//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 - the search for Spike! // Story: Equestrian Civil War - An Alternate Universe // by twotonedearly //------------------------------// Meanwhile just as Discord and Twilight Sparkle headed off to Canterlot the rest of the mane six headed off to try to find Spike. The first one Rainbow Dash flew through the skies searching around for Spike. “Man, no sign of him anywhere. He couldn't have gone far.” the rainbow pegasus continued to scan the ground below as she flew around. Her flight pattern took her toward the Griffon lands. “No way Spike would be here, never hurts to have a looksee.” Rainbow Dash flew into the Griffon lands as she looked around before a Griffon flew up to her. “Well look who decided to come on by.” Gilda said as she greeted Rainbow Dash in the air. “Gilda, it's been a while.” Rainbow Dash hovered in the air with Gilda before the two landed on the ground. “Seen Spike by any chance?” Rainbow Dash asked Gilda. “Nope, why?” Gilda asked. “He ran away and nopony's seen him in a long time. Wouldn't blame him after what happened to Twi. Especially those rotten finks who made it their business to run Twi's name into the mud.” Rainbow Dash said with a sneer. “I heard, never thought anybody would be that cruel enough to murder a princess, let alone that Blueblood guy.” Gilda said to Rainbow Dash. “Same here, that coward blasted Twi's name at the trial and really ticked off Princess Celestia, as well as me and Applejack though she had more patience than I, I wanted to buck that smug bucker's head off his shoulders for what he said about Twi.” Rainbow Dash was growling noticably. “Heh, I could imagine. Anyhow I haven't seen Spike around here. And I don't think anybody else has seen him either.” Gilda told Rainbow Dash whom nods. “Thanks anyway, I'll try someplace else.” Rainbow Dash took off into the sky after exchanging goodbyes with Gilda. “Man, where could Spike be?” Rainbow Dash wondered as she flew off. Meanwhile at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was busy getting into contact with her kin folk hoping any of them had seen Spike. She let out a sigh as none of them had seen the missing dragon. Applebloom noticed her sister sighing and approached her. “Applejack ya alright?” Applebloom asked her sister. “Yeah, just frustratin not being able to locate Spike, none of our kin have seen 'im.” Applejack told her sister. “Did ya ask Babs if she's seen him?” Applebloom asked, referencing her cousin Babs Seed. “Already did, no sign of Spike either. Ah hope the others are havin better luck than I am.” Applejack told her sister. “But why? Ah mean ah know it hurt Spike to loose Princess Twilight, it hurt us all.” Applebloom lowered her head. “Listen Applebloom, if ah tell ya somethin' right important, promise me ya won't go blabbing it ta anypony else.” Applejack told her sister. “Not even ta Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle?” Applebloom asked her sister. “Well ya can tell em but make em promise not ta blab it either.” Applejack told her sister whom nods. “Ah promise, heck ah'll even Pinkie Promise it.” Applebloom said as Applejack nodded. “Okay, it's about Twilight.” Applejack began. “Oh, you mean her ghost right? Button Mash, Pipsqueak, and Featherweight all saw her lookin at them, they got scared and ran.” Applebloom told Applejack. The older mare shook her head and laughed. “What's so funny?” Applebloom asked. “That was no ghost Applebloom, that was really Twilight.” Applejack told her sister. “No way! You can't be serious!” Applebloom was thrown back at what she heard. “Hey what's goin on in there?” Came the voice of Granny Smith as she and Big Macintosh both entered the room Applejack and Applebloom were in. “Granny, Big Mac, it's about Twi but tell nopony about this.” Applejack began. “Alright.” Granny Smith said. “Alright AJ, what's this about?” Big Mac asked his sister. “Twi's alive.” Applejack told her family. Granny Smith gasped, Big Macintosh looked frozen. “Yeah, and we all thought it was a ghost.” Applebloom added on. “L-Land sakes, ah don't believe it. When we saw her lyin in that casket she looked dead.” Granny Smith was still in shock hearing this. “ah believe ya AJ, after all you hold the element of honesty for a reason.” Big Mac said. “That's right, and right now Twi wants to find Spike though ah've exhausted all my options, ah hope Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash had better luck.” Applejack said. Meanwhile a distance away from Ponyville Rarity and Sweetie Belle were approaching a large cave entrance. Rarity looked a bit disgusted knowing what they will find. “Rarity you still haven't told me why we are looking for Spike. Besides the obvious, we're all worried about him.” Sweetie Belle said to her sister. “Yes darling, that and there's more. But don't go spreading it around as gossip. It's about Twilight Sparkle.” Rarity told Sweetie Belle. “Besides her ghost scaring the horseshoes off Button Mash, Pipsqueak, and Featherweight?” Sweetie Belle asked Rarity, the elder unicorn laughed and shook her head. “No darling no, that wasn't a ghost. That was Twilight in the flesh.” Rarity told her sister. “Wha?!” Sweetie Belle's jaw dropped in shock hearing what Rarity said. “No way, I thought she was..” Sweetie Belle couldn't even bring words as Rarity nods her head as they went into the cave. The two were suddenly confronted by three large looking dogs dressed in miner helmets, vests, and spiked collars. “Hey! No ponies allo.... Oh no not you!!” Spot cringed seeing Rarity, Fido and Rover whimpered too seeing Rarity. “Relax darlings, I'm not here to whine if that's what your thinking. I was looking for Spike, have any of you by chance seen him?” Rarity asked. “N-n-no. We haven't.” Spot still looked afraid of Rarity. “Hm, we'll look elsewhere.” Rarity turned around as she and Sweetie Belle left, as soon as they did the three Diamond Dogs sighed in relief. “That was a close one.” Spot said as he watched Rarity and Sweetie Belle leave. The two unicorns continued their journey as they searched for Spike, eventually their journey lead them to a small village which Rarity instantly recognized. “I remember this village, we met Starlight Glimmer here, I wonder if she's here?” Rarity wondered, it had been a while since she had contact with Starlight ever since the assassination attempt on Twilight Sparkle's life. Rarity and Sweetie Belle began to question the other ponies in the once former village of equals but to no avail as none of them knew a thing about Spike. Rarity soon went up to the house Starlight once lived in and knocked on the door. “Go away! I'm busy!” came a voice as if to respond. “Starlight? Is that you darling?” Rarity asked. “I said go..... Rarity??” the door suddenly opened as Rarity and Sweetie Belle stepped inside. Once inside Rarity and Sweetie Belle approached Starlight whom looked terrible, the unicorn's mane was a mess and her eyes looked bloodshot. It was obvious she was sleep deprived from lots of studying. “Rarity what are you doing out here?” Starlight asked a bit surprised to see Rarity here. “Searching for Spike, he ran away from Ponyville and nopony has seen him since.” Rarity answered Starlight's question. “He ran away??” Starlight couldn't believe what she heard, she had gotten to know Spike when she became Twilight Sparkle's student after their fierce rivalry. But the assassination ended their friendship, Starlight grew to hate the nobles, the Bluebloods especially. She had secluded herself back in her old home studying Starswirl's time travel spell hoping to use it for a good cause instead of trying to alter the past event that gave Twilight and her friends their cutie marks. “I couldn't imagine him doing something like that, but after Twilight's death and without justice I can't really fault him.” Starlight took a seat. “I know, and you look terrible. What happened to you?” Rarity asked Starlight showing concern. “Been studying Starswirl's time travel spell, I know I said I wouldn't use time travel but I wanted to use the spell to stop the assassination.” Starlight let out a sigh. “Starlight, you don't have to.” Rarity told Starlight, the unicorn looked at Rarity as if she was mad. “But why?? Equestria's falling apart around us without Twilight! Those rotten nobles killed many innocent mares, colts, and fillies! And your saying I don't have to do something to prevent the assassination?!” Starlight snapped at Rarity. “Starlight, Twilight's alive. We all saw her in the library. Somehow she survived.” Rarity told Starlight, the unicorn stared at Rarity in disbelief. “Yeah, three of Ms. Cheerliee's students saw Twilight too, though they thought she was a ghost.” Sweetie Belle added in. “Twilight alive? But how?” Starlight asked. “She believes Princess Celestia saved her with a healing spell though it took along time to heal her due to the effects of the orichalcum blades used on her.” Rarity explained as best as she could. “Orichalcum?? I thought that metal was very rare and forbidden?” Starlight asked. “Those horrible monsters stole the Pie family's orichalcum deposit after Prince Blueblood seduced Pinkie's youngest sister Marble Pie.” Rarity told Starlight. “Those lowlife monsters.” Starlight's rage was beginning to show itself. “And the worse thing about it was that Blueblood got Marble pregnant too.” Rarity told Starlight, this surprised the unicorn to hear this. “He kept his rotten bloodline up through Pinkie's sister.” Starlight shook her head. “i can't believe it.” she said sighing. “Rarity I want to help but even I wouldn't know where to locate Spike at.” Starlight told Rarity. “I see, I hope we get some kind of clue then to Spike's whereabouts.” Rarity said with a sigh. “I'll scout around Equestria and see if I can find any sign of Spike. He needs to know Twilight's alive and well. Speaking of Twilight where is she?” Starlight asked Rarity. “She went to Canterlot to reunite with her family and the Princesses.” Rarity answered. “I see. Makes a lot of sense.. Though I hope she returns to Ponyville soon, meantime I'll keep an eye out for Spike.” Starlight told Rarity whom nodded. Soon Rarity and Sweetie Belle started back to Ponyville. “Rarity, what do you think Twilight will do once she gets back to Ponyville?” Sweetie Belle asked. “I'm not sure.” Rarity responded. “For now we need to return home and meet with the others. I hope they had better luck.” Rarity told her sister as they returned to Ponyville. Meanwhile Pinkie Pie was at her family's farm as she greeted them. Maud already knew something was up as she and Pinkie met in private. “Pinkie.” Maud began in her monotone voice. “Something's up isn't it?” She asked. “Yeah, have you or anypony else here seen Spike?” Pinkie asked Maud. “Haven't seen him at all. Why do you ask?” Maud asked Pinkie Pie. Pinkie let out a sigh. “He ran away from Ponyville and nopony has seen him, it's real importaint we find him. Twilight's worried about him.” Pinkie told Maud, the other pony's eyes widened when she heard Twilight's name. “Pinkie, we need to bring this up to the family.” Maud told Pinkie as they headed to where their parents and sisters were at, a young stallion was waiting as he approached. “Hey aunt Pinkie!” Shale Pie said, he was Marble Pie's son after her unexpected pregnancy from Prince Blueblood, though Igneous Rock made sure not to let Shoal know who his father was. “Hey Shale, your much bigger than the last time I saw you.” Pinkie said smiling before she took a seat with her family. “Pinkie, we know you don't visit us often.” Igneous Rock began as he looked at Pinkie. “So what brings you here?” He asked his daughter. “Dad, I came here hoping to find Spike.” Pinkie Pie answered. This caused a bit of confusion from the family. “Guess that means no huh?” Pinkie let out a sigh. “Now Pinkie.” Marble Pie said as she looked at her sister. “Why would you think Spike would be here?” she asked. “Cause he ran away and nobody's seen him.” Pinkie responded to her sibling. “Oh dear.” Cloudy Quartz said with a gasp. “I wouldn't blame him since nobody could understand how he felt losing his adopted mother.” she said as she let out a sigh as Igneous Rock went over to his wife. “Yeah, Twilight's worried sick about him.” Pinkie said, the room felt silent as both Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz stared at their daughter in surprise and shock when she said that, the same looks were on Marble's and Limestone's faces, Shoal was confused when he heard this. “Mom? Aunt Limestone? Aunt Maud? Grandma? Grandpa? What did aunt Pinkie mean by that?” Shale asked confused. “Pinkamena Diane Pie are you off your medication again?” Igneous Rock asked. “No dad, I'm being serious. Twilight's alive and well. She survived the attack.” Pinkie explained as best she could. The family was thrown for a loop when they heard about what happened recently to Twilight Sparkle. “Igneous, this is a sign of a true miracle from Queen Faust herself. Princess Twilight was always the light that healed Equestria time and time again.” Cloudy Quartz said to her husband. Igneous Rock nodded in agreement. “Pinkie, I'm sorry for not believeing you before. As for Spike we don't have a clue where he is at. But we thought those butchers murdered her with the stolen orichalcum?” Igneous Rock still felt confused as he asked Pinkie. “Princess Celestia healed Twilight but I guess the heal spell put her in a coma or something, Twilight thinks it had to do with the Orichalcum.” Pinkie explained though she couldn't understand it herself. “To me that sounds like a reaction from the Orichalcum and Princess Celestia's magic. If that's true then that explains why Twilight looked dead to everypony who viewed her body in that coffin.” Maud spoke up. The others all nodded in agreement. “It's possible.” Igneous Rock nodded to his eldest daughter, though he being an Earth Pony had no knowledge of magic. “Anyhow thanks for the help, I'll be leaving back to Ponyville soon to tell Twilight the bad news.” Pinkie said to her family as they nodded. “Though I can spend time with you guys.” she smiled. Meanwhile Fluttershy was searching high and low for any sign of Spike, she had conversed with many animals in her travels but none had seen Spike. She began to feel hopeless as she landed and sighed. “So far nothing, oh I wish I had a clue to where Spike was at.” Fluttershy continued on as she continued her search as she hovered in the air. She headed into Everfree Forest as she headed to Zecora's hut. Inside Fluttershy greeted Zecora as she watched the zebra working at her cauldron. “So Fluttershy, what is it you seek?” Zecora asked Fluttershy. “I was hoping you had seen Spike, he ran away from Ponyville and nopony has seen him, nor have any animals.” Fluttershy answered. Zecora frowned when she heard this. “His sadness and anger I can see, but was this his reason to flee?” Zecora asked. “I dunno, he was angry at everypony. I would be too if I lost my mother.” Fluttershy responded. “I see, sad to say he didn't come this way.” Zecora told Fluttershy. “But a bad omen is headed this way, a terrible threat in many ways.” the zebra told Fluttershy as the pegasus gasped. “A bad omen? Is it evil?” Fluttershy asked as Zecora nods as the zebra explained the omen though mostly she was unsure what it meant but right away she knew it was evil. Fluttershy looked afraid as she heard Zecora's words. She had to rush off and tell the others about Zecora's preminition. Meanwhile back in Ponyville Applejack arrived at the Library as she entered and looked around. “No sign of Twilght anywhere, guess she's not back from Canterlot yet.” she turned to leave before Rainbow Dash arrived. “Rainbow, any luck findin' Spike?” Applejack asked. “Nope, I searched everywhere and no sign of Spike anywhere, heck even the Griffons don't know where he's at.” Rainbow Dash told Applejack. “Is Twi back yet?” she asked. “Nope, I was just here myself. None of my kin have seen Spike either, not in Appleloosa or in Manehattan.” Applejack told Rainbow Dash as Rarity and Pinkie Pie arrived next. “Hey, did you guys have any luck finding Spike?” Pinkie asked. “Nope, we both had no luck.” Applejack answered Pinkie. “Yeah, the Griffons didn't see Spike and nopony else has either.” Rainbow Dash added in. “Yeah, my family didn't see Spike eiether.” Pinkie sighed. “I questioned as many ponies as I could and no sign of poor Spike anywhere.” Rarity added in. “I did encounter Starlight Glimmer, she's also on the search for Spike.” she said to her friends. “I guess it was a good thing ya found Starlight, we can use her help right about now.” Applejack said to Rarity just as Fluttershy arrived. “Fluttershy did ya have any luck finding Spike?” Applejack asked. “no, every animal I met didn't see Spike. I hope he's okay.” Fluttershy let out a sigh. “Oh, I did see Zecora though she didn't see Spike either, she did have a omen about a bad evil.” Fluttershy began. “What??” Rainbow Dash began before Mayor Mare rushed into the Library. “Thank heavens I found you here!” Mayor Mare was almost out of breath. “Mayor what's going on?” Applejack asked. “There's smoke rising from the sky, several pegasi believe the smoke is coming from Canterlot!” Mayor Mare said. The girls all were shocked to hear this. “WHAT?!” the girls all said as they rushed outside, sure enough they could see the thick smoke coming from the direction of Canterlot. It was a no brainer what was going on. Canterlot was under attack!