Virgil

by Tropical Octave

Episode 2: "Reality"

"Virgil! Keep it down! He's right outside the door!"

"I bloody bucking know he's right outside the door! Lemme go Spike! I can take him!"

"Oh no, he heard us! We're done for!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it...here's what I have to say about foreign delegations!"

"Virgil no!"

*Beep Beep Beep Bee-*

*SLAM*

"Ugg, six a.m. again already? It feels like I was just eating bacon with Virgil yest- Wait...Virgil," Spike wearily monologued to himself, noticing how he had one of the worst headaches he'd had in a good long while. "Maybe it was all just a dream? Now that I think about it, it was more like a sick nightmare..."

Spike dragged himself out of bed, hoping that 'yesterday' never really happened. He felt as though he'd eaten one of Applejack's muffins, but that couldn't be the case. Making his way to the kitchen, he was shocked when his eyes laid sight on the pony before him. Virgil.

"Well there goes the brief chance I had at thinking I wasn't insane. Maybe I should look over my letter to Celestia again before he wakes up..."

Turning on his heel, Spike started retreating back into his lavender colored bedroom, hoping to get some alone time and gather his thoughts before the dog/pony awoke. Unfortunately, Virgil heard the commotion, however little, that Spike had made and quirked his head in at ninety degree angle whilst he jumped to attention.

"Spike! Glad you're awake, we've got so much fun things to do today! I've got it all planned out," Virgil said as he twitched his tail and made his way towards the disheveled looking Spike. "We're going to head down to the Ponyville Pet Park, then we're going to get lunch, on you of course and," Stopping to take a breath, Virgil looked up into Spike's deep green eyes. From what he could judge, they weren't amused. "Is...is something wrong Spike? Is it my breath?"

"No, Virgil. It's, well..."

"Well c'mon, out with it mate!"

"YOU. Virgil. It's just that I'm not sure what to think anymore. I know yesterday you said that it's 'the start of my new life' and all, but I'm not sure that I want to start a new life," Spike stopped to take a breath, grabbing a custom made wooden chair that he could sit in.

"I just want to-Brrrzzzzzttt

Virgil let out a bellowing laugh as he rolled to the floor. The comedic genius of his prank to priceless for even him to handle.

Spike, getting up realized he'd sat on none other than the timeless gag...the woopie cushion.

"Hardey harr harr Virgil. Good one." Spike said begrudgingly, watching as Virgil rolled around seamlessly on the floor.

"I...c-can't be-believe y-you fell for that! The oldest trick in the book!" Virgil laughably said, finally getting up from the floor.

Spike on the other hand, could barely stifle a laugh of his own. He hadn't seen or heard a woopie cushion in years. The last time he could remember using woopie cushions was with the former Cutie Mark Crusaders. The memories Spike had all came back to him, causing Spike to tear up slightly.

"Mate, are you...crying?" Quizzed Virgil, looking up into Spike's now watery eyes.

"N-no, I'm just allergic to, uhh...pollen! That's it! Pollen!" Spike half-heatedly attempted at a lie. Never being any good with lying, Spike just hoped Virgil would understand not to question.

"It's okay Spike, I've teared up with pollen from time to time as well." Virgil responded with a wink.

"Thank-you Virgil. That means a lot. But back to my new life. You have to-"

Ring Ring Ring-a-ling

"Door! Door! Door! I've got it Spike!" Virgil yelped, crossing the apartment in ten seconds flat. "Argh, how the buck do you open these?!?"

Spike quickly got over to the door and, pushing Virgil aside, opened it to find Shelly at the door.

"S-shelly! Hey! What's up?" Spike said, leaning against the doorway and scratching behind his neck.

"Oh! Spike," Shelly was surprised at the sudden opening of the doorway. "Hey Spike, I'm really sorry about not coming to get Virgil last night. It's just that I had so much paperwork and the office-"

Shelly paused as Spike put a claw on her shoulder.

"It's okay Shelly, Virgil was," He looked over his shoulder to see Virgil drinking hard cider on the couch. "He was a good boy."

"Oh thank you Spike, I'll have to remember to repay you somehow."

"Oh it's fine Shelly. I actually had fun with him. We went to the pet park, walked around town, and even-" Spike probably figured it was best to keep the bacon incident in the dark.

"Even what?" Asked Shelly.

"We even went to the pet park!" Replied Spike, perhaps a little too quickly.

"Okay...well thanks for doing this Spike!" Shelly looked into the apartment and whistled. "C'mon Virgil...who's a good boy? Come to mama!"

Virgil dismounted from the couch, and walked towards the entrance of the apartment. But instead of walking past Spike, he stayed by his side.

"Virgil? Are you coming? I'll give you a treat when we get home! How about a big juicy piece of lettuce? Does that sound good?"

"Spike, please don't let her take me. All the bucking does is feed me lettuce and make me do tricks. With you, well," Virgil looked up at Spike with the saddest puppy dog eyes he could put on. "We can conquer the world, Spike. Please?"

Spike looked from Virgil to Shelly, addressing the light lavender unicorn before him.

"Heh, would you look at that. Seems Virgil really likes me. Shelly, I can watch him for a while longer if you need me too." Spike said, not sure weather to hope Shelly would say 'sure' or 'no'.

"Are you sure Spike? It is Saturday. You could go out, or maybe do a puzzle, or whatever dragons do. I don't want Virgil ruining your day to yourself."

Spike could tell from Shelly's voice tone that she was genuinely worried that his day would be ruined by Virgil. The longing in her eyes hinted at something, Spike just couldn't put a claw on it.

"It's fine Shelly, believe me. I have nothing better to do in the world."

"YES!" Virgil shouted, running laps around the two by the door.

"Oh thank you so much Spike, it's been such a long time since Virgil had a loving pon- I mean, dragon he could play with." Shelly said, wrapping her fore-hooves around Spike in a hug.

Spike could think of only one other mare who would genuinely hug him the way Shelly did. Graciously returning the hug, he now had his mind set on what he was going to do today.

"Wow, thanks Shelly. I know what me and Virgil are gonna do today now. Do you know a Twilight Sparkle?" Spike questioned, wondering if Shelly had know Twilight from, well, anywhere.

"Twilight Sparkle...it rings a bell. WAIT! She was three grades higher than me in my magic kindergarten class! Always at the top of the class, I admired her magic skills. I remember her helping me with my building blocks..." Shelly said smiling, reminiscing about her own memories. "Wait, how do you know Twilight?"

"Well, she hatched me." Spike said with the straightest of faces.

"Oh! Really? Well how abo- VIRGIL! Sit!" Shelly shouted, Virgil finally stopped running laps and returned to Spike's side.

"Mares? Can you believe em' Spike? Always acting like they're on-" Virgil was silenced from a a magical whack from Shelly's newspaper.

"Boy, he just doesn't know when to stop barking, huh Spike?"

"Believe me, I know..."

"I have a feeling that was somehow directed at me? Wasn't it Spike?" Virgil whispered from Spike's side. "I'll be right back..."

Virgil turned back towards the the apartment, leaving Spike and Shelly alone for a moment.

"You were saying Shelly?" Remarked Spike, hoping to pick up track where they'd left off.

"Nothing, it's just that my inner fan-mare wanted to maybe, well," Shelly prodded a fore-hoof at the steps. "Maybe I could meet Twilight?"

"You want to meet Twilight? Well I can't see why not..."

"Oh you really mean it! Let me get my mane ready! Be right back!" Shelly shouted as she ran the forty feet over to her apartment.

"Wow she certainly is something..." Spike said to himself, watching Shelly run into her building.

Spike hadn't felt this good in a long while. Maybe Virgil wasn't all that bad after all. If he played his cards right, maybe, just maybe, this transition wouldn't be the worst thing ever.

"Ahrm back."

"Virgil, what were you- VIRGIL! What are you doing!?!? Spike shouted in a whisper, Virgil had come back with a knife in his mouth.

"Rerverge!"

"Revenge? Against who? Shelly?"

Virgil dropped the knife onto the floor, then stared at the newspaper that Spike now had in his hand.

"No...him! Virgil revealed, pointing a fore-hoof at the accursed piece of paper.

"What? The newspaper? C'mon Virgil, even for you this is a little crazy." Spike affirmed, hoping that Virgil would calm down.

"You have no idea what I'm capable of Spike, now let me see the newspaper." Virgil said in a demanding tone.

"Virgil, it's just a newspaper. It won't," Spike stopped to see Virgil shaking his head, clearly not taking no for an answer. "Fine. If you want it gone so bad I'll get rid of it."

"Really Spike? The newspaper is a powerful foe for us dogs, it has brought shame to many a breed. Do you think you can really take it on alone?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I can. Just stand back, okay?"

Virgil walked across the lawn where they were waiting for Shelly, and watched ad Spike lifted the newspaper into the air.

"Haven't done this in a while...here goes nothing."

Spike conjured as much energy as he could, and belched a deep green flame, incinerating the newspaper.

"Woah-ho-ho! Spike! Why didn't you tell me you could breath fire! That's awesome!" Yelled Virgil, quickly closing in on Spike.

"Well, I am a dragon after all." Spike said with a chuckle., examining the small pile of ashes at his feet. Kicking it into the breeze, Spike turned back towards Virgil.

"So Spike, we're going to go see your master huh?" Asked Virgil.

"Twilight's not my master, she's more of, well, uhh..." Spike thought of a correct term to use with Twilight. After a few moments, he found not one, but two. "She's my sister as well as my mom. That makes sense...right?"

"Yeah, perfect sense Spike." Virgil replied, nodding sagely.

"Oh, well, okay. thanks for...understanding. Who are your parents Virgil?"

"Let's not get into that mate. Let's just say they're in a better place now."

"Oh Virgil, I'm sorry, I-I didn't know."

"Sorry? For what? They're in Las Pegasus with some fancy upper crust owner? Did you think I meant they were dead?"

"Well, yeah.

"You're bucking ridiculous Spike," Virgil finished, looking over to see Shelly finally coming back. "SHELLY!"

Virgil took off in Shelly's direction, tackling her while kissing her on the cheeks and lips.

"Shelly! Are you okay!?" Spike shouted, running over to his neighbors side.

"Of course I am Spike, he's just a dog silly. Virgil would never hurt a fly!"

"Newspapers on the other hand..."

"What?" Shelly said getting up from the ground.

"Nothing, let's get going."

Shelly finished getting up from the ground, then trotted over to Spike's side, Virgil following in suit.

"Hey Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"What smells like smoke?"

"Virgil probably had gas." Spike replied with a chuckle.

"Ahh, piss off mate." Virgil immediately responded, pushing Spike into Shelly.

The two adults laughed as they walked down the hill towards town square where Twilight's library would be, Virgil smiling a devious smile. One had something to say, another had something to ask, and a third had something to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So. Shelly. What made you decide to move to Ponyville?" Spike asked, now roughly a quarter of the way to Twilight's library.

"Well, my home in rural Fillydelphia was undergoing some renovations when one of the construction workers discovered that my entire backyard was a pet cemetery. Well, I'd be safe to say that I packed my bags and got out of there as fast as possible. Me and Virgil were living out of a motel until an old friend of mine sent a letter saying how she found out about my misfortune in the locale paper."

Spike looked at Shelly with a concerned face, turned to Virgil, then looked back at her.

"Wow, sounds like you've been through Tartarus and back recently."

"Yeah, it's a good thing Rarity suggested I move here. I mean it's so calm and peaceful..." Shelly continued as she looked up at the clouds.

"It sure is, but sometimes it ca- Wait! Did you say Rarity? As in fashion designer Rarity?"

Spike stopped in the middle of the dirt path that they were walking on, turning to meet Shelly, who now wore a look of concern.

"Yeah, that Rarity. Why? Is something wrong?" Shelly asked, fearing something might be wrong.

"No, nothing's wrong Shelly, it's just that me and Rarity have known each other for years and, well, she never mentioned you before."

Shelly wore a look of disbelief, the unicorn mare looking into Spike's soul with her jade green eyes. She could tell he wasn't lying.

"Really? Me an Rarity went to design school for years. We even shared the same dorm the whole time. She couldn't possibly have forgotten about me..." Shelly said in a less than enthusiastic tone, now looking at the ground.

"Oh I'm sure she hasn't forgotten about you, a pretty mare like yourself would probably be hard to forget even if you tried!" Spike tried his hardest to lift Shelly's spirits, even if he happened to be making a fool of himself.

"You, you really think I'm pretty?" Asked Shelly with a blush.

Spike returned with a blush of his own, even though it was mostly unseen.

"Uhh y-yeah! O-of course I d-do!" Spike stopped to re-collect his thoughts. "I'm sure Rarity just never had a reason to bring you up in a conversation. Nopony ever asked about her past really."

"I guess that would make sense. We can talk to Rarity some other time. Right now we're going to see Twilight Sparkle!" Shelly said, much happier now thanks to Spike's reassurance.

Spike was happier now too, but couldn't help but wonder, was he being honest when he said Shelly was a pretty mare? Sure, she was pretty, but did Spike think so? Has he really moved on from Rarity after all this time? Looking down at Virgil, who had remained silent throughout the majority of the walk Spike was shocked at his reaction. Virgil was giving Spike a hoofs-up.

Whispering, Virgil added. "That's my boy! Go get em'!"

Spike could only feel butterflies on his inside.

The three continued down the dirt road through Ponyville, taking in the sights and sounds around them. The fresh scent of apple fritters from the market, the chirping of birds in the trees, the soft hoofsteps from the many ponies that were out and about. Every now and then, a mare or stallion would stop to say 'What a cute doggie! what's his name?' and pet Virgil. Spike laughed to himself when Virgil would do things that most ponies would call the cops for. He still wasn't sure what Virgil's intentions were, but so far he seemed to be, well, helping.

The tree house library was now in view, and spike couldn't be happier. Not seeing Twilight in two weeks was a real challenge, but so far he seemed to be conquering it.

"Hey look, we're almost there!" Spike said, breaking the silence.

"Wow, what a pretty house..." Shelly said in awe.

"Hey, hey Spike. Watch this."

Spike turned his head to Virgil in time to see him lift a hind leg and proceed with defecating the library.

"Virgil! No! Bad boy!" Shelly yelled, running over to stop him from continuing his watering of the tree.

Astonishingly, Virgil kept up his streak for a good forty-five seconds. Even Virgil himself was surprised.

"Ahhhh, nothing quite like some relief after an afternoon stroll, huh Spike?" Virgil said, returning to Spike's side.

"Virgil! You know you don't do that in public! This is somepony's house! Bad boy!" Shelly said, scolding Virgil.

"Yeah, whatever. When a fella needs to yank a piss, he does. And you. Can't. Stop. Me." Virgil said to Shelly, not feeling the slightest remorse.

"It's fine Shelly, the library hasn't been watered in years anyway."

Shelly couldn't help but chuckle, with Spike following up with a chuckle of his own.

"What?" Asked Virgil, totally oblivious to the joke.

"Okay, let's go see Twilight." Said Spike happily, noting how Shelly was practically bouncing with anticipation. Apparently Twilight had been her idol from a young age. He guessed Twilight had been her idol at a young age as well. That was one thing they seemed to share at least.

*Knock Knock Knock*

"Boy, I hope she's home..." Spike thought aloud, wondering if Twilight had maybe gone out with the others.

The door cracked open slightly.

"Hello? Who's there?"

"It's me Twilight, Spike! I, umm, also brought along two friends. Heh."

Virgil daw'd.

The door opened, and Twilight revealed herself. From what Spike could tell she looked a little more tired than usual, but other than that, she looked fine.

"Spike! It's so good to see you!" Shouted Twilight, wrapping Spike in a warm embrace. Twilight looked to the mare and shepherd accompanying him suspiciously, yet compassionately.

Spike, returning the hug, was glad Twilight was still doing good in the two weeks he'd been gone.

"So, Mr. Spike, introduce me to your new friend here!" Twilight continued.

"Friend? As in one? Spike, teach this mare a lesson."

Spike nudged Virgil with his feet, pushing him to the side.

"Oh...it. Is. On." Snarled Virgil, returning to Shelly's side.

"Well, this here is Shelly Shores, and the...dog, here is Virgil. Yeah." Said Spike, pointing a claw to Shelly.

"Shelly Shores...that sounds so familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?" Twilight queried, wondering if maybe Shelly was some sort of old colleague.

Shelly immediately lit up, happy that her kindergarten friend still remembered her, no matter how vague.

"YES! I WAS- ehh, hemm..." Shelly toned down her voice, not wanting to embarrass herself in front of her idol. "Excuese me, I had a minor fan-girl moment right there," Shelly laughed a light chuckle to herself. "I'm Shelly Shores, I was about four years your prior in magic kindergarten. You always helped me a filly, I always thought you were so awesome for doing that." Shelly finished, looking down at the welcome mat in front of the library.

"Shelly! Really? Wow! Well, how about we catch up on events inside over lunch. Spike?"

"Yeah Twi?"

"I'm, well, never mind. Later, okay?" Twilight finished, winking at Spike the way a mother would her foal.

"Umm...okay Twilight." Spike agreed with a shrug.

"Perfect!" Twilight said, hopping up on her back legs and clapping her hooves together. "Then it's a get-together!"

"Oh good! I've always drea- wanted to talk with you Twilight!" Shelly said, agreeing with the plan. "C'mon Virgil, you go hang out with Spike for a while, okay?"

Virgil walked inside the library silently, going straight for the doorway to the downstairs.

"Thanks for doing this Spike, it means a lot to me to speak with your mom."

"She's not m-my mom, s-she's my sister!" Spike said with a stutter, a blush going to his face.

"Yeah yeah, okay tough guy. Sister." Shelly sassed back, lightly punching Spike with a forehoof.

The three made their way inside the library, hoping to catch up on past happenings. Spike took off for Virgil as Shelly and Twilight headed towards the kitchen for sandwiches. Looking back, Spike noticed the shocking similarities between Shelly and Twilight. Both were unicorns, both were purple, both were kind and generous. The only real difference were their mane's, Shelly's being a long golden brown that curled at it's midpoint into a loop-de-loop, and Twilight's being her mid-length violet that dangled by her neck. Other than than their mane's and eyes, they were almost identical.

Spike wondered if that's the reason he found himself so comfortable around Shelly. He would have to think on that later, but for now, Virgil was downstairs. Unattended.

"I'll catch up with you two later, I'm going to go see what Virgil is up to." Spike said loudly to the mares chatting in the kitchen.

"Okay Spike, I'll be down soon!" Twilight responded, now turning her attention to Shelly.

"So Shelly...about magic kindergarten..." Was the last faint thing he heard from upstairs before he headed downstairs.

Looking around, the 'den' Spike had made was pretty much unchanged. Everything was almost as if it hadn't been touched the whole time he was gone...

Hearing a crash, Spike turned his head towards the mini-fridge he had installed in the corner.

"Virgil? Are you over there?"

No response.

"C'mon Virgil...I-I know you're down here. J-just come out okay?"

Still no response.

"Okay Virgil, this isn't funny anymore. Just come ou- AAAHHHH!" Spike screamed, Owlowiscious darting out from behind bookshelf and heading upstairs.

"Oh...thank...Celestia. I think my heart...just skipped a beat." Spike said in between ragged breaths, forgetting that the nocturnal assistant slept during the day.

"Now, if I could just find Vir-"

"Bleaaaghhhhh!!!"

Spike screamed the girliest of screams, putting even Sweetie Belle's voice crackings to shame.

"Woah, easy mate! Don't have a heart attack on me! I don't want to do CPR on a filthy dragon! No offense." Virgil affirmed, awkwardly watching Spike pant on the floor, claw over his heart.

"Yo...Spike? You all right?" Asked Virgil, staring down at his semi-conscious dragon friend.

"I'm...going...to...ki-"

"Going to what mate?"

"Kil-"

"Kilt me? Is that some sort of innuendo? Cause if it is let me say right here and now that-"

"I'm going to KILL you." Spike said, getting to his feet. Virgil was now at the top of Spike's hit list. Move over Standing Ovation, 'Scourgel' is in moving up.

"Kill? Me? You'd never do a thing like that to lil' ol' me would you?" Virgil responded, putting on the cutest face he could muster.

"You're just lucky I'm a pacifist, or else you'd be six feet under right now." Spike finished, brushing off imaginary debris from his shoulders.

"Yeah, sure you are mate." Virgil retaliated, trotting over to the mini-fridge. "You know Spike, this is a really nice pad you've got here. Why'd you give up?"

"I don't wanna talk about it."

"Oh c'mon, you can tell Virgil here anything. I'm all ears."

"Well, it all started about two months ago when-"

"Spike!!!" Twilight called from upstairs. "Get up here!"

"What is it Twilight!"

Virgil walked over to Spike's side, eager to hear what the pony had to say.

"It's a chance you won't want to miss!"

"She's probably inviting us to have bacon with the ambassador." Virgil whispered in a chuckle to Spike, waiting for Twilight's response.

"The gryphon ambassador is over to discuss foreign politics, and he wants to meet you!"

Virgil turned quickly to Spike, seeing his jaw practically dislocated.

"Oh buck."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Virgil, I just had this crazy idea."

"Lay it on me mate."

"Well, I figure that since pegasi have the ability to fly, and unicorns have magic...what does that leave earth ponies?"

Virgil took a long swig of cider, then passed the mug to Spike.

"I, well, I dunno. They're strong right? Like that apple-bucking friend of yours Applejack? Other than that, I'm not sure."

Spike took a drink of his own from the mug, then passed it back to Virgil.

"Heh, I guess I'd suck to be an earth pony then, wouldn't it?"

Virgil looked into Spike's eyes with disgust, shaking his head in a slow 'no'.

Spike, disoriented from the cider, only now noticed that Virgil was an earth pony.

"OH! Virgil, I'm sorry...I diddn't mean to-"

Virgil got up and flipped the table they were resting their legs on, spilling cider, potato chips, and playing cards all over the floor as he walked out of the room.

"What? Virgil! Ughh...It'll be a cold day in Tartarus the day I ever catch a break in life..."