Excited and scared. Optimistic and apprehensive. Satisfied and yet unsure. An array of emotions swept through Spike as the liquid slid down his throat. Nevertheless, however, he knew this is what he needed to be happy.
I can't believe this is it. Goodbye Spike the dragon, and hello Spike the amazingly and devilishly handsome pony.
He continued to drink the potion, expecting the foulest concoction, but was surprised that it actually tasted pleasant. In fact had he known any better, he could have sworn he was drinking chocolate milk. Finishing the last of it, albeit now savoring the taste, Spike dropped the cup from his claws. Wiping his face, his lips curled into an uneasy smile. Feeling the need for theatrics, he looked up to ceiling, closed his eyes, and raised his arms up triumphantly into the air and waits.
And waits.
And waits, still holding his pose.
And waits, his arms beginning to falter as he holds his pose.
A couple minutes have passed since Spike drunk the potion, but still nothing had happened. Eventually his arms tire and they drop to his sides. Disgruntled, he looked at Zecora whom had raised her a brow in response. "Hey Zecora, what gives? How come the potion didn't w-?"
At that moment, Spike's left arm suddenly jerked and flailed uncontrollably. Alarmed, Spike held down his arm, and soon regained control, but his attention is brought elsewhere as his body began to emit a dim glow. "Umm ... Zecora?" Confused, he patted himself down, turning to the zebra for answers. "Zecora?"
Zecora sat on her rump, put a hoof to her chin and calmly looked back but didn’t say anything. Bemused, frustrated and impatient, he opened his mouth to shout but no sound came out. Not even a whisper could be heard from the stunned dragon as the light from his body brightened further, illuminating the room and its surrounds.
Just outside, the Crusaders had long stopped their fighting as they watched the spectacle before them. Light poured out of every gap in the small tree cottage and was pulsating with each passing second. Without a second thought, the three fillies sprang to action, galloping towards the nearest window to witness the action inside. Blinded by the increasing intensity of the light, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom turned away, shielding their eyes but Sweetie Belle didn’t move, desperately calling out to her friend. "SPIKE!"
Spike looked to the window seeking the source that called out his name, but before he could recognize the pony, the light reached critical mass and the room exploded in a flash. The shockwave caused the Crusaders to scream outside in surprise, and tumble backwards. Hitting the ground hard, the three fillies were knocked out. Spike stood there for several seconds, wobbling to and fro before succumbing to the overwhelmingness of the situation and fainted.
For the briefest of moment, there was silence. Zecora, whom had been unaffected, simply walked over to Spike and then to the Crusaders outside her cottage. A coy smile appeared on her face as she looked back at Spike's body once more. "Hmmm ... ".
Half an hour had passed since Spike had drunk the potion resulting in the catastrophic light show that rendered him and the Crusaders unconscious. The light had scared most of the woodland creatures making the tree cottage and the surrounding forest eerily quiet. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Eventually the silence broke as a small groan could be heard.
Spike was on the ground, dazed and confused. Blinded by recent events and a momentary lapse in his memory, he forgot where he was and who he was with. Rubbing his face, Spike groaned once more before picking himself up. His vision was slowly returning, albeit still a bit blurry, he sees the faint outline of a black and white pony standing a short distance away. As the pony moves closer to him, he shortly recognized the owner. "Zecora?" At first he is unable to hear anything other than a high pitched ringing sound, which also affected his sense of balance. With as much strength as he could muster, he slowly walked towards the zebra. "Zecora?" Spike called out weakly again, but loses his footing and stumbles. Luckily, Zecora was there ready to catch him, breaking his fall. "Arrgh ... what happened?"
"Shh... Relax, Spike, you need to sit. You have been through quite a bit," said Zecora with a reassuring smile on her face, her eyes hinting to a nearby chair.
His vision had not yet fully returned, however he was able to hear the zebra well enough. Spike nodded, acknowledging the mare's request. As he sat, Zecora offered him a cup. "Please drink this should you falter." He glanced at the blurred image and back at Zecora inquisitively. Not understanding at first, she realized his hesitation and let out a soft chuckle. "Do not worry it is only water."
Accepting her offering, Spike took a few sips from the cup. The water was cool and crisp, and much needed for his parched throat. Spike tried to look around to gain his bearings but is unable make much of the hazy picture. Slowly, the memory of the past events were returning to him. His failed confession with Rarity. His fight with Twilight. His last ditch effort to change his fate at Zecora's. The potion.
The potion.
His eyes widened at a late realization, he jumped out of the chair. "Where is a mirror? Zecora, do you have a mirror?" Spike asked desperately.
Zecora raiseed her hoof to the other side of the room, leading to a full length mirror.
Spike turned quickly, but still feeling a little weakened his limbs gave way and he tripped over. Without any further delay, he quickly picked himself up and headed towards the mirror. After everything he had been through, after everything he had done, he only hoped that the potion had worked and done its magic.
A wide smile made its way onto his face as he reached his destination but he stopped abruptly. Taking a deep breath, he rubbed his eyes to clear his vision once more. Finally ready, he opened his eyes looks at his reflection with initial excitement and ... sees the same purple and green dragon standing in front of it.
Shattered, he dropped to his knees in defeat. Spike felt empty and numb.
The potion failed. Just like his confession.
Depressed beyond measure, tears began to form at the corner of his eyes. He looked up at Zecora who was standing over him. There was so much he wanted to say and ask at that moment but was unable to do so. He opened his mouth once more to speak but nothing came out. Only his tears.
Zecora doesn't say a word but moves closer to Spike. Using her front hooves, she pulled him into a hug. Surprised, Spike remained motionless not knowing what to do as the tears rolled down his cheek. The warmth of her embrace soothed the dragon's aching heart and soon he broke down crying into her chest.
She held him for several minutes as the hurt and anguish he felt came pouring out. Zecora sympathized with the dragon, sharing her love as he shared his pain. Once he was able to calm himself down, whilst still holding the mare, he asked, "Zecora, why didn't it work? I thought the potion was meant to change me?"
Rubbing his head gently, she replied in a soft gentle tone. "Spike, I am sorry for the confusion, but this potion was not meant to change your constitution. Do you remember I said to you? Its purpose was to help make your dreams come true." Zecora paused allowing Spike to think and speak his mind, but the dragon remained unsteady, unsure of what to make of the cryptic message. He held her tightly and didn’t respond. Sensing his distress she continued. "It was only meant to help you find, what is already deep inside."
He had enough. It'd had been a long day and he was tired both emotionally and physically. Spike gently pushed her away, wiping his face attempting to regain his composure and dignity. "Zecora, thanks for trying to help me. I'll figure it out on my own."
Not wanting to stay any longer, Spike turned to leave, his head sunken low. Before he reached the door, however, Zecora blocked his path having not quite finished with the dragon. She lifted his face with her hoof, and gave him a small peck on the cheek. Taken aback by this sudden act of affection, Spike blushed and stood dumbly.
"Don't be disheartened little one, for your journey has just begun." Spike looked away but Zecora smiled. "You claim that Rarity is to be your lover, but there may be another."
Spike put her hoof down, remembering what he had earlier said in his fight with Twilight.
... if Rarity doesn't love me, then how can anypony love me?
"Spike, stop pleas-"
"HOW CAN ANYPONY LOVE A DRAGON!"
He shook his head, but the words echoed in his mind unable to forget. As much as it hurt to be rejected, he wasn't ready to think about any other possibilities. He still loved her and he wasn't ready to give up just yet.
Zecora sighed sadly her message not getting through to him. And she was being direct with him this time. She sighed once more but placed both her hooves on Spike's cheeks pulling him to face her. "If you can or will not listen to me," she began before pushing Spike out the door, "then maybe you should seek the assistance of these three."
Outside the cottage, the Crusaders were laying on the ground groaning in pain.
"Arrgh ... did someone catch the number of that bus?" said Scootaloo stretching her wings.
"Bus? ... more like a train," replied Sweetie Belle as she struggled to get up.
Spike was shocked to see the three fillies before him. He raised an eyebrow at Zecora, and asked. "Seriously?"
Zecora chuckled and pointed down to Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom was standing up now and answered. "Yeyup."