//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: A New Start. // by Digitalis //------------------------------// In Canterlot, Celestia was taking a time off her duties, and was currently on a walk through the gardens. She stopped at a clearing, where her sister Luna joined her. “Enjoying the air, sister?” The younger sister asked. Celestia just smiled. “Yes, I needed some time to think right now.” “Think about what, if I can know?” “You are probably aware of Spike’s fate, aren’t you? The fact that he was the heir to the throne of Draconia.” Seeing Luna nod, she continued. “Well, yesterday, as you might have been told, I got the news that Spike had returned to Equestria as an ambassador. He has changed a lot.” “I actually wasn’t aware of that last part, Celestia.” Luna commented. “But what is exactly your point here?” Celestia sighed and smiled. She hadn’t thought she would have to explain ancient history to make Luna understand her point of view. “As you know, Draconia’s citizens are descendants of the Fifth Dragon General, the only one that rebelled against the World Eater in the old days. They are not like the other dragons. However, they still despise ponies, refusing to have contact with us since the foundation of their kingdom. But now, with Spike acting as the bridge between both kingdoms…” “There is a possibility to become allies with them.” Luna finished. Celestia nodded. “Yes, I hope that with Spike’s help, Kiguroth will be willing to put aside differences and make an alliance with Equestria.” Then she was strangely silent. Luna frowned. “That’s not everything, is it?” Celestia sighed, and her shoulders slumped. She sounded sad. “No, it’s not. He… he has changed a lot, Luna. He is not the little baby dragon I used to take care of. I didn’t even recognize him when we met. I…” “You’re afraid that he is somepony different now.” Celestia nodded. Luna walked up to her sister and put a hoof on her shoulder. “Sister, he may have changed on the outside, but in the inside I assure you he is still the same. And that’s what it matters.” Celestia looked at Luna and smiled. “You’re right, Luna. Thanks for that.” Luna chuckled. “You are welcome, Celestia. So, how about we go inside? I think it’s time to go back to our duties.” Spike went back to the library on auto-pilot, his mind going back to the ‘incident’ with Rainbow Dash. They had ended up so close to each other… He shook his head. “It was nothing. Just an accident, nothing else.” He told himself. “Yeah, by tomorrow she will have forgotten about it.” “Back so soon? I thought you would take longer.” Twilight raised her head from the book she was reading when she heard the door closing. Spike rubbed the back of his head, again thinking about the reason of why Rainbow had left so quickly. “Uhm, she remembered something and had to leave, I think.” He stammered. Twilight eyed him suspiciously, but just shrugged. “Well, still you two had a nice time, didn’t you? Why don’t you do it more often? I’m sure Rainbow would like to have a flying buddy.” “Yeah, it would really be fun.” ‘Minus the last part, of course.’ He thought. “Oh, by the way,” Twilight lifted her gaze from the book one more time as Spike was heading the kitchen to eat something. “Your new bed arrived while you were out. I already put it in the bedroom. Why don’t you go test it?” “Alright. Thanks, Twilight, I’ll go check it right now.” He got out of the kitchen and went upstairs. Time for a legendary nap on the new bed. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” Dash slammed her head against her hoof. “Really, Rainbow? Really? Something happens, you are left in an awkward position, and you just panic and leave! I can’t believe it!” After she had left Spike under the tree, she had gone straight to her house. There, she started berating herself for acting so stupidly. “Come on! You’re not a filly, stop acting like one! You’re Rainbow Dash, for pete’s sake!” She rested her head against the table. “Ughh, what will he think of me now…” She sighed, and got up. “Alright, I’m gonna fix this! I’ll go to the library right now, tell him I’m sorry for leaving like that, and ask if he would like to repeat it... The race, not the accident.” She quickly corrected herself, blushing a bit. Then she realized that she had been talking to herself all this time, with not even Tank to hear her. She frowned. “Okay. First of all, I have to stop talking to myself when nopony is around.” “Wow, this feels so good…” Spike sighed while he relaxed in his new bed. It was beyond comfortable. It was… He had no words to describe how good it felt. He spread his arms, legs, and wings and closed his eyes. Right now he felt like sleeping until it was night time. Suddenly, a faint noise made him get up and look around. It was a faint rumbling, like something was moving through the air at high speed. He looked around and at the open window. “Watch out!” Came Rainbow’s voice from outside. Spike didn’t have time to react. Rainbow Dash came into the room at high speed and incapable to stop in time, and crashed over the young dragon. The force of the crash sent both to the floor. Spike shook his head and looked at Rainbow, who was on top of him, a bit dizzy after the crash. “Rainbow, what in…?” Just then the pegasus regained consciousness and looked at him. In the same position as some time ago, just inverted, she just managed to yell at the air. “It keeps happening!” Right before the door opened, and a confused Twilight Sparkle found herself looking at both of them, along with a surprised Applejack. As Spike had made his way to the bedroom, Twilight went back to her book. Not much time passed before somepony knocked on the door. Sighing for having been interrupted for the second time in a day, she made it to the door. Applejack was standing there. “Hi, Applejack. What are you doing here?” Twilight asked curious. At this time of the day her friend was usually still working on the apple orchards. “Hi Twilight. Can I speak with Spike for a moment?” The famer pony did not sound very happy. Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Why?” “Oh, I don’t know.” Applejack answered, with a bit of sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Maybe for almost knocking me down in his little race with Rainbow Dash, AND knocking down the apples of at least half the apple trees in the fields.” Twilight tilted her head. “But wouldn’t that make you finish faster.” Applejack sighed, and tried to calm herself down. “Twilight, we weren’t prepared to pick up those apples yet. For what I know, Big Mac and Apple Bloom are still picking them up from the ground, and it’s gonna take time.” Twilight shook her head. “Alright, I’ll let you talk to him. Just don’t be too harsh, it wasn’t his intention. He’s up-“ *THUMP* “-stairs.” Both ponies had heard the noise coming from upstairs, and quickly hurried to the bedroom. When they got there they found an odd sight: Rainbow Dash, on top of Spike, both of them on the floor. Twilight and Applejack watched with confused looks. Spike and Rainbow looked at them. The dragon spoke first. “Uhm, I can explain?”