//------------------------------//
// Chapter Six:The Magic Touch 
// Story: Distorted World 
// by FluttershyLover55 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Six:The Magic Touch

Torches along the stone walls lit up when passed, shedding some light on their continuous descent. Fluttershy's question of a light source was already answered without any verbal input from Spike.
" Are you sure we're going the right way?" At this point, they had reached the bottom of the stairs, and were traveling the stone floor.
" I told you that I know what I'm doing! We won't get lost, trust me!" Spike replied, trying not to sound irritated.
" O-Okay, I'll trust you..." Fluttershy was less nervous than she would have been without her dragon guide, so she tried her best to trust in his judgement.The pitter-patter and clip-clop of their feet and hooves respectively, echoed through the tunnels. " I know that these tunnels were built for a certain reason, but where do they lead?" 
" These tunnels lead to every building in Ponyville, to Canterlot, and beyond. I'm actually not entirely sure where they end." Spike shrugged, nonchalantly. In front of them on the right, was a wooden door with a round iron ring handle on it. Before she could ask what the purpose of this room was, Spike answered for her. " This room holds some ancient artifacts and relics that Twilight and I have found over the years." Spike explained, yanking on the door's handle.
The long un-oiled hinges creaked as it opened, swinging wide. Fluttershy's eyes sparkled in amazement as the room's contents were revealed to her. Several wooden shelves were bolted to the walls all around the room, currently being used to hold the artifacts. There were amulets, books, pens, garments, and other various items of magical importance. None of them were labeled in any way, for some reason.
" This is nice and all, but why are we in here?" Fluttershy asked, " Isn't it dangerous?"
" No, only if you don't know what any of these are supposed to do!" Spike stated, lightly. After a moment of silence, he added, " We don't, so I suppose it IS dangerous." We're here, because I was hoping we could find something to help us on our quest."
" But, you said-" Spike put a finger to her lips, effectively shushing her.
" I know, but we'll be fine. I promise! If anything DOES happen, I'll protect you!" Spike assured, grinning at her.
She wasn't quite sure why, but her legs wobbled like jello, and she almost fell over. Something about his smile had caused her to nearly melt. At first she had liked Rainbow Dash, but now she didn't know what to think. Anypony watching the display would have realized the truth. Fluttershy had obviously fallen head-over-hooves for Spike, after he had saved her. The little dragon had a crush on her too, but was still trying to sort out his feelings on the matter. Spike reached out a hand to steady her,
" Are you okay?" He asked, clearly concerned for her well-being.
" Oh, I'm alright, Spike. You don't need to worry about me." She assured, quietly.
He nodded, and searched the shelves until he found what he was looking for. The object was in a special glass display case in the back, between a few shelves. At first glance, it simply looked like a blue stick with a star pattern on it, and several swirls circling around its base. Spike took a deep breath and blew fire from his mouth, rotating his head in a circular motion. The fire left a trail behind it, where it touched the see-through glass cover, resulting in a small hole in the shape of a circle, big enough for a hand, and light-green in color. Now that he had melted the glass, Spike reached his hand though it, and took hold of the strange stick, retracting his hand back through the hole in the glass. The dragon broke off a white string from a nearby amulet and looped it through a small hole in the stick, making it a necklace.
" You could have just lifted the case off," Fluttershy pointed out.
" I COULD have, but you have to admit that it was much cooler to do it that way." Spike reasoned. Fluttershy rolled her eyes at his response, but gasped when she got a good look at what he was holding.
" I-Is that a unicorn horn?" She whispered, in disbelief. Everypony knew that a unicorn's horn was very precious to them, just like a pegasus' wings. " How'd you get that? You didn't c-c-cuu..." She struggled to get the word out, but couldn't. Spike was shocked at the mere thought of what she was implying. 
" Surely, you don't think that I could have...I wouldn't do something like that! Cutting off a unicorn's horn is ridiculous! It was taken from Starswirl the Bearded's body after he died. Apparently, nopony wanted it to fall into the wrong hands or hooves, so they gave it to Twilight for safe-keeping." Spike said, earning another confused look from Fluttershy.
" Who is Starswirl the Bearded again? I believe I've heard Twilight mention him before, but I don't remember."
" Well, he was basically the smartest and most powerful unicorn in history!" Spike revealed.
" So, why do we have his horn? I thought that a horn has no magic power unless it's attached to a unicorn? Isn't it useless?" Fluttershy questioned, not seeing its purpose.
" Normally, you'd be right. But, there's a legend that tells why this particular horn is so special. It goes like this: Starswirl was believed to be working on a device to allow non-unicorns to access and use magic to make everyday life easier. Some saw this as a good thing, but there were others who thought differently. It was one of these ponies, a jealous unicorn, who eventually did him in. The unicorn took actions to make sure that magic would stay where it belonged, which led him to kill Starswirl the Bearded. What he didn't know, however, was that the old scientist had one last trick up his sleeve. Before dying, he had transferred all of his magic from his body and mind into his horn. Nopony has ever found any research notes, or discovered if the horn really allows non-unicorns to use magic." Spike recalled.
" Wow, now I know why you wanted it. If the legend is true, it could be useful!" Fluttershy softly exclaimed.
Spike stretched and yawned. Unfortunately, this caused a chain reaction, as his fist bumped a vase. They could only look on in horror as it toppled into the item next to it, causing several others to do the same thing, like dominoes. They both breathed a sigh of relief, when it stopped at an amulet on the edge of the shelf ledge. This activated it, sending out a black shockwave that pulsed through the room and beyond.
" Um, what did that do?" Fluttershy wondered. A moan was heard outside the room, as the whole underground shook.
" I have no idea, but I think we're about  to find out." Spike said, slinging the horn necklace over his head and onto his neck, " Looks like this thing might get some use, after all. Who knows? Maybe I'll have the magic touch!" The little dragon winked at Fluttershy, then stepped in front of her protectively, as the closed wooden door in front of them bent, and began to splinter. It was clear that something big was applying much force from the other side of the door.