Chapter 5: Something to Depend On
Rarity was lying on her back on a warm sofa. At first she wondered how she had gotten there, but she noticed Spike lying not too far away from her. He must of carried her here last night.
“He's so sweet.” She thought to herself. The unicorn got up and kissed his rough cheek. She nimbly avoided waking any of her sleeping friends before leaving the cave. What had come over her last night? It wasn't really like her, but it felt good. No not good, Great.
For once in her life, Rarity had felt complete. She had something she had been looking for her entire life, someone to love her and take care of her. But then why did she feel so upset?
Fog covered the sleeping mountain, leaving an ominous almost dead feel to it. Almost dead. Rainbow Dash swooped in through the fog, flying at top speed while spinning and flipping. The pegasus noticed her and descended to the stone.
“What's up Rarity? Not like you to wake up so early.” Rainbow Dash remarked.
“Oh I don't know,” Rarity said nonchalantly, “I guess I just wasn't tired.” Dash nearly pressed her face against her own, hoof rubbing her blue chin, inspecting her. Rarity did her best to look relaxed and calm against her bright searching eyes. A wide smile made it's way across the pegasus' face.
“It's okay Rare, I know what's goin' on.” she said, patting Rarity's head. Now she was beginning to get annoyed.
“Well I guess you, the great,all knowing Rainbow Dash knows exactly what's going on.” Rarity announced sarcastically.
“That's right!” Dash said matter-of-factly.
Rarity puffed out her cheeks. Sometimes, that pony really got on her nerves. Rainbow Dash waltzed over to a rock and sat against it, hooves behind her head, eyes closed. She looked as if preparing to take a nap.
“You're just saying that to get on my nerves.” The defiant unicorn proclaimed. “But I'm better than that! I won't let you.” She turned to march off, when a slightly softer, more affectionate Rainbow Dash spoke back.
“Spike means a lot to you.” Rarity froze in her tracks. She wanted to make the pony shut up, but some part of her needed to hear what she was going to say.
“But you don't know how long, or even if he'll stay. He left because his heart found greed more satisfying, what's to stop him from leaving again?” Rarity soaked this in, digesting every word she said. She was right, why would he stay here? He's a dragon, why would he stay in Ponyville where he couldn't be greedy.
Rarity stepped closer to her friend and sat down next to her. With her eyes still closed, a smile crossed her face.
“But, then what do I do?” The white pony sighed. The pegasus' eyes popped open. She obviously hadn't expected this question, and suddenly appeared nervous.
“Well- Uh....” The multi-colored pegasus didn't seem to know the answer, looking all around her for something to perhaps give her a clue. Rarity wanted to plead, even beg if necessary. She needed to know.
Rainbow Dash's eyes became fixed on her own hooves.
“You need to show him” The blue pony said slowly, “that you'll be there for him. Even if he isn't, even if he decides to go and live somewhere else. You need to show him that you'll always be his friend, no matter what he does.” The pegasus' head turned to face Rarity's.
“You need to be something he can depend on.”
Rarity's whole expression changed. She felt terrible that he could leave her, but she wouldn't ever leave him.
“Thank you, Rainbow Dash.” She said.
“No problemo!” And with that she jumped up into the morning sky.
Rarity admired that Rainbow Dash woke up this early, still working to fulfill her dream and become one of the members of the prestigious Wonder Bolts. She watched her fly around, doing outstanding, awe inspiring tricks.
She sat there, watching her loyal friend fly through the sky, without a care in the world. Rarity, on the other hoof, was stuck on the ground, with a thought on her tender mind that was growing like a tumor. Could she ever depend on Spike?
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“How long are we staying here, Twilight? This spooky cave is bad luck, I can feel it.” Pinkie Pie complained. Twilight and the other ponies were busy picking up party supplies that had been abandoned the night before on the cave floor. Twilight didn't want to be pestered by this, but she knew she had to seem worry free to maintain control of the group.
“I'm staying as long as Spike needs me. It's been rough, and we still don't know what's happened to him. You all have stayed long enough and I'm grateful for your help. But if any of you wish to leave now that's fine.” Twilight replied coolly. Rainbow Dash and Flutter Shy were in the middle of taking down a banner that had been put up for the party, when a pink pony bounced out from behind it, which caused Flutter Shy to scream.
“ I'm staying as long as you do Twilight!” The ruffled haired pony replied, “I couldn't even dream leaving without you.”
This made Twilight smile in appreciation. She was so fortunate to have these friends. It seemed odd though, that out of all of her friends, Rarity hadn't complained once about being stuck inside a cave. The thoughtful pony noticed that she had been going through a rough time, and her head and feelings were probably all jumbled up in the troublesome mare. Twilight thought it best not to bring it up.
However there was one thing she did want to bring up, something they all long deserved. The purple pony walked over to where Spike and Flutter Shy were sitting.
“So Spike, it's about time we had an explanation.” She asked.
“Ya, why'd you change back?” Applejack chimed in.
“How much did you miss us?” Pinkie inquired.
In no time at all, everypony was gathered around, surrounding the slouching dragon. It was apparent to Twilight that he felt out of place.
“Well, uh, I dunno...” He said shyly.
“Did something remind you of one of us, like last time?” Rarity cut in. Spike just looked down.
Twilight felt that maybe she had been to quick, and maybe she should take a step back. But this had been eating at her for too long.
“You can tell us anything.” Twilight assured. His head lifted up, looking each of them straight in the eyes. But his gaze fell upon a pair of lavender eyes. Twilight trusted him more than anything in this world. But he looked sad, and as she stared into him, she saw something that wasn't just hurting him. It was killing him.
“I didn't think of any of you.” He said, cutting eye contact from her. “Not once, I was a dragon full of greed. They don't feel compassion, love or caring. Friendship's a sick joke.” Murmurs from Twilight's friends went around. She could feel her fragile heart snapping. She missed him everyday, she never stopped thinking about him. If he was safe, out there, whether he missed her too. The only friendship and family she'd ever known, didn't even think once about her.
“It's not the same, dragons sort of.... Shut it out. When we feel emotions, it's unbearable. Obviously greed is huge, but the other one is humility. When everything you have is taken away, you're no longer a dragon, you're a loser.”
The purple unicorn stopped herself from crying. Maybe there was more to what he was saying.
“But then, what were you humiliated by?” Flutter Shy asked. Spike hadn't said he had been humiliated, but it was apparent, especially to the yellow pegasus. Spike's claws clutched themselves into a fist. He was trying to hide it, but Twilight saw something changing in the dragon's eyes. They were growing.
Twilight felt scared for him, as if she needed to do something. The dragon took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. It was silent for a moment, except for a loud clutter outside the cave.
Her throat and tongue were dry, but he still never answered the unicorn's question.
“So, what happened to you?” She finally asked. Spike steadily opened his mouth to speak, but an earth shattering roar came from the cave entrance. A gigantic blue dragon filled up the cave, hissing at the ponies. It's aged, blood-red eyes, sharp blue scales, it's blade sharp fangs. In a terrifying instant, it all finally made sense.
Twilight had seen this dragon before, in her studies of dragons. She had tried to learn as much as she could about dragons, for Spike. This was the oldest dragon in existence. And also the strongest. It went searching for other dragon's loot, to steal and take for itself. This monster is the thing that left Spike all beat up. It took his things and left him to die.
“Run!” Spike yelled. Her friends were screaming all around her, scattering in different directions. But Twilight didn't move, the dragon left her petrified. The blue dragon took a deep, raspy breath.
“Twilight!” Spike screamed, the sheer fear evident in his voice. Not for himself, not that he would lose his life. But that Twilight would lose her's. She felt herself being pushed out of the way as the ancient dragon blew scorching red flames in their way.
She was being pinned down by Spike, flames barely missing them. Spike got up on two legs, limbs extended in a blocking position.
“I won't let you hurt her!” Spike yelled ferociously. Twilight Sparkle watched as her own Spike, against all odds, stood up to protect her. He was risking his own life, to save her's.
The beast watched attentively at this. For it had no idea what the purple object behind the brave little dragon was. But if Spike wanted it, then so did he. It extended it's overpowering claw and slapped Spike away. His body hitting the cave wall. THWACK!
“NO! Spike!” Twilight shrieked as the blue claw grabbed her, and carried her out of the cave.