Chapter 5 The Longest Day
What a night it was, AJ thought. A wedding turned into a massive horror show. All that was on her mind was wanting to know if Spike was fine or not. Despite her hope, her guts were telling her that something had gone wrong. Shortly after, Applejack walked into the hospital and discovered her friends in the waiting room. But she noticed that Rarity wasn't there and sat down beside Twilight, "Where's Rarity?"
"She's in with Spike." She answered quietly, "Where were you?"
Then AJ reached to the side of herself and untied the piece of cloth that was around her waist, "I tried chasin down the pony who might have done it. It's our best lead."
Twilight was puzzled, "Are you telling me that somepony tried to assassinate Spike?"
"I'm not sure." Applejack said with a suspicious tone, "But we shouldn't be concerned bout that now. Let's make sure Spike is alright."
Sparkle approved as she stood up and walked up to the counter where the receptionist was. Pinkie and Fluttershy too, followed, "Wait for us girls." Pinkie said teary eyed.
They approached the desk of the waiting room and asked the nurse, "Um Excuse me but, are we able to see Spike the dragon yet?"
"I'm afraid not." The nurse told Twilight, "The doctors are still busy. It was a critical wound and they may have to be examining him all night. We'll be sending his wife out shortly."
The girls looked at one another, scared and lost of their hope. They walked back to their seats, sat around each other...and held hooves, keeping what little hope they had left, alive. Moments later, Rarity walked into the room with her parents and as soon as she seen them, Rarity ran in and prayed with her friends. For the next while, nothing was said. Nothing needed to be said. The silence was loud enough and there was not a dry eye in attendance.
-----
It was early next morning and everypony except Twilight and Applejack were still asleep. The other two had remained awake and was too shook up about it all. They took notice that Rarity was sleeping like a filly and smiling at that. Perhaps she was dreaming that this entire incident was all a dream. But it was not. Applejack stood up to stretch her legs and picked up the torn fabric simultaneously, then sat back down to examine it. Twilight leaned in to see it as well, "What are we going to get out of a simple piece of cloth?" She asked.
The country pony fiddled with it in her hooves, "I jus don't know...Do ya think this is related to the Cold Cache case?"
Then they looked at each other, nervous. There was a chance it wasn't but more than likely it was because nothing like that had ever happened as of late. Applejack tried to deny it, "There's no way these two things can be linked. Were jus worryin too much that's all."
"Yeah...I hope." Twilight frowned.
Then suddenly a door opened from the corridor and a doctor trotted into the room, "Are you two with these ponies?"
Twilight and Applejack shot up like darts and answered hastily, "Yes we are! Is Spike alright?"
Then it was like a magical sentences that made everypony awaken to hear the news. The first one to their hooves was Rarity, "Is my Spiky ok? Please...Please tell me he's ok."
The surgeon looked at them all and his face showed some cynicism, "We just got him out of surgury and we have some good news...and unfortunately some bad news as well."
The discouragement spread over them room as everypony moaned, afraid of what the bad outcome was. They quieted down so the doctor could continue, "The good news is, we've removed the poison from his blood. It was some sort of toxin-filled dart that struck him."
Twilight wrapped her hoof around Rarity, "That's great, Doctor, but what's the bad news."
Then he sighed, and wished he could leave the room at that moment, but forced himself to finish, "As a physician, this is the hardest part of the job so I'll just come out and say it...The venom reached his brain before we could counter-act it, and he has slipped into a coma...I'm deeply sorry. The five of you are welcome to go in and see him but please, keep your voice down."
-----
Rarity peeped her head in the door first and seen the dragon laying lifeless on the bed, hooked to fluids and an ECG machine. The sight made her afraid and she ran in to see him, being followed by her other four companions. They approached slowly as Rarity proceeded to cry into her lover. Twilight tried to comfort her, "Rarity...I'm sorry. I'm sure Spike will be fine."
The hysterical pony shook her head quickly, denying her belief, "Twilight...Spike is in a coma. It could be months before he awakens from this horrible atrocity."
"Rarity." Applejack addressed confidently, "We're gonna find the pony who did this, we promise that. Spike WILL wake up from this. He's a fighter. A fighter who doesn't quit...He's racin through his mind right now, tryin to find his way back to you. His conscience is still with us, and if you think it's over, he will too."
That being said, Rarity looked up from the puddle of tears she had made in the bed and took Spike by his claw and kissed his cheek softly. Then very quietly, she began to sing, "We have all...the time, in the world...Time enough for life, to unfold. All the precious things, life has in store..."
"That's beautiful, Rarity." Fluttershy said sweetly.
Pinkie nodded as well, "It's nice."
"It was our song." Rarity said, her voice still shaky and eyes still flooded with tears, "We were supposed to dance to it last night..."
She began to sing again, and Twilight Sparkle whispered to the others, "I think we better let her be...We should get home. We'll stop by again this afternoon."
The girls agreed and slowly crept from the room. As they were leaving the building, Applejack ran back into the waiting room and retrieved the cloth. When they were out in the morning light, Twilight acknowledged the fabric once again, "Do you really think were going to get anything out of that? I mean it's only a piece of a cloak."
Applejack was about respond to the question until she noticed something in the piece. She folded part of it up and found a tag, and an engraving inside the fabric, "Yeah...It's a piece of fabric with some sorta mark on it. Take a look."
The curious Twilight cocked a brow and levitated the cloth, then spread it out with her magic. The two ponies examined it closer and noticed what the engraving said. Immediately, Twilight suggested, "We better go up to Canterlot. Princess Luna's going to want to hear about this."
"Yer right." AJ approved, nodding, "I'll stop by the farm and get that there document thingy too."
Sparkle nodded back, "Good idea. We'll meet back here in about twenty minutes then, the train will be leaving soon."
"Alright. I'll run up ahead and let Pinkie and Fluttershy know we're goin up to Canterlot." Applejack said anxiously.
-----
"So...There's been another one." Luna stated, concerned.
It was midday, and Twilight Sparkle and Applejack had just made it to the palace in Canterlot. As Princess Luna sat in her throne, Twilight levitated the fabric up to her, "Princess Luna, what do you have to say about this?"
The Princess gasped as soon as she read the engraving, "Oh No! This can't be."
Applejack lowered her head, disappointed and regretful, "I'm afraid so, yer Highness."
Luna took the black fabric herself and read aloud the words engraved in grey, "Property of the Griffin Air Force of Lochrest, Nydeabaen. This was what I was afraid of."
"But why would the griffins send a ground team if it says Air Force?" Twilight wondered.
"I have no clue." Luna replied, "But we must get to the bottom of this. Fair Applejack, what else can you tell us about this assailant?"
She shrugged, "Nothin really...Wait a minute..."
"What is it, AJ?" Twilight glanced over.
"Griffins don't gallop...They don't ride in stagecoaches neither." She mentioned, perplexed.
The Princess's eyes went wide, "There's treason behind this!"
She rose from her seat and whispered to one of her guards, then addressed the girls once again, "I'm afraid we're going to need some answers soon. Whoever is behind this, I'm sure does not intend on stopping yet. The General is officially our prime suspect. I'm sending you two to Lochrest within the hour."
"Within the hour!" they shouted.
"I'm afraid so." Luna confirmed, "My Royal Guard will be more than happy to escort you there."
Twilight Sparkle was confused, "Princess, I thought they were in the middle of some big event."
"Yeah, ya said General Glide is too busy to talk." Applejack repeated.
"That I did." Luna grinned cleverly, "But that does not mean we can't get to him through a more, tactical method. I'm sending you three on a trip to Lochrest. There, you will find what the griffins call, the Hall of the Mountain Kings. This is where these Kings host their meetings. You will find an alternate way inside and confront Georgi Glide in another fashion. We need answers now before another Equestrian bites the dust. This is getting ridiculous. Take the fabric with you, it might clue up a few things. Know that we are not accusing him, we are investigating him...How is Spike?"
They slowly shook their heads. Twilight spoke up with sympathy, "He's fell into a coma...Rarity is taking it pretty hard."
"I apologize, but as members of the Royal Guard, we WILL bring the criminal to justice!" she declared proudly, "Whoever he, she, or they may be."
Luna stepped down from the stage where her throne rested and placed her horn over each shoulder of the girls, "Good luck, ladies. I'll allow the chariot to take you down to Ponyville before your mission."
"Thank you, Princess." Twilight bowed respectively.
Applejack did the same but something went off in her head when she came up, "Wait a minute...you three?"
"Ah, Right!" Luna remembered, "Our top agent will be joining you on this mission."
"Really?" Sparkle questioned skeptically, "Who is it?"
Then suddenly, the doors of the throne room flung open and the guard that had been sent out, returned being followed by a familiar face to Twilight. He was gruff, he was bulky, messy, smudged and spoke a very rough city accent, "Twilight Sparkle. Long time, no see."
"Donut Joe?" Twilight laughed hysterically, "Good one, Princess Luna."
Her Majesty expected that result and raised a smile in the corner of her mouth, "I was counting on your reaction...Guards!"
Two guards on standby tried to cease the stain splotched stallion but as a complete shock to Twilight and Applejack, Joe took one of the guard's hooves and made him jab the other, then he uppercut the guard he held and threw him at the one staggering into wall. Joe positioned himself into a fighting stance and waited for the two guards to come at him again. They decided to charge him at the same time but that would prove useless as the agile steed leaped and drop kicked the both of them. Then as quick as he was, Donut Joe sprang up and kicked both guards in the head, knocking one out and pushing one to submission, "That's enough, Joe." Luna said, raising her hoof.
"How?...But I...That...What?!" Twilight was dumbfounded and astonished, "How long have you been part of the Royal Guard?"
"Well, Twilight." He acknowledged, scratching the back of his head, "In this persona, I haven't."
Sparkle and AJ looked at each other, raising a brow, "What do ya mean by that?" Asked Applejack.
Then with a charming smile from which the girls hadn't expected from his usual accent, Joe removed a comb from his apron pocket and took off his baker's cap to slick his hair back. Then after he established a comb-over, he untied the apron and threw it aside. Followed by the unbuttoning of his undershirt, he revealed an entire tuxedo fashioned with a red bow-tie. He retrieved a watch from the coat pocket and fixed it on his right hoof. At this point, the girls thought they were dreaming. Applejack rubbed her eyes to assure they weren't playing tricks on her. Finally with dashing grin and slick english accent, he fixed his tie and formally introduced himself, "The name's Mane...Con Mane."
"How'd ya change yer tone like that?" Questioned a very critical Applejack.
Twilight added to the question, "Yes and what do you mean your name is Con Mane?"
"Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, it's about time I explained myself." He insisted, "For years, I have been working for the Royal family as a spy of the Royal Guard."
Confused, Sparkle interrupts, "I don't understand, why does that mean you have to have two names?"
"Con Mane is my birth name." He answered quickly, "Donut Joe is simply an innocent persona created to protect me. Because throughout my illustrious and colorful career, those I have compromised always had others linked to them. Therefore I had to create this name to prevent possible assassinations and other forms of attacks that came from those who had been associated and dedicated to my targets...Ladies, I do look forward to working with you both. I know this does appear to come as a shock to you at the moment but I hope we can overlook this and work as a team."
The two girls thought about for a while, then smiled and nodded as they shook hooves, "I hope so too." Twilight said.
"Can't wait to see good ya are on the road." AJ added proudly.
As they were leaving the room, Luna addressed them one last time, "And need I remind you three that you all have a licence to kill...So please, do not abuse it. Good luck."
The trio saluted gallantly, then scurried off to soon take part on their mission to sneak into a kingdom, find a highly protected building, find a way in and confront their top suspect, General Georgi Glide.
-----
An hour later, the girls were escorted by the Royal Guard back down to Ponyville to say their good-byes to their friends. Already knowing where everypony would be, Twilight and Applejack galloped over to the hospital as quick as they could. The two scaled through the hospital in a hurry but carefully trotted into Spike's room where they found Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and of course Rarity who was slowly caressing the scales of her fallen spouse. Applejack broke the silence with a warming smile, "How ya'll doin? Is our little fighter still goin?"
"But of course." Rarity smiled back, bittersweetly, "Where have you two been?"
"We just got back from an early trip to Canterlot. The Princess needed us." A concerned Twilight replied.
Pinkie felt agitated, "What could possibly be more important than Spike's condition at this moment?"
"Tryin to find out who did it." Applejack answered quickly with a more angered tone, "You outta know that we would never abandon our friends, Pinkie Pie. Me and Twilight here have come to say our good-byes."
A quiet Fluttershy stuck her hoof up for attention, "Oh, Where are you going?"
"Believe it or not but we have to make a trip to the griffin capital in Nydeabaen." Said Sparkle, "Princess Luna wants us to find a griffin named General Glide. He's our prime suspect."
"However do you girls expect to make it there?" Rarity questioned, "That's a very long trip."
Twilight pointed out the door, "The Princess's Royal Guard is escorting us there in the chariot. We should make it there in a few hours or so...We'll miss you girls."
Everyone of them stood up and formed a circle. Then each one of them place a hoof in the centre of the huddle. Finally they all looked at Spike who still lay motionless as Twilight spoke up, "Remember, we have to keep hope alive."
Then she suddenly remembered their encounters and incidents with the demented Nova Sparks, "He kept our hope alive once, now we have to return the favor. We'll be back, girls. Take it easy, Rarity."
"Thank you, Twilight. Good luck, to the both of you. Please return safe and sound." She requested, smiling the first confident smile she had in the past 24 hours.
Applejack and Sparkle nodded, then saying nothing, they left the room. As they trotted down the hallways of the hospital, the girls felt their hearts begin to ache, yet their courage began to grow.
-----
Soon after, Twilight Sparkle stopped into the library to retrieve a few items for the journey. She collected a couple books, some money, and some winter clothing. As the items lay on a table in the library, Twilight went in search of her saddlebag, "Hmm, Where did I put that?" She thought.
After ten minutes of rummaging through her drawers, closets, and cupboards, Twi found it beneath her bed, collecting dust. She brought it down the stairs and placed it on the table along with the rest of her belongings. Then something told her to look up. Curiously, she peered at her window, and noticed the dormant chuck of manarite ore that lay in the light of the sun on the sill of the glass pane. It stuck to her as a reminder of what determination, friendship, and unity had help them to accomplish. They once defeated a vindictive foe even after he had taken the kingdom and kidnapped their friends. If they could do it once, they could do it again. At last, Sparkle thought of Rainbow Dash. Her never give in attitude started to scream at her and she got the picture. Twilight laughed, "I know, Rainbow, I know."
-----
The last stop to make was Macintosh Plains. Applejack stepped into her bedroom and began packing some of her belongings in her own saddlebag. She packed two lengths of rope, the torn fabric, the document, a more winter-friendly hat, and some food. She trotted over to her dresser where AJ placed a lockette around her neck attached with a necklace of string. She opened it up and smiled down at the photos of Applebloom and Big Macintosh that were inside. After she closed it up, AJ tossed the bag over her flank and made her way to Applebloom's room.
"Applebloom?" She poked her head in through the crack between the door and the wall, "Ya in here?"
The filly looked up from her homework, "You bet. What's...Hey what's with the saddlebag?"
Applejack laughed nervously, "Uhh, That's part of the reason I needed to talk...I have to go away on some work fer the Princess."
The little one expressed worry and leaped from her seat to hug her sister, "Oh Applejack...Your not really goin are you?"
AJ stroked her mane, "I have to, Sugar Cube. Princess Luna needs me to go. But don't you worry. I'll be back in a few days. Do you trust me?"
Then Applebloom looked up at her and noticed the lockette. With that, the little one calmly sighed and smiled proudly, "I do, big sis. Only a few days right?"
"A few days, that's all." She assured.
-----
Applejack left her house shortly after and made her way out to the road. There, she met with Twilight and Con Mane who were inside the chariot being pulled by four of the royal guards. Sparkle called out to her, "How did Applebloom take the news?"
"Better than I expected!" she hollered back, "Ya'll ready to take off?"
"Well as soon as your in, we will." Mane snapped back hastily.
Applejack neared the carrier then tossed her bag in the back with the others, "Yeah, yeah, keep yer tux on."
At last, she climbed in next to Twilight then Mane notified the guards to begin take off. They started galloping and quickly accelerated. Applejack waved to her sister in the window and turned back ahead to find the chariot taking altitude as they lifted over the trees and rocket-like, into the sky. Twilight looked around, fascinated, "This is amazing. I forgot how everything looks from way up here."
"Quite a view, I must say." AJ nodded, chuckling.
Moments later, the trio flew through an array of clouds and noticed ahead of them, the collossal and domineering mountain range of the griffin's Nydeabaen standing ominously in the distance beyond the canyon. Their mission had begun.
[...To be continued]