//------------------------------// // Entrance: Part One // Story: Beyond Horizon's Edge // by Broseph_Stalin //------------------------------// Chapter VII. – Entrance: Part One Spike Spike awoke as the carriage slowed to a stop. Groggy, he sat up and smiled as his reptilian eyes picked out the silhouette of Rarity across from him in the carriage. He let out a slight sigh as her smile lit up in the gloom of the darkening evening. “We’re here, Spike. Did you enjoy the trip?” Rarity asked. She looked at Spike expectantly. It didn’t take Spike much time to come up with an answer, though. “Yeah, Rarity! I had tons of fun!” he said, nodding vigorously. Although he had been mainly in charge of carrying heavy bags and carting oversized racks of fine clothing, he still had had the time of his life wandering the energy-charged streets of Manehattan with his beloved Rarity. “Oh, good!” Rarity cooed to Spike. She reached out and lifted up Spike’s chin with a manicured hoof. “I love it when my dear Spikey-wikey comes along to help me!” Spike melted in Rarity’s grasp, mind reeling at the sensation. The little prizes of praise she gave him always made his heart alight in ecstasy. “Now, please, be a dear and help me unload my bags, hmm?” she said primly, batting her long eyelashes at Spike. He nodded dreamily. Of course, Rarity could have hit Spike over the head and he would have been just as eager to do what she asked. Spike jumped out of the carriage into a puddle, realizing for the first time the rain that was sprinkling down on Ponyville. He held out a claw and felt the cool drops against his scales. After looking around, he turned to the carriage and began unloading the heavy bags and trunks strapped to the back, with the help of a soaking wet and not very pleasant coachpony. . . . . Spike walked back in the chilly rain, but he hardly noticed any discomfort. His body was warm throughout, and tingled at the source: a kiss that Rarity had pecked onto his cheek before she had sent him on his way back to Twilight. Spike wandered towards the direction of the library, thinking all about what he would share with Twilight about his time in Manehattan. The fine food, the grand shows he had attended, the important ponies he had met (as well as the strangest ones he had ever seen who spent their times on the streets!). It all seemed like a dream that he had woken up from much too soon. Of course, the best part was simply spending time with Rarity. His heart fluttered at the thought of her. He realized suddenly, though, that he was already at the library. Finally coming up to the door, he burst in, shouting: “Hey, Twilight! I’m home!” Spike stopped at the doorway, wiping his feet on the mat absentmindedly. “Lemme tell you about this one pony I saw in Manehattan, he was the craziest looking colt I think I've ever seen!” He closed the door behind him. Receiving no reply, he called out again. This time he heard a slight response coming from the kitchen. “In here Spike! Come in, I want to introduce you to somepony—” She was cut off by a muted voice, and stifled laughter soon followed. Now what in the world is that all about? Spike thought to himself. He clambered through the entryway into the kitchen. As he entered, any curiosity he had had was instantly replaced by blind panic. At the other end of the table was a large, vicious-looking, pony-like creature. Its mouth was curved into a disturbing smile that seemed a thing right out of a nightmare. A row of needle-sharp teeth glared back at Spike, and the creature’s crimson eyes seemed to dart over everything it looked at with a fierce, predatory craving. The little dragon's stunned mind could only draw up the word Danger. Spines flaring up like a flash fire, he hissed slightly as instinct took over, backing out of the kitchen. Once a safe distance away, he turned and ran up the stairs in a blind panic. Twilight heard the patter of husky dragon feet waddling up the stairs as fast as they could take him, and the slam and click of a locked door. She sighed. “I’m sorry Ento, I expected less of a reaction out of Spike. Hold on, let me go get him.” Twilight started out of the kitchen to a reply of “It’s quite alright, Twilight. My fault, I guess...” . . . . After an apology, an explanation, a pair of introductions, and a lot of stammering, Ento and Spike soon became acquainted. Ento was in disbelief that Spike was really a baby dragon, as the only ones he had seen were of either the fully-grown-and-menacing-the-land variety or the stuffed-and-mounted-in-a-hall kind. For every question that Ento had for Spike, Spike fired off twenty more about Ento. After getting over his initial fright, he became his usual cocky little dragon. Spike was awed at Ento’s strange teeth, and Ento was more than proud to show them off. (“‘An Ekina’s measure is in his fangs,’ as the old proverb goes.”) Twilight had watched this exchange in quiet privacy, and thoroughly enjoyed the effect Ento seemed to be having on Spike, and vice versa. A thought sparked in her mind, igniting the fire of a private notion. “Say, Spike, I have an idea,” Twilight said, beaming. “What is it Twilight?” Spike said, in the process of measuring Ento’s largest canine tooth, rendering the latter speechless for the moment. “Well, I’ve been watching you two interact, and I can tell that you two seem to have hit it off. What do you think of me introducing Ento to the rest of the girls?” Twilight looked at him expectantly, smile still beaming. “If that’s okay with you, Ento?” she added with a hopeful glance. “Ich shoundsh gud toh meh, Twrilrght,” Ento said, his mouth full of Spike. The little unicorn giggled. “Okay, Ento. But judging by the reactions you’ve gotten so far, I think we’re going to have to approach this with some more… tact,” she added with a smile. “Well, I know somepony who’d like to meet you, Ento,” Spike said, removing his arms from between the colt's teeth. The little purple dragon glanced outside, heart a-flutter once again as plump drops of water rolled down the window pane. Rarity It had been a long few days for Rarity. Looking good was hard, and holding that in perfect poise for almost four days was far more difficult. She knew that she had pulled it off, though, and after unpacking her last bag, she ran a hot bath and put on her most adored classical piece- Canter in Endless Rain in E Major. Quite appropriate! she thought to herself as she glanced at the rain that was now plopping against her window lazily. Jumping into her bath, she sunk into heavenly bliss as bubbles rose to her face and washed away the built-up stress of four days of bustling streets, deadlines, and holding up a façade of perfected elegance. Finally all finished with that (at least for the time being), she closed her eyes and let her mind drift away from her. She conjured up thoughts of her favorite fashion show, the perfect dress, and not to mention that simply brilliant young stallion she had met at the Central Audience Charity Show... Just as she was about to conjure up a perfect date scenario for the two of them, she heard the delicate chime of her doorbell ringing. Perfect timing, she thought to herself sarcastically. She opened an eye slowly, then the other, and dragged herself out of the tub. Grumbling, she wrapped up her mane and body in plush violet towels. The last thing before she left to go to the door was to rip the needle off the record before she wandered over to the door. The unicorn flung it open to reveal a great big grin, which she soon found was connected to a soaking wet Twilight Sparkle, as she opened the door further. “Yes, dear? What is it?” she asked, a slight tone of concern in her voice. Of course, mixed in there was annoyance, but she did her absolute best to put that aside for her friend. “Rarity, I really want you to meet somepony.” She paused, her mouth moving silently for a moment at the last word. Snapping back, she continued on. “Will you come with me over to the library for a little bit?” she asked, smile still as pronounced as ever. “Well, I mean, I’ve just gotten back from my trip, Twilight. I was really hoping to, you know, relax? Take some time to depress and repose?” she replied, a slight pout forming on her lips. “I know, Rarity, but please, bear with me here. Spike asked for you specifically, and I know you’ll love to meet our guest,” she said. Rarity raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow at this. “Well, I suppose, considering Spike was such a sweetheart while we were gone… And you know I simply adore meeting new ponies…” She thought for a minute, mind focusing, as a flawlessly manicured hoof tapped her chin, trying to come up with a decision. “Yes, yes, okay Twilight. Let me get into something more proper, if you don’t mind?” “No, of course not Rarity, I understand. Go on and take as much time as you need.” Twilight paused. “It’s raining, by the way,” she added, spacing out slightly. Rarity laughed at her friend’s mannerism. Such is Twilight, she thought. “I know, dear. Why don’t you come in out of the rain while I get ready, hm?” Twilight stepped inside with a “Thank you.” . . . . After putting on her raincoat and grabbing a luxuriously adorned umbrella, Rarity followed Twilight through the rain over to the library. After coming in and drying off, Rarity glanced about as she tucked her things neatly away in the closet. Nopony was to be found in the room, and Twilight just stood there, smiling. “Uh, Twilight, dear, is everything okay?” she asked, concerned. “Oh, yes. Sorry.” She shook her head slightly, as if clearing it. “I want to introduce you to somepony.” Another brief pause. “Er, he’s not from around here, and he’s traveled a long distance and stopped here in Ponyville. He’s staying with me and Spike.” Rarity looked around again. “Well, where is he from? Fillydelphia?” Twilight shook her head. “No? Well, somewhere further? Las Pegasus, perhaps?” Another no. “Well then, I give up. Where could he possibly be from, Twilight?” Rarity said, voice tinged with a slightly impatient whine. “Well, I think you should ask him yourself. But uh, be warned, he’s not a— well, I mean, he’s kind of— no... Well, look. He’s just different. Just please be calm when you see him, okay?” Rarity was even more confused than ever. “Okay, Twilight… If you say so?” Twilight simply smiled, and called to the kitchen doorway. “Ento, you can come in now!” Rarity held her breath, expecting something, anything. Tense moments passed by, a heartbeat seeming to beat twice in the span of a single moment. Suddenly, walking through the door came- Spike. Rarity released her held breath, relieved. “Uh, Twilight…?” she started, but stopped as she heard Spike turn and say: “No smiling this time, okay? That’s what got us both earlier.” Rarity heard a deep, liquid voice behind him say, “Alright, Spike. I got it.” The voice materialized from the doorway, and Rarity gasped in horror. . . . . Rarity remembered when she was a filly, going to see The Pony of the Opera with her parents. They had consistently told her there was a part that would be scary for her, but she rejected their reasons and simply stated she had heard so much about the play that she couldn't dare to miss it for a day longer. So, she went, and loved every second. But after the Pony had removed his mask, she remembered crying at the sight of his horrific disfigurement, and having to leave the theater as her parents comforted her. Even to this day, she had yet to return to see the rest of the play. At this moment, she felt the same deathly panic as she witnessed a tall, lanky, and utterly dreadful creature step up towards her. His large, flaring horns seemed to menace her, and his crimson eyes seemed to pierce her with a strange and weird fire. As she stared, horror-struck at the needle-like teeth the creature seemed to be trying to hide from her, Rarity’s mind shut down. . . . . “Rarity? Hello, Rarity, you there?” Spike said, waving a claw in front of the unicorn's face. It seemed stuck in a horrified position, like a cracked mirror; her eyes gazed beyond the here and now, stuck still. Spike stepped back, a growing look of deep concern spreading on his face. He turned to Twilight. “Twilight, what’s happening to Rarity?” he asked, his voice rising slightly with strain. “Uh, I don’t know, Spike. She just seems... stuck?” She turned to Ento, a look of similar concern etched on her face. “Er,” Ento said, trying not to panic as both faces drilled in on him with a look of intense disquiet. “Hold on. I caused this, and I think I can fix it.” He ran down the hall to the guest room, and returned shortly with what looked like a vial of thin purple roots. He smiled slightly as their looks turned to curiosity, and walked up to Rarity’s rigid form. He opened up the vial and placed it on the ground next to him. “Numbroot,” he said. “Like smelling salts, but more potent and less hazardous. This'll snap her back in to shape like lightning. I think...” "You think!?" Twilight barked, an incredulous eyebrow raised at her guest. Ento stopped dead and said, "Well, yes. I can't say for sure what it will do to a pony, but, I'm certain you and I are similar. Physiologically, that is..." And without waiting for some negative response, he held his breath, picked up a root carefully in his mouth and began to wave it around Rarity’s nose. The potency became quickly apparent as her knees quivered, her eyes rolled in the back of hear head, and she slumped slowly to the floor. Spike ran up to her side as fast as his short legs could take him, and held fast to her hoof. Twilight looked on, stunned. “S-so, what happens now?” Spike asked. “Well,” Ento replied as he re-capped his vial, “the root should have kicked out the shock, calmed her mind, and now it’ll start up normally in a second or two. She’ll be far less stunned now when she sees me this time. I promise!” Ento added pleadingly to Twilight. Hot embarrassment stung both his pride and his cheeks as the unicorn's mouth shot open to dispute. As if to support Ento’s hasty statement, Rarity stirred with a squeak, and slowly stood up, a hoof touched to her forehead gingerly. “Wh-what happened?” she asked groggily. Ento stepped up, doing his best not to show how bad he was shaking. “Well, my dear, when you saw me, you sort of, well, froze. With a little Ba family home recipe, though, you’re right as Raika,” he added with a quick wink and a nervous smile. “Ah,” she said, absentmindedly. . . . . After some time and clarification, Ento and Twilight had explained the majority of things to Rarity about Ento and where he was from, and Rarity had thoroughly introduced herself to him as well. After a length, as well as the obvious calming effects of the numbroot, Rarity seemed to have warmed up to Ento, and followed him around like an adoring schoolfilly, making endearing remarks and asking him all sorts of questions. “Oh my, Ento, such a luxurious mane! I simple love the color. Jet black has always been my favorite hue of coiffure! Is it natural? No, no, it must be, just look at the richness. And oh, you simply must tell me who does your mane, I adore it!" Ento blushed at this. He still wasn't sure if she was complimenting him as a cover for the way she reacted earlier, or if she really meant what she said. Perhaps both? “It’s just an Imperial bob. A lot of Ekina have it. It’s really nothing special," he remarked, his tone a bit flat. “Oh come now, don’t be so modest my dear. Your face structure, your physique, you make it work for you! Astounding, if I do say so myself,” she added with a smile, and pushed on. “And your eyes," she gasped, "just incredible! Why, I haven’t seen rubies, nor garnets as brilliant as those eyes. They contain a fire, a certain, esprit, if you will.” “Thank you,” Ento said, feeling far less humble than he should from all the compliments Rarity had been giving to him over the past few minutes. Okay, maybe she does mean what she's saying he thought smugly. “Alright, alright,” Spike interjected, his mouth a sour line. “We get it. Ento is just fantastic!” Spike threw his arms up in mock admittance. Twilight shoved Spike gently and cleared her throat at the dragon. “Yes, yes. You know what, I know just the pony who would simply love to meet you!” she said, mind reeling as she played the situation out in her mind. “And I know she’ll just adore you, the same as I have,” she added with smile. Rarity turned to Twilight to explain her plan.