//------------------------------// // Six // Story: Only Just A Dream // by Desert Nocturne //------------------------------// Edwin plodded stolidly towards the lights of Ponyville. The sun had begun to set while he and Rarity were being treated by Zecora and was now almost down completely. His stomach was rumbling steadily as he walked and his limbs were jittery; he regretted now not asking for something to eat while they had been with Zecora. He was walking down a small hill that was the last remnant of the Everfree Forest. Moss and vines hung down from the trees and mist was forming in a dip before the path came into Ponyville. Rarity paused, looking at the mist with worry. “It's not going to hurt you Rarity. It's just water vapor,” Edwin said. In spite of his advice however, he hesitated. He wasn't sure how things worked here and assuming something wrong could mean exacerbating their situation. “At least I don't think so?” he added, raising his inflection at the end to make the statement a question. “Oh, Spike, I was just worried that there might be a puddle of mud hidden in there,” she said, indicating toward the pocket of mist, “it's hard to see clearly down there. I suppose it's silly of me with everything we've been through today, however old habits are hard to break are they not?” Edwin nodded slowly. “I think we are both due for a bath regardless,” he said, “not that you are dirty of course.” He spoke in unconscious imitation of the real Spike, whom he had been a fan of back home. “Where should we head first? Ponyville Hospital?” “There's no question. You need medical attention young dragon!” Rarity said. “Afterward I'll have to check on Sweetie Belle. I agreed to watch her for tonight so my parents could have a date night. She is at Sugarcube Corner for a cute-ceañera so she'll be okay for a while yet.” Edwin nodded again and began walking forward. It seemed safer to not speak too much lest Rarity get suspicious. Still, he was absorbing every word she said, trying to get a better grasp of his situation. As he approached the final dip he saw that the mist would be over his head at its deepest point. I wonder how tall Spike is. That's one of many questions I'll have for him if I can ever get my hands on him. Also, why did I hear your voice in my head before I woke up here? He emerged on the other side of the mist and stared ahead at the unfamiliar cityscape. Immediately to his right, he noticed the sod-roofed cottage of Fluttershy, resplendent in its lush mane of grass and with every window lit. He grinned as he saw the many bird houses and animal homes that littered the yard. Beyond it loomed the vast acreage of Sweet Apple Acres, the laden trees standing like sentinels along the path toward the center of town. He saw the Apple family farmhouse perched on one of the many hills in the orchard and his grin widened. The town of Ponyville itself was a odd juxtaposition of various European-looking architectural styles. He noticed everything from festive Medieval-style heavy canvas tents, to Tudor-style timber frame and plaster dwellings with overhanging upper stories and thatched roofs. He recognized a few buildings such as town hall, Carousel Boutique, Sugarcube Corner, and Twilight's library; he also noticed the hulking hospital standing off to the side, its relatively modern shingled roof making it stand out. He gasped softly as he beheld the royal city of Canterlot, visible in the distance, and promptly stopped as his mind was momentarily overwhelmed and his fluttering muscles threatened to give out. The reality of the vista in front of him was hard to discount and for the first time he realized he was very far from home. He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, steadying himself, almost relishing the pain in his chest. He opened his eyes to find Rarity gazing at him with concern on her face. “Spike would you like to ride on my back the rest of the way?” she asked tentatively. “You look ever so pale.” Edwin wondered momentarily how a purple dragon could look pale before registering what she had said. “Er, thanks for the offer but I prefer to stay on my own two legs,” he said. “Come now Spike I insist! It's the least I can do for you after you helped fight off those wolves. Remember, you mustn't push yourself too hard.” Rarity attempted to push her head between and under Edwin's legs so as to force him onto her back. He skittered wildly to the side, hissing viciously and baring his teeth in indignation and pain. “Enough of this nonsense Rarity! I can make it to the hospital on my own and I'm NOT riding on your back while you still have those on you,” he said brusquely, pointing at her bandages. He realized his teeth were still bared and closed his mouth with an effort. Even to himself, he could not explain his vehemence. She looked hurt, and tears started to form in her eyes. “Oh my little Spikey-Wikey, what's gotten into you today?” Edwin snorted disdainfully before he could stop himself; the question was full of irony. Be careful you fool! Rarity is innocent in this. Don't hurt her more than you have to! This situation is still salvageable, just apologize and get to the hospital. The sooner you can explain what's going to Twilight, the sooner you can get started on a solution. He sighed and looked into Rarity's eyes. They were swimming in tears and he felt the uncomfortable weight of guilt sink into his gut. “Rarity, I'm sorry for reacting so harshly, I'm really not feeling myself today. Your offer is generous but I really prefer walking over possibly hurting you further.” For a moment, Rarity didn't respond, and the tension in the air was palpable, then she smiled. “Spike we have both been through so much today. I'm sorry if I upset you.” She hooked a foreleg around him and pressed her face into his, nuzzling him gently. Edwin stiffened but allowed the contact, although the touch of her warm fur was like a flaming brand. At last, when he thought he could bear it no longer, she released him and pecked him on the cheek. His heart was racing as if he had sprinted the distance from Zecora's hut instead of walking and he hoped fervently that Rarity was done showing affection for a while. He looked into her eyes again and saw such a depth of tender warmth that he could not stay angry at her for long. After a moment, he gestured toward that hospital. “Shall we?” **** Princess Celestia was looking at the creature in the cell with her mouth open, completely nonplussed. She blinked a couple of times trying to process what he had said. Spike is not a common name among my little ponies. In fact, I can only think of one of my subjects with that name, Twilight's assistant. However, the last time I checked Spike was a baby dragon, not a creature that could stand eye to eye with me. “Princess! Hey Princess!” the creature shouted. He sounded unnerved somehow, and although his voice was deeper, Celestia thought she could hear a bit of Spike in it. “Princess are you okay?” he said, reaching out to her. His arm was long and before she knew what happened she was staggering against a hard shove to her side. She glared at him with narrowed eyes. Luna was right! And I let my guard down like a foal! I need to discuss this with Luna. Without another word, she left the dungeon again. Luna was waiting for her at the threshold. “What hast thou learned sister?” she spoke immediately. “Do we need to muster the guard?” “Perhaps not just yet,” Celestia replied and hung her head. “Luna I let my guard down and that creature just about shoved me to the floor. It is incredibly strong and quick. I think I should talk to it again, but I want him restrained this time.” As she spoke her last words she turned to look at Luna's guards. The two dark colored pegasi nodded in unison and entered the dungeon. Both Luna and Celestia winced as the sounds of a struggle reached their ears but before too long the guards emerged again. One of them was nursing a black eye and the other a bloody nose. Celestia examined them briefly and seeing that their injuries were superficial addressed them. “You have both performed above and beyond your duty today and I commend you.” She looked at her sister and Luna nodded, seeming to read her mind in a way that only centuries of experience could allow. “Please proceed to the castle infirmary to get your injuries treated, and-” she raised a hoof, forestalling the protest she saw in their eyes, “-and please send an entire squad of the guard down here to relieve you. The first guards you see, understood?” They nodded crisply to her and saluted Luna, causing another pang of annoyance to the elder Princess, before making their way off in the direction of the infirmary. Celestia watched the guards make their way down the corridor without really seeing them. She was thinking of how she had thought she heard a bit of the baby dragon's personality in the creature's voice. She was thinking of how, if he really was somehow in that body, he would probably not be used to its proportions. She was thinking of how an attempt at a comforting touch might turn into an accidental shove if he was not used to having such a long arm. Most of all, she was thinking about the sounds of the struggle she and Luna had heard when the pegasi guards had gone in to restrain the creature. If that really was Spike in there and he had been injured, she didn't know if she could forgive herself. It was true that Spike had hatched because of Twilight Sparkle's prodigious magical talent, but Celestia herself had undertaken the responsibility of raising Spike until Twilight was old enough to care for him on her own. In a way, he was like the son she never had, and she loved him dearly. The possibility that the creature in the dungeon somehow housed the mind of her beloved Spike was really bothering her. Is it possible that he accidentally shoved me? He didn't seem to be trying to hurt me. “Tia?” Luna asked, looking at her with concern in her eyes. “Tia, what did it say to you? I know something is bothering you. Even after having been away so long, we are still sisters.” Celestia turned from her ruminations and looked at Luna. “He told me that his name was Spike. But he said it in a way that made it sound like... like he was my Spike. Is that possible Luna? Could it really be him?” Luna looked at Celestia warily. “Thou knowest as well as us that anything is possible,” she said carefully, reverting to her archaic speech patterns in her caution, “but it seems unlikely that this creature is from our land. The mind we sensed in our premonition was not like any we have met before.” Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of hooves approaching rapidly. A squad of eight pony guards and one non-com officer came up and snapped to attention. “At your service your majesties,” said the sergeant in charge of the squad, a unicorn stallion with the unfortunate name of War Horse. “Ah, thank you for responding so quickly Sergeant. I had a bit of trouble with this guest of ours here,” she indicated toward the dungeon, “and after he managed to injure two of the Lunar guard I decided to call for reinforcements. I need to speak with the creature again but I am going to leave the door open this time. Please keep anything you might hear in strict confidence, understood?” She addressed the entire squad with the last question, and they nodded. “Creature?” asked War Horse with a concerned expression. “It is restrained at the moment so you probably won't need to engage it. However, if you are wondering it appears to be some type of intelligent ape, smaller than a minotaur but very quick and strong.” The Sergeant nodded and began arranging his squad around the door in case they were needed. He also sent a guard to each end of the corridor to prevent any looky-loos from crowding the area. This squad was armed with spears, unlike the two pegasi of the Lunar guard, adding to the grim atmosphere. Celestia looked at Luna for a moment, “Alright, here we go again.” **** Idiot! Damn this clumsy body! I need to get through to her! Spike was furious at himself. His anxiety about Rarity's fate had begun to dig at him again and he had just gone and shoved his Princess and surrogate mother. Celestia had left the door open this time as she left and Spike heard her talking quietly to whoever was out there. Nightmare Moon, perhaps? Why would she be associating with her? For that matter I thought Twilight and her friends had defeated her. He stopped his thought as he saw the two nightmarish pegasi from before enter the dungeon. They did not look happy. “So thought you would take a swipe at the Princess, eh?” said the first. “You are lucky our instructions are to restrain you and not to re-train you,” said the second. “Still, we're not shy about getting creative in our technique,” said the first, uncoiling the rope they had used to drag him here. “So if you know what's good for you don't give us any trouble,” said the second, unlocking the cell door. They leaped on him immediately, wrestling with him to tie his limbs. Unlike their previous effort, Spike was not in complete shock this time. In fear, he raised his arms to protect his face. He felt one of his elbows connect solidly with the snout of one of the guards. He recoiled from the guard he had inadvertently hit and in the process managed to sink his other elbow into the eye socket of the other guard. They both bellowed with rage and pain and redoubled their efforts to restrain him. Spike decided that it would probably be for the best to just go limp. The two pegasi finished their work in under forty seconds but they were both panting from the effort. One of the guards was sporting a bloody nose and the other a rapidly swelling black eye. They looked on him with distaste tinged with reluctant respect. “I'll give you credit beast, you didn't make it easy this time,” said the first. “Yeah, but we always get ours in the end,” said the second. They turned to leave. One of the guards, Spike couldn't see who since he was staring fixedly at the cell floor, trod on his groin on the way out. Spike let out a silent scream as pain exploded in his belly, burning its way up his guts. This creature did not seem to have any protection whatsoever for its most sensitive anatomy. I HAVE to keep my composure! The quicker I convince the Princess of who I am, the sooner she can dispatch ponies to help Rarity. In spite of his own advice, he couldn't help but be angry with the pegasus guards. What the hell was their problem anyway?