//------------------------------// // Cross My Heart-to-Heart // Story: Trial by Kinship // by Metool Bard //------------------------------// "Stupid Trigger! Stupid magic! Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Needles grumbled and muttered to herself as she wandered through the canyon aimlessly. Every once in a while, she would kick a pebble with all her might, sending up a cloud of sand that stung her teary eyes. Eventually, she simply crawled up onto a rock formation and buried her face into her arms, weeping softly. "What do I do now?" she mumbled. "What can I do? What should I do? How should I do it? Darn it, I don't even know what I'm talkin' about anymore. I'm just so confused." She suddenly perked up as the telltale clip-clopping of hooves could be heard. She snorted. "I thought I told you not to come after me," she growled. "Don't you fellas have any respect for a girl's privacy?" "Eeyup." The simple response through Needles off-guard. She looked up and rubbed her eyes, only to see Big Macintosh standing before her. She let out a small sigh. "Oh, it's just you," she said, looking behind him. "And only you, by the looks of it. Trigger didn't put you up to this, did he?" "Nope," said Big Macintosh with a shake of his head. "Then what're you doin' here? Ain't you afraid of me?" "Nope," Big Macintosh repeated. Needles heaved another sigh. "Well, that makes one of us," she said, looking down at her claws. "As for me, well, I don't know what happened. I didn't even know I had that kinda power. You saw me; I couldn't control that fire dragon or whatever it was. Th-that happened completely by accident, and I hurt some poor critter in the process. You understand that's pretty heavy for me, right?" "Eeyup," said Big Macintosh. "And that's another thing," said Needles, clenching her fists. "It's somethin' I never got about the Dragon Magi. Is this power really supposed to make me wise? I mean, I know a few spells. Wonderful! How exactly does that translate into knowin' the answer for every problem in the entire world, huh? 'Cause I don't see how it does. Maybe I'm just too stupid to understand." "Nope." Needles gave Big Macintosh a bemused look. "Oh, you don't think I'm stupid? Alright then. Why couldn't I control that fire dragon thing? I'm the one who apparently summoned it, right? So why did it almost kill you guys? You got an answer for that?" "Nope." "Well, neither do I!" Needles snapped, throwing up her claws. "None of this makes sense to me! None! How in tarnation am I supposed to guide others when I can't even guide myself?! I-it's just so frustratin', y'know?" "Eeyup." Needles sighed and slumped over again. "Many moons ago, I was a drifter. I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I just lived day to day. Then I met these fillies who helped me find my true callin'. I wanna do good. I wanna help others. I wanna show the Dragoons that there's a better path for us to take. But it feels like I never do things the right way. My intentions don't amount to a hill of beans if innocent lives get hurt. And what's worse is that whenever I screw up, no one's there to call me out on it. Flint and Steel don't care at all, Trigger thinks that I'm perfect, and Toro doesn't have all that many original ideas. Or if he does, he doesn't find it necessary to share 'em. I don't wanna give up, but if I keep fallin' on my face like this, then what's the point?" She then turned to Big Macintosh and raised an eyebrow. "All this is probably flyin' over your head, isn't it? I mean, you're not a Dragon Mage. Heck, you ain't even a dragon. You have no idea what I'm goin' through, do ya?" Big Macintosh shrugged. "Maybe." Needles blinked. "Maybe? Whaddya mean maybe? You honestly think you understand what I need to do?" "Eeyup." Needles turned her entire body to face Big Macintosh, folding her arms. "Alright then. You've been pretty quiet this whole trip; I might as well find out what you're thinkin'. What do you think I should do?" Big Macintosh furrowed his brow. "Well..." *** "Alright, this seems look like a good spot." After walking for a few minutes, Spike finally released Trigger's tail. Trigger snorted and dusted himself off. "That was highly uncalled for," he snarled, cracking his knuckles. "So, shall we finish what we started, o mighty noble dragon?" Spike frowned. "I'm not gonna fight you, if that's what you're thinking." "Then how will you defend your honor, hmm?" Trigger asked with a sneer. "Or will you simply admit that you've been courting Needles this whole time and accept your punishment? Because I'm highly in favor of that latter option. Ehheh... Ehheh..." Spike heaved a great sigh. "For the last time, I'm not going after Needles." "Oh, really?" said Trigger. "Then why did you get all flustered when you first met her, huh?" "'Cause she was the first nice dragon I've ever met," Spike replied plainly. "That's all there is to it." Trigger scoffed. "And how am I supposed to believe that?" "Do you know why I created my Noble Dragon Code in the first place?" Trigger opened his mouth to reply, but found that he had none. "Um, eh..." "It's because I didn't want to be seen as a jerk," Spike said frankly. "See, a long time ago, I took part in the Great Dragon Migration to find out who I really was. I met a bunch of teenage dragons, and it didn't take me long to figure out that I didn't belong with their crowd. They were nothing but bullies picking on creatures weaker than they were. That clearly wasn't me, so I created my Dragon Code. I've stuck by it ever since." "Wait, wait, wait wait wait wait wait," said Trigger, holding out his claw. "If you take such great pains to not be like other dragons, who are you to tell us how to be noble?" Spike shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno. I'm not even sure the dragons we're trying to save from the poachers are gonna appreciate my help." "Then why are you on this quest to begin with?" "Because a noble dragon never gives up on anything or anyone." Trigger scratched his head. "So you don't know what you're doing, but you're gonna keep doing it anyway? That sounds stupid." "Sometimes it is, but that's just how I roll," said Spike, rubbing the back of his head. "Besides, I think Needles would really appreciate it if you straightened up a bit." Trigger crossed his arms and scowled. "I don't need your help with Needles." Spike deadpanned. "Sure you don't. That's why she just blew up at you when you tried to kiss her." Trigger blushed. "W-well, yes, but... Ehheh..." Spike sighed and shook his head. "Face it, dude. You just don't understand ladies." "Oh, and you do?" "Dude, I often hang out with an entire herd of mares. I think I know a thing or two about talking to girls." "Okay, name one thing I'm doing wrong." "You don't listen to her." Trigger flinched at how automatic and direct Spike's response was. "N-name two things." "You try too hard to impress her." "Alright, name three things!" "You get on my case just for talking to her." "Name four thi—" "Yeah, I'm just gonna stop you right there," said Spike, cutting across Trigger by raising his claw. "Look, man. I get it. I have a crush, too. And I'd do anything for her. Heck, I'd even help her find her own true love, even if it isn't me. 'Cause at the end of the day, I just want her to be happy." Trigger twiddled his fingers. "I want Needles to be happy," he murmured. "I'm well aware of that, man," said Spike. "But you're going about it the wrong way." "I can't help it," said Trigger, shaking his head. "Needles, does something to me. Her feisty attitude lights a fire in my own heart. She understands me in a way no one else ever has. And the thought of losing her to someone else drives me, mad. Ehheh... Ehheh..." "Yeah, I got a full taste of that last one," said Spike, rolling his eyes. "Listen, you want Needles to like you, right?" "Of course." "Then you need to know how to talk to a lady," said Spike. Trigger blinked. "And, you're gonna teach me how to do that?" "Sure. After all, a noble dragon must be sensitive to a lady's needs." Trigger scratched his head. "You really want to do this? Even after I treated you?" "Little Strongheart wanted me to teach you guys how to be noble, right?" said Spike, placing an arm around Trigger. "I think this is a good place to start. So, first thing you need to know is..." *** "So, you're sayin' that if I have the courage to jump, the parachute will open for me?" "Eeyup." Needles knitted her brow. "Wow. Never thought of it like that before. That makes a lot of sense, actually." "Eeyup," said Big Macintosh. Needles nodded and turned her attention to the sky. "Well, it's all fine and good. The problem is my parachute has a few holes in it. And one of the biggest ones is named Trigger." "Eeyup," Big Macintosh repeated. Needles breathed out a short laugh. "You noticed that too, huh? Look, I know it looks like I don't like the guy, but that just ain't the case. Trigger's not exactly the most charmin' fella out there; that much is a given. But he's really smart. Heck, he knows plenty of things I don't. And I know he can be a gentleman when he tries." She then sighed. "I just wish he'd try a bit more often, that's all." "Eeyup," said Big Macintosh. "It just make me so upset when he shelves his more endearin' qualities just to put on a show for me, y'know?" Needles continued. "He doesn't need to impress me. In fact, he'd impress me more if he didn't fawn over me like some kinda goddess. And does he really think I'm gonna go runnin' off with Spike? 'Cause Spike doesn't seem like the kinda fella who'd do that sort of thing to another guy. He's not, is he?" "Nope." "Figured," said Needles, heaving another sigh. "I wish I could tell Trigger all this in a way that he'd understand, but he never seems to get it. It's things like this that make me wonder if I'm really cut out for this guidance business." She then gave Big Macintosh a wry smile. "Then again, maybe all I need is the courage to take that jump and have faith that my parachute will open." "Eeyup," said Big Macintosh with a nod. Needles jumped from her perch and gave Big Macintosh a wink. "Thanks for settin' me straight, big guy. I'm feelin' a lot better now." "'Tweren't nothin'," said Big Macintosh with a shrug. "C'mon, let's head back." Needles nodded and smiled. Suddenly, a shrill scream echoed across the canyon. Her eyes widened. "That sounded like Steel!" she exclaimed. Big Macintosh arched an eyebrow. "Seriously?" "You're better off not knowin' how I know that," said Needles. "C'mon, let's hurry!" Big Macintosh didn't need to be told twice. He immediately tossed Needles onto his back and took off at full gallop. Needles too this moment to collect herself. Alright, Needles. This is it, she thought. Today's the day you finally muster up the courage to jump. *** "And that's basically what you need to do," Spike concluded. Trigger scratched his head. "This all sounds rather complicated, Mr. Spike. Are you sure I can do it?" "You won't know until you try," said Spike. "And that's all Needles can ask of you." Trigger nodded and smirked. "Alright, I'll give it a shot. You really aren't as bad as I made you out to be, Mr. Spike." "Heh, same to you," said Spike, patting Trigger on the back. "Glad you two got that sorted out." Spike and Trigger turned to see Toro and Braeburn emerged from behind some rocks. Trigger blushed profusely. "Um, you didn't hear all that, did you?" he said. "Ehheh... Ehheh..." "We were just keeping an eye on you to make sure you didn't hurt each other, ese," said Toro. "Eeyup," Braeburn concurred. "And now that you have, we can head back to the others before somethin' else happens." No sooner had he said that than a shrill scream was heard. Spike deadpanned. "Maybe it's just me, but I think something else just happened," he said. "Reckon you're right, partner," said Braeburn darkly. "Let's get a move-on! Everyone, climb aboard!" Toro, Spike, and Trigger immediately climbed onto Braeburn's back. Once everyone was situated, Braeburn was off like a shot. Spike took in a deep breath. Alright, feeling good about this one, he thought, a subtle flame igniting in his eyes. I've already proven myself to both Trigger and Needles. It's time to show everyone else how a noble dragon gets things done.