//------------------------------// // Seven // Story: Only Just A Dream // by Desert Nocturne //------------------------------// Spike looked up from his position on the floor as he heard what sounded like an entire squad of pony guards march down to the dungeon. The cacophony of the hoof clops and jangling armor was enough to focus his attention again on how to address the Princess. I can't make any more mistakes. I'm on thin ice as it is and Rarity's life might hang in the balance. Stay stock still when talking to her. Make no motions that could be construed as threatening. Speak only when spoken to. Be polite. This time the nightmare pegasi had not hog-tied him, rather they had bound his arms and legs separately, allowing him a modicum of mobility. He forced himself into a sitting position, an act that was surprisingly easy although his gut still ached from the low blow he had endured. The body that he now inhabited was definitely a lot stronger than his own. He waited for the Princess to enter again, hoping fervently that Nightmare Moon would keep her distance. At length he saw her walking toward him. He also saw several pony guards stationed at the door, wielding spears awkwardly with their front hooves. Okay, last chance Spike. Make it count! “I fear we may have gotten off to a poor start,” Princess Celestia began. “You said your name was Spike. Could you tell me what type of creature you are, Spike?” He looked directly into her light purple eyes, noticing more detail in them than usual; even sitting, this creature was higher off the ground than he normally was. “I honestly have no idea what type of creature this body is, Princess. I was on my way back from digging sapphires in the Everfree Forest with my friend Rarity when we were ambushed by timber-wolves. I-I think...” “Hold on for a moment please, Spike,” the Princess interrupted raising an eyebrow. “Where in the Everfree forest were you ambushed.” “We were close to Zecora's hut. Do you know where that is?” Spike answered. “Yes. Zecora and I are familiar with each other,” Celestia replied distractedly, “please excuse me for a moment.” She exited the dungeon to speak to one of the guards. She returned perhaps a minute later. “I apologize Spike, I needed to dispatch a flight of pegasi to assist with the situation in the Everfree Forest.” “You-you believe me?” he breathed, hardly able to comprehend what he was hearing. “Well no, not necessarily, but if there is a possibility your story is true it is best to err on the side of caution. Now you say your name is Spike and that you are acquainted with Rarity, the embodiment of the Element of Generosity. I am familiar with only one of my subjects by that name in a position to know the wielders of the Elements of Harmony and he is a dragon, not an ape. He is the personal assistant to my protégé and like a son to me. As such I will treat any lies involving him as a personal attack. Now tell me Spike, why should I believe a word you are saying!?” She spoke the last question with uncharacteristic harshness, allowing her frustration to come through her diplomatic facade. Spike gaped at the Princess. He had angered her many times during the course of his childhood like any foal but the fierceness in her face now was not something he had seen before. He was also absurdly touched by her statement. She considers me as a son, wow... He struggled to make his explanation, aware of the guards edging their way into the dungeon. Suddenly, inspiration struck. “Princess, did anypony tell you where it was that I appeared?” he asked tentatively. “How is this relevant to your story?” Celestia countered. “Because Princess, I recognized the room I materialized in. It was the dragon nursery, the very room where you helped to raise me. The place where you taught me to read and write and how to act in public. The place where I slept every night until I came to be under Twilight's care. The place where my fellow orphaned dragon eggs are kept. Princess Celestia, I promise you that I am the dragon that you raised as your own. I even sent a letter to you earlier this week using the spell that you yourself placed on me.” As Spike spoke, his emotions rose, and tears threatened to fall from his strange, alien eyes. “To answer your original question. You should believe me because I- because I love you, and I would never lie to you,” he sputtered, losing his composure entirely. After a time, indeterminable to him in his state, Spike heard the lock to the cell unlock. He felt the bonds on his limbs loosen and fall off and he felt himself drawn into a warm embrace as the Princess held him until he calmed down, just like old times. “Spike, what has happened to you?” the Princess asked huskily, breaking her hold on him, her eyes brighter than normal. “How did you come to be in this body? You say you were attacked by timber-wolves, but how did that result in this?” she said gesturing at his body. Spike looked at Celestia. “It was the thought of Rarity dying that drove me to do it,” he said quietly. His voice was still watery, but he was noticeably calmer. “At least I think it was me who caused it. I saw that we might die there in that clearing, within shouting distance of the safety of Zecora's hut. The wolves were closing in when I sent out a desperate thought to anyone who would listen. I prayed that Rarity would make it out of there alive.” He hesitated. “Princess, did you hear me when I thought that? It would have been earlier today.” Celestia looked bemused. “Oh Spike, I am many things, but a goddess is not one them. I am not possessed of the ability to hear the thoughts of my subjects and grant their desires at will.” “Oh,” Spike replied simply and after a moment continued. “Well, anyways after that was when I- well I must have faded out or something because I had a sort of vision.” “A vision?” Celestia repeated slowly, “And what did you see in this vision?” “Well, it was like I was in a void, everything was black. The only thing I could see was a bed; on that bed was this creature,” he said gesturing toward his body. “I saw it open its eyes and then we- well we were somehow drawn toward each other and we collided, and I ended up on the floor of the nursery. Everything that has happened since then you already know.” Celestia looked at Spike with great intensity again. “Spike, do you believe that this creature is now in your body?” she asked. “I can't say for sure Princess, but it seems to be the most likely sen-scen-scenary...” “Scenario,” Celestia finished automatically. She smiled absently at his youthful speech pattern, then her expression hardened again. “Spike, my sister Luna, she had a premonition earlier today of a possibly dark force entering Equestria. She believes that this creature you saw in your vision, and whose body you currently inhabit, may be that force. If he is in your body, then I must act immediately to address this possible threat.” Spike's mouth opened and his eyes widened as he realized the gravity of what could happen if there really was a malevolent force in his body. And yet... it doesn't make sense. If that creature was somehow summoned to save Rarity, how could it be evil? “Spike I must attend my pupil, Twilight Sparkle. It is imperative that she be made aware of the situation and since I can no longer trust the spell I placed on your body, I must deliver the message in person,” the Princess said, interrupting Spike's reveries. “Will you be alright here for a bit longer? You are still not used to that body and we should not take any unnecessary risks. That creature is frightfully strong as I learned firsthand.” Spike flushed. “I'm so sorry about that Princess!” he said immediately. “It's like you say, this body is weird. The arms are way longer than I'm used too. I didn't mean to hurt you.” Princess Celestia drew Spike into a brief hug again, this time more cognizant of the fact that she was embracing a creature that smelled of sweat and grime and darkness. Her resolve grew stronger. “It never happened, Spike. Do not let it bother you,” she said soothingly and released him. “You will be okay, won't you?” “Of course, Princess,” Spike replied, although privately he was already hating the cell. “Then I must be off,” Celestia said grimly and strode out of the dungeon. After a brief conversation with the alicorn whom he still thought of as Nightmare Moon, she flashed blindingly and was gone. **** Edwin was growing increasingly frustrated with the situation at the hospital. And Twilight Sparkle, well, she certainly was not helping things. Especially since her special talent was magic. Edwin was starting to become aware of certain things with regards to magic, namely that anything that was powered by it would seemingly not affect him. He had noticed this first at Zecora's hut, when her healing potions, which had worked so marvelously on Rarity, had failed to have an effect on him. But things were starting to become more complicated. Apparently, pony medicine, at least since the joining of the three races, had been developed largely around the widespread use of magic remedies. For example, after five minutes with Doctor Stable, who was a unicorn, Rarity had emerged from an exam room with nothing but healing scabs on her upper back. According to the doctor, she would not even have to put up with those for much longer, and there would be no scarring. Edwin, who had seen the ragged wounds in their original state not even three hours ago, was agog. And all of this was thanks to magic. Before Rarity had departed, owing to her responsibility to her sister, she had promised Edwin to let Twilight Sparkle know where he was and why he was there. She had also kissed him on the cheek again, much to his chagrin. He had winced mentally as he tried to figure out a way to explain to Twilight what was going on but had decided on crossing that bridge when he came to it. Instead, he had focused on doing his best to help the team of nurses and Doctor Stable who were attempting to accelerate the healing of his broken ribs, a feat at which they were failing spectacularly. Halfway through their ministrations, an azure unicorn mare had arrived and introduced herself as Minuette, though she said all her friends called her Colgate. After looking at her tail and mane, layered with a shade of periwinkle so pale it almost seemed almost white on top and with dark blue on the bottom, he could see why. He had almost burst out laughing, in spite of the working doctor and nurses, when she had announced that she was the local dentist. After the formalities were completed, she too had gone to work trying heal Edwin, although she focused on reconnecting the tissue in his gums to his teeth. Then Twilight Sparkle had arrived. Edwin had no idea why she had been allowed to enter the crowded examination room while the medical staff was still working. Perhaps she had simply teleported her way in or used her influence to browbeat some poor pony into submission. In the five minutes that had passed since her entrance, she had been constantly harrying the poor doctor with increasingly frantic questions, first about his condition, then about why they continued to fail at healing him. She had even attempted a few spells herself. And that brought him back to the present. He noticed that the medical team had stopped working on him and were instead focused on Twilight. Minuette, however, continued to strain herself in her attempt to heal his teeth, eyes closed, horn glowing, not seeming to notice Twilight at all. “I'm going to have to ask you to leave the room Miss Sparkle,” Doctor Stable was saying, “Just let us do our jobs and I'm sure that Spike will be fine.” “I can't do that Doctor!” Twilight was starting to sound panicky. “You have never worked on a dragon before. I may have information that you need to treat Spike properly.” “I cannot allow you in here if you cannot control yourself and let us work!” Doctor Stable exclaimed. He and Twilight were glaring daggers at each other. Edwin decided to cut in and hopefully end this little stand off. “Excuse me Doctor, can I please have a moment to speak to Twilight in private?” Doctor Stable turned his glare on Edwin for a moment, then his expression softened. “Of course Spike. I'm sorry we haven't been able to make you more comfortable yet, but I'm sure we'll be able to figure out some sort of treatment in time. You should be alright for the time being.” Amazingly, he winked and mouthed a quick 'Good Luck' while gesturing towards Twilight. As the medical staff filed out of the examination room, Colgate suddenly looked up, dazed. She looked around with a puzzled expression. “Where did everypony go?” she asked. “I asked for a moment alone to speak with Twilight,” Edwin replied, then added in concern, “Are you alright? You look quite tired if you'll forgive me for saying so.” “Oh, well I have never had such trouble re-attaching a tooth before. Maybe it's because you are a dragon? I'm afraid I pushed myself rather hard. Do you want me to go too?” she said. “Please. And don't worry about my teeth. I appreciate your attempt but I'm not worth that kind of effort,” he said gently. As she walked out and closed the door behind her, Edwin turned to look at Twilight. He recoiled slightly at the expression on her face. “What do you mean you're not worth the effort!?” she shouted. “I don't want to ever hear that kind of talk aga-” She stopped abruptly as she got a good look at his eyes. “Spike, what's happened to you? Rarity told me about the attack, but something seems very wrong with you...” she trailed off, looking imploringly at him. Edwin decided to deflect her question for the moment. “Twilight can you do me a favor please? Can you try to levitate me off the exam table?” “What, why?” she asked. “Please just try it. I'm testing a hypothesis of mine,” he stated evenly. “Ooh, nice word Spike!” she cooed. “Your vocabulary is improving everyday!” Edwin just gazed at her with an eyebrow raised. She caught his eye and cleared her throat, blushing slightly. “Sorry, Spike. Okay here we go.” She planted herself firmly, with her four legs spread wide, and began trying to levitate Edwin. At first her expression was neutral, but before too long her eyes had closed and she was looking strained, similar to what Colgate had looked like. Her horn glowed brighter and brighter until finally Edwin had to shield his eyes. Looking down at himself, he saw a blazing, purple aura surrounding his body. Experimentally, he brushed at it with his hand, and he was surprised to see it dissipate in a puff. At last the blinding light coming from Twilight's horn was extinguished, and Twilight herself slumped with a gasp. She was breathing hard and sweat rolled down her face and body. “What-,” she took a huge breath, “What was that all about? I've never had trouble levitating you before.” Edwin sighed. It was time to cross the bridge. “Twilight Sparkle, I am not who you think I am. In fact, I am not Spike at all.”