//------------------------------// // The Cabinet of Dr. Sparkle // Story: Draconic Troubles // by Davesknd //------------------------------// Since my Beta-reader is currently unavailable and I'll be busy over the next week, I have to appologise for this pre-edit version of the fic. It will be updated, so either wait with reading, or try to overlook the raw version for now. Also: I have to thank all my commentators for not pointing out that we have reached chapter 11 without any new dragon arriving yet! That is partially due to the fact that I don't like writing OCs. But she is on her way! I promise! Two mares, paragons of harmony and cooperation were currently locking their gazes in a terrible battle of wills. It started right after Rarity commented that the pies were a little too dark. Applejack had answered that she put some more cinnamon into the dough, since Spike liked them like this. Now it was either lightening up the pies, so they would go with blue, or removing them from the little diorama, Rarity had constructed. “Why don’t you just put them back in the bag?” “Because then it looks too cold! We need a warmer colour in this! Otherwise the sapphires dominate it!” Rarity wailed “Have you lost your colour vision?” “No, I can still tell Granny Smith from Golden Delicious!” “That is hardly proving anything! Your grandmother is at least 40 years older than your cousin!” “I meant the apples!” “Yes, that’s what your family IS called.” “I meant the... what in tarnation are you doing now?” “Well, since the pies won’t work, we have to cover them!” “Stop sticking your gemstones in my pies!” Applejack lunged forwards and grabbed the pastries from the fashionista. Again, their tempers were flaring. They looked into each other’s eyes and Applejack let out a slight growl. If glares could kill, two dead ponies would be littering the basement floor right now. She is ruining my pies! She is ruining my efforts! I would garrotte her if I had my lasso! I would strangle her if I had thumbs! Kiss her Applejack, you idiot! Kiss me Applejack, you idiot! Suddenly a machine exploded. The fight was quickly forgotten, as the two mares hugged each other in fright. They quickly let go of each other and looked towards the weird apparatus that was little more than smoking remains. Sadly the label was burned beyond recognition. “I am pretty sure this was not our fault!” Applejack said “But in any case, we should probably get out of this basement! These Machines scare me!” “It does go against good Feng-Shui.” Rarity admitted “I guess I can call it a lost cause and leave Twilight the card of my interior decorator.” “Don’t you do that yourself?” “I may want to explore new career options, yes.” “So... fussing over how other ponies live?” “I would welcome it, if you could call it differently.” Suddenly the door opened and two mares entered the basement. “Hello you two.” Twilight said with a smile while Fluttershy waved quietly. “Hey there, girls!” Applejack answered. “Hey! What happened to the sexual tension meter?” Twilight suddenly asked, seeing the smoking device in the corner “My poor prototype!” “Why would you have... something like that?” Applejack asked quickly. “I built it!” Twilight answered “I wanted to prove to the princess that you can quantify everything with science. Sadly I never had a chance to think of a unit...” “Then... How exactly did that thing work?” “With SCIENCE, of course.” “Anyhow... since Fluttershy is here now, what is the plan?” Rarity intervened. “Well, Fluttershy will wait for Spike and turn this into a perfect hideout. Applejack, you will go back to Sweet Apple Acres and prepare, in case we need apples for Pinkie Pie or as weapons! Rarity, you help with decorating the town for now. Once I have enough data, I will be in touch.” Twilight explained “I will go see the mayor. Later, I’ll continue studying the book. Any questions?” “Actually, I have one, Twilight.” Applejack admitted with a bit of hesitance. “Sure, AJ. Ask right away!” “Do you really think that this is going to work?” “What do you mean?” Twilight asked, tilting her head slightly. “You know... this whole plan... hiding Spike, throwing a party, trying to deceive the dragoness... this whole think kinda begs to go haywire.” Applejack admitted “I mean... this just asks for some shenanigans, like me trying to lie to the dragon or Snips and Snails slipping up. Not to forget my sister and her merry band.” “Come on, Applejack!” Twilight tried to sound secure “My plans usually work!” “Actually, Twilight.” Rarity intervened “Your plan A usually fails in some comedic fashion. It’s your plan B or our combined effort or improvisation that usually saves the day.” “Or Pinkie Pie...” Fluttershy added quietly. “Girls!” Twilight finally wailed “Do you really think that I don’t know that? Heck, I expect her first words after landing to be “Now where is the little purple one that walked into the green ones cave?”! But we have to try! For Spike! If this dragoness finds and questions him, he’ll lose all credibility as a dragon!” “So... basically we have to watch this train wreck unfold?” Applejack said quietly. “Basically...” Twilight admitted “Now let’s get on with the plan and keep smiling! We can at least go down while we follow my plan!” The other ponies nodded and after a few moments, Flutterhshy was the only one left in the basement. Besides the snakes that were taking position within the walls, of course. Just as the Pegasus was done removing the remains of the exploded machine, Spike returned with two big bags on his shoulders. “Hi, Fluttershy.” He said his mouth full of what appeared to be fluorspar “What are you doing down here?” “Hello, Spike. Twilight said that I should help you turn the basement into a hideout and then move in with you.” “I see...” Spike answered, while climbing down the stairs. He set the two bags aside and started to help Fluttershy with getting the scariest machines out of the way. “I hope you won’t mind being down here with me too much.” Spike suddenly stated after an hour of quiet work. They usually didn’t have much to talk about, with Fluttershy already knowing the story of Spikes whole entire life. “Why, of course not, Spike!” Fluttershy answered “Why would I?” “Because... well... I know that you have a bit of a thing against dragons.” “Oh, but not against you, Spike! I’m just afraid of the giant, enormous, sharp scaled...” “I get it!” “You are just too cute to be scared of.” Fluttershy added happily “And I don’t think that I will ever be scared of you! Even once you are fully grown!.” Spike bit his lip for a second and smiled to himself. “I know you won’t... you will never see me fully grown up after all.” Fluttershy stopped her work for a moment and turned to Spike. She was about to say something when the little dragon intervened. “None of you will... All of you girls will be long gone before I even grow my wings.” A sad smile formed on his lips “So I really won’t have to worry about you ever being afraid of me.” “Spike, I...” “It’s ok. The princess taught me how to deal with having a long life. Her being immortal and all. You just have to enjoy the moments you have with those you love and...” “And seal them in your memory. Even if it stings a little at night, just before you fall asleep.” Fluttershy finished. Spike looked at the Pegasus in surprise. “I... I do know how you feel, Spike.” The mare explained “Ever since I found my talent, I have been working with the animals... my friends, who lead much shorter lives than I do. I not only count the new *born* bunnies. And I can still remember when I first counted Angels mother, after she was born. I saw many eggs hatch. And I dealt with many of them... going before me. All I could do was make their time worth it. Share...” “Whatever you had, knowing that even if they will go, you had an impact on them.” Spike added a picture of a peacefully sleeping Twilight passing his mind “A short life isn’t less valuable than a long one. And seeing them happy, makes yours so much more worth living!” Fluttershy nodded quietly and gave Spike a big hug, which he returned. "I'll keep you all alive... in my memory." The little dragon whispered and Fluttershy nodded. After parting and a few more minutes of cleaning up, the two started to share a few memories. The best way of keeping those who passed alive.