//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Journey to the past // by Dianabel //------------------------------// “Where do you want me to put this book?” asked Spike, flying in front of one the bookshelves from Twilight´s castle libary. “That goes into the Fundaments of Magic section.” replied Twilight from the other side of the library. He laid the book on its place and flew down to the ground besides Twilight. Both of them sighed in relief. “Finally!” exclaimed Spike. “I thought we´d never end ordering the library.” “Me too. Although, I always love organizing the disorganized.” “That´s why it always takes longer than expected, right?” “Hey, it doesn´t take that long, just a few minutes extra…” “Only thirty minutes more.” Twilight blushed in embarrassment and looked away. Spike laughed. “But it´s more entertaining doing it by your side.” “Oh you..” Twilight pulled Spike closer to her with her wing and hugged each other. “Ready for our cook of?” Twilight asked excitedly. Spike elevated his hand in front of his forehead. “Born ready!” he answered while smirking. Before they got to the kitchen, they heard a knock on the castle gates. Together, they went to greet their unexpected visitor. When the door was opened, they had a pleasant surprise, especially Spike. “Scorpan!” he yelled excited as he flew into the big gargoyle´s arms. Scorpan cheerfully returned the hug, giving out warm laughs. When he saw Twilight, he bowed his head. “Princess Twilight, greetings.” “Oh please, you don’t have to act so formal.” Twilight told him. “It´s so good to see you. I know I´ve said it countless times but thank you so much for helping Spike. You don´t know how much it means to us.” “It was my duty, princess. I promised them to protect Spike.” the gargoyle knelt, but quickly stopped when he remembered what Twilight told him. “Speaking of which…” Scorpan opened his bag and searched for something. “I didn´t come to your castle without a reason.” he told Twilight. “I have something for Spike.” Spike gasped. “Really? What is it?” he asked excitedly. Scorpan took a heart-shaped dark brown locket. It was held by a small rope. “I forgot to tell you that your father was a great artisan. In one of their dates, he wanted to impress your mother. However, he didn´t have much, and he couldn´t afford expensive materials like precious stones or gold. So, he had to make it with volcanic stones. I was lucky enough to take it before running away with your egg.” Scorpan explained as he handled the locket to Spike. Spike grabbed carefully the locket. He smiled while observing it carefully. Despite being old and not shiny like every other locket, Spike could tell it was made with lots of love and effort. Twilight approached him to get a better view. “It´s beautiful nonetheless.” he said. “Oho! That´s not the best part.” Scorpan said. Open it.” Spike nodded and obeyed. He and Twilight gasped softly when they saw its inside: It was the drawing of two dragons, a male and a female to concrete, holding their hands and pressing their faces against each other, with their eyes closed. Spike almost cried. Whenever he thought about his parents, he always wondered how they looked like. After so much time, he finally could see that, even though it was just a drawing on paper. “They look so much better than I could ever imagine!” Spike said, almost choking on his words due to emotion. He covered his mouth as he sobbed. “They were truly two gorgeous dragons.” added Twilight. “Just like you.” She wrapped him up with her wing. Spike looked at Scorpan, with a huge smile of satisfaction in his face and tears in his eyes. He surprised Scorpan with a hug. “Thank you.” Spike whispered. Scorpan sighed happily and returned the hug. “You´re welcome.” Twilight waited for them to finish their hug. “Would you like to have tea or something, Scorpan?” “What?” “Yeah! That would be great!” Spike agreed. “It´s not necessary, really.” “Yes, it is.” Twilight contradicted. “You´ve done so much, and we haven´t thanked you properly. Please, do come in.” Scorpan was still a bit doubtful. “Pleeease?” Spike asked with puppy eyes and a huge begging smile. Scorpan rolled his eyes playfully. “Fiine. But it won´t be for long. I have to be at Canterlot before afternoon.” “We understand. Come on in! You´ll love the castle.” Twilight nodded. “Come, come!” Spike held Scorpan´s hand, rushing him to the castle. Scorpan laughed wholeheartedly. It was morning at the Everfree forest. The chimera was peacefully sleeping and its snoring was so loud that it frightened the birds flying in the sky. The snake opened its eyes slowly, due to the sun´s brightness. For the long reptile it was just another day, so it just stretched its body while yawning. But then it remembered why they were sleeping in the first place. “How long have we been sssleeping?!” the snake thought aloud after gasping. Immediately after, it started shaking her fused companions. “Wake up you two!” she yelled. The tiger and snake complained. “Oooh, come oooon!” “I was having the best of dreams!” “Do you even remember why were sssleepping in the firsssst place?” the snaked asked while frowning. The tiger and goat tried to remember. “Um…” “Aaaactually, we dooon´t.” “We were ssssedated! Jussst when we had that monkey and dra-“ The snake gasped while looking at the tiger´s neck. “What?” the tiger asked confused. “Where´ssss the artefact?” “Don´t worry, I have everything under-” The tiger panicked when it only noticed fur around its neck and not metal. “It was in my neck! How could it have disappeared just like that?” “I don´t know. It wassss your ressssponsssability!” While the snake was reproaching the tiger, the goat saw something on the ground that could give the answers to what happened to the artefact. “Uuuh…. Guuuys…. You should seeeee this.” it said while pointing with a shaking hoof at the ground. The snake´s and tiger´s panic grew when they saw where the goat was pointing at. The only trace of the artefact they had, were certainly ashes. The tiger took some ashes in its paw. “How did this happen?” “Thooose ponies! I´m suure they did thiiis.” “What will we tell Grogar?” “Tell me what?” A chill travelled throughout the chimera´s back. Once again, the Father of Monsters was standing right in front of it. And he looked suspicious. He had noticed their fear from far away, for his bells were flickering. “Our great emperor and creator!” the chimera knelt. “You know? It´s such a great honour whenever you come to visit.” the tiger laughed nervously. “I don´t care what my presence brings to you. Did you accomplish your mission?” “Of courssse! Of courssse! It wassss a piece of cake.” the snake lied. “Where´s the artefact I gave you?” The chimera´s foreheads were full of sweat. Grogar could clearly see that they were trying to hide something. He took a quick glance at the chimera´s paws and hoofs. There was something grey behind them… “Move away.” he coldy demanded. The chimera was going to complain but then, it thought it better. If they refused, it would be more suspicious. It gulped and let Grogar pass. After making its way through, the ram stopped walking when he saw the ashes. He stared at them and took some with his hoof. “Are these from the artefact?” he turned to the chimera. “Yeeeah… Aboouut that.” The goat cleared its throat. “It wassss desssstroyed while we got rid of them.” “You don´t say…” said Grogar with a smirk as he walked towards the chimera, making it walk backwards. “Correct!” “Well, I am sorry for saying this, but at that night I saw the gargoyle and the dragon walking with their friends, heading back to home. All, while you were sleeping.” The snake, tiger and goat glanced at each other worriedly. “I know you FAILED!” Grogar yelled, while stomping his hoof to the ground, letting out some magic. His eyes were glowing due to his anger. The chimera fell to the ground. The monster usually thought itself as the scariest creature in the forest. But now… they were a mouse standing in front of a lion. “And what´s worse… you LIED to me!” “Mercy, my emperor. Please!” the tiger begged. “We´ll do better next time. We ssssswear!” “Doon´t hurt us!” “You had a magnificent chance to come back to your glory and take back what belonged to you. You could have feasted on thousands of ponies, just like in the old times. But you threw it away. The only thing you´ve showed me is that you are no use to me. And you know what happens because of that.” Grogar claimed as channelled magic through his hooves. The chimera looked in horror, knowing what its fate would be. That was the last time that chimera was seen or heard. Their last sound was screams of pain. The animals who witnessed the chimera´s fate preferred to look away. Once Grogar was finished with his job, he continued his journey. “My monsters might be terrifying when it comes to looks. But they lack intelligence! The only intelligent monster is my masterpiece. And he´s not accomplishing his duty.” While Grogar was talking to himself, he saw a butterfly fly by. He smirked evilly, for he had just come up with a plan. “But I know how to get him back. He has weaknesses.” Grogar watched some leaves falling from a tree. “And he, along the princesses, is somepony´s weakness too.” He chuckled in a terrifying manner.