//------------------------------// // An Abstract Future // Story: Finding Your Place // by Jake The Army Guy //------------------------------// Finding Your Place by Jake The Army Guy Chapter Three: An Abstract Future ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns was actually a bit of a misnomer. When it formed in Solar Year 872 it had been for only the wealthiest and most prominent foals of the elite class, namely unicorns. However, following a series of protests in the early 900’s, including one infamous day when an earth pony covered herself in honey while her pegasus coltfriend had unleashed a swarm of flies, the school opened its doors to all. The eager young minds from all races, species, and economic backgrounds flocked here to be taught by the best and brightest that academia had to offer. The School for Gifted Unicorns had become, in more ways than one, a symbol of unity Located right next to the palace, Her Majesty’s school was nothing like the opulence of the seat of government. A large complex, nearly 300 acres, composed mainly of nondescript beige-walled, black-roofed buildings of various sizes contained the envy of the scholastic world. These days, magical studies still held focus, though courses and degrees of all kinds were now offered, from scientific pursuits like Evolutionary Biology and Natural Thaumatic Phenomenon, to liberal arts classes like Advanced Musical Theory and The Cultural and Socio-economic Influence of Iron Mare and Spider-Mane Twilight Sparkle stood before the doors, basking in the nostalgia, Lieutenant Cake standing sentinel behind her. The last time she stood there, she was merely a filly, timid and awkward. Despite studying under the Princess herself and receiving the highest marks possible from even the sternest of professors, in her mind she was still very much a foal. Not anymore; now, her intellect was tempered by experience and maturity. Now, she stood proudly, her mane tied into a smart ponytail, her black-rimmed glasses sitting on her snout, wearing the professional dress suit Rarity made for her, a conservative jacket colored a light purple to match her mane. Setting her shoulders, she strode forward, a confident spring in her step. As her magic swung the doors open, a cool blast of air washed over her, carrying the scent of musty parchment and drying ink. She chuckled quietly as a tiny shot of adrenaline-fueled nostalgia coursed through her veins, the sights and smells reviving old horrors of strict deadlines and frantic cram sessions. Shaking off the misplaced fear, she made her way through the posh lobby, pristinely waxed floor tiles reflecting back her determined eyes and confident smirk. A brief glance to the far left wall revealed a string of portraits, crotchety old ponies with the perpetual scowls of professional teachers. Twilight shuddered slightly. I hope I don't look that bad later on. She turned back to the front as she approached the front desk. A wiry gray mare with a jarringly red mane sat behind the desk reading a textbook. Twilight cleared her throat when she got near. "Hello, I'm Tw—" "Twilight Shparkle!"  Twilight jerked back to avoid the fine mist of spittle. The mare smiled broadly revealing a mess of metal affixed to her teeth, her eyes all but popping out of her head. Twilight gave a shaky smile. "Uh, yes, I—" "Oh, it is shuch an honor to finally meet you, Professher!" The mare's smile was threatening to break off her acned face, and her eyes held a manic glaze that made Twilight shift uneasily. "I'm Shteely Gaze. I'm your biggesht fan!" "Uh, heh, th-thank you. Now, co—" "Oh, I'm so excited to have you here! I signed up for your class as soon as it opened!" "Thank you, b—" The mad mare leaned even further towards Twilight, to the point where she could smell the acne medication in her face. "I've been following you for years!  I've read every one of your pubilcationsh!" Twilight brightened a bit. "Oh, have you?" Steely nodded so fast, Twilight felt a slight breeze. "Yesh! I even have an original print of The Friendship Reports! All of your papersh are incredibly inshightful, but I think your shecond to lasht wash my favorite." "Oh, you mean—" Twilight's eyes widen at the implication. Silently cursing her one attempt at a clever title, she turned her head away from the oncoming tsunami. "A Series of Studies Surveying Successful Species Surviving in Special Circumstances!" When the spittle stopped, Twilight found herself curiously dry. Opening her eyes, she saw Lieutenant Cake standing stalwart in front of her. She stepped to the side, and gasped at the large amounts of saliva dripping off his unflinching face. "Lieutenant?" He blinked slowly. "Madam Sparkle, I swore an oath, before the diarchs themselves, that I would protect my every charge with life and limb. If I can take a bow through the breast, I can take phlegm to the face." It was Twilight's turn to blink. "Um... thanks?" She shook her head, Turning to face Steely and floating a stack of papers out of her saddlebag. "I'm looking for my classroom. I'm supposed to be sharing room," she rummaged through a few papers, "214 with a Professor Igneous." "Oh, Professor Fido! Yes, go down that hallway," she gestured to a door in their right, "all the way down in the left side." "Thank you." She nodded, floating the papers back in her bag. "Also, if you want to make a good impression on me, you can start by not using derogatory nicknames for your teachers." Steely Gaze's gaze faltered. "Um, Professhor?" Twilight remained firm. "I understand if he's not your favorite, but he's a professional, and a pony, just like you. You should treat him as such, understand?" "Um, I don't think you—" Twilight’s eyes narrowed. "Do you understand?" Steely's ears drooped. "Yesh, ma'am." "Good," Twilight said, her chest puffing out a tiny bit. She nodded then turned to the lieutenant. "Come on, Lieutenant Cake, let’s head to the classroom." "Yes, ma'am!" He nodded firmly, sending a few errant droplets of moisture flying. She jerked out of the line of fire, smiling sheepishly. "Um, after a trip to the washroom." "It would be most appreciated, ma'am." After allowing Beef to towel off, they made their way down the hall towards what was soon to be her classroom. Twilight failed to suppress a fillyish squeal at the thought: her classroom. After all her trials, all her fretting and worrying, it was finally happening. She stood at the door for a few moments, reading the words written in thick black letters on the window: Professor F. Igneous Thaumatic Geology & Professor T. Sparkle Advn. Magical Theory After basking in the glow of her own awesomeness, as Rainbow would say, she turned to her bodyguard. "Would you mind waiting out here, Lieutenant? I'd prefer to meet, " she flashed a wide, and very cheesy, grin, "my fellow professor, on my own." "Madam Sparkle, I—" "Professor Sparkle," she chided in a sing-song voice. "My apologies. Professor Sparkle, I would not wish to leave you unguarded. What if this pony is some kind of fiend?" Twilight let out a snort. "Lieutenant, Princess Celestia told me he's sixty-five. I think I can handle a stodgy old professor." He raised an eyebrow. "Like you handled Professor Parchment?" "Do not mention his name!" Twilight snarled, stomping her hoof. To his credit, Beef only flinched a little bit when the sparks jumped from her horn. He swallowed loudly. "Yes, ma... Professor." Twilight set her shoulders, cleared her throat, smiled and walked in the door, not caring that it slammed behind her. As soon as she looked around, her anger evaporated. The classroom, her classroom, was just like the one she had sat in when she was a filly. A large chalkboard took up the entire wall to her right, with a large tabletop in front of it. Facing it, large rows of desks sat on ascending steps, all wide with cushions beneath we them large enough to accommodate creatures of any size. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, the smell of chalk and parchment invigorating like a summers breeze. Standing in front of the rows of desks, she felt more than calm; she felt ready. A quiet shuffling came from the back of the room. Turning, Twilight approached what she assumed was a desk, though it was hard to tell underneath the mountain of papers stacked in between various jars of fine powder. Between the tall stacks, she could see movement. "Um, hello?" "Yes, yes, back here." The voice that answered was rough and gravelly, though a Trottingham accent was discernible. Cautiously, Twilight made her way to the desk. She approached, trying to see over the massive pile of papers topped with an open jar of sand. She could just see the back of what looked like a tweed jacket rustling around. She made to speak when a hellish shape pounced up from behind the stack. Twilight only caught flashes: bright yellow eyes, jet black fur, and razor sharp teeth. "Hello!" "Ahh!" The sudden startle made her jump, her back hooves skidding on the waxed tile floor, throwing her off balance. In a last mad dash to save herself, she lunged for the table, but only succeeded in knocking over the jar of dust. She gasped as she flopped to the ground, all air rushing from her lungs. Before she even had a chance to breath back in, a thick blanket of sand fell on her face. She groaned and lifted her hooves to clear the dust from her face, but the gravelly voice called out again. “No, no, don’t!” Twilight froze, laying on her belly with her hooves hanging in the air in front of her face. She heard movement, then felt a presence before her. "I'm terribly sorry about this. That's Lucium powder. The granules are very jagged, and could cause serious damage if they got into your eyes." Twilight felt a claw—Oh, Celestia, why does he have claws?!—rest in her face and gently angle it up. "Since you're not writhing in agony, you must have closed your eyes quick enough. Good on you." The voice let out a chuckle that was almost lost under its harsh grumble. Twilight's tail began to flick back on forth as the claw left her face and a series of clicks sounded, almost like somepony turning a key inside a lock. "Get it off, get it off, please get it off!" "Alright, alright, calm down," the harsh voice cooed. A few more clicks, and then a low thrumming, and Twilight could feel the humming pulse of magic in the air as his claw once more cupped her cheek. "Now, here we go, just relax." She let out a quiet yelp as a warm trickle of water flowed over her face, but the gentle claw held her in place. Slowly, she felt the fine dust clearing from her eyes, whatever was pouring water on her face moved back and forth in a gentle pattern. What felt like a thumb—it was broad and strong, but the surface felt like rough velvet—gingerly swiped across her eye, helping to clear away the moist dirt. Twilight flinched under the contact, but he kept up his gentle ministrations, offering soothing words to calm her, and she eventually relaxed in his grip. Despite her situation, Twilight couldn't stop the bit of warmth spreading across her cheek. Finally, the flow of water died off. "And," the hand gave one last sweep across her eyes then released her, "there we are. Open your eyes." Twilight blinked several times, trying to forces the world back into focus. As it did, the figure crouched next to her was not the nightmarish creature she thought it was. The razor-sharp fangs were, in fact, just the front incisors of the angular canine muzzle currently smiling at her. The blazing eyes were a stark amber, radiating with intelligence and youth. What jet-black fur that wasn’t covered by his conservative brown suit and tweed jacket was neatly groomed and shining. "Are you alright?" he asked, his growling tone somehow warm and gentle. Somewhere in Twilight's brain, she remembered that in such situations, she was expected to speak. So, she blurted out the first thing to pop into her head. "You're not a pony." The canine gasped, his paw reaching up to his face. "Are you sure? I could have sworn I was a pegasus!" Twilight did her best to hold in the snort of laughter as he helped her back to her hooves. Standing up straight, he towered over her, her head just about at his chest. "No, I'm a Diamond Dog." He bowed low. "Fidelis Igneous, professor of Thaumatic Geology." Twilight furrowed her brow for a moment before her eyes widened. "Fido." He laughed, a guttural rumble that somehow sounded both terrifying and inviting. "Yes, that is what the students have come to call me. Sort of a cheeky diminutive, but its all in good fun." Twilight nodded, making a mental note to apologize to the mare at the front desk. "What spell was that?" He quirked his eyebrows for a moment. "Hmm? Oh, yes, that. That was my little device here," he said, gesturing to a gauntlet on his left arm. Twilight's eyes went wide as she examined it. The device consisted of a polished silver sleeve that ran from his wrist, where two straps ran between his fingers to secure it, to just below his elbow, where sat a gleaming ruby. Six bands ran width-wise around it, each containing five brilliant jewels of various kinds and one empty space. She leaned in close, stepping next to him. "I've never seen anything like this before." "I would think not," he said, a proud smile on his face. "It's my own design. I call it a runic sleeve. It allows a Diamond Dog, like myself, to focus active magic without having to draw runes on the ground." Twilight brought her hoof to the sleeve, gently poking and prodding it. "Amazing. An arrangement of gemstones enchanted to resonate with your thaumatic field, aligning it to the Earth’s and allowing for semi-spontaneous spell-casting without the need of a medium.” He arched his eyebrow. "Precisely. Additionally, this design allows for realignment of the gems." He demonstrated by rotating the bands, rearranging the gems, and Twilight recognized the clicks she heard earlier. "So, I can create any effect I want. From a light trickle to wash sand off of a unicorn," he said with a grin as he slid one last rune into place, "to a gentle breeze to dry her off." Stepping back, he pointed his hand at her and pressed in the humming ruby. WOOSH! By the time Twilight's ears stopped ringing and her eyes decided to stop rotating independently, the Diamond Dog was already at her side, helping to keep her balanced. He offered a sheepish grin. "Eh-heh, it's... it's a work in progress." He suddenly frowned. "Oh, dear..." "What?" "Oh, oh, nothing." He flashed a very toothy smile. Her eyes narrowed. "What is it?" "Well, your mane. It's a bit... off." She opened her mouth, but he silenced her with a paw, his other adjusting the runes in his sleeve. "But, don't worry, I'm, uh, I'm sure I can design some—some sort of grooming spell t—" "No!" She gave a shaky laugh when he jumped. "Uh, I mean, don't worry, I've got it." Her horn lit up, bathing the area in a purplish haze. The air in front of her began to shimmer and crackle, what appeared to be a black hole forming before their eyes. With a quiet pop, a head-sized mirror appeared. Twilight looked into it and swore, somehow, she could hear Rarity shrieking at the tangled, poofy mess that had been her mane. Her tongue just barely stuck from her mouth as her mane glowed a dull lavender, the ragged mess untangling and reforming into her ponytail. Beside her, Igneous watched the scene in stunned silence for several moments before finding his voice. "Amazing," he breathed, slowly circling around her. "A multispectral light refraction spell maintained simultaneously with a custom mane-styling program with a Come-to-Life spell woven into the spell matrix!" He ended up back in front of her. "I'm impressed... and not a little bit humbled." Twilight felt a blush creep across her cheeks once again. "Well, thank you, Professor. I'm Tw—" "Twilight Sparkle, yes, I gathered." She huffed quietly, then smiled, eyeing him curiously. "Um, forgive me, but you don't look like the Diamond Dogs I've met before," she said, noting his lean build and narrow muzzle. "Yes, well, I suppose I wouldn't. I'm a mongrel." He smiled at her raised eyebrow. "A mutt, half-breed. My mother was a from one of the Wolven packs." She blinked. "Oh, I didn't know that dogs and Wolven interbred." "Well, it's not exactly common, but it does happen." He leaned in a bit closer. "Makes for very interesting Pack reunions, let me tell you." Igneous's guttural chuckle and Twilight's fillyish giggle drifted across the empty classroom. When the laughter tapered off, Twilight smiled at him, looking into those keen, welcoming eyes as he smiled right back at her. "You're, uh... you're not what I thought, Professor." “I know, I’m not a quadroped.” “Heehee, no, I-I meant... you! You’re much, hm, warmer than I expected.” "Oh? And what, pray tell, were you expecting, Professor?" "Well," she said with a sheepish grin, "I thought you'd be a bit more... stuffy. Princess Celestia told me you were sixty-five." "But I am sixty-five." Twilight blinked. "Oh! Well, you still look very young." He arched his eyebrow. "I am young. Well, I mean I'm not a pup, but I'm in the prime of my life." He must have read her bewildered expression. "Diamond Dogs routinely live to around two-hundred. Think of it like reverse dog years. Did someone lead you to believe otherwise?" Twilight was fighting a losing battle with her tongue at the moment. "B-b-but, Princess Celestia said that you were old!" "No, I didn’t." Both dog and pony whirled around to see Princess Celestia walk through the doorway, wavering hair and playful smirk on full display. She nodded to them, bading them to rise from their bows, and grinned at Twilight. "My faithful student, I merely said he was very spry for his age, which he is." She turned to Igneous. "I understand you have a black belt in Sambone, yes?" He beamed. "Two stripes, working in my third.” Celestia smiled at him, turning to Twilight as an exaggerated gasp escaped her lips. "Oh, did you not know about Diamond Dog life spans?" She looked back to Igneous as Twilight desperately tried to fight her tongue. "Professor, would you mind giving us a few minutes in private?" "Of course, your highness." He offered another bow. "I'll be in my office should you need me. Oh, sorry," he said, smiling at Twilight, "I guess that would be our office now!" With that he turned and walked to the door in the far former of the room, quietly closing it behind them. The moment the lock clicked, Twilight found her voice. "Was that really necessary, your highness?" Celestia let out a small, melodious giggle. "Such impudence! When did this happen?" Twilight brought her hoof to her chin, looking up at the ceiling. "Hmm, I think it was around the fourth or fifth eldritch abomination my friends and I stopped while you were in the castle eating cake." A brief pause, and both princess and professor erupted into a fit of giggles. Celestia opened a wing and brought Twilight into a warm hug. "How have you been, Twilight?" "Embarrassed," she huffed, pulling away from her mentor. "You could have told me he was a dog! What was the point of that?" Celestia smiled that knowing, playful smirk Twilight had seen so many times before. "Call it a final lesson before you officially leave my tutelage. Even on your proudest day, one must be humble." "And the best way to teach that is to make me look like a complete foal in front of my new co-worker?" "Well, the most expedient way." The two made their way over to the first row of desks, sitting down on the plush cushions facing each other. Celestia was silent for a moment, a sad smile in her face. "Oh, my dear Twilight, you've grown so much. You and Spike." Twilight smiled. "Him more than me." Celestia's face fell. "Yes, I heard about what happened when you arrived last week." She reached her hoof to Twilight's foreleg. "I'm so sorry I haven't been able to spend more time with you two. With Luna visiting Gryphonvale, the past few weeks have been hectic. I’m actually in the middle of a meeting with Bean Counter, the head of the Canterlot Chamber of Commerce right now.” She giggled at Twilight’s confused face. “Just a simple illusion spell.” “An illusion spell... is having a meeting?” Celestia scoffed. “Oh, come now, Twilight, you know those stuffy business types. A random ‘Yes’ and ‘Uh-huh’ is all they need to hear. Besides, I had to come visit.” "It's okay, Princess. You control the sun, not time." "Still, with someone as close to me as you and Spike, I should make the time. Tell me, how has he been?" Twilight sank a bit deeper into the cushion, lips askew in uncertain thought. "To be honest, Princess, not well." Celestia's expression bade her continue, so Twilight told her about the emotional conversation she had with Spike a week ago. Celestia merely nodded, extending her wing around Twilight, who subconsciously leaned into it as she spoke. Finally, Twilight finished, and a comfortable silence fell between them, Celestia gently nuzzling her head. Eventually, Twilight pulled away, and looked up at Celestia with tired eyes. "I'll be honest, Princess. I've spent the last week trying to think of someway to help him, to magic away his troubles, but I'm at a loss.” “I can see that. I can also see the wheels in your head spinning, Twilight.” A sly smile worked across her lips again. “You have an plan?”  Twilight nodded, but her expression remained neutral. “I have an idea, and it’s feasible, at least on a fundamental level, but the numbers just don’t add up. At its most basic level, my theory is sound, but the level of power I’d need is astounding, mind-boggling! Until I can figure out the math, I don’t know what I can do to help him. I mean, I know to be there for him, listen and talk to him, but his problems..." "Are the kind that can only be solved by the most powerful of magics." Twilight smiled. "Yes, friendship." "Possibly." Celestia sighed deeply. "Oh, my dear faithful student. I'm an old fool." Twilight shot her a perplexed glance. Celestia chewed her lip for an instant. "Twilight, I think its time I told you the truth about your entrance exam all those years ago." "Oh, you mean how it wasn't really a requirement and you were just looking for the Element of Magic?" "Buh?!" With super-equine effort, Twilight suppressed the smug grin threatening to tear across her face. It's not everyday one gets to catch an immortal goddess with blinders on. Celestia's mind finally caught up. "But... how?" It was Twilight's turn to smile knowingly. "Oh, come on, Princess. It wasn't that hard to figure out. The fact that nearly every foal who failed it before me still got accepted, combined with the fact that nopony ever had to take it again after me, and that you started it a fifty years before Nightmare Moon returned, a long weekend for an immortal, and it was only logical." “And... it doesn’t bother you?” “At first. Yes, you were playing a bit of the ‘chessmaster’ role, and yes, that did... bother me for a bit.” Celestia cringed slightly. “But, after awhile, I realized that you didn’t set out to manipulate me specifically, you were trying to save the world. More importantly,” she placed her hoof on Celestia’s, “you were trying to save your baby sister. I understand that now, and it’s okay.” Her eyes got a bit distant. “I only wish I had accepted that a month ago...” Celestia blinked hard for several seconds, then smiled. "Never change, Twilight." She allowed Twilight several more moments of basking, then continued. "There is, however, more to it than that. "Yes, I did begin that test with the intent of finding the Element. Dragons are so resistant to our magic, even I, with all my power, have struggled against them in combat. So, when it became apparent that I could no longer sit and wait for the element to reveal itself, a dragon's egg seemed like a good gauge of abilities." "But, where did you even get a dragon egg?" Twilight had sat up a bit straighter upon mention of Spike's egg. "It was gifted to me some seven hundred years ago." Twilight stiffened. "Gifted?! You mean Spike's mother just gave him away?" Celestia nodded. "The Topaz Depths clan bordered Equestria back then. They were stalwart allies for many centuries. She Of The Depths even fought by my side during the War of the Night. After I helped repel a Gryphonian invasion, She gifted me with Her first-bared egg, the highest sign of respect in Draconian culture." Twilight's eyes widened slightly. "So, Spike may have living relatives?" "Sadly, no. The Topaz Depths clan died off several centuries ago. She was a dear friend, and I mourned Her loss greatly." Twilight gulped, but said nothing for a moment, letting Celestia compose herself. Finally, she spoke. "I'm sorry, Princess, but what does this have to do with Spike's situation?" Celestia sighed once more. "Promise me you will never tell Spike about this.” Twilight nodded. “Well, you understand now that Spike’s egg had been in stasis for so long, that I... I honestly thought he would be... stillborn.” The clock above the chalkboard gently chimed out the hour, the bells surprisingly loud in the large class. Twilight swallowed hard. "So, what happened? If his egg was... what happened?" Celestia smiled. "You happened. Even to this day you underestimate your own abilities." “Then, if you didn't think he would hatch, why did you include it in the test?” Celestia shifted uncomfortably on her cushion. “Twilight, even hatching a non-viable dragon egg is a feat of incredible power. It seemed a perfect scenario. I find the Element Bearer, and no creature is harmed.  “But in my haste to find her—that is, you— I never really stopped to think of what I would do if it were to hatch. By all rights, I should have dropped him off at the nearest dragon clan, but..." Her eyes wandered off, glazing over. "I knew his life would be difficult were he to be raised by ponies, but when I saw him there, sucking his tail, I... and since I'm not able to..." Twilight felt a cold lump in her throat. For all the time she had spent pondering the exact nature of her relationship with Spike, she never paused to think about Celestia's. After Twilight hatched him, Celestia had taken him for the first few years of his life. Twilight still spent every moment she wasn't studying or in classes with him, but the princess was his primary caregiver until he was around seven. If I'm his sister, then would that make her... Twilight could count on one of Spike’s hands the number of times she had seen this side of her mentor: not Princess Celestia, not Solumveyah, Keeper of The Light, but Celestia, an old pony who had lived longer than any could imagine, and sacrificed so much for her little ponies. As Celestia’s eyes continued looking at nothing, Twilight imagined, just for a split second, that her ever-flowing hair lost just a bit of its ethereal luster. Then, just as soon as it came, it passed. Celestia shook her head and smiled faintly down at Twilight. “Well, what matters now is now. Spike is going through a very tough time, and he will need more than a guardian or sister. He will need a friend.” Twilight held her gaze for a moment, quelling the torrent of questions and thoughts, then smiled back. “You’re right, Princess, and we’re all going to be here for him. Spike is spending some quality time with Shining Armor right now.” “Oh? Are you sure that’s wise, Twilight? You know how those two can get.” Twilight shook her head. “I’m sure they’re fine, Princess, they’re not foals anymore.” Celestia arched her eyebrow and opened her mouth, but all that came out was a deep sigh. “Oh, no.” “What is it, Princess?” Celestia rose to her hooves, an irritated scowl on her pristine face. “I’m afraid I must take my leave. It seems the clone has hit a bit of a... hiccup.” “Hiccup?” “Yes. Apparently Bean Counter wanted to take a walk around the Palace as we talked. I am repeatedly attempting to walk through a brick wall.” Twilight chortled and rose with her. “I understand, Princess. Thank you so much for coming down here,” she said, nuzzling against Celestia, who wrapped a wing around her. “Of course, my dear Twilight. And please, tell Spike how much I miss him. I will do everything in my power to make the time to se—” She suddenly cringed. “Oh, my. I have to go. I just made it through the wall...” In a bright flash, she vanished. Twilight shook her head and walked up to the large chalkboard. She turned around and did a slow scan of the room, imagining the young faces of ponies, and all other manner of creatures, eagerly awaiting her words, her knowledge. A smile spread across her face. Though she still didn’t know how to best help Spike, she’d figure it out. Letting out a breath, she turned and walked towards the back office Igneous had gone to. The office was hidden in the rear of the classroom, the nondescript door set in a slight alcove next to the far end of the desks. Twilight eased the door open with her magic, and almost swallowed her tongue: endless stacks of papers, drawers open and overflowing with notecards, specimen jars scattered across the floor, ensure only someone who walked on two legs could possibly hope to navigate it. Professor Igneous stood at the back, rummaging through a mountain of textbooks. He looked up and smiled as Twilight entered. “Ah, Professor! Did her majesty leave?”He gulped and let out an awkward laugh when Twilight’s only response was a severely twitching right eye. “Eh-heh, n-now I know it looks like quite a mess, but I assure you that I have a system that w—” “Professor Igneous.” Her voice was devoid of emotion. “You will allow me to organize this room... or I will not be held responsible for my actions.” Igneous gulped. “Shall I fetch a broom?” * * * On the far side of Canterlot, the midday sun shone brightly across a serene field of summer grass and wildflowers. A cool breeze danced across the blades of grass, creating a pleasant whistling sound that played through the air like the ghostly echoes of a forgotten melody. A huge lake sat in the middle of the field, crested by a gently sloping hill. A large butterfly, brilliantly decorated with stark yellows, deep browns, and dull blues drifted lazily on the wind before landing gently on a wild daisy, its expansive wings fluttering as it dipped down to sample the sweet pollen. In that moment, it truly represented the peace and beauty of Equestria. The field on the other side of the hill represented Tartarus on Earth. Large platforms and pillars, all constructed of shimmering pink magic dominated the field. On one side stood a platoon of Guards, all dressed in the drab sweatshirts of the standard physical training uniform. At the far end, Shining Armor stood tall, his horn sparking with power, a look of deep focus on his ivory features. Nearly a kilometer away, Spike gasped in deep lungfuls of air, his purple face twisted in angered focus as he lowered himself down for what felt like his millionth push-up. Every exhalation sent a large billow of smoke skyward, but he kept pace, determined to take what Shining was dishing out. Right next to him stood a tan pegasus, his crew-cut blonde mane hidden beneath the imposing brown hat crested with the symbol of the Royal Guard. He matched every push-up that Spike did, only where Spike was grunting and straining, he seemed to be enjoying himself. At some unknown signal, the drill sergeant leapt up and blew his whistle. "Go!" Spike leapt up and tore off, claws tearing at the earth. He made it twenty meters when the shrill report of the whistle sounded again. "Roll right!" Spike tucked his legs tight to his body and rolled to the right then continued running. "Tumble left!" Spike bounded to the left, performing a summersault, losing no momentum as he ran on. "Hit it!" Groaning, Spike skidded to a halt and began another set of push-ups. The pegasus yelled in his ear. "Keep your back straight, wyrm, or I'm gonna make luggage outta you!" Spike growled as he continued pushing. "Eh, your mother," Spike hissed through clenched teeth as he pushed himself up. The pony either didn't hear him or didn't care. He just leaned in very close to Spike's sensitive draconic ears and blew the whistle. "Go!" Spike took off at a dead sprint towards a shimmering wall about five hooves taller than him. He smirked. "No sweat," he panted. Behind him, the pegasus waved to Shining across the field. The general's horn billowed out more light, and with a squeaking sound, the wall extended several meters taller. Spike screeched to a halt, his jaw dropping. He shot an incredulous look to the drill sergeant. "You're kidding, right?" he panted. The pegasus glared at him. "Get your bucking scaley backside over that wall!" Spike growled and crouched down, thick cords of muscle in his legs trembling like coiled steel as he eyed the glowing pink wall of pure magic before him. With a loud grunt, he leapt like a cat, easily clearing the tall barrier and landing with fluid ease on the other side, instantly tearing off into a dead sprint. Before him was a veritable maze of towering pink pillars of pure magic, wild arcs of electrical power dancing across their surface. An intense look of focus consumed his face as he twisted his way between them with incredible care. "Go, Mr. Spike!" Spike shot a quick glance to his right. Heckel and Jeckel stood on the sidelines of the makeshift obstacle course, each dressed in the drab sweatshirts of the Guard's PT uniform, huffing and puffing loudly. They had just finished their own physical training regimen, and now stood to watch him. Jeckel waved animatedly, while Heckel stood with his usual scowl. The brief distraction cost Spike. He yelped as his long tail touched one of the crackling pillars, earning him a jolting shock. This caused him to lose his balance and he stumbled off his claws straight into another pillar. "Glbblebblebble-aaaahhh-ha-hhaaaoooowwww!" "Eyes forward, you overgrown iguana!" Spike rolled into his back, smoke rising from his scales. "Oh, shut up, dude," he groaned. In a flash, the pegasus was above him, hovering inches from his face. "How about you show me some damn respect? Or do they not teach that in that scraggly podunk hole of a town you come from?" Every muscle in Spike's body tensed. With a loud growl, he flipped back over and fell into a fighting stance, fangs bared, back spines rigid and menacing, his cold, steely eyes boring into the pegasus. “Don’t talk about Ponyville like that!” He huffed a huge plume of smoke out at the airborne pony. The pegasus didn’t even flinch at the display of draconic rage. He flapped his wings and advanced on Spike, his fierce eyes staring right back at the enraged dragon. “Then don’t give me a reason to. Twenty wing burpees! Knock 'em out!" Spike snarled and dropped into a pushup position. As he pushed up, his wings gave a mighty flap, sending him bounding several meters into the air. He landed roughly with a thunderous boom, then repeated the process. Twenty repetitions later, another shrill report from the whistle. "Go!" Spike leapt up and ran towards Shining. His long claws tore deep ruts in the grass, but he ignored it; Shining assured him somepony would fix it later. The earth beneath him trembled with every step of his powerful legs. He looked not unlike a freight train, with huge clouds of thick black smoke spewing forth with every breath.  Spike tuned out the world. Nothing existed, not the aching soreness spreading in his wings, not the burning in his lungs. The only thing that was real was his goal: the wavering wall of magic that separated him from Shining. Leaning his shoulder forward, he slammed into the barrier and was immediately rewarded with several hooves worth of give. On the other side, Shining grimaced, a shower of sparks spewing from his horn, but he set his shoulders and glared at Spike, his teeth bared and brow set, and pushed back. As Spike dug his hind claws into the ground, shouts could be heard over his panting grunts and the loud thrumming of Shining's magic. "Take it to him, General!" "Dig in, Spike, you got this!" "Twenty bits on the General!" "You're on!" Spike growled, emerald flame licking out from between his teeth as he rotated to place both claws against the barrier. His hind claws dug deeper into the ground, and he pushed. At a glacial pace, the barrier inched forward. On the other side, sweat was pouring from Shining's brow, his horn blazing wildly. Suddenly, his right foreleg buckled, sending him to his knees. He cried out as his horn sputtered briefly. Several gasps could be heard from the crowd. "Whoa, he's gonna do it!" "Come on, General!" "Twenty bits on the dragon!" "No way, you already made your bet!" Shining's eyes shot open. Slowly, he raised his head to glare at the smirking dragon before him. With a loud roar, Shining planted his front hooves on the ground and stood, sparks shooting from his horn. Spike's eyes went wide. The force pushing against him seemed to double, triple. A burning ache shot through his tired limbs, the flames in his mouth sputtering out. Large mounds of upturned earth grew behind his him claws as the barrier pushed him back. Shining's yell reached a fever pitch, feral and angry. The soldiers around them stepped back, a nervous gaze in their eyes as they looked upon their General. Gone was the smiling pragmatist, the tough but fair commander, replaced by the youngest general in the Royal Guard, one of the most powerful shield mages in recorded history, the Lion from the North. With his battle cry at a crescendo, he surged forward.   Poor Spike had no idea what happened. One second he was struggling against his smarmy, jerky friend/step-brother, the next he was doing his best impression of a sock in a drier. When the world finally stopped spinning, two shapes slowly came into focus. “Wow, Mr. Spike, that was amazing!" Jeckel said in his much-too-happy-to-be-mentally-stable way.  Spike groaned, letting his head fall back to the ground. Jeckel pressed him. “You really took him!” Spike blinked, moving the only muscles that didn’t scream in agony as his broad chest heaved. “Wha— what do y— he won, he— oh, Godde—” “What he’s talking about is we’ve never seen the General sweat like that before,” Heckel grumbled. With titanic effort, Spike lolled his head to the side. Across the field, the dozens of pink magical constructs were vanishing, the deep scars of Spike’s claw marks the only evidence of the workout/flank-beating that he received. Now only several meters away, Shining stood on shaky legs, sweating profusely and taking eager gulps from a water bottle. Beside him, the tan pegasus stood scowling at the group of guards that swarmed around the General, all heaping praise upon him. “Alright, alright, that’s enough, shut the buck up and get back in formation!” In a flash, the group of nearly sixty guards were back in their ranks, standing at rigid attention. He turned back to Shining. “Sorry about that, sir. Most of these miscreants have never seen power like that before." Shining Armor nodded at him, taking another greedy gulp from the bottle. “No problem, Drill Sergeant. I just hope they don't ask to see it again anytime soon." He wiped his brow with the towel around his neck. “Whoo, I must be getting old.” “You’re only thirty-four.” All of them turned to welcome Cadance, who walked up to Shining and wrapped a wing around him. “Besides, you’re only as old as you feel.” He grinned at her. “Well then, I must be only a foal whenever you’re around.” With that, he wrapped his forelegs around her and pulled her into a deep kiss. She let out a quiet yelp that quickly turned into a moan as he kissed her much deeper than decorum would allow for. She pulled back slightly, their noses still touching. “Shine, you’re showing off again.” “Hey, if you were married to you, you’d show off, too.” He kissed her again, snaking his hoof around to give her a playful squeeze on her cutie mark. She squealed and laughed, pushing him off with mock disgust. “Get off of me!” “Never.” A punctated clearing of a throat cut off their display. The Drill Sergeant stood glaring at the platoon of guards, all of whom were all but staring at the loving couple. Cadance stifled a giggle as Shining stiffened under the sergeant’s scrutiny. “Shining, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Shining cleared his throat. “Uh, this is Drill Sergeant Tweak from the academy. Drill Sergeant, I believe you know my wife.” Tweak gave a deep bow. “Of course, your highness, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” “Tweak was just helping me help Spike with his fine motor control.” Cadance looked over to the still-panting Spike. “Oh? What exactly were you doing?” “Cri—” Spike gulped for air— “crimes against equinity!” Shining took another sip of water. “You’re not an equine.” Groaning, Spike rolled over and lay on his belly, his back-spines splayed out flat against his body. “You... you’re right. I’m a reptile... and I’m sweating. I... I’m sweating... and I'm a reptile!” Cadance giggled. “You’re not cold-blooded!” Spike huffed, his tail impacting the ground with a low boom. “Principle!” “Uh, sir, if that’s all, I’m gonna take the colts back to the barracks.” Tweak offered a salute. “Of course. Thank you again for your help, Drill Sergeant.” He returned the salute. “Thank you, sir.” He gave another deep bow to Cadance. “Again, ma’am, it was a pleasure to meet you. If I may be so bold, your husband is an exceptionally lucky stallion.” Cadance blushed. “Oh, thank you, sir.” “Don't call me sir, ma’am. I work for a living.” He winked, then turned to walk towards the formation of soldiers. Cadance laughed then turned to Shining. “Wow, he’s nothing like the stories I’ve heard about drill se—” “Alright, you little group of malformed coat hanger dodgers! You have exactly five bucking seconds to get back to the barracks before I rip your Luna-damned throats out and make sweet, sweet love to the hole!” Shining’s raucous laughter at Cadance’s expression was almost lost under the thunder of hooves. Fortunately, she quickly recovered her bearing. “Um, so, how exactly is making Spike stronger going to help his motor control?” “Oh, it’s a great plan!” Spike struggled up to his claws, his wings drooping down. “I stay so sore, I can't move my arms. Boom, no more applesauce.” Shining rolled his eyes. “Spike has plenty to brute strength, but no athletic strength. Growing and toning his muscles will give him finer muscle control.” He looked back to Cadance. “So, what are you doing here, sweetie? Where are the foals?” “Oh, I left them with the sitter so I could have the afternoon free.” “Oh, well I wish you had told me,” he said, frowning. “I’m pretty booked. I actually have to go back to the castle now and write up my latest repo—” “Actually, I was hoping to spend the afternoon with Spike.” She looked to the dragon with a hopeful smile. Spike, who was busy watching the earth pony gardeners scowl at the massive ruts his claws had dug, shot a look to her, his eyebrow arched. Finally, he gave a tight smile. “Sure, why not? I had them drop my lunch over at the lake on the other side of the hill. I, uh, heh, kinda need to wash off.” * * * Twenty minutes later, Spike was lazing on the banks of the large lake, his bottom half submerged in the cool water while he lay on his back supporting his upper body with his elbows. His tail swayed back and forth in the water, sending gentle waves across its mirrored surface. The combination of the cool water and the bright sun on his scales soothed the aching of his muscles down to a dull burn, but he held little doubt that he would feel it worse in the morning. A half empty barrel of apple sat atop his chest, all but forgotten as he stared into the distance. Vaguely, he became aware of a voice speaking. Shaking his head, he turned his head to the side and glance down at Cadance. "Hmm?" Cadance giggled, munching on an apple from one of the large barrels between her and Spike. She sat on the ground just out of reach of the lapping waves. "I said is there something of any interest over there? You’ve been staring since we sat down." "Oh. Heheh, sorry. It's just... Ponyville is back that way." She smiled at him. "Homesick already?" Spike turned back, his massive chest deflating slightly. "I don't know, it's... it's like ever since we left Ponyville, I can't shake this feeling that I left something back, something important. It feels... like there's this, um, void in my chest or something." Cadance giggled knowingly. "What's her name?" Spike's entire body stiffened, like an electric current passed through him. He whipped his head around, a hot blush spread across him as he saw her smirking face. "Wh-what are you talking about?" "Spike." She gestured back to the crystal heart adorning her flank. "Princess of Love, remember?" His eyes went wide. "Oh, no, don't you go working your freaky alicorn love spells on me!" Cadance's ears flicked hard. "Oh for Pete's sake! Do ponies believe that I can actually force two ponies to love each other?!" "Well... isn't that your special talent?" "No!" she said, stomping an exaggerated hoof on the ground. "I can sense the positive energy from the love between two ponies, and if given enough time I can inject a bit of power into the system. I don't make ponies love each other. I just remind them why they already do." "Oh, well... that's very comforting. For a while there I kinda thought you were some crazed Cupid." "Anyway," she said with a glare, "the point is I can feel the love radiating off of you, which is why I asked her name. Although," she furrowed her brow, scanning him up and down, "the amount is nothing I've ever sensed beyond two ponies deeply, madly in love. So, who is she?" "There's nopony, alright?" He slapped his tail in the water. "I just... I don't know, okay? It's like you said, I'm probably just homesick." Cadance was quiet for a moment. "Okay, Spike." "But..." She perked her ears up. "Yes." He sighed, resting his arms in his chest. "There is one mare." Double checking that he could not see, a satisfied grin spread in her face. “She lives in Ponyville?” “No. Well, not anymore. I haven’t even seen her in months. She moved to Manehatten to study under some famous voice coach.”  "And does this lucky mare know how you feel?" "No. She doesn't even know I exist. I mean, she does, but she most likely doesn't have a clue how I feel. Heh, I'm not even sure how I feel, just that... my chest feels all fluttery whenever she talks, especially when she sings." He snorted, wisps of smoke idling from his maw. "Probably thinks I'm still obsessed with her sister," he muttered. "What was that last part?" Spike's tail froze in the water. "Um, don't... don't worry about it, okay?" He reached down for the barrel if apples, groaning as his sore muscles complained. “Ugh, do me a favor and slap your husband for me later. I think he’s plotting my untimely doom.”  “Well, what did you expect? The two of you have never been able to spend any time together without one trying to inflict harm on the other, or some innocent creature.” “What? We weren’t that bad!” “Oh, remember the Mulistanian Ambassador’s cat?” Spike stiffened for a moment. “The fur grew back... eventually.” “And besides, he’s helping you, isn’t he? Aren’t you getting better about holding things?” He didn't answer. Instead, he reached his claw to one of the apples. With practiced care, he gently lifted it up. He got halfway to his mouth. splort He sighed and gave a half-grin. “Baby steps.” While Cadance laughed, he reached and grabbed the barrel, lifting it and dumping several apples into his mouth. “Spike, I want to apologize.” Spike paused mid-chew, placing the barrel back down then rolling back onto his back. “No, you don’t need to. I get it.” “No, Spike, please I real—” “No, seriously, you don’t, Cadance. You couldn’t help it, I get it.” She arched her eyebrow, and he sighed, laying his head down on the thick grass. “Look, you had just foaled not, what, two weeks prior? Your body was still brimming with hormones, and your primal brain was a bit more in control than it usually is. So, when a large,” he sighed, “predator reached for your baby, the sight triggered an instinctual response. You couldn’t help it.” Silence reigned for a few moments. Spike turned his head to see Cadance blinking at him dumbly. “What? I’ve spent most of my life in a library. I’m gonna pick up something!” Cadance giggled and looked back to the horizon. Over the wavering lake, they could see Canterlot proper, the castle looming proudly over it all. She took another dainty bite of her apple. “So... you’re not upset with me?” “Oh, I was, at first. But then I thought about it and I got over it.” Cadance waited a few moments. “But?” He sighed, bringing his hands back behind his head, tracing the clouds with his eyes. “It was Dusk that hurt. I always loved playing with the little dude. He was never scared of me, even when he was just foaled! I was hoping... that at least that part of my life would stay the same." “Spike, he’s just a foal. He doesn’t understand. Just give him time, he’ll come around.” “Yeah, time,” he said, idly kicking his legs, sending waves lapping up the shore. “I’ve got plenty of time. Too much time,” he muttered. Cadance stood and walked closer to him. “Spike, what’s really bothering you?” A tiny puff of smoke escaped his nostrils. “What do you mean? I’m fine?” “Spike,” she said in a low voice, “I’ve known you since you were hatched. I changed your diapers, and put out more sneeze-induced fires than I care to remember. I know when something is bothering you.” Spike shot her a look. “I need to start hanging out with ponies who don't know me so well,” he grumbled. Cadance sat down next to his head, still having to look up to meet his eyes. “Is it what you talked to Twilight about last week?” Spike stiffened, but said nothing. “Yes, she told me, but only because she is worried about you.” “No, it’s not that. I mean—I mean it is, but it isn’t.” He groaned, letting out a loud breath. “It’s something that Ambassador Sharptooth said that day outside the hospital.” Cadance merely nodded, and Spike turned his head to face her. “Do you remember a long while back, when Twilight and I came to visit right after Dusk was born?” Cadance mulled for a moment, then looked at him with sad eyes. “You mean that book you found in the Archives?” “Yeah, the book that told me I was going to outlive everypony by thousands and thousands of years.” “I thought you got over that?” He lifted his head and snorted, a puff of smoke going just over her head. “I didn’t get over it. I just... stopped thinking about it. Heh, like the foal I was, I thought if I just ignored it, it would go away. If I just pretended everything was alright...” His face darkened. “Then I started getting tired all the time. I thought it was just Twi working me too hard. But, of course, she figured it out pretty quick.” “Your wyrm-sleep.” “Mh-hmm. I learned in just a few months I’d go to sleep, and when I woke up, you’d all be gone. Just a... a shadow in my mind.” Cadance touched her hoof to his cheek, feeling the intense warmth radiating from within his body. Spike let her comfort him for a moment, his fanged maw chewing his lower lip. “Can I tell you something, Cadance? But you have to promise not to tell Twilight!” Cadance nodded, and Spike turned his head back towards the heavens. “Well... when I learned that I’d be going to sleep, that I’d wake up to them all being dead, I was heartbroken. But, there was... I mean, this little, um... I—” “You were grateful that you wouldn’t have to watch them all grow old and die." “Yeah,” he mumbled. “I mean, I was still sad, but... and now, now it’s all back, the same old fears.” He turned his head back to face her, resting his cheek against the grass. “Jeez, why is it so hard?! I know that now I get to spend all this time with all of you, but I... I can’t get it out of my mind. Like... no matter how happy I am, or how high I feel, there’s always this little voice in the back of my head, saying ‘Yeah, well guess what? You’re still gonna have to watch them all die!’ “ Slowly, Cadance turned away and looked back to the horizon. Eventually, she spoke. “You know I'm not a full-blooded alicorn, right?” Spike arched his eyebrow. “Huh?” She smiled lowly. “I guess Aunt Tia never told you about the origins of the royal bloodlines?” When he didn’t answer, she continued. “Well, it all goes back to shortly after The War of The Night. After a few years of seclusion, Celestia finally showed her face, and began to prosecute those who had sided with Luna during the fight. Also, she decided to grant a gift to those noble houses that stayed loyal to her. ‘The Blessing of The Alicorn’ is what they called it.” She turned to face him. “Did you know that it was actually Princess Platinum’s great-granddaughter who received the first blessing?” Spike shot her a blank stare. “Um, I’m more into science, not history.” She scowled at him. “Anyway, the blessing granted the noble houses with incredible magical abilities, and made them appear as alicorns. All members of the noble bloodlines have some form of the gift. Surely you’ve noticed that my dear cousin Blueblood is quite large for a unicorn.” “Yeah, a large pain in the flank.” “Spike, that’s my cousin!” He shrugged. “Point still stands.” Cadance grumbled and continued. “Every few generations, the alicorn gene presents more dominantly, and you get one such as myself. So, my magic is powerful, but not nearly as strong as Celestia or Luna's. And beyond some gliding and a few extended hops, these,” she flared out her wings, “are more for show than anything else.” Spike pondered this for a moment. “So that’s why Shining threw you in the Empire back in the day!” She giggled, but it soon faded. “The other thing I gained was the alicorn gift of longevity. My great-great-great-great... um, great-great... great grandfather lived to be around three-hundred and eighty seven. Surely you must have noticed my slower aging? I’m in my mid-thirties, and I still look like a teenager. Heehee, I sometimes tease Shine, asking him if I should be concerned that he’s so attracted to me physically.” Spike chuckled, rolling over onto his belly, angling himself so that Cadance was laying down in front of him. “So, you’ll...” “Most likely.” She smiled sadly, looking not so much at him as past him. “I know medical technology and magic has grown leaps and bounds, but I hold no illusions. I have, at best, another seventy years or so with Shining. In that time, he will age, grow more weak and frail. Eventually, he will be stricken to his bed, whilst I shall look like I’m in the prime of my life. One day, he’ll die, and I will remain. More than that, I’ll not only outlive him, but Dusk and Glimmer, and their foals, and possibly even their foals’ foals.” The lakeside was quiet, save for the gentle lap of the waves and the rustle of the wind through the grass. Spike’s head lay on his arms, his eyes scanning anywhere but at her. The massive fire in his belly still sent gentle wisps of smoke through his nostrils, but that was the only movement between the two. Finally, Spike managed to find his voice. “How... how do you manage? How do you enjoy the moment when you know this terrible tragedy is looming?” She smiled at him, not the sad smile from before, but a genuine, warm smile, the kind that had soothed his nightmares and comforted him back to sleep all those years ago. “Simple. You don’t think about it.” “Buh?” “Spike, some ponies think that time is always against us, that we’re... we’re constantly fighting the clock, but that’s not true. Time is always on our side, so long as we make the effort.” She looked up at the sky. “Like we said, our loved ones will not be here forever, so we must make the memories we have of them the best we can. In the end, memories are all that we have, all that remain.” Spike blinked several times. “That... that doesn’t make any sense!” Cadance frowned at him, tapping her chin. “Oh! Think of it like this. You’re a dragon, right?” He frowned back. “No, I’m a parakeet.” “Heehee! Okay, you're a dragon. So... be greedy for them.” Spike opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His eyes fell, darting back and forth as his brain processed what he had just heard. Cadance continued. “Covet every second you can spend with them. Hoard every single memory of them, even the really bad ones.” She lay her hoof gently on his massive snout, looking deep into those slitted eyes. “Because in time, even the most horrible memories of them will bring a smile to your face.” A few more moments of silence passed. Spike’s mouth hung open before he finally found his voice. “Wow. That’s... wow. I can’t even... I can’t even decide.” She arched her eyebrow. “Decide what?” “Which one you would be better at writing, greeting cards or fortune cookies.” The two of them descended into a fit of giggles, Spike’s twitching legs sending more large ripples across the lake. “Well, what can I say? Love is cheesy,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye. After the laughter died down, she glanced back at him. "So, feeling a bit better?" He took a deep breath, then smiled at her. "Getting there." “So, Spike, this is the first time we’ve had to spend together in a long time. What should we do?” Spike tapped his claw to his chin, humming thoughtfully. “How about we go for a swim?” He pushed back away from the shoreline and took a few massive strokes towards the center of the lake. Slowly, he turned, his half-submerged body looking like a giant purple alligator. “Come on in, the water’s great!” “No, that’s okay. I’ll just watch,” she said as she picked up another apple. “Oh, come on, Cadance!” “No, Spike,” she said firmly. “Cadance...” “No!” “Okay, then...” She nodded and floated the apple to her mouth, just as Spike’s tail slammed into the lake. SPLOOSH! When the tidal wave died down, it revealed a very soaked, very angry Crystal Princess, her mane hanging straight down over her face, an apple hovering in front of her. Spike laughed uproariously, until he saw the apple begin to shake, smoke, and eventually explode. “Uh, heh, you know, Cadance, maybe we should just g—” A large shadow moved over Spike. Gulping, he slowly turned his head upwards. A giant sphere of water, dozens of meters across, at least hundreds of gallons of water, hung above his head, wrapped in a blue cocoon. Spike's jaw, head fins, and back spikes all dropped. “Aw, crap...”