//------------------------------//
// SC Chaos: Spike's odd day. 
// Story: Ponysona: Arcana Crusaders 
// by Phoenix Kitten 
//------------------------------//



August 31 1006 Post Nightmare Moon


"Sweetie Belle!" Spike called out as he walked up to the Crusaders clubhouse deep in the heart of the Apple families orchard, a bored looking Sugar Cube trotting after him.

"Come on.. can't I go home by myself?" The filly groaned.

"No. Because you'll get distracted and wander off like you always do." Spike responded. "Sweetie come on! Your sister said it's okay for us to head back to the boutique so get that flank in gear and let's go so I can start lunch."

Only the cold silence of two minutes greeted him. "Alright young filly. I'm coming up there. Sugar Cube wait here in case she tries to slip out the windows." The young dragon ordered as he marched up the ramp and flung the door open.
His face dropped when he looked around the empty clubhouse, spying a comic book open on the floor, and a deck of cards on the table.
Curious he picked up and thumbed through the comic.
"Wow." he breathed. "The quality of this artwork is amazing. If this is what they've been working on, then that explains why they've been being so secretive." he said as he closed laid it down on the half drawn page he found it on and walked to the deck of cards, one of which sat face down next to the rest of them.

He rubbed his eyes quickly. Was it his imagination or was one of the cards glowing? Cautiously he picked it up and turned face up in his claw.
"The Aeon?" He wondered aloud. "This is a Tarot card." He said as he put the card back on the table and picked up the deck, shuffling through it. "And this is a deck of Tarot." He frowned. "But five cards are missing." He tapped his chin with his claw as he spread them all on the table to look at them, mouthing silently as he repeated the names in his head.
"The Fool, The Chariot, Strength, The Empress and Judgement. Wonder why those are missing?"

With a shrug he picked up the glowing Aeon and studied it intently. "Must be enchanted... but I can't see any markings. Guess I'll show it Twi and see what she can make of it." He shrugged again before poking around the clubhouse for any clues as to where the Crusaders vanished to before giving a slight shrug and heading back out.

"Ugh... Sugar Cube where did you go this time?" Spike dragged his free claw down his face in annoyance.





After finding and dragging his adopted younger sister back to the boutique, it became apparent to him that something was... off.
Twilight had been parading around wearing dark, gothic themed makeup and looking for a suitable matching dress before retreating to Rarity's work room to make one while Rarity lay on the couch, with her glasses on and her mane and tail let down, reading a book, looking up to smile and shake her head in amusement at Twilight's antics.

After making lunch, and a mental note to ask Twilight about the card when she wasn't acting weird, he had grabbed a sling bag and about a hundred bits to go shopping when he bumped into Pinkie Pie.

"Greetings Spikus." The Pink mare smiled.

"Uhh... hey Pinkamena..?" he shrugged. "Is everything okay?"

Pinkie tilted her head. "Of course. Why dost thou ask?"

"Umm... Because Twilight and Rarity were acting odd when I got back... and you're talking like Luna. And this morning I could swear I heard Applejack speaking with a slight Germanic accent while Gears had a country twang." Spike counted off on his claws. "Did something happen in that light show with the magic shockwave last night?"

Pinkie's eyes shrank to pinpricks at the mention of last night. "Y-you could see that?"

"See it? I felt it. So did Sweetie Belle and Sugar Cube." He looked up. "Also, what's the deal with the sun? It's been mid afternoon for the past... twenty hours. Shouldn't Luna do something about that?"

"I.. uh... I...I gotta go." Pinkie blurted out before dashing back to Sugarcube Corner.

Spike simply raised his eyescales and shrugged, continuing on his way to the grocery store.
"This town is weird sometimes." He muttered as he walked past Applejack as she made her way back to Sweet Apple Acres. "At least somethings are still normal."

He passed by the record store,which was suspiciously quiet. "Probably because Dash is still asleep, guess being pregnant again so soon after having Sunny is taking a toll on her."

"You could say that." A voice called from above.

Spike looked up and noticed Rainbow Dash's husband, Dizzy, hanging from the side of the roof by his hind legs doing leg ups. "Uhh... Hey Dizzy.. what's up?"

"Nothing much." The green unicorn smiled as he pulled himself up and peeked over the edge. "Where ya headed?"

"Just out to do some groceries." Spike replied. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to be able to read enchantments would you?"

"Nope. Sorry. If you needed me to use two sticks to bang on something really loud and fast, then I could do it." Dizzy answered, pointing to the drum kit that was his cutie mark.

"Right, well maybe you could tell me what exactly happened at Sugarcube corner last night? I ran into Pinkie earlier and she suddenly got all panicky and took off when I asked her." The purple dragon shrugged. "Applejack seems unaffected and it's almost like Twilight and Rarity have done a complete personality swap. And the sun has been stuck in the same spot since eight o'clock last night when it suddenly raised to the five pm position."

"O-o-oh... why.. why do you wanna know about that?" Dizzy asked nervously. "I-it's nothing. i-i'm sure everypony is just a little dazed after what happened.... yeah.. that's it. Dazed. A-anyway.... I gotta go..." he laughed nervously before slinking off.

Spike kept staring at the space that held the unicorns head for a few seconds before blinking and continuing on his way. "Weirdo." He muttered.

"Oh Spike! Spike, darling!" A voice cried out, causing the dragon to turn around. 
"Could you be a dear and do a little something for me on Monday?" Rarity asked as she cantered over to the dragon and slipped a piece of paper into one of the bags pockets. "Just head to Rose Luck's jeweler and drop that note off for me would you please?"

"Yeah. Sure I guess. No problem Rarity." He shrugged.

"Oh thank you Spike. I knew I could count on you." the white unicorn smiled before she turned and cantered back towards the boutique.

Spike blinked a few times. "Huh. Sounds like something Twilight might say." Shrugging yet again he continued on his path to the grocers when he was stopped yet again.

"Spike!" A dark grey unicorn stallion called out as he came galloping up. "Have... have you...seen Applejack?" He panted. "Whew nelly... I'm out of shape.."

Spikes eyescales went up another level at the use of the phrase. "I passed her about six minutes ago heading towards the her farm. Why? Is something wrong Gears?"

"Oh shoot.. Look. I'll talk to you later okay Spike?" The unicorn responded before bolting off after his marefriend.

The dragon scratched the back of his head and swore under his breath, "Kyō wa hen'na kusodesu." Before looking around for anymore distractions that might come his way.
After finally judging the area to be clear he started walking towards the market district.





Thankfully the trip back had been uneventful, but a quick glance at the clock tower had told him that the time he'd wasted one the way there had made it so as soon as he'd gotten back to the boutique he had to start dinner.

Apparently a note had been found in Sweetie and Sugars room that explained that she wouldn't be home because she was having a sleep over at the clubhouse with Applebloom and Scootaloo.
It wasn't until after dinner that he'd thought to show Twilight the card.

"What card Spike? There's noting in your claw but air." Twilight told him.

Spike took a mental picture of the expression she wore as she gave him a confused smile. "It's a tarot card, the Aeon, and it's glowing blue, how can you not see it Twi?"

"But that's just it. I can't. Maybe the enchantment is to hide it from pony eyes." She guessed.

"I suppose..." Spike said, skepticism creeping into his voice. 'This is creepy.' He thought. 'Her facial and vocal expressions are almost a perfect match for Rarity's.'

"Are you okay Spike?" Twilight asked as she waved a hoof in front of his eyes. "Hellooo." she almost sang. "Equestria to Spike."

"Huh?" He shook his head. "Yeah. just thinking. Anyway. If you can't see it then maybe you're right. Maybe you can try to undo the enchantment on it tomorrow."

"Oh. Of course." Twilight smiled sweetly before giving his cheek a light, motherly peck. "Good night Spikey."

The dragon poked his tongue out and rubbed where he'd been kissed. "Yeah yeah. Good night."