//------------------------------// // Failing her // Story: Timeless // by palelordhiphis //------------------------------// As he spun through a vortex of endlessly shifting hues, Spike tried desperately to keep his mind on the day of the picnic. A week before her death. He wanted to make sure there was time before... before... but trying not to think of something always pushes it forward. ~~~~~~~ "Oh, Spikey-wikey, thank you ever so much for helping me deliver these things today," Rarity cooed. "You don't need to thank me, Rarity, I like helping you out," he said as he walked behind her carrying the last of the boxes they needed to deliver. "Oh, no no no! Spikey, sweety, never turn down a thank you from a lady," she said. "Okay. You're welcome," he said and blushed deeply, pulling the boxes up to cover his cheeks. "There now, that's much better," she said and flashed a smile back to him, "but don't worry, I've got a very special treat for you back at the shop and we've only this last delivery to Zecora." Spike smiled and watched the sway of Rarity's tail as she trotted ahead of him and let himself drift away in daydreams inspired by the way the wind would catch her mane from time to time. Everything about her was refined, clear, polished. Rarity was a living gem and she shined brighter than any he'd ever seen before. Suddenly a pale blue unicorn burst out from the trees at the side of the trail and looked around in a wild panic before his mad eyes settled on Rarity and he grinned. The kind of grin a predator gives its prey. "I've been looking all over for you," he said in breathy voice that oozed danger and delusion. Rarity had stopped on the trail and was puzzling over how exactly to address the ruffian. Spike in the mean time slowly moved to put himself between the mad pony and Rarity. "I don't know that I've met you before," Rarity said evenly, "and though I'd love to get to know you, we must be on our way. I trust you know where my boutique is located. Please do stop in sometime." The pale blue unicorn let out a chuckle that felt more like a growl and said, "You're not going anywhere. I've got-" "We're leaving," Spike said sternly. "What was that? Oh, it's a pipsqueak. Pipsqueaks should stay out of grown up conversations," the unicorn said as he suddenly levitated Spike and threw him into a nearby tree. Spike felt one of his ribs shatter and his left arm burned with pain and refused to move, but he slowly stood back up, trying to clear the clouds and shadows from his mind. The pale blue unicorn had moved closer to Rarity and placed himself between her and Spike. His ears were still ringing, but he strained to hear what he was saying as he stumbled towards them. "The empire must live... you... die..." "Leave her alone!" Spike shouted as he got close enough to take another swing and his claws dug deep into the unicorn's leg. "Argh! You nasty, scaly- I should kill you! But never mind," the unicorn said as he looked back at Rarity, "you're too late anyway. The poison is already inside her. She'll be dead in the next few minutes. Stay here with her, you pathetic little nothing. Stay here and weep for her." With that the unicorn rushed back into the woods, crashing through branches and undergrowth. Spike took a couple of steps to follow him, but a pitiful moan from Rarity brought him back to her side. The blood was draining from her cheeks and even her fur seemed to be losing color. Beads of sweat erupted across her body and she felt as cold the deepest winter snow. Her breath was thin and seemed to rattle as if her lungs were growing brittle. "Spikey?" she murmured. "Don't worry, I'll think of something. What do I do? What do-- I know. Celestia!" he said and then quickly blew green flames around them both, the same he used to teleport letters, hoping that the magic would carry them to the palace in time. It had not. Every guard in the palace, every able bodied pony in Ponyville. Every one. Everyone searched the woods for a week. Spike kept searching for another year, but there was never another sign of that pale blue unicorn. ~~~~~~~ "I won't let you down again, Rarity," Spike said as he continued his journey through the prismatic vortex, "I promise." "Wait, I've let my mind wander. Need to... need.. need to concentrate... stay on the same thought or I might not..." Suddenly, a blinding flash of light seemed to pierce his entire body, burning right down into the marrow of his bones, into his mind, and to the very pith of this thoughts. Then there was only the cool dark, empty and alone.