//------------------------------// // Gluttony // Story: Wrath // by FishyCrackers431 //------------------------------// Chapter 3: Gluttony gluttony, noun: excessive eating and drinking - Only once Twilight was certain she'd gone far enough that she was comfortable Rarity would not attack again did she slow herself. The moon was visible the sky now, however low, and Twilight stood on the grounds of the Apple Family farm. She had no intention of going to Applejack for help so soon, though it was an appealing idea. So, for now at least, she'd station herself beside a large apple tree for a few minutes to think things over. Checking once more that no one was watching (not a difficult feat, considering most of the town was heading to sleep at this hour), Twilight finally spat the gem out onto the ground. It spun on its axis for several seconds as though a top, before finally slowing to a stop with the eye facing her. "I'm watching you!" Twilight leaned in and hissed to the gem. She glared at it for a few seconds more, before standing herself back up straight and taking a seat beside it, leaning against the tree. 'I just talked to a gem', she thought silently, suddenly much happier that no one had seen that. Her horn lit up, and with minimal effort, the jewel was lifted into view, hovering directly in front of her. Twilight took a few more quick glances around before finally speaking again. "Okay, little gem, let's see what you're hiding..." Twilight scrunched her face up in concentration, trying to use her magic to peer into the object floating before her. Her mind was empty for a moment, forcing its way in. Then, for a split second only, an image of Nightmare Moon flashed through Twilight's mind. The next thing she knew, she was back in reality just in time to see the gem fire a quick zap of magical energy back at Twilight's horn. It hit dead on, and it felt like she'd run into a brick wall. Suddenly Twilight's head, along with whatever of her wasn't touching the tree, was flung back into it with such force it was guaranteed to leave a bit of a bruise the next day. Losing concentration for that moment, the gem dropped to the ground and rolled away a few feet, stopping with its eye facing Twilight again. Twilight was stuck in a daze, with a sharp pain in her head and uncertainty flooding through her mind. She slumped forward, quietly, staring at the gem. It seemed to stare back. "The sooner I'm rid of you, the better" Twilight mumbled. She flinched from the pain as she stood herself back up, taking the gem in her teeth again. She'd need to see Zecora first; it was time to find out if Spike could ever eat again. Next would be Celestia. Twilight stopped short on the edge of the clearing, so she was just barely still in the lining of trees. She could see faint shadows darting about through the windows of Zecora's hut, and hear quite a bit of chaos going on within. Oh, this could only end well. Twilight made a note to return the gem to her pack before she knocked. While true, she was worried of how Zecora was react, there was also the tiny problem of her needing the ability to talk. She knocked thrice upon the door, and heard only the sound of a shattering bowl in response followed by a foreign string of words Twilight could not recognize. They must have come from Zecora. With some hesitance, Twilight pushed the doorway open, and immediately had to stifle a chuckle at the sight. Spike and Zecora were on opposite sides of each other, separated in the middle by the cauldron centering the hut. Spike at least had his face back, though his scales were irregularly discolored. Where his purple and green scales had been were now bright red and yellow. In Zecora's mouth was a slightly tilted bowl holding a red liquid, which she seemed to be doing her best to not spill. The two of them circled around the cauldron, Zecora trying to get to Spike, and Spike trying to keep away from her. Zecora mumbled something unintelligible with her mouth full. Twilight stepped up behind spike, wrapping a hoof around his front and holding it over his mouth, both to keep him from running, and to prevent him from screaming. "I'm guessing he's been giving you a bit of trouble?" She asked. Spike was pulling at her hoof and desperately trying to get himself free. Zecora finally let a sigh of relief and calmly approached the two of them. Twilight uncovered Spike's mouth just for a moment for Zecora to shove the bowl in and tip its contents down his throat. When done, Zecora idly tossed the bowl to the side, not caring where it landed. "Twilight Sparkle, though you are my friend; never bring him here again" Twilight released her grip on the baby dragon, stepping back. He let out a few short coughs, and within seconds, his scales had faded back to their normal color. He looked down at himself, giving a disappointed "Aw..." He looked back to his caretaker, pointing an accusing finger at Zecora. "What took you so long? I've been growing extra limbs thanks to her!" Zecora glared at the dragon, accusingly. "You grew a second tail, not a single limb more! Tell no more lies, or I'll have you worse than before!" "Thanks!" Twilight spoke up over the two arguing friends, drawing both of their attentions. "Thanks" she repeated, quieter this time, to Zecora. "Spike, say thank you. She fixed your tooth" Spike turned away stubbornly, crossing his arms. Twilight's horn lit up, and he spun around involuntarily on the spot to face the Zebra. "Spike" Twilight growled. Eyes on the ground, Spike mumbled something of thanks. "Good. Now, can you wait outside a minute? I need to talk to Zecora. Alone" Still with a pout on his lips, Spike turned and left the cottage, with only just enough will to keep from slamming the door on the way out. Zecora gave a quiet huff. "Childish dragon, I don't know how you manage" She turned back to her shelves -most of which appeared to be empty-, and began resetting everything as it had been before the ordeal. "I would not have minded if one of these made him vanish..." she finished in a mumble. "I'll just pretend i didn't hear that" Twilight said aloud, now opening the top to her pack still wrapped around her body. "I needed to ask you about something, and I was hoping you might know..." Twilight reached in and pulled the gemstone out by the mouth. Zecora turned to give her a look, and gave a double-take at the sight of it. Then, she rushed over to the central cauldron, grabbing the ladle sticking out and flinging a hot green substance at Twilight with it. The unicorn only just managed to back away without being sprayed. "Twilight Sparkle! I did as you asked, I healed your friend and removed his extra limb, and now you come to this place with an omen so grim?" Twilight wouldn't have known what to say even if she had been able to talk at the moment. Zecora rushed over and gave her several good pushes towards the door. "Keep your dragon, and keep your Sin! Never bring that item back here again! You'd do wise to beware what lurks within!" The zebra yelled, finally pushing Twilight out the door and slamming it. Twilight was stuck standing outside. She didn't know what to say, and calmly let the gem fall from her mouth onto the ground. She looked to Spike, who had obviously heard what had been said by the look on his face. "What the heck just happened?" She asked, not honestly expecting any real answer. He gave only a confused shrug. "I think she's crazy" Spike managed to get out, hurrying over around the hut to check in the windows. As he did, they, too, had blinds fall over them. Muffled angry chants from the zebra within could be heard. Spike gave Twilight a confused look. "What did you do?" "I don't know! I just showed her the gem and she flipped out!" Twilight half-spoke, half-yelled. She was not angry, though the surprise and panic was clear in her voice. She gave the blue jewel at her feet a quick nudge with her hoof. It made no response. Spike approached, grabbing it from the ground and staring into it himself. "Well, that's that then?" He asked. "Yep, come on" Twilight gestured out, to the forest, and beyond that, to town. "No doubt about it now. The Princess needs to know, and she needs to know now" "Do you want to break a tooth again?" Twilight asked. After such a long day, it was nice to finally enter the massive tree she and Spike called home. Speaking of Spike, the baby dragon was following behind her, occasionally gnawing on the gem without even noticing. He'd stopped himself several times now, and stopped several times more at Twilight's notice. Shutting the door behind him, Spike pulled the gem from his mouth and held it away from him. While desire stayed in his eyes, he wasn't one to disobey Twilight's orders without good reason. "It's not my fault! This is one of the best looking jewels I've ever seen" At this, Twilight's horn lit up, lifting the gem into the air with Spike still holding onto it. "Hey! Let go! I'll stop, I'll stop!" He pleaded. She shook it several times until finally his grip loosened and he dropped off it. Twilight set it down only on the highest shelf she could manage. "You can have it back when and if the Princess says it's safe" Twilight replied, stepping up the ladder to the upper floor, and laying down on the bed. "Now, take a note" With a disappointed "Fine...", Spike hurried over to the podium holding a ready strip of paper and quill, for such events as this one. He readied himself to write as she spoke. Dear Princess Celestia, I'm sorry to interrupt your day, but I bring urgent news. Spike and I went to the Castle of the Princess Sisters today. He managed to find a blue jewel tough enough to chip one of his teeth, and it's been giving me weird looks since. There's an eye on it. Normally I wouldn't think much of it, but it's been getting some strange reactions ever since we found it, and I think it may be magical. It's here with us in the library, if you're wondering. I'm worried it might have something to do with Nightmare Moon. Please write back as soon as you can. Your Most Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle "And... done" Spike finished off the letter with Twilight's signature. He rolled up the newly made letter and attached a red band around it to keep from unwinding on its own. "Hey, do you think we should wait until morning?" Twilight gave him a questioning look. "Well, think about it, it's past midnight. Most ponies are... you know, sleeping at this hour?" Twilight waved him on to send the letter. "I'm sure the Princess will understand. And if she doesn't, I've given her better reasons to punish me" "That's not what you said when you were late on your assignment... or when the town got eaten by Parasprites" "Just do it, Spike" Twilight sighed, falling back onto her pillow. She heard him finally blow into the letter, and could feel the warmth of it as it soared up over her head and out the open window. Moments later, she felt the same warmth, followed by the sound of a loud burp from Spike. Twilight sat herself up again, looking down to her assistant. He'd only made it about a foot towards the ladder when the return letter had come, which was laying in front of him now. He looked up at her with a shrug. "Maybe the Princess stays up late" "What does it say?" Twilight rushed back down the ladder to the letter, unraveling it herself with her horn and setting it down onto her podium to read. Spike had rushed up to her side, having to stand on his toes somewhat to see Twilight in the way. Twilight Sparkle, You made the right decision contacting me about this. I'm out of the country right now, but I'll be coming personally to collect the gem as soon as I possibly can. Try not to spend too much time with it, try to keep it safe, and most important, try to keep yourself safe from it. I urge you, do not let my sister, or anypony else know about this. Do not go out of your way for this find, Twilight. It's more dangerous than you know. With You Always, Princess Celestia Twilight read and reread the letter, taking its meaning it, or at least trying to. "That... that doesn't tell me anything!" Twilight groaned, marching back to the ladder to head up into bed, thoroughly disappointed. "Twilight, the Princess said not to go out of your way for it. I don't think you're supposed to be-" Spike shut himself up once he caught Twilight's hard glare on him. "Come on, let's just go to bed" She hissed, crawling beneath the covers and laying her head on the pillow. She gave a quick blow to the bedside candle, engulfing her half of the room in semi-darkness. Twilight heard Spike blow out the candle down on his floor, engulfing the whole library into darkness, followed by him coming up the ladder as well. She shut her eyes and prepared to fall to sleep, as impossible as it seemed with so much on her mind. "Hey, Twilight, are you okay?" Twilight opened her eyes to see Spike standing over her bed; not in his own as she imagined he'd have gone. "You've always been a bit of a hothead, but lately you've been getting kind of..." Spike trailed off, standing awkwardly, fiddling his fingers together. He didn't know what to say. With a sigh, Twilight reached up and hooked a hoof around him, pulling him under the covers with her to sleep there, with her, just for the night. "No, I'm not okay Spike. But I'm not angry at you, and I'm sorry..." With a sigh, feeling Spike snuggle up next to her as a baby might do to its mother, Twilight shut her eyes. She only managed to yawn out her final words for the night. "I'm worried"