//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 Pinkie Pie vs. Hypno // Story: Spike meets Mimikyu // by Zephyr Spark //------------------------------// Winona burst through the castle doors and startled Twilight and the others with her loud barks. She ran up to Applejack and whimpered. “Winona?” Applejack rubbed her dog’s head, “What’s wrong, girl?” Winona trembled, fur bristling as she cried to her master. “I think something’s wrong on the farm,” Applejack gasped. “I’m going back.” “I’ll come with you,” Pinkie exclaimed. “We’ll come too,” Twilight said. Mimi nodded and followed the girls out to the farm. Sweet Apple Acres was quiet, save the snores of Big Mac rocking the trees. Applejack entered her house to find her brother and grandmother asleep next to the front door. She shook them and called to them. Big Mac jolted awake. “Applebloom!” He screamed, before glancing around at the mares surrounding him. “Big Mac? What happened?” Applejack asked. “Why are ya and Granny Smith sleeping on the floor? And where’s Applebloom?” “I don’t,” his voice trailed off as his eyes filled with panic. He rose to his hooves but stumbled. Applejack caught him and rested him on the couch next to her napping grandma. “Alright. Just tell me the last thing y’all remember before falling asleep.” Big Mac took a deep breath, “I was brushing my teeth with Applebloom, when someone knocked on the door. Applebloom went to answer it. Then I heard her scream. I raced downstairs with Granny Smith we reached the door and,” he closed his eyes and scowled. “What happened next?” Twilight asked. “I don’t remember,” Big Mac frowned. “I charged to the front door and saw Applebloom walking towards Everfree with someone. He turned around, waved a pendulum. And the next thing I know, y’all woke me up.” “You’re saying our sister is out in Everfree?” Applejack’s heart pounded in her ears. Before she could turn and race to the forest, Twilight placed a calming hoof on her shoulder. “Just calm down. We’ll get her back. But first, we need a plan.” Applejack sighed, “You’re right. Well, let’s hurry up and think of something.” “A foe that can put you to sleep,” Zecora mused, “a filly-napping creep. Perhaps, it is one of the creatures we seek? That the other mirror into our world did leak?” “You think it could be like Mimi?” Twilight said. “Then we better hurry. I’ll get Spike. Mimi will fight harder with him nearby.” “Excuse me,” Pinkie raised a hoof, “didn’t you promise to help the timber wolves? Won’t they be expecting you all?” “Oh right,” Twilight pursed her lips, “I forgot about that.” “I have an idea,” Pinkie grinned. “How about Spike, Mimi, and Rarity go help the wolves while AJ and I go after Sleepster? You and Zecora should stay here in case another creature comes around.” “Not that I object to helping Spike,” Rarity said, “but why me?” “I thought you could help fight crystal-eyes, since you know gems better than most ponies and he’s a dragon.” Twilight blinked. Pinkie thought this out well. Sometimes, Twilight forgot that Pinkie’s years of party-planning gave her unusual wisdom and wit. She knew every pony in town, their likes and dislikes, and their strengths and weakness. Finding ways to outdo her previous parties every time forced her to develop critical thinking skills. She was grateful Pinkie was not evil, or she could tear Ponyville apart. “But Pinkie,” Applejack frowned, “how are we supposed to beat something that can put us to sleep—.” “Call him Sleepster,” Pinkie chirped. “That’s shorter.” Applejack rolled her eyes, “How are we supposed to beat ‘Sleepster’ without Twilight or Mimi? Neither of us have magic or spells. And what if it’s already hurt my sister?” Pinkie Pie smiled with her eyes, brimming with cheerful light, “AJ, I know you’re scared. But if Sleepster put Twilight or Mimi to sleep, no one could stop those creatures if they came back. Ponyville would be defenseless.” “When you put it that way,” Twilight scratched her chin. “But AJ’s right. I don’t see how you can stop Sleepster if he can put you to sleep in an instant.” “I have a few ideas,” Pinkie smirked. “I mean come on. A creature that puts ponies to sleep? I’m like the perfect counter to that! You’ve seen how many all nighters I can pull even when I’m not on a sugar rush. Plus, I’ve studied the art of sleepwalking Equine-do.” “Pinkie,” Twilight frowned with half-lidded eyes, “that’s not an actual fighting style. It was just a movie. And even if he can’t put you to sleep, he could have other powers you don’t know about.” “True,” Pinkie nodded. “But, I’m probably the best pony to lure him out. He took Applebloom instead of Big Mac or Granny Smith, so I’m willing to bet he only goes after fillies. I’m more in touch with my inner-filly than any of you.” They all stared at her, with shocked eyes agape. None of them even considered why it took Applebloom over Big Mac or Granny Smith. “But you don’t have any way to prove that it goes after fillies,” Twilight frowned. “It could have gone after Applebloom just because she answered the door.” “Listen,” Rarity interjected, “I know we want to stand here and argue, but every second we waste talking leaves Applebloom in more danger. We need to move right now.” Twilight sighed, “Alright. Pinkie, you still have Do’s flare gun?” The pink pony nodded, “Send a signal flare when you see Sleepster and we’ll come help. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get Spike,” Twilight’s horn shimmered violet before her body disappeared in a light like camera flash. Pinkie turned to Applejack, “You got some coffee, right?” “Pinkie, this is no time to be drinking coffee.” “Actually,” Zecora said, “our clever friend Pinkie is right. You should both drink coffee before this fight. Caffeine will keep you awake and alert. Perfect for fighting that sleep-spelling twerp.” AJ’s frown softened, “Well, I guess. It’s long past midnight. I don’t think I’m getting sleep tonight.” “Let’s hope not,” Rarity said. “Or you’ll be getting it from Sleepster.” Spike glanced over his shoulder, saw the empty forest path, and turned his attention back to the trail. He could not shake the feeling that someone was watching them as the timber wolves led him, Rarity, and Mimi to their den. Ever since this morning, he felt eyes staring at him from the shadows. He tripped on a root but righted himself. The wolves came to a stop. One by one, they slunk away into the undergrowth and left a single wolf behind. This wolf glanced at the trio and pointed forward into the woods. It then followed its comrades into the forest. “Their den must be up ahead,” Rarity said. A toad rumbled inches from her. She looked towards the sound and saw Spike rubbing his growling belly. She couldn’t blame him. Things had been too crazy to sit down for a simple meal. Spike reached into his backpack, pulled out an emerald and a daisy sandwich. “Would you like a sandwich, Rarity?” Spike offered her the sandwich. “Why Spike,” Rarity giggled, “did you make that for me?” “You bet!” Spike beamed. “Thank you,” she smiled and took the sandwich, “You’re such a gentle drake, Spikey-wikey.” Spike bowed his head and blushed. He heard Mimi giggling at his embarrassment. The yellow rabbit had an expression that looked like a smirk. He could not see her mouth but her oval eyes had a playful squint. “Oh, you think that’s funny?” Spike folded his arms in mock outrage and turned his nose up. “I’ll have you know that I am a hero of Equestria. Kindly show me the respect I am due.” “Forgive her, oh wondrous Spike,” Rarity put a melodramatic hoof on her forehead and closed her eyes, “she knows not what she does to offend thine honor. Thou shouldst spare her from thy terrible wrath.” Spike placed his hands on his hips, “As Lady Rarity pleads for thy sake, Mimi, I shalt grant thee mercy, and,” he pulled an apple from his knapsack, “reward thee for thy undying loyalty.” Mimi trembled with laughter and gave a mock bow. Her ribbon claw plucked the apple from Spike’s claws and dragged it under her cloak. Wet crunching sounds emerged beneath the cloak as Mimi chewed her food. Spike swallowed his emerald in a few gulps and licked his lips. He ate a sapphire to give the emerald company in his belly. “I must say,” Rarity swallowed the last of her sandwich, “you certainly know how to make a sandwich. That was excellent.” “Thanks,” Spike said. “I do most of the cooking in our house. Twilight gets so wrapped up in her studies she can forget to eat. One time, I was in Canterlot for a few days, and when I came back she looked like she hadn’t eaten since I left.” “That sounds like our Twilight,” Rarity nodded. “But I can relate. When inspiration strikes me, I can lose track of the time as well.” “Well, if you ever want,” Spike shrugged his shoulders, “I could make you lunches too.” “That would be lovely, Spikey-wikey,” Rarity smiled. “It’s always a pleasure to have someone like you to help me.” Spike’s face reddened, and Mimi giggled again. He almost forgot they had a mission. Right now, they were three friends sharing a meal, surrounded by nature. He cherished any moment he could spend with Rarity, especially when they could be alone. Given their duties, making time to just sit down and talk like ordinary beings was difficult. They learned to treasure each second. Of course, they had a job to do. Rarity stood up and stretched her legs. Spike placed a nibbled ruby back into his knapsack with two other gemstones, a compass and a map of Everfree, before following her into the dawn. They never saw the red dragon following them above the trees. Winona’s nose sniffed across the ground, leading Applejack and Pinkie Pie through Everfree. After showing Winona one of Applebloom’s bows, the dog took a deep whiff of the pink ribbon and raced into Everfree. Winona knew Applebloom’s scent well enough to track it without a ribbon, but Applejack insisted on offering her the bow. They crashed through Everfree after the brown and white dog, whose fur snagged brambles and twigs as she raced through the forest, before deciding to take a more silent, stealthy approach. They had to get the jump on Sleepster if they wanted to take back Applebloom. Pinkie Pie said she had a plan to beat him, but Applejack was terrified of losing her sister. They followed Winona over a mossy, damp log suspended over a stream and through grey, knotted tree roots bursting through the ground like ghost hands. The only sound was the clomping of their hooves on the turf and the reluctant song of the stream. All other creatures kept silent, to the last cricket. Applejack pulled back a leaf of fauna and noted an impression in the soil. “Hoof prints,” she whispered to Pinkie, “and recent. We’re getting close.” “Remember,” Pinkie said, “whatever you do, don’t look at Sleepster’s eyes. Just look at its feet or something. I’ll handle it.” “How?” “It’ll take too long to explain right now,” Pinkie dismissed her, “but I’m 98% sure it will work.” “And the other 2%?” Pinkie Pie grew a bit pale, “Don’t think about that.” Applejack was about to move on when she noticed a tiny footprint behind the hoof print. It was so faint that her eyes almost missed it in the darkness, even with her flashlight. She inspected the print, realizing it could not have come from any pony. The shape did not fit a hoof at all. The imprint was light, suggesting the creature did not have much weight so it could not have been too big. Beyond that, she had no idea. She shook her head, reminding herself of the task at hand. The trio avoided a patch of poisonous joke flowers thanks to Winona’s senses. They stepped around the field, taking care to avoid snapping any branches or rabbit holes. “When we see Sleepster, I’ll distract him, you sneak up behind him and give him the old buck-two,” Pinkie said, hopping over a stump. “But you can’t fight that thing alone,” Applejack said. “It could use some weird power on you or put you to sleep.” “Oh, I’m counting on that. Now come on.” Winona shivered, her ears flattened against her head as she crouched onto the ground. The earth ponies mimicked her actions, taking pains to tread as softly as possible. A yellow figure with white fur came into view, standing beyond cattail reeds in a swampy field. The two ponies crouched at the edge of the forest, observing the creature, its back turned to them. Applejack saw her little sister lying before the creature, asleep. Some purple and black gas poured from her body into Sleepster’s open mouth. Her body shifted in the field and she groaned, as though she was suffering a nightmare. Pinkie put a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder and looked her in the eyes. Applejack nodded, showing she would not rush in just yet. Pinkie rolled out into the field and darted between the reeds. Soon, her pink body faded in the shadows of the tall grass. Sleepster closed his mouth and turned in Pinkie’s direction. Applejack felt sweat trailing down her neck as the elephant-ape walked towards her pink friend. He was a few feet from where she hid. His eyes illuminated with a blue glow, and an identical blue glow surrounded the reeds. He dragged the reeds apart to expose the ground beneath. He saw nothing. Applejack stifled her gasp. She did not see Pinkie move from that hiding place, but now she saw no sign of the party pony. She watched Sleepster shift through the reeds, moving farther from her little sister. She suppressed her urge to race out and save Applebloom, reminding herself to wait for Pinkie’s signal. A shadow darted behind Sleepster and raised a massive appendage. Sleepster turned around. SMACK! Sleepster toppled onto his back, his eyes blind with stars as a massive blue bruise formed on his head. Pinkie stood in front of Sleepster, with a frying pan in her hoof. Applejack would have laughed if her sister had not been in danger. She raced out of the trees and shook her sister. “Applejack?” Applebloom’s whimpering voice filled Applejack with relief. “That’s right, sugar cube,” AJ whispered. “I’m right here and I’m going to take ya home.” Applebloom smiled faintly. AJ turned to look at Pinkie when she noticed a yellow form rising to its feet behind the pink pony. “Pinkie, behind you!” Pinkie turned and caught full glimpse of the swinging pendulum. She staggered, wobbling like a tree shaken by the breeze, and slumped face first into the ground. Deafening snores emerged from her nostrils, as Sleepster opened its mouth and drained purple and black gas from the pink pony. Applejack tensed her haunches, prepared to leap onto the fiend. But then, Sleepster hiccupped. His angular eyes went wide as he coughed. Applejack hesitated, uncertain what to make of this display. Without warning, Sleepster went soaring headfirst into the air. He flew above the trees, into the clouds like a rocket breaching the atmosphere. The forest was quiet save Pinkie’s thunderous snoring for a good ten seconds. Sleepster fell through the clouds screeching and flailing. He tumbled towards a pond, making a splash that rose above a few trees. His body floated to the surface, his eyes dazed and unconscious. Applejack woke up Pinkie and asked what just happened. “Well,” Pinkie yawned, “When I was sleeping, I was dreaming of a world of cotton candy. The candy lost its color and turned grey as a black hole in the sky sucked it up. I figured Sleepster was eating my dreams, so I did the only logical thing.” “What’s that?” “I dreamed a knuckle sandwich,” Pinkie blinked, drowsily. “He stopped a bit, so then I dreamed a battalion of party canons, and the black hole flew into the sky. So where’s Sleepster?” Applejack pointed to the yellow figure in the pond. Pinkie rushed out and dragged him towards the shore. “We are bringing him back to Twilight, right?” Applejack nodded and turned to scoop up her sister, when Winona’s yipping caught her attention. She looked at her dog who pointed to a clump of reeds a few feet away. Hidden in the reeds, a bump rose and fell with rhythmic breaths. Did Sleepster taken any other fillies, Applejack wondered as she took tentative steps towards the shape. She pushed aside the reeds to find a brown figure shaped a bit like Spike. She estimated it to be a little over a foot, a bit taller than Winona. It wore a skull on its head and cradled a bone in its claws. Applejack stumbled back at the sight of bones, before noticing tears in the creature’s eyes. It was in pain. Applejack looked around, hoping to find its parents somewhere. “Hey, Pinkie,” Applejack called, “I think Sleepster had another kid. This looks like one of them critters from that other world.” Pinkie Pie looked at the sleeping bone creature, “What is it?” “I don’t know,” AJ shrugged. “But I guess we better take it back as well.” “This must be it,” Spike muttered as he crouched beside Rarity and Mimi. They peaked around white bark trees at rock wall, trying to discern any shapes in the tunnel. “I don’t see anything,” Rarity whispered. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not there.” He gulped. “What do you want to do?” “We need to lure out this Crystal-eye,” Rarity explained as she surveyed the open space. “If it hasn’t move on, then it’s probably hiding in the cave.” “Why do you think that?” “Well, it only makes sense. It had to attack those timber wolves for something. My guess is it liked the cave.” “Beautiful and smart,” Spike whispered to himself. He pulled out his flashlight, but Rarity put a hoof over his hand. “Wait, we don’t want to give our position away.” “Beautiful, smart, and wise,” Spike murmured before putting the flashlight back in his knapsack. He puffed out his chest, “Okay, I’ll go in and act as bait. When he comes back out, you and Mimi can jump him.” “Now just a minute, Spike,” Rarity said. “You still have fairy flu, correct? You can’t be the bait when your body could give up any second. Besides, it looks like Mimi is going in herself.” “Oh okay. Wait what?” Spike exclaimed. He jerked towards the entrance and saw Mimi’s yellow tarp body enter the tunnel. He tried not to facepalm, as his friend managed to sneak past him once again. She would not let him take any risks. A cloud of dust emerged from the cave entrance, accompanied by black and purple fire. Spike shielded his eyes as rays of light shaped like gemstones burst from the cave mouth. He doubled over as a cloud of dust and stars burst into the open air. Heartburn wracking his body as Mimi leapt into the open air with her move. The dust cloud disappeared, leaving Mimi with her onion head bent towards the ground. She faced off against a dark purple gremlin who had white hexagonal gems where its eyes should have been. Rarity thought it didn’t have a mouth until its purple jaw opened to reveal a row of thorn teeth. “It’s another one of those creatures,” Rarity gasped. It placed its palms together, forming a black and purple glob of energy. Spike recognized the attack that Pumpkin-head used to incapacitate Rainbow Dash. “Mimi,” he shouted, “evasive maneuvers!” Mimi’s form blurred with afterimages, until twenty identical copies covered the clearing. The gremlin shifted his eyes across the field, searching for the real target. It lobbed the glob at a single Mimi, only to watch the attack faze through an afterimage. Mimi flashed her violet claws and struck, knocking the gremlin into a tree. It slumped to the ground and gripped its stomach. Its grumble echoed through the clearing. “Wait,” Spike’s eyes widened, “is that thing hungry?” Rarity’s eyes widened with inspiration. The creature drove the wolves out of their cave, so it must have been looking for some source of food common in the underground. She grabbed Spike’s knapsack and raced into the clearing. She raised a hoof to stop Mimi mid-lunge. She opened Spike’s knapsack and revealed a brilliant sapphire. The reaction was immediate. The gremlin’s mouth began to water. Its gem eyes glimmered, focused on the tantalizing blue stone. It took a step forward towards the sparkling gem, but fell to its knee. Mimi’s attacks wore down the starved creature. Rarity could never leave a creature to suffer. She leapt to its side and cradled its head in one hoof, while pressing the sapphire to the gremlin’s mouth. It took a bite, crushing the gem in its mouth, and swallowed. Rarity offered it another bite and it accepted happily. Soon, Rarity fed it all of Spike’s gems and its strength had returned. It gazed at the white unicorn with appreciation. “That’s it, wasn’t it?” She smiled, “You never wanted to fight the timber wolves. You were just looking for some gems to eat.” The gremlin nodded and rubbed its hands together with its head bowed, almost in a look of shame. “The wolves need this cave and you need to eat. I have a proposition for you,” Rarity said, “come back to Ponyville with us. I will feed you gemstones so long as you promise to give this cave back to the wolves.” The gremlin nodded, releasing a shrill chirp of pleasure. “Then if it’s not too much trouble,” Rarity continued, “I’d like to give you a nickname. Can I call you,” her eyes moved up and down the purple ghost, “Gem-eye?” The creature nodded and followed Rarity into the forest. Gem-eye walked next to his new friend, imagining the tantalizing taste of gems in its mouth. Spike and Mimi raced up to catch them. “Rarity, that was amazing,” Spike said with a beaming smile, “That was so cool how you got it to calm down without violence.” “Yes well,” Rarity smiled, “Fluttershy taught me that some grumpy animals just need someone to listen to their problems, so I did my best to help.” “I never would have thought to feed him gems. How’d you figure that out?” “I guessed that he wanted something readily available in the underground. If you’re looking for gems, a cave is an obvious place to search. Plus, well,” she shrugged, “I don’t know. I suppose I thought since he had gems on his face maybe he’d react to actual gems.” “So you took a wild guess?” “No, it was an educated assumption. Thankfully, it was correct. Now come on, we need to get back to Ponyville.” “Easy there, little fella,” Applejack rested a hoof on the waking bonehead. His eyes darted around Fluttershy’s cottage, wondering where he was. He felt something itchy on his waist; a freshly wrapped bandage, dabbed with medicine. A yellow cushion lied beneath his feet. A few ponies surrounded him. He felt safe, so he fell back onto his pillow. Applejack and Pinkie Pie met up with Rarity and Spike on their way back home. Rarity excused herself, explaining that she wanted to find some gems in her home for Gem-eye. Pinkie, Spike, and Mimi brought Sleepster to Fluttershy’s castle. Now, he rested in a cage that once held Pumkin-head that Fluttershy named Jack. After waking her up, Applejack showed her bonehead friend to Fluttershy. She tended to all the new creatures with her delicate hooves. The newly named Jack floated beside Fluttershy, and stood between Sleepster and the pegasus. When Sleepster’s eyes flickered open at Fluttershy, Jack growled and sharpened his claws. Sleepster seemed less worried about Jack than Pinkie Pie. One innocent look from that pink pony, and he cowered in the corner of the cage. After a few hours, Sleepster murmured in a questioning tone. “I think Sleepster wants to know how you beat him,” Fluttershy told Pinkie Pie. “I already explained it to Applejack,” Pinkie said. “But none of us know,” Twilight protested with a frown. “But they know,” Pinkie pointed to an invisible audience, “and we don’t need another exposition dump.” “What? Oh never mind.” Twilight rolled her eyes. Pinkie Pie normally made no sense, but she was downright bizarre when she acted like her every move and action was being watched. “Sleepster also says sorry for taking Applebloom.” Fluttershy continued, “He was hungry for dreams, and young people have tastier dreams.” “Is that all you want?” Pinkie asked. Sleepster nodded a tired head. “Well, in that case, how about we make a deal? I can give you sweets that taste better than any nasty old dream, but you have to promise not to abduct any more children.” Sleepster narrowed its eyes and grumbled. “He says he would only agree if your sweets taste good.” “I’ll bring you some tonight after my shift,” Pinkie smiled. “Speaking of which, I gotta go. Work’s calling.” The pink pony bounced out of the door towards Sugar Cube Corner, leaving Twilight, Spike, and the others alone. Mimi gazed wearily at Jack, betraying her hostility. Jack clung to Fluttershy’s side like a lost puppy. Twilight had to admire Fluttershy’s gentle heart. She could make their worst foes become their strongest allies. Applejack glanced at the bonehead. He clutched her hoof between his arms, nestling into her orange fur. Applejack knew Fluttershy was better with animals, but this creature seemed to like her ever since she rescued him from Sleepster. “So Fluttershy?” She whispered so not to stir her friend, “Did this fella tell you his name?” “No,” Fluttershy began when Jack tugged her shoulder and chirped. She said, “Jack told me this is Cubone.” “When he’s done resting, I want to get him back into Everfree and find his parents,” Applejack stroked Cubone’s back. “Don’t want to leave them worrying about their kid.” Mimi made a whimper sound. Spike saw tears coming from her oval eyes. He leaned down and tried to comfort her. Fluttershy tensed. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes gaped at Cubone’s skull. Her face became pale as snow, then tears began dripping down her eyes as well. Zecora offered a handkerchief, and the pegasus honked into the parchment, soaking it. “Oh, Applejack,” Fluttershy blubbered, “Mimi told me,” she sniffed, trying to keep hot mucus from pouring out her nose, “that Cubone lost his parents. Some bad people took his dad and killed his mother. She gave up her life to protect him. The only thing left of his mother is that skull on its head.” “The skull?” Applejack’s eyes widened, “Are ya saying it’s wearing its mother’s skull?” Fluttershy nodded, “He doesn’t want to let go.” Spike glanced down, feeling a lump form in his throat. Somehow, he could relate to Cubone. He never knew his parents, but if he could find some scrap of their existence, he would treasure it forever. Twilight patted his shoulder, helping him find a flicker of happiness. He saw Applejack’s stare. Her expression was unreadable as she stared at Cubone. Her mouth moved to form words that never came, her face looked pale. The earth pony stretched out her hoof, a determined expression set on her face. “I’ll look after him,” she stated. “Y’all got your hooves full with your critters so I’ll look after this one. He can stay on the farm with me.” No one challenged her. Somehow, they all knew this was right. With her declaration, Cubone squeezed her hoof. The faint traces of a smile lined his face. “What are you going to name him?” Spike asked. “What do ya mean?” “Well, we’ve all given our new friends nicknames. I named Mimikyu Mimi, Fluttershy named Pumkin-head—.” “You mean Gourgeist,” Fluttershy corrected. “Right, she named Gourgeist Jack, Pinkie Pie named,” he gestured to the yellow humanoid tapir and realized he did not know its name, “him Sleepster. Rarity named her new friend Gem-eye. So what would you like to name Cubone?” Applejack stammered, “Well, I guess … Oh gosh darn it, I’ve never been good with names. Uh, how about,” she eyed Cubone, trying to think of an ideal name, “Boney?” “Come on, AJ,” Spike said, “you got to do better than that.” Cubone mewled. “He likes it,” Fluttershy said. Applejack gave Spike a sly glance that verged on smug. He rolled his eyes. “I wonder what are his powers?” Twilight said as she examined Boney’s bone club and short legs. “When he wakes up, I’ll ask him.” A knocking came from the door. Scootaloo’s voice reverberated through the wooden door as she called out with Sweetie Belle. Boney scowled and grumbled, forcing Twilight to run to the door and crack it open. She shushed the bouncing pegasus and unicorn. “Please quiet down. We have a creature sleeping in here.” “Sorry,” Sweetie Belle said, “We just had to show you something.” “Can’t it wait?” Twilight glanced behind them and noticed a red wagon carrying a large fish tank. She saw a two-foot tall red fish sputtering inside the tank, bumping into the sides of the wall like a blind klutz. She doubted it was blind with its large white eyes, positioned on opposite sides of its fat pink lips. Yellow dorsal fin ran along its back and a similar fin rested beneath its belly. Its white pectoral fins and tail fin fumbled in the still water. Two yellow whiskers lined its lips as it blubbered like a fish that had never swum in its life. “What is that?” “We found him in the lake,” Scootaloo said. “We think he’s a creature like Mimi.” “Girls, that thing looks like it could pass out any second. Bring it inside this instant.” They showed the fish to Fluttershy, who examined the creature with a magnifying glass. She took its temperature with a thermometer and rubbed its back. Her touch alone caused it to sink to the bottom of the cage like a rock. Fluttershy blinked, her mouth open. “This doesn’t make sense. Medically speaking, this fish is fine. But he’s so weak that he can barely swim. I doubt he could swim against a stream. And he just keeps saying ‘Me Magikarp, me splash, splash, me Magikarp, me splash, splash, me Magikarp, splash, splash.’” “So he can’t talk like Mimi?” Twilight asked. “No, not really. Honestly, it’s a miracle he survived in the lake at all.” “Can we keep him?” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle asked at the same time, “Please?” “You should probably let Fluttershy take care of him,” Twilight said. “She knows animals better.” “Actually,” Fluttershy shrugged, “I do have my hooves full with Jack and Sleepster. If you girls could look after ‘Magikarp’ that would give me more time with my new guests. Just make sure to check him in with me.” They cheered and ran off with their new fish, already planning a day of fun with their new pet. “Was it really a good idea to leave them with one of these critters?” Applejack asked. “Jack said Magikarp is harmless,” Fluttershy said before pursing her lips, “but he did say he’ll be a nightmare when he grows up.” “That little thing?” Spike chuckled, “Sorry, but I doubt a life of splashing is going to get Magikarp anywhere.” “You would do better not to see that carp as feeble and weak or dinner as a hungry bird’s prey,” Zecora’s sharp voice cut through Spike. “You are now a tiny drake gentle and meek but could be a mountain tall dragon some day.” “She’s right, Spike,” Twilight agreed, “sometimes our strengths take time to grow.” She glanced at the floundering carp in the tank and noticed Spike’s raised eyebrows, “Some of us need more time than others.” Garble landed next to Boiler and stifled a yawn. That all-nighter left him tired, but he learned about the creatures running rampant through Everfree and the medicine Spike took to alleviate the flu. More importantly, he learned what that thing called Mimi could do. He wasn’t sure an army of dragons had a chance against her, especially when those ponies kept getting more of those bizarre animals on their side. “Matchstick still isn’t here,” Boiler noted. “I can see that,” Garble murmured. He explained everything he witnessed, taking great pains to express his concerns about the creatures. Boiler scratched his head, “Could we get some creatures of our own?” “Even if we did, no dragon could stand against Mimi.” Garble held an extended sigh, waiting for Boiler to take the bait. The brown dragon gazed at the sky for a minute, lost in thought, before his eyes widened and he turned to Garble. “But you said Spike had some medicine that helped him, right? If we had that, we could take down Mimi easily.” “Good thinking,” Garble nodded, trying to hide his smirk. “But even with the medicine on our side, we’d still get hurt by Mimi’s attacks. Remember, it doesn’t make the flu go away; it just lets you take the pain.” “Then, let’s get some creatures of our own. No,” Boiler’s mouth contorted into a wicked grin, “let’s get one so powerful it could beat all of them.” “And where would I find such a creature?” Garble mused, “I can’t exactly ask the ponies for one of theirs.” “They’ll know,” Boiler growled, “the ponies have all those monsters. If we snuck around a bit, we’d figure out where to find the best one.” Garble stretched his wings and rose to his feet, “I’m going to go to Ponyville as an ambassador. I’ll tell them that many dragons were concerned about Princess Ember’s well being and tracked her down to Ponyville. Hopefully, she and I can have a little chat.” “About making you Dragon Lord?” “Of course not,” Garble shook his head. “I accept my role with the dragons and will do whatever our fellow dragons need me to do. If they need me to defend Ember, I will. If they need someone to protect all dragonkind, I will. If they decided Ember’s ties to ponies made her unfit to rule, I suppose I would offer myself as a new Dragon Lord. But right now, the dragons need me to test our Dragon Lord’s loyalty. I need to make sure she puts the needs of our fellow dragons first.” “Wow,” Boiler sniffled, “you really care about us.” “If she has our interests at heart, then she will not side with those ponies. She will make them send away Mimi because it will save all dragons. If not, well,” Garble shrugged, “I suppose I will have to do my duty and tell them she is content to let us perish.” Applejack introduced Boney to her family, but the little creature hid behind her hoof. Even when she pushed Boney towards Granny Smith, he stood for only a second before darting behind the safety AJ’s hoof. She tried not to groan. Fluttershy took time to warm up to their friends. Applejack would just have to show Boney the same patience she showed Fluttershy. She took him outside and showed him around the farm. She bucked an apple tree, knocking several apples into a wooden bin. She plucked a juicy, red apple from the bin to offer Boney when a loud thwack startled her. Boney slammed a nearby apple tree with his bone club, knocking a few apples from the tree. He looked at her expectantly. AJ smiled. “Not bad, sugar cube,” AJ said. “If ya really want to knock all them apples out in one blow, ya gotta use all your muscles. Like this.” Applejack turned to an adjacent tree. She reared up her hind legs and pressed off the ground with her fore hooves, shaking every apple from the tree at once. Boney gasped, impressed by Applejack’s power kick. He turned back to the tree in front of him, determined to perform as well as her. He drew back, twisting at the waist, holding his bone blub like a baseball bat. His club hammered the tree, knocking every last apple from the tree into the wooden bins. Applejack cheered. “That’s the ticket, Boney,” she patted his shoulder. “Ya keep that up, and ya could be bucking all these trees in no time.” Boney looked down and rubbed his hands. Beneath his bone mask, his face reddened, pleased with his friend’s praise. Applejack offered him an apple from the bin. Boney looked from her to the apple, uncertain if she was giving him permission to eat. His stomach growled. He had not eaten since Mewtwo drove them from the ruins in a fit of rage. Applejack grabbed his open hand and placed the apple in his palm. Unable to resist, Boney chowed down, savoring the rich, tangy flavor. “Here on Sweet Apple Acres, we buck entire forests to give other ponies a chance to taste these apples. It’s hard work, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Bone scarfed down the last bite, and rubbed his belly with content. Falling onto his back, he released a content sigh. He looked up to the clear blue sky and then to the farm pony. For the first time since losing his mom, he felt a smile forming on his face. “Wait, what?” Spike raised an eyebrow at Twilight’s proposal. “I said we should organize training sessions with these creatures,” Twilight said. “If we’re going to track down all those animals, we’ll need their help. It only makes sense to discover their unique powers so we can effectively utilize their abilities.” “I guess,” Spike shrugged, “but I thought you just wanted to use Mimi to get them all.” “I did, but when she fought Jack, I noticed something. Jack’s explosion didn’t even scratch her. We need to figure out how their powers work and whom they work against. That way, we don’t send Mimi or one of the others against a foe they can’t even touch.” Spike considered her point and nodded. Different ponies had different skills and talents. Some ponies who excelled at one task fumbled at another. These creatures likely had different strengths and weaknesses as well. “How would we train them?” “I was hoping you knew the answer, seeing you’ve spend an entire day with Mimi.” “Well,” Spike frowned and rubbed his chin, “yeah, I guess the CMC and I did put her through some exercises. Plus, she’s been fighting timber wolves all day.” His eyes widened, “Actually, I think that might be the key. When we were fighting off timber wolves, Ember got hurt. Mimi did this new move that took away her pain. I don’t think she knew it before the fight started.” “I think fighting and training is only part of it,” Twilight pulled out a journal and began scribbling some notes, marking Spike’s words. “I think Mimi’s strength comes from you.” “Me?” “Before you two became good friends, a single bite from a timber wolf injured her,” she set her journal on a desk before turning to Spike, “but in that battle, you said she took down dozens of timber wolves on her own. It doesn’t make sense that she fended them off so easily when just one of them nearly killed her a few hours earlier. Unless, something changed. The best I can think of, is she had you.” Spike’s mouth dropped open. A thousand questions swirled in his head as he tried to comprehend Twilight’s theory. “This might sound crazy, but I think Mimi may have imprinted on you somehow.” “Imprinted?” Twilight nodded, “I think she sees you as family. That drives her to protect you and everyone close to you. That’s why she only follows your commands.” “Okay, so let me see if I got this straight. You’re saying Mimi thinks I’m like her daddy?” “More like an older brother,” Twilight snickered. “But the point is she’s loyal to you. I think if we want to bring out the strength of Jack, Boney, Gem-eye, Sleepster, and Magikarp, we need more than physical training. We need to develop a bond with them. A sort of camaraderie.” “You want me to be friends with all of them?” “I think they’ve all imprinted on our friends, so that won’t be necessary.” Twilight glanced around the room and finally recognized Mimi was absent. Spike noticed her confused look and guessed who she was looking for. “Sorry, I forgot to tell you. Cheerilee and the fillies wanted Mimi to come to school. I think they want to make her an honorary classroom pet or something. I thought Mimi could use the break so I told her to go have fun.” Twilight studied Spike, eyes narrowing. His bandaged hand trembled at his side. The fairy flu still afflicted his body. Being close to Mimi only made it worse. To every other pony, Spike seemed fine since he took the Roseli medicine, but Twilight suspected otherwise. She guessed he was soldiering through pain, trying not to let anyone see, not even Mimi. He didn’t want her to see the pain she caused him. Twilight sighed, faintly smiling at his stubbornness. Leave it to Spike to feint wellbeing just to keep a friend content. No matter, she told herself, I trust Spike. If he’s feeling badly, I know he’ll tell me. Probably. “Twilight!” Mayor Mare called from outside the castle door. Twilight trotted over and peered out through the window balcony. The brown mare looked frantic and ragged, drenched with sweat, as she called to the alicorn. “A dragon fell into Ponyville. He’s unconscious in the hospital.” “A dragon?” Spike chimed in, “What did he look like?” “Red, brawny, a long snout,” Mayor Mare saw Spike’s immediate reaction. His scowl indicated familiarity with this dragon. She surmised they had some strife. She said, “He tumbled into the middle of town, claiming he had to find Dragon Lord Ember before passing out.” “Whatever you do, don’t trust him,” Spike gripped the railing, his knuckles paled, “he’s a bully who’s tried to kill my friends more than once.” “Hold on, Spike,” Twilight placed an admonishing hoof on his hand, “let’s at least hear him out first. We should try to be open-minded.” “So he can try to hurt you all again? I don’t think so.” “Spike,” Twilight’s firm voice offered no room for debate, “we forgave Discord and Starlight, I’m sure we can overlook his,” her eyes glowered for a moment, “actions. Just for a little while at least.” “I’m getting Mimi,” he said. “No!” Twilight exclaimed, jolting Spike from the railing onto the balcony floor. Mayor Mare flinched at Twilight’s sharp response. Twilight grabbed his shoulders, “Listen, you can’t let any other dragon see Mimi. If they found out about her, they would stop at nothing to destroy her. Especially now that Ember doesn’t have the Bloodstone Scepter to control them. We need to make sure Garble never sees or hears a word about Mimi, understand? Her life depends on it.” Spike swallowed a hard lump, recognizing the severity of his potential blunder. Twilight was right. She usually was. They could not let any dragon, especially the power-hungry Garble, find out about Mimi. Twilight walked downstairs towards the door, and Spike trailed after her. “I’ll go see what he wants. You make sure Mimi stays away from him and the hospital.” A groan burst from Ponyville Hospital. To be fair, ponies always groaned in in the hospital. The prospect of vaccinations made fillies whimper, patients moaned as doctors tended to their injuries, and the loudest groans came from patients when they finally saw their medical bills. This groan, however, came from a frequent hospital patient, who was not about to get a shot or receive her medical bills. This groan echoed through the hospital from a room occupied by two ponies. Several patients rolled over in bed, covered their heads with their pillows as a loudmouthed pegasus voiced her complaints. “This is so unfair,” Rainbow Dash folded her hooves and scowled. “What? Being in the hospital?” Starlight glanced up from her novel with half-lidded eyes, trying not to reward Rainbow Dash’s tantrum with attention. “No, everybody but me has a cool new pet. Spike has Mimi, Fluttershy has Jack, Rarity has Gem-eye, Pinkie has Sleepster, Applejack has Boney, and even Scoots has Magikarp. So where’s mine?” “They’re not pets, Dash. And anyways, it’s not like Twilight or I have one.” “Twilight owns Spike, so she owns Mimi too,” Rainbow Dash pouted, “and you’re her student so you practically own Mimi too.” “Dash,” Starlight sighed, resisting her urge to slap the pegasus upside the head, “Twilight doesn’t ‘own’ Spike anymore than I ‘own’ Mimi.” “I know she doesn’t own him. I meant that Spike listens to Twilight so anything she wants, Mimi will do.” Rainbow Dash sank into her mattress, “Mane. I just wish I had a partner like that little squirt has. I’m a Wonder Bolt! Don’t I deserve one too? Starlight raised an amused eyebrow and smirked, “Never though you’d be jealous of that ‘little squirt.’” “I’m not jealous,” Rainbow Dash huffed, “I just don’t see why I don’t have a partner. I’m a part of this team too. I want a partner to hang out with.” Her eyes sank to her sheets, “I feel so left out, you know?” Starlight shrugged, “Well, it’s just the way things are right now. Besides, I’m sure you’ll find a partner.” “You think so?” “There could be hundreds of these things roaming Everfree. I’m sure there’s one for you.” Rainbow Dash smiled weakly, “Yeah, thanks Starlight. I hope I get a partner who’s as fast as I am. And one who can fly, that way I can race him across Ponyville.” “I’m not sure there’s anything quite like that. I haven’t seen any fliers so far.” “Doesn’t mean they’re not out there.” Nurse Redheart burst through the door, interrupting their conversation. Her brow knitted into a scowl, she stomped across the room towards the rainbow maned pegasus. Her teeth grinded like iron, igniting faint sparks. “Miss Dash, you are preventing other patients from sleeping. Kindly lower your voice or shut your trap.” “Sorry, ma’am,” Rainbow Dash bowed sheepishly, “I’m just tired of being cooped up in here, you know?” “Read. A. Book.” Nurse Redheart marched out the door. Dash knew these displays were usually just for show. Nurse Redheart loved helping other ponies in the hospital. She lived for it. Sometimes, helping meant being unbending in the rules. Rainbow Dash picked up a Daring Do book from a nearby shelf. Nurse Redheart made sure the book was waiting for her when Dash woke up. She knew what Dash loved. The pegasus picked up the book and opened to her bookmarked page. She frowned. “Hey,” she whispered to Starlight, “any idea where Daring Do went off to?” “She went back to the temple of Alterum, you know, where she found those creatures.” She guessed Dash’s question, “Twilight told me when you were asleep. Now let’s quiet down and read. I don’t want Nurse Redheart coming back in.” Rainbow Dash nodded wholeheartedly, and turned to her novel, still dreaming about her perfect partner. Unbeknownst to her, a red dragon heard every word of their conversation from the adjacent room. His ear angled against the wall as he closed his eyes and snored to create an illusion of sleep. He knew where to find more of those creatures. Garble just had to find the temple of Alterum, then he could find an army to fight Mimi and the ponies’ pawns. He heard clip clopping hooves approaching his room. A pony was coming. A violet alicorn entered the room with an impassive expression. Garble blinked his eyes opened, and yawned. He recognized her as one of Spike’s friends, though he did not know her name. He couldn’t care less about her name. All ponies looked the same to him. “Hello, Garble,” her stern voice managed to jolt him. She owned the room and would not hesitate to crush him should he attack. Garble could see the threat in her eyes and forced himself to remain unexpressive. No pony was going to frighten him. “I trust you have a reason for venturing to Ponyville?” “Yeah,” Garble snorted, “as a matter of fact, I do. I saw Princess Ember flying to Ponyville yesterday. I followed to make sure she would be safe, but I lost her somewhere over the sea. I had to turn back and get my bearings, but then I flew here as fast as I could. I have a message for her. Is she here?” “Give me the message. I can pass it onto her.” “No, this is a message for the Dragon Lord. Not some namby-pamby pony.” “Don’t insult ponies. We saved your life.” Garble looked away, “Alright fine. I’ll give you that. But this is sensitive dragon information.” “About what?” “Nothing that a pony should know. I can’t go revealing it to anyone, understand?” “Why not?” “Dragons have enemies,” Garble’s eyes flattened, “I don’t want word of this reaching them.” “You have my word as a Princess of Equestria, that I will not breathe a word of it to anyone but Ember.” “Fine,” Garble swallowed, gripping the bed railing with his red claws. He inhaled and looked the princess in the eye, “Princess Ember’s father, Torch, is dead.” The purple ponies’ eyes widened and her mouth gaped. Garble did not let his satisfied smirk show as he lied. “Every dragon has gotten some kind of disease. It’s been getting worse every day. Some of them have been falling into comas. Forge did too, just a day before Ember left. I’m afraid he got the worst of it. His heart stopped beating completely when I got back. Without Princess Ember, dragons are going crazy. They’re scared and panicking. We need Ember to come home and tell us what to do.” She pursed her lips, “I’m sad to say that Ember is also sick. She told us about the flu afflicting dragons and we are working to stop it.” Garble sighed, “This flu is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. It’s killing us little by little. If only Ember hadn’t left. Maybe she could have been there for Forge. She could have led us out of this mess. Now, I’m not sure dragons can live in Equestria much longer.” “I promise you we will find a cure.” “Will you?” Garble scowled, “Or did you already find one?” “Excuse me?” “I don’t feel the intense pain of the flu anymore. It’s more of a buzzing numbness now. So, you ponies made a cure and didn’t even think to share it?” “What we gave you isn’t a cure. It’s a temporary painkiller, nothing more.” “That right?” Garble said. “I hope you’ll have no objections to me taking some back to dragonkind? Unless, you ponies want to watch us die.” “Of course not,” she said. “Just give us some time to help you.” “I don’t have time,” Garble rose from the bed. “My friends and family are dying. I need that medicine now.” “Just sit down, and I’ll bring some later. Unfortunately, I can’t give you enough for every dragon in Equestria.” “You can’t? Or you won’t?” Her eyes turned white, the air around her cackled as dust particles flew from the hospital floor in pink aura, “I would never turn my back to those in need. We have every intention of helping you, but we need time.” The alicorn settled down and brushed back her mane. “I have another question,” Garble said, “I just can’t seem to catch a whiff of Spike in this hospital. I get he’s more pony than actual dragon, but I’m guessing he isn’t in the hospital right now. So how’s he been avoiding the flu?” “We have enough medicine at least for him and Ember.” “I see,” Garble fell back onto the bed. “Before you go, I need you to pass on one last message to Ember. It’s from me and every other dragon in pain.” She narrowed her eyes. “Ember, be a wise leader. Decide where your loyalties lie and whom you’ll serve. You can’t save us with a divided heart. Please, don’t let us die.” “I’ll see she gets it,” the pony turned but shot him a parting glare, “now behave yourself. If you try to hurt any pony, I’ll zap you to Tartaurus.” “Whatever.” “I’m sorry for your losses,” she said. Garble glanced at her and saw genuine sadness. He rested his scaly head onto the pillow and faced away towards the wall. The door creaked open and the alicorn trotted away. Garble hid his toothy grin. She lied, just as he thought she would. She never said a word about Mimi or did anything beyond weakly promising medicine for the flu. Dragons knew better than to trust a pony’s word. None of them would believe her promise. He could prove that ponies not only gave shelter to the creature causing the flu but made medicine that could have saved them, that could keep dragons under pony chains for eternity. No dragon would settle for being a pony’s slave, except that puny Spike and weak Ember. Maybe, Ember would finally see the error in her pony-loving ways. Dragons couldn’t trust the cure to these ponies, not when they could use it to control them. He suspected that purple alicorn doubted him. Somehow, he had a feeling she did not trust a single word from him. No matter. Tonight when everyone slept, he would flee with the medicine and return to meet the other dragons. Better still, he knew exactly where to find better allies to fight the pony’s army of pets. He would visit the temple of Alterum and form an army of his own. Until then, he had to sleep. Dreams of a new dragon empire soured through his heart, as he saw himself heralding them into a new age, where they finally severed their ties to ponies. All in good time, he told himself, all in good time.