//------------------------------// // Damnit Spike! // Story: Applejack's spider problem. // by Mrchibivampire //------------------------------// “Spike no!” Applejack shouted, but it was too late. Spike, opened his mouth and fired a ball consisting of a red flame, with a hint of green. The fireball was aimed at the Broodmother. It traveled across the room with great speed and broke into several smaller flames as it progress towards its target. The smaller flames latched onto several nearby barrels and they slowly caught on fire. The fireball lit up the entire room and radiated incredible heat.   The Broodmother, saw the incoming danger and she reacted quickly. She laid flat on her stomach and used her limbs to spin herself around 180 degrees. She felt the heat on her bottom and fired a massive blob of web at the fireball. The web wrapped around the fireball and smothered it, before it could cause her any damage. Spike, couldn’t believe what he just witnessed and panicked. He took another deep breath, preparing himself to release another fireball. However, Broodmother reacted quickly to his actions and fired a glob of web straight into his mouth, the web clogged his throat and forced the fire back inside his body. Spike, was caught off guard by this and accidentally swallowed the web. He fell to his knees and gagged violently.   Broodmother, took this opportunity and began to spin on her stomach once more. Once she felt that the speed was high enough, she stuck out one of her limbs. Her limb hit Spike in the gut and he was sent flying. He slammed hard into a nearby wall and lost his breath. Broodmother, slammed her limbs into the ground and lifted herself off the it. She slammed two of her hind limbs into the wall and caught Spike, underneath his armpits, before he reached the ground. She used her other limbs to wrap Spike, into a cocoon.   The cocoon feel to the ground with a thud and Broodmother, used her web to douse the smaller flames before they were able to cause any major damage. She then turned her attention to the cocoon. She lifted a limb into the air and positioned it above the cocoon. Applejack realized what she was planning on doing and quickly leaped on top of the cocoon, protecting it with her own body. “Don’t hurt him!” she yelled. Broodmother’s limb sunk into Applejack’s back. She clenched her teeth and grunted in pain, but didn’t move an inch. Her breathing was uneven and it was obvious that she was in great pain. Broodmother, looked at Applejack with anger burning in her eyes. “Give me one reason... As to why I shouldn’t puncture your heart, traitor!” Applejack, slowly turned her head towards Broodmother. “Please...I never meant for this to happen.” she said in between breaths. Broodmother, forced her limb a bit deeper into Applejack’s back, causing her to scream in pain. “You tried to burn me alive!” Broodmother, hissed. Applejack, felt how that something was flowing from her back. She looked at her back and realized that it was her own blood. She looked back at Broodmother and saw the anger in her eyes. “I don’t know what I can say, but I never meant for this to happen. Spike is usually very calm in these situations an-” Broodmother interrupted her. “Spike? The dragon you brought with you I presume… Don’t worry once I have eaten his liquefied guts, he’ll be very calm.”   Applejack, gritted her teeth and she could feel her blood starting to boil. She blew smoke out her nose, like an angry bull. “Listen to me!”  she roared. Her sudden outburst caught Broodmother off guard. So she decided to hear what the pony had to say. “I told Spike that I was having a minor problem with a big spider and he agreed to help me. But, your size was obviously too much for him to handle and he panicked!” She took a deep breath. “I understand why you smothered the fire and I appreciate it. However… You had no reason to attack Spike! He was scared out of his mind! And you attacked him like he was a prey!” The anger in Broodmother’s eyes began to fade and she started to feel bad regarding her actions, but she said nothing and continued to listen. “You’re probably used to ponies being frightened by your appearance. So why did you have to act like a monster?!” “I only defend myself!” Broodmother, hissed. “He tried to kill me!” “He panicked! If you had been in his shoes I bet you would have done the same!” Applejack’s words cut like a knife and Broodmother had no way of responding. Silence hung in the air for several minutes. However the sound of dripping blood and Applejack’s heavy breathing never subsided. Broodmother, pulled her limb out of Applejack’s back and stepped closer to the pony. “I have been hunted my entire life.” She lifted Applejack from the ground with her limbs. “My kind have burned to ashes before my eyes on several occasions.” She wrapped some of her silk around Applejack’s body, to stop the bleeding. “I survived by hiding in my own mother’s ashes.” She put Applejack down in front of her. “And you are right, I would have reacted the same way.” Broodmother, used her limb to slice open the cocoon. Spike slid out of the cocoon and onto the ground.. “Forgive me, Applejack. You have offered me nothing but help and I repay your kindness by caused more trouble for you. I’ll take my leave.” Broodmother, limped towards the exit. Applejack, looked at Spike and then at the Broodmother. “You can stay until your legs heal.” Broodmother, stopped in her tracks and turned towards Applejack. “You have a heart of gold. I thank you once more for your hospitality.” she walked over Applejack and laid down on the ground. “Your friend is in no danger and he will most likely wake up in matter of minutes. I suggest that you take him somewhere he feels safe.” Applejack, heaved Spike onto her back and walking towards the exit. She stood at the top of the stairs. “I’ll close the doors on my way out. So you can have some peace and quiet.  I’ll be back later!” However, her words were left unanswered. A few moments passed and Applejack proceeded to shut the cellar doors. She looked at the unconscious dragon on her back. “Somewhere safe, huh?” she said and began walked towards her home, on the other side of the orchard. * * * Twilight, was sitting at a restaurant in the Crystal empire. Enjoying an early lunch together with Cadence. Twilight, stabbed some sallad with her fork and levitated it to her mouth. She chewed slowly, to really savor the flavors. “Mmm!” she moaned. “This is really good!” she said, while looking over at Cadence, who had ordered the same thing. Cadence, took her first bite and took her time with it. “It’s not bad, but my chiefs at the castle makes tastier food.” She brought a napkin to her mouth and wiped her lips.   “Well, your chiefs are world class and this place just ope-” Suddenly a feeling of dread clung to Twilight’s spine and she stopped mid sentence. She dropped her fork and it hit the ground with a soft clang. She turned her head and looked in the direction of Ponyville.   “Twilight, are you okay?” Cadence asked with a hint of worry in her tone. Twilight ignored her and got off the pillow she was sitting on. She took a few steps and flared her wings. Cadence, quickly got of her pillow. “Twilight?” Twilight began flapping her wings and took off into a fast gallop. The beating of her wings grew stronger and stronger, soon she would be off into the sky. She took off, but something was  preventing her from going anywhere. She looked back and saw that Cadence had wrapped her front hooves around her neck and she was trying pulling her down to the ground. Twilight ignored her and put more strength into her wings. “Twilight! Snap out of it!” Cadence shouted. Cadence, Used her magic and managed to pull Twilight into her embrace. She used her hooves to turn Twilight around and looked deep into her eyes. “Twilight, do you hear me?!” she shouted in a worried tone. What she saw brought her mind into a complete state of horror. Twilight’s eyes were open, but they were completely lifeless. Twilight, began to thrash around in her embrace. “Let me go!”  she screamed. Nearby ponies stopped whatever they were doing and rushed to the two princesses side. “What is happening? Do you need any help?” the ponies asked. Cadence, was getting more worried by every second that passed and she was uncertain of what to do, but she knew that she couldn’t let go. Twilight’s current state of mind was something she had never seen before and she could barely hold the trashing alicorn. “Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!” Twilight roared. Cadence, closed her eyes and focused her magic. In a blinding flash the two of them teleported away. The town ponies that stood nearby were blinded by the flash and the rumors regarding the event began to circle in the city. A magical flash lit up Cadence’s and Shining’s bedroom. From the light the two alicorns emerged. Twilight broke free from Cadence grip and took off running. “Twilight, lookout!” Cadence shouted. Twilight, ignored her words and ran headfirst into a wall. She fell to the ground with a thud and passed out. Cadence, quickly ran up to her. Suddenly the doors flung open and two crystal guards stood in the doorway. “We heard a noise! Is everything okay, princess?” Cadence, turned to the guards. “Yes, everything is under control.” She took a deep breath. “I want you to lock the door and get my husband. Tell him it’s an emergency!”   “Yer, Princess! Right away.” One of the guards ran off to find Shining Armor and the second one closed the door and proceeded to lock it. In the meantime Twilight had woken up. She rubbed her head and suddenly remembered what she was doing. Cadence, walked over to Twilight and was just about to say something. Twilight, lifted her hind legs and bucked her right in the face. Cadence fell to the ground and twilight blasted a window with her magic. The window shattered and she took off into the sky. “Spike!” she yelled.   “Spike?” Cadence mumbled, before she passed out. Twilight, flew as fast as she could and was gaining more speed by every passing second. “Don’t worry Spike, your big sister is coming!” She broke the sound barrier and a purple ring spread across the sky.