Timeless

by palelordhiphis

Late

Spike slowly pulled himself to his feet while fighting off the swirling clouds of myriad colors that danced in his head and the pain the shot through every bone in his body. His head felt like he'd run into a wall at full speed, a feeling he was familiar with thanks to more than a few clumsy moments in his adolescence.

"Ugh. What day is it? It's warm so it's Spring or Summer. And where am I?" he said to himself as he looked around and tried to get his bearings. His eyes were drawn to a sparkling blue lake a few yards away

"That looks like the lake north of Ponyville. Okay, I'm in the right place, but the time, when is it?"

Spike took off towards Ponyville as fast as he could run. He'd be able to figure out his next steps as soon as he knew how much time he had. He stopped just outside of town and crouched low in the bushes. In the excitement he'd forgotten that the only dragon these ponies weren't afraid of was him, well young him anyway, and that a dragon knight might make them scatter in terror. He'd seen them do it to Zecora and the Luna before they got to know them.

"What are you going to do, Spike?" he asked himself as he shook his head and then a clothes line caught his attention. A large burgundy blanket billowed in the wind as if beckoning him. He looked to make sure nopony was watching and then crept up to the line and quickly grabbed the blanket, wrapped it around himself, and wore it as a cloak, covering his body from head to clawed toes.

"Well, it's not a perfect disguise, but it should keep everypony from running in terror for now," he said to himself as he walked into Ponyville and made his way towards the local news stand. He was sure to stoop over the entire way in order to give the impression that he was closer to the height of the ponies around him, a few looked his way, but most went about their business without giving him a thought.

"Are these today's papers?" he asked the pony running the news stand as he picked one up while trying not to let the cloak slip off of his front claws.

"Hm? Yes of course it is?" the pony answered gruffly.

"No," Spike said quietly.

"What? Yes, those are today's-"

"No!" Spike roared, "It's the wrong day!"

"I'm telling you-" the pony started to say, but was stopped mid sentence.

Spike stood to his full height and let the blanket drop to the ground as he looked up at the sun, "No, no, no... It's almost noon! I can't be too late! Not after- NO!"

The news stand pony backed up to the wall of his tiny hut, gazed up at the purple dragon standing in front of him, and screamed as Spike roared in rage.

The mares and colts in the square all came to a complete and silent stop for a moment before pandemonium and panic took over. Ponies were running away from Spike, into each other, through fruit stands, and falling to pieces from the surprise of a dragon suddenly appearing in the middle of the town square. However, even in the midst of the chaos that gripped the square, a few of the larger stallions and tougher mares gathered around him in a circle.

"Now, you just calm down there, Big Fella," one large red stallion said, "I don't reckon you meant any harm, but shoutin' like that has everypony right riled."

Spike stared at the red pony and shook his head, "I don't have time for this."

The dragon crouched low and then sprang into the air, flipping as he cleared the heads of even the tallest stallions by several feet, and landed well outside the circle that had gathered around him. Without a glance back he bolted towards the woods.

"I will not be too late," he called out as he sped into the forest.

He crashed through the underbrush, broke branches that seemed to reach out in front of him, and tore through brambles. He had to be getting close, he thought, the trail to Zecora's was never this long, and he was shorter the last time he walked it, and he was taking the straightest path. He stopped for a moment and looked around, hoping he wasn't lost. Then, at the very edge of his hearing, voices pressed into his ears.

"...and though I'd love to get to know you, we must be on our way. I trust you know where my boutique is located. Please do stop in sometime," Rarity's voice said clearly.

Spike charged towards that voice with every bit of strength he had, racing against events that were already in his past.

"You're not going anywhere. I've got-" the pale blue murderer's voice said.

"We're leaving," the younger version of Spike said sternly, or at least the young dragon seemed to think it was stern. Had he ever been that naive and had his voice ever quivered so timidly?

"What was that? Oh, it's a pipsqueak. Pipsqueaks should stay out of grown up conversations," the unicorn said and then the sound of a small body hitting a tree and bones breaking filled the forest.

"The empire must live... you... die..."

"Leave her alone!" younger Spike shouted as he began to charge towards the pale blue unicorn, but stopped short as he saw a large purple dragon burst from the trees and slam into the blue unicorn with a force that sent the pony crashing into the trees several feet away.

The large dragon started walking towards the blue unicorn, growling low and gutturally, as flames slipped out from between his gritted teeth, but the unicorn was already standing again.

"You're too late, whoever you are," the blue unicorn said as his horn let out a bright yellow flash and he vanished into the forest, crashing through the trees at a breakneck pace.

The older dragon took a couple of steps towards the forest, his rage carrying his feet, but then looked back at Rarity. She'd collapsed and he knew he didn't have time to chase phantoms until after he'd helped her. He knelt down next to her and pulled a small syringe from his vest pocket.

"What is that? Who are you? What are you doing to her?" younger Spike asked as he tried to put himself between the older dragon and Rarity.

"I'm helping her. She's been poisoned. This is an antidote. Now get out of the way," the older dragon growled as he pushed his younger self aside.

He pulled the covering off of the needle, pushed out a little bit of the green fluid inside to make sure there were no air bubbles and then pierced the artery in her neck plunging the antidote into her blood.

"Come on. Let it work. I've had twenty years to figure out what kind of potion purges poisons of all types. This has to work," he mumbled as he leaned in close and placed two fingers under her jaw.

"No," he said, "get back squirt!"

"What's wrong?"

"Her heart has already stopped. Now, get back. I'm going to do something dangerous."

The younger Spike stood still in shock for a moment before the larger dragon pushed him away roughly.

The older dragon pulled out a small blue stone and then said, "Lasu fulmo krevi."

Small bolts of lightning arced between the purple dragon's claws as he brought them close to Rarity's chest. He body jerked as the electricity coursed through her heart, but there was still no heartbeat. Again he said the words and again she jerked violently, but her heart did not stir.

"Worthless!" the large dragon shouted as he threw the stone into the forest and then leaned in close to Rarity's body, "Come on love, breath, breath with me!"

He placed his massive mouth over her snout and breathed into her lungs, praying that this last gamble would pay off.

As he pulled back and closed his eyes, desperate and lost in his failure, a spasm of coughs brought him back to the world.

"Spike? Spikey, are you okay?" she mumbled before she passed into unconsciousness. The large dragon pressed the tips of his claws under her jaw again. Her pulse was slow, but strong.

"You did it. You saved her," the young dragon said quietly.

"Yes, we did, but she's not really safe yet. Come close," the large dragon said as he pulled the young dragon close to himself and Rarity.

The large dragon leaned his head back and let out a torrent of green flames that crashed back to the earth around them like a fountain of light and when it cleared they were in the throne room of Canterlot.

"What is the meaning of this?" Celestia called out from her throne as she took in the scene of Spike, some large purple dragon, and an unconscious Rarity in the middle of her throne room.

"She's been attacked. Poisoned. I've administered an antidote, but she needs a doctor. Now!" the large purple dragon said forcefully.

Celestia's eyes narrowed for a moment as she considered his words, "Guards, take Rarity to the royal physician. Spike, please accompany them."

As the guards lifted Rarity with magic and carried her away with young Spike close in tow, the large dragon started to follow them as well.

"No, you will stay here for a moment," Celestia said to him sternly.

He watched them leave and then turned to face her, "Your Majesty? You want something from me?"

"I find it odd that were coincidentally nearby, that you had the antidote for poison, and most of all that you were able to teleport into my throne room so easily. There are spells in place to keep most teleportation spells trying to reach my castle from working."

"Ah. Then I guess we're all very lucky today. Shouldn't you be thankful that I saved one or your subjects?" he said as he crossed his arms and looked at one of the stain glass windows instead of into her keen eyes.

"Yes, of course. Thank you... what was your name?"

"You can call me Kairos," he said, "but we don't have time for this. The murderer is still out there. If we organize a search party now we might be able to find him! He's a pale blue unicorn. He should still be in the forest someplace near Zecora's place!"

Celestia peered sharply at him for a moment and then called for a guard.

"Put together a search party and head towards Ponyville immediately. Once there, gather every able bodied pony. Kairos will be joining you as he has already seen the culprit. I will leave now and meet you there."

"Yes, Majesty," the guard said and quickly left.

"You're going to let Twilight know what's happened," the large dragon said quietly.

"You know Twilight?" Celestia asked.

"She doesn't know me," he said as he turned and followed the guard.

Comments

[Snivypony]

This is getting good. Keep going.

[Koden]

Me thinks Celestia knows more then she is letting on, you get to know a thing or two after thousands of years.. By the way Bad ass Spike is best Spike ^_^ can't wait for more

[palelordhiphis]

3052981
Thanks. :)

3053724
Celestia knowing more than she lets on? Never.
Thanks. :) I'm enjoying writing Future-Spike.

[palelordhiphis]

I like that the newest comic has Spike working magic via mixing some food for magical creatures. It adds some support to my magic using future Spike despite him not being a unicorn. :)