The Forest Again
The Forest Again
____________________________________________________________________
It's dark in the forest. Nearly pitch black, in fact, thanks to the heavy canopy of branches above my head. The light that guides me along my path comes only from the stone in my hand, which feels like it weighs a ton. I reach the spot where the road splits, and I find that the trees have parted far enough apart to allow some moonlight to shine down on the sign that sits at the fork in the road. It's pointing in the direction from which I came, back towards Dragonsville. I ignore it and take a left, glancing up at the sky before it vanishes behind the canopy again. There's a full moon out tonight. It's very pretty.
I stop after another few minutes of trudging; I'm at the edge of the forest again. To my right is the fence behind which cows graze. It being nighttime, there aren't that many out there now, but I still see a few chewing grass near the far edge of the fence.
"Midnight snack, huh?" I yell to them, in a tone bitter like the taste in my mouth. The cows see who it is that's spoken, go into a frenzy, and stampede away, leaving me alone in the clearing. Just like before.
I look right. There's the area I woke up in. I can see the exact spot where I was; there's a little indentation where my body materialized, two weeks ago. The ground is black and dead around it, from some after-effect of the spell that I must not have noticed when I first got here. I trudge over to the spot, sit down in it, and wait for the Moonstone to glow.
Staring up at the moon, I try to think of something to cheer me up, but all that comes to mind at first is a bubbling brew of negative emotions. I guess that's better than nothing, though, so I take a closer look at them to pass the time. The first emotion to rear its ugly head at me is desire. Of course that's there. Why wouldn't I feel desire right now, when half a mile away there's a dragoness that loves me wishing that I would come running back into her arms? And I want to do that, too—I want her touch, her voice, her love. I want time, all the time in the world, to live happily with her and never be away from her. I desire all of this, and only from her.
The next feeling I get is self-hatred. I hurt her so much. I must have left too big of a scar on her. I hate to think of it this way, but I can't stop myself from considering that she might not want to trust anydragon ever again, thanks to me. Maybe I'm exaggerating, maybe I'm thinking too highly of myself, but I know there's no way she'll just forget about all of this. Especially not now, now that she knows who I am. If only I had chosen to go into the mountains, maybe I could have gotten lost, lived off the land for two weeks, and gone back to my world believing that I'd had a long, vivid dream about becoming a hermit! I wish I had done that, instead of finding Dragonsville, making friends with dragon-Twilight and dragon-Pinkie, meeting and falling in love with dragon-Rarity and tearing her heart to pieces. I wish I'd never met her.
...No. No, I don't wish that.
I think about the life I'm returning to, and anger swirls in my stomach, making it ache. I spent years and years trying to fit in with ponies, trying to act older than I really was, trying to go along with my sister and her friends on their adventures, only to be left alone in the library more times than I can remember. All those years I spent, trying to break down the wall that separated me from the ponies that were all around me, and when I finally manage to punch my fist through to the other side, it's forced away by the same ponies I'd broken through to get to. The breaking point was the fashion show, where Rarity had put my name on display and given me credit for my assistance, only for me to be passed off as her servant, her pet, even! How exotic, a dragon! Can it sew for you? Does it really accept food as payment? Is it housebroken? And I could have taken it all, grinned and bore it, if I'd been able to believe that she loved me back. But I wasn't; I let one small slip-up eat away at me, and because of it I ruined everything for her and myself.
And then comes sorrow. Of course there's sorrow. Sorrow for hurting, and sorrow for being hurt.
All of these feelings, all of my anger and sorrow and self-hatred and desire, are bring me back to her. I did not have her, so here is my desire and anger to mock me. I yelled at her and hurt her; here is self-hatred and sorrow, to always remind me of that moment. All for her.
Then, through this fog of negative energy, I feel something better, a surge of welcome feelings that have been long overdue since I came to this other world. The first of them is reassurance. Through all of the difficulties in life I've had to deal with, I've always had my friends standing behind me; I think I always will, even if I don't always believe it. They accept me for me, and that's enough. It's more than enough, in fact. I couldn't ask for a better family.
Then there is acceptance. There are five words that I've been dodging and hiding from for a long time, and now I think I can say them without regret: I am not a pony. Since I was sentient enough to notice that I had scales instead of fur and claws instead of hooves, I've been trying to convince myself that I was just like everypony else. When I came to Ponyville with Twilight and met the others, I tried twice as hard, and when everypony in town had stopped giving me those odd little glances I associated with judgment I convinced myself I'd finally done it. After the Fire Ruby happened, I wanted to be a pony more than anything in the world, and I believed, for longer than I want to admit, that I could find some spell or potion that would do it for me. Not anymore. I am a dragon, and I will never be a pony. I will never enjoy the taste of flowers. I will never know the joy of having a cute-ceañera. And I don't care. I am what I am, and I'm certain that I wouldn't have had the life I've had if I wasn't. I love my life in Ponyville, and I know that I'm loved regardless of what species I am, by Twilight and Pinkie and Applejack and everypony else, so forget making myself a pony. I'm a dragon, and a Celestia-damned handsome one, at that. No more looking for spells. No more forcing down daisy quesadillas. No more.
And with that, I come to hope. Yes, really, hope, and for a number of things. Mostly for the future, my future especially. I hope to make amends somehow for the things I've done, for the pain I've caused, for the damage I've brought upon the castle that's probably going to take a nice bite out of the royal treasury to repair. I hope that I never lose control again, especially not for a reason as silly as some rude party guests. I hope that Rarity can forgive me for what I did to her that evening, and that there's still a chance, just a shred of a chance left that I can be with her. I hope that she really does loves me, still loves me even after all that I've done, and that I can hold her in my arms someday the way I held the Rarity in Dragonsville. I hope that that Rarity moves on and lives a long and happy life. I hope that Spike comes to comfort her, and that he sweeps her off her feet just as well as I did—and let's not forget that I am him, and they both know it, so may or may not help things along. I also hope that it doesn't hurt to have your soul transported out of one body and into another one. That would probably make me a lot more hesitant to go through with this.
The Moonstone starts blinking, snapping me back to reality. Time is moving again in Equestria, and it's ready for me to come back. I can already picture aftermath of the disastrous fashion show in my head: there's Applejack, kicking at pieces of the castle I tore up; there's Pinkie Pie, staring into the ground and worrying about Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy; there's Twilight, frantically trying to get to me. I hope it'll be easier for her to do that, now that my fires have all gone out. But this is all just my imagination; the speculations of a hopeless romantic. I stare down at the Moonstone in my hand, and again the idea of throwing it into the woods and running back to Dragonsville itches in the back of my head. Then I imagine Twilight's face when she sees the little body curled up just outside the main banquet room. And Pinkie Pie's. And Applejack's.
And Rarity's.
I take a minute to dream all of these sad, little dreams. Then I look down at the Moonstone glowing in my hand. My choice is made: I can't leave them to suffer, just because of one dragoness. Or maybe I could, but won't. I don't know; I'm young and reckless. But I do know that I have a sister and friends waiting for me, and probably a lot more besides. So I sit up on my knees, dig a small hole like Luna instructed, and bury the Moonstone in the ground. Then I wait.
A silent moment passes, then two, then three. Then the pile where I buried the stone shakes, as does the earth around it and me. I wonder if this is all in my head or if they're feeling it in Dragonsville. I wonder if Rarity can feel it and knows what it means.
From under the earth comes a silvery fluid like liquid mirror. It fills the indent in the ground until it creates a pool wide and deep, in the shape of a curled-up dragon. The liquid lies still, waiting for something to tell it where to go. So I give it just that.
The paper with the warning that I ignored so stupidly a fortnight ago appears in a swirl of green fire. Rolling it into a miniature scroll, I toss it into the pool. It begins to sizzle the moment it touches the liquid. I give the words "Two Weeks" a farewell glance, and then the mirror liquid consumes them forever. Through the ripples that spread across the puddle's surface, I see images form. They make me smile, even though they're terribly sad.
It's the girls. All six of them. Judging from how the image is angled, I'm looking through the eyes of the me that was left in that world two weeks ago. For them, it's only been a few minutes, and quite an eventful few minutes, too. They've found me (so I did take too long reminiscing) and are standing over me, trying to wake me up. Applejack and Rainbow Dash are looking in every direction except mine. Pinkie Pie is comforting Fluttershy, who is bawling into her pink friend's shoulder and hugging her tightly. Twilight looks as though she's been slapped in the face, staring down at me with misty, panicked eyes. She starts shaking me, mouthing words I can't hear (sound, it seems, does not carry across universes as easily), but her efforts are thwarted by Rarity, who shoves her out of the way and starts beating my chest with her hoof.
She's in a panic, much like Twilight is, but unlike Twilight, Rarity looks far less capable of keeping it together. Tears and sweat have matted her fur and ruined her makeup. Ash, bits of debris, and what looks to be some kind of wine decorate her dress, which is torn in several spots. Her mane is a mess of chaotic knots, and is even singed in some parts (no doubt thanks to me). She looks me dead in the eye, searching for a sign of life. When she finds none, she yells at me and starts beating my chest harder. Each strike makes a ripple in the pool. I watch her for a minute, and I can't help but smile because... because she still cares that much. After the mess I put her through, after the shouts and the accusations and the insults, she still cares that much.
A lavender hoof draws her away from me, and Twilight appears in the image, saying something to Rarity that she doesn't seem to like hearing. She looks down at me and leans in, so close that her mane fills the pool, turning it vibrant purple. The puddle swishes from side-to-side, and I swear for a second that I hear her voice, a whisper in a wind that isn't really there. She draws her head back, sets her forehead against mine, and I can see she's saying something again. And as I watch her murmur silently to me, with her singed mane and makeup-stained face, I can't help but speak to her, even though I know she can't hear me:
"Don't you worry, Rarity. I'm on my way."
Something shimmers in my eyes and drips into the silver liquid, disrupting the pool's surface with the ripples in creates. From the world on the other side, Rarity is suddenly yanked away, replaced by the awestruck face of my sister. She's speaking, very rapidly, and after a few rushed sentences Rarity shoves her out of the way and holds what I guess is my head in her hooves. She sees whatever it is that got Twilight so riled up, and hope flashes in her eyes. She mouths my name, and suddenly five more faces are crowded around her, each of them with a questioning look in their eyes that I hope to answer in a moment.
I take one last look at the forest around me. Then I focus once more on the spot right in front of me, scooting closer to get a better look. Back in the silver pool, Rarity is shaking my head again. Her mascara has started running again, too, and she repeats my name before Twilight shoves her out of the way. Actually, all five of the others shove her out of the way to get a look at me, all of them wearing the same look of hopeful anticipation. I imagine what could happen in the next few seconds: there's cheers of joy, tears of joy, hugs and nervous, relieved laughter. That's all in my head, though—in reality, anything could happen. I can only hope things will go my way. Looking up at the moon one last time, I bid farewell to Dragonsville and the land of Serpentia, take a deep breath, and hold it, not knowing if it'll take a while to cross universes or not. I dig my claws into the earth around the puddle and lean forward. Shutting my eyes and giving a silent prayer that I'll be okay, I dunk my head into the silver liquid.
And then I wake up.
____________________________________________________________________
THANK YOU, AND GOOD NIGHT
January 2, 2013–July 2, 2014
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NIcely done. I really enjoyed this story.
But you do now, that you are owing your readers a sequel, or two...
) for Spike.
At least one, where you grab all the strings of the real dimension. And maybe a sequel-sequel, a few hundred years in the future, with Princess Luna. But most of all, the one with Rarity, Celestia, Twilight and the happy ending (nothing else will be statisfactory
So you've completed it, well done.
One thing though, will you have an epilogue, one-shot or something for the aftermath of this whole experience? How Spike has changed on his views of others or how he will interact with the rest of ponykind? I do want him to meet up with that one pony who spat in his face and have a little 'talk' with him.
Sooo...Should we be expecting an epilogue?
It's over... So hard to believe. It's an open ending, but a good one. Admittedly I had hoped for something more concrete and quite a bit longer, but still I can't complain.
I will however borrow a page from Spike's book and hope for a epilogue some day.
A lot of people say they wish they could thumbs up a chapter or story more then once, but after finishing this chapter and story I wish I could too.
Did you plan this? What an eerie coincidence, or perhaps it is a sign for a second part from the cosmos.
Can't wait for whatever work you put out next.
So we don't get to see what happens to Spike after he destroyed a lot of stuff?
Okay.
... Yes... this really does call for an epilogue, or a sequel, following Spike after the events of what happened;... if he tells the others off what occurred... but as good an ending as this is... I do feel like we need a bit more of a resolution.
I would like an epilogue
but the spike the pony
and its relation to rarity
and how will react Twilight
(dragon) will prevent love spike and rarity
there are so many possibilities
I love this story but that ending was a bit... anticlimactic. It was just finished. No explanation of what happens after Spike wakes up or what happens between him, and eventually, Luna. It was just a bit of a downer after the extremely long 23rd Chapter with all of it's excitement and narrative.
I do hope you make an epilogue and I'm sure many others do as well. But keep up the great storytelling regardless, you're pretty good at it.
Dear Author,
Sequel.
You dear sir are a literary genius! This was an amazing read.
I felt the distinct need to listen to this bit of music here whilst reading. I have to say it did not make me cry. I have to say that, because I was shedding liquid hope.
4633611 what he said. Please.
Eh....I was disappointed in the ending somewhat. I understand the idea of an open ending, but after all of this, I expected some closure between what Spike went through and how it's changed his life as well as what happens between him and Rarity. This either needs a sequel, or an epilogue.
Wow. That was an intense story. I would rate it 10 out of 10. I would suggest an epilogue from both's Spike's perspective so we can know how everything gets resolved in there own worlds. Great story. I am glad that I read it. Sad that it had to end.
Well done.
This story brought a tear to my eye, and deserves one of the best ratings of all time.
"Ten outta ten." Game Grumps 2012.
ENJOYED!
This is a great story, but I have only one small problem with the ending. It's the world biggest cliff hanger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You must make a sequel or epilouge. If you don't you'll make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
4634248 I completely agree with that bring on a sequel
I want to know what happens next! I wish for a sequel, or at least an epilogue. Does it help that my birthday is in twelve days? Pleeeease?
It feels like a MASSIVE cliff hanger like that..... But what better way to end a great story than that?
*slow clap* Good work!
Also, unlike everyone else on this thread: I like open endings. We don't have to know everything to appreciate it. Closure is heavily overrated.
Reminds me of the end of the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. Such a good ending, but so open that I can only pray for a sequel.
I liked the ending.
First, I'd like to say that your story has been amazing. You wrote a beautiful narrative that made me care about the characters. Also, I have been thoroughly impressed with the way you managed to write it in present tense without me catching it mostly, reading present tense stories usually gives me a headache.
I can't say I agree with everyone else about the need for an epilogue. It'd be nice to know what happens, but I think an epilogue itself would detract from the story more than add to it. This story feels more complete as is than I think it would with one. Plus I believe that you've given enough to the readers for them to use their own imaginations to continue it in their heads the way they see fit. Mostly though it's because that last line is so simple and so powerful an end to story like this that I feel adding something after would rob it of that strength.
I could go on more about what I like about your writing beyond what I've said already, but I think I'll just leave it with the above and one last statement: Thank you
Epilogue? Please?
Must have sequel. Or at least a long epilogue.
...preferably both.
As Spike looks over the ashes and destruction he caused, he simply says:
as much as I would love an epilogue, I feel like that would dampen the feeling of this ending... but I would LOVE to see more from this: perhaps a sequel that talks about his life after Rarity passes (at a good, old age) and mentioning, in passing, all the events that happened between those two times... mostly because I want to know your stance on Twi's life-span and if he'll get together with Luna
4640390 I also hope there will be an sequel. I loved this story from chapter one. It was amazing!
Well you're awesome and I rly loved this story. I'm still amazed you someway managed to do a happy ending here.
Now, about an epiloge, I'd like it to be sure he ended up being together with Rarity, although you somehow suggested it with that dream he had about him, Rarity and their future daughter, so in that sense, is not completelly needed although it is for the present events's resolve maybe. I really liked how you depicted their love story as pony/dragon in this story, as I still can remember the first kiss they shared, and how that poor cup had to fall to the floor and get shattered into many pieces after Rarity got lost in the momment with him.
Thanks for writing this wonderful story, and I'm happy I had the chance to make a cover for it, thanks for all that, really.
I had to log in just for this comment
Amazing story loved it bravo
But the ending once i hit that last sentence then I realized it was completed I yelled what and startled by whole family at the dinner table
This last chapter deserves a good song... I KNOW!
Good. He's waking up, not for the part I've been waiting forever for-
Wat.
Pardon me, something seems to be missing from this story...
4624790
Well...not exactly like the sea ponies. First of all, they live ( mostly) in fresh water. Second, they have legs and hooves (or flippers) like regular equinids.
Great history!
But, hum..., end-cliffhanger?
This is bad, writter.
You is a bad-guy, you know?
The cliffhanger ending. It hurts. It truly, legitimately hurts me. Physically. Why, why have you done this? Because you are a cruel, heartless bastard of a man? Because you are a twisted psychopath that enjoys watching us squirm? Or perhaps you are a genius, biding his time as he builds to some form of epic resolution. Either way, it matters not. Failure to produce more of this story, be it with a sequel, epilouge, or other, will result in your imediate deletion from the Matrix. You will never have existed, and everything you have worked so hard to achieve will be wiped out in one swift strroke of the keyboard. Do not tempt your moderators' patience boy. You have one week to respond your compliance. We will be waiting.
Fie on all those crying for a sequel or an epilogue or what have you.
FIE, I SAY!
Not because this was a bad story. Far from it. I loved this exploration of Spike's character and seeing what happens when he can finally have everything he wants. You handled him very well, keeping him the same sort of loveable kid he is in the show and combining him with the sort of maturity we've seen him growing into.
And that ending.
THAT. ENDING.
It's just perfect. For a second, yeah, I was a little surprised that it just stops so suddenly. But you know what? A lot of great stories do that. Because sometimes the best endings aren't what's given to us by the author.
Sometimes the best endings are the ones the author lets the fans fill in for themselves. Sure you could have tried to wrap up everything, but you've already done so much. We've seen Spike come to his own conclusions and grow through his eyes. Going over what happens when he gets home, sorting all that out now, that'd just be...
It'd just be beating around the bush. The message and the growth stick harder just with the way you summed it up at the end than with walking us through every last step, and I applaud you not just for having the courage to try this ending but for showing the skill to pull it off.
Dear writer
thanks for such nice story. Is the first spike's romantic fic I have read and i loved it. I have enjoyed your writing style, is quite nice to read. A no native reader can understand it easily.
I see that most of the comments ask for more, even though it would be great, i think this ending is also good and consistent :)
I ll keep an eye on your future work :)
Just read 'Bliss and Ignorance.'
Watching this fic progress and complete has been one of my favorite experiences on the site. Your writing got steadily better all the way through, with expressive, relatable characters. Bravo! You deserve accolades for seeing this through so triumphantly.
First story I've read with Spike as a main character... AMAZING!!!!
I WILL BUY TEN COPIES OF THIS BOOK IF YOU PUBLISH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT DESERVES TO BE CALLED A BOOK BECAUSE IT WAS BETTER THAN MOST ALTOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE PUBLISH IT!!!!!!
You know... you really should write a one-shot sequel about that conversation with Celestia...
Also, this story may have had the unintended consequence of making me a Spike/Luna shipper. And I'm not sure that's actually a thing.
That ending... I can't tell if it was a masterful stroke of genius, or if I want to hunt you down and staple you to a desk until I get either a sequel or a more fleshed out ending. Either way, well done.
Very nice. Just the sort of semi sweet ambiguous ending i expected,very well done
I really enjoyed the ride you took us on in the Two Weeks verse.
Enjoyed your take on a dragon based Equestria where Twilight and Spike's races are inverted. It was fun seeing the Spikes fighting and eventually cooperating. I really liked that our Spike (dragon) in the end helped the local Spike (unicorn) by opening dragon Rarity's eyes to actually be with Spike (unicorn).
The bombshell that Luna dropped regarding her son and the dragoness was pretty huge and really explains all of her efforts and giving Spike the Moon Stone. As much as the story of the stallion and the dragoness.
All in all, great fic.
I hope you invite us for another ride in this verse to witness the after math and to see Spike pursue Rarity the unicorn a bit smarter with a sequel. Though I'll understand if you want to leave it be and leave us with the chapter explaining how Spike wound up in Serpentia to explain the aftermath.
Your going to carry that weight.
5180224
(Addition to my own comment but editing on the mobile site causes it to freak out)
In a way, I'm kind of surprised with how attached I still am with the story after having to set it down for a few months. I picked up where I left off with basically the lingering knowledge of: dragon summer sun celebration just happened, dragon Celestia is fucking MASSIVE, and Spike just banged Rarity (incidentally, I loved the scene between the Spikes when unicorn Spike approved of dragon Spike banging Rarity).
My lingering knowledge was probably helped since I added that LightsXPayphone song to my playlist (which thanks for introducing me to it by the way) it reminded me of the summer sun chapter when I heard it.