//------------------------------// // Finding 'Home' // Story: The Rise of Species: Dragons // by Zarmflamekin //------------------------------// Spike headed up to his room to gather anything he would need for this trip, and upon opening his door, came to the exact realization that he might have a problem in that department. As much as he liked his new room, it was also quite bare of anything that was his. He had been given an upgraded basket-bed by Twilight upon their upgraded living arrangement, and he even had a dresser all his own. That currently had his snare drum and sticks on top and his one tux within. The room had come with a built in shelf, so his previous birthday presents from Twilight had their own space along with a set of spare drawing paper for when he wanted to doodle on the one table he had. But none of these things were particularly relevant to what he needed. In fact, what did he need from here? Aside from making his bed, Spike realized. Having such an abrupt morning, he had completely forgotten. As he reset the covers, Spike glanced about to his bucket of blocks, a ball, and even a strange contraption mobile Twilight had given him. Spike chewed the inside of his cheek as he seemed to truly consider his room, and really began to see how little of him there was in here. Maybe he would pick up a souvenir while he was out on this trip, spruce it up a bit. Finishing setting the bed, Spike sighed as he really thought there was nothing to get from here. In fact, the last time he had left, it had been with a tea set and a few snacks, he had done just fine walking to the dragon gathering. He shrugged, guessing he would just have to wait outside for Twilight. As he headed back down to the foyer, he could have sworn to hear a tap of a hoof on crystal. Jogging a bit to get to the front door, he opened the door to find Apple Bloom beginning to walk down the stairs. “Apple Bloom?” Spike called out, making the filly pause and turn. “So ya are up. Ah’ve been knocking for like ten minutes.” Apple Bloom huffed as she turned back to talk to Spike properly. “Well, it’s a big place Bloom. It’s why we have a door bell.” Spike pointed to a protruding rhombus of crystal that a shade darker of purple than the rest around it. “Like Ah could see that thing, it looks just like the rest of the frame.” Apple Bloom huffed. “Hehe, yeah, been meaning to take some paint to that.” Spike chuckled as he stepped out of the door frame, letting the door close behind him. “So, what’s up?” “Well, I was meanin to get Twilight, we need a bit of help with the beaver dam.” “Are they being a problem again? Shouldn’t you talk to Fluttershy about that?” “Well sure, but it’s not the beavers bein around that’s the problem, it’s actually them leavin.” “Leaving? Isn’t that a good thing? Twilight said they flooded up the orchard before.” “Mah sister seems to have gotten somthin through over the years, she worked out with the beavers to set up a bit further upstream and help divvy up water streams for the orchard. But it seems that they wanna move somewhere new, ‘more exotic’ as Fluttershy said.” “And that’s bad.” Spike guessed. “Yeah, Fluttershy said that if the beavers aren’t livin there no more, then the dam’s just gonna break down. But the thing is, if the dam’s not there, then the side streams are just going to go back to the main one, and we’re gonna have to go back to haulin all the water to the orchard trees. Which Big Mac says ain’t gonna be as good ‘cause the side streams bring their own benefits than just carrying the water.” “Okay, okay.” Spike shook his head from the information dump. “So what do you need Twilight for?” “Well, Ah was wonderin if Twilight would have some sort of stabalizin spell so that when the beavers leave, the dam doesn’t fall apart.” Apple Bloom asked hopefully. Spike sighed at the news he had to deliver to the filly. “I’m sorry Apple Bloom, but I can tell you right now that’s not going to work.” “Well, yer not Twilight, now are ya?” Apple Bloom cut in. “But I am her number one assistant, and even I know what Twilight would have to do. She’d have to set a stasis spell on the dam so that the water doesn’t corrode the dam even more, and then she’d have to come by on a regular basis to re-boost the spell, and we could easily be away during any of those times.” “Is it hard? Could we get Rarity or somepony else to do it?” Apple Bloom asked, grasping at straws. “I don’t know, but even then, do you want to pay somepony to constantly apply what’s basically a bandage on a broken support beam?” Apple Bloom shifted a bit uncomfortably. “Ah don’t know.” Spike and Apple Bloom stood there awkwardly, shifting side to side as both tried to find something to say. “Did you think of rebuilding something to the same effect after the beavers leave?” Spike asked, an idea suddenly popping up. “Well, sorta. But Ah don’t l know how the dam’s built, or if we could afford to build something in its place.” “But wouldn’t it be worth it in the end?” Spike prompted. “A-Ah guess.” Apple Bloom scuffed her hoof. “Ah just thought Twilight could fix it.” “Feels like she can, doesn’t it?” Spike chuckled half-heartedly. “Look, uh, Twilight and I are heading out for a bit, and it might take a while. Why don’t you head back and brainstorm a bit more with Big Mac and Applejack? And I’m sure if I bring this up with Twilight on our flight, she’ll have her own pamphlet of ideas when we get back.” “Well, ok, but only if you promise to tell Twilight.” Apple Bloom eyeballed Spike. “I promise.” Spike held his left claw up and right claw over his breast. “On my honor of the Dragon Code, that I will indeed tell Twilight of your predicament.” “Thanks Spike!” Apple Bloom seemed to cheer up immediately. “Ah gotta go meet up with the others now, Sweetie said she thought what our secret talents were!” Apple Bloom started trotting off before Spike could exactly question that logic. So he sighed and took a seat on the top stair as he waited for Twilight to come out. And as he pondered exactly what books she thought were going to be necessary for the trip, Spike also came to another realization of this trip. How were they going to get there? Spike had to admit, he was quite proud of his endurance to make that trek to the dragon migration ground, but a cursory thought did indeed place the Badlands a good three or four days further than the migration ground, and even then Spike had seen the dragons congregating to know where to go. If he was going to look for a giant crater, wouldn’t an aerial view be better? But would Twilight be willing to fly herself, himself, and everything she had packed, all by herself? Could she even fly like that all by herself? By a sudden clopping of hooves and wheels bumping over gravel did Spike look up to see two Dawn Guard pegasi pulling a fairly large open air carriage, stoically standing parallel to the castle’s stairs. Before he could get up to greet whoever could pull the kind of weight to get such a deal from Celestia, he heard the front door open. “Oh good, they’re here.” Spike turned to see Twilight walking out with just her saddle bags, which sort of off put Spike, seeing as she usually had at least two suitcases when visiting Canterlot. “You were expecting somepony Twi?” Spike asked, garnering a confused glance from Twilight. “Uh, no? This is how we’re getting to the Badlands. I wasn’t very confident in flying both of us there, so I contacted Celestia to see if she could spare us a pair of guards to make a round trip, specifically ones with sharp eyes. She even told me that at the rate these two can go, we might not even need to make this an overnight thing.” “Oh.” Spike softly chuckled to himself. This made so much more sense, and of course this would take more than a day, no problem Twilight ever faced lasted long under her scrutiny. Except maybe Pinkie Pie. Although, something about this taking so little effort for Twilight dejected Spike a bit. “Buuut.” Twilight drew out her word, gaining a quizitive look from Spike. “That doesn’t mean we can’t make it an overnight thing.” Twilight grinned mischievously as she activated her magic, popping three suitcases into the carriage. “I feel it’s been to long since it’s been just you and me Spike. So let’s make the most of this trip while we can.” Twilight smiled as she trotted down to the awaiting guards. Spike wasn’t sure why, but a small grin grew as he followed Twilight down the stairs. “Corporal Steady Wing and Pointed Eye awaiting orders ma’am.” One of the guards saluted as Twilight approached. “What were you told corporal?” Twilight asked, making Spike quietly debate how ‘secret’ this trip should really be. “Just to be ready to transport the Princess of Friendship to whatever destination she would require ma’am.” Steady Wing replied. “Well, we’re heading out to the Badlands corporal, and you are to spot and land near any crater or valley that could possibly hold five to ten full grown dragons comfortably. Is that clear enough?” Twilight hesitantly asked at the end of a rather imposing order on her part. The corporals looked to each other for a moment and nodded simultaneously. “It shouldn’t be a problem ma’am. One concession though, if I may.” “Proceed.” Twilight nodded. “There’s a reason they’re known as the Badlands. I did overhear a plan of camping on this trip, I ask that we set up camp outside of the defined border of the Badlands. Not to question your abilities ma’am, but it would set us in a better state of mind for a defensible position.” Twilight seemed to ponder the request of the corporal before nodding. “Never can be too careful, I’m alright with this precaution. Now, if you two are ready, we can…” Twilight paused looked down to Spike. “Did you have anything to bring Spike?” Spike chuckled. “Not really. Did fine on my last trek with just a snack. Flying like this will be no problem.” Twilight nodded. “Ok, then if you two are ready, we’re ready to leave.” Twilight and Spike boarded the carriage and the two corporals took off without another word. The wind brushed and then started to rush past the two before an enchantment upon the carriage reduced the incoming wind down to a gentle breeze. As the enchantment kicked in, Twilight shivered from tip to tail. “Wow, that feels so much different now.” “What does? Felt the same to me.” Spike said. “Maybe for you, but having flown solo for a while now, I’m kind of used to the wind always blowing that fast. But now-“ “There’s a disconnect.” Spike finished, smiling. “Right, exactly.” Twilight smiled back. It really had been a while since the two had just had their own company. “So, how long are we looking at this taking?” Spike asked. “Oh, somewhere around four hours I suppose.” “Bring anything for the trip?” Spike asked knowingly. Twilight smirked. “Like I wouldn’t.” Twilight said as she directed her magic to one of the suitcases, unzipping it and pulling out ‘The Life and Fall of Tiamat’. “I took another glance through this and the other one you pulled out and found some interesting commonalities and inconsistencies, and I thought maybe we could look them over together.” “Really?” Spike looked at Twilight with a bit of disbelief. “And here I thought Pinkie would have slipped in a pack of cards or something.” “Spike, Pinkie wasn’t even at the castle. Of course she didn’t-“ Twilight paused amidst closing the suitcase, taking another look in the sleeve on the lid. “I could have sworn that was empty.” Slowly floating out of the pocket came a deck of cards along with a sticky note simply with a ‘:P’ on it. “I must have forgotten them from last time.” “Sure you did.” Spike smiled as he plucked the cards from Twilight. “Speaking of which, do you know what’s going on at Sweet Apple Acres?” “No, what?” Twilight asked as she set the book aside. “Apparently Applejack had a deal with some beavers to divvy up their stream, and now with the beavers moving out, the streams going to go back to normal, which apparently is a bad thing?” Spike laid out as he took out the cards and began shuffling. “Hm, I can see why. Beavers are a keystone species after all, they sort of set the rules up for wherever they live. How did you come to know this?” “Apple Bloom stopped by this morning seeing if you could set up a sort of freezing spell to keep the dam from eroding.” “Well, I mean, I could, but for that type of situation, I would have to re-energize the spell at least every four days, faster if there’s outside factors.” “Like water pressure and flow change.” “Right, and I could be busy during any of those times. I don’t think a freezing spell is the best option here.” “That’s what I said.” Spike sighed as he began laying out solitaire. “I told Apple Bloom that I would tell you and get your ideas while she headed home to brainstorm with Big Mac and Applejack.” “I would do just that, but it’s not like I know everything about beavers and their dams. I’m not going to have anything solid to tell them until we get back and I can study up a little bit.” Twilight shrugged. “Sorry Spike.” “Eh, it’s all right, I already gave my two bits in as it is.” “Oh? And what’s your idea?” Twilight took a curious interest as Spike separated the ace of spades and hearts. “I just think the Apple Bloom was too focused on the dam and not what the dam was doing. Applejack was able to get something working, so why not just let thing crumble and rebuild something sturdier later to do the exact same thing?” Twilight seemed to mull Spike’s solution over. “Maybe, but it would be a whole mess in-between now and then. The dam would break, the wood would go every which way and everything they have would be gone.” “I’m not saying it would be easy, or the same for that matter. But what the Apples have now is just unsustainable. It’s not like they could get somepony to do the beavers job. I even think Apple Bloom would be too big at this point.” “Hmm.” Twilight hummed as she looked over Spikes board. “I think you lost Spike.” “What?” Spike looked up to Twilight to see she was looking down. “No I haven’t.” “Spike, the four of hearts and the ace of clubs are buried and you’re not going to get the two of spades with the way this is going.” “We’ll see about that.” Spike said defiantly as he flipped his next card. .. Twilight was right of course, though Spike would only admit that they really should have been playing together from the beginning. Twilight tried bringing up ‘The Rise and Fall of Tiamat’, but Spike shot the discussion down, both from the logical standpoint that they shouldn’t make too many presumptions about Pyrathy before meeting him, but also from the standpoint of not wanting to feel squeamish from following through on meeting such a legendary figure. After three lost rounds of Go Fish, a brunch snack, and learning and wining one round of Crazy Eights, Corporal Steady Wing called over his shoulder. “We’re approaching the Badlands now ma’am!” Spike and Twilight immediately forgot their second game of Crazy Eights and began looking ahead towards the red scene before them. Plains were quickly giving way to barren rock leading to rocky hills that dipped into a landscape that wasn’t a desert, but neither could it sustain any sort of greenery. “All right Spike, keep a keen eye out for any impression that might remotely hold the nest. The Badlands are big, but not so big that we shouldn’t be able to make a fly by or two.” Twilight warned as she fetched two pairs of binoculars out of her suitcase, lifting one pair over to Spike. He resolutely nodded as he took the offered item and began to intently scan the hills surrounding the Badlands. The Dawn Guards flew a bit into the Badlands before banking to the right and circle the perimeter counter-clockwise. And so the four began scouring for the long disused nest. Twilight seemed to gain a secondary mission of documenting something, Spike didn’t particularly care to look, but he could hear the scratching of pen on paper. But it wasn’t like his search was going any better, and watching the hills roll by methodically didn’t help the monotony. There was more than one time he began to feel his head droop. The best Spike could make out for a possibility was a few crevices that might have lead deeper in, but to house the mother of dragons and five whelps? Nah. “That was one round Spike, think you spotted anything?” Twilight said, pulling Spike away from his binoculars. He rubbed his eyes from the impression they made around them. “Nah, nothing really over here, you?” “No, but I think I have a few questions for Maud the next time she’s around.” Twilight rolled her scroll up. “Corporals! Find a place to land for-“ A gurgle came from Twilight’s stomach before she could finish, followed closely by Spike’s own. “A very belated lunch.” Spike called with mirth. The Dawn Guard short affirmative nods, and Spike thought he spotted a small smirk on Pointed Eye. The party landed near the path leading into the Badlands from the plains. As the carriage came to a stop, Twilight picked up the suitcase the snack had come from and pulled a blanket out from another. The blanket became neatly spread out beside the carriage as Steady Wing and Pointed Eye unhitched themselves and took up posts beside the blanket. “Oh, don’t worry about protocol here you two.” Twilight waved for the two to sit down. “This was rather sudden, but I did consider to pack for four.” The two looked to each other, unsure. Spike chuckled. “We won’t tell if you don’t.” Both Steady and Pointed to a relaxed sigh as both sat across from Spike and Twilight. “Permission to speak freely ma’am?” Pointed Eye asked, speaking up for the first time. “Oh, Twilight, please. And please, go ahead.” Twilight said as she began pulling out granola and sapphires. “This has got to be the longest I’ve had to pull a carriage. Are you sure this is somewhere to find a dragon nest?” “I’ve got to agree with Point on this.” Steady Wing chimed in. “I didn’t see anything in there that could sustain as many dragons as you indicated.” “We’re not exactly looking for a nest that could be sustained now.” Twilight emphasized as she began to pull ‘Life and Fall’ to her. “We’re looking for a place that could have sustained that many. Did either of make a mark?” Both corporals shook their heads as Twilight handed them their granola before pulling out a small kettle. “I’ll be back.” Twilight declared before popping away. Both corporals forgot their meal as they jumped up, ready to take after the princess. Spike simply waved them to sit again. “She’s a big filly guys, she can get some water just fine.” “It’s our job sir.” Steady Wing tensed back to formality. Before Spike could retort, Twilight popped back as if nothing had changed. “Do you two want straight water or tea?” Twilight absently asked as she began to rummage for tea bags. “Um, Twi?” Spike nudged Twilight, who looked up owlishly. “I think you should apologize.” “Hm?” Twilight seemed a bit confused as she saw the two tense guards. “Oh! I’m so sorry. It was just for some water, and it was a good five-minute trot away, I thought this would be faster.” “Ma’am, for however… eccentric Princess Celestia can be in her orders, she does employ us to be a bodily shield should unknowns occur. I ask that you please don’t do that again.” Steady Wing coolly chided. Twilight gave a nervous chuckle. “Uh, yes, maybe you’re right. I did ask you two to be here, perhaps I shouldn’t make light of your duties.” Twilight cleared her throat and sat a bit straighter. “That being said, water or tea?” “Water for me.” Steady Wing relaxed as he sat again. “What do you have?” Pointed Eye asked, similarly relaxing. Eating and chatting soon picked up between the three ponies as Spike receded a bit and picked up ‘Life and Fall’, seeing as the three had somehow quickly gotten into wing maintenance. Spike began sucking on his sapphire as to make it last as long as possible out on the trip. Spike began re-reading ‘Life of Pyrathy’ to see if there could any context clues as to where or how Pyrathy would set up a nest for himself. But apparently aside from being particularly lazy, Pyrathy had also seemed to be quite picky in his napping space. Being the Fire drake he was, Pyrathy tended to like living in perpetually hot places. Spike glanced up to the Badlands, considering how the place seemed to be constantly under the sun, he guessed this would be the type of place Pyrathy would settle down. There was only a few scattering of rock formations to offer any sort of shade, but there also didn’t seem to be any good basking spots. At least, not in what Spike observed. Although, now that he looked at them, Twilight might have something on the rock piles. They did seem to singular and spaced as they were. “Hey Twilight?” Spike spoke up, breaking the flow of the three’s conversation on barrack life. “Yes Spike?” “What kind of questions did you have for Maud?” “Oh, uh, well,” Twilight stuttered, a bit confused at the sudden change in topic, reached for her notes. “I was going to ask her if the formation of lone stone pillars were a common occurrence or if these could be anomalies. Also what rocks are common in this area and at what temperatures they melt at.” “Melt?” Both Spike and the guards turned to such an odd question. “I think I saw a few sloping formations among the pillars that seemed a bit to smooth to be from erosion, so I think something is happening around there. But then again, we were just doing a fly by, it might be completely fine if we were to get a closer look on the next round.” “Could you see the abnormality without the binoculars?” Spike asked, garnering a thoughtful look from Twilight. “…I think so. Why?” “Because I saw some crevices that I thought could have been hidey holes, but not big enough for what we were looking for, but I definitely could see them without the binoculars.” “Yeah, I came to the same conclusion.” Pointed Eye pitched in. “You did say a nest big enough for up to ten dragons, they looked big enough for two or three, but definitely not ten.” “Well, I said ten, but that was really taking into account of the exaggerated size in this record.” Twilight said as she lifted ‘The Life and Fall’ out of Spike’s claws. “See, it says Tiamat here could easily scale over mountains, so comparing a vague notion to modern mountains such as the one Canterlot is situated upon as well as accounting for being a nest for five whelps, ten grown dragons came to a close guesstimate.” “Yeah, with how she’s drawn in there, the Badlands would… be… nothing.” Spike began heartily, but then began to re-examine the Badlands. “Twilight, can I see the book again?” Twilight handed the book back and Spike flipped back to the birth of the Five. He scanned the pages until he found what needed. “So, uh, what if we got the scale a bit wrong?” Spike inquired as he turned the book around tapping the passage ‘with Red searing the ground into a sturdy hole’. “Well, yeah, she cleared out a space for the nest, that’s a given. But like I said, the space for ten full grown dragons was a… guesstimate.” Twilight slowly came to the same conclusion as Spike, looking up to the Badlands with a new appreciation. “I think the Badlands are her nest Twi.”