Spike
They walked briskly, headed for the Crystal Town down the walkway from the Crystal Castle. In order to reach town square, a ten minute walk would have to come to pass. The subtle clicks of her silver horseshoes, and his scaled feet slapping against the cobblestone, created a type of noise with no care for rhythm. It was awkward, for they had things they wanted to say, but knew could violate the terms they set up for themselves.
For her, it would be taboo. Only her sister had been foolish enough to court a mortal, bearing the heartache for two-hundred years plus. It was rather sobering, watching the emotional wreck of her sister as she mourned her dead lover in the confines of her chambers. But Luna would have none of it. Day after day, she would raise the sun for her emotionally wounded sibling, taking on the responsibilities that would have normally been distributed between both of them. This was before Nightmare Moon, where the hatred for her sister slowly began manifesting itself into a demonic body capable of genocide.
“Stars forbid.” She thought worriedly, feeling the little tingle of dark energy pulsate in the back of her mind. No matter how hard she tried, she knew that getting rid of the Nightmare was a fruitless endeavor. It was a part of her...no, it was her. And it is for her unwillingness to accept this fact, that her darker side had escaped the prison in her mind. It wasn’t like she hated, the darker half. Rather, she’s slowly beginning to welcome it, hoping to mold it into her being without the fear of it taking over once more. This problem has been lingering on her mind for as long as she raised the moon.
“Will I ever obtain true serenity with myself? How long must I stay fractured, fearing the darker side of the moon?” Her thoughts were a maze with quicksand being the reward for escape. Below the surface of the quicksand, another maze would present itself, but it would be tougher than the previous one. It was a never ending cycle of confusion, where she would lure herself into a false sense of security, only to be humbled by the pulsating and venomous evil energy clawing at the back of her mind. It wanted out, wanted to cause others harm and reek unholy vengeance on the sister who banished her all those years ago.
“But that's not what Equestria needs...nor what I desire. Perhaps, in the near future, the Wrath of the Abyss may be of use against our sister in combat, but not a moment sooner of later. The power is too strong to maintain for long periods of time, and the armor will only give me so much control. Tis why the elements were able to split me from my darker side all those years ago. The armor had prevented full assimilation, keeping my good half intact while the great evil was...contracted? Yes...contracted. The Nightmare is a part of my emotions and without it, I cannot function as a living being. It has already attuned itself with a fraction of my spirit.”
She sucked her teeth, lost amongst her thoughts. It’s seen as borish to do, even more so in public. But all of that formal protocol had long since been abandoned.
“Oh,” She exclaimed in her mind, a sudden inquiry popping from the depths of her conscious, “I should probably send an anonymous message to Tia about my whereabouts. No doubt she thinks I’m still furious about her stealing my last piece of Devil’s Food Cake. It would be a wonderful cover up!” A tap on her shoulder nearly made the fur covering her body to pop out in fright. Spike was looking at her worriedly, seeing the confliction and heavy state of concentration on her face.
“It’s probably nothing, so I shouldn't have tapped her. She’s a Princess after all.” Spike thought dismissively as he put on a bashful smile and began rubbing the back of his head. Luna blushed and coughed nervously into one of her front hooves, looking everywhere but at the dragon that had snapped her out of her thoughts. They stopped when the duo happened upon a large snowflake shape in the middle of a bustling square. Shops with linen tops radiated a welcoming aura as ponies busied themselves in buying the many merchant’s wares and food.
“So we’re here. I wonder what she wants to do?” Spike made to turn around and ask, even holding up a finger. When he saw nothing but a brown pouch of coins hovering in midair, he facepalmed. Taking the coins after recollecting himself from disbelief, Spike opened the pouch, curious as to how many bits were inside. He counted....
...and counted....
....and counted...
“...HOW MANY BITS ARE IN HERE!!!??” His frustration was growing so large that it could’ve became palpable. He’d easily broken the three-hundred mark, now ascending to marks above three-hundred-seventy bits. But they wouldn't stop popping up!
“Being a princess has it’s perks, but I digress. Getting back to the matter at hoof, it would be best to avoid being seen in public with one another until a proper disguise has been made or found. I would recommend clothes to cover and suit your bipedal frame, whilst I will invest in a...how would the Element of Generosity say...makeover? Yes...a makeover! I trust my bits won’t go to waste?” Luna’s voice had somehow entered his head, causing a great deal of confusion but also relieving the fears that he had just been abandoned. Shaking his head, Spike smiled as she sealed the pouch with the two pieces of rope tied around the top and put it into his pockets.
Little did the ponies or any other form of life know, dragons are born with ‘pockets’ on their flanks. Quite convenient. “Yeah, they won’t go to waste. You know, I might get angry if you chose to keep popping into my head like that.” Spike said in a whisper with a sour look on his face. He was playing, but he wanted to give the illusion, if she was still watching him, that he was cross with her for the blatant intrusion.
“So it’s wrong for me to be in your head during the day, is it? Well how come you have no problem with me ‘entertaining’, you during the hours in which your dreams are had?” Luna quipped at the dragon, knowing he had never thought of her in an explicit way. The dragon had begun walking before she said this, but he immediately tripped over nothing with a blush on his face when she did. Spike, through the now dark-purple cheeks he had, snarled in irritation as he heard Luna’s sing-song laughter at his sudden embarrassment. Some Crystal Ponies stopped and stared at the dragon with confused and worried faces as he stood up. An irritated glance in semi-circle motion insured that they didn’t linger for too long.
An idea popped up in Spike’s mind at how Luna was invading his head. If it was through magic, then she was basically connecting her mind and therefore, her nerves, with his own. A devilish smile crossed his features as he rubbed his claws together like he was washing them in a sink. He jutted his arms out to his sides sharply, then began to spin in fast circles.
“Stop that! I’m getting dizzy!” Luna’s voice sounded like she was speaking through a fishbowl, which only made the dragon speed up. When he himself felt sure that the Mare of the Moon was horrendously out of kilter, he stopped and stumbled for a few minutes. He then heard his reward; the sound of breakfast leaving the body!
Although some of her gags made Spike’s stomach retch, he couldn’t help but smile that he had gotten his revenge.
“A pox upon you.” Luna said through ragged breathing as she closed the connection.
Spike chuckled, knowing all too well that this victory is bittersweet. He knew that Luna would make it her mission to get back at him, but he also knew that treating her as a friend rather than a princess would do wonders for their relationship!
He jerked his head up and the blush returned harder than before.
“What relationship!? I’ve given it some thought, but she’s a princess and I’m a dragon! Granted, it’s basically the same predicament like it was between me and Rarity, but the difference is in the title for star’s sake! I have a better chance of finding my way into Celestia’s diary, than hooking up with her sister!” Thinking it would be best to leave before he caused quite the panic in the town square, Spike started his search for things that would conceal him.
“I better start with something to cover my body. I need to find a tailor.” Spike then took the opportunity to look for somepony who looked nice enough to give him directions. When he found a raspberry-colored mare with a white bun in her mane, he walked briskly over to her and made himself known with a tap on the shoulder, for she was turned away from him and buying corn firm the merchant in front of her. The merchant’s eyes widened as the dragon tapped the mare’s shoulder and put on what looked like a friendly smile, but he was showcasing his large canines.
“SWEET CELESTIA!!!” The mare nearly released her bladder when she turned around, unceremoniously coming face to face with one of Equestria’s feared predators. The dragon’s eyes widened in surprise as he stumbled backwards and held his hands up in front of his chest, trying to give the impression that he was harmless. The mare took may ragged breaths before calming down and sheepishly smiling at the now confirmed, docile dragon. “Heh...” she laughed nervously,
“...Sorry. You kinda startled me. It’s not everyday you run into a dragon.”
“I get that alot. Anyway, my name’s Spike and I would like to know if you know of a tailor around here?” Spike asked hopefully. The mare's face fell into a frown as she thought about the only tailor in the town. She groaned and rolled her eyes, obviously remembering her last visit.
“I’m Berry Guava and to answer your question, I do know of the only tailor in town. His wares are magnificent, but he’s just so...” She threw her hooves up in the air for a long time, Spike watching them move to and fro in a wild manner. Berry Guava placed them back down and sighed. “...He’s different.” She looked almost apologetic when she said that. Spike was now forming an idea of what this pony’s personality could be. Number one, was that he could be insufferable in some shape or form. Or, two, he could be just plain weird. Comparing his mental options, Spike would rather the former than the latter.
He’s seen weird before. It was four years ago on his thirty-first birthday. Pinkie Pie had been the planner and she had baked the patented Marzipan Meringue Madness, or MMM, for short. Needless to say, eating gems with meringue was a little too sweet for him, so he had to tell Pinkie the grim news that the cake wasn’t the best he had. That’s when things got creepy. After her hair made a deflating noise as it did just that, she became somewhat...unsettling. He would notice her following him around the party in Sugarcube Corner, only making herself apparent to him and him only. He would notice her out the corner of his eyes, staring at him like ingredients before baking.
He shuddered.
“Well, would you mind giving me directions? You see, this isn’t my first time in the Crystal Kingdom and I don’t really get far here without becoming lost.” Spike tried to avoid mentioning the fact that he saved them.
“No prob! Just follow this street all the way to the intersection and make a right. At the end of the street you’ll then be on, will be a sign pointing you to a Stitch in Time. That’s where he, works.” She cringed and shuddered as some bits found their way onto the counter in front of her, paying for the food she wanted. With a quick word of thanks, Spike set off down the road.
---
“Well I can see what she meant by...different.” Spike stood and peered at the building in front of him. To make a long story short, he really didn’t have any words to describe the building.
It was tall, made from grey and black cobblestone that was perfectly symmetrical, one half bearing the grey while the other bore the black. There were exactly four windows on the two story house, placed symmetrically across from one another. On the top of the house was a sign that looked neither skewed or damaged. In perfect symmetry, it read, Stitch in time: Where it actually saves Twelve. Starring more intently, even more words made themselves apparent to the drake.
Because Twelve is even and is able to be split perfectly.
“You’re kidding.” Spike thought bemusedly. Steeling himself for any surprise, he walked through the door. Needless to say, the interior made Spike exponentially more uncomfortable.
“Eh...Everything’s...symmetrical?” Spike breathed out in disbelief at the tailor’s shop. Dolls were sitting on top of chests, next to mirrors and dressers. The dolls symmetry, is what made the place off-putting. For every doll on the right side of the room, there was a matching one on the left side, albeit they were different colors.
“Hmmm? Is someone out there!?” A high-pitched, although definitely male, voice called out from the back of the store. Or what Spike thought was the back. A unicorn stallion that was about Twilight’s height poked his head around a black door frame in the back, which was completely symmetrical with the door Spike had just entered through. His mane was jet-black and so was his eyes. That’s odd. As the stallion drew closer, Spike could make out a few more details.
The stallion was wearing an expensive-looking tuxedo with a black bowtie, placed perfectly on top of his white and frilled symmetrical dress-shirt. The mane was short all around the head and reminded Spike of a cereal bowl for some reason.
“Yes...um...I was told that you’re the only tailor in town and that if I wanted some quality clothes, I should come here.” Spike ventured out unsurely.
“Well, isn’t that nice of-DRAGON!!!!” The stallion was apparently navigating the shop with his eyes closed, for he nearly jumped out of his fur when he saw Spike for the first time. Seeing how the situation was quickly dissolving into chaos, Spike stretched out a claw tentatively and placed it on the cowering tailor’s shoulder. The poor thing winced and made a puppy dog face in response to the sudden physical contact.
“Please don’t eat me! I taste horrible and your body will...be...come...” He trailed off, sorrow turning into wonder as his eyes widened in awe. Spike smiled sheepishly.
“This guy suffers from mood parks, not swings!” Although his face didn’t change to match that insult, Spike was finding it difficult to keep a pleasant smile up while the stallion gawked at him.
“You’re...You’re...” The stallion began before the early signs of a smile began to break out across his face. “...PERFECT!!!” Spike was wrapped up into a bone crushing hug by the stallion that was at least two feet smaller than he was. Only Pinkie Pie could hurt him with her hugs...or so he thought. “Oh this is perfect,no, you’re perfect! I can’t believe such symmetrical beauty like yours would just waltz right into my shop but here you are in all your glory! Simply magnificent, the Symmetry Deities must be rewarding me for being one of the few to follow in their wise and holy hoofsteps! Oh, most wonderful of days and lines!” The stallion’s mouth was a vortex of hyperspeed vernacular and compliments as he spun himself and Spike around the room, still embracing him in a tight hug.
“And your ear fins are just SO SYMMETRICAL!!! Were you naturally born so perfect or did you spend year after year after year in front of a mirror to enhance yourself in the ways of symmetry, oh you must divulge to me every secret, for I want to follow the road of perfection behind you! Would you be interested in-”
“PUT ME DOWN!!!” Spike was beginning to understand how being made dizzy against your will sucked. Granted, Luna could’ve terminated the connection whenever she saw fit. Getting back to the scene, the stallion stopped his rambling and after a word of apology, set the drake back on his feet.
“Geez! How you picked up a three-hundred pound dragon is still, a mystery!” Spike snorted black smoke from his nostrils in bemusement as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“I must apologize! My name is Juvenile Mortis and I’m a regular pony. I’ve devoted my life to making wares that follow symmetry to the very minute of details. It’s beautiful, is it not?” He gestured at his shop with his hoof. “This is perfection in every way! No dust, no asymmetrical garbage and, most importantly, symmetry! Symmetry as far as the eye can behold!” Mortis exclaimed happily. “I’ll be more than ecstatic to make some radiant clothes for you, free of charge, of course. We who pursue perfection need to have each other’s backs, don’t you agree?” Mortis asked with intoxicating amounts of enthusiasm.
“Yeah...perfection.” Spike agreed tentatively. He’s definitely weird.
“So what would you like, my friend? If you’re having trouble thinking of an ensemble, I would be more than delighted to make you a suit!” The tailor eyed the drake with severe anticipation, hoping the dragon would conform to the idea of having him make a suit.
“Like Tartarus.” Spike thought dismissively.
“I was thinking something casual, yet concealing. Something that would make me fit in with the crowd. Like...” Spike trailed off as he looked around the room for inspiration; a trick he learned from Rarity herself. He spotted a white pony plushie with blue jeans and a purple hoodie/jacket with a green shirt underneath. Such a color scheme would have made Rarity faint.
“Why am I thinking of her so much lately? It’s not like she’s here with me, rebelling against Celestia.” Spike frowned as he mentally belittled the first mare he ever had a romantic interest in. Why was he becoming such an arse?
“...That.” He raised a claw up and pointed at the doll, the stallion’s head soon following. He enveloped the doll in a light-blue magical aura, hovering it over to his position and studying both it and the seven foot tall dragon in front of him. Spike could hear the gears turning in his head, but after a sigh that signaled frustration, Mortis began to shake his head to and fro.
“I was trying to imagine your dimensions based on your appearance, but I’ve never worked with anything other than ponies. You’re going to be measured now, and I won’t take no for an answer. Who knows if you’ll be the only dragon looking for appropriate attire!? I must not be caught unawares! Patty Cake! Lizzyloo! I require your assistance!” Mortis exclaimed while craning his head to look behind him and towards the empty doorframe in the back.
Two red-furred ponies rushed from the back instantly, stopping mere centimeters behind Mortis and one another. One of them had a blonde, short-cut mane and crystal-blue eyes, that seemed to radiate a mirth with an uncanny resemblance to Pinkie Pie’s. The other one had a long, dirty-blonde mane with a the same eye color as the first, only duller. They both appeared to be mares and were eyeing Spike down, like a cat would do to a mouse.
“Yeah?” Came the older-looking one’s response.
“Lizzyloo, would you be a dear and take our guest into the back and take his measurements? In the meantime, I’ll have Patty Cake make some tea while I prepare the fabric. Sound good?” Mortis asked before he turned around and looked at them both. The one which was now confirmed to be Lizzyloo nodded abruptly, her long mane bouncing as she walked past the stallion and up to Spike.
“Come into the back and I’ll take your measurements.” She put on a smirk as Spike nodded, following her into the back of the store.
“So how long have you guys been here?” Spike asked, trying to break the ice as he ducked the small door frame expertly.
“Five years, give or take.” Lizzyloo answered disinterestedly. Spike raised an eyebrow in surprise and curiosity, trying to mentally figure out why he was just answered so rudely. The room was dim; illuminated by a single light bulb only. It was casting a yellow glow about.
Pony mannequins were erected on the walls across from one another, and Spike had to move two of them out of the way in order to reach the middle of the room. Once there, he felt something cold go up his back, shivering from the drop of temperature on his spine. The sound of rolling measuring tape and the satisfying smack of it being placed back inside, calmed Spike down. He’s only been measured by one mare in his life and he would’ve preferred to keep it that way, but due to circumstances, that seemed like a fool’s dream.
“Calm down! I might mess up if you tense up so much!” Complained Lizzyloo, trotting in front of Spike in order to give him an evil stare. Spike raised his eyebrow again as his only response. Lizzyloo snorted and walked to his right side. “Can you do me a favor and slide the stool behind he to me? I left it back there by accident.”
“But of course.” A couple of moments later and Lizzyloo was measuring the length of his arm. The rest of the his body’s measurements went by slowly. In order not to become insufferable due to boredom, which happened quite frequently, Spike had taken some interest in the mare measuring him. He was currently getting the inside of his left leg measured. “Fun Fact: You’re the only pony that’s gotten that close.” He put on a manure-eating grin.
Through the red fur on her face, Spike could make out the intense blush that had just formed on her face. But his moment of amusement was soon ended when she stood up abruptly and pivoted on her front hooves, bringer her rear to face him.
“Guess what, Big-Boy?” Asked Lizzyloo sultrily.
“Oh?” Came Spike’s only response, sounding very eager.
“Pain.” She bucked him in the crotch, causing the dragon to roar in waht she just said as he knelt down with tears in his eyes, holding his hoard between his claws. “That’s what.” She finished as she rolled up the measuring tape for the final time and walked out the room with a slight blush on his face. Spike whimpered as he began to feel nauseous.
After five minutes of recollecting himself from the pain, Spike walked out from the back room, albeit still sore in the groin. He was then confronted by Juvenile Mortis, holding two cups of tea in his magical aura and Patty Cake, smiling wide with her eyes closed. Thinking that Patty Cake was Lizzyloo, Spike promptly screamed like a little girl, earning him shocked and complexed glances from the two hosts in front of him.
“Are you alright, Mister Dragon?” Patty Cake asked as she put back on her signature smile, as if nothing happened in the first place.
“Yup! Just fine!” Spike answered hurriedly, trying to cover up that sudden outburst.
“If you say so. Will you be staying for tea? I’ve already gotten your clothes in order and they’re by the door.” Mortis said as he nodded his head in the direction of the front door once.
“I would love to, but I’m afraid I have a friend that I must get back to.” Answered Spike. Mortis simply nodded and floated the extra cup filled with herbal brew back to Patty Cake, who grabbed the plate under the boiling hot cup with her teeth and went behind some boxes, presumably to the kitchen or a room. Juvenile Mortis sipped some tea out the symmetrically designed cup as he walked with Spike to the front door.
“Here you are then.” Mortis said as he lifted a half black and half white bag with the store’s name on it to Spike. “It’s was quite the treat, meeting you today! Don’t be a stranger!” The stallion exclaimed and for the first time, Spike guessed that his age had to be around the same area as Rarity’s. He couldn’t see his cutie mark, but with a name like Juvenile Mortis, one can imagine.
Spike twisted open the door with his claw as he grabbed the bag out of the stallion’s levitation magic. Taking brief steps into the town, Spike turned back and waved at the stallion. To his amusement, however, the stallion knocked the levitating cup next to him with a hoof he raised to wave back, spilling the hot mixture over his clothes.
“GAHHHHHH!!! NOOOOO!!!! I’M HIDEOUS, AWFUL, SCUM, ASYMMETRICAL FILTH THAT DOESN’T DESERVE TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD!!! WHY OH WHY WAS I BORN IN THE FIRST PLACE, I’M SUCH A SCREW-UP!!! IT’S NOT RIGHT, OR JUST, FOR ME TO STILL DRAW BREATH-” Spike saw the outlines of Lizzyloo and Patty Cake just before the door slammed shut. He sighed as he began walking back the same way from which he traveled the first time.
It only took him a couple of minutes to find a nice, secluded spot where he could slip the freshly acquired attire on. He pulled at the neck of his purple hoodie, adjusting it to his liking before fiddling with the jeans he had been given. When everything seemed comfortable, he made his way back to the town square, hoping to run into Luna.
His hopes quickly began to diminish as he arrived at the Square; only to find that the Princess of the Night was nowhere to be found. He sighed in boredom as he found a bench to wait on, the brown wood and black bolts contrasting heavily with his attire and scales. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a sign with words that looked like they were written by a foal. He kind of felt sorry for playing that little prank on Luna earlier, so why not get her something nice?
Walking over to the stand, Spike noticed two things. One; was that this guy wasn’t a vendor, but an artist. Two; he seemed to be having a troubling time with his business, for no one was coming to his stand and he had a sad look on his face.
“I have quite the surprise for him!” Spike thought happily as he cleared his throat to make his presence known. The stallion’s eyes widened when he noticed Spike, then returned to their empty-like state after realizing that he probably wasn't going to be eaten.
“Do you need somethin’, Mister Dragon?” The stallion asked as he sighed in severe depression. Spike could take no more of this.
“I need you to draw me. It’s a gift for a friend.”
“What’s the point when she’s going to see you anyway? Being an artist was a poor talent to be born with.” He slapped his head against the white canvas in front of him. Spike cringed at the sight of the stallion inflicting harm upon himself.
“Stop beating yourself up, guy! The ponies around here are probably scared that they’re being jipped! That’s probably why you haven’t been getting much business! Well, that and your depressing mood and lack of a real stall. You’re just posted up in the middle of the road, blocking traffic and ruining the mood of everypony that walks by!” Spike snapped, getting what he wanted shortly after.
The stallion snorted in anger before turning to face the drake. “BUCK YOU!!! What would you know, huh!?” The stallion’s red eyes were kindled with life, earning a smile back from the dragon.
“YOU’RE RIGHT!!! SHOW ME WHAT LITTLE I KNOW ABOUT ART, COLT!!!” Spike’s even louder response only served to ignite the fury in the stallion. It also served to attract a large crowd of ponies, one even having a midnight-blue coat and eyes.
“Stand there and I’ll show you!” The stallion hissed dangerously. Spike humphed as he did what he was told. Cocking his head to the side and putting on a smile showing only his poking canines, Spike put his hands in his pockets and nodded that he was ready. Five minutes later and the piece was done. “THERE!!! ARE YOU HAPPY!!!???” The stallion said as he shoved the portrait in Spike’s face.
“I’m happy, but the real question is,” Spike trailed off as he leaned forward and moved the painting with his face, so that the stallion and him were looking eye to eye. “Are you?”
“How could this possibly, make me happy!?”
“That’s rather simple. I’m pretty sure half the town saw you create this little piece here and stand your own against a dragon almost two times your size. If that didn’t make your day, then this probably will.” Spike took the portrait with his right hand while he took out Luna’s pouch with the other. He half-interestedly threw the pouch at the artist, who fumbled with it for a few moments before firmly grasping it against his chest with a shocked expression on his face.
“H-how much is in here!? It weighs a bucking ton!” The stallion said as he stood up with the pouch on his head.
Spike smiled slyly as he looked back from the direction in which he had begun walking, which was towards the Crystal Castle.
“I gave up on counting.” He said in a sly voice as he turned back around and began walking again. He didn’t notice a midnight-blue mare smile pridefully as she teleported either.