Chapter Six: Unexpected gift.
Night had set hours ago: Ponyville had more than welcomed the chance to rest, to renew energies for another journey, remembering the big and small deeds done, the love found and shared, the chances for laughing, playing, being, feeling.
At one of those abodes, two good friends had surrendered to sleep, each cocooned in its own dreams and hopes: Princess Twilight rested peacefully in her bed, a smile even asleep, satisfied the appalling incident with General Grey Shadow had finally ended in a new beginning, a burying of the hatchet (at least from her side), eager to continue the reading of her new book, a valuable treasure of Equestria´s ancient story.
Spike was soundly asleep as well, curled up tightly in his basket, beside Twi’s bed. They were so deeply asleep; so tired, indeed, that neither heard the soft creaking of the opening window, or noticed the purplish-black glow that shifted from window to basket. As silently as a moth in flight, it rose bodily him in the air and flew through the open window, landing before the library: the slight graze of the basket against the cobblestones finally awoke Spike… a bit. The sudden wave of cold contributed a bit more… and the nightmare that appeared before his heavy lids definitively jolted the little dragon to reality.
Before him, imposing, serious, eyes glinting, frowning and gnashing his teeth was General Grey Shadow himself! Even with the darkness and a starless sky, the unicorn was a solid presence, a substantial and powerful shadow among a realm of shadows. His cold, detached gaze seemed to pass through the terrified Spike’s very core. The little dragon was sure that he returned to finish the work: slay him, like he did with other dragons centuries ago. Spike was ready to deliver a yell that would have awakened the very dead… to only give barely a muffled grunt when the massive hoof of Grey Shadow filled his mouth, flattening his tongue and blocking quite effectively any noise.
“MMMmmmppphhh!!!” His eyes danced wildly in all directions, searching, hopping, and begging someone could help him.
“Shhhh, be quiet! I’m not here to hurt you!” whispered the grey and horned equine “Unless you yell when I remove my hoof: In that case, be assured, the eruption of Mont Trotsubius will be a firecracker beside what I’ll do to you! Get it?”
Spike just nodded the few centimeters the hoof – and of course, the powerful body attached to it – actually allowed.
“Fine” smiled Grey Shadow “Sorry by the histrionics, Spike: at this point I’d rather not risk your Princess Twilight’s rage”
He removed the hoof from the little dragon´s maw.
“Spike, as I said at the library this evening, I want to show you the pony beyond… beyond the … the monster… Don’t pretend to justify myself now, and don’t regret what I did in my time, was totally necessary, I did what I had to do with honor and pride, and I would do it again. But what Protocol Thundercolt was made for, just died a millennium ago. To say we are new in the neighborhood would be just a lame excuse” Grey Shadow lied down beside the basket “I want this episode to be buried forever…. To end the misery I caused you, the pain and the terror… oh dear stars!!… I am not good to apologize….better I will allow that my actions speak for me…”
He turned to another pony Spike just noticed had been a few yards back, watching and waiting:” Jean Pierre, bring me what I entrusted you with, sil-vous plait”
A tall and svelte Earth Pony, sporting a thin hazel moustache and a mahogany mane approached them.
Spike shivered when the newcomer passed a rectangular and dark something to the unicorn. Don’t knowing what to expect, he closed his eyes, expecting the worst.
Nothing. Not a sound, save for the almost silent breathing of both ponies and the deafening beat of his own heart.
Opening his eyes a sliver, Spike found before his muzzle… a sweet-smelling box!?
“We couldn’t begin our personal relationship with a worst opening, Spike… I am… well… not accustomed to this… and I am sincerely sorry, really… you look like a decent chap, an enthusiastic guy, honest, sincere, otherwise, Princess Twilight wouldn’t have you so high… well… please accept this humble present as an apology from myself and the Dark Legion as a whole”
Spike grabbed timidly the box, opening same… to find a small but exquisitely finished cake, decorated with any dragon’s favorite gems: rubies, emeralds, turquoises gleamed over and through the chocolate cover, same that had a faint touch of vanilla… with a huge blue Sapphire instead of a cherry. Spike was enthralled with this one-of-a-kind present. He didn’t noticed Grey Shadow and Jean Pierre nodding happily to each other.
“Jean Pierre Croissant, our cook and chef, made it especially for you”
“And it wasn’t easy!” laughed Jean Pierre, with a strong French accent “beating the cream with one hoof, kneading the mass with the other and trying to have at bay half of the legion at the same time with the remaining two... specially certain general I know…”
“Guilty as charged!” Grey Shadow winked mischievously “But I at least could lick the spoon…”
“… and the pots… and the mold… he almost licked the oven!”
“Who says I didn’t?”
“YOU WHAT!?” said horrorized the French pony.
This gift was too much for Spike “You guys are incredible! Thanks so much!”
Grabbing the cake, the happy little dragon sniffed it and bit it with all he had: “Mmmhhhh, it’s delicious!” he was enjoying the flavor of those delicious jewels with each chew, noticing amazed it had little slices of Jade between the apricot-filled layers –Jade was not only an expensive ingredient, but also one very hard to find, even in specialized stores –, that was the ultimate, top-of-the-line, unique cake to beat all cakes!
“It’s delicious, totally awesome! General, I must say I judged you a bit harshly myself. Can’t justify or condone what my kind did in those days… who knows if I would, living then… can’t say I like Protocol Thundercolt too much…but I understand why you did it, and must to admit, you gave me a hell of a scare… but no resentments, General. Apologies … BUURP!!... accepted…errr, sorry for that one…”
“Well, we must return to the patrolling business; see you later, li’l Spike” Grey Shadow turned to leave “Please, feel free to visit us any time you like: you’ll be treated as guest of honor”
“Thanks, General…but… how do I will ret…”
In a blink, Grey Shadow returned Spike to the library with his magic.
“Thank you, General” smiled Spike, curling to sleep “Thank you… friend”
“That was a very noble gesture, Monsieur Shadow: in times past, Spike would have been prime matter for the cake… your swords would have…”
“It’s still hard for me to acknowledge what is correct or incorrect in this new era, Jean Pierre; I hope we will adapt and be the force of good we were meant to be; meanwhile, our task must be fulfilled… let’s continue our appointed rounds. It’s cold and I want to return home, shift the next patrol and enjoy a good, steaming cup of coffee”.
“Like this one, for instance?” As by magic, a mug full of fresh coffee appeared before the surprised unicorn.
“Are you a magician, you Gaul food master?” asked Grey Shadow.
“You have your tricks, Monsieur General, I have mine” said
Both ponies continued their patrol through the silent streets of Ponyville, their conversation punctuated by the echo of their hooves on the cobblestones, protected by the now gleaming night, remembering anecdotes from those old times, wondering what the future had in store for them.
THE END