Part 4
“Hiyah!” I swing my claw as hard as I possibly can and still there's barely a scratch on the tree trunk I've been practicing on for the past hour or so.
Discord told me to practice my attacks, so I've come to the edge of the Everfree Forest to be alone, but there's just no point to it. I don't have the reach or the strength to do any good as an offensive player.
I ball my claws into fists. What's the point in me even participating? I can't even use my fire breath properly except to be the most showy mail courier in Equestria. What good is a dragon that can't fight? Thwak! I strike the tree again angrily.
“AHH!?”
Huh? I know that voice. I peer around the tree. “Fluttershy?”
The yellow pegasus mare spots me and breathes a sigh of relief. “Oh, it's you, Spike. I thought you were something horrible from the Everfree Forest.”
You're right about the horrible part. At least that's the way I'm feeling about myself right now. But I can't say anything. Even Fluttershy is working hard with the Rating Game less than a week away.
“Aren't you supposed to be training with the Princess?”
Fluttershy nods. “We were practicing at the old castle of the Royal Sisters, because there's some spell books there.”
Spell books, huh? So Celestia really is teaching Fluttershy magic and with spells that aren't even recorded in Twilight's library. I hope Twilight won't get jealous. But it's got me wondering. It has to be something only Fluttershy can do. What kind of spell requires a shy pegasus to cast it that even the Princess of Friendship wouldn't be able to do?
Then I notice something. “Fluttershy, what is this?” There's something on her back, something blue. I've never seen a creature like that in the Everfree.
“Who? This?” Fluttershy says with a smile, craning her neck around to nuzzle the creature. “I found him on my way back. The little guy seemed like he was lost.”
When I get a closer look, I can't hold in my astonishment. “Is that … a dragon?” I always thought I was the only dragon around. He's built different than me, but it's without a doubt a small dragon, smaller than me even.
“What's your name?” I ask, stretching out a claw. He hisses at me and his eyes begin to glow. “Uhh, wha … Ouch!” I jump back. He hit me with some kind of lightning attack. “What's the matter with you?”
“That wasn't very nice,” Fluttershy chides him gently. “Spike is a friend.” The creature doesn't seem to understand her and goes back to nestling his cheek against her pink mane.
“I wonder where he came from,” I mumble, keeping my distance and eying the small dragon suspiciously.
“Rassei-kun! Come out! Where are you?” Fluttershy and I look in the direction where the voice comes from.
After a few moments two of the devils appear. It's the girl with the blonde hair and the blue-haired swordswoman. Asia and Xenovia, I think.
“Rassei-kun!” Asia cries with relief in her voice, when she sees us.
Fluttershy looks over her shoulder at her new friend, no doubt in part to hide her face from the two newcomers. “Is he with you?”
“Yes,” Asia confirms. “Rassei-kun is my familiar. He's a Sprite Dragon.”
“Familiar?” I ask. “What's that?”
“Devils can make contracts with magical creatures,” Xenovia explains in a neutral tone. “We can summon them and they can carry out tasks or fight alongside us.” She comes closer and stretches out her hand to Rassei. “You shouldn't trouble Asia by running off like that.”
Seeing her come closer, Rassei gets in a defensive posture and hisses at her. Xenovia frowns. “Normally he only behaves like that around Ise-kun.”
“Maybe it's because you're carrying Ascalon,” Asia suggests.
A look of understanding dawns on Xenovia's face. “Oh, that would make sense.” She draws the sword from her hip. “It is a dragon-slayer, after all.”
I've had this uncomfortable feeling since they arrived, but now that I can see it up close, my knees go weak and I feel my whole body trembling. It almost makes me feel like throwing up, just being close to that thing. “What in Tartarus is that thing?”
“It's a holy sword that has the power to kill dragons,” Xenovia explains. “Asia and I were practicing. That must be what caused Rassei to run off.”
“Uhmm,” Fluttershy tries to speak up. “Would you mind putting it away now? I think you're scaring the little guy.” Him? What about me?
With a mumbled apology she sheathes the sword and backs off a few steps. Asia comes forward and holds out her arms. Rassei obediently flies over to her and nestles up against her chest. “Thank you for taking care of him. I was so worried.”
“Oh, not at all,” Fluttershy replies with a smile. “Taking care of small animals is my specialty. I'm just happy we ran into you.” Looks like the two of them are bonding over this.
“Fluttershy,” a serene voice calls to us and we all turn around. “There you are.”
“Princess Celestia,” I gasp and bow. Fluttershy does the same.
She's still as calm as ever and her smile momentarily banishes my uncomfortable feeling of being close to that strange sword. “We still have a lot of work to do.”
“I'm sorry, your highness,” the pegasus mare apologizes. “I'll be right with you.” She turns around to the two devils. “It was nice meeting you again.”
Asia seems a little flustered and bows. “You too and thank you so much for looking after Rassei-kun for me.”
“Sorry for the trouble.” Xenovia also bows to us.
Celestia gives me a nod and a smile, before leading Fluttershy off to continue her training. The two girls bow to me as well and return the way they came.
As I watch them leave, I once again wonder how useful I can actually be in the Rating Game. Basically I'm the same level as that dragon and he's not even a full player. And that sword. I almost passed out from just being near it. It gave off such a creepy aura. If she attacked me with that for real …
There's no way to deny it. The way I am right now, I can't defeat any of these people in a fight. But what can I do? I've been trying to avoid this as much as possible, but there's only one person who can help me get stronger in a hurry. I steel my resolve and go looking for the one draconequus that might hold the answer.
I've been looking for about half an hour, when I spot him at the edge of town. He's just standing there, looking towards the town center. It's rare to see Discord not doing anything to cause trouble.
I walk up next to him. It doesn't seem like he's realized I'm here yet. What is he thinking about so deeply? “Uhm, Discord.”
Suddenly he grabs me by the scales on my head and yanks me from the ground. “Hey!”
A second later I can see a cherry pie fly through the air and go splat in the spot I was just standing in. Discord puts two fingers over his ear and begins talking. “Two degrees more to the left, Pinkie Pie. Accuracy is key, if you want to utilize the power of a long range weapon like the Party Howitzer.”
“Okey dokey lokey,” Pinkie's cheerful voice comes over the communication device in Discord's ear. “Adjusting trajectory now.” They're magical ear pieces developed by the devils. We've been given a set as well, so the whole team can stay in contact during the Rating Game.
“Did you want something, Spike?” Discord asks, setting me down again and not even looking at me. “Did you finish your exercises?”
“They're not working. I need a way to get strong fast. I know you have an idea. You've got everypony doing specialized training except me.”
He's quiet for a moment. “Have you considered that it's because you've got no talent? There's nothing that sets you apart. Ground work is really the only thing you can do.”
Ouch. That hurt. “Even so, everypony is doing their best! Even if there's nothing else I can bring to the table. I want to help! They're all counting on me. You must have something up your sleeve!”
Discord doesn't speak and just continues to stare off into the distance. Suddenly his head swells to enormous proportions with a gaping maw that is the size of a house. He snatches a pie that comes flying at him out of the air and swallows it in one gulp. “You overshot that one, Pinkie. Try to adjust your angle of ascent, so it'll travel in a ballistic arc.”
“Discord! Stop ignoring me!” I shout, tears of anger standing in my eyes. “Is there some way you can make me stronger or not?”
He sighs and for the first time looks me straight in the eye. “There is. I didn't say anything, because I knew your friends would be against it, especially Twilight.”
“I don't care,” I respond. “I don't need Twilight to make my decisions for me. I want this! I want to become stronger. And if you're not gonna help me, then I'm gonna figure out something on my own.” I turn around and start to storm off.
I'm brought up short, when there's a snap and bright flash in front of me. Discord teleported himself to cut me off. “Well, well, well. Looks like the baby dragon has developed some teeth after all.” He grins and touches his ear again. “Take five, Pinkie. After that we'll go on to the blueberry high explosives.”
Do I even want to know what that's about?
Discord crosses his arms and looks at me. “There is a way for you to get stronger in a hurry. Frankly your natural development is stunted and overdue. It's because you've been around ponies all your life.”
“Stunted?” Do you mean to say I'm in some way defective?
“Think about it, Spike. Even with a dragon's long life span, do you really think you should still be a baby dragon?” Well, if you put it that way. I'm not that much younger than Twilight. “Dragons are solitary creatures by nature. They live and grow by themselves. You've always had your pony friends around you to help you out and that's exactly what is holding you back.”
My friends. I've always been thankful for having them around me. But as much as I want to deny it, deep down something tells me that he's right. “I'm not gonna leave my friends. They're the reason I want to become stronger.”
“I get that.” Wow, Discord's really been surprising me lately. He can be very helpful and insightful, if he wants to. “But to unlock the hidden potential in you, you're gonna have to strike out on your own for a while, to find the strength within you.”
I guess you don't live thousands of years without picking up some wisdom, even if you're the god of chaos. “What do I need to do?”
For some reason the grin he gives me now has meandered back into disturbing territory again. He snaps his talon once and my entire surroundings change. I now stand in a dark and gloomy forest, alone.
“If you can tackle the Everfree Forest on your own, you'll be who you were meant to be,” Discord's voice echoes from the trees. “You mustn't leave the forest or call any of your friends until your training is over.”
I look around, trying to pinpoint his location. Perhaps he's still in Ponyville, only projecting his voice out here. “W-what am I supposed to do?”
A deep and scary chuckle reverberates from the trees. “Only one thing to do, Spike. … Survive.”
“Ahoooo!”
My scales stand on end as I hear the howling in the distance. “Timberwolves,” I whisper.
“And they're gonna be the least of your problems. Good luck, Spike. You may leave the forest in five days, in time for the Rating Game. That's if you're still alive by then.” His cackle fades into the distance and now I feel truly alone.