//------------------------------// // The Vanishing of Spike the Dragon // Story: Stranger Friends // by Tangerine Blast //------------------------------// It wasn’t her fault. None of it was. She had tried to warn them. She had told them that it would all go wrong. Told them if they messed with things beyond their comprehension long enough those things would start messing back. But they hadn’t listened this time. They just hit her and zapped her again and told her to be quiet. So it wasn’t her fault when everything went straight to Tartarus.  And it wasn’t her fault that those ponies had died. The… the thing that had come out of the rip in space and time had lashed out immediately. Some ponies had simply fallen over, the life snuffed out like a candle, while others were torn apart until they were nothing more than blood splatters on the wall.  There was no time to think, let alone move to help, before they were dead. It was only the creature’s seeming relish in the kills that let anypony else escape at all. She couldn’t be blamed for running. Everypony was running. Now that they had let the thing out there seemed to be no way to put it back in and, even if there was, panic had turned rational ponies into a mindless stampede.  It wasn’t her fault she never stopped either. That she didn’t hear when he called to her. Screamed at her. Ordered her. There was so much screaming. Screams of panic, of pain, of blaring alarms. There was no way she heard him over it. No way she felt the icy terror of his enraged voice seep into her veins.  She could still feel the thing chasing her, anyway. Locking on to her, lashing at her with attacks that seemed to go past her body entirely and straight into her mind. She only stopped running when she tripped and skidded across wet mud and leaves and sticks. By that time she was already deep in the unfamiliar safe haven of the forest. And she couldn’t be blamed for not going back. She had been running blind and any normal pony would be completely lost in the dense, sprawling woods around her. She had been told stories of this forest. Stories of monsters and twisting pathways. Ponies would get lost their whole lives--which weren’t likely to be long.  She couldn’t help a relieved laugh escaping her, knowing she was totally and completely lost.  It wasn’t her fault. It couldn’t be.  She just hoped when he found her that he would understand that.  For even though she had just seen a creature of more shadow than mass tear a pony apart like a wood chipper, she was a quaking mess at the thought of that eventual when. When her master would find her.  She almost hoped the creature would get to her first.  *** “And when you enter the cave you see only smoke as a sense of dread washes over you. It’s your greatest fears staring you straight in the eye for, in the chamber that smells like death, you aren’t sure you’re even alive… is anyone even listening?” Sweetie Belle’s head jerked up at the sudden change of subject. The pencil she had been trying to levitate clattered noisily across the room and smacked into Scootaloo’s side. The Pegasus snorted and blearily blinked her eyes open--rudely awakened from her impromptu nap.  Apple Bloom took the distraction to slid her O&O character sheet back over the homework she had been doing. She shot Spike a guilty smile as he glared at the three of them from behind his Board Master stand. “Uh, sorry Spike, keep goin’ it was just startin’ to get good.” Spike gave her a flat look. “Do you even know where your party is at this point?” The three shared nervous glances before Scootaloo finally dared guess. “A tavern?” Spike rolled his eyes and snapped his book shut. “You know if you guys didn’t want to play you could have just said so.” “Aw, come on,” Sweetie Belle protested, “We really did want to play with you... at first.” “Yeah,” Scootaloo agreed, rolling onto her back, “You said this game was going to be, like, fighting ogres and looting castles and stuff not…” She stuck her tongue out. “not math and reading and junk.” “It is about that stuff,” Spike snapped back, “you just have to think things through and use your imagination.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes and splayed her legs in a sweeping gesture. “Then why couldn’t we have done that stuff outside. You know, play pretend?” “Because it’s more fun with rules and charts!” Scootaloo groaned and the other two fillies giggled.  “Sorry Spike,” Sweetie Belle said, “I think she makes a better point than you.” Spike’s shoulders slumped as he carefully started to gather his O&O equipment and put it back in the box. “Fine… I’m sorry guys, I didn’t mean to bore you. I just wanted to hang out.” “We still wanna hang out with ya!” Apple Bloom protested, helping Spike pack up, “Just cause this game didn’t work out doesn’t mean something else won’t.” “Yeah,” Scootaloo piped up, “We could go to the bakery and brainstorm games we can all play.” Sweetie Belle stuck out her tongue. “Uhg, but they downsized when they couldn’t hire a new baker. That place only sells, like, bread now.” “Hey! I like bread,” Scootaloo protested. Apple Bloom chuckled. “Sweetie’s got a point, Scoots. If we want a real snack why don’t we just go back ta my place and get some fritters?” She flashed a grin at their dragon friend. “What do ya say, Spike?” Spike simply shrugged and looked away. “Eh, I think I should be heading home, actually. It’s getting dark out and Twilight always gets annoyed when I come home late.”   The three friends exchanged worried glances. “Are ya sure?” Applebloom insisted, “We really do like ta hang with ya.” “Oh, I know,” Spike said, flashing her a reassuring smile, “We always have fun playing Power Ponies. I just thought I’d try this at least once. You can’t really play O&O by yourself.” “You’re still coming to movie night tomorrow, right?” Sweetie asked as Spike headed to the door.  The dragon turned to her and gave a thumbs up. “Of course! I’d never miss it.” “More like you’d never miss spending time around, Rarity,” Scootaloo teased with a cheeky grin. Spike rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his faint blush. “Hey, I can be friends with other ponies too, you know. But I really gotta get going. Twilight’ll throw a fit if I’m not home for dinner.” He opened the door to the clubhouse and was immediately hit by a gust of cold, wet, wind. “Oh geez, it’s starting to rain. Uh, can I leave my game here? I don’t want it to get ruined.” “Of course,” Apple Bloom answered, taking the box from him and setting it on a nearby table. I’ll bring it ta Sweetie’s house tomorrow.” “Thanks guys, I’ll see you all then!” Spike called over the wind as he walked out of the clubhouse. The rain wasn’t particularly heavy but the roaring wind made it plaster him from every angle, soaking his scales in only a few moments. He held a claw over his eyes to keep the water out. He knew the path home by heart but he’d rather not trip on any debris that had blown through in the storm.  He walked onward for a few more minutes, fighting the wind the whole way, before he stopped and squinted at his surroundings. He was still on the path out of Sweet Apple Acres... but that’s what bothered him. By now he should have been leaving the orchard behind and getting into Ponyville proper, but no matter how far ahead he squinted he could only see trees lining the winding path.  He glanced backward. The clubhouse was out of sight too. Just trees in either direction. He didn’t think it was possible he had made a wrong turn. As far as he could remember the path led straight from town to the Apple’s house.  A sudden chill wound up his spine that had nothing to do with the freezing rain. He thought he saw something move in the trees. A shadow weaving in and out of the trunks.  Lightning lit up the sky, making him jump, and yet the shadows didn’t get any lighter. He could see his bright purple scales and the path behind him glow in the flash but everything else, the trees, the road ahead, even the sky, didn’t get any brighter.  A moment later the thunder sounded and Spike couldn’t stop himself sprinting towards town in desperation.  The thunder had sounded like laughter.  Laughter that was only growing louder. Dread filled his chest with every step. The rain blinded him and the wind seemed to be pushing him back.  There was something chasing him, and he was sure if he paused for a moment it would- A root in the middle of the path tripped him just as another flash exploded across the sky. Moments later the wind slowed and the rain lessened. The clouds thinned with one last peal of thunder and the moonlight illuminated an empty road, no pony or dragon in sight and only a couple paces from Ponyville proper.