//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Halcyon Hearts // by TheMyth //------------------------------// “Alright Spike, let’s try again.” Spike nodded as he concentrated his magic on a disc in front of him. His horn shined brightly as the disc was enveloped in an pinkish aura and levitated to the other side as Spike looked towards the destination. He placed the disc on its target and let go of it as his magic disappeared. He huffed a little as sweat ran down his forehead and he fell onto his haunches as he tried to catch his breath. “Well done Spike!” Twilight said as she took a checklist and marked down ‘levitation’ with an X to the side. She noticed his condition as she peered over her list and smiled softly. He’s really putting in a lot of effort. “Let’s take a break, shall we continue after supper?” Spike looked up and gave a tired smile. “Sounds cool to me.” Twilight approached him and gave a soft kiss to his forehead as she hugged him. “I’m so proud of you, Spike,” she said softly. “You’re really putting in so much to get this right.” Spike grinned as she looked up to his mother. “Well I had a good role model for that,” he answered her as he returned the hug, not noticing the blush forming on his mother’s cheeks. “So Mom, what’s for supper?” Twilight let go of Spike and walked into the kitchen with him. “Well, I thought of trying something new,” she told him as she looked to a pot that was still on the stove. “A butternut and orange soup, with some rye bread.” Spike took a sniff of air. “Hmmm, smells good,” he commented as he sat on the table’s end and looked to his bowl with a spoon at its side. He looked at the spoon and to his one hoof and focused his magic again as his horn glew. The hoof started morphing to that of his former dragon claw, with his feeling the control of each talon on it. Though as he did so, images began to show in his mind. Memories of that day when he was taken, when he was at death’s door, even before when he was still a dragon and shown contempt by other ponies for what he was. He started losing control of his breathing and blinked furiously as he looked down to the claw that was glowing. He felt his vision going and a buildup of tears. “Spike!” Spike’s head shot up and his horn stopped the magic, as the claw went back to a hoof. He looked up to his mother’s concerned face and was quickly wiping away the tears as he regained his breath. “Yes, Mom?” “Are you alright?” He nodded and then his eyes travelled to his flank, biting his lower lip. “...Do you think it’s a possible for me to get a cutie mark?” Twilight was stunned by the question. “Of course it is, Spike. You’re a pony, after all... Why would you think you couldn’t?” “It’s just... I’m not exactly a normal pony, am I?” “Well... no,” she admitted. “But I don’t think that matters. And not getting a cutie mark wouldn’t stop you from being a talented pony, would it?” “...No,” he said slowly. She gave him another kiss on the cheek. “Even if you never get a cutie mark, I’ll still love you. So will the other Cutie Mark Crusaders, and your grandparents, and Uncle Shiny and Aunt Cadance...” Spike flinched a bit at the mention of his extended family. He thought of his aunt, and her announcement a few days prior. A foal... he was going to get a cousin. “Spike? Are you okay?” He shook his head. “Yeah... I’m okay.” “Um... Rarity?” The fashion designer sighed as she lifted her head from her work, wearing her red glasses. “Sweetie, I’m in the middle of designing a simply divine dress for Fleur. Is this really so important it can’t wait?” “I was just wondering... how do you impress a colt?” Fancypants, Hoity Toity, and Sapphire Shores could have trotted in at that moment with a fortune’s worth of commissions, and Rarity would still not have let her attention to her sister waiver. “A... a colt?” Sweetie blushed. “Yeah... see... um, well...” Suddenly, the filly found herself in a tight hug. “Oh, that’s so sweet! My baby sister’s growing up! Oh, I’m so happy you came to me for advice! So tell me, who’s the lucky colt you’ve set your eyes on?” She blushed. “Oh... just some colt... from Canterlot,” she said quickly. “I saw him during the wedding.” Rarity smirked. Not a lie, but meant to be misleading. She saw right through it. “Well,” Rarity started to speak just as she went to one of her cupboards and levitated each bottle before her. She tapped her chin as she went through every bottle, taking in a sniff as before she finally stopped with her eyes wide. “This will do the treat,” she said as she passed it onto Sweetie. “Now just spray on each side of your neck once in the morning and you’ll be irresistible.” Sweetie smiled as she viewed the bottle and sprayed it in the air, smelling it and finding the aroma quite satisfying. “Wow! Thanks Rarity!” she said as she gave her sister a quick hug and went up to her room. A grin formed on Rarity’s muzzle as she looked on to her sister walking up the stairs. “I’m sure Spike will be yours by the end of the week!” Sweetie nearly tripped on the staircase, looking back to her sister with her shrunken irises. “H-How did you?! W-Wha!? You! I-I’m off to bed!” she yelled out as she stormed to her room, slamming the door shut. Rarity chuckled softly as she shook her head with her eyes closed. “She’s going through that stage already, huh?” she said to herself as she went back to her work and concentrated on it. Her mind fell on Spike as she remembered how he always helped her and how much he looked at her with the googling eyes. She found it cute, but he was just too young for her. For a while, she avoided bringing it up, confident the crush would disappear like so many foalhood crushes. It had, though not in the way it was expected. When Twilight formally became his mother, Rarity found herself becoming an aunt. It was never spoken, but the relationship was now there. She sighed as she looked back to the staircase leading up to Sweetie Belle’s room. I trust you will take care of him, Sweetie... Light flew alongside his brother Blaze as they landed near a house that lay close to the center of Ponyville. Blaze opened the door and Light walked in past him as he relaxed on the couch. “What we having tonight, Blaze?” he asked the elder pegasus who flew into the kitchen and began cooking up a storm as Light could hear the sizzling of pans and other cutlery being used. “I thought we’d try some stir fry,” he said simply. “It should be ready in about thirty minutes,” he added, taking a quick sip. “Well, what are we going to do until then?” “Well, I need to watch this pot. You can go off and do whatever. Have you finished your homework?” “Yes,” Light sighed. It had only been two days and he was already starting to hate school. “Well then, how about getting started on that reading list Miss Cheerilee gave you? She said you needed to finish them all by the end of the year.” “I can do that anytime,” he whined. “Well then, do it now so you don’t have to do it later,” he suggested. “Besides, you’ll probably like it. I always wanted you to read more books before we ran into Bloodwing.” “...I guess I could,” he said slowly, looking toward his bedroom. “Pick the longest one first,” he instructed, “and get it over with. I’ll come by and help you in a minute. Who knows, it might be one I’ve read already.” “Light? Come on, kid, it’s time for dinner.” No answer. “Light? Come on, food time.” Still no answer. Confused, the stallion walked into his little brother’s room to find a colt with his face deep in a juvenile chapter book, one that told a tale of a schoolhouse that was thirty stories tall. He smiled. “Not so boring, is it?” Jumping, Light looked up to his brother’s triumphant smirk. After a moment, he smiled. “Yeah... it’s a lot of fun.” “Well, come on, kid. Dinner time.” “Ok,” Light said as he marked his page and closed the book. He walked towards the kitchen to find a large plate of stir fry waiting for him, alongside was a glass of juice. Light took his seat at the table and began eating supper, with Blaze joining in at the opposite side. After a few minutes, Blaze looked up to Light still enjoying his food and he smiled softly. “Say, Light?” “Hmmm?” Light looked up to Blaze with some food still in his mouth, that he swallowed down the next moment. Blaze cleared his throat and took a sip of juice. “The school treating you alright?” he asked him innocently, seeing the white pegasus fiddling with his fork a little. “Yeah, school’s good, my friends are cool too. Aside from those four bullies who constantly try to make life miserable, it’s ok.” Blaze arched his brow a little at hearing this. “They’re not being too hard, are they? Cause if they are, I’ll-” Light waved his hooves in the air. “No no! They’re nothing compared to that creep, honest... they just have no life.” Pursing his lips a little, Blaze snorted as a laugh escaped his mouth. “Well, I’m sure that they will learn eventually, easy or hard way.” Light chuckled as he nodded. “Yeah.” Blaze smirked a little before looking at Light, who was taking a sip of his juice . “So... any filly that’s got your attention lately?” Light spat the juice out of his mouth, that strangely formed a miniature rainbow in the air. He looked up to his brother with burning cheeks and wide eyes. “What?!” The red pegasus laughed as he pounded a hoof to the table. “I knew it!” he said as he regained his voice. “So, who’s the lucky filly to claim your heart?” he asked softly as he smirked and leaned forward over the table. Light’s eyes darted from one corner to the other, letting out a huff and looking away from Blaze’s eyes. “N-none of your business!” “Come on, tell me. Please?” “No,” Light said stubbornly. “Come on. Is it Sweetie? I mean, if she grows into the same mare as her sister...” Light turned beet-red. “N-no... she likes Spike, anyway.” “Whoa, really?” Blaze asked, a little surprised. “Yeah, the fillies were all drooling over him when he showed up at the Clubhouse in that ridiculous armor... even Scootaloo lost her sense. And ever since then, she’s always trying to be around him. She thinks we don’t notice, but we do.” Blaze laughed. “Oh man, poor Twilight would probably have a fit if she found out... would probably sit that poor boy through The Talk...” “‘The Talk’?” Light asked, confused. “Um... nevermind,” he said quickly. “So, what filly do you really have your eye on? Scootaloo? Apple Bloom? Some other filly in your class?” “I... it’s nothing,” he said blushing. “Tell me!” “No!” “Tell me, or you're going to regret it,” he said, giving a sinister smirk. Light gulped. “You’re bluffing. You’re not really going to... yah!” In a flash Light was tackled to the ground, his forelegs pinned. Before he could do anything, Blaze ran his feathers all across his little brother’s stomach. “AAAH!” Light yelled, giggling. “S-stop it!” “Tell me who it is!” “N...n...no!” “Tell me who it is or it’s going to get worse!” “N...no! Please, I... I think I’m going to be sick!” “Yah!” Blaze said, pulling away. “Geez, kid, are you...” Light tackled his brother and began tickling him back. Blaze squirmed a little as he laughed with Light tickling him. “So you playing it that way, huh?!” Light grinned as he continued his attack on Blaze. “Well, this is just me responding to your assault on me!” he said as he furiously brushed his feathers on Blaze. “There’s one thing you should know!” “What’s that!?” Light asked, focusing primarily on his feathers’ actions. Blaze suddenly grabbed Light with his front hooves and pulled him in, tickling him with his feathers again. “Always mind your surroundings!” Light laughed as he tried to escape the hold he was in right now, but in the end he couldn’t get out. After a few moments, both pegasi lay on the ground laughing hard as their eyes watered slightly from the mirth. The sound of the clock alerted Blaze and he looked up to face it, reading it to be ten o’clock. “Ponyfeathers! Looks like you need to go to bed now!” Light sighed as he sat up and drooped his ears slightly. “Can’t we-” “Sorry Light, tomorrow we can... ok?” Light nodded and cleaned his plate at the sink, with Blaze doing the same. When they were finished, Light packed the plates back in the cupboard. Blaze looked up and smiled. Heh, he’s becoming very independent. That colt of mine... “Remember to-” “Brush my teeth, and set the alarm,” Light finished as he landed before Blaze. “I got it memorized.” Blaze rolled his eyes as he smirked. “Yeah, I can see-” he was cut off as Light hugged around his neck. He returned the hug and let go of Light. “Night, Blaze.” Blaze nodded with half-closed eyelids. “Night, Light,” he said to the little colt who went up to his room and heard the water flowing from the tap inside the bathroom in his room. Blaze let out a sigh as he went back to cleaning the house a little until his eyes fell on the first picture he and Light had together. The picture also had Spike and Twilight in it, being the two colts’ first day of school. He let out a soft laugh as he held the picture close to him. I wonder how she’s doing? Spike looked around to find darkness. As far as his eyes could see, there was nothing but pitch blackness. “Hello? Is anypony there?” No answer. Suddenly, he began moving forward. His legs all moved in sync. But not on his own accord. “H-hey! W-what’s going on...” Suddenly he was lifted onto his hind legs where he danced a silly dance. Again, he could not stop it. “Wha... Help! Somepony, help me!” Then, an audience in front of him. His mother, his uncle and aunt and grandparents, his honorary aunts, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, all sitting in theatre seats. “Cool show!” Scootaloo commented. “Make him dance! Make him dance!” “What? Guys, help me! I’m... I’m...” When he saw his hooves, he could not finish the sentence. They were wooden. He was wooden. And there were strings. Strings guiding up, up toward a marionette. “That’s right,” Bloodwing growled. “Dance, you dumb puppet, dance!” “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Spike was bolt upright, breathing heavily. He looked at his hooves and saw they were no longer wooden, though this did not stop the tears that fell from his eyes. Spike bit his lower lip as memories and certain words flew through his mind, words such as ‘doll’ and ‘fake’. The sound of the door opening made his ears perk and he looked to see his mother rushing to him and holding him close to her. He felt her soft hoof slowly stroking his mane and felt a gentle nuzzle from her. Spike held onto Twilight and began to sob uncontrollably. “Shhhh... Spike, I’m here now... everything will be ok...” Twilight cooed to her little colt and looked into his eyes to see them red with tears. “Was it a bad nightmare again, Spike?” she asked him innocently, wiping the tears from his eyes. Spike’s lips still quivered and all he could give was a nod, looking down from Twilight’s eyes. Twilight caressed his cheek a little. “Spike, I know these nightmares are scary and hard to get rid off... but nightmares are all ill illusions. They’re not real, they're fake like-” “Me.” Twilight head jerked back slightly as her mouth was agape. She looked with wide eyes to her son and she blinked before reaching out to him again. “What do you mean, Spike?” she asked him softly, seeing him scrunch his lips. Spike looked up to his mother and began to huff slightly, as he still scrunched his lips. “I’m not a real pony. I’m just a fake!” Spike shouted as his eyes became moist again and he pushed himself away from Twilight’s hold. “I’m just a doll that’s been given some smarts, a freak!” Shaking her head in disbelief, Twilight placed her hoof to Spike’s and held onto it tightly. “Spike, you are not a fake. You’re not a doll either,” she said as she furrowed her brow in determination slightly. “You’re a unicorn colt Spike, and you’re my son. My brave and gorgeous son-” “No, I’m not!” he said, suddenly angry. “I’m not a pony! I’m your magic! I just look like a pony! I... I...” Twilight quickly wrapped her forelegs around him and pulled him into a hug. The tiny pony cried into his mother’s barrel, tears soaking fur. “Spike, please... don’t cry. Please don’t cry.” “But I’m not real!” “Yes, you are. You’re laying right here with me. You’ve always been here.” She kissed his head. “You’re real to me.” Spike just bawled into his mother for a time. Twilight gathered him up and rocked him carefully, like he was the most fragile thing in the world. Finally, after several minutes, the cries began to calm down. “Spike... what brought this up?” He hiccuped. “I... I was thinking about Aunt Cadance... how she got pregnant... that’s how a pony is supposed to be born. I... wasn’t. I was made. You used your magic to make me... on a-accident! I’m not only a fake, I’m a mistake!” Twilight took hold of his shoulders and looked him right in the eyes with her brow furrowed. “Spike Sparkle, I never want to hear you talk about yourself like that again. You’re not a fake, you’re real. How you came here is irrelevant, you are here. You can think and feel and love. I can love you.” She kissed his cheeks again. “If the Princesses, who have lived for over a thousand years, say you’re real, you’re real. If somepony like me, who has studied knowledge her whole life, says you’re real, you’re real. If a whole mess of ponies can love you like a pony, you’re real. From a mother’s stomach, or her magic, a mother still made you. And believe me, she could not be happier or prouder of you,” she whispered to him as she never let go of him in her embrace. Spike cried a little more, his face never leaving her barrell. Finally, he looked up. “Can... can I sleep with you tonight?” Smiling gently, Twilight lifted herself up, levitating her son onto her back. “Of course... just for tonight,” she said as she made her way to her bed and folded the blanket to one side. She levitated Spike and tucked him in as she climb in also. Twilight folded one of her fore hooves over him and felt Spike snuggle in closer to her. “Th... thanks,” he said drowsily and closed his eyes. ”I love you, Mom,” he spoke before his words were replaced with a soft snoring and Twilight felt his chest move up and down against hers. Twilight smiled demurely and sniffed slightly as a tear escaped her eye. She lowered her muzzled closer to his forehead and kissed him softly. “I love you too, my wonderful son.”