The Journey Beyond

by Derpyditzydoobubbles


Chapter 7

The evening had grown a darker shade as Riolu continued to stare at spike's basket in disappointment.

"That's your real bed?" Riolu sighed questioningly.

"Hey, it's not that bad," Spike directed. "It's actually quite comfortable."

"That is very true, spike." Twilight spoke up as she galloped toward her bed. "I made sure of it at the store where I got it. It is supposed to be very comfy."

"Yeah, for one." Riolu mumbled as he approached spike's bed.

Riolu's paws touched the floor softly as he padded toward spike's basket, the creaking of wood coming from underneath them. Once he finally reached the basket, he began to analyze it's edges and it's interior. It looked okay, though it would seem quite uncomfortable for him and spike.

"Seriously, do you actually think this could hold two?" Riolu questioned in bewilderment.

A long silence followed as spike too started staring at the basket in an analyzing fashion.

"Eh, wouldn't hurt to try, right?" Spike spoke with a shrug of his shoulders.

Riolu rolled his eyes in disbelief as he watched spike climb into the basket and scrunch up his body as close as possible to one of the basket's side.

"See, plenty of room for you, Riolu." Spike breathed uncomfortably.

Riolu blushed with a slow nod of his head as he padded slowly toward the rim of the basket. He then placed his foot into the basket and quickly turned his back so it would be facing spike's. He then lied down softly and squeezed his body in between spike and the basket.

"Quick question, Spike. Do you snore?" Riolu asked with his face turned away from spike's.

"Uh, if I'm in a deep sleep." Spike spoke in a muffled voice with his mouth pressing up against the basket's side.

"Well, I'm glad you two are settled in," Twilight spoke up from her bed. "Good night!"

Riolu stared in silence at the basket's inner wall, hearing nothing but the sudden sound of ruffled sheets from twilight's bed that had died down after a few seconds had passed. Riolu then listened closely to the sound of spike's heavy breathing. It had seemed quite silent and quick, almost as if he was faking it. Riolu then closed his eyes for a second as he felt a shadow leap slowly over his body. He then opened them back up after the mysterious shadow disappeared and heard the sound of paper being flipped cautiously.

"What on earth is he doing?" Riolu whispered to himself.

Riolu then turned his head around slowly and stared in peculiarity at spike who was now looking at pictures from a meager looking book.

"What are you doing?" Riolu snapped at Spike in a whispering fashion.

Spike flinched in surprise as he saw Riolu's curious gaze land on his book.

"Oh, well, um, just this." Spike spoke in a scared tone as he showed Riolu the cover.

"Power ponies, the unenchanted series." Riolu read aloud.

"Shh! Keep your voice down! I'm basically not aloud to have stuff like this here due to an…incident." Spike whispered quickly.

Riolu raised an eyebrow in surprise at spike.

"Incident? What kind?" Riolu asked curiously.

"It's a long story." Spike cooed. "Basically, it has to do with the enchanted version of this issue. Wanna read it?"

Riolu stared at the book in inquisitiveness as he reached out to grab it. Once his paw had finally taken ahold of the cover, he then pulled it out of spike's claw and held the book in front of him with his two front paws.

"Alright, so tell me about it." Riolu commanded softly as he stared at the front picture.

Spike slightly grinned with elation as he took ahold of the first few pages and flipped them, revealing two pages that were filled with boxes of words and art. The very sight of which slightly intrigued Riolu.

"Okay, so our story begins in a city called maretropolis." Spike whispered softly to Riolu. "And in the city, there is this hairspray factory…"

Riolu sat patiently for a long time as Spike told him the story of the power ponies and their heroic adventure. Spike flipped through the pages of the book and explained to Riolu in detail about every hero and their abilities. He then told him about their arch nemesis, Maneiac, who almost got away with her plans if it weren't for the power ponies' trusted sidekick, Humdrum, who saved the day as well as the power ponies.

"So, what do you think?" Spike asked as he politely grabbed the book out of Riolu's grasp and shoved it under the basket's pillow.

"It was okay, I guess." Riolu whispered with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Okay?" Spike shouted with a raised brow. "It is more than just okay, Riolu. It's amazing!"

"Will you two please be quiet? I'm trying to get some sleep here!" Twilight yawned in annoyance.

Spike blushed with embarrassment as he ducked his head low, his face glowing a bright.

"Why do you think it's bad?" Spike whispered in slight annoyance.

"I never said it was bad." Riolu whispered in reply. "I just didn't like it as much. Especially that part about that hairspray factory. What kind of joker would go to a place like that?"

"The Maneiac, of course!" Spike peeped.

"Well, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I just didn't find that all realistic." Riolu explained silently.

"Realistic?" Spike cooed in bewilderment. "Says the guy who can destroy stuff without touching it."

A long silence followed as Riolu stared at spike with sternness in his gaze.

"Do we even know what hairspray is to begin with?" Riolu questioned with sincerity.

"Guys!," Twilight shouted from her bed. "I'm not mad at you two or anything, but today was a really exhausting day. So, can we just turn in for the night? Thank you!"

Riolu and Spike blushed with embarrassment as they returned to their sleeping positions, their backs facing each others. A long moment of silence followed until Riolu heard the sound of Spike's voice enter his ears.

"Yeah, you're kinda right on that, Riolu." He chuckled softly. "I hardly know what hairspray is myself."

Riolu grinned with triumph as he laid silently in the basket.

"Good night, Riolu." Spike whispered softly.

"Yeah, good night." Riolu yawned in a mumbling fashion.

Silence had then followed soon afterwards. Riolu had moved his eyes to where he could see part of the window, where he then gazed quietly at the stars that had now filled the night sky. He caught a glimpse of a shooting star, which sparked some excitement in him for a few short seconds. He had always wondered about things like that. It was such an oddity for something like that to be up there alone in the unknown with a bunch of different things. Just like Riolu was with being here.

"I know how you feel." Riolu whispered softly as he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.