//------------------------------// // Utilizing Unexpected Unpredictability // Story: Peeled Apart and Affairs of the Heart // by sweeT2010Tooth //------------------------------// She smiled at him and he smiled back at her. Everything was going to be okay and, although his scales would return to a dull-like color, the two were genuinely happy to be in each other's company. Her blue eyes lovingly met his green. They both felt right in what had been seen. They both knew the truth. They both knew the answer much like a fairy tale where the characters lived happily ever after. The young dragon's scales returned to their original state for a moment or two. In this moment, he wouldn't feel any pain but unending happiness to be next to the one he loved. The young mare gently rubbed her hoof against his claw to feel the warm touch. A kind smile spread across her face knowing it'd been a few days since he'd looked so handsome. "...Spike?" she whispered. "...Yes, Rarity?" he answered. "I don't want this moment to end," she said resting her head against his chest. "It won't, Rarity. It won't," Spike replied closing his eyes and resting his head against hers. The hut withheld a heavy silence in which Rarity could hear Spike's heart beating. She swore it was beating with joy knowing hers was drumming the same song. A muffled noise behind her made the mare realize that they weren't alone. She didn't immediately regard the noise's source but did open her eyes witnessing Spike's scales begin to dull again. She let out a soft sigh for, though the two had their own answers, they still needed the solution to the affliction. Rarity lifted her head from Spike's chest and peered behind her to find a surprised zebra observing the two. Zecora remained motionless with a hoof raised to her mouth. "A curious sight for these eyes to behold. Countless mysteries I've seen and been told. But this forbidden spell's effects far surpass them all. What kind of magic would require a confession to survive the fall?" An idea crossed Rarity's mind considering the experience Zecora had with strange occurrences. The young mare looked back at Spike taking note that the color in his scales would soon be grey again. They needed all the help they could get, and there was a possibility that Zecora could offer additional support if things don't turn out like they were planned. Having Celestia deny the request for the spell was not needed at a time when options were few. Rarity knew that one should seek help in all places. However, Twilight had enough on her mind. So, Rarity decided that the event the zebra witnessed and the young mare's request should remain a secret between the three of them. "Ms. Zecora, I have a favor to ask." The zebra's ears perked up at the request not knowing what to say. She kept looking at the young mare recognizing a great need in Rarity's voice. "Of course, young one. What do you need done?" [/hr] Twilight slowly walked back into the hut with her head hanging low. Her friends had tried to cheer the lavender unicorn up but to no avail. She was soon followed by the others expressing the same kind of sadness. Even Pinkie didn't feel like smiling. Twilight had looked at every book in the library not finding any answers and, when she did find one, it was denied by the one she trusted the most. She couldn't bring herself to be angry and there was certainly no reason to be happy. Looking up, she noticed Rarity and Zecora standing next to the bed on which Spike sat. "So, Spike, I'm not sure what to say," Twilight said solemnly to which both Rarity and Zecora made enough room for her to be by the dragon's side. She looked down on his grey scales with sadness in her eyes. "I've been thinking about what you said, but we still need that spell for an actual cure. Without that spell your scales will only continue to..." Twilight couldn't find the strength to continue speaking. Instead she lifted a hoof and gently touched his left arm in knowing that appendage was affected the worst. The physical contact didn't feel right as though she had wiped a hoof over an old book's cover. She lifted the hoof and observed it finding there was indeed dust on it. Twilight immediately lowered her foreleg not wanting to look at it any longer. "How are you feeling, Spike?" Twilight asked with some anxiety. "Believe it or not, Twilight. I feel fine," Spike said in a slightly cheery tone. "That's good. That's go...wait...what happened to the pain in your left claw?" Twilight asked caught off guard by the response. "...Well, I suddenly felt a little better." "Yeah, but how?" Twilight eyed the young dragon suspiciously. She couldn't put her hoof on it, but there was something he was keeping from her. "Um..." Before Spike could answer, his stomach began to rumble. He clutched at it with his left claw but, nonetheless, loudly burped with a scroll falling to the floor. "What's this?" Twilight asked picking up the scroll and unraveling it. Her eyes peered over the words and she lowered the piece of parchment upon finishing it with a look of disappointment. "...Great, just what I need..." "What's it say, sugarcube?" Applejack asked. "Celestia wants to talk with us. She's sending an escort in the morning to the library." "That there's some good news," Applejack said feeling some relief. "I reckon maybe she reconsidered her decision on lending us the spell." "No, it isn't good news. If she were to give us the spell, she'd have sent it along with the letter or explicitly mentioned it." "Come now, sugarcube. We can't continue to have our head in the gutter. Nothing good will come from it." "Y-you're right, Applejack," Twilight said trying to find a source of happiness in the news. "We'll just have to see what she says. For now, everypony should get some sleep and we'll head back to the library in the morning and await the escort. Is it okay if we spend the night, Zecora?" Twilight looked at the zebra for acknowledgment and the latter nodded with approval. Everypony began heading off to slumber to their own makeshift bedding with worry in their hearts but also hope in Celestia's letter. Spike meant something to each and every one of them and this news seemed like a second chance to save a friend. The two ponies, Twilight and Rarity, remained by Spike's bedside. After a few more questions asked by Twilight, Spike fell asleep with Rarity kneeling down by his side. The two remained there and observed the young dragon thinking about his safety. One had almost lost hope and the other knew everything would work out fine. Twilight continued to watch noticing that Rarity soon drifted off to sleep, too, with her head resting on the bed's sheets. In all the times she'd seen the two together Twilight still couldn't believe they were this close. Twilight didn't want to lose Spike. He was close to her, too. In fact, Spike was like a brother and losing him would be catastrophic. Memories of the past flooded her mind from the time when she hatched the dragon egg to the moment when Celestia allowed him to remain by her side. He was a great guy. He never let her down. But now, at this moment, she felt like a failure in watching him wither away. There was plenty of dust already covering Zecora's sheets which gave her an unsettled feeling. Celestia's first letter soon crossed her mind. Why would the princess deny her request to save Spike? Had she not been chosen an alicorn due to proven capabilities? Even if the second letter's purpose was not about giving her the spell, Twilight decided that she would plead with the princess for it. If they were going to have chance in saving Spike, she needed that spell. I need that spell, Princess, Twilight thought with renewed determination. The night's minutes ticked away with Twilight thinking about possibilities. However, she soon fell asleep in the hut's silence. [/hr] "Twilight, darling. Wake up. We need to head back to the library." A light prodding brought Twilight out of her slumber. With a dazed look, she looked around and noticed that everypony was up before the sun's rise. "R-right...I'm up," Twilight said wearily raising herself up on her hooves. She looked around and saw her friends sitting around Zecora's cauldron having had a stew-like breakfast although Spike remained in the bed. "Ya might want to brush off the side of yer head, sugarcube," Applejack said motioning a hoof at Twilight. Twilight looked at the orange-coated mare with a look of confusion and lifted a foreleg up to the side of her head noticing a familiar feeling much like wiping a hoof over an old book's cover. She suddenly realized where her head had been laying down all night and frantically wiped away the dust. "Better?" she asked the others. "Better," responded Applejack. "Well, since now everypony is awake, ay figured we'd discuss who will stay behind ta watch over Spike." "That's easy, Applejack," Twilight said. "It should be Rarity." "On the contrary, darling, I'm going along with all of you," Rarity said. "What?! I don't think that's a good idea. You're the only that can offse-" "-I have to go. This is simply something I must do." Rarity closed her eyes in defiance for she'd already made up mind. "P-please, Rarity. Y-you need to stay by-" Twilight stammered in fear for Spike's safety as taking the buffer away would only quickly worsen the degradation. "-Twilight, darling. This is something you're going to have confidence in my choice." "If it makes y'all feel any better, ay'll stick by Spike's side," Applejack suggested to which Rarity nodded in agreement. "See, Twilight? Applejack will volunteer for the moment until we return," Rarity said. Twilight cringed at the thought of letting this slide. She knew that the effects would surely worsen without Rarity. "Fine, let's get going then. Take care of yourself until we return, okay Spike?" Twilight asked turning her head to the dragon who nodded. "Don't you need to eat something, darling?" Rarity asked. "...I'm not hungry," Twilight said walking out of the hut and back to the library. The others finished up what they were doing and did the same. "Remember the answer to what I asked, okay Spike?" Rarity said making sure Spike understood what would be his saving grace. "I remember, Rarity. Don't worry, I'll be fine," Spike reassured her to which she smiled and followed the others out the door. "At least, I hope so." "Ay'm sure you'll be fine, Spike," Applejack said approaching the small dragon. "There's a lot of strength in those small arms. After all, ya did save me from that timberwolf." "I guess I did," Spike said laying back down in the bed still clutching the red ruby in his right claw. [/hr] Celestia calmly looked out her royal bedchamber's windows watching a mid-morning sun and waiting for the arrival of her most faithful student. Despite her relaxed demeanor, the princess was feeling quite a bit of anxiety after last evening's event. She would have passed the voice off as a figment of her imagination, but Luna had clearly heard the same words. How could such a thing be possible? Every second spent thinking about the voice made her slightly shiver for she knew it belonged to the dragon from long ago. "I'm sorry, old friend," Celestia whispered into the silence offered by the room thinking about her past failure. She wondered if a response would come though it did not. "But this is simply a wrong decision I will have to bear. Please understand the burden this would place on my student. I can't allow that to happen." A soft knock on Celestia's bedchamber door was her only response. "Excuse us, Princess?" called her royal guards from beyond the door. "Twilight and her friends have arrived!" "Send them in!" Celestia responded. The door behind Celestia was heard opening and closing with a few hoofsteps approaching her from behind. "Twilight," Celestia said still staring out the window with much on her mind. "Yes, Princess? You called for us?" Twilight responded from behind her. "How is Spike?" "Well..." Twilight paused for a second before continuing in her words. "...not very good. The affliction is affecting his scales much more quickly than the dragon from long ago. His condition has already advanced to the feeling of pain. It's only his left claw at the moment, but..." "I see," Celestia said sighing a little. "Perhaps I should have asked in the letter so as to not take you all from his side. However, I wanted you all to see something." Celestia walked over to her dresser, sifted through the bottom drawer, and nervously pulled out the small jewelry box. Twilight and her friends looked at it with curiosity. Celestia slowly opened the box revealing a diamond with a shine more brilliant than any they'd ever seen before. The refracted light given off by the diamond made each pony's jaw drop in amazement to know such a thing existed. "I-Is that the diamond from long ago, Princess?" Twilight asked. "The very same, Twilight," Celestia said acknowledging the assumption. "I've kept it locked away for a thousand years. And, in all this time, it remained completely dull and void of life. That is...until yesterday around the evening hours. Twilight, did something happen yesterday that I should be aware of?" "No, Princess," Twilight responded shaking her head. "Not of any occurrence known to me." "Curious," Celestia said eyeing the diamond in the small jewelry box. "Princess...?" Twilight asked with a serious expression on her face. "Hmm, yes, Twilight? What is it?" Celestia asked redirecting her attention to the inquisitive student closing the box. "...I...We really need that spell," Twilight pleaded. "I've already given my answer on the matter, my most faithful student. And that answer shall remain the same until I see otherwise." "Am I not worthy in your eyes?" Twilight said on the verge of tears. "Was it not your trust in my worth that allowed me to be an alicorn?! Are you simply going to stand there and deny my request to save a dying friend!? If that is the case, then I don't want to be one! I need that spell, Celestia! Or Spike is going to die! Is that you want!? You want Spike to die!?" Twilight ran out of breath and her friends looked on at the two with sadness on their faces. Celestia, on the other hoof, remained emotionless peering down at her most faithful student. "I never said I questioned your abilities," Celestia said not expressing much emotion in response to her student's outburst. "Then why deny me this one simple request!?!" Twilight screamed in bitter anger. Celestia looked away from Twilight averting her eyes elsewhere. She could feel a few pangs in her heart but sincerely felt this was the right thing to do though it caused her student to have bitter feelings. "You don't understand, Twilight," Celestia said. "I simply can't allow that spell to be recast." "Princess...?" a voice said catching the attention of the two. Rarity cleared her throat before saying anything further. "If Twilight promises to not recast the spell, can we at least look at the book so as to find a real solution to the forbidden spell's effects?" Celestia stared at Rarity pondering the request. Perhaps the young mare had a point. This would allow the group to see the spell but also make sure it wasn't recast. "I...suppose. Twilight, do you promise to not to recast the spell if I show you it?" Celestia asked her student. "B-but...I...we...yes, Princess," Twilight sighed in defeat lowering her head. "I promise to not recast the spell." "Very well," Celestia said summoning the book in front of her opening it to the page detailing the forbidden spell. "You have until the end of today to study what you need. Once again, I must remind you all to not let your eyes wander to other pages. For now, I must return to the Day Court as today's proceedings were only put on temporary hold until this meeting was over. When I come back, I expect this book to be placed on the top of my dresser or there will dire consequences. Am I to be understood?" The ponies in the room all nodded in agreement. "Good—Guards!" Celestia called out to which two of her royal guards stepped into the room. "I want you to keep a watchful eye on this group until their leave. For, when they are done getting what they need from my book, they are to be immediately escorted back to Ponyville." Upon hearing Celestia's orders, both guards gave a salute. Celestia acknowledged this with a nod and headed off down the castle's hallways back to the court. Twilight immediately started scanning the book's contents for what she needed. The others did the same though they were unsure about what they'd get from reading the book. Nonetheless, they each meticulously looked over every word trying to find the answer to Spike's affliction. Seconds turned into minutes as minutes turned into an hour passing by with little to no hope in sight. Rainbow Dash had given up on trying to read anymore and decided to bother the guards for entertainment. "Ugh, Why's it got to be so riddled?" Twilight said in frustration. "Have you come up with anything, darling?" Rarity asked. "I've got some ideas, and I almost feel like I have the whole page memorized now having been looking at it for so long." "Should we return to Ponyville now?" Rarity once again asked. "Maybe," Twilight responded to the question. "I'm not sure there's much else I can get from this spell's description." Just then a noise such like an opening door was heard. The ponies and two guards inside turned around to see Luna arrive. "We're sorry to bother. We thought our sister would be in her room," Luna apologized before noticing Twilight and her friends were in the room. She also noticed a closed book behind them. "Greetings, Twilight. How fares Spike?" "Oh, hello, Luna. He's...not doing too good. We've been looking over Celestia's book for an answer but can't seem to find any good leads though I've got some new ideas." Twilight said this pointing a hoof to the closed book. "Oh," Luna said with a little sadness in her voice. "'Tis a most unfortunate incident that has befallen the young dragon." "It is," Twilight said lowering her head. "But I suppose we must be getting back to Ponyville." "Very well," Luna said with a nod. "We shall not keep you." Twilight levitated the closed book onto Celestia's dresser and the guards led the group away from the room. She hoped the new ideas from reading the book would be fruitful but had some doubts. Nonetheless, she would continue to try her best in helping Spike. [/hr] Celestia walked through the castle's hallways back to her room after the Day Court had ended. She felt slightly exhausted from the court's proceedings and wanted to lay down into bed. For her, it seemed like each day was more trying than the last. It was as though all of Equestria's burdens were upon her shoulders on a daily basis. Celestia was glad the moment she reached the extravagant doors of her bedchamber. All she wanted to do was relax a little after a hard day. Pushing her way through the doors, Celestia was halfway to bed when she suddenly remembered the book. In fact, Celestia had forgotten to put the small jewelry box away. She turned her head to the left and saw both of the items sitting on the dresser glad Twilight had done what she requested. Truly, the princess was sorry that she had denied Twilight's request to recast the spell. It certainly pained the princess to make that choice. However, it was necessary to save her student from an even worse unfortunate event. Celestia approached the book on the dresser intending to put it away. She marveled at how long this book had been in her life withholding so many secrets. Lifting the book up and observing it, Celestia then noticed something out of the ordinary. Looking at the underside of the book, Celestia perceived a small gap between the pages such like when a book is improperly closed on a folded page. The princess, all at once, had a realization that something was wrong. She hurriedly flipped though its pages looking for the forbidden spell but couldn't find it. She checked again and again yet it simply wasn't there. Where is it...? she frantically thought trying to find the page. She stopped searching realizing what had happened. The gap between the book's pages wasn't from it being improperly closed. Celestia ran through the pages again taking note that, on one turn of those single sheets of paper, she could clearly see a rip near the binder. A page was missing. Celestia slammed the book down on the dresser in rising anger. This is what she gets for trusting Twilight? Did a promise not mean anything? "Twilight Sparkle. I am very disappointed in you," Celestia whispered trying to hide her infuriated feelings. The diamond's light inside the jewelry box started to shine more brightly catching the princess's attention but also irritating her further. Feelings of frustration got the better of Celestia as she forcefully pushed the box off the dresser aggravated by its mere presence. The diamond fell out of the box and its shine made the princess shield her eyes. A slightly blinded Celestia momentarily gritted her teeth. There were not many moments that provoked her like this but, nonetheless, her emotions were hard to hold back any longer. She quickly picked up the diamond then stormed out of the room walking at a swift pace feeling much anger rise inside her. Luna saw her sister and tried to say something but Celestia barely acknowledged the greeting only offering an abrupt response. "Luna, come with me right now! We're heading to Ponyville straight away!" "Why, dear sister? What has happened?" Luna asked trying to get an explanation. Celestia stopped in her tracks and turned her eyes towards Luna in which the moon princess could clearly see the tempered ire. "A certain student of mine doesn't know when to take no for an answer."