Spike lay on the floor of the Golden Oaks Library gazing up at the ceiling. All he had wanted was to take advantage of Twilight Sparkle being away for a few hours to let him bake his Jewel Cake. His delicious scrumptious Jewel Cake that he had collected all those Gems for. The gems that he had snacked on as he made the cake mix until none were left.
“Do you think Joe would help?” Spike asked, turning his head to look at the Owl looking down at him.
“Hwhoo,” replied Owlowiscious.
“Joe, but… not be fair to ask him and get him in more trouble with Twilight.”
Owlowiscious blinked at Spike.
“Yeah, you’re right. The Diamond Dogs wouldn’t be intimidated this time. We’d have to fight.”
A very faint knock sounded on the door and Spike reluctantly stood to answer it, finding Fluttershy on the other side. Despite her efforts to withdraw and apologise for bothering him Spike managed to get her to come inside and to find out what she wanted. To his relief this might solve the problem for his cake and was, barely, a better solution than having to fight Diamond Dogs.
==
The Everfree forest was not as creepy on a sunny morning as sometimes and if you were used to nature taking its own course, rather than needing Ponies to steer it, that removed even more of the creepiness. Joe mused on the tendency to adapt ‘though I walk in the shadow of the valley of death’ with various reasons other than God to fear no evil. Probably the most sensible reason was the SR-71 crews as they were high in the air above it travelling at more than Mach 3, but more common was to boast about being the toughest thing in the valley.
“Yeah, though I walk in the shadow of some big trees I shall fear no Manticore, because Fluttershy told him off,” Joe muttered, shaking his head at his own stupidity and trying to concentrate. Even if Fluttershy had told one Manticore off that didn’t mean there weren’t other dangers, even if none had attacked him on this path since he’d begun wearing armour and carrying a shield and spear and bow and arrows. There were no tasty tender young Fillies to attract predators with their scent or chatter but he should still be careful.
At least he was feeling well rested. Yesterday he had slept through the afternoon and into the evening before he left the barn and found Fluttershy had left word with Applejack that he didn’t need to worry about visiting her, and she’d let him know if she needed help. Satisfied with how he looked Applejack had let Joe return home and the rest of the day had been quiet chores and exercise and a little reading before a peaceful night with no bad dreams. The start of the day had continued peaceful with no visitors, just breakfast and morning routine and preparing and setting out for his weekly visit to Zecora.
Joe reached the dome shaped hut with its distinctive tribal masks and politely knocked and waited while keeping a wary eye on the surroundings. He knew how much work it would be to clear and maintain, or just to maintain if she’d found a natural one, but every time he visited he wished Zecora’s hut was in a clearing and he could see further.
“Come in, come in,” a voice called, adding as Joe obeyed, “and welcome in.”
“Zecora,” Joe nodded to her, then he nodded again as he noticed the purple Unicorn, “and Twilight, hello.”
Twilight Sparkle looked at Joe and the idea of him fighting a Manticore or managing to intimidate a Diamond Dog no longer seemed so utterly bizarre. The ease with which had carried Rainbow Dash and then her and Pinkie Pie had shown he was quite strong, even if that was partially Discord having allegedly boosted the magic. But the baggy clothes had concealed how much trimmer and better balanced he was and seeing him standing there with armour links and plates gleaming and a shield on his arm she could tell why the others had been mildly impressed. Especially since, this time, she was paying attention to the spear rather than her own annoyance and was noticing the razor sharp looking metal and the light ease with which he held something as tall as she was.
“I came to tell Zecora about what Discord claimed,” said Twilight Sparkle, “that he had made you as strong as a Pony should be.”
“Not exactly what he said,” Joe frowned, slipping his shield off and leaning it and his spear against the wall, “more like I was as strong compared with a Pony as I should be. Which probably amounts to the same thing but I don’t know how strong Ponies are for their size compared with humans.”
“So testing you would be the thing, with many graphs - machines that ping,” suggested Zecora.
“I can get some heavier weights and I suppose a treadmill can be set up,” Joe shrugged, “something to measure heart and respiration rates, mask to measure oxygen in and carbon dioxide out, see how much I can lift or how fast and how long I can run.”
“Or, we’re going to the Crystal Empire tomorrow…” began Twilight Sparkle.
“Applejack mentioned that yesterday when she asked me to pet-sit Winona,” Joe nodded.
“Oh, so you’d be busy then?”
“Plan is to help out with some chores around Sweet Apple Acres while also helping to keep an eye on the dog. Why?”
“I was going to suggest you came with us, they’d have some training facilities and some athletes on display for the games inspector.”
“Hah, with the magic I might do quite well against an Olympian, someone of the standard to take part in our Olympic Games, but I think I would be rather pitiful against an Equestrian. Though still be useful if embarrassing to see how pitiful I am.”
Joe paused and considered whether to mention that both those ‘ian’ words had an alternate meaning that reversed the assessment. He could have said he’d do quite well against an Equestrian if he’d meant a human horse rider and be rather pitiful against an Olympian if he’d meant one of the Gods of Mount Olympus.
“When experiment she wishes to, I hope cooperate will you,” said Zecora.
“It doesn’t sound the most interesting way to spend a few hours,” Joe replied, “but I’ve surprised myself a couple of times so, even if I didn’t owe you the chance to check your work, it could be useful to know my limits better.”
“Being able to carry Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash was one,” said Twilight Sparkle, hesitating until Joe nodded, “but what was the second?”
“When we were leaving the Diamond Dogs I suggested we hurried a little, and Pinkie Pie went into a gallop with Spike on her back. I sprinted after them and expected to get tired and have to slow down, but I managed to keep going until she decided to wait.”
“Ah, yes to the Diamond Dogs you went, a habit from which you should relent.”
“One visit does not make a habit and, as I’ve said to Twilight, we were lucky so ‘returning there I’ve no intent’.”
“But their gems to go and take, was a serious mistake, though not so bad as the lake, where luckier yet to see a wake.”
“If you mean the one made by the crocodile then that was fortunate, but I was suspicious of that beach and,” Joe sighed. “Look, bottom line is that I have made mistakes and am willing to take most of the blame. Especially since it would be unworthy to blame children.”
“I can hear a ‘but’ in that,” commented Twilight Sparkle.
“As I said to you,” Joe replied, “with the Diamond Dogs I was trusting Spike’s assurances about us not going further than the edges. Going was my mistake but he did mistake how dangerous it might be.”
“And what about the Everfree, who to blame there if not thee?”
“Again going was my mistake, and that time it was also my mistake how dangerous it was, but the Cutie Mark Crusaders did promise to obey instructions. I asked them if they knew of anything dangerous that might be in the lake and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo charged ahead to check, ignoring me when I told them to wait.”
“I thought you said it would be unworthy to blame children,” Twilight Sparkle pointed out, softening the comment with a smile.
“True, and I don’t blame them,” shrugged Joe, “they were good most of the time and expecting them to be good all of the time is another mistake by me. I can still be irritated though that I might have avoided the crocodile if they’d let me check more cautiously, or turn back or take a different path to avoid the beach.”
“Perfection is quite often rare, when into danger you do dare, deeds of others anticipate, if not to have results you hate.”
“Result I’d hate would be if anyone had got hurt, or killed,” Joe corrected her. “Result I’m mildly annoyed with is what I got, though things are getting more peaceful again.”
“Then peaceful shall this visit be, as you do not need words from me,” nodded Zecora, “recognise you have your blunder, that you had a head that’s dunder.”
“Not been my best days,” Joe agreed, “though yesterday was nice.”
“May your luck today run true, as I do have a list for you.”
“Erm... And may the things on list be found, whether grow on trees or from the ground.”
“You normally gather list entire, whether ground is firm or squishy mire.”
“And... you make this seem so easy… Er…ah… Then return soon I shall, or at least before night casts its pall.”
“But thinking of that time of day, is not alone that you must stray, come back before twilight is best, so perhaps take Twilight in your quest.”
Joe nodded, giving up rhyming, and looked to Twilight Sparkle. “Company would be welcome, if you have nothing better to do.”
“I’m sure Spike can look after the library for a few hours,” Twilight Sparkle replied after a few moments hesitation to think.
“Excellent,” said Joe.
“On the table is the list, do not worry if some are missed, your weekly visits give plenty stock, so repayment I’d not dock.”
“We’ll see what we can do,” nodded Joe, looking at the list and pulling a pencil out of a pouch.
As Joe started to make a few notes Twilight Sparkle’s curiosity drove her to peek and speak. “What are you doing?”
“I know roughly where some of this can be found,” Joe replied absent-mindedly, “so thinking through a route.”
Twilight Sparkle nodded in approval of this organised approach but then a few of the items on the list caught her eye and she gave Zecora a puzzled glance. The Zebra returned that with a look of innocence as Joe continued to scribble and make the list messier looking but more useful for him. Then he looked at it and sighed and closed his eyes briefly.
“Problem?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
“I can read my own writing, but I was wondering if I should have made an effort with my penmanship to make sure you could as well.”
“That is… hmm,” Twilight Sparkle agreed as Joe showed her the list.
“Ah well,” nodded Joe, folding and putting the list away in the pouch along with the pencil. “I’m the one with pockets and pouches, and whose job it is, so I should carry and read anyway.”
“Won’t those make that awkward?” Twilight Sparkle asked as Joe slid his shield back on his arm and picked his spear up.
“Can be, and I’d likely be fine without the shield, but you saw the maul wounds.”
“Fluttershy told that Manticore off.”
“She told me off, she just told the Manticore to extend the same courtesy, as it would to Ponies, of not eating me.” Joe paused. “And I don’t expect to be attacked but if we are and we can’t discourage something, or flee from it, and I have to kill it please don’t tell Fluttershy. I think I am on good terms with her again so I don’t want to spoil that.”
“You think you have to conceal a lot, don’t you?”
“I think Fluttershy is a very gentle soul and that, even though you have predators, she prefers to not be reminded of how violent nature can be.”
“Perhaps her judgement of violence, is the one with better sense, Ponies do not hunt for meat, instead they graze on grass and wheat.”
“Don’t give me that crap,” Joe said, surprising both Zecora and Twilight Sparkle. “Whatever ponies do doesn’t alter that there are things eating other things the whole time. Even if we ignore carnivores if plants hadn’t developed chemicals to try to protect themselves against being eaten then there’d be no medicinal properties to them. A leaf might be antiseptic but that chemical was supposed to kill caterpillars.”
“Besides I think you are underestimating Fluttershy,” frowned Twilight Sparkle at Joe. “She prefers things to be dealt with without violence, but she is not blind that sometimes it can be kill or be killed.”
“Then let us hope we don’t get in that situation,” Joe replied. Then he nodded to the Zebra. “See you in a while Zecora.”
“Good fortune in your gathering, may you find everything, and avoid deadly attack, lest by guiltiness you’re wracked.”
“Bye Zecora,” Twilight Sparkle added as Joe nodded again and bent his way out the door.
==
Spike made his way down the road towards Sweet Apple Acres. His measuring jug was reassuringly full after Fluttershy had offered him the gem to look after Angel Bunny and he’d managed to persuade Rarity and Rainbow Dash they needed the same service for Opalescence and Tank. Now he had the harder task of persuading Applejack that he could take better care of Winona than the combined efforts of her family would. After that would be convincing Pinkie Pie that Gummy wouldn’t just sleep and sit around and be unperturbed by her absence and be fine even if Mr and Mrs Cake paid her pet no heed.
Looking around the farmyard Spike saw Applejack and Big Macintosh discussing something. He got a friendly nod and smile from her and a friendly nod from her brother and waited patiently the minute or two it took them to finish.
“Spike,” Applejack said, walking across to him as Big Macintosh plodded off about his business. “Surprised to see you here without Twilight, everything fine and dandy?”
“Going well,” said Spike, getting a slight nod from Applejack as she was reassured, “but I hear you might have a problem.”
“Ah don’t think so,” Applejack frowned.
“Fluttershy asked me to look after Angel Bunny tomorrow, and as you are also going and I am sure your brother and sister and grandmother will be busy…”
“Ah already asked Joe yesterday to help out with chores and keeping an eye on Winona while ah’m gone.”
Spike blinked. “You did?”
“Ah did. And no need to look so surprised, ah am a farmer.” Seeing Spike looked puzzled Applejack continued. “Planting crops months in advance? Having to plan yearly rotations of which fields and orchards to leave fallow? Ah might not be one for fancy mathematics or checklists but ah am used to thinking a lot farther ahead than a mere two days.”
“So, Joe is going to look after Winona…”
“He is, but thank you kindly for the thought Spike. Ah do appreciate you thinking of me.”
Spike blushed slightly. He’d not been thinking of Applejack, or Winona, just the chance of another gem for his cake. But that moment of embarrassment passed and he decided there was only one way to get his plans back on course.
“I’ll let you get back to what you were doing then,” Spike said.
“Goodbye Spike. See you tomorrow when ah meet the others at the library, and good luck with Angel Bunny.”
“Thanks.”
Applejack watched for a moment as Spike trotted off, a jug of some sort in his handpaw, and she frowned lightly as she noticed Spike was not heading straight back into Ponyville. There was not much difference in the distance along that path but it was a mite further and not as broad and clear once it got off the land owned by the Apples. Or to put it another way, once it got much past Joe’s hut. Still, if Spike wanted to visit Joe then that was just neighbourly and if he wanted to persuade Joe to not look after Winona then that was between the two of them. Applejack nodded to herself and went back to work.
==
Joe looked around and then up at a tree. “There,” he said, “can you snag those berries down with some magic Twilight?”
“Of course,” Twilight Sparkle replied, briefly concentrating so matching glows surrounded her horn and the berries and the latter floated down.
“Thanks.”
“Do you have any idea what Zecora wants those for?”
“Not really,” Joe admitted as he put them away. “I think they’re toxic, so maybe an insecticide?”
“And that bark you peeled off that tree?”
“Willow bark contains an acid that helps with pain, perhaps that’s similar.”
“But you don’t know?”
Joe paused to look to Twilight Sparkle. “I’ve a vague idea of what medicines are derived from, but I’d go to a doctor and be prescribed pills rather than having to gather things to make medicine.”
“What’s next on the list then?” Twilight Sparkle asked, before Joe could ask why she was asking.
“Hmm,” Joe said, pulling the creased piece of paper out of his pouch, trusting Twilight Sparkle to keep watch while he angled it to catch some light. “Some roots from a bush, so might have been better off with backpack and mattock rather than quiver and arrows.” He gave her a smile. “I’d have still had a ranged ‘weapon’ if tales of your zappiness have not been exaggerated.”
“Zappiness? I study magic for years under Princess Celestia herself and I get it referred to as zappiness?”
“Immense and awe-inspiring arcane might?”
“Better,” Twilight Sparkle nodded.
==
Spike padded up to the door and knocked. Then he waited a short time and knocked again. And waited a slightly longer time and knocked again. He could return to Ponyville and talk to Pinkie Pie now but there didn’t seem any rush to that. Better to wait here and make sure he didn’t miss Joe if the human returned and then went away again. The cushions here were quite comfortable and there seemed some good sun to bask in, so a nap would pass the time.
His decision made Spike sat and settled and began to snooze.
==
Joe and Twilight Sparkle approached Zecora’s hut, some branches stuck through belts and straps on Joe and pouches and pockets on and in pouches filled. A few other clumps of plant matter floated along in a purple glow as Twilight Sparkle helped. It had been disappointing to her that Joe was not quite organised enough to be able to carry everything, volume was not the problem but keeping different things separate was. Joe had been politely grateful and not pointed out how small a diversion it would have been to drop the first half of the list of before starting on the second.
A knock on the door and a Zebra voice called out. “Return I ask into my hut, with your samples dug and cut.”
“She doesn’t seem to run out of rhymes does she,” Joe commented quietly before opening the door.
“Ah, quite the burden you do carry,” nodded Zecora as she looked at the entering pair, “so relinquish it and do not tarry.”
“On the table, please Twilight,” Joe said, leaning his spear against the wall and slipping his shield off to join it before he crossed to there himself.
The things with a purple glow floated over and settled and Joe pulled out his pencil and the very creased and a little torn list. Zecora joined him as he went through what Twilight Sparkle had just deposited and ticked those items off as she acknowledged them. Then he began pulling things out from wedged against various parts of himself and from pouches and pockets. Twilight Sparkle watched with a slight frown as it seemed the suspicion she’d had even before they’d left seemed to be confirmed.
“So that seems to be all,” Joe concluded, ticking the final item.
“You both were thorough in your sweep, to gather things for me to keep,” agreed Zecora.
“Thanks again for your help and company Twilight,” Joe said, turning to the purple Unicorn.
“Not a problem, but I should be getting back to the Golden Oaks Library. Walk me there?”
“To the outskirts of Ponyville at least,” Joe winced, “it’s becoming an open secret, but I’m still trying to keep all this,” he gestured at himself and his armour, “discreet.”
“Then we can walk that far together,” agreed Twilight Sparkle, “though I’ll need to speak to Zecora first, in private, for a minute or two.”
“Of course,” Joe nodded, “I’ll wait outside.”
Twilight Sparkle watched as Joe slipped his shield back on his arm, picked up his spear, and bent to get out the relatively low door. Then she gave Zecora an unamused look. “What is all this?”
“These things you see are what you brought, are they not the list you sought?”
“Joe doesn’t know enough to know those are useless, but I do.”
“Their usefulness is hidden true, but I shall tell the truth to you, by sending him to gather these, his obligation I appease.”
“He thinks he owes you?”
“Joe feels that debts must be repaid, like for like when given aid, though side-effects we have seen, of armour strong and spear so keen.”
Twilight Sparkle paused and then nodded. “He was attacked coming here so he thought he needed those.”
“Avoid he could the Everfree, but a greater debt then felt to me, so overcome he did his fear, continuing to visit here.”
Twilight Sparkle nodded again. Even if the Manticore had been ‘only’ a cub it had left Joe in quite a bloody mess. Zecora’s poultices had staunched the bleeding and disinfected the wounds while her potions had strengthened Joe and helped his body to heal and replace the blood he’d lost. Joe had been too badly injured for them to want to move him so Twilight Sparkle had done some research and brought some books for Zecora’s opinion. They’d been experimenting with how Unicorn magic could further enhance the effects of the potions and poultices and applying this had worked very well so it was only a few days until Joe could do more than sit up on the cot.
However what he had done was leave a very polite note and return to his hut rather than be taken to the Ponyville hospital by them. Then he’d worked to get himself fit and, though Twilight Sparkle hadn’t found out until a few days ago, to be able to kill rather than be killed. And then allowed himself to begin underestimating the dangers of the Everfree since he’d spent so long wandering around off the paths gathering things without any more attacks.
“I think that you should now join Joe, but shall I see you tomorrow?” said Zecora as Twilight Sparkle continued to think.
“Hmm? Oh, no I’ll be in the Crystal Empire most of the day,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “They are bidding for the Equestria Games and we’re helping.”
“Then shopping is all I shall do, rather than also visit you. Safe travels now wished to you pair, and good luck to you tomorrow there.”
“Thank you,” Twilight Sparkle smiled.
Outside Joe was giving the underbrush a suspicious look. His frown cleared as he saw Twilight Sparkle. “All done?”
“All done.”
“Good show, getting towards having had enough of the Everfree for one day.”
“Though you do seem well prepared for it,” Twilight Sparkle commented as she led the way towards the path to Ponyville.
“The saying might be ‘once burned, twice shy’ but I think ‘maul’ can be substituted for ‘burn’.” Joe chuckled before continuing. “Not that I am as well prepared as I might have been.”
“Is this another oblique reference to the weapons you don’t talk about?” asked Twilight Sparkle, giving Joe a glance.
“No, though…hmm,” Joe mused. “Are more powerful weapons, but I was thinking about what I’d said to Spike.”
“Which was?”
“That I might have been too cautious with the weight of this armour. Of course, you remember when Rainbow Dash startled me and I shoved you?”
“Vividly.”
“One of the things I was thinking about was a material called Kevlar, can be woven like cloth and if you bond enough layers of ‘cloth’ together can be made into helmets and plates. As you have similar materials I wondered if I’d been primitive in using steel rather than something that would give more protection for the same weight.”
“So, you aren’t well prepared because you could carry more weight or more protection for the same weight…”
“Or even more protection for more weight, though I don’t think I’d change the pattern of this armour much even if I felt the need to replace it.” They walked quietly for a little way, both keeping a watch for anything stalking them. Then Joe chuckled again. “And I have been pretty boring with this armour. Simple serviceable metal when I am in a realm of both magic and technology.”
“As Rainbow said, looks fine.”
“Maybe, and not sure how you’d have reacted if I’d overindulged in cider and begun entreating you for magical artificing.”
“Pardon?” Twilight Sparkle said, giving Joe a very dubious look.
“In stories and games of places with Unicorns and Dragons and Living-Gods and Pegasi and all the things that seem so normal to you, especially the Unicorn and Dragon parts, they often have magical armour. Mystic runes etched on the plates or crystals inset that pulse with stored arcane power…”
“That’s… not quite how it works Joe.”
“I did say I’d have needed to overindulge in cider,” Joe smiled.
They walked for several minutes more with Twilight Sparkle looking thoughtful and Joe wondering what she was hesitating over saying. Her questions on the way back from Fluttershy’s cottage had been difficult to answer but that had been preferable to her anger the following day. So it had been good that they had been able to chat during the gathering and the start of this walk. Joe was enjoying the company and the extra pair of eyes against the danger but he was beginning to worry that he’d said something wrong and if that was connected with whatever it was Twilight Sparkle and Zecora had discussed.
“Joe,” said Twilight Sparkle finally, “I’m concerned that you’ve had so much fun knowing Ponies were underestimating you that you are misjudging how dangerous things are. You are stronger and fitter than they think, and you do have your armour and weapons, but you are not invincible.”
“Invincible?” Joe said with a puzzled frown. “Even if I’d accepted Discord’s offer of extra strength I’d not think I was that.”
“But you have been confident you can win. You were confident you could just club the Manticore…”
“I thought I’d probably have to stab it.”
“But you were confident you could survive long enough while clubbing it to make that decision.”
“I…” Joe began, and then stopped and nodded. “True, I assumed the fight would be close enough that at worst I’d have the time to switch.”
“And the Diamond Dogs. If I ask you ‘what if they attacked’ I think I know what you’ll say.”
“Which is?”
“That, as you did with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the Manticore, you’d have fought them to let Spike and Pinkie escape.”
“Of course.”
“Which shows you were confident there that you’d survive long enough for those two to get away.”
Joe slowly nodded. “I’d not think I could win, that I was invincible, but I’m egotistical enough to think I’d not be irrelevant.”
“I’d not say you’d be that bad,” Twilight Sparkle reassured him, adding a look to the tone of her words, “but you’ve not been attacked and you’ve avoided training or sparring with others, so you’ve only yourself to compare yourself to.”
“And, of course, I’m leaving you at the outskirts of Ponyville because I’m still trying to be ‘discreet’,” nodded Joe again. “Which could be egotistical again, that I think going into town like this would make a difference to anypony’s opinion…”
“No, that much you can allow,” Twilight Sparkle smiled.
“So the Cutie Mark Crusaders would be happy.”
“Why?”
“They told their fellow schoolponies about the trip into the Everfree and had that scorned as unlikely. But,” Joe tapped one band of the armour across his left side with his shield hand. “If I go stomping into and around Ponyville like this they can say ‘see… we told you!’.”
“Surprised they haven’t asked you to.”
“Either the thought hasn’t occurred or they know I’d say no. Or they haven’t had the chance yet, last time I saw them was just after Rarity made me some new clothes and I was wasting concern on how flattering they were compared with my old ones.”
“Wasting concern… oh, because you want to be underestimated.”
“As you said, it’s very arrogant of me to think that anypony cares and that my ‘true’ appearance is impressive enough to change opinions, at least if it’s enhanced by Rarity’s fine work rather than being concealed by bagginess.”
“I wasn’t saying you were being arrogant.”
“But you were saying I was so pleased about having a secret that I was not considering whether the secret was one that would make much difference or that anypony would care about.” Joe chuckled. “And of course the same is true about not answering some of your questions, if Rainbow Dash thinks I was being big-headed to think it would change anything then that is a pretty good indication it is.”
“Are you saying Rainbow is big-headed?” Twilight Sparkle teased.
“I am saying that she is self-confident, and has a good appreciation of her own abilities as she has demonstrated and tested them against others.”
“Very diplomatic.”
“Still,” said Joe, seeing clear skies ahead, “has been a nice walk and I’ll think about what you’ve said.”
“Please Joe,” Twilight Sparkle added, “don’t underestimate the Everfree. Even if you weren’t being overconfident with the Manticore and Diamond Dogs there are some very dangerous things in here, and some aren’t as large or obvious as a Manticore. Have you heard of a Cockatrice?”
“A demon chicken that turns people to stone… those are real here as well?”
“They are, and I was turned to stone by one. On the path we just walked as it was when I was visiting Zecora.”
“Not sure that warning makes any difference,” Joe said, shaking his head in disbelief as they reached the edge of the forest. “You are very skilled and powerful so if it could affect you fast enough you couldn’t escape or blast it then I’d not manage.”
Twilight Sparkle blushed slightly at both the praise and knowing that Fluttershy, fortified by her outrage and ‘The Stare’, had lasted the several seconds it took her to break the Cockatrice’s will. “I was surprised,” she admitted, “so the warning might make some difference.”
“And I thank you for it,” Joe smiled, “and am glad the effects could be reversed so you are flesh rather than stone.” He stopped and looked about. “I’ve been trying to stay alert, but I’ll try harder to not relax too much on that trip and to, as you were saying, not be overconfident.”
“Good luck Joe.”
“And to you Twilight,” Joe replied, giving her a slight bow and turning away.
Twilight Sparkle sighed and returned to walking towards Ponyville. She was glad that Joe had not taken offence but she was not sure he had truly listened rather than just making the right sort of replies. As long as he didn’t endanger the Cutie Mark Crusaders or Spike again though she’d be satisfied, sad if he got himself killed or badly injured but that would be his choice. It was not far across the area cleared between the town and the forest and soon Twilight Sparkle was back at the library that had become her home.
“Spike…” Twilight Sparkle called as she entered.
“Hwhoo?”
“Hello Owlowiscious,” Twilight Sparkle said, “where’s Spike?” Owlowiscious gave an owl-shrug and Twilight Sparkle nodded. Then she sniffed the air. “And I don’t smell cake.”
Owlowiscious looked at her and then flapped across into the kitchen. Following her number two assistant Twilight Sparkle and seeing he was perching on the fridge and looking expectant she opened that door and nodded as she saw the cake mix inside. It wouldn’t do it any harm, or not much, to be left a while before it was baked but it was still strange that Spike had stored it and seemed to have gone off somewhere.
==
Joe supposed it was quite decorative to have a small purple Dragon on his porch but it was also quite unexpected. As the saying was to let sleeping Dogs lie rather than Dragons and it was likely Spike was here to talk to him Joe supposed he should wake him. Though there was the temptation to have a cup of tea and a sandwich first.
“Spike,” Joe said, overcoming the temptation as he leant his spear against his front wall, “Spike.”
“Huh? Oh hello Joe.” Spike sat up and rubbed his eyes as he woke and realised where he was and remembered why he’d been sleeping here. He blinked at Joe’s armour. “Where have you been?”
“My weekly visit to Zecora to gather things for her. Your ‘big sister’ was there and she helped so I’m back a little earlier than I might have been.”
“Did Twilight stay at Zecora’s?”
“I walked her as far as the edge of the Everfree, she said she should be getting back to the library so she’s likely there now.”
Spike nodded. “I’d better get back soon then.”
“I’ll not offer you refreshments then, or ask you to wait for me to change,” Joe nodded back. He slipped his shield off his arm and began working at his buckles, starting with those holding his quiver on his back. “What brings you here the third day in a row?”
“I need some more gems…”
“Oh no, no f…” Joe growled, fingers hesitating on the strap before he stopped his words and started his unbuckling again. “No way Spike,” he continued more calmly, “Day before yesterday was pushing our luck and I’ve just had to admit, to Twilight, that we might have been even luckier than we thought. And that was after Zecora had given me her opinion and I’d not been able to deny my mistakes…”
“I wasn’t suggesting the Diamond Dogs,” Spike interrupted.
“Then what were you suggesting?” frowned Joe, releasing and lowering his quiver and bow. “You said that was the only place you knew.”
“It is,” Spike said, realising Joe suspected he had been lied to and was not pleased about it. To his relief Joe nodded and waited for an explanation. “But… let me start from the beginning. I’d kept a couple of the gems we mined as I’ve been saving those for a jewel cake.”
“So you need more for your cake?” asked Joe, returning to working at buckles and deciding the belt his knife and helmet and some pouches were strapped to would be a good thing to remove next along with its burden.
“I… need all the gems again, while I was making the cake mix I… er… snacked.”
“That was silly, but if you’re not thinking of the Diamond Dogs and that is the only place you know I’m not sure how I can help.”
“Well, just after I realised I’d eaten all my gems Fluttershy arrived and offered me a gem if I looked after Angel Bunny tomorrow.”
Joe blinked in surprise and it took a moment before he could reply. “Demon Bunny, I have met him.”
“Well, it gave me an idea. The others would need their pets looked after and maybe I could get more gems from them, I was okay with Rarity and Rainbow Dash but when I asked Applejack she said she’d already asked you about Winona.”
“And I’m doing it for free,” Joe pointed out, dropping the belt and working on the straps for his segmented plate. “She’s a nice dog so I’m glad to have her keep me company.”
“Could you, would you, tell Applejack that you can’t do it?”
“No,” Joe said. Then seeing Spike’s disappointment he tried to soften the refusal with an explanation. “Looking after Winona is not something separate from the other chores at Sweet Apple Acres and it would be hard to untangle one task from another.”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
“Besides, you’re already having to look after three pets.”
“If I need to I can unstrap Tank’s flying rig so he won’t move about as fast.”
“True,” Joe nodded, slipping off the segmented plate and deciding to sit rather than take off the short-sleeved mid-thigh length chainmail. It was actually less comfortable without the plates over it as without them pressing it against his body all the weight came onto his shoulders. “And I’ve got on well with Opalescence when I’ve visited the Carousel Boutique so, if she is in a good mood, she might not be much problem.”
“Not much, no,” agreed Spike, not disputing this but his mind going to the long list of instructions Rarity had given him.
“But that still leaves Demon Bunny.”
“I could handle it, and if you can say you would be too busy with the actual chores, so it would be simpler if I looked after Winona…”
“That might work, but far more likely that Big Macintosh would say he’d do more of the chores or some could wait. I’d have to not help at all there and… oh, of course.” Joe closed his eyes in exasperation at himself. “She’d have known that.”
“Who?”
“It was only yesterday I asked Fluttershy to let me know how I could help her more,” Joe replied, opening his eyes. “So, as she’d said she’d let me know, I was a bit surprised she’d asked you to help and wondering if I should take it as mistrust in me rather than simply trust in you.”
“I’m sure Fluttershy trusts you.”
“She’s not got that much reason to,” Joe admitted, “and far greater reason to trust you, with how much longer she’s known you, which was why, despite the timing, I was surprised rather than offended. But I shouldn’t have even been surprised, I spoke to Fluttershy at Sweet Apple Acres and I know she spoke to Applejack after I’d made the offer, so she’d know I was working there tomorrow.”
“Are you saying she’d have asked you instead if you were available?” Spike frowned.
“I’m saying ‘maybe’, since it was only the day before when I’d asked her to let me know if there was anything I could do to help.” Then Joe winked. “Or maybe I am just looking for an excuse to reject the idea she thought ‘Joe offered to help, so I’ll ask Spike’.”
“Hah!” Spike retorted, springing to his feet to strike a pose. “As if you can compete!”
“Mercy!” chuckled Joe, before adding in a more serious tone. “And good luck with the pet-sitting.”
==
Twilight Sparkle glanced between the three books she was holding up in the purple glow of her magic and then made another note. There seemed too much similarity between these spells for them to not be related magic, but she was not sure what the relationship was or even if there was one. If she could make a list of the similarities and how they fitted together in each spell then she could tell if this was significant. As she turned a page and considered she heard the library door open and turned to see Spike entering, one handpaw clasping his measuring jug.
“Hello Spike,” said Twilight Sparkle, greeting him before turning back to her work.
“Hello Twilight.”
As the silence lengthened, broken only by noises from outside and the scratch of Twilight Sparkle’s quill and the rustle of turning pages, Spike began to become more nervous. He started towards the kitchen but then paused, he felt like he should say where he had been, but if she was working then he didn’t want to interrupt, but he had been expecting questions so he had his answers ready to say. Twilight Sparkle allowed herself a small smile as she heard the shuffling and realised that tip from a book of conversational gambits was working.
“Where have you been?” Twilight Sparkle asked, turning away from her books again and letting them and her note settle to the desk. “I thought you were going to do some baking today.”
“I wanted to talk to Joe,” replied Spike, a little hurriedly from the pressure that had built up with the silence.
“The last place I saw him was at the edge of the Everfree, leaving it.”
“Yes, I’ve spoken to him. At his hut,” said Spike in a few short rushed sentences. “He mentioned you helped him. Gathering things for Zecora.”
“What did you want to talk to Joe about?” Twilight Sparkle asked, keeping her voice and expression calm.
“Nothing dangerous.”
“Which doesn’t really answer the question,” smiled Twilight Sparkle, “but if it’s a secret between you two…”
“No,” Spike reassured her. Then he looked embarrassed. “But I was going to wait until the last moment to mention it to you.”
“Mention what?”
“You know you are going to the Crystal Empire tomorrow? I’m looking after Angel Bunny, Tank, and Opalescence in return for gems to replace those I ate.”
“That would explain the cake mix in the fridge, but not why you weren’t going to tell me.”
“I… I didn’t want you to tell me I couldn’t look after the pets here, but if they’d already been brought here…”
“And,” asked Twilight Sparkle, noticing how embarrassed Spike was looking.
“And I wanted a gem from you,” Spike almost squeaked. “I was going to say I’d look after Owlowiscious, but if I said that while the others were here I thought you’d be too embarrassed to not pay me, like they had done.”
“Rather than just telling you that if I want you to look after Owlowiscious then you will?”
“Yes.”
Twilight Sparkle gave Spike a long look, with enough frown in it to add to his nerves. With her love of organisation and planning she’d have been unamused if anyone had tried to spring last minute surprises on her but Spike knew how parents disliked attempts by their children to manipulate them. And although he’d agreed with Joe that she was more a big sister to him she had also been enough like a mother for those extra feelings to apply.
“What does this have to do with Joe?” Twilight Sparkle finally asked.
“Applejack had already asked Joe to look after Winona, so as I wanted to try to get a gem from her I wanted to ask him to not do that.”
Twilight Sparkle nodded. If Spike looked after Winona as well then that might mean Joe could come with them to the Crystal Empire. She wasn’t sure how he could help with touring the games inspector around but, as she had suggested, it would at least let them use the training facilities there to test him. But then Twilight Sparkle felt a twinge of guilt, after the role Spike had played in saving the Crystal Empire it was strange that he had not been invited and it would be far fairer for her to be thinking that if Joe took all the pets then Spike could go.
“What did Joe say to that?”
“He said no, as looking after Winona was just part of what he’d be doing at Sweet Apple Acres.”
“So one less pet and one less gem?”
“Yeah.”
“Which doesn’t answer one question. Why you thought you’d need to pet-sit Owlowicious for me to give you a gem?”
“Pardon?”
“If you need gems I can just give you some.”
“Really?”
“Of course…” Twilight Sparkle began to say before she was interrupted by a small but firm Draconic hug around her forequarters. She brought one forehoof up to return it and continued. “I’m not going to give you too many mind, not much more than you’d have got for pet-sitting, but you are my Spike.”
“And you are the best!” replied Spike, squeezing the hug even firmer.
“We can bake the cake together if you like,” Twilight Sparkle smiled, bringing the hoof up to rub the top of Spike’s head. “That way I can stop you eating your pay before you manage to add the gems to the cake mix.”
Spike released her and gave Twilight Sparkle an embarrassed grin as he stepped back. “That sounds great, but let me visit Pinkie Pie first.”
“More cake ingredients?”
“I was going to ask if she wanted me to look after Gummy.”
“He’s quiet, so shouldn’t be too much more trouble for you,” Twilight Sparkle nodded.
“See you soon!” replied Spike, trotting off towards the door.