It was already late in the evening – the sky was as violet as Twilight's coat – when Spike and the mare were making their way back home. The dragon pressed his claws on his belly. It rumbled and twitched painfully. „That pie for apple lovers doesn't love me at all“, he whimpered. Gosh, I overdid it again! It was one of his weaknesses: The purple dragon loved cake, sweets and fruits and when Twilight had asked him to „check on the preparations“, he of course could not resist. Spike tried a bit from everything. Cake, pie, tarte, biscuits, yoghurt, fruit salad...it was amazing what the Apples could make out of their harvest.
Twilight shot him a short look. Spike could not tell what was on her face: Shame, fear, weariness. She seemed to be sick of all of this. And she seemed to be afraid of going to bed. Spike softly caressed her neck. „Everything will go right, Twilight“, he said to calm her down, „Zecora gave you that potion, remember? You won't dream that night.“
Twilight nodded. The mare slowly climbed up the stairs. She eyed her bed as if it was a toxic plant. Spike smiled. „Come on, drink that medicine and then get some rest“, he said. Her horn glowed and she levitated the bottle with the blue liquid. Her lips trembled and the eyes were full of doubt. Then as if she did not want to allow herself another thought, Twilight poured the drink down.
„So?“, Spike asked.
„Sweet“, Twilight said thoughtfully and surprised, „It tastes sweet. Like blueberries.“
„Wow, I'd love to try that as well“, mumbled the dragon and licked his lips, „But luckly I am not sooo tired that I would need it.“
Twilight slowly climbed into her bed. She used her magic to pull the blanket over her shoulder. „Good night, Spike“, mumbled the alicorn.
„Night, Twilight“, he said. The dragon curled up in the basket next to the purple mare's sleeping place and pulled his blanket over him. He yawned and closed his eyes.
***
Spike woke up in the middle of the night. It took the dragon a few seconds to realice, what had woken him. Twilight was whimpering. He stood up and walked to the bed. The purple mare was laying on her side and kicked in her sleep. The blanket laid crumpled on one side. Under her lids Twilight's eyes were rolling and she muttered something. Spike leaned closer to hear her words.
„Please, Princess Celestia. I do not understand that! The Elements could not break like that. No, please! The magic of friendship still exist, I know it! It cannot just die, can it? Please, Princess. I did not mean to disappoint you. Please, do not send me away! Do not imprison me! Princess Celestia.....!“
Spike could no longer stand it. This dream must be a true torment to his friend. „Twilight, wake up!“, he shouted and snapped his claws. With a cry of fright the purple alicorn sat upwards in her bed. Her eyes were wide, she was covered in sweat and breathed heavily. Her ears twitched and it looked like she had lost orientation.
Oh, Twilight... Spike was so worried, it made him sick. She was not just a friend to him, but also a elder sister, a caretaker. Twilight Velvet, Twilight Sparkle's mother, had taken the tiny dragon in the family after her daughter had hatched him as if he had always belonged to them.
Spike wrapped his tiny arms around her neck. He felt her trembling and heard her whineing. „Spike, I just had the worst dream in my life“, she whispered, „I...I dreamed that I had destroyed the magic of friendship, that the Elements of Harmony were shattered and Celestia throw me into the dungeons for it.“
„There, there“, Spike said and caressed her back, „It was just a dream. Such a thing could never happen to you. It just cannot. Your friends are living representatives of the Elements of Harmony. If the elements shattered, then this mean, they would have to die. And this won't happen.“ Twilight sniffed. Tears were glittering in her eyes. She rubbed over her nose with her hoof and stood up.
Twilight slowly walked to the window. The moon reflected in her eyes. „I really hope, it is just a dream“, said the mare. She looked at the dragon. „What really bothers me, Spike: The potion had not worked. How couldn't it work? It can only mean one thing: Whatever is going on with me is not natural.“
***
„Alright, we have checked on the dresses with Rarity and the buffet with Applejack.“ Spike was sitting on Twilight's back, leaning against her long neck. He was holding a parchment list in his claws, together with a quill. „So what are we checking next?“
„Fluttershy.“ Twilight's voice was dull. „We are going to visit Fluttershy.“ Spike also realized that she was walking slower then usual. The purple mare stopped every now and then, because she yawned. Spike sadly petted her neck. This torment was not good for her at all.
They were slowly walking outside of Ponyville. Fluttershy lived in a small, nice house with a garden. It was standing on a hill, so one could see the town from one side and the Everfree Forest from the other side. Twilight could hear the animals and saw furs, rushing around. Squirrels, dogs, cats, a bagger, they all loved to come to Fluttershy.
„Do you think, she and her birds can practice here?“, asked Spike. He stood insecure on Twilight's back and tried to make sure that a cat was not ripping the parchment role apart.
„No, I do not think so.“ The mare turned her head around, her ears were perked up. She seemed to listen. Spike did the same,
Finalley they both heard the faint sound of bird's chirping. „Over there“, said Spike. He sprinted down the hill. Twilight followed. Fluttershy had chosen an old oak with long branches as a practice stage. She was flying on a spot and waved her arms to conduct the birds. They were chirping softly and melodic.
„Oh, no wait!“ Fluttershy carefully flew upwards to a nightingall. „I am sorry, Mister“, she said calmly, „but could you please lower your voice? It is a bit too high-pitched. If you do not mind of course.“ The bird opened its spout and sang its melodie again. „That is perfect“, whispered the yellow pegasus pleased.
Twilight waited until she had landed. „Hello Fluttershy“, she said.
The yellow mare turned around and smiled brightly. „Hello Twilight.“
„I am here to check on the preparations for the Summer Sun celebration“, Twilight said, „To see, if everything goes alright. And I have to say your bird's chorus is beautiful.“
„Yay“, cheered Fluttershy quietly and pleased, „We have been practicing a lot.“
Spike walked almost into Twilight's leg and added: „Wow. One sees that.“
„Oh, thank you, Spike“, said Fluttershy. „Do you want to stay and hear the full orchestra?“, she asked.
„Ehm, no“, replied Twilight apologetic, „We have to check on Pinkie Pie. She should do the decoration.“
Spike put his claws on his chin. It looked as if Twilight was begging to get away. She was turning her head around and her wings were partly opened. If the dragon saw it right, she even shivered. Fluttershy of course saw that too. Her warm eyes widened worried. „Twilight“, she asked quietly, „Is everything alright?“
„I am fine“, Twilight sneered. She shook herself like someone who had just fallen in cold water. „Come on, Spike. Let's go and find Pinkie Pie.“ The voice of the alicorn had never sounded that cold and disgusted. It was as if she hated her friends. Spike rubbed the backside of his head with his claw. He said slowly and unsure: „Ehm....okay, I suppose. I'll just make a note on the list.“
The dragon took the quill and made a cross behind the word Fluttershy – Orchestra. Checked. Fluttershy took a step closer. „You do not look like you are alright“, she whispered worriedley.
„I am fine, for Celestia's sake!“ Twilight was shouting in the yellow mare's face.
The pegasus stumbled backwards. „Okay“, she whispered.
Before Spike knew what was happening, Twilight's magic levitated him on her back. She spread her wings and shot up into the sky. The movement was rapide and forced. Spike wrapped his arms around her neck. He heard Twilight's wings bashing the air in cold fury. His checklist was dancing from the wind.
„You know, you should not take your bad temper out on everyone“, he said slowly.
Twilight hissed: „I am not in a bad mood. Don't you dare to say, I am in a bad mood.“
And a donkey can fly. Spike sighted and thought: Perhabs it is best to let her be the way she is now. After all, this task is stressfull.
***
Twilight was flying over Ponyville. „Sweet Celestia“, she called and it was a surprise she did not fall off mid-air. Spike sat on her back with his mouth open. Pinkie Pie's way of preparation had left a big mark on the city as if she wanted to make it crystal clear who had done all this work.
The ground was full of flowers and confetti. Ballons danced in the wind and colourful ribbons. She also had painted a white wall on a building in cheerful colours. When Twilight looked around she realized it was a funny caricature of the princesses.
As Twilight landed on the ground, a loud explosion could be heard behind her and confetti rained down on her. She spat out the colourful shrads of paper and rolled her eyes. Spike roared with laughter and fell of her back. Well, this really is funny. Pinkie Pie popped out of the next building and cheered: „Twilight!“ She hopped to her and hang a necklace around her, which was formed like a smiling sun.
„And one for you Spike too“, she said and gave him one. The necklace was made out of cheap paperboard but it looked so bright and funny that one could oversee this material. Pinkie jumped around Twilight, while she asked: „So what do you think? Do yo like it? Did I surprised you? Rainbow Dash told me that you will check on the preparations so I did my best.“
Twilight sighted. Spike said: „Oh, come on, Twilight! It looks amazing.“
„Thank you“, babbled Pinkie Pie, „I also added a few candies in the trees, so if somepony is hungry, he gets them for free. And I choose those colourfull balloons. Oh, and I even asked Mr and Mrs Cake to make a few cakes for the buffett. You have to see them....“
„Pinkie“, Twilight said ennerved, trying to interrupt her.
„Oh, and what do you think about all these ribbons and my firework.“ Behind them a firework display shot into the air and exploded, making blue, green and purple sparkles rain down.
Twilight furrowed her brow. „Pinkie...“, she said once more. Pinkie did not seem to notice any change in her friend's behaviour. But Spike did. He quickly took a few steps back. Ohoh, looks like the air is going to burn.
Twilight furrowed her brow. Then all of the sudden she jumped upwards into the air. Her fur started to glow bright white, her eyes flashed red and long, orange flames licked over her mane and the tail. „PINKIE PIE! CAN'T YOU JUST KEEP YOUR SNOUT SHUT FOR TEN SECONDS????“ Twilight's voice was a loud, hoarse roar and she eyed Pinkie so furiously as if a devil had rammed his pitchfork in her bum.
Spike looked at the pink pony, who frowned in her movement and stared up at the flaming demon-like alicorn with an open maw. The orange shone of Twilight's fire painted her flesh bright. Spike waited worriedly for his friend to calm down. This has been a test too much. He knew Twilight only had such moments when she had passed over her limits. Which happened rarely.
„Oohh, silly, maybe you should take a nice break, shouldn't you?“, suggested Pinkie Pie.
The alicorn had stopped yelling in her anger. She now was hanging in the air. Twilight's fur was partley covered in dust. She seemed rather exhausted. The mare flinched and rolled her eyes. „I can't take it anymore“, she stammered and collapsed like a wounded animal.