//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Baby Spike // by BubblePuff //------------------------------// Twilight carried Spike on her back as she trotted around the nursery. Spike giggled and clapped his claws as he bounced up and down. Twilight then stopped and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Okay, that’s enough giddy up for today.” She set Spike down on the floor.   Spike got misty eyed and his lower lip began to quiver. “Oh no, don’t cry! Don’t cry!” Twilight panicked. She knew that she only had one shot to avoid a full on toddler meltdown. That’s when Twilight had a brilliant idea. “Hey Spike, watch this! Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs wake. Clap your hooves, and do a little shake!”  Twilight’s plan work. Her little song and dance had Spike smiling and bouncing up and down on his diaper. Twilight let out a sigh of relief. “Thank Celestia that worked. No wonder Cadence did it with me when I was little.”    Starlight Glimmer then entered the nursery holding a letter. “Hey Twilight, this just arrived for you from Celestia and Luna.”  Twilight took the letter and read it. “Huh, it says that they want to have a private meeting me regarding a cure for Spike.”  “So will you be taking Spike with you, or do you want one of your friends to foalsit?” Starlight asked.  Twilight rubbed Spike’s head. “No, I’ll be taking Spike with me. He is my responsibility. Besides, It’ll be good for the two of us to get out and spend the day in Canterlot.”  Twilight knelt down to Spike’s level. “Are you ready for a day out with mommy?” She asked. Spike playfully booped Twilight on the nose. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Twilight said with a smile.   As Twilight and Spike rode the train towards Canterlot, Twilight could not help but notice that some ponies were staring at them. Twilight paid them no mind, checking in on Spike who was busy playing with his Rarity plushie. Twilight was soon approached by an elderly unicorn mare. “Excuse me, but is this young dragon yours?” The mare asked.  Twilight did not know how to answer. “Yes, I mean no. Well he’s not mine biologically but I am his mother.”  The old mare smiled. “I just simply adore dragons. Such magnificent creatures. Would you mind if I held him?”   “Not at all.” Twilight replied.  The old mare picked up Spike and held him gently. “Who’s a big cutie?” The old mare cooed. She tickled Spike’s chin, causing him to laugh and squirm.  Twilight was amazed. “Wow, you sure know how to handle babies.”  “Oh I’ve had plenty of experience with foals and grand foals of my own. You just have to know how to treat them.”  “I’m still learning a bit as I go along.” Twilight said as she rubbed the back of her head.  “Being a good mother doesn’t happen overnight my dear. It takes trial and error. In the end I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”  A hissing sound could then be heard. Twilight and the old mare both turned to see a yellow spot growing on Spike’s diaper. “ I think this is the part where you are needed.” The old mare said as she gave Spike back to Twilight.  Twilight laid out a changing mat and began to change Spike. She removed the wet diaper, wiped down Spike’s bottom, applied foal powder, and strapped him into a clean diaper in under a minute.  The old mare could not help but smile. “Well, it seems you have the messy part down pat.”  “Thank you.” Twilight said. “I’ve had a lot of practice with my niece, though Spike is much easier to change.”  The train soon arrived in Canterlot. Twilight and the old mare both got off. “Well I guess this is where we part ways.” The old mare said.  “It was nice talking with you. By the way, what’s your name?” Twilight asked.  “My name is Blue Orchid. And it was very nice to meet you and your dragon. Perhaps we will meet up again sometime.” Blue Orchid and Twilight then waved goodbye to each other, and Twilight pushed Spike’s stroller towards the royal castle.  Twilight arrived at the castle and was escorted by the guards straight to Celestia and Luna’s throne room. “Welcome Twilight.” Celestia said as she made her way over to Twilight and Spike. She leaned down to rub Spike on the head. “Oh how this brings back memories. Spike looks just like he did the day you hatched him and got your cutie mark.”  Spike reached up and grabbed Celestia’s flowing mane, causing the princess to chuckle. “You said in your letter that you have news regarding a possible cure for Spike. Is this true?” Twilight asked.  “Indeed it is.” Said Luna. “We studied the boxes that contained the magical smoke which transformed Spike. The magic smoke was made of an ancient magic that predates Equestria. In order to counter the magic smoke’s effects, you will need pre-Equestrian magic.”  Twilight was perplexed. “Is there any pre-Equestrian magic that exists?”  “There is.” Celestia said. “However, acquiring it may be a bit of a problem.”   “How so?” Asked Twilight.  Celestia and Luna both looked at each other, then back at Twilight. “The one source of pre-Equestrian magic that we know of is the magic pearl of the hippogryphs.” Luna said.  Luna’s words filled Twilight with sorrow. She still remembered lying to her friends and trying to steal the pearl away from queen Novo during the invasion of the Storm King.   “Does queen Novo know that we need to use the pearl?” Twilight asked.  Celestia shook her head. “We have not yet informed her yet. And before you ask, yes queen Novo did inform us of what you tried to do. Though we are disappointed with your actions, you have shown since then what it takes to be a great leader. We have no doubt that queen Novo will forgive you, and allow you to use the pearl given the current circumstances.”  Twilight lowered her head. Looking at Spike, she knew that she had to set a good example for the little drake. For even though Spike and Twilight were raised as brother and sister, Twilight also viewed Spike as the foal she never had.  Twilight looked up at Celestia and Luna. “I’ll leave for Mount Aris right away.”  Meanwhile, Grogar watched the whole thing from his seeing stone. He summoned Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow who all made their way to the main room in an instant. “You summoned us Grogar?” Cozy Glow asked.  “Yes. I have been watching the princesses while you all have been trying to figure out what to do next, and I have discovered a unique opportunity.”  “And what might that be?” Asked Chrysalis.  “Twilight Sparkle is heading towards Mount Aris in order to use the pearl of the Hippogryphs. You three are going to head there and retrieve it for me.”  “Your sending us out to get a pearl?” Tirek said.  Grogar stomped his hoof in frustration. “It is not just some ordinary pearl! It is one of the few remaining relics that contains pre-Equestrian magic. With it, I shall be able to restore my full power.”  “And then we can finally conquer Equestria!” Said Cozy Glow.  Grogar rolled his eyes. “The three of you still need to learn how to work together. You failed in your attempt to retrieve my bell, and I will not accept failure a second time. I will be watching you this time through my seeing stone. Do not dare fail me.”     Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow immediately turned and began their trek towards Mount Aris. “Do you think Grogar knows about the bell?” Cozy Glow asked.  “I doubt it.” Chrysalis said. “If he knew that we were hiding the bell, he would have done something about it by now.”  “Still, with Grogar watching us this time we should be careful.” Said Tirek. “It would be best to let Grogar have the pearl, lest he become suspicious.”     Twilight rode in a hot air balloon with Spike towards Mount Aris. The two played a game of peek a boo in order to pass the time. Spike would laugh every time Twilight reveal her face from behind her hooves. “Oh Spike, while it will be great to have you back to normal, I must admit that I am going to miss these little play time sessions we have.” Twilight said as she held the baby dragon.  Soon Mount Aris came into view. Twilight gently guided the hot air balloon towards the ground. Once the balloon had landed, Twilight found herself surrounded by a hippogryph welcoming party. Princess Skystar greeted her personally.  “Twilight! It is so good to have you back!” Skystar said as she embraced Twilight in a hug. Skystar then noticed Spike. “Oh my, what happened to Spike?”  Spike, feeling scared because of all the large crowd, hid his face in Twilight’s chest. “He’s actually why I’m here. Is your mother available to be seen?” Twilight asked.  “Of course she is! Just follow me.” Skystar led Twilight towards the royal throne room in the rebuilt hippogryph castle. Queen Novo sat on her throne, surprised to see Twilight Sparkle.  “Twilight Sparkle, it has been a while since we’ve met. Are you here about Silverstream?” Queen Novo asked.  “No, Silverstream is doing very well at friendship school. That actual reason I’m here is because of Spike.” Twilight then held up Spike for queen Novo to see.  Queen Novo was surprised. “My word! What happened to him?”  Twilight explained what happened with the magic smoke. “And that is why I am here. Only the magic from your pearl can restore Spike to normal. I know that deceived you last time, and for that I am truly sorry. I should never have tried to steal the pearl. If you don’t want to forgive me I understand, but please don’t punish Spike for my actions.”  Queen Novo was silent for a moment. “Your words are heavy with regret Twilight. I sense that you are truly sorry for your actions. I forgive you for what happened, and will allow you to use the pearl to return Spike to normal.” Queen Novo then dove into the water and transformed into a sea pony. She dove under and swam to the hiding spot of the pearl. Soon she returned to the surface, holding the magic pearl.  Just as queen Novo was about to hand over the pearl to Twilight, it was snatched away by another hippogryph. “What is the meaning of this?!” Queen Novo yelled.  The hippogryph smiled as she was surrounded by green flames, revealing herself to be Chrysalis. “Mwuh ha ha! I think I’ll be taking this!”  “Not if we stop you first!” Twilight shouted. She charged up her horn, but then felt a tapping on her right side. As Twilight turned to look Cozy Glow ran up from Twilight’s left and snatched Spike from her.  Tirek then appeared from a flash of flame. He snapped his fingers and a ring of fire separated Tirek, Cozy Glow, and Chrysalis from Twilight and the hippogryphs. Cozy Glow then gave Spike to Tirek, who held him upside down by his tail. Spike screamed and cried as Tirek held him.   “Spike!” Twilight called out. She reached out for him but the flames grew higher.  Tirek, Cozy Glow, and Chrysalis all laughed. “Poor Twilight, do you want your little Spikey wikey back?” Chrysalis said mockingly.  Twilight gritted her teeth in anger. “I swear if hurt a single scale on his head I’ll…”  Tirek held Spike even higher. “You’ll do what? We are the ones in a position to make demands, not you”  Cozy Glow stepped forward. “How about we make a deal? You let us leave with the pearl, and in return we’ll give back your little brat.”  It did not take long for Twilight to make up her mind. “You have a deal. Just please, don’t harm Spike!” Twilight powered down her horn. Tirek lowered the flames and tossed Spike towards Twilight. Twilight jumped up in the air and caught Spike, clutching him tightly to her chest.  Tirek, Cozy Glow, and Chrysalis all laughed wickedly as they teleported away. Queen Novo walked over to Twilight and placed her hand on Twilight’s shoulder. Twilight looked up at queen Novo with tears in her eyes. “Queen Novo, I am so sorry for letting the pearl be stolen. Please forgive me.”  Queen Novo gently hushed Twilight. “I am not angry with you Twilight Sparkle. What you did is what any loving mother would have done. I am proud of you. And do not worry, we will get the pearl back.”  Twilight Smiled. She then looked down at Spike and rubbed his back to calm him down. “It’s okay Spike. Momma is here.”  Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow all returned to Grogar’s lair. Chrysalis gave the pearl to Grogar who held it high in his hoof. “Finally! After all these millennia the power is once again mine!” Grogar then let out a roaring laugh.