//------------------------------// // Chapter 81 Sleep is for the weak // Story: Spike the Knight // by vadram //------------------------------// Sleep is for the weak Four hours of sleep is all Spike could get. Even after sleeping for four hours, he still managed to enjoy almost a full ten seconds of rest before Kirabo’s training started, and another two before he was woken up by Zecora. Never in his life had he been more happy to be disturbed from such a vivid dream, and with breakfast brought to him in bed even. The sun had just rose from beyond the horizon; the sky was clear and the entire clearing smelled of morning dew. As the cold morning air filled Spike’s lungs, he could not help but think that this was the start of a wonderful new day. After they ate breakfast--half a piece of salaca, the yellow, pear shaped fruit that Spike first ate at Zecora’s two weeks ago, and now could not get enough of--Zecora climbed up the ruined fountain and pointed her hoof towards the horizon, showing them where they would break for camp tonight. Spike and Apple Bloom joined her on top of the ruin and looked at the place she was pointing at. They could see that after a couple of miles, the forest seemed to just wither and die. The trees were devoid of all their leaves, leaving behind only their dried out, wooden corpses. Some distance inside the dead forest stood the shambling remains of some ancient city; long since abandoned by its inhabitants, this was where they were supposed to reach by nightfall. The city was so far away that Spike could tell that if they wanted to reach it, they would have to walk all through the day and, after the night he had, the prospect of a full day’s march did little to lift his moral. So Spike sighed, picked up his stuff, and ran to catch up with the two ponies who left a few minutes ago while he struggled with his backpack. Despite the quick pace they were traveling at, Spike did enjoy the hour or so they spent moving, mostly because of the shade the trees provided them. There was no transition between the lush green vegetation of the Everfree and the almost barren stretch of land that stood between them and their destination. Zecora only took a few steps into this new land before stopping dead in her tracks, as if the path she followed until now had suddenly vanished into thin air. “Such a waste,” she said, saddened by what lay in front of her. “Come you two pick up the pace, And make haste, So we can get out of this place,” she told her companions as she continued towards the ruined city. Apple Bloom followed shortly, not even trying to follow in Zecora’s hoofsteps, and Spike did his best to keep up with them. As they walked, Spike looked at the forest that surrounded them; the scenery was unchanging: dead trees to the left, dead trees to the right, dead trees behind them and, in front of them, more dead trees. Only the occasional dried-up brush, the small patch of burnt grass, or rock provided any flavor to the otherwise bland and depressing scenery. “Did you manage to get any reading down last night?” Spike asked Apple Bloom, hoping that their conversation would somehow lift their spirits, or at least provide something to keep their minds busy with. “I read only a few pages before falling asleep.” “Anything interesting?” Spike asked, trying to keep the conversation going. “Sort of... So, I was reading about earth dragons; I think the author calls them terran dragons more than once, and I kept noticing how much they resembled earth ponies.” “How so?” “Well they seem to be the among the strongest of lesser species, as well as the most durable and adaptable.” “I see... Wait... Lesser species?” Spike asked. “Yeah. The author names the Flame, Earth, Aquatic and Frost Dragons lesser species,” Apple Bloom explained to Spike. “But if these are lesser species, then there must also be some greater species, or something.” “I don’t think greater is the right word, but there is another species of dragons the...” “But you said that there were only four species.” “I did, but he groups the Aquatic and Frost Dragons together,” she clarified. “So what is the fourth one then?” “Celestial Dragons.” “As in princess Celestia?!” Spike asked surprised. Apple Bloom laughed. “What?” Spike asked, even more surprised by the filly’s reaction than by the creatures names. “Nothing. Just that I asked myself the same question. Do you know what I read afterwards?” “No.” “After I read the name Celestial Dragons, the book said, and I quote: no connection,” Apple Bloom said laughing. “Really?” Spike asked sceptical. “I swear. It was like the book read my mind.” “Weird.” “You want to know the truly weird part?” “There is more?” “Aha. The truly weird part is that the hoofwriting was different.” “I don’t get it,” Spike said confused. “So what if the hoofwriting was different? It happens a lot with old books.” “I know that Spike. The oldest of books were written over the courses of generations by dozens of scholars, each of them adding their insight and the knowledge they gathered during their lifetimes.” Spike was staring at her, surprised by how much the little filly knew about old books. It was almost like listening to a younger Twilight filling his head with useless trivia, back when she was still a student at Celestia's school. “What? I read,” Apple Bloom said, taking offense by Spike reaction. “I never said you didn’t,” Spike replied quickly, hoping to defuse the situation. “So, what was so odd about that particular hoofwriting?” “Well, as far as I could tell, the entire book was written by the same pony... Everything except for those two words; also, they appeared to be more of a note than part of the actual text.” “A note?” “Yeah, like when I write something on the edges of a book, or when miss Cheerilee makes correction on my tests or homework,” Apple Bloom clarified. “I still don’t see what...” “The oddest part was that the ink was only visible when the page got wet. Just like the rest of the text.” “That’s odd.” “Yes it is,” Apple Bloom agreed. The two were so engulfed in their conversation that they did not notice that they had been walking on a stone road for some time, and that Zecora was nowhere to be seen. When they realized that they were alone, at first they panicked and yelled the mare’s name. The sound of their voices echoed throughout the forest, but brought no answer. After calling out a couple of times, they decided that the best course of action would be to follow the road, and hopefully reach the city before night time. They picked up the pace and headed towards town. The thought of transforming crossed Spike’s mind a couple of times; but, everytime it did, Zecora’s words sprung to mind. ”I will break your every bone,” Spike could hear these words every time he thought about changing. Zecora never actually did anything to warrant such fear from him, except maybe the way she fought with Kirabo; but, deep down, Spike knew that she was willing, and able, to inflict a great deal of harm if she so chose to do so. The sky was now a bright orange as the sun was about to set, and the city was in sight; but, they were still several hours away. “Hey Apple Bloom, it’s getting dark, what do you think we should do?” Spike asked, unsure about how they should proceed. “Well, we could spend the night here, or walk the rest of the way,” Apple Bloom said, pointing out their options. “Hmm...” Spike took a minute to think, looking around. As grim and depressing as this place looked during the day, it was equally terrifying at night. The sun had not fully set yet, and with only a few minutes of daylight remaining, they made their choice. They were going to hoof it towards the city.