//------------------------------// // Caught Between a 'Demon' and 'Pure Evil' // Story: The Completely Normal Pet of Spike the Dragon // by DauntedSuperior //------------------------------// Constantly nodding off became a problem as we moved through the castle. I’m pretty sure Sweetie was being careful as she walked, but I had no idea. Thanks to my nodding off though, time past by pretty fast. Before I knew it we were in the kitchens and the girls were looking up to Chef who was looking at them happily, “Hello there children.” “Hey Chef.” they all said together, ‘Does everypony know Chef?’ “We was wondrin if you’d seen Spike or Twilight?” Apple Bloom asked while he turned back to the oven top. I watched as Chef shook his head while he poured some spices into a small pot, “Spike just left to go get that little kitty on your back and I think the Princess is still at the Town Hall for her meeting with Mayor Mare.” “Okay, new plan. If we don’t see Spike on our way out then we’ll have to take Scruffy with us.” Scoots said with a firm nod, ‘... Am I being kitty-napped?’ “We’d get in trouble fer takin Scruffy, won’t we?” Apple Bloom asked as I became increasingly aware that Sweetie’s hair was perfect to bat around with my paws, “Sweetie, I think Scruffy’s tryin ta tear off your mane.” “He’s just a kitty, he couldn’t tear it off like that one time Opal did.” Sweetie said while I began to wonder just who this ‘Opal’ was, but at the same time I couldn’t stop playing with her mane. “And no we won’t get in trouble. We can’t just leave him here, we gotta look after him and the best way to do that is to take him with us.” Scoots said with a smile as she didn’t notice how her own logic was filled with holes. “Why don’t you all go find Spike? He was talkin about showing Scruffy around town today.” Chef said as he took a whiff of what he was cookin. My mouth was watering from just the smell. “That’s a great idea!” Scoots said before I felt Sweetie starting to move. “Thanks Chef.” they all said as they charged out the door with me barely holding on to Sweeties mane. The hallways were the same as ever, but I was having a small crisis as I tried to keep my hold on Sweetie’s mane. Out of all the things I’ve done in my lives, it was in my top thirty of the hardest things to do. So, to get her to stop, I gave a small, distressed meow. I really wish I hadn’t. The next second I was suddenly shoved into her mane as she stopped. Dazed as I was from the impact into her skull, whatever words she spoke fell on deaf ears. First thing I noticed, her mane was soft. Like to the point of feeling like a cloud soft. It felt great and I was in no hurry to leave, “It’s okay Scruffy, we’ll get you out.” so of course they wanted to get me out as soon as possible. “Oh, hello girls.” I heard the particular shy voice of doom say. At the sound of her soft voice, every fur on me stood on end. Just because I had escaped her mind controlling stare a few times didn’t mean I wanted to go another round with it. “Alright, where is he?” Angel's voice came in next, though I was pretty sure only me and Fluttershy understood him, ‘Wish they could understand me, I'd have some words for both of them. None of which are for polite conversation.’ "Angel, be nice." Fluttershy said as I realized how bad of a situation I was in. All it would take is a few words and my new friends could be turned against me. I would be hunted by five pursers and in the close quarters of the castle, it wouldn’t turn out in my favor. “Uhh, why ya want ta find ‘em?” Apple Bloom’s southern accent was like a ray of hope. They weren’t going to give me up immediately. “Oh, he’s been a bit of a naughty kitty and won’t let me give him his bi-weekly check up.” Fluttershy said as I heard small little pats on the floor below Sweetie. No doubt Angel was looking for me. “Why don’ ya just use th’ stare?” Apple Bloom asked while I tried to look towards her through Sweetie’s mane. I wanted to see if I could drill holes through her head by just glaring. “Well, I don’t like to use the Stare all the time, but when I gave him his shots a few weeks ago I tried to use it so he would be still. All it did though was make him run away and cause a mess.” I heard her let out a soft sigh that made me smile, “Then he and Angel got into a fight and it was just awful.” “He shrugged off the Stare?” Scoots asked sounding amazed. The ego boost that gave me wasn’t unwelcome either, “That’s so cool! How did you get him to stop.” “Well, Spike was the one to calm him down. That little kitty just loves him, but he seems scared of me...” if it weren’t for my vivid memories of the Stare I would of felt bad. That’s saying something since, once again, awful memory. “Well, ya did defeat a cockatrice with it.” Apple Bloom stated. Meanwhile I was wondering why Sweetie wasn’t talking... ‘She's probably got on a big 'nothing's going on over here' smile.’ the thought alone made me smile. “You think that’s why he won’t come near me?” she asked, but I had lost interest in the conversation. I felt the room get ten degrees colder all of a sudden. Sleek was near. A squeak of fear somewhere to Sweeties right told me that Angel felt the same. That confirmed I wasn’t crazy at least. “What’s wrong Angel?” Fluttershy asked a second before I heard the doors behind the Crusaders open. My fur stood on end and a chill went down my spine as Sweetie turned to look at the new arrival, 'It was official. I was in the worst possible situation with a demon to one side and Sleek to the other.' Sweetie had to of felt it too as I felt her shiver, probably the same reaction I got. It was at this moment I really wanted Spike. “Hey everypony, have you seen Scruffy anywhere?” the amazing voice of Spike sounded through Sweeties soft mane. If it was just Fluttershy here, I would of ran out and taken the check up and conceded defeat on the challenge. The presence of Sleek though paralyzed me. “We can not have animals running around the castle as they please. We need to find him at once before he defiles something.” Sleek’s voice was the same. It wasn’t monotone, but anypony who heard that voice could place it anywhere. There was always a subtle undertone to it, hate or annoyance were the two I had narrowed it down too. The shot at me not being house broken wasn’t unnoticed either. She would regret that if I ever found her room. “Hey, he knows to use the litter box.” Spike defended me. I loved that little dragon. “Regardless, he needs to be found. I leave this to all of you, the Princess will be done with her meeting soon and I need to be there.” every hair on my body was up as I heard her walk by. ‘Don't think I didn't notice you didn't say why!’ I mentally yelled after her. It was silent for a few seconds as before I heard another door shut. “Alright, come here Scruffy.” Spike said. Any question of how he knew I was there was put into my mental ‘Don’t Care’ box. The mane was easy enough to get out of before I used Sweetie’s back as a springboard and jumped into Spike’s claws, “You’re one tough kitty to keep track of Scruffy.” “So he was in your mane?” Fluttershy asked as Spike began to pet me. The tension I got from the demon, Fluttershy, and the evil one, Sleek, seemed to be brushed away. “How did you know he was in my mane?” Sweetie asked as leaned into Spike’s claws. “The tip of his tail was sticking out.” ‘Foiled by the tail, I knew it would happen sooner or later.’ I watched as Fluttershy moved forwards, “This is my fault. I let him out the door before I could give him his check up. He didn’t even get to eat any of the food I brought him.” ‘Now she's taking credit for my awesome escape... wait, did she say food?’ I thought as my stomach growled. She started to get closer though and my muscles began to tense. Despite her being forgiving, I wasn't going to lower my guard just because she had food. Spike seemed to feel me tense up though as he pulled out his own secret weapon, the ear scratch. All my worries melted as he hit just the right spots, “Knowing Scruffy, he probably planned all of it.” once again, I love this little dragon. Fluttershy picked up my front paws with her wings and looked them over while Sweetie started talking, “Hey Spike, we’re gonna try and get our cutie marks in ghost hunting. We were hoping you could come with us tonight.” The others looked at her before she hastily added, “And Scruffy-we were hoping you could bring Scruffy with us tonight... since he’s yours... and not ours...” she finished with a smile that made me want to laugh. Spike would never take me into danger. “Cool, I’ve always wanted to be like those guys on tv.” and just like that my thoughts of a quiet, restful night were dashed, but were replaced with, ‘They got tv here?’ “Sweet. We gotta go finish some things, get some stuff, and we’ll be ready for tonight.” Scoots said before her and Apple Bloom took off down the hall. Poor little Sweetie looked confused for a second at their abrupt departure, “Oh, bye everypony.” she took off after the other two. Spike rolled me over and started scratching my tummy while Fluttershy started brushing some areas with her wings. I hadn’t notice till that point that we had started moving. A little bit of a creep moment passed as I realize Angel had been glaring at me the entire time... creepy bunny. “He seems just fine. Maybe a bruise or two from his fight with Angel, but he should be fine in a few hours.” Fluttershy finally stated as she withdrew her wing, “I’ll be back in another two weeks, if that’s fine with you.” “Ya sure, I’ll try and be there next time to help. Now though, I think a certain kitty has to be hungry.” Spike knew me so well. My eyes locked with his and I gave a cute little meow to confirm his statement. “Well I better get going, bye Spike, bye Scruffy.” Fluttershy said as she started walking down the hall. Spike turned and started walking the other way, “Let’s go see what Chef has on the menu for an early lunch, shall we.”