//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: A normal day 
// by willun 
//------------------------------//

Spike awoke to the murmur of the girls. He slowly sat up and looked around with half open eyes. Spike was still on the library couch where he fell back asleep last night. After hearing something about traveling to the castle of the two sisters, Spike laid back down intent on sleep. It was too early in the morning to think about what they were talking about.

Some time later Spike was awoken by a tap on his head. He looked up blurred eyed. Twilight smiled at him.

'The girls and I are making a quick trip to the Everfree Forest. I was looking at some of the magic in the castle and did not recognize some of the runes. I did a rubbing of them and we are going to see if there is any references in the ancient library.'

Spike perked up at that. He yawned one more time before hopping off the couch. 'Alright I'll get the castle organized for guests. If you still wanted to keep the library open in the castle we still need to get it presentable. I will head over to the Quills and Sofas to get the last of the stacks of ledgers.'

Twilight hugged him. 

'Thank you Spike, if you want to look at the runes look at the top of every door. I thought they were just decoration but when my magic interacts with the castle the runes respond back. I do not plan to see what they do until I know what the runes mean.'

Spike waved good bye as all the girls as they walked out of the castle. Spike watched the group walk down the road for a few moments before going back inside. It was still early in the morning and Spike wanted to get ready for the trip to town. A cold breakfast courtesy of Twilight filled his belly before he bathed in boiling water and was out the castle door.

Ponyville was a small town compared to where he grew up. However the perks of a smaller town were appreciated. Spike entered a shop with the ring of the bell attached to the door.

'Good morning Mr. Cake!" exclaimed Spike.  Spike was surprised the father of twins was the one at the front counter.  Mr. Cake usually took care of the children in the morning.

'Hello Spike. What can I do for you?' Spike looked around the store before finding the cake he was looking for.

'Just that cake. Twilight will be coming back into town later and likely bringing the girls with her. I plan to prep dinner and keep it on stand by until they eventually come back.'  Mr. Cake had already packaged the cake and Spike grabbed the bag handle after placing the cake carefully in the bag himself.

'Good to hear, I'm by my self for now, the family took off to visit my mother for a day or two. My ma really wanted to see them since they were born but has not been able to travel as far out as Ponyville.'

Spike smiled at that. While Ponyville was in the center of Equestria, most ponies traveled well around the Everfree forest which could add days of travel. 'Did you need any help while she is away?'

Mr. Cake shook his head. 'I have Pinkie Pie if I ever need any help. Today and tomorrow are our slowest days. I am not expecting to be very busy.'

Spike waved a good bye and left before heading to his next stop. He quickly realized he may have a wait. The proprietor was not outside for once. Quills and Sofas was an odd store. While they did for the most part sell quills and sofas, they had a small corner devoted to other office supplies. Most of them had to be special ordered and it could take well over a week for the order to get in. But it was also the only place in Ponyville where you could order the things Spike needed without directly traveling to Canterlot.

'Good Morning Davenport.'  Spike called as he entered the store. The store was relatively empty save for one other customer.

Spike patiently waited while looking at a sofa not too dissimilar to the one he slept on that morning. He looked up when it sounded like the pony who was talking to Davenport was finished. Spike smiled politely at the pony. The pony briefly tilted his head in acknowledgment before departing.

'The ledgers arrived this morning Mr. Spike.' Davenport beckoned for the dragon to follow him to the back corner. Next to the catalog was several samples and a medium sized box with Spike's name on it.

'I'll need to borrow the cart for this one. I still have a few stops. Is it available?'

Davenport reported an affirmative before moving quickly towards the back where Spike followed with his bag from the Cake's bakery. In the back was a large garage with wooden wheels hung up along the walls and large boxes that contained a variety of different kinds of furniture. And then, there it was. The wagon which Spike has carted around since Twilight and he had moved to Ponyville. While Twilight had fond memories with her books, that Sofa's and Quills wagon held a special place in his heart. He gently patted the large wooden wheel which was as large as he was.

'I told you I would be back. No massive adventures this time. We are just going for a long stroll.'  Spike put the box of cake in the back and looked back to Davenport who watched him amused. He pulled out a small pouch for the final purchase of the ledgers, quills and the desk that he had hauled in that very same wagon days earlier.

'Everything looks in order Spike. Just let mye know if you need more time with her. But if you put out another axile you are paying for it.' Davenport gave the small dragon a firm but amused look.

'I'll be careful. You know I do not go looking for trouble.'

'I know Spike.'

The wagon was pulled around to the front and the box full of ledgers was placed in it before Spike picked up the two long rods that were used for much larger ponies and pulled the wagon. With the light load, it did not take long for Spike to build the momentum to take several long strides to keep a steady speed far faster than his legs could normally take him. Spike lifted his body above the ground held up by the rolling wagon. He only took steps to slow or speed up the wagon as he left town and out to Apple Acres.

Finally out of town Spike let his feet hit the ground and pushed hard against the dirt road really picking up speed. 'Come on girl a little faster or we are not making it up that hill!'

Spike cheered to himself. The wagon continued its speed as it approached the incline. The small dragon landed his feet at a full run pulling the wagon up the last few meters to the crest of the hill. Spike finally stopped and sighed.

'One of these days I'll be able to just pull you up like Big Mac.' Spike parked the wagon near a tree and sat down. The town below him was busy as the town entered full swing just before midday. Just beyond the town on his left stood Twilights Castle. It stood starkly to the town but at this distance it blended in with the mountains that layed beyond it. Just farther north, Spike could barely make out Canterlot Castle.

'Hello Spike. What are you doing out here?' Spike turned around with a start. A black pony with a gray mane looked back with a grin.

'Thunderlane! I have not seen you a while. How have you been working as a weather Pegasus?'

'Good actually. My team and I spotted you while trying to look for stray clouds. There's still not enough for a good rain and Cloudsdale does not have the reserves to make it rain.'

'I had wondered, Rainbow Dash said she was not sure if she could get enough clouds to make it rain yesterday.' Spike stood up and looked to the sky. The sky was solid blue and completely clear. Not even a haze that would hint at water vapor in the sky. Thunderlane frowned as he too looked up to the sky again.

'It is getting difficult to find water without flying a good distance to the other side of the mountains and try and coax clouds without loosing too much water on the way back. The distance alone would be a coordinated effort. Right now we definitely do not have the pegasus power to do something of that scale.'

'The river is to big for a small team to bring up to the air too then?' Spike remembered blowing the horn for the entire population of pegasus ponies to drag a large reservoir of water to Cloudsdale the year before.

'Yes, we would need over two hundred pegasus ponies to get still water to move. A current would make it impossible. If we can't find water soon crops are going to go bad.'

Speaking of water, Spike went to the wagon and opened his bag that held his cake and got a bottle of water out. 'Flying out there has got to to be exhausting, at least get some water in you before you go back out again.'

'Thanks Spike. And pardon me I'm going to use some of this to cool me off too.' Spike waved his clawed hand in understanding, it is something Rainbow Dash did often when she was hot. Thunderlane drank his fill and splashed water on his wings and flapped them gently to cool off his body and his already fatigued wings. Spike watched the mini rainbow in the air as his wings flapped quickly to dry and cool him off. The resulting spray scattered around him in a light mist.

Spike pursed his lips before finally asking something he had wondered about.

'Thunderlane, how about mist? Would mist be easy to move for a small group of pegasus?'

Thunderlane chuckled, 'It sure would but if we had mist clouds on the ground we wouldn't need to be on a hunt for them.'

'I know, but we do have water falls, they might not spray a lot of water out, but...'

Thunderlane looked at the dragon and the smile on his face went from ear to ear. 

'Spike, you are a genius. Of course its not that easy, but with some team work I think we have a plan now. I've got to go. Thanks Spike, you'll know it worked if it starts raining!' 

Thunderlane took off in a gust of wind that shook the tree branches. Spike watched him take off. He could vaguely hear him give orders before the sound faded. Spike laid on the grass in the sunlight letting his body feel the soothing heat. It was some time later that Spike had enough of the heat and started making the rest of the way to Great Apple Orchards. 

'Mac!' Spike hollered. He slowed the wagon to a halt and called a few more times before Mac walked out of the barn with a barrel rolling in front of him.

'Sorry Mac I should have come running when I heard the barrel roll.' Spike took over for the large horse.

'Dont'cha worry Spike I've been moving these around all day. It's too hot outside right now to work the fields.' 

Spike picked up the barrel and placed the keg of cider in the wagon.

'Thanks for holding on to it for so long. It's hard enough coming out here for anything with a castle to set up as the new library. I was just happy I got the wagon this time.'

Big McIntosh looked at the wagon before asking, 'Isn't that the one that you ran into the barn?'

'It was filled with furniture for Apple Bloom's tree house. It was a little too heavy to stop after that hill.' Spike defended. 'Besides you were laughing to hard to be angry at that.'

Spike was just getting back to the castle when he started noticing a haze build in the sky. He smiled to himself before stopping the wagon at the front gates and unloaded his haul. The cake went inside after being checked it was not damaged during the rough trip up and down hills and the abrupt stops Spike had done during his journey. The cider rolled with a loud rumble in the echoing halls. Spike parked it just inside the door. He could lift it up but he did not trust the chairs to be strong enough to hold his weight and the cask to get it up to the counter. The ladder he normally used was just too short. Finally, the box with the ledgers was taken to the library that was facing the door to the throne room. The wooden doors creaked when he walked into the library. It was one of the coolest places in the castle. It had the fewest windows and the ones it did have faced east, allowing light but not direct sunlight to filter inside during the evening.

Spike was disappointed that the girls had not come back already but took that as a chance to return the wagon. Davenport greeted the young dragon with a hearty hello.

'I was actually disappointed you did not damage it, I always liked your stories.'

Spike laughed with him. The wagon was placed back in its original stall. Spike was about to thank the pony for the use of the wagon before he heard it for the first time in weeks. 

The sound of rain drops on glass windows. 

Spike paused what he was going to say and looked to Davenport before running to the window. It was not the downpour he was sure Thunderlane was hoping for, but there was a sprinkle of water that got ponies walking outside to cheer.

'It is too bad it is a light drizzle, but every bit helps. Hopefully its more than a start. Thank you for use of your wagon. I should head back in case we are going to get more than a sprinkle of rain.'

Davenport smiled. 'Any time Spike, but I am not too worried about heavy rain. The weather pegasus know that too much rain would flood us for sure with this much parched land. They will stop it before the weather becomes a heavy rain. Parch land will not absorb water very well, it just runs off of it. A slow rain. That is more like it.' Davenport looked at the ground and saw the water pool and sit on the ground in puddles. 

Spike hummed at that. He never knew it could be a good thing to have a light rain. 'Thanks for letting me know. I never new there was so much tied to the land when weather ponies control the weather.'

'The light rain is a start, that's for sure.' Davenport observed.

Davenport bade the dragon good night and Spike made his way back to the castle with water lightly tapping the ridges of his spine.