//------------------------------// // Dogs and Journey // Story: An Earthly Portal // by Nightmare Darkness //------------------------------// I flexed my wings and folded them along my sides as Rainbow landed beside me. "Landing is an Art," she said with a smile. I gave her a half lidded expression to which she just giggled. "Well this will be a work in progress," I said as the door to the golden Oaks library opened and Twilight stepped out. "I heard a heavy landing." She said as Spike closed the door behind her and trotted to catch up. Spike looked at me and gave a smile and a wave. I did the same. "Feather Beak bit the dirt, but he's fine. Doing a whole lot better than when you got your wings." Rainbow said with a laugh and Twilight just glared at her. I join in a laugh and Twilight looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "S-sorry. You know...how are you an Alicorn?" I asked and Twilight kind of was quite a moment before she looked at me. "I don't really know, the Princess has said I've been given the title of Princess of Friendship but I don't really know what that entails." She honestly said before Twilight looked at Rainbow. "There has been a development the Princess's have asked all of the elements and me to come to Canterlot," Twilight said to Rainbow and I simply stood there perplexed and thought. This must be a major plot in the show and I'm here to witness it. "I'll round up the girls and meet you at the Train station," Rainbow said and flew up into the air and stopped suddenly. Suddenly a scream was heard and I turned my head and saw a large three headed dog bounding right down the main road and my eyes bulged. I beat my wings three times and I was beside Rainbow and looked at Twilight who's horn glowed as she stood her ground. Everypony was running for their homes and any place that would provide shelter. “Oh, no poor thing.” Came a soft quiet coo of a yellow pegasus with a soft pink mane and tail who floated down and landed in front of the three headed snarling black beast who slammed on its breaks, growled and barked at Fluttershy who smiled and held out her hoof. “I won't hurt you Mr dog.” She said as I looked at Rainbow who just looked at me. “That looks like the Greek hound Cerberus,” I commented and Twilight looked up at me with recognition. “It's not like one of your rabbits Fluttershy,” Rainbow commented. “He's the guard dog Tartarus.” Twilight said confused. Fluttershy nuzzled Cerberus and the large dog sat obediently and began to wag its tail as all three heads looked at her as they panted. Fluttershy walked to his underbelly and began to scratch him. “Who's a good boy.” She said affectionately as Cerberus turned over and his hind legs began to twitch involuntarily. “Why is he here?” I asked as I saw Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack galloping towards us and slowed down as they saw Fluttershy had gotten everything under control. “What in tarnation is goin on here?” Applejack said with her Southern drawl. Twilight approached Cerberus and rubbed under his middle heads chin garnering an approving groan. I lowered myself and landed harder than I would have liked and Rainbow kept hovering but had lowered herself to be just over everyponies head. “I think this may be a reason the princesses summoned us.” Twilight guessed before she looked at all of us. “Well, I guess we should go see what the Princesses then wouldn't you agree?” Rarity stated. “Oh...um what about getting Cerberus home?” Fluttershy said concerned. Twilight looked at me, I looked behind myself and then back at her. “What?” I questioned before she shrugged. “Are you busy?” She asked and I already knew I had just been roped into this. “Define busy,” I said before she gave me a laugh. “I did help you get a job. You wouldn't mind would you, taking him home?” She asked me and I could only frown. “I have no idea how to get there,” I said pointedly to which she placed a hoof behind Spike and pushed him forward. “I have several maps and the best navigator.” she said with a chuckle and Spike looked at her and crossed his arms. “I sometimes feel like I'm just an accessory,” Spike said and Rarity approached him and placed a hoof under his chin. “Oh, darling you're the only pony or dragon we can count on.” She said with a smile and I could see Spike's eyes glaze over as he smiled goofily and nodded. “Anything for you Rarity.” He said and I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “Ok, say we take him there. But what exactly is Tartarus?” I asked and Twilight looked at me seriously. “The most heavily guarded prison in Equestria for all manner of prisoners,” Twilight said cautiously. “So I'm going to a maximum security prison,” I said with a note of sarcasm. “It's more of a place where all the enemies of the Princesses that can threaten their rule or had plans to destroy all of Equestria in one place.” Pinkie said cheerily. “Right,” I said before all the girl began to go towards the train station. Fluttershy walked in front of Cerberus and patted his head. “Ok Cerberus, I got to go but….um Spike and,” she said and looked at me. This was the first time I had actually met her. “Feather Beak,” I said evenly and she gulped then looked back at Cerberus. “Feather Beak will take you back to Tartarus. I promise I will come visit sometime.” She said with a smile and turned around walking past Spike. I walked over and stood beside him and we both watched as all of the girls turned the corner and we're out of sight. Spike and I looked at one another before looked at Cerberus who sniffed. Spike walked/waddled to the library and both Cerberus and I followed him and stopped in front of the door. It was after five minutes I wondered what he was doing. "What are you doing?" I ask finally and he appeared with a backpack and a map in his claw. "Getting ready to go. As so you should," he said. "It's not that far is it?" I asked and he opened the map. If we flew there it's not too far but we're not flying were walking because unless you can lift both me and Cerberus I don't think we're flying. I pointed my thumb at the large hound. "Him, hell no. You maybe." I said and Spike smiled. "Maybe on the way back then," Spike said with a toothy grin. "Do I need anything?" I asked and he looked at me with a frown before answering. "Can you fight?" He asked and I looked right bat at him. "Can you?" I asked sarcastically. "No, but I have a reason to go I can read the map." he said confidently and I glared at him. "I know how to use a bow, but I don't exactly have one right now," I said and Spike raised his eyebrows. before walking back into the library and not long after walked out with a bow and quiver stocked with arrows. "Here," he said and gave them to me. I lifted them up and looked at them as I saw markings of runes on the quiver. I could feel a warmth to the cloth and stitchings. "You just so happen to have a bow with some arrows just laying around," I asked surprised. "Yeah, Twilight often tries to put into practice much of what she reads. This served two reasons. To try and do archery to which she failed miserably and drawing magical runes. The one there. " He pointed with his claw that looked like a crescent moon with several lines all along the curve. "Will make sure your arrows won't fall out if you lean forward or in the air flying around," he explained and I blinked before I strapped the quiver on and synched it to my body. The arrows jutted just slightly over my left shoulder and I looked at the bow that seemed to be a normal bow guess everything can't be magicked up. "Thanks, Spike," I said and he looked at me unsure. "I hope you're as good with that thing as you claim to be." He said before he began to walk towards the outskirts of Ponyville. The local ponies were all coming out of their homes out of curiosity and as I walked past the last house I looked back at the town as several ponies were all looking at Spike and I who were accompanied by a large dog. "So what do you think we are going to find at Tartarus?" I asked Spike who looked over at me with a quizzical look. "I don't know. I've only ever been to a few places in Equestria." He said walking alongside Cerberus. I still felt wary of the large canine and kept my distance only a ponylength from Spike. "What about you? You said you were from Griffinstone?' Spike asked me which caught me off guard. "Yeah, I did say that, didn't I," I said before I tried to think what it would look like. "Never really been there. I said it more as a reference really." I lied and Spike nodded and Cerberus's closest head looked at me and glared. I guess it doesn't like lies I guess. "That's cool," Spike said nonchalantly. "So Twilight hatched you?" I said trying to start a conversation. Spike looked at me and I think I said something weird because of the face he made. "I never said I was hatched by Twilight." He said. "I guessed," I said simply. "Ok well, I was hatched by Twilight. Ever since then I've been her number one assistant," he said with pride. I smirked before a dark question crossed my mind and I wondered if I should ask. Spike saw me look and raised an eyebrow. "What?" He asked suddenly and I looked at him and waved my claw. "It's nothing," I said and he gave me a look. "No, tell me." He pressed. "Have you ever wondered...why you were hatched by ponies and not your own mom? Like what happened to you while you were in your egg." I questioned and Spike paused and looked forward unsure what to think before he looked forward. "I didn't think much about it but I guess I kinda do wonder," Spike said more to himself than replying to me. "Forget I said anything," I said knowing that there was no way for me to take back what sort of thoughts might have been triggered by my query. "I guess I kind of wonder. Twilight is my sister without a doubt but where I came from is important right?" He asked looking at me and I didn't know how to really answer. "If I could forget my past I would," I said bitterly and Spike shook his head causing his green spines to sway slightly. "Nah, you're molded by your past right? If you don't remember where you come from you can't move forward." He said and I looked at him. "Are you sure you're a baby dragon?" I said with a smile. "Unfortunate side effects of living with a bookworm and having nothing to do but read and categorize lists all day." He said dryly. "That sounds like a hell I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy," I said with a chuckle and Spike gave a toothy grin. "Have you ever had a yearning for meat?" I asked innocently and Spike gave me an uncomfortable look. "I'm a vegetarian by dragon standards. just thinking about eating another creature..." He made a gagging gesture and I felt awkward. "I could go for bacon..." I said almost dreamily and Spike looked at me. "What is bacon? Is it like a griffin food?" he asked unsurely. I looked around and smiled weakly. "You don't want to know," I said and that just made him more curious. "Come on tell me." he said and I gulped. "You know how dragons usually aren't vegetarians," I said and Spike began to understand. "You have eaten other animals?" he said with wide eyes and stopped. "You don't eat Dragons do you.." He said taking a step back with a real look of fear in his eyes. "Dude...I've never hunted a day in my life. It's..complicated ok and No I wouldn't eat you..." I said shaking my head and he looked to visibly relax. "Besides your too small." I joked as I punched him in the arm softly and he gave a meek laugh. "That is kind of scary. But tell me what is bacon?" Spike voiced and I shrugged. "To tell you the truth bacon comes from pigs," I said finally and he looked back at me. "That's just gross." He said before I smiled. "I don't eat it raw," I replied and he looked visibly sickened. "Ok, you're like sick in the head." He said as we continued along the route to Tartarus.