Prisoners and Poisoning
Awards of the Heart: Prisoners and Poisoning – by Twifight Sparkill
Spike sat idly by as the two physician mares huddled together, conferring in guarded whispers just beyond his earshot. He knit his claws nervously, finding their tones a bit too somber for his liking.
The young dragon had apparently fallen asleep at some point earlier, for reasons he couldn't completely recall at the moment, and had woken some hour or so later upon an unfamiliar weathered green couch that smelled faintly of wet dog and spiced incense.
The veterinary yellow pegasus that had insisted he stayed lingered in the cottage foyer with her back turned to him, engaged in somber conference with Zecora, the mysterious zebra alchemist known to reside in the Everfree Forest. The striped mare wore a decidedly serious expression, looking to Spike periodically throughout their deliberation, which left him more anxious.
He cocked an ear in hopes to catch some of their discussion, though couldn't manage to discern much for the baffling aesculapian speech they shared. Rubbing at his spinning head with a sigh, the dragon tried to remember what had transpired before succumbing to unconsciousness; a persisting black satin canvas ultimately mocked his vain attempts.
"... um, I don't mean to interrupt," Spike managed in a frustrated growl, "but what the hay is going on here? What happened? Where am I, and why does my head hurt?"
Both ponies turned then, addressing him with troubled stares.
"You hit your head quite hard on my mailbox," the pegasus explained. "I'm sorry about that. However, there's... something else I found during your physical. Please don't be upset, but I had to call for a second opinion. Sorry."
Zecora stepped purposefully towards the seated dragon, settling alongside him on the couch as Fluttershy watched on apprehensively.
"Can you try if able," the zebra asked in her foreign rhyming speech, "to recall what you'd said?"
She sidled close to Spike, wearing a placating smile – the sort reserved for doctors waiting to deliver the worst of news. "We believe your condition is currently stable, though we fear that an outbreak could yet be spread."
"Just tell her what you told me," Fluttershy urged.
The dragon blinked. He considered Zecora thoughtfully, then rubbed his chin.
"... I don't have to rhyme too, do I?" Spike asked.
Fluttershy squeaked at that, hiding her eyes with a hoof. The zebra laughed.
"Please, young Spike," the striped mare insisted, "we're sympathetic ears; tell us what you'd like, there's no judgment here."
The dragon took a deep breath, letting his mood and mind clear enough to manage some of his conversation with Fluttershy before he'd drifted off. He relaxed as much as was able given the circumstances and recounted what little he could recall.
"Okay," the baby dragon began. "Basically I'd said that I'm, I'm... afraid that Twilight doesn't need me, and I don't actually matter to her. That's it."
Both ponies suddenly flinched. Spike quirked a brow curiously, cleared his throat, then grudgingly continued.
"I suppose she's never really needed me around," he surmised, "save to do a few boring chores or run some errands, you know? Twilight is the student of Princess Celestia herself, after all! She's only forced to look after me because ... because she has to, I guess?"
Spike's heart sank, choking the words in his throat, an overwhelming sadness washing over him.
"She hatched me as part of some test, you know? I was ... a passing grade for her to get into magic school. How does that make me important to her? I'm only kept around as long ... as long as I'm useful to you ponies. I know that no matter what I do, one day Twilight will ... outgrow her use for me. I'll be all alone, and nopony will care if I'm here or gone! You're all these amazing Equestria-wide heroes, and I'm ... I'm nothing. You're all better off without me."
The mares watched him closely. Both began to go wide-eyed, which gave him pause.
"... it is as you claim," Zecora hissed at Fluttershy. "He's sick with despair. If infected just the same, she's likely unaware."
Spike stared at the pair blankly. Were they talking about him anymore? About Twilight? He was so confused, so alone. He swept the falling tears from his eyes, and stared at the droplets in his paws - why? Why was he so useless? Why wasn't anypony telling him what was going on?
Fluttershy collected a small mirror from her cupboard, clasped it purposefully in her wingtips, and walked it to Spike. Angling it enough for him to spy his own reflection, he studied the image within for a long while.
"Oh. That's not good," he finally managed, touching at his face in stunned disbelief. "Where... where have I seen that before?"
---
Applejack rubbed furiously at her temples in a vain attempt to quell an encroaching headache developing behind her eyes.
Having found Pinkie Pie at the remote train station of Bridleburgh – or more appropriately kept from returning home with her newly repaired cart despite the best of efforts – the orange farmer quickly darted for a small cafe located across from the station with her fuschia comrade close in tow.
Applejack knew her displaced colleague didn't intend to disrupt her carefully laid plans, but a few stiff drinks and a passable meal were the only things to keep her from having a full-blown fit for the damned luck of it. She took a long draw from her cool cider as it arrived, then set the mug upon the bartop with a pointed ferocity – startled patrons shot upward from their meals and drinks, then blithely returned to their business following a curt silence. Pinkie Pie settled quietly to her right, asking after some green cocktail adorned with enough fruits and umbrellas to start a tropical island resort.
The farmer took a deep breath, whispered something akin to a proper curse word, then addressed her company accordingly.
"So, y'mind telling me what the hay you're doing here exactly, sugarcube?" she asked through gritted teeth.
"Twilight and I were looking for Spike, and now I'm here. Wherever here is," Pinkie Pie responded vigorously.
Swirling the remnants of her mug for a thoughtful while, Applejack threw the remaining contents down her throat, then slid the empty vessel down towards the barkeeper. Within mere moments, a freshly poured cider appeared in front of her. Hallelujah. She took a new draw from the cup, then resumed her inexplicably calm demeanor.
"You're in Bridleburgh, Pinkie," she noted. "It's a steel town; this is also where coal and coke and all manner of minerals come from. It's a smoggy, festering black blot on the world, and we're both stuck here despite what we'd prefer."
"... so I'm in Bridleburgh," the pink mare amended, slurping loudly at the remainder of her exotic brew. "Twilight and I were on a train, and she asked me to get off and wait for ten minutes. I waited ten minutes, then I found your coin purse. Lucky for you, yeah?"
The orange pony blinked awkwardly a few times. This was decidedly disjointed, even for Pinkie. Why would Twilight knowingly abandon a friend in some urban war zone when all the while supposedly looking for Spike? In fact, why were they looking for Spike in the first place?
"Barkeep!" Applejack called.
Two new drinks arrived neatly in front of the pair; one was a stifling colourful nightmare, the other a frosty golden bubbly nectar.
"... how about you tell me everything from the beginning, darlin'?"
"I just did," Pinkie grinned, chewing on a piece of mango.
The exasperated apple farmer pulled her hat down around her face, then screamed obscenities into it.
---
Twilight watched out the train car window as snow-blanched scenery flew by, finding the exercise a soothing ease compared to the troubling intuitions that insisted otherwise. Once a display announced the Northern Equestria stop, her guts stopped turning enough that she could manage to stand and gather her luggage. The remaining few ponies still left in her car stood as well, and the lot filed politely towards the exits. She remained last in the line, quietly collecting her feverish thoughts as the mob accumulated onto the thoroughfare.
"Twiley?" a voice suddenly called out.
That made her jump, a sudden burst of familiarity and dread shattering any plans made previously during her travel. The lavender unicorn absently wondered how she'd been spotted so quickly, being wrapped up in a cloak, looking and feeling very unlike her usual self.
Flanked by a dozen armoured guards, the newly crowned Prince of the Crystal Empire waved frantically at his sister from a security desk situated by the station walkway. He appeared to be supervising some newly appointed customs practice, requiring thorough identity checks and baggage inspections, before anyone could gain entrance into the reborn province.
Shining Armor was ever the loyal soldier, and likely insisted he remain an active military participant given the gravity of the current situation, Twilight surmised. He always was a fiercely determined colt.
She paused for a moment to consider her surroundings. The process of gaining entrance into the Empire appeared as some slow and laborious chore, though upon proper scrutiny moved quite smoothly; it maintained the disarming aloofness of a primped welcoming party, whilst corresponding elegantly alongside an ever-present lawful intimidation.
The line ran rather quickly, and before she could gather her waking wits, she was confronted with her brother's excited smile.
"H-Hello Shining Armor!" Twilight managed awkwardly. "Say, where's Cadance? I really need to talk to her. Now."
Her brother's expression visibly faltered for the clumsy greeting. The two armed ponies flanking him stepped purposefully around the desk, confronting the nervous librarian directly.
"Please come with us, ma'am," they instructed, nudging her towards an adjacent office room across the hallway. "Customary interrogation, nothing to worry about."
"Nothing to worry about," Twilight repeated in a flat tone. "Nothing at all."
To be continued.
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4257287
This ain't a ship fic. Also, as Hasbro lore goes, he's more a fixture than Rarity or Fluttershy.
We just go with the flow man. I want Spike to be cool! As canon goes, that has yet to be revealed. At least I'm trying!
Peace.
4257369 3edgy5me
... I thought this was "Slice-of-Life", not "Twilight goes evil because dark magic and jealousy"...
I am LOVING where this is going!
4257369
Calm down. You are talking about a fictional character from a fictional show, people are allowed to have different opinions.
In addition, Chris Kyle (1974-2013), holds the record for the most confirmed kills in U.S. military history, with 160 kills in the Iraq War. So that leads me to believe that you are Chris Kyle, in which case thank you for your service to America. Your "kill count", however, is a tad warped.
I thought this fic died, glad that I was wrong. Though it looks like Spike's emotions is causing another change in his body.
If it were any other author, Pinkie would've started telling her about how the universe began and gone from there.
Huh, was not expecting Spike's part of the story to lead to this. And I get the feeling that Twilight has managed to find herself where the affliction first originated.
4257369
Yup, over 300 confirmed kills... in Call of Duty.
Fucking trolls.
4257369 Where did you get your training Call of Duty? Or BattleField? oh! was it halo?
And I don't think the Marine Corps has time to deal with an internet comment because one "marine" got butt hurt.
4257287
4257369
bit.ly/1i4FX8W
4258182
4257996
4257967
4257740
Good job falling for copypasta guys.
4257369
i.imgur.com/62nh3.gif
Maybe this is just me dredging up a surprisingly distant memory, but Spike's behavior here is perfectly consistent with adolescent angst, especially an adolescent whose biological parents, if not necessarily unknown, are certainly undisclosed.
Can such things trigger a growth spurt? I am persuaded that all kinds of physical manifestations can emerge from emotional stress.
Oh the teasing
! Please continue soon!
I hate having to delete someone's messages in my forums, but... that copypasta is older than my cat, and she's old.
Carry ON, my lovelies! Without the sniping and the Spike hate, ahem.
4257956
I'm tired of authors making Pinkie an asshole. Yes, she had the opportunity to be even more annoying, but I refused the temptation.
I REFUSED! DAMN IT ALL! PINKIE ISN'T ALWAYS A JOKE! DAMN YOU SEASON FOUR! DAMN YOU-OOO!
4258406 Well, you're not wrong about the correlation between Spike's attitude and that situation. Based on what's been shown so far I'd say what's affecting Spike is affecting Twilight as well and is magical in nature. Something only the two of them came into contact with
4258316
... I was talking about a special batch of cider. In my headcanon, I don't believe that ponies are raging alcoholics.
However, considering that booze can be made in the crudest of ways with minimal effort - heck, even elephants ferment fruit in their trunks to get wasted - it'd be ridiculous to think that ponies wouldn't have alcohol. Or moreso, that a cider-making farmer wouldn't have hard cider too.
I admire your passion on the subject, especially since I live on non-alcoholic cider, mmm. Lovely.
Drink responsibly, mah poonies.
4258249
4260060
derpicdn.net/img/2013/5/27/334348/medium.jpg
4260202
I admit stupidity.
Yes, I imagine I'd need copious amounts of alcohol and curse words too, if I had to deal with Pinkie all the time.
4257291 I like Spike...
I don't personally use him a whole lot as a character, but when I do, I try to make it good. I think the problem with Spike is similar to that of Applejack, and how she gets a lot of shit too. The trouble is that they don't have a good character flaw. Spike's usually the one saying 'Twilight, you're being dumb.' Sure he has flaws, but his are not as easily capitalized to create a plot. Shit, when the writers wrote a Spike episode for the show, they actually had to change his character to make a plot! (And sadly, the best thing they came up with was: 'let's make him a dumbass!') Anyway, this story is one of few that actually does take advantage of one of his flaws, self-doubt. Which I honestly don't see too much of. I mean, he's a sidekick, he's bound to feel that way. Hell, it's actually canon from that power ponies episode!
Anyway, good chapter! Wondering wtf is on Spike's face. And if despair for a dragon is akin to greed, where it has some outrageous physical symptom. idk.
4258853
I know that you know what's going on. You know? Yeah.
4258715
Between the comedic pony dialogue in many of your comments and possibly milesprower06's Letters from a Disgruntled Friendship Student, it seems to me that retribution among ponies often means getting baked.
4258249 I can't help it
I have a problem 
4258249 But wait, how did we fall for it when all of us knew it was faker than Spikes mustache?
4257647
It still is a slice-of-life story, just... well, good point. It has gotten a bit off the tracks. I'll tag it appropriately, now that the story has developed. Sorry!
4261347
You make a valid argument. I try at being funny in posts and blogs, and I... well, I won't say I've successfully written any actual comedy, but I tend towards it when I write stories. As far as this one goes, overlooking Applejack's uncommon petulance, I am trying to keep things as unfunny as possible. No, really! STOP SMIRKING!
4258406 & 4260505
Hello, my good friends! Ever the spoils, I
cry in the cornerappreciate any concerns and criticisms you offer me, as they're always in good faithand cause me no end of despair.Okay, so you raise some concerns regarding my handling of Spike and his "supposedly" uncommon attitude, so I'll attempt to explain myself. Hopefully it makes sense.
In the season two episode "Secret of my Excess", fans are presented a chilling account of the possible hazards dragons represent in a pony society. Although the rapid pace and spotty characterization left me confused, the message was clear - Spike isn't a silly foil. He's a character tempered by an imminent monster within him, and he must be careful to never tip the balances, lest he lose control and destroy everything that he loves. So he works hard, stays true to himself, and adheres to the pony life he was forced to accept for being a
dissected frog in Celestia's schooldedicated compatriot to Twilight. Ponies wish they could be so awesome."Dragon Quest" has Spike further exploring his standing in pony society for being a dragon, eventually seeking out what it means to be one by participating in the Great Dragon Migration: a very remote scaly frat party with no sex or drugs and a lot of fire. BOR-RING!
There remains the two important stories that define Spike outside of his unremarkable self, which resolved themselves enough that the forgetful pony populace paid them no mind ever again. It did change me though, and although I didn't consider the possible maturity angle that Dusty commented upon - mostly for Spike's adhering to his promises to never let greed change him again - it made me aware that despite his best efforts, Spike could be a lot of emotional things. He just chooses not to be, electing instead to be helpful, thoughtful, loyal and hard-working. He might not be terribly honest, but... well, that lends to the folly of youth. Maybe in some aspects he's still a baby.
When Season Three came about, leading off with "The Crystal Empire" episodes, I was struck with something that I didn't expect from Spike come the end of the second: his bravery. I really wanted him to be the hero! I was so glad he was! ... I wanted him to be the hero more often!
I also wanted to see what would happen if Twilight couldn't accept that she'd finally failed at something. She had no choice but to let Spike save the day, and that's cool, but... what if she couldn't accept it? What if it ate at her like every other obsession she has, empowered by the fear of disappointing her beloved mentor? What if... it drove her mad?
Well, we can all speculate, but in the end it comes down to basic acceptance - canon and popular headcanon alike, we're poisoned and imprisoned by our own beliefs.
I hope you like my interpretations enough to stay tuned. OF COURSE YOU DO!
4261343 Indeed
Still so good.
More! I needs more!
Keep up the excellent work!
4261914
And now this story's tagged Tragedy? Huh, that's unexpected and a bit unsettling. So what, the story's progressing differently from what you were planning a year ago?
Anyway, the humor definitely comes across in your posts, but I think your funniest story would have to be Once Upon A Best Pony even though I still contend that Applejack was never best pony. Though to season four's credit, I'd say that Applejack is at her best when she interacts with/plays off of other characters and especially when she's playing off of one of her friends like Rainbow, Rarity or Twilight. Also, she's at her best when she's not cast as one-dimensional farmer pony (in other words, fuck Bats!).
On a side note though, it was 4/20 in my time zone when I posted my earlier comment, so the pun in there, while irrelevant to this story and any discussion about it, was completely intentional. Then again, I've never heard of anyone trying to punish someone by getting them high (... I'm kind of an idiot, don't you see?).
4262764
Oh. Totally missed that. Very punny indeed.
Just rolled out of bed to a weed joke. Here in British Columbia, that's as common as breathing.
4261914 OF COURSE I DO!
lol, anyway, what I meant by Spike's uncommon attitude is merely that writers here don't capitalize on that as much as they should. It's a lesser-explored side to him, but it's most definitely there. I think you do it well
4262679
Hey. Thanks for sticking with me and this story, Raw19 - you've been here since day one, and I deeply appreciate it. I can't tell you how much it means to me.... although I sort of just did.
4262764
Admittedly, the story is teetering towards something tragic, although that only explains a part of the whole - would you recommend another tag? I have no idea how to tag properly.
4264687
Oh. Wow, totally called that wrong.
Need to sleep!
4266694
This should be tagged Romance. I can totally see a Spilight thing going on by the end of this. And then it becomes a crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles saving the day and anthros everywhere!
... Horrible, horrible, horrible joking aside, I don't think I could really recommend changes to the category tags, in part because I'm not the one who knows how this story will play out. Random and Slice of Life fit the story well, though I may have missed the part of this story that makes it irreconcilable from its previously established canon to the point where the Alternate Universe tag is needed. And as for Tragedy, I was just taken aback by the revelation that this story's events were now building up to something tragic, that's all.
Woooow , nice chapter
I thought Spike was going to explain that he didn't felt like he deserved the reward of Hero, because, he didn't really do that much (in saving the Crystal Empire) to Fluttershy and Zecora?
Great story
4285604 & 4416112:
Thank you very much.
I must admit, having read this story so many times and edited the CRAP out of it over months and months, I have to wonder if I shouldn't have stopped after the first chapter? I just had so many other ideas, but... I'm about as prolific as a dead squirrel. Thanks for sticking around, I really appreciate it.
4287655
That's still gonna be discussed. Spike has to now explain the origin of his... disfigurement. WOO.
Oh so Twilight and Spike have been infected with some sort of Sombra somber thing? That makes more sense. Though this is a little confusing and vague, I believe in future chapters it will be expanded apon.
6919153
Oh. Funny, when I first read this I thought it was about my pseudonym. I feel very foolish now. Especially since you're not wrong in the slightest. Let's carry on!
6919161
That is correct. The premise is wholly drawn from Fluttershy's anxious need to help, despite knowing what she's doing is inherently wrong. Creepy Fluttershy is best Fluttershy.
6919196
That is my intention. It is very vague, really. I designed it to be as such, and although I look at it now and question my feeble attempts at maintaining canon character reactions, it does become confusing. I hope that the mess of new chapters I'm still trying to restructure are a bit less painful to read.
Thank you for commenting, Darkoes1. I do appreciate it.
6921446 Oh. Ok cool. I almost had a heart attack when I read the email,
I actually really like yours though, it's cute
.
Yes, creepy Fluttershy is always a sure sign for an entertaining read.
No problem I'm really looking forward to any new chapters you release. You actually did pretty well keeping characters in character, I especially like how you did Dash
.
6922284
Is it? IS IT REALLY?? Aw. Thank you.
I was wondering if I'd actually been creepy enough in depicting Fluttershy, even if she and Zecora are almost antagonising poor Spike. I am happy that you noticed! Still, not entirely sure I'd done a very clear job of it. Hopefully I can make up for that in the following chapters. I mean, how old is the episode this story was based on? Good gravy. I'm the worst.
You are now officially in my good books. There's only five of you, so get along nicely. THANK YOU. Dash is hard to represent when you write in the staggered, needlessly complex way that I do. My brain is strange! Thank you, Darkoes1. You're awesome! YAY!
6924014 Yay. The palpitations can stop...
so no, you're still very much the best.
Yeah really. I keep imagining a filly Twilight mid-meal trying to say her name to someone with her mouth full hehe... I'm a weirdo
The episode is season one. And it's an episode I hadn't actually seen until like three weeks ago
Yeah Dash is usually made a little too far into one or the other extremes or stereotypes, when she's a side character, and it tends to draw away from the immersion. And with your representation I believe the complexity ends in a very good result. So your brain is fine, everybody's strange!
Good book? From like two comments? And a compliment? You make me blush, and I assure you, I'm nowhere near awesome
Ps. Ha my dumb phone made me post my comment half way through
Still not giving up on this one. I'm too curious what's going on Twilight's chaotic mind.
7056893
It's not over! I swear! NOTHING IS OVER!