//------------------------------//
// Beaten Path (Part 5) 
// Story: Kaiser 
// by MellowSoul 
//------------------------------//

Twilight waited patiently for Spike and Maple at the campus. A few minutes later, she saw them approach with four other mares in tow.

"Building a harem already?" the Alicorn cracked.

"You remember the night you took me home," Spike reminded, "I showed up late to the dorm while you were talking to Shining."

"I remember."

"The reason I was late was because I was helping Vanilla and her mom."

Twilight approached the teen, shaking her hoof in a jovial greeting.

"It's good to finally meet you. I always wondered who he ran into that night."

"He told me you were studying here at the time." Vanilla revealed.

"It's true. I actually met the current occupant just a while ago."

"Someone else is there now?" Spike questioned.

"Yeah. His name's Larry. I got his number and email address so we could keep in touch with him."

"We keep up at this pace we'll have a full army in no time."

"I picked up a couple things while I was in town."

Twilight levitated two band shirts, a set of armbands, and a skateboard over to her brother.

"I remembered you used to love the pro skater games. Thought you might wanna try the real deal."

"Aw, sick! Thanks!"

"Why don't you try 'em on?"

Spike removed his coat and shirt, swapping them out for a top with a Divine Souls graphic.

"Remember when we first found them?" Twilight reminisced.

"Yeah. Their sound reminded me of the old treehouse dad built when we were kids. Seems like such a long time ago now..."

"How long ago was it?"

"He built it in the fall of '93. I was only a year old, so you would've been about thirteen."

"I'm getting old."

"Nah. You've still got some juice left in ya."

"True."

"Ya know, we never finished our fight this morning. What do you say we tie up some loose ends?"

"Sure."

The pair assumed their fighting stance. Twilight asked the others to stand back. She established the rules to avoid dragging spectators in by mistake.

"No magic or fire. Everything else is fair game."

"Got it."

The siblings charged at each other, opening with a series of punches and kicks. As the fight progressed, a crowd began to gather around them. Maple and Vanilla spoke amongst themselves while their companions continued to spar.

"Did you see his bod," the adolescent swooned, "Holy crap, he's hot."

"I've seen more than you might think." Maple replied, hinting at the events which transpired in Hollow Falls.




The fight eventually shifted to the air. Several onlookers placed bets on who they thought would win.

"The dragon dude's got this in the bag." one stated.

"Don't count the chick out yet," another dissuaded, "She's holding her own."

The pair rushed in for one final strike. Spike vanished, reappearing right in front of his sister. The face of another dragon projected itself before Twilight. It seemed ancient and powerful. The Alicorn froze in place, taking the full brunt of her brother's attack and being knocked into the campus wall.

"Twilight," Spike shouted, flying toward his sister to make sure she was all right, "Are you okay!?"

"Yeah..." Twilight assured, rising to her legs.

"Why did you stop!? Any harder and I could've killed you!"

"You didn't see it...?"

"See what?"

"That dragon...Who was he...?"

"What are you talking about? It's just us."

Maple and the others sprinted toward Twilight's direction.

"Is she okay?" Vanilla asked.

"Yeah," Spike consoled, "Did you guys see anyone else up there with us?"

"No?"

Twilight rubbed her back, bringing attention back to the matter at hand. Maple, however, was still distracted by the previous comment. Someone else? How could that be possible...?

"Can one of you guys get her an ice pack," Spike requested, "She's probably gonna feel that for a bit, now."

"Leave it to me." Vanilla offered.