//------------------------------// // Presentation of the Pixie // Story: Dance of the Fae // by Yinglung //------------------------------// “… Spike.” Hearing no response, the voice said again to the dragon gently but firmly. “… Spike!” The dragon gasped, wide eyes staring straight up from his wooden crib. The voice sounded vaguely like a raspy and high-pitched version of somepony he knew. It did not exactly sound like Twilight, but there was nopony else nearby anyway. Shrugging his shoulder, Spike extended his arms, yawned, and jumped up of his bed grumpily. When he saw that the sky was still dark, he promptly complained. “Twi, why are you waking me up before the sun even goes up? We should've packed everything up already!” Spike then turned and blinked. The purple mare was nowhere to be seen. A soft snore came from Twilight’s bed at the other side of the room. “Wha-” “Shh, Master Spike.” A blue sphere of light manifested itself from thin air, startling the half-awoken dragon. “Master Spike. I’m sorry to come to you at this hour, but I have waited until the… purple pony finally fell deeply asleep to come to you.” For some reason, the voice sounded as if... she was gritting her teeth when Twilight was mentioned. “W- What are you?” “I am a fairy. I am a spirit of this fair land of Equestria.” “So, uh… may I know your name?” “Oh my, Master Spike really is polite. Others might go straight in and ask what I’m here for, but not my splendid dragon champion!” The voice chuckled like a ringing silver bell. “My name is Polytima, but Master Spike can just call me... Polly.” Spike gulped. “So Polly…” “Yes, Master Spike?” “What do you want to ask from me? And why do you keep calling me your ‘master’?” “Oh, my splendid master. I’m here not for anything else, but because I want to pledge... my everlasting loyalty to you!” Spike’s eyes widened, his voice getting more bewildered as he went on. “Pledging? Loyalty? But why? I- I am just a small dragon!” “Master, you’re not just a small dragon! As a fae, um… Yeah, I’m in tune with the strands of fate, yep. And I know that you can achieve great things in the future, and I’m here to offer my help and complete dedication!” Spike perked up visibly with Polytima’s optimistic prediction, overlooking the dodgy mumbling at the beginning. The dragon often fantasized himself as a valiant knight saving damsels in distress and saving kingdoms from ruins. Knowing that his future could be successful and glorious made him squeal with delight inside. However, Spike then tilted his head and asked. “But still… why? So what is it good for to help me for you?” The fae mumbled again. After a while, she spoke quietly. “I am born from the Tree of Harmony, and I am beholden to my duty to spread joy, happiness, abundance and peace on this land. Master Spike, you’re my best and most ideal champion.” Polytima felt incredibly uneasy. That was only a version of the truth. Even then, her spoken words were still basically demanding Spike to shoulder the responsibility to protect and nurture the land. She feared deeply for his rejection. “But Polly…” The fae felt dread welling up in her heart. “… I can give little to you in return for your loyalty.” Polytima almost let out a yelp of surprise. She squeezed out in between barely contained sniffles. “M- Master Spike… If you’re willing to be my champion, then everything I do for you will be worth it. Your mere presence is like sweet honeydew to me.” “Oh dear! O- Of course I’m going to accept your generous offer.” Spike began to panic as soon as he heard sniffling. “Yes, Master Spike!” Polytima immediately stopped her sniffles and broke into an giggle. “So… What do we do now?” “A second, Master Spike. Expergiscere.” The blue sphere momentarily glowed brightly. A breeze swept through Spike’s face as light particles danced around him. Spike blinked and said. “That’s amazing… I feel not the least bit sleepy anymore!” “This is just a little fae magic that restores your stamina. Since Master Spike often complain about being sleepy, and the purple pony hoards all the tea and coffee, I would be glad to help Master Spike to stay wakeful for your endeavors.” “That’s right…! But wait, how do you know?” The voice gasped. And then she said with a volume smaller than mosquito buzz. “I- I… have observed Master Spike for some time now… Please don’t feel weirded out by this, I’m… uh, merely affirming Master Spike’s suitability as my champion.” Despite her pleading, Spike still felt somewhat awkward about being stalked. However, his kind heart prevented him from calling her out. Polytima collected herself and continued. “A- Anyway, I can portend the will-” “Por-what now?” “Oh, I mean ‘foretell’ the will of the Harmony. This gives me a limited foresight into the future.” “Whoa! You can tell the future?!” Spike exclaimed. “Shh-!” Polytima hurriedly shushed. “Master Spike, there is something that I must tell you.” “O- Okay…” “If anyone other than you know of my existence, then I will fade away.” “What?!” Spike gasped. “I don’t fear for myself, Master Spike... I’m merely fearful that other forces might conspire to prevent you from bringing goodness to the land. And it would pain me deeply.” “I- I see… So I’m not to tell anyone about you? Not even Twilight? Or Princess Celestia?” “Absolutely no one. The bond of a fae to her master is a strictly one-to-one. In fact, only you can see me. If there is anyone else who call upon my existence by mentioning me, uttering my name and the like, then I will disappear like a ‘poof’.” “R- Really? I’d try my best to not let that happen…” “Thank you, Master Spike!” Polytima flew around on top of Spike’s head. “If you don’t mind, I can cast a soundproof barrier around us.” “That would be great. Twilight might be woken up by this ruckus.” "Sile." A blue-white wave emanated from the fae, forming a faint sphere enclosing the two. Polytima then said. “In order to affirm our bond, you need to do one simple thing.” “What is it?” The white sphere flickered and shifted. “P- P…” “What? I can’t hear you!” “P- P- Put your lip on me to make the contract!” “… Just that?” Spike swiftly planted a kiss on the flickering light, which made it glow momentarily like a bright star in his eyes. Polytima yelped, but she then swiftly coughed and proclaimed. “By Harmony, before whom this sanctuary is dedicated, I, Polytima, will to Master Spike to be true and faithful, and love all which he loves and shun all which he shuns, according to the amity of the land and the order of the world. Nor will I ever with will or action, through word or deed, do anything which is unpleasing to him. I submitted myself to him and chose his will over mine.” Spike blinked. “Do I, uh, need to say something back?” Polytima giggled. “You just need to say yes!” Spike coughed and put on his best impression of a formal speech. “Yes, um, indeed, I, Spike the Dragon, does take on the fae Polytima as my faithful companion.” “Wonderful!” Polytima cheered. Spike again blinked. “That’s it? No special light show?” “Heh. Although it’s invisible to naked eyes, but our bond has been already sealed. Now my magic is shared with you, and you can even cast some fae magic on your own!” “Really?! I can cast magic? This is awesome!” “Well, Master Spike, you would need some practice to fully access my magic. And I beg of you not to cast spells too blatantly, or else the ponies around you might feel... um, suspicious.” “I see…” “Anyway, our bond also has another use.” Spike gasped lightly. The voice of Polytima this time directly came from inside his head. “This is telepathy. To communicate with me this way, just focus your mind on me. You will feel a curious sense of buzzing in your head when your words are being received by me.” “L- Like this?” “Exactly! Master Spike really is a fast learner!” Polytima praised. “We can talk by telepathy in public, so that others would not get suspicious by Master Spike seemingly talking to thin air.” “Whoa, you’ve thought of everything.” Polytima paused for a bit. “Everything I thought, I thought for Master Spike.” Spike bashfully shifted. He was still unused to being fawned over by this little fae. Polytima then cheerfully said. “Now, comes the sunrise, you and the purple po-” “You should call her by her name, Polly.” Polytima let out a small screech. “Y- Yes, Master Spike. You and Twilight Sparkle will go to the town of Ponyville. There she will meet her five news friends. They together will bear the Elements of Harmony and defeat the returning Nightmare Moon.” “Wait, really?” With pride in her voice, she proclaimed. “I’m a spirit born of the magic of Harmony myself, it’s natural that I know about the jealous sister who was banished using its power, who the bearers are going to be, and what they’re going to achieve.” “No, I mean Twilight would make five new friends in a day?” Polytima froze for a moment. And then she ungracefully chortled. “Haha! Oh Master Spike. Oh dear, yes, it does sound preposterous that the pitifully friendless bookworm shall be the one who defeat the evil using the power of friendship. But it’s not unreasonable. If she already knows how to make friends, she wouldn’t need to learn to let friendship into her heart.” “But what am I supposed to do? You said they are the Element-bearers, not me.” Seeing a flicker of sulking on Spike’s face, Polytima cooed. “Master Spike, may I offer some of my observations and humble suggestions?” “Hmm? Do tell, Polly.” Spike heard Polytima chortled, but it had a curious quality of intrigue. “The Element-bearers should be yours to command, not the other way round. I will see to it to make sure that they give you the necessary respect.” “Huh? Me, commanding Twilight?” Spike blinked with a stunned expression. It was a thought that was almost unthinkable for him. “Pardon me for saying this, but the Element-bearers are but the foot soldiers who carry the will of Harmony. Over the history, there are many candidates who embodies the ideal of the Harmonic Virtues, just like there can be many enlists to an army. While Twilight Sparkle and her soon-to-be friends are very fitting candidates, what is an army without a general, or a king, even?” “A king…?” Spike paused for a long while. “… Why me? What is it so special about me? I… As I said, I’m just a small dragon. Twilight’s the unicorn with the strongest magical potential ever in history.” “… What I can tell you for now, is that I have dedicated myself fully to help you reach your potential, which in my eyes is unbounded and unlimited. Don’t ever doubt yourself, Master Spike.” Noticing the uneasy silence, Polytima shifted the topic. “We still have an hour or so left until sunrise. For now, would you care for a rough rundown for the events tomorrow? We can then even practice some of the most basic fae magic in the remaining time.” “Alright… So it’s true that you can tell what’s going to happen exactly?” Polytima again shifted. “Not exactly. But the five mares she’s going to meet are all very colorful and interesting characters. I can tell you something about them to make you better prepare when you meet them. Besides, you need to know that the sun will not rise tomorrow.” “Okay, I se- wait what?!” “Nightmare Moon envies her sun-raising sister, and she’s not going to let anyone see the sun again once she banishes the sun pony to the moon like she did with herself.” “What should we do?!” “I wouldn’t worry about it that much.” Polytima lightly chuckled. “My protective charm will shield you from harm even if the moon pony directly tackles you. Even if she brought darkness to the world, you, my splendid master, will still shine like a thousand suns.” “No! I mean, the whole Equestria is going to be robbed of its sun and eternal night will come!” “The pur- Twilight Sparkle and her fellow Element-bearers will take care of it. What I’m trying to ensure is that you assert your dominance comes the reactivation of the Elements when they solve this little sunless issue.” “D- D- Dominance?” Spike almost bit on his tongue. “Certainly, dominance. Like a rightful king to his loyal vassals, or an alpha wolf to his pack. As my splendid champion of Harmony, it will be grating if your subordinates do not treat you with deference and respect, won’t it?” “But…” Spike’s jaw dropped slightly. “Twilight has always been my big sister… and even my adopted mother. How can I…?” “You’ll get used to it, Master Spike. I say, you might even enjoy it some moments later.” Spike suspected if he could see the face of the fae, it would be one big smug grin. Seeing Spike’s doubtful expression, Polytima coughed. “Now, Master Spike, you said you’re interested in fae magic, so how about we lightly chat about it before the morn comes?” “Sure thing, Polly!” Spike gleefully said, putting aside his nagging doubt for the moment.