//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 Who Was Really the Cat? // Story: Cat and Mouse // by Zephyr Spark //------------------------------// Spike’s swollen lips trembled as sound escaped his lips. Garble sneered at the pathetic sight before planting his foot on Spike’s face and grinding his heel. “Oh, I’m sorry. I can’t hear you with my foot in your face.” He noticed something, something that greatly disturbed him, something that halted all his revelry. Spike was smiling. Garble wondered if this was another trap and removed his foot cautiously. Spike met his gaze. “I said congratulations, you got the wrong staff.” Garble opened his mouth, stupefied. He looked at the clothed staff in his hands and tore through the white cloth. His heart faltered when he stripped away the cloth and found a plain stick lying in his hands. “But when, how?” Garble looked outraged, “Where’s my staff? What did you do with it?” “You idiot,” Spike coughed with a small grin, “I never had it in the first place.” “But I saw you take it from Ember.” “If you knew Ember better, you’d know that she doesn’t leave the scepter where anyone can just waltz in and take it. She hides it and leaves out a decoy. What you saw was me swapping a fake staff for a fake staff.” “This whole time, you’ve been leading me on a wild goose chase?” The staff fell from Garble’s hands and his mouth grew dry. “Why?” Garble’s body went rigid as a violet aura pinned him to the wall. The barely restrained aura nearly crushed him under its weight, compressing his body with a groaning rumble. Spike turned his head to the cave mouth. Twilight emerged with a glowing horn and a fierce, protective gaze. She raced to Spike and placed him on her back with tender affection. Then she turned to Garble with the most vengeful expression Spike had ever seen her wear. Garble seemed to shrink under her cold eyes, recognizing what power he had provoked. Another figure raced in through the cave mouth. Princess Ember held the Dragon Lord Staff as she soared to Twilight’s side to check on Spike. She matched Twilight’s worry and hostility. Soon, a handful of dragons entered the cave and surrounded Garble “How?” Garble said as two dragons restrained his already immobile hands, “You never told anyone!” A white unicorn entered the cavern with delicate grace and took her place beside Twilight and Ember. Rarity turned her attention to Spike, fussing over his injuries with extreme concern despite her own haggard self. Garble realized he never saw where she went when he, Matchstick, and Boiler went chasing after Spike. Without even turning to so much as grace him with a momentary glance, Rarity said, “While you were focused on Spike, I raced to Ember and told her everything. Thanks to the note Spike left in the fake staff he swapped the decoy for, she quickly understood everything and contacted Twilight. You didn’t think much of me when Spike tempted you with the fake staff.” Garble stuttered incredulously. His rage melted into despair. “How did they get here so fast?” “That’s your own fault,” Spike explained as his friends continued to fuss over him. “You shouldn’t have given me three days to get here. It takes less than a day to reach this place with the right transportation. I had plenty of time to map out the volcano. I found you and your cronies talking about your plans while sneaking around. Knowing the lay of the land, I could plan for anything. All I had to do was stall you so Rarity could escape.” Spike paused a moment to let his words sink in. “Didn’t you think it was weird how I didn’t get lost in the tunnels? Or how I kept outsmarting you and your goons?” Garble stared. The odds were never in his favor. From the very start, Spike had set up everything so he could not win. “So all this time, you had me beaten.” He whispered in disbelief. Spike narrowed his eyes and replied, “The second you threatened my friends, I had you beaten.” Garble realized a new feeling had taken hold of his heart. He was afraid. He was undeniably afraid of Spike who tricked him into believing he was the hunter when he was only the hunted, who beat him before the game began. “I told you before that I’d win because I’m willing to do what you’re not,” Spike said, “but I won because unlike you I’m not alone.” “And he’s smarter,” Rarity added. “For your own good, never mess with my friends again.” For a moment, Spike’s eyes flashed emerald green. A chill ran through the room as Garble shivered under those green eyes. Spike could tell the dragon understood that he had more than enough opportunities to finish Garble off if he wished, that the next time he toyed with Spike’s friends would be his last, and that Spike would always beat him. Garble bowed his head, completely broken. Several dragons filed into the tunnel and surrounded Ember, who turned to Twilight. She said, “I promise you Garble and his accomplices will receive the harshest draconian punishment. I will personally see to that. In the mean time, you take Spike and Rarity to a hospital. They could both use it.” Twilight nodded and thanked Ember for her help before shooting Garble a withering glare. Her horn shimmered a new color and the trio were wrapped in a violet glow. Spike fell asleep on her back before she finished teleporting. Sleep felt so good. The next few days were a blur for Spike. The Canterlot doctors had him on some sort of painkiller that distorted his sense of time. Given the condition of his broken leg and his battered body, he had no complaints. His friends came to visit him but he was barely conscious. From what he could make of their talk, Rarity had recovered well and was released a few days ago. Princess Ember offered Twilight her sincere condolences for failing to reach her sooner. Life went on as it always did, as it should. Today, Spike lay in his bed wearing a silly hospital gown. Sitting in a hospital didn’t really give him many things to do. His friends could only visit him at select times because he had to focus on resting or something like that, he couldn’t remember what the doctor said. He wished he had a comic book. Napping all day was boring. Sure it was nice, but after a while sleep lost its appeal. “Spike?” He turned to the door and beamed as Rarity walked in. He didn’t care if he wasn’t supposed to have guests right now. He wanted the company. “Hey Rarity,” He said as she walked to his bedside. “Glad to see you’re doing well.” “Thanks to you,” she smiled as she walked to his bedside. Spike’s gaze fell. “You shouldn’t be thanking me.” “What? How couldn’t I after you rescued me?” “I let Garble kidnap you and keep you prisoner for days,” Spike said. “I acted like I didn’t care about you so Garble would agree to my terms, then, I asked you to run across dragon land to get Ember all by yourself. I never wanted to risk your life by bluffing but I had to convince Garble to send you over so I could tell you my plans. If I hadn’t been so careless, he wouldn’t have caught you in the first place.” “That’s what you’re sorry for?” Rarity sighed. A smile lighted her lips as she said, “Honestly, you should be apologizing for putting yourself in danger. You had me and all of Ponyville worried sick.” “I—” “But none of this is your fault. You didn’t hold me hostage, he did.” “Still I—” “And you risked your life for all of Equestria, so as far as I’m concerned, no apologies are necessary.” Spike realized he couldn’t win this argument. He settled for a weak smile to return Rarity’s gesture. “And I don’t think you’ll have to worry about Garble again,” she said, “Twilight told me that Ember thinks Garble’s been subdued since you outsmarted him. Hasn’t said a word, complained even once, or returned to any of his usual habits. She thinks you broke him.” “You think I went too far?” “Not at all. That brute had it coming.” Rarity placed a hoof on Spike’s shoulder, sending a sharp prickle of pain through his body. He yelped and she drew back her hoof. “Sorry,” Rarity blubbered. “I’m sorry! I forgot.” “It’s fine,” Spike cringed, wishing for the painkiller release. Delicate lips touched his cheek and stayed there a good five seconds. Spike’s eyes widened and his bodily pain evaporated, replaced by a blissful jubilance. He met Rarity’s eyes, her beautiful sapphire eyes, and felt his cheeks tingeing red. “Does that help?” Rarity asked. “Oh, definitely.” Spike grinned as his wits returned. “It’s the best thing I’ve felt all week. I think I might need a few more to get better.” Rarity chuckled and together they shared an earnest laugh. “Yo, Spike,” Rainbow Dash’s voice came from the door. The rainbow maned pegasus entered accompanied by Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Starlight Glimmer. “So,” Rainbow smirked, “what have you two been up to and why is Spike’s face red?” “Come on, Dash.” Twilight chided, “Give him break. After all, he did prevent an Equestrian war.” “And took down three dragons,” Applejack said, with proud eyes. “Ya should hear the things ponies been callin’ ya. Spike the Mighty.” “It’s not a bad title,” Spike flashed a smile. “Though, I’m partial to Toothpaste and Soap Master who slays Dragons three times his size.” Another laugh and the group descended into cheerful conversation. Pinkie Pie promised to throw Spike a party when he recovered. All of Ponyville, Canterlot, and the Crystal Empire heard what he did and couldn’t wait to greet their savior. Spike was just glad to be back with his friends. It had been a rough week, but he had to admit, things were looking up. The End