“You know, Twilight, there's a quicker way to start a fire,” Spike grumbled.
A few feet away from him stood Twilight Sparkle, still working to try and tie the rope around the bowed branch. And beneath her was the still-unburning pile of wood and kindling she had tossed together, none of which Spike was certain would burn anywhere near as long as the ones Z used to set up. So far this day, she had not only managed to prove herself totally incapable of starting a simple wood fire, but also demonstrated her clear lack of survival skills in any capacity. It was frankly a miracle to the little dragon that she hadn't been stoned by a cockatrice by this point.
“Like I told you, Spike, this is going to work!” the mare grunted as the rope once again refused to cooperate. “Milestone's Guide to Outdoor Survival clearly states that you can start a fire by using a bow to twist a stick. It creates kinetic energy and ignites the burnable material, thus slowly starting the fire and giving us the warmth and heat we need to not freeze our flanks off you stupid stupid piece of manure I will damn you to the foulest bowels of Tartarus if you don't cooperate!”
The universe's ultimate response, however, was to mock her once again. Just as she was about to tie the other end of the rope to the bow, the branch bent itself rigid once again. The sudden motion sent the rope hurtling out of her hooves and slamming its end straight into her left eye. The resulting scream rustled the very heavens, nearly dislodging even the phoenix that was spying overhead.
Spike groaned and shook his head, totally ignoring Twilight sending the offending chord and sticks into sub-orbit with a massive bolt of telekinesis. “Well, wonderful! Looks like we'll be freezing tonight! Forget a hot meal and...and...GAH! Why can't anything...?”
She was about to scream some more when she heard something like a loud belch, followed the roaring and crackling of flame on good kindling. The mare slowly turned about to find herself staring at a roaring fire, the source of which became apparent as she noticed the wisps of smoke emitting from Spike's nostrils. In an instant, Twilight's anger lessened to simply mild embarrassment. “Heh...sorry. Forgot dragons could do that.”
The dragon rolled his eyes and walked back to the log. “Seriously, if you don't know any of this stuff, then why are you even out here?”
“Like I told you, I can't go home,” Twilight muttered. “Not until I've proven that I'm right, anyway.” A stick levitated next to the fire pit, poking the burning wood and pinecones to ensure the fire's sustainability. “Once I show you to Luna, she'll have no choice but to drop the charges! I'll be able to go home to my brother and parents as a real hero! And that'll show Trixie who's the real Element of Magic!”
Spike rolled his eyes and let out a small groan. Trixie was another name he wasn't quite looking forward to hearing, right up there with Corona. But at least she wasn't a total psychopath like the deranged pony sitting on the other side of the campfire. “So...what's this about Trixie?”
Twilight's horn lit up for a few seconds, followed by a bright flash of purple light emerging from thin air just to her right. A small burlap sack floated down, and from Spike's vantage point, the opening was lifted just enough to make out some crackers and part of an apple. If anything, the crazy pony was loaded with grub.
“You must have some idea who she is. You are one of Corona's minions, after all.” The mare levitated out one of the crackers and started biting into it, the bread letting out a loud crunch as her teeth made contact. Spike shuddered just for a moment, in case any predators happened to be wandering about, but fortunately none of them seemed to hear the incredibly loud chewing of this hopeless pony. “She was trying to fool a bunch of ponies with fake magic. You know, light shows, sawing ponies in half, that kind of thing.”
Spike nodded, a small smile on his lips. He hadn't actually been to one of those shows officially, but he had spied on them from a distance whenever he and Z happened to be near one. He couldn't say he was a fan of the ones who shot their mouths off like Trixie tended to do, but there were still plenty who were amazing to watch.
“Anyway, I try to tell everypony that it isn't real magic, and what does she do? She makes them think I'm a tribalist and humiliates me in front of the whole town! But then I figured that she was just testing me, so I bring an Ursa Minor into town and...”
“AN URSA MINOR?!” Spike's voice rattled the very trees, while his eyes bulged so wide that they almost knocked lose the scales that surrounded them. Twilight herself almost fell back from the sheer volume. “B-But those things are a billion feet tall and made of stars! Why would you do that?!”
“B-Becuase I thought Trixie was just being humble,” Twilight muttered as she picked herself back up. “That had to be why she was wasting her time being a stage magician when she could be an archmage or a court magician. But then...things went south, I had to banish the Ursa away, a-and then she made me admit the whole thing in front of everypony! I was lucky to get out of there without tar and feathers!”
There was a small moment in the narrative where Spike had felt a slight twinge of sympathy for the mare before him, but it had died the minute the Ursa was mentioned. All he could think of was that feeling he got whenever Corona zapped him and turned him into a rampaging adult dragon. The feeling of having any control stripped away, forced to fight and kill when all you want is to enjoy a nice gem cake and a lazy life with your best friend, and then getting kicked into the lava for your troubles was something he was intimately familiar with.
This mare was just as bad as she was.
“But then Trixie did something unforgivable,” Twilight said in a whispered growl, completely oblivious to Spike's rising frustration with her very existence. “She not only admitted that she isn't the most powerful magic user in Equestria, but said that the Element of Magic was about friendship, not a pony's magical ability!” She paused to spit into the fire. “Friendship...Who needs anything like that? Especially with the ponies she hangs out with.”
Spike's body slacked over just a little bit, his eyes scanning for some way out of this nightmare. Unfortunately, his captor could just teleport him back into that force field prison if he stepped a claw out of line, so for the time being, he had to humor her. “So you got a problem with her friends now, too?”
“Of course I do,” Twilight said. “Just think about it. The Element of Honesty went to a mare who's willing to beat you down if you just look at her the wrong way. That isn't honesty, that's barbarism. Somepony who was really honest wouldn't feel the need to beat others into the ground to make their point.
“The Element of Kindness went to a single mother post office worker. Nothing wrong with that, but think about that foal she has. Where's the father? I even managed to find her hometown, and guess what? Turns out she ruined some stallion's marriage and destroyed his entire family. Real kindness should be about making everypony feel nice and wonderful, not ruining their lives with your own stupid mistakes.
“And Generosity goes to a farmer? She's a businesspony and nothing else. My father had to deal with the Apple Trust all the time, and they're not exactly a generous bunch of ponies. And I saw her during the Eventime, and how she used her fame to sell her product. How can you expect a carrot farmer to be any better? No, it should have gone to a charity worker or somepony who truly gives from the heart.
“And Loyalty...ugh! It goes to a musician? That's the Element that should go to a gallant knight or a determined friend, not a lazy musician who spends more time playing in the park than actually trying to practice loyalty towards her friends and Equestria. No, real loyalty is sticking to your principles, regardless of how much trouble it might make for you.
“And the Element of Laughter is a teacher? Teachers are supposed to teach you history, science, math, languages, magic, all those things! If a pony wanted to laugh, they'd turn to a comedian, not an elementary school teacher from a small town nopony would even care about if the six most powerful ponies in Equestria weren't all living there!”
Twilight let out a deep breath, seemingly calming her nerves back down to “slightly on edge.” Spike, meanwhile, just folded his knees to his arms and bundled himself into a purple bump on the log. He had met those six ponies, and while he didn't know a whole lot about them outside of when Z had tricked them, as well as when that crazy goddess pony kept raging about them being imposters and thieves, there was no way they could have been as bad as Twilight's ramblings made them out to be. After all, they were just trying to save other ponies, not themselves.
“Ever since I've been on the run, I've been trying to find some way to expose them.” Twilight's frown intensified into a scowl of defeat. “I thought I had figured out how to replicate the Elements by using a magical amplifier and five other ponies who matched the same virtues, but I...” She closed her eyes and gave her head a small shake. “Something went wrong. One of them had lied to me, and...they ruined the ritual. We were going to do what Trixie and her little gang of thugs couldn't, but it failed so badly and...”
The mare let out a few dry sobs before becoming utterly motionless, and for just a moment, Spike could feel that twinge of sympathy returning. He didn't know quite why, but there was something about this pony. When she wasn't trying to capture him in force fields or haul him off to be executed by another crazy alicorn, he could feel...something pulling him towards her.
But then the moment passed, he remembered all the awful things she had said and done just this day, and knew that whatever she had in store for him, it wouldn't be very preferable to returning as Corona's stress ball.
Twilight's silence finally ended as she opened her eyes and looked at Spike. “Once I deliver you to the proper authorities, I can make Princess Luna really listen. My dad's actually a very important pony, you know. Not everypony gets to be a Viceroy with the Night Court. And my brother's got some real responsibilities, too. They don't just make anypony the Captain of the Royal Guard.”
Spike's eyes almost exploded twice. He may not have known much about ponies and their military, but he knew of one Captain of the Royal Guard in particular. “I-Is his name...oh, what was it...Shining Armor?”
Twilight's eyes lit up like a firecracker at the name, her legs poised like she was just barely fighting the urge to glomp Spike in response. “Yes, that's him! The pony who valiantly defended Canterlot from Corona! The greatest guardpony of the last thousand years! My BBBFF!” She paused as Spike shrugged in confusion, then sighed “Big Brother, Best Friend Forever.”
Spike sighed. “That's the one. It took me a while to remember his name, though. Corona just called him 'That imbecilic, arrogant fool!' There's a few things after that, but Z always covered my ears. Something about it not being for baby dragons.” He shook his head. “But if you're such a big shot, then why were you in Ponyville to begin with? What's so important about learning from some other pony?”
Twilight smiled and leaned back on her haunches. Whatever kind of pony she was, she certainly wasn't humble. “I've always loved studying. Ever since I was a little filly in Canterlot and saw Princess Luna raise the moon, I was fascinated with magic itself. I have spent my entire life studying and learning about magic. Why, I even graduated a year early, something not even Trixie can say she's done. And she's Luna's personal student!” She sighed, a smile still on her lips. “But I've gotten to learn so much out here. I've seen so many flora and fauna that I've only been able to read about. I've never even been this close to a dragon before. And I am looking forward to finding out more about your species once this is all over.”
So that's what she thinks I am. Spike sighed and rolled about on his hind quarters. This had been a nice reprieve, but he had to escape now. Twilight's lack of survival skills would make it much harder for her to track him in the oncoming darkness, but he needed some way to hold her off until then.
That was when the idea struck.
“So... you want to know all about the forest out here?” Spike said.
Twilight tapped a hoof to her chin. “Well...I suppose. But I have to get you to Princess Luna first. There'll be time to go back to studying once Corona's been defeated.”
“But we're right next to the Green Grillneck's nesting grounds!” Spike said. “They're one of the rarest creatures in the world! Surely you want to take a look at them before we leave.”
Twilight cocked an eyebrow. “Uh huh. I've read a lot of zoology books, and I've never heard anything about a Green Grillneck.”
“That's because they only live in the Griffin Kingdoms!” Spike said as he hopped off the log. “They're so hard to find that nopony would find them unless they already knew where they looked. But Z showed me where they fly and hunt. In fact...” He pointed a claw to the horizon. “There's one now!”
Twilight's eyes never once left the dragon, nor did she bother looking towards the claw. She did, however, close her peepers as a smug grin crossed her face. “Oh, please. What do you think I am, a yearling? I'm years too old to fall for such a simple, stupid trick. Maybe that would have worked on Trixie, but...”
That was when she noticed she wasn't hearing Spike's breathing. She opened her eyes...and the dragon was gone, his footsteps leading off into the underbrush. She let out a frustrated groan before galloping off after him.
And above them, the phoenix let out a caw before departing...
----------
Deep within the heart of the volcano laid the lair of Corona, the fallen Princess of Equestria and the Tyrant Sun. To look upon her burning visage was to gaze upon the face of death itself, which was usually what followed if she considered you a threat to her power or her toast wasn't served with just the right spread of butter. And while her minions were still few in number, her funds were high from her numerous pillages of dragon hoards and the occasional bit shipments in favor of her traitorous sister.
Still, there were days when she was fairly calm and collected, where one could almost see the wonderful pony she once was.
This was not one of those days.
The very lava seemed to splash and wane at the sound of her voice, even as she sat upon her golden throne. “WHERE IS HE?! WHERE HAS THAT WHELP DARED TO RUN OFF TO THIS TIME?!”
The only living thing to hear her screams was her most trusted and valued ally, the zebra Zecora. It was because of her that she escaped returning to her solar prison, and for that the zebra and her pet had been given a great deal of leniency. But today, the princess' blank, soulless eyes expressed only utter contempt and hatred for the striped equine standing before her. “TWAS YOUR FAULT THAT THE FOOL CREATURE ESCAPED! WHAT SAY YOU?!”
“This tale of woe upsets me so,” Zecora muttered, her voice remaining as calm as it possibly could at the moment. “Spike's listening has failed him so, and his emotions may have made him go.”
Corona cocked her head just slightly to the side. “...What, by the graciousness of the sun, does that even mean?”
“It means that Spike does not understand the amazing glory of your plan,” Zecora continued, her eyes half-shut. “When we catch him, we must make clear that his future shall be with us here.”
“...Perhaps he deserves a few more kicks into the lava,” Corona muttered. “That shall serve as proper instruction of the fallacy of failing to obey my law. And to think I wanted to make him the royal co-pet alongside Philomena...”
As if on cue, a great caw was heard throughout the lair's hallowed halls. Both Corona and Zecora looked up as a flaming phoenix, one of many that had come flocking back to Corona upon witnessing what that monster Luna had done to Philomena, flew through the doors like it was guided by a rail, finally coming to a stop only when it perched itself upon the top of Corona's throne. The Tyrant Sun let out an evil smile as the bird leaned over and began to caw something into her ears.
“Most interesting,” Corona said, her voice vaguely seductive. “It seems that the whelp may have done us some good after all.”
Zecora, having failed to procure a rhyme for this occasion, stepped forward three times to signal her interest in her master's words. Corona chuckled for a moment, and then continued. “Spike has been captured by a young mare named Twilight Sparkle. The fool's survival instincts are so barren that she failed to do so much as start a fire without his assistance. And yet...” She leaned her horn in closer with the phoenix, stopping only when its tip touched its head. There was a brief flash, and Corona's triumphant smirk grew. “Even better.”
“Zecora does not understand,” said...Zecora. “What is our master plan?”
“The mare...she hates those usurpers more than you or I. Despite her poor common sense, her powers are truly considerable. And best of all...she is the younger sister of that insubordinate excuse for a Captain of the Guard!” The lava suddenly erupted once again, sending Zecora crouching to the floor in primal terror. Just as the fear began to pass, however, Corona returned her attention to her. “We shall bring the dragon back, and he shall suffer the penalty for betrayal. But this mare...imagine what her death shall do to her poor brother.”
Zecora's eyes widened in response, albeit still not enough to attract the full brunt of Corona's attention. One of the Diamond Dogs had opened them a bit too much, and was subsequently tossed off the mountaintop as a warning to the others. “B-But surely there is another way to make sure this mare will stay. Supposed Zecora approaches this little flower, and promises her a position of power. She shall help us overthrow your sister. And then you will be a servant richer.”
Corona leaned onto the arm of her throne, scratching her cheek as deep thought attempted valiantly to pierce through the triple-layered cake of crazy that was her brain. “Interesting. We make the Captain's sister our pawn. His reputation is destroyed, we have a pony who can match the power of the false Element of Magic, and we shall still have our little dragon toy to play with.” She pounded her hoof against the ground, alerting Zecora back into a rigid stance. “Zecora, follow Hyperion to their campsite. The dragon will return no matter what, but what I truly want is Twilight Sparkle. Bring her here, whether by her own volition or by force. And do not fail me! My patience wears thin today.”
Zecora gulped as the phoenix, Hyperion, landed on her back. “O-Of course, my queen! My work shall be most keen!”
----------
“Oh, where did that little dragon get to?” Twilight moaned as she pushed her way through the brush. “Just how can something that small run so fast? Dragon instinct, perhaps? Maybe they have bursts of speed whenever they want to escape.” She rolled her eyes as she telekinetically pushed away a low-hanging branch. “But I'm not a predator. He'll be happier with Princess Luna! And I'm only doing this because...”
That was when she saw him.
Spike was sitting on a log, about fifty steps away from the mare. Between the two were several vines, draped over a large overturned log like a natural curtain, no doubt feeding off the muddy pool of water below. The dragon was panting slightly, but made no obvious indication that he knew Twilight was even there. That suited the mare's needs quite nicely.
“Running away again?” she shouted. Spike's head popped up in horror at her voice, followed by a moan of defeat as the force field went up once again. Her victory now final, Twilight slowly walked towards him, heading directly for the vines. “Now you know just how outclassed you are. Nopony is going to get the drop on Twili-”
It was right then that her right foreleg touched one of the vines. A small hissing noise seemed to emit from above, but it was far too late for Twilight to react. The floral appendage suddenly twisted about and wrapped itself around her leg, startling the mare enough for her magic to fail and the force field around Spike to collapse. In her confusion, however, the mare's body collided with even more vines, which followed the same pattern as the first. One wrapped around her left foreleg, another her midsection, a third her hind legs, and so forth. Before long, Twilight was helplessly entwined in an ever-tightening net of vines, floating in the air like a trapped fish in a griffon's net.
She grunted and tried to force out any spell, but the tension and agony running through her body kept chipping away at her concentration, until finally she could do no more than muster up a cheap shot of sparkles. Twilight tried to scream, but all that emerged was a small whine. She could just barely make out Spike's voice, now from the same side she had entered this scene from. “What's the matter? Can't somepony as smart as you get out of this one?”
“C-Come on!” the mare gasped. She couldn't see the dragon from her present vantage point, but she knew he was still there. “Get me down!”
“And what, let you drag me off to that crazy pony you love so much?” Spike chuckled.
“Th-This isn't funny!” The vines suddenly tightened. “What are these things? I've never even seen them in my books!”
“Creeper Vines, one of the nastiest things out in these woods,” said Spike. “They protect themselves by strangling and grabbing anything that gets too close. Z taught me how to avoid them; you should have done the same.”
Twilight groaned and twisted, but it only seemed to make the vines tighter. Her bonds were seemingly unbreakable and very, very painful. “P-Please! I-I-I don't want to die here! I still haven't proven that Trixie's a fraud!”
Even though she couldn't see it, she could still hear Spike groan and stamp his foot. “Would you please get off it! I was there. I saw it happen. Trixie and her friends zapped that crazy sun-pony and saved Equestria. She is the real deal!”
“B-But I...I...she...she made me a...”
“No, she didn't! All she did was expose you for the little psychopath that you are! I've only known you for a day, and already you're as nutty as the pony I'm running away from! You did all this! You were the one who sent a bear into a village! You were the one who let a monster have some super-powerful artifact and nearly destroy Equestria! Everything that has ever gone wrong in your life is your fault! All you ever do is hurt other ponies and then act like it's their fault in the first place! And you think you're actually better than Trixie? If you ask me, the world will be a lot better off without you!”
Twilight tried to muster up some kind of defense, but she could find nothing. It wasn't just the pain from the vines this time; her very head seemed to be quaking in white-hot agony. Spike's words did their best to break through her mental defenses, and until she could calm herself, all she could do was grunt and try to control that liquid that wanted to escape her eyes. “P-Please...”
“Maybe the vines will let you go. Z says there's some kind of trick to getting loose. But even if they do, I never want to see you again. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a whole lot of running to do.”
Twilight couldn't see, but she could hear the pitter-patter of his feet against the ground as he fled, seemingly in the direction of their campsite...
----------
Spike gasped and panted, his little legs still shaking from the exertion of the run. Fortunately, Twilight was still nowhere to be seen at the campsite, making grabbing the waiting food supplies an absolute cakewalk. Crackers, bread, bags of oats, some soon-to-be-expired fruit, and some seeds soon found themselves safely tucked in his arms, leaving only the barest and most distasteful of rations and a half-filled water canteen behind for his kidnapper. “That should get her back to civilization soon enough. Let that crazy Luna deal with her. Heck, she'd probably make her chancellor or...whatever those ponies have.”
“A good day to you, little Spike.”
The dragon froze, the food tumbling out of his claws in his paralysis. From out of the surrounding darkness approached Zecora, accompanied by that same phoenix that had taken his emerald earlier. “Gone to take a pleasure hike?”
“Z-Z!” Spike exclaimed as he ran over to hug his good friend's leg. “Oh, it's so good to see you! You have no idea what it's been like today!”
Zecora smiled as she patted a hoof against the dragon's back. “Tell Zecora all about it, little one. She will listen until you are done.”
----------
Twilight struggled and squirmed against her bonds, but it did nothing. Every movement of her muscle only seemed to make things tighter, and in her uncomfortable state she was unable to concentrate on even the most minor of spells. All she could do as she hung there was curse that infernal dragon and plot her revenge.
When I get out of this, I'm going to make sure they hang that dragon by his claws! His scales will be sold as fashion accessories in Canterlot jewelery stores! By the time the Shadowbolts are done with him, there won't even be enough for Shining and dad to beat into the ground! Doesn't he understand that he's the only way I can get out of the trouble they put me in?!
The mare grit her teeth, both from the excruciating pain of her situation and from the memory of it all. Those frauds, all of them! If they hadn't done this to me...if they hadn't made me bring that Ursa Minor into town and then forced me to confess...if they hadn't...if she hadn't...made me do this...
That was when, for the first time in her entire life, reality smacked Twilight across the face like a wet towel. Her body suddenly began to relax as the dreaded thoughts began to spill forth. Wait...they didn't make me take that Ursa into town. I...I did that myself. I just...I wanted to prove myself to Trixie. To myself.
She rustled her left forehoof. This time, it moved a bit easier than before. My whole life...I wanted to be something like Luna's student. When she calmed me down during the entrance exam, I thought she would have taken me in for sure. B-But...she didn't...because of my dad...
She felt the tension lessen around her midsection. He said it was because it would have sent a bad message, that Luna was playing favorites, and would make the other ponies tease me even more. But that didn't mean I was a bad student. Dad and mom made sure I could study every day and night! And I didn't need friends with Shining there. I...I had everything I ever needed. I...
The vine around her chin tightened. I don't need friends! Friendship isn't magic, it's...it's...something you can't read about. Something you have to study scientifically. Something that doesn't mean anything and...Trixie wanted to...
Twilight felt the vines loosen across her body, but in her current state, her mind just kept reeling. S-She wanted to help me. And I turned her down. Even if she is a fraud, she...wanted to be friends. I could have gotten out of all this. Those other ponies I dragged into this, ending up on the run, all I had to do was accept things as they were and this would have never happened.
She let out a single dry heave. I just want to go home...
No sooner had that thought escaped than her entire body went tumbling into the muddy water below. The sudden shock of the impact woke Twilight from her musings, and before she could even think about it, she had rolled away from the vines before they could completely return to their docile state. She was dirty, wet, and probably rolled in something unspeakable, but she was alive. “B-But how? How did I...?”
Her eyes widened as she looked at the vines. “Of course! Creeper Vines are supposed to be sensitive to anything that touches them. That must include being able to read a creature's intentions by how their body reacts to their emotions. When I approached Spike, I was like a predator stalking its prey, so it thought I was a wild animal and wrapped me up to defend itself! And when I had time to think about it, it senses I wasn't a threat anymore and let me go!”
She let out a sigh of relief and began to gallop towards the ever-darkening horizon. “And to think I almost fell for the trick myself! Seriously, wanting friends and all that nonsense? Just a distraction! And now to find Spike...”
----------
“And then I tricked her into the Creeper Vines!” Spike punctuated this last leg of the story with a kick to the air and a giddy hi-ya, prompting a giggle from Zecora. “Sure, she'll be able to get out, but now that you've left with me, I'll...”
“Are you sure she will be alright?” Zecora asked. “It is already almost night.”
Spike paused and looked up to the auburn sky. The sun was already just preparing to dip below the horizon; no doubt Luna would be bringing the day to a close so she can begin that night she was always so proud of. “Eh, she'll be fine. Her parents are loaded, anyway. They probably have a whole army looking for her.”
“As will her brother, I presume. I wonder if he can sense her doom?”
Spike stuck out his tongue for a moment and let out a small raspberry. “Come on, Z. Your rhymes are usually better...”
That was when he realized what she had just said. His head turned ever-so-slowly towards the nearby phoenix, which was eying him from a nearby tree branch like he was a small mouse. “Wait...you were spying on me?”
Zecora's smile faded, along with even the slightest hint of friendliness. “Did you really think I would abandon our princess? She cared nothing for any of your distress! But she must have loyalty among her servants, and as always, I am at her service.”
Spike recoiled several steps in horror. He had suspected that something was wrong the entire time; after all, why would Zecora abandon the pony she had sworn allegiance to so suddenly? But no matter how mentally prepared he was, the words struck him like an arrow right to the heart. His friend was not only betraying him, but was ready to haul him back to the same misery he had tried to escape from.
“C-Come on, Z, why do we have to help that monster!” Spike cried. “Why can't it be like the old days? You know, us traveling the world, taking in all the cool sights and sounds, learning about stuff, finding gems? This pony's been nothing but a jerk to everypony, but you keep acting like she's somehow the greatest thing ever! Is she really more important to you than me?”
Zecora said nothing. She didn't have to. Her answer was obvious the minute her hoof reached into the underside of her cloak and pulled out a small hoofful of green powder. Spike's eyes widened as he recognized the substance, but before he could retreat, she had already tossed it against the ground around his feet. The moment the powder sank into the earth, the very dirt and rock shook, followed by claw-like roots springing out and wrapping themselves into a cage around the terrified dragon. His claws scrapped against the plants in a desperate bid to pull them loose, but he knew it was hopeless. This was the same creation she had used to defeat Timberwolves and Manticores in the past; these roots were harder than metal, fireproof, and would only go away when she willed them to.
This time, he was trapped good.
“Now you stay there, little squire,” Zecora said as she walked past. “I have a new servant to acquire.”
As if on cue, Twilight Sparkle came busting out of the bushes. Spike gagged a little as he saw what looked like a purple-and-grayish-brown mare in a soiled cloak stumble towards the scene, but said nothing else. All he could do was watch as she and Zecora met eyes.
----------
Twilight cocked her head. “I've never seen a zebra before. You must be the one helping Corona.”
Zecora cocked an eyebrow at this. “You seem so calm about this meeting. Why is your anger so fleeting?”
“After today, I really don't care that much anymore,” Twilight mumbled. She could still feel some pangs of tension in her body from the vines, and the muck was not doing any favors to her disposition. “So, I take it you want Spike back, Zecora.”
The zebra smiled. “I see introductions are not needed. Now to see if my message is heeded.”
The unicorn looked at her with a perplexed stare. “What message?”
The zebra coughed and cleared her throat before continuing, much like she was giving an actual royal proclamation. “The true Queen of Equestria has heard of your skill, and has sent me to bend you to her will. Join us freely, and you will discover that she has even more spells for you to uncover. Magic that even Princess Luna does not understand can be yours if you, with us, take our stand.”
Twilight's eyes widened. “Wait, you mean...Corona is wanting to make me her student?” she asked incredulously.
Zecora nodded. “She heard your tale of woe while searching for Spike, and now she wants to take your power to a new height. With her as your mentor, you can do no wrong. And when this war is over, you shall be a hero of story and song!” She raised a hoof towards Twilight. “Now, in order to close this deal, let our hooves shake to act as a seal.”
Twilight stared at the outstretched limb for several seconds, her eyes gradually narrowing. In the distance, she could hear Spike screaming, “Don't do it! She's a monster!” but considering all he had done to her that day, his testimony wasn't helping. Besides, she already knew her answer.
“No way.”
Zecora's smile vanished as she lowered her leg, prompting Twilight to continue. “I would love to learn new magic, but I know the kind of pony Corona is. I would never agree to serve anypony as monstrous as the Alicorn of the Sun.” She let out a small huff and began to trot on by towards Spike. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have a dragon to...”
“That was no idle threat.”
Twilight froze and turned about, matching Zecora's own turning speed almost perfectly. All the friendliness had vanished from the zebra, instead replaced with a cold, hateful aura of contempt. It was almost as bad as the mob in Ponyville. “Queen Celestia sent me here to collect. I have two recoveries that I must do. The first is Spike, and the second...” Her right hoof dug at the ground. “Is you.”
Twilight's death glare intensified as she looked the zebra over. “Really? I'll have you know that I graduated top of my class, with honors, a year early. I am one of the most skilled mages in all Equestria, and I doubt anything you can do can keep up.”
“You would be amazed, little foal,” Zecora growled back. “Nothing shall keep me from my goal. If it is a battle you want, then let us begin. But we already know which of us will win.”
----------
From his vantage point in the cage, Spike saw the two lean down to prepare for the duel. His mind raced with a thousand thoughts and possible outcomes, but they all lead back to two possibilities:
If Z won, she would take him back to Corona. He would no doubt be punished severely for daring to run away, and any possibility of a future escape would be nigh-impossible.
If Twilight won, she would take him to Luna. She would have him thrown in a dungeon somewhere, possibly tortured, and then no doubt executed.
No matter who won this fight, one thing was certain: he was doomed.
Awesome.
And I find the part where Twilightis stuck in the vines morbidly hilarious. I ,ean, there she is, finally co,ing to her senses, and then she's free and she's all "Nope, gonna keep on keeping on"
Told ya you could do it. Keep it up.
Great work on Zecora's rhymes especially her speech to Twilight; Zecora sounds pretty badass at the end!
why does Spike keep saying Luna is crazy, granted he hasn't exactly had great experiences with princess's so far.
This line still, to me at least feels a bit out of place, considering the tone, and story. I'm still not much for Corona immediately deciding to kill Twi out of petty vengeance, despite her temper.
I really liked the Spike Zecora scene, both them as friends, especially him commenting on her rhymes, the fact they know one another so well somehow shines through in the talk and then her spell was awesome! I also very much liked Twi's refusal, great scene! Overall the few nitpicks I had with this chapter were minor quibbles, surrounding an extremely solid core of great story telling, the story cut off extremely well and the perspective changes worked excellently.
Looking forward to the next one!
Yay! It's updated! It's continuing! At long last!
...
...how long until the next chapter?
And while I am not a big fan of the Lunaverse, myself...
... I enjoyed this chapter.
Looking forward to the magic duel
Well done! You really got into their heads and did a lot of refferencig to other Lunaverse fics. looking forward to Twilight vs. Zecora.
Oh, great. Now I hate Twilight...
2192007
Spike thinks Luna is a crazy, treacherous dictator because that's all he's ever heard growing up in Zebrica. Remember, a lot of zebras think that Luna is lying her flank off about Corona being evil; Zecora just happens to be the one who thinks it's her job to prove it. It's like how Twilight has a distorted view of who the Luna Six are because she doesn't have the life experience to understand how the real world actually fricking works.
This story has an interesting and original approach. Keep up the good work.
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I'm not sure Spike was specifically raised in Zebrica, but yeah he was raised by Zecora so that makes sense TY
Yes! This story is getting continued!
Kick her crazy flank, Twilight.
Crazy as Twilight is I've gotta admit I agree with her about Raindrops.
I wonder if its just the *teensiest* bit true that Zecora intends on throwing the fight, giving her an excuse to pursue the two instead returning to the Queen's angry might. Certainly the zebra shaman is a cagy mare, and knows the danger of her Queen's care, but perhaps in this crazy unicorn fight, she sees a way to survive the night.
Well, the line is funny, Corona is scary as all hell.
Freakin' aesop amnesia. Twilight! Y U NO listen to your own brain?!
I need to read more lunaverse. I keep missing references I think. But there is just so much of it!
Well this was a really really nice continuation. Thanks so much for picking it up and sharing it!
2199874
To be fair, a few of the references in this chapter are to my own, as of yet incomplete fic which is set chronologically before this one, and to which I have privately spoiled everything for IAH's benefit and help maintain continuity consistency. So there are a few parts here that no one else save him, myself, and I guess Vazak would be able to fully understand.
2201577
That actually highlights another (albeit lesser) problem with getting into the verse. So many stories, only about half are actually done.
Well, actually, the ratio of completes to incompletes might be better now, but it still leaves an awful lot of stories to track and watch for updates. And you need to read them, because there are so many plotlines going on at any given time. A lot are wrapping up now, I think, but it makes the Lunaverse more than a little intimidating. Don't get me wrong, what you guys have done is nothing short of phenomenal, in making such a behemoth of a verse, and you should, every one of you, be proud of it. And it's not like I am a total stranger to the verse and its characters. I had a pretty strong emotional attachment to the L6 by the end of Boast Busted.
This wouldn't have been a problem really, if I had been following things from the beginning, but I didn't even HAVE an FiM account back then. (I read Boast Busted when it first when up on EQD, so I have actually been around, if only peripherally, from the get-go.) I actually lost track of Longest Day half-way through, because EQD got REALLY spotty on story updates. Probably because they figured everyone had a bloody account by that point. And I kind of dithered on signing up, due to a bad experience in the last internet community I was part of. Almost 10 years ago, and which was totally my fault anyway.
I appear to be rambling. Shutting up now.
2201694
Fair enough.
I'll admit that keeping up with it all can be quite tasking at times (all the more so for those of us actually writing for the setting, given the sheer amount of world building that happens outside of any fic on our group message board). Though for what it's worth the setting isn't nearly as impenetrable as it might seem. There is continuity yes, but most stories still stand largely on their own narrative worth, so it is possible to just read a few of them and not get too terribly lost, especially with IAH's handy dandy reviews to help summarize things. Plus if you ever do get completely, lost just drop a line one our boards, or in a fic's comments section and we'll gladly help clear up any confusion
Also, interesting point of note, everything you say about reading Boast Busted before you had an account, of losing track of LNLD because of spotty EQD updates, even just putting off making a FiMfic account -- that is actually all basically just as true for me (and in fact your account appears to be 3 weeks older than mine). In some other world perhaps you're the one authoring fics for RDD, and I'm the one complaining that the Lunaverse is too intimidating.
2201766
Let us be thankful then that we live in this universe. I shudder to think what kind of damage I would do to the Lunaverse if I tried submitting the inane scribblings that try to pass for writing in my mind.
2202780
Meh... my brain has vomited out some pretty inane and arguably disastrous scribblings of it's own.
Not too bad. I wished to sock Twilight in the jaw with a pair of brass knucks... which I'd like to do to Maneverse twilight on occasion. So good job, there!
Well, I am now officially happy that I decided to pass the baton. This is a lot better than what I would have come up with. Especially the scenes with the vines, those things are a stroke of genius.
Fantastic! So glad it's continuing and can't wait to see what happens next
I don't know if it's the plan for L!Twilight to fall under Corona's control (esp when I'm unclear as to when continuity-wise Crisis comes in to play exactly) but I find myself hoping that she manages to avoid becoming her minion/slave/student. From what I can see there has already been some redemption for the M! mane 6 counterparts going on (most noticeably Applejack starting to come around to seeing things from the other farmers perspective via Carrot Top) and, while admittedly she has a much longer route ahead of her to attempt to make it up, it would be nice to see Twi start to be tempered by Trixie and the others instead of falling under Corona's sway.
However it turns out though I'm enjoying my trip through the 'verse so i shall keep mine mind open and my eyes glued to see where this goes.
Twilight's flip back to "no, nevermind, it's everyone else's fault," felt silly. When she's come that far in rationally considering things I can imagine her telling herself to worry about it later, but not just going back on everything.
2343930 Falling back on those thought patterns is easier for her, or at least thats the way I read it. The Twilight of this universe is to self absorbed to be willing to believe in her own flaws. Even in the cartoon she suffers some serous mental problem after all. Or at least thats my read on the situation.
2355121
At this point her character is in stasis, though. She's no better by Crisis, so she can't progress. It really feels like, even in crisis, that she's developing but someone keeps hitting the rewind button because her changing just isn't called for by the plot yet.
2355140 The price paid for so many working on the same story arc.
Wait... When was this? I don't recall Twilight showing up at all after the thing with the Ursa, at least in the stories that are canon before this point in Season 1...
2501475
It's a future spoiler from another story in development.
2503512 Are you likely to continue this story?
2516687
Eventually, when I can stop feeling like crap and find the time.
And by a freak accident, I lose all my gorram comment.
Short version:
Zecora is more morally bankrupt than Corona herself. The question of whether she gives a fig about Spike is answered conclusively.
Questions about as to why. After all, Corona isn't like an Earth god, who has sway over the afterlife. Is she expecting some fantastic reward for herself or her people with Corona's ascendancy?
If it isn't a selfish goal, how is it that she's developed no feeling for Spike?
What possible force caused Zecora to not only be a devoted servant of a mad tyrant, but sociopathic as well?
Frankly, I think this is a bad turn for the character, because it removes the one redeeming trait that Zecora had. Before, I could think of her as someone weak - unable to stand up to Corona to protect her friend Spike.
Now I understand: Zecora is abusing Spike.
She's abusing him emotionally and tacitly allowing him to be physically abused. She is dragging a child back in chains to suffer in pain and torment.
Most of Corona's crazy isn't her fault. All of Zecora's actions are hers, unless we find out that she's been indoctrinated in some fashion.
Ergo - Zecora needs to burn. You can't win this one, Twilight, the plot won't let you, but cut her pretty face up for me, please.
Great!!
Corona has some element of sympathy from me just because of who she was and how she went mad. Zecora can get eaten by lion for all i care about the evil bitch.
I'm still following the Lunaverse stories and going down all of them in order.
Observations on this one are as follows.
Incomplete...... Bugger....
it's almost making me hate Zecora, which is a impressive feat since she is best non pony.
It's almost making me hate Twilight which is also impressive cause she's best Mane 6.
I do feel sorry for Spike regardless.
Haven't read this yet. Is this still planned to be updated someday?
3770096
Some day.
3773012
Awesome. Thank you for the reply.
I find it funny you decided to continue this story and then immediately dropped it. I'm normally a really nice guy, but I just can't comprehend the insane, and very rude, thought process behind such an act. What where you thinking, jerk? If you didn't have the gumption to follow through with your words, you should have never have attempted to write this story. I would have preferred you let it die in silence instead of giving readers false hope. It's writers like you that make me wary of reading anything that isn't already complete.
Outside this one story, I don't much give a shit about the Lunaverse. Whoever created it missed the opportunity to place Spike with Trixie, opting instead to pair him off with a minor character, probably far away from the main action. On the other hand, if that decision hadn't been made, this badass situation wouldn't have developed. It was just awesome how you brought that confrontation to a boil.
Hopefully this isn't the last we see of "A Chance Encounter". If you aren't going to continue writing it, then someone else should. Preferably someone equally skilled, who can pick up and carry all the tension you created in this chapter.
4479365
Still working on it. Kind of got sidetracked for a good long while, but it will be finished soon.
4479376 I am totally psyched to...HAIR that!
.... If this isn't going to be continued.... then i will be pretty mad that i read the available chapters already with no hint of seeing the outcome....
4620750
It's going to be continued.
4620922
great! need any help with it? Or you fine?
This?
This is just plain unfair to Spike.
Zecora, you deserve one of those lava-baths Corona has been giving Spike.
A NICE LOOONG ONE.
An now, for Twilight vs. Zecora!
Can't wait.
What I love about this is the way that the elements are describd. As if its someone who is just watchign from the outside and trying to summarize what the elements are but forgetting that they need to be ponies first.