Dark Interlude II
"The End of a Crusade"
Spike's eyes slowly opened to the bright light of morning now making it's way into the small hut. As he sleepily glared around the room, stretching his arms in effort to wake himself, he noticed something strange. He had been sleeping on a cushion. He didn't recall falling asleep on a cushion last night, in fact the last thing he remembered was taking a nap on Twilight's back on the way to...
"Good Morning." Spoke a voice to his right
Spike turned to meet the voice as a black and white figure came into his view.
"AHHHHHH!" Spike screamed, throwing himself backwards and into one of the Zebra's shelves. Knocking down various pots and potions in the process.
"I am sorry dear friend, I mean not to fright. Now please come here, I do not bite." Zecora said, helping the dragon onto his feet.
Even after Twilight had assured him that Zecora was not dangerous, Spike still kept his distance from her. The next few days here would be tough.
"Oh hi there uh....Zecora," Spike began, looking around his new 'home', "Uh, where's Twilight?"
"Her and her friend left yesterday," Zecora replied in her usual rhyme, "But she insisted that you stay."
"Oh...great" Spike mumbled to himself.
"So uh... how's-Ughhh!" Spike grunted, grabbing his arm in pain.
Zecora eyed him curiously, and noticed a red gash across his right arm.
"You're hurt" She said, concerned.
"Yeah, I guess I hit that shelf harder than I thought..." Spike said, wincing in pain.
"Applebloom!" Zecora yelled outside, "Come here, and soon!"
Spike was reminded of Applebloom's presence, maybe being here wouldn't be too bad after all.
"Not to worry," Zecora said, looking back at Spike, "Applebloom will fix you in a hurry."
Not a minute later, Applebloom burst through the door to the hut with a panicked look on her face.
"What!? What happened? Is she here!?" She yelled, her eyes darting around the small hut.
Zecora shook her head and approached her, pointing to Spike's injury.
"Oh," Applebloom said, calming herself, "That's it?"
Zecora nodded.
"Well that ain't nothin'. Hold on Spike I'll have you fixed up in a jiffy." Applebloom said, walking over to the shelves.
"Wait wha-" Applebloom uttered in confusion, at the sight of the now destroyed spice shelf. "What happened to all the spices?"
Zecora pointed a hoof at Spike, who then shrugged as if to say "my bad".
"Well now how the hay am I supposed to help you without the spice?" She said sternly.
"Um, just for the record," Spike said, "What were you gonna do with the spice?"
"Well I WAS, gonna make one of Zecora's healing potions to fix you up," Applebloom replied, "but the recipe calls for spices,and those were our last jars!"
"Well," Spike spoke, "You could just y'know, get me a bandage and let time h-"
"Wait! I've got an idea!" Applebloom declared, opening her saddlebag and dumping its contents out on a nearby table.
"What are you doing?" Zecora asked, curious.
"I think I've got something here I can use as a substitute for spice, something even better!"
"Now be careful Applebloom, one wrong ingredient could spell out doom."
"Doom!?" Panicked Spike, "I"m still on board with the whole bandage thing! Guys?"
"Here it is!" Applebloom said, revealing a small sack, "Crushed roses."
Zecora looked on in fascination as Applebloom used the techniques she had taught her to heat, mix and create her brew, and was filled with pride as she poured it into a jar for Spike. She could only hope it worked.
"Here you go!" She said, handing Spike the jar. "Drink up!"
"A-are you sure this is safe?"
"Only one way to find out."
Spike gulped as he reluctantly took a sip of Applebloom's brew, it tasted like strawberries.
"Y'know this doesn't taste too ba-WOAH!" Spike yelled, as he began to shake uncontrollably.
"What's going on!?" he yelled in between spasms.
"Its working!" replied Applebloom enthusiastically
Spike looked toward his arm as best as he could between shakes, and could see that the wound was indeed healing itself, albeit slowly.
After about a minute of shaking, Spike was finally able to regain control over his body. He looked at himself, astounded.
"Well, how do ya feel?" Applebloom asked.
"I feel great!" Spike responded, jogging in place, "I feel like I could run a mile! Oh, and the cut's gone too!"
He ran over to Applebloom and hugged her tightly.
"Thanks Applebloom."
Applebloom blushed a little, and was about to speak when they were suddenly interrupted by a bright flash of light.
"OH MY GOSH IT'S HERE!!!" Applebloom squealed in delight.
"IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!"
"What's here?" Spike asked.
"My cutie mark! It's finally here! Look!"
She was right. There on her once blank flank, was a picture of a rose, sticking out of a jar. It was beautiful, and Applebloom couldn't be happier.
"I'm so very happy for you" Zecora spoke, embracing her pupil. "And I'm sure your sister will be too."
Applebloom began to cry with joy.
"Thank you Zecora, thank you so much."
They sat there together, in a moment of joy. Something none of them had experienced for a very long time. For a moment, everything was back to the way it should be, when there was happiness, when there was love.
And then there was a knock on the door.
There was silence.
"D-did you guys hear that?" Spike asked nervously.
They nodded.
"Who would come here? I thought this place was hidden!"
"Maybe it's Twi and Aj," Applebloom spoke "Maybe they came back..."
Zecora looked at the door, and drew a knife form her satchel.
"Stay hidden." She said as she approached the door.
She swung open the door to reveal a small filly looking up at her inquisitively.
"Are we interrupting something?" Scootaloo asked.
"Yes" Said the pink mare stepping form behind her.
"Are we?"