like you right now Rarity." Sweetie-Belle began, leaving the shocked Rarity on the ground.
"I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, but take this, sister-to-sister: get your shit together, and do what's right from here on in. Oh, and be prepared for the inevitable consequences when people realize this whole exile thing was on you." Sweetie-Belle finished, walking off with Twilight.
Rarity was left on the ground, the curious crowd's beady eyes burning holes into her skin. The embarrassment, shame, and guilt made her body feel as if it reached over 1000 degrees Celsius. She itched all over abnormally, and tears ran down her muzzle. She was left there, to think, learn, and be punished… "What have I been doing…? What have I done…? What will become of me…?" Rarity questioned silently, picking herself up slowly. She decided she would need to have a talk with Cherry-Top about their future…
…
…
…
As Sweetie-Belle caught up with Twilight, she breathed out slowly.
"Think she'll learn from this mistake, or…?" Sweetie-Belle questioned.
"I don't know, but I do know that I wanted to do so much more to her… If I didn't have to be a Princess, she'd have likely left that conversation in stitches." Twilight muttered between her gritted teeth. Sweetie-Belle gave a small, uncomfortable smile in response.
"You sure do feel strongly for Spike, huh?" Sweetie-Belle commented, noticing Twilight's excessive anger.
Twilight blushed, immediately calming down. "Look, he's just my guard and my hero. I don't like having what's mine being taken from me!" Twilight said, hiding her red cheeks.
"Yours?" Sweetie-Belle asked, with a slight curiosity.
"What I mean is… He's special to me… I mean that as in he's under my command special to me, and um… Gosh, look, you know what I meant, Sweetie-Belle." Twilight said, fumbling over her choice of words.
"Hm… I see." Sweetie-Belle hummed, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "What now?" Sweetie-Belle asked, as they walked aimlessly through the streets of Ponyville.
Twilight stopped suddenly and faced her. "I told Spike to meet me at Zecora's Hut. We need a way to get there discreetly… People won't just take their eyes off of me; not after this." Twilight explained.
"Hm… You're right. But even if you do manage to sneak out, how will you explain your sudden absence?" Sweetie-Belle questioned.
"Oh, dear Sweetie-Belle, can't you see that my soul is woefully struck by the exile of my hero and bestest-friend ever? Of course I would seclude myself for the night!" Twilight cried out dramatically, winking at Sweetie-Belle.
"Oh, I see… Let's go scour your castle's library for some useful camouflage spells then." Sweetie-Belle suggested.
Twilight shook her head in disagreement. "You do that. I need to start studying on how to legally bring Spike out of exile. There's gotta be a way other than "proving himself worthy". There's just gotta be! I know he didn't do what he did on purpose, and even the others know it too. The people don't realize that without Spike, we're in a danger… The Elements of Harmony are no longer free of responsibility: we lead our own lives now… Without a Hero, a constant guard-" Twilight began, but Sweetie-Belle shushed her.
"I get it. Let's split up, I don't want Spike out there in the wild all alone… Poor guy must be hurting. Let's make him feel welcome at Zecora's Hut when we meet there, okay?"
"Understood and agreed. Good luck Sweetie-Belle." Twilight said, walking off to do some last-minute negotiations with her fellow royal-authorities, who were set to depart within the hour, now that the impromptu exile ceremony had come to an end.
[Back To The Present With Spike and Sweetie-Belle…]
Spike and Sweetie-Belle both walked, both in deep thought. They walked a distance from each other, as Spike still refused to have Sweetie-Belle close to him, while Sweetie-Belle adamantly followed.
Spike was shredded from his thought however, when his senses tingled, and his intuition nagged at him. He looked around in the pitch black darkness of the night… It was cloudy, preventing most of the moonlight. He eyed around Sweetie-Belle, and then spotted a shadowy figure suddenly appear behind her, approaching the mare.
"Sweetie-Belle, watch out!" Spike yelled out. Bashing Sweetie-Belle to the side, Spike took the impact of whatever he warned her about.
As Sweetie-Belle flew back through the air, she saw Spike get slashed right across the chest by another pony wielding a dagger in its hoof. Luckily, the small padding of his tight leathery under-armor (resembling a tight agent spandex-like suit) highly minimized the weak slash. It looked like a no-good bandit was the culprit. Its face was masked.
Spike flew back, sliding across the ground, clutching his bleeding chest.
"No fucking armor… Shit." He muttered in pain.
"Spike!" Sweetie-Belle called in worry.
"Sweetie-Belle, stay back!" Spike said. As they looked around, 5 more bandits showed up, some unicorns, some earth ponies.
A few of them wielded more dangerous weapons, such as swords and spiked/bladed maces.
"Well, well, well, boys. Look what we have here! An old, exiled hero… He 'oughta have some riches with him, huh?" the bandit said, as they all surrounded Spike.
"Tch!" Spike hissed, as he remembered when Sweetie-Belle first came to him… There were most definitely two different rustles in those bushes… She was followed.
The one who attacked Sweetie-Belle looked to be the leader. He wore a black fedora and was in a suit and tie. The rest were dressed quite formally as well, despite being nothing more than no-good bandits.
"Got a lot 'ah riches kid? Let's have a look through the bag, hm?" the leader spoke, closing in the circle on Spike.
Spike was undeterred. He had fought the most powerful of creatures; the sorry bastards wouldn't even last a full minute. He didn't even bother to unsheathe his dagger.
"Look, you guys are making a big mistake right now. I would say leave now, and it'd be alright, but it's clear you shouldn't be walking these roads free. Let's make this nice and quick, huh?" Spike proposed, with a small smile. "Been looking for a stress-reliever anyhow." Spike said, rotating his shoulder.
"Oh, he's real confident, haha! What, did you think we'd singlehandedly take on one of Equestria's most powerful head-on? Come on kid, grow up." The leader spoke. He stood on his hind legs and clopped his hooves together twice.
"Oi, that's your cue!" he said out-loud.
In an instant, Spike heard Sweetie-Belle yelp, as the bandits backed off from Spike. One held a knife to her throat, while two others guarded her with swords. The rest stood not far from her, cocky and arrogant smiles on their faces.
Spike's face stayed neutral. He'd been down this road before. He eyed the 7 bandits, attempting to devise a plan.
"Spike! Spike!" Sweetie-Belle yelled in fair, feeling the cold, sharp metal against her neck.
"Alright kid, now hand over the bag, and this pretty lady might just survive." The leader spoke, standing in front of the group. The one holding the knife to Sweetie-Belle's neck pushed it against her neck, causing a slight cut, forcing Sweetie-Belle to lift her neck higher to avoid the blade.
"And make it quick, my boys are real blood-thirsty." He said with a chuckle.
Without hesitation, Spike removed his bag of his personal riches and mementos, and tossed it over. The stallion caught it with his mouth, and then kicked it back.
"Good, good. Bambino, toss it." The leader spoke, gesturing towards Spike with his head. Suddenly, a sword slid over to Spike, lying there in the grass.
Spike looked up, confused. "Won't you release her?" he asked.
"Not while you're still standing. Now here's what I want you to do: I need you to pick up that sword, and impale yourself, right in the gut. Make it pass all the way through too, I don't want no bullshit kid, clear? Either that, or you'll see this pretty lass' throat slit and witness her body grow cold with death." The leader spoke, as the air became tense and thick.
There was an eerie silence, as Spike and Sweetie-Belle's shaking pupils met.
Tears began to drop down Sweetie-Belle's face. "Sp-Spike…! Don't d-d-do it! Th-they need you!" Sweetie-Belle cried, realizing that she would have to be the sacrifice here for the better-good.
Spike picked up the sword, as it shone in the moonlight. His face was unchanged.
"Spike, no!" Sweetie-Belle cried, attempting to free herself. "Sp-Spike, don't do it!" Sweetie-Belle cried.
Spike held the sword high, aimed at his gut. His face wrenched into one of determination and resolve.
"If a Hero cannot protect just one of his people…" Spike began, looking on with a hard face.
"Then how will he protect them all?" He asked rhetorically.
"Honor! Valor! Allegiance!" Spike yelled heartily into the night.
"That is what Shining Armor insisted we have before we were deemed worthy of the Royal-Guard." Spike said, as the blade shook in his hands. His lips started to quiver a bit as well.
"Honor thy kingdom, serve it well! Have an infinite reservoir of Valor to combat the Darkness opposing the kingdom and its people! Allegiance must always be with the Princesses and Her Peoples." Spike said, as the blade shook more. His mouth and voice wiggled as he spoke.
"The boy's scared." One of the bandits commented.
"I. Am. Worthy!" Spike yelled, as he began to bring the blade towards his gut.
*Schling!*
All that was seen in the moonlight was the back-end of a redly-painted metal sword. As the camera panned down, it showed Spike, the sword lodged into his body, as his pupils dilated and shook. Blood leaked down the corners of his mouth as well.
"By and by, the idiot actually did it!" the leader laughed cruelly.
"SPIKE!" Sweetie-Belle yelled in horror, as Spike fell to his knees, the pain crippling him.
She bashed the face of the bandit holding the knife to her neck, allowing her to run to Spike. Tears dropped all over Spike as Sweetie-Belle frantically paced to-and-fro in front of him, not knowing what to do.
"W-w-why Spike?! I said let them take me! Spike, Spike…!" Sweetie-Belle cried, drooping onto the floor.
Spike's wound leaked thick drops of blood. He could feel himself weaken.
"Oh, Spike! I should've listened to you! I should've left when you told me to! I'm so sorry, Spike!" she sobbed, tears running frantically down her face, as she looked at the impaled Spike.
Spike's hand made it to Sweetie-Belle's mane, messing up her hair with the blood. But she didn't care. She looked up at him with her teary-eyes.
"You… You are…" Spike began, speaking with a wheeze.
"… the little sister… of someone so, so special… You are a person of the kingdom… who required protection…" Spike began. Suddenly, he punched the ground hard, making a small (yet large for the size of his fist) crater in the earth.
"Besides…" Spike started, beginning to stand up and face the bandits. Sweetie-Belle's lips trembled at Spike's words.
"If I can't… Protect one person…" Spike began, as both of his hands shakily took the hilt of the sword lodged within him.
"Then how… How could I ever be worthy…?" Spike asked, sliding the sword out inch-by-inch, as he groaned in pain, the blood coming faster as the sword began to leave him.
"Spike... Why? Why would you do it…? Stop, stop! You don't have to move!" Sweetie-Belle cried.
"You don't understand… What a Hero is…" Spike said, as he pulled out the sword in one extremely swift move.
"AGGHCK!" Spike yelled, as blood splattered across the ground from him. He stumbled a bit, holding the sword with his heavy eyes, as blood dripped from his wound.
"Well, well, well… It seems the media really doesn't oversell you propaganda. You're everything they said you were. Too bad this is your end." The leader spoke, as the bandits approached him.
"Stay back, Sweetie-Belle… I mean it." Spike spoke with a wheeze, as his shoulders heaved in hard breaths.
"What can you do in this state?" the leader laughed. "You're no good to the world like that." He said, laughing it up.
"You sick bastard. You're no good to the world when you would sacrifice a life for riches. Move on to the next life, maybe you'll learn a thing or two there." Spike said simply. Despite his injury, in a quick move, he was already in front of the stallion.
In a swift move, he slashed upwards at the pony's shoulder, as his left front-hoof came clean off. Blood spurted and gushed out, as the stallion cried in agony. The other bandits watched in surprise.
"Agghhh!" The stallion yelled in pain and horror at Spike's impossible speed. He swing the dagger at Spike with his only fore-hoof. Spike simply sidestepped it and slashed his other shoulder clean off, as blood splattered out from that appendage as well.
He fell onto the floor, no longer having balance without his front-hooves, as blood leaked from his severed arms and his face grew pale. Spike made sure he felt the suffering he had felt from the wounds that now lay in his body.
"Oh-ho-ho my goodness, just kill me!" the leader yelled in agony at the pain. The other stallions all looked at each other, waiting for the other to interfere first.
Before they could react, Spike then took the sword, and jammed it into the stallion's throat, as his screams of agony fell silent. Spike took the sword out and watched the lifeless body with not a single drop of remorse, as he held his own stomach, blood still leaking from it.
The other bandits watched in horror at Spike's combat finesse. They hadn't even seen him move from his position! And the way he easily and fearlessly approached the man and dodged his attack! This Hero was a seasoned killer…
"It's one guy, get him!" One bandit yelled, as they all ran at him.
Spike coughed up blood, his wound affecting him worse.
"Only 6 more… Live until then, Hero…" Spike thought to himself, witnessing his vision haze.
He ducked under the slash of one, then jammed the sword into his abdomen, puncturing his lung. He had no time to pick up the sword, as another swung at him with the bladed mace. Spike caught the handle of it, and pushed the weapon back into his forehead, disarming him in the disorientation.
In another instance, he side-stepped past the stab of another, slamming the mace into his skull, as he dropped, silent.
"Come the fuck on, guys! He's just one person! Get your shit together!" one yelled to the other three still standing.
Spike unsheathed the dagger that lay on the back of his waist, as the four surrounded him. Spike stumbled, and his visions started to double and triple, as he felt blood trail down his body. He coughed and spluttered up more blood, feeling ever-weaker.
Before they could make the first move, Spike ran at one, dodging the swing of his mace and slashing his throat. The man's throat whistled as he screamed, before it grew silent.
Another stabbed at Spike, but in an agile manner, Spike side-stepped and twirled around to his back, grabbing both of his hooves that wielded the sword. In a display of brute strength, Spike broke his front-hooves to bend backwards, and forced his own hooves to lodge the sword into his body, as he dropped silent as well.
The other two watched Spike in horror. He was too skilled for the lowly bandits.
One backed away. Spike shook his head, and tossed his dagger at the stallion that attempted to flee. The dagger lodged itself into the back of his hind-hoof, as he dropped. Spike jumped over him, as he sucked in his breath. In a powerful breath, Spike roasted the (poor) bandit into a being of black and burnt flesh.
The final one, wielding a sword, knew running wouldn't work, so he confronted Spike. He ran at him, slashing and stabbing crazily, while Spike dodged seamlessly, his reaction-time far surpassing the bandit's own.
As the bandit slashed downwards at Spike, Spike smiled, finding his opening. He jumped above the blade, and stomped on the top of it, causing it to flip out of the bandit's hooves, into the air. Spike skillfully caught it, and mercilessly slashed right through the neck of the bandit, rendering him headless, as he too, dropped.
Spike stepped back in pain. He then stumbled back, the pain overwhelming him, finally. He could see the trail of death he left in just under two minutes, but he was not unfamiliar with it. It was a Hero's job and duty to make sure those who threatened lives were not to walk this plane of existence. The townspeople have witnessed this death many times before; though, Spike had never made them witness gruesomeness such as this. He usually made it a point to make his killings much cleaner, but they tried to hurt Sweetie-Belle… A sister of someone special… They tried to hurt someone who still cared for him. That was unacceptable.
Sweetie-Belle ran up, and hugged Spike from behind, her tears soaking his back, as the wound on his back put blood onto her coat.
"Spike, why?! Why are you forcing yourself? You were injured! You should've just let them take me! L-look at you!" she cried, gesturing to his nasty wounds. A hole in the front and back, from the sword, was defacing his body.
Spike stood, as he stumbled over towards his belongings, including his bag and dagger, picking them up from the deceased bandits. He then began to stumble towards the Everfree Forest again, ignoring Sweetie-Belle, probably because he was too weak to speak.
"Spike…" Sweetie-Belle said lowly.
"What if you don't…?" Sweetie-Belle asked in horror.
Spike held his hand in front of Sweetie-Belle, as his face stayed in its hard position.
"You don't understand what a Hero is, Sweetie-Belle. We don't feel pain unless those we are destined to protect feel it. This is nothing but a flesh wound. You are mostly untouched, and as such, I am happy. A Hero is nothing more than an instrument, a tool, meant to protect and serve. I did just that. Whether or not I make it after this is inconsequential, as long as you are safe." Spike said, stumbling over as he walked. The pains started to get to him, as he felt his body begin to lose feeling.
Sweetie-Belle was silent. She wasn't sure how Spike thought, or why, but she knew he was much more than some tool. Although she knew this was far from the time for this, she noticed how the moonlight shone upon the Exiled Hero.
"I can't believe he really impaled himself, without a second thought, for me." Sweetie-Belle thought, her heart thumping, as she helped the stumbling hero towards Zecora's Hut.
She noticed how the under-armor clutched against his defined body, and she could feel how sturdily his career built him. She blushed under the close proximity of the two, as she aided him in walking, his wound crippling him slightly.
Sweetie-Belle violently shook her head, scolding herself for getting lovey-dovey. This was no time to be affiliated with this petty crush on Spike! She had to help him get to the Hut, pronto, before he bled out!
Spike walked on, trying to gather his focus. He could feel the blood soak his hand, as he tried his best to cover the nasty wound.
"A life well-spent…" he recited.
[Some minutes later…]
"Spike, Spike please! You have to keep going, we're just a few steps away!" Sweetie-Belle said in a plea.
Spike had lost almost all feeling, and his vision began to blur and blacken. He was trying to continue on, but kept stumbling back onto his face, as blood splattered from him each time he fell…
He struggled up again, as he coughed up more blood. Sweetie-Belle's heart wrenched in pain for the Hero.
Suddenly, Spike simply collapsed, as he lay there. Blood gushed from him in greater volumes, as his body lost the ability to further hold it in and clot the wound; he quickly gathered his own pool of blood in the spot. Everything was silent to him now. He could sense that Sweetie-Belle was trying to stir him, but all he felt now was darkness and comfort.
…
He now sensed that Sweetie-Belle was gone… Yes, he was hurting alone. Suffering alone…
He couldn't feel it, but he knew he was crying the warmth of his own blood. The tears dropped down, each one emphasizing his pains.
Although he would die protecting someone, he felt unfulfilled… Unloved… Unwanted… This was what a Hero was, I suppose… They never did live to see the happy ending… But knowing that they brought it was supposed to be the happiness…
But why couldn't he be happy? Why couldn't he smile? Why…?
"So naïve, so young, so immature. You hurt because you are alone. You cannot be happy, because you will die in the woods, bleeding out, alone, like the uncared-for instrument you are. Is this not what you wanted? To die protecting the people? Did you not yourself feel that you needed no recognition? No acceptance? No love? You are getting what you want. Surely, this will end that horrid pain that your ex-beloved caused you. Surely… this is what you wanted?" It spoke.
The tears dropped more heavily from Spike's face, as the puddle of blood beneath him only grew thicker. He thought this would bring him happiness… That the death, the end of it all, would bring him happiness and contentment.
He felt that he would find relaxation in knowing that he tried, failed, and died doing something for a denizen of his kingdom, yet, all he experienced in this moment of death was a shelly feeling of incompletion, loneliness, and further depression. He felt like now, he needed to live… He had to live… He did not want to feel so horrid in his final moments… However, as much as he tried to get up, he only fell back into his puddle of blood, splashing the red substance around him, and onto further parts of his body… He was over his limit.
"There is more, isn't there? Do you refuse it, or will you embrace it? Will you be too scared to accept what you clearly seek? Perhaps, you will pursue your life of a lonewolf, or perhaps, you will take another risk. Even I, your greatest intellect, do not now. I know this, though: you seek something beyond simply protecting the people. Whatever path you take, we should both know what you truly want… Realizing your desires is an unavoidable path. However, I am not even sure you will live past this. Perhaps, you will get what you thought you were seeking: perhaps you will die here, alone, unloved, and forgotten." It spoke, as Spike's tears kept flowing.
"All Alone... Alone. Alone. Alone." It repeated, in a sort of agony. Its voice sounded altered, or malfunctioned.
"You will die, alone." It said, as Spike's senses and consciousness started to be devoured by the blackness and darkness of the ever-starving death…