A baby dragon develops the urge to see the world and travels to strange new parts of Equestria and beyond. Along the way, he meets new faces and old, learning what it means to find yourself.
Spike feels funny. Not sick or anything. Just... funny. Like his legs want to just move. After spending some time thinking on this, he decides he needs to go for a walk. A really long walk that takes him from Ponyville. With Twilight's hesitant blessing, Spike embarks on an adventure that takes him across Equestria and beyond it's borders. It is on this walk that he learns more about the world, friendship, and courage than he would have thought possible.
"Hey Twilight? Can I talk to you about something?" Spike sat across from the Princess of Friendship at the dinner table, having barely touched his food. He idly poked at it with a claw, while resting his head on his other hand. He stared down at his plate, rather than Twilight.
"You can talk to me about anything, Spike. What is it?" The lavender alicorn wore a concerned expression. She could tell something had been bothering Spike, but wasn't sure how to approach the situation. She was somewhat relieved that Spike had spoken first.
"I think I need to go somewhere." Spike looked Twilight in the eyes. Actually saying the words affirmed the thoughts he had been having for the last week or so.
"It would be nice to take a vacation. And I'm sure Starlight Glimmer would love to come with us." Twilight relaxed slightly, presuming that Spike was suffering from a mild case of cabin fever.
"No. I don't mean a vacation. I mean... I don't know exactly what I mean. I just need to go somewhere."
"Spike... Is something wrong?" Twilight felt her chest tighten. The thought of Spike leaving terrified her. Spike was a baby dragon after all. He wasn't ready for the world. He was too young. A myriad of reasons why Spike shouldn't go flooded the princess' mind.
"Yeah- No. Nothing's wrong, really." Spike reassured his best friend. "I just... Ya know how sometimes you read one of your science books and you have to try and do the same experiment you read, just to see if things turn out the same?"
"Of course. That's just good science." Twilight responded, unsure of where Spike was going with his conversation.
"Well, that's kinda what's happening to me. But instead of reading a book, it's my legs." Spike explained as best he could. "Like when your leg falls asleep, and the best way of waking it up is to walk around."
"That... makes sense, I guess." Twilight steeled herself with a deep breath before asking the question that lingered at the forefront of her mind. "Where will you go?"
"I- I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. I think I just need to see new stuff. Every time the Map has called you or A.J. or somepony else to somewhere, I've always stayed behind. I think its just my turn to go on an adventure, ya know?"
"Spike..." Twilight could empathize where her friend was coming from. Nopony wanted to be left out. And now that she thought about it, Spike had no cutie mark. Twilight wasn't sure there was a way for the cutie map to summon Spike. She supposed that bringing Spike on one of the adventures the map summoned her to wouldn't affect whatever problems needed to be solved, but as she looked at her number one assistant's expression she knew that wasn't what Spike was looking for.
"Go." Twilight said after a brief, painful silence.
Spike looked back at his friend with a mixture of awe and trepidation. For a moment, he didn't do anything. Finally he stood, walked around the table, and hugged Twilight tightly.
"Thanks Twilight." Spike said in relief.
"Of course, Spike." Twilight replied, turning her head away so Spike couldn't see the tears welling up in her eyes.
Spike was ready. He'd packed up food, water, his favorite Hoofball cards, his copy of issue number one of the Power Ponies, and even his stuffed hedgehog named Blue. All of this had been put in a cloth tied to a stick. He stood in front of the castle, his friends there to see him off. It was a cloudy day, reflecting the somewhat somber mood that hung in the air. Spike wondered if Rainbow Dash had set this up or if the weather team had already planned it.
"Ya sure yer gonna be okay on yer own, Spike?" Applejack removed her stetson and held it to her chest. "If ya wanted some company we'd be happy to oblige."
"No. I think I need to do this on my own." Spike replied with a light smile.
"Ohmygosh! This is exciting! Spike's going on his own adventure! I mean, its sad, but exciting! Its exsading!" Pinkie Pie was bouncing up and down repeatedly, clearly the result of another morning pastry binge. "We're gonna miss you Spike!"
"She is right, you know. It will be a hard adjusting to our little Spikey-Wikey being gone for a while." Rarity hugged the dragon close, who flushed brightly.
"Pshh. Spike's tough. I'm sure he'll come back with a ton of stories for us, right Spike?" Rainbow Dash chimed in, putting on a tough face.
Spike gave a weak chuckle. "Yeah. I'll come back soon. With loads of stories too."
"Be sure to write us letters from time to time." Fluttershy spoke, barely audible over her friends.
"We'll miss you, Spike." Twilight simply stated.
"I'll miss you guys too. And I'll be sure to write." Spike said as he stepped in and wrapped his scaly arms around Twilight, who graciously returned the gesture. Soon everypony joined in on the bittersweet hug. After a moment, everyone reluctantly broke away.
"Well, no point in holding off." Spike took a deep breath, steeling himself for the most difficult step in his journey. The first one. "Bye, guys."
Spike turned away and took a step. Then another. With each step he took, the feeling that this was what he needed to do sank in. He looked back over his shoulder to his friends. Who were waving vigorously and yelling goodbye. Though each of them smiled brightly, the slightest bit of sadness reflected back in their eyes. Spike waved back until his footsteps took them out of view.
~~~
Rarity and the others watched Spike until he was gone from sight. Each one of them felt a little heartbreak at seeing their young friend travel off to Celestia-knew-where in search of adventure.
"We are going to follow him, right? I'd hate to think of something happening to our Little Spikey-Wikey while he was gone." Rarity asked the group, hoping that they would share her sentiments. It was Twilight who answered first, and what she said surprised her friends.
"Not this time, Rarity."
"Why ever not? You saw what happened when he tried doing that ghastly migration affair."
Twilight Sparkle looked to her friends as tears flowed freely down her face. "Because this is different, Rarity. I can't explain how, but when he first mentioned it to me I knew that this was something Spike needed to do on his own. Whatever he's looking for, he won't find it if we go with him."
~~~
Spike passed through the market. Then the town square. Then finally he passed by the houses of the ponies living on the outer edges of town. Then he was out of Ponyville.
It was a strange sensation, leaving home. It wasn't the first time he'd left to find himself. He remembered the fiasco of the Dragon Migration all too well. He had walked away from the situation with the knowledge that Ponyville was his home, and Twilight and the others were his family.
This was different from that though. Before had been an attempt to find a family. Now he was on his way to finding who he was, personally. While he knew where he stood in the eyes of his friends, Spike needed... something. He knew he would find that something somewhere out there, whatever it was.
Spike's feet hurt. He'd spent time on his feet, especially when there were chores to be done. Friendship Castle was big, after all. It took a long time to sweep it. But this was different. There was an unfamiliar ache in his feet. He decided that it was a good ache though. Like he'd accomplished something on his first day away from Ponyville.
Now, night had fallen. With it came rain, which forced the young dragon to seek shelter for the night. His shelter came in the form of a hollowed out tree, which he'd made a bit more comfortable with a pile of leaves. He decided that Blue would make a good pillow. As luck would have it, he was right. Spike lay down and, after some length of time, fell into a light sleep.
~~~
Spike was awoken by the roiling sounds of thunder. Lightning split the sky as rain threatened to flood his makeshift shelter. He quickly snatched up his treasured belongings and repacked them in an attempt to save them. Blue the Hedgehog was unfortunate enough to get soaked, so Spike resigned himself to carrying the stuffed toy rather than stowing it with his comic and Hoofball cards.
"Didn't think it was supposed to rain this bad, Blue." Spike commented as he nibbled on a claw in fear. "I guess we'll just have to keep going until we find a new shelter." Spike was ankle deep in water by the time he left is shelter. He made a mental note to make sure his next shelter's flooring wasn't shaped like a bowl (despite how comfortable the shaping was to the dragon).
Out into the storm went Spike. The rain made it tough to see, but Spike had no choice but to bravely venture forward. The lightning turned out to be a blessing as much as a curse, briefly illuminating the woodsy area around Spike, but leaving him nearly blind until either his eyes adjusted again or another crack of lightning tore open the sky.
The weather made travel difficult. More than once Spike was nearly blown over by gusts of wind. It was not a fun experience, and Spike had started contemplating turning back and returning to Ponyville. His legs, however, refused to let him turn around. Spike pressed onward, coming to a river after some indeterminable amount of time.
It wasn't a large river, by any means. A wooden bridge spanned the water, which was threatening to spill over the riverbanks. Up ahead on the other side of the river, Spike thought he could make out the lights of a building. He quickened his pace. Another crack of lightning confirmed the dragon's suspicions, illuminating a small cottage with a sign out front. Spike couldn't make out the words on the sign, but he could care less. He wanted out of this rain!
As he made his way across the bridge, lightning illuminated the world around Spike. Well, blinded Spike really. By sheer bad luck, the lighting had decided to strike the bridge just as Spike was crossing. Now, the end of the bridge was splintered. Spike watched in shock as the chunks of wood that were to guide him to warmth and safety were swept away in the swirling torrents of the river. He turned to make his way back off the bridge.
As he did, the bridge lurched to the side with a mighty groan. Spike took off running, but the river proved to be faster. With one sickeningly disorienting motion, the bridge toppled completely, dumping it's only occupant (two if you counted Blue) into the chilling water below.
"Help!" Spike called out in terror as the river he had fallen into threatened to pull him under. He wasn't sure who he was calling to, only that he needed somepony, anypony, to hear his pleas. The storm seemed to swallow his cries for help though.
Spike bobbed up and down, the river thrashing him about so easily that direction lost all meaning to him. He was a victim of the waters now, and nopony seemed to be out in the storm. Fear held the dragon tightly in it's grip. Each time Spike slipped beneath the surface of the water, a small part of him wondered if he would bob back up to the surface this time.
Then, as if the world had decided Spike had suffered in the river long enough, he was out of the water. Spike wasn't sure how, as the world refused to stop spinning, but he definitely didn't feel the currents forcing him to follow them. He flopped down on his stomach, grateful that he had gotten a break. He was also vaguely aware that by some miracle he had maintained his grip on his precious belongings.
"Oh goodness. Aren't you a lucky little guy?" A rather loud voice kept Spike from falling asleep where he lay. "You okay there?"
"I think so." Spike told the voice. His eyes widened in shock as the world lurched around him. For a brief moment he thought he was falling back into the river.
"Easy, fella. I'm just trying to get a better look at you." The voice said reassuringly. Spike was no coherent enough to realize that he was in a large creature's hands.
"Don't eat me!" Spike called as he tried, unsuccessfully, to stand up. "I taste terrible!"
"Eat you? Goodness gracious, no." Spike was now close enough to the voices face to make out the elongated (and surprisingly attractive) face of a purple sea serpent. River serpent? Spike was too tired to care. "I just saw you in the river and thought you needed help."
"Thanks." He replied. Relief flooded the diminutive dragon. "I thought I was a goner for a second."
"Don't mention it. Its not the first time I've pulled someone from the river. It won't be the last." The serpent waved a clawed hand dismissively. "What were you doing in the river anyway?"
"Well..." Spike answered. "Its a long story."
~~~
Spike's long story only took about ten minutes to tell. After explaining the story to the serpent, who introduced himself as Steven Magnet, Steven offered to take Spike back up the river.
"Thanks again for doing this for me." Spike called down from the majestic hair of the river serpent.
"No problem. If there's one thing I learned, its that everyone needs to go on their own adventures. I used to do some adventuring myself, you know. I traveled with a donkey named Cranky."
"Matilda's Cranky?" Spike asked in shock.
"Oh you've met him then! Such a small world! How's Cranky doing?"
"Great. He and Matilda seem really happy together."
"Oh I'm so glad. We searched all over Equestria to find her. I'm so happy Cranky and Matilda got a happy ending. Like a story book."
Spike resisted the urge to gag at the analogy. Luckily, the mushy conversation didn't need to continue, as he and Steven arrived back at the destroyed bridge.
"You be careful, little guy. Adventures are great, but not if you get hurt." Steven warned as he set Spike on the shore. Thankfully the side with the building on it.
"Yeah. I'll be a lot more careful from now on. Thanks again for saving my scales." Spike waved from the shore.
Steven Magnet gave one last wave before heading back down the river. Spike couldn't help but feel the slightest twinge of jealousy that the serpent didn't need to worry about the currents. Still, he could continue his journey and that was the important thing. Spike turned on his heel and walked straight up to the mystery building.
Half-Shoe Inn the sign in front of the building read, complete with a picture of a broken horseshoe. Spike wasted no time in walking to the door and knocking hard. He hoped somepony would be awake at this hour. The dragon's good luck held as the door swung open to reveal the shivering Spike to the owner of the inn.
Spike was huddled near the stone fireplace of the Half-shoe Inn. He had a blanket tightly wrapped around him and his claws wrapped just as tightly around a mug of cocoa. He'd been sitting by the fire for about a half hour, just trying to get his teeth to stop chattering. By this point, thankfully, Spike had gotten it mostly controlled and had told his story to the owner of the inn.
"Th-thanks, again." Spike shivered. "I didn't realize it was supposed to rain so much." Spike had negotiated with Pine Lodge, the owner of the inn, for a room for the night. Spike had neglected to bring any bits with him (a fact that he was now silently chastising himself for) so he'd worked out a deal that he could stay the night as long as he tended the fire for the evening. Considering how cold Spike was, he felt like this was a fantastic chore.
"Of course." Pine Lodge said. "I couldn't leave you out in that storm, anyway. Wouldn't have been right." Pine Lodge spoke matter-of-factly, as if he were adhering to a rule, rather than demonstrating an act of kindness.
Pine Lodge himself was an elderly pegasus stallion, with a brown coat that matched freshly cut lumber and a vibrant green mane that reminded Spike of fresh-cut grass. Adorning the stallion's flank was a cutie mark of a log cabin with smoke rising from the chimney. Pine Lodge took tentative sips from his own mug of cocoa.
"You remind me a bit of myself, kid." Pine Lodge said after a few moments of silence.
"What do you mean?" Spike stared at the pegasus, kind of surprised that a dragon could remind a pegusus of himself. Maybe because they both could fly? "I can't fly."
"That's not what I meant." Pine gave a light chuckle. "I just mean that I left home when I was younger, too. Came from Cloudsdale." Pine Lodge stared into his cocoa, remembering times long past. "I got the itch to spread my wings and see the world. Made friends, made enemies... Heck, I even met the mare of my dreams on that adventure."
"What happened?" Spike asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"I lived." The stallion replied cryptically.
"Well, yeah. I mean, you're sitting here now so of course you lived through it." Spike replied as he fought the urge to roll his eyes.
Pine just smiled gently at the dragon, knowing that explaining things wouldn't do any good. Not yet at least. The two sat in silence for a while longer, sipping cocoa and listening to the weather outside. Though the storm had calmed substantially, the rain refused to stop, pattering rhythmically upon the inn's rooftop. Finally, Pine Lodge stood and stretched.
"Well, I think it's time for this old buck to hit the hay. Go ahead and let that fire die out, will ya? I'll see ya in the morning Spike."
"Goodnight, Pine Lodge." Spike responded, yawning. Now that he had warmed up, Spike realized just how drained the night's events had left him. He curled up next to the dying embers of the fire and let the gentle heat lull him into a deep slumber.
~~~
Morning came all too soon, brilliant sunlight rousing Spike from his pleasant dreams. He sleepily rose as eagerness to continue his travels crept to the forefront of his mind, the thoughts starting in his toes oddly enough. Pine Lodge made a wonderful breakfast of flapjacks and orange juice, which Spike wolfed down with gusto.
"You keep safe on the roads now, kiddo. Wouldn't want you washin' up here again!" Pine guffawed at his own joke.
"Oh, I'll be a lot more careful now, Pine Lodge. Thanks again for letting me stay the night." Spike hoisted his sack of belongings (miraculously the only ruined possessions were two of the Hoofball cards, and not even Spike's favorite ones!) over his shoulder and picked a direction. He still had no destination in mind, but that was part of the fun he decided. He gave one final wave and smile to Pine Lodge and his inn and set off for more adventure.
Compared to yesterday, today was a fantastic day. The sun was shining brightly, the early autumn sun warming Spike and adding a slight bounce to his step. Spike was moving at a leisurely pace, having fun splashing in the puddles left from last night's storm.
"I shoulda waited a day to leave, Blue!" Spike addressed the stuffed toy, who had dried by the fire last night and now rode with Spike's other belongings. "I wouldn't have ended up in the river last night." Blue, of course, didn't respond. After all, stuffed hedgehogs don't speak.
Spike walked for some time keeping a light conversation with Blue, not caring that it was entirely one-sided. As he made his way along the river's edge, the area surrounding him slowly changed from an open grassy field to a forested area. Spike recognized it as the site of the Running of the Leaves.
"Speaking of the Running of the Leaves, Its coming up pretty soon, Blue. You think we'll be able to catch it?" No response again. "Yeah, I think we'll miss this year's. Ah well." Spike stared up at the brilliant red and orange leaves, falling into a comfortable silence.
~~~
Nightfall came all too quickly for Spike. He'd rather been enjoying his travel that day. He set up a small campsite in a clearing off the main road through the forest. The cloth that formed his carrying pouch was propped up with two sticks and held down by some rocks to create a small makeshift tent. A circle of stones created a fire pit to both warm Spike and illuminate the area while he ate a dinner of canned apples.
"This is pretty sweet. A guy could get used to roughing it." Spike said to nobody in particular. He let out a small belch, laughing at being able to not bother with table manners. Spike finished the remainder of his meal and patted his full belly. He lay back and stared upwards through the gaps in the branches above.
Above Spike was a myriad of stars. Spike stared, mesmerized. There was enough light in Ponyville that he never got to see this many stars. Even Fluttershy's cottage didn't offer a view this fantastic.
Fluttershy. Spike felt a twinge of sadness in his gut. He wondered how everyone back home was doing. It had only been two days, but was everyone worried already? I wonder if anypony followed me this time? Spike idly wondered. Nah. Somepony would have fished me out of the river last night. Spike shuddered at the recent memory. Ah well. I'd probably be a little mad at them if they followed.
Spike's campfire was nothing but glowing embers by now. In the warmth of the dying fire, the dragon drifted off into a comfortable sleep.
~~~
Some hours later, Spike jolted awake. The moon shone brightly upon Spike, who chastised himself for falling asleep in the garden again. He rubbed his eyes sleepily.
"Wha- Twilight. Why didn't you take me inside?" Spike grumbled sleepily. His eyes adjusted to the light slowly, revealing his campsite. "Right... not at the castle." Spike rolled over and crawled towards his tent. "Need more," A yawn punctuated his words, "sleep."
He'd just gotten into the tent when a rustling from the brush caught Spike's attention. Normally, Spike was a heavy sleeper, but when spooky noises were involved, Spike slept lighter than Twilight during a good book. Which is to say, he didn't sleep.
More rustling from the bushes. Spike stared in fear, breaking out in a cold sweat. Whatever was in the forest, it was coming closer.
Spike hadn't cleaned this fast in his entire life. It must have been mere seconds for spike to disassemble his tent, pack his things, and even tie the cloth to his stick (while running, no less). Spike wasn't sure what direction he was running. He didn't really care, either. Creatures were making noises in the foliage behind him. Whatever it was, it was fast enough to keep up with Spike.
Through the brush ran Spike, who could care less about the noise he made as he did so. The Thing was hot on his heels. Spike could hear it behind him. It would head to his left, making him turn away. Then his right. A small thought in the back of Spike's mind made him want to break down in tears. It's herding me towards something. I bet it's the monster's nest! Okay, small thought is downplaying it a bit too much. In all honesty, this was the only thing Spike could think of as he dodged between trees.
Then, without warning, Spike was free of the trees. And the ground. He'd accidentally run straight off a steep hillside. Down and down the dragon tumbled, head over heel. Thank goodness I'm a scaly dragon. A strangely lucid part of Spike thought.
When Spike rolled to a stop, he didn't even bother to check his scrapes and cuts. He hastily grabbed his possessions as the small predator following him deftly made it's way down the hillside. Spike made the heartbreaking decision to leave his Power Ponies comic behind. He promised himself to come back for the mint-in-package comic if he survived this new ordeal. Unfortunately the Thing after Spike was too close to risk grabbing it.
Back through the forest ran Spike. This area was clearly not as widely used by the local wildlife. Sharp thorns and loose rocks threatened to slow the purple dragon enough for the Predator to catch him. Spike risked a glance back.
Only to see that the Creature was mere feet behind him! Spike put on a burst of speed, terror giving him a sort of draconic super-speed (Blue would have been proud). Looking back later, Spike would tell the story as if he'd been flying above the undergrowth.
Spike broke free of the the forest, not sure of where he came out at. In his haste, however, he tripped over something and fell to his knees. Spike's awareness of the world around him sharpened to crystal clarity. A clickety-clack sound kinda confused Spike. Forests don't make clickety clack sounds. That sounded more like a...
"Train!" Spike stared in terror at the approaching locomotive. Spike knew he'd get flattened. This was it. A dragon pancake would be all that was left. Spike clenched his eyes shut in acceptance and waited for the end. The train hit Spike.
Being hit by a train didn't hurt nearly as much as Spike thought it would. It was kinda gentler than the dragon expected. And for some reason he went sideways when it hit. And he could still hear it.
A warm, moist sensation passed over Spike's face. Warily, Spike opened one eye. Then the other when Spike needed to confirm what he was looking at.
"Winona?" Spike stared in shock. "What are you doing out here?" Winona barked happily in response.
"Wait... Were you the one following me?" Another bark. Spike laughed nervously. "You didn't scare me that much. I just... needed to go for my nightly run." Spike lied.
Winona tilted her head to the side, as if to say she wasn't buying it. Instead she stood, walked in a brief circle, and crossed the tracks now that the train had passed by. A moment later she came back holding something gently in her mouth, which she then dropped into Spike's lap. It was Spike's Power Ponies comic! Spike gave Winona a hug.
"Did A.J. send you to come with me?" Winona barked in response. "Well, I won't complain. Let's go girl."
"I can't believe ye'd let Spike go on his own, Twi. It just seems like a bad idea." Applejack complained in her southern drawl. "What if something happens to him?"
"I know, Applejack. I'm worried too." Twilight responded, regretting letting Spike go to begin with.
"He could get hurt!"
"I know." The princess responded.
"He could get lost!"
"I know!" Twilight raised her voice a little.
"He may never come back!"
"I KNOW!" Twilight shouted at her friend. "But what was I supposed to do?"
Applejack hadn't come over to berate Twilight Sparkle. She'd come to make sure her friend was doing alright. Spike had left early that morning, and Twilight had let him go. Applejack knew, deep down, that the whole situation hadn't been easy on her friend, but worry for the young Spike made her question the decision to let him go alone.
"Shoot, Twi. I dunno. I just expected you ta have a plan. I'm sorry." Applejack rubbed her temple with a forehoof, trying to think of the words she needed to say to make Twilight Sparkle feel better. Nothing readily came to mind.
"To be honest, Applejack, I never thought Spike would want to leave home. I thought he was perfectly happy here. He's never really showed signs of wanting to leave Ponyville before."
"'Cept fer that time he went migrating" Applejack pointed out, instantly regretting the words.
"Well, yeah. But that was different. Spike was trying to find a family. He didn't realize that he had a family here in Ponyville. This is... different. I've never known Spike to want to go on his own adventures before."
Applejack frowned at the salad that had supposed to be her dinner with Twilight. Applejack had come over with the intention to make Twilight feel better. Instead, she'd accomplished the opposite. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it when she couldn't think of the magical words to fix Twilight Sparkle's dour mood.
"I think part of me expected Spike to be home by now. Like he'd realize that travelling Equestria wasn't a good fit for him and he'd turn around and be home in time for supper." Twilight said to her own salad. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Spike's been craving adventures. I mean, before we put the Elements of Harmony back, Spike used to go on almost all of our adventures. After I became a princess though, I guess he hasn't been as involved with things. Especially with the Cutie Map sending us around Equestria. I don't think the map even has a way of saying 'Spike needs to go with you.'"
"Ah get where yer comin' from, Twi. I do. I just think its a mistake to not have anypony go with the little guy."
"I know. So do I. But you didn't see Spike's face. If we followed Spike, he'd be devestated." Twilight flopped forward with a groan, her face landing in her salad in a very unprincess-like manner. Then her head shot up just as quickly. "That's it!"
"Beg pardon?" Applejack asked, not following Twilight in the slightest.
"Spike would be mad if anypony followed him. But he can't get mad if the one to follow him and keep him safe wasn't a pony!" Twilight was positively dancing at her idea.
"But... who'd follow him if it wasn't a pony? I can't think of anypony who could follow Spike and keep him safe that wasn't-" Applejack narrowed her eyes at the princess. "This is the part where you ask if Winona can follow Spike, isn't it?"
Twilight's only response was to beam at her friend with a smile wide enough to give Pinkie Pie a run for her money on Ponyville's Scariest Smile award.
Spike was enjoying today. And the last few days, if were to stop and think about it. He was now on day five of his journey, and with Winona alongside him, Spike felt like nothing could go wrong.
After all, the weather had been bright and sunny since the storm, he now had two companions to talk with (even if neither would answer in real words. At least Winona would bark in response.), and he could finally make out the words of a sign he'd wanted to see in person since as far back as he could remember.
The Applewood sign.
Spike had only ever seen Las Pegasus in movies and comics. Now he was going to see it in person! He quickened his pace, laughing giddily the closer he got to the city. It was still miles off, but that wasn't going to stop Spike from jogging the entire way there!
~~~
"We made it!" Spike hopped into the air with joy. "Come on, Winona!"
Using the word bustling to describe the city of Las Pegasus would have been putting it mildly. The city was positively alive. Ponies moved about at all hours of the day and night. It had been said that Las Pegasus was a city that never slept. With so much to do in the city, Spike could easily believe that claim.
The city was a marvel in-itself. A blend of pegasus and earth pony ingenuity. Roughly half of the city was what one would consider 'normal', with it's tall buildings and concrete streets. The rest of the city was clearly pegasus built, with it's use of cloud buildings and floating streets. Most amazingly, though, was the fact that it was not just pegasi using the cloud half of the city. Unicorns and earth ponies could be seen walking the cloud districts as if Twilight had cast her cloud walking spell.
"I gotta see how they do that." Spike pointed to the clouds, wondering how in Equestria the little ponies without wings didn't plummet through said clouds. Winona simply cocked her head to the side.
Off they went. Spike was eager to see as many sights as he could, and afternoon had already settled on the city by the time they had arrived. The crowded streets were bustling with afternoon traffic, not unlike Manehattan actually. Carriages packed the streets, with angry passengers yelling at others as if that would ease the congestion of the streets. Vendors of all kinds offered Spike various goods as he walked by.
"Get your Applewood shirts here!"
"See the stars! Applewood tours for cheap, kid!"
"I got some cheap tickets to the new musical in town."
The last one creeped Spike out. He wasn't in a booth like the rest of the vendors, he was standing in a dimly lit alleyway. The dragon quickened his pace. Winona let out a low bark as if to warn the scruffy alley pony to stay in said alley.
Overall, though, Spike was mesmerized by the city. This must be how Rarity felt when she went to Manehattan for the first time.
Rarity. Spike felt his stomach drop a bit. He missed his friends. 'Come to think of it, I promised Fluttershy I'd write. Everypony's probably worried.'
"Winona, we should find a place to stay the night." Winona barked happily in response. "Yeah, I'm ready to sleep in a bed again too. Gotta find a place that lets pets stay too, though." Another bark of agreement.
The duo set off in search of a place to spend the night. Tomorrow the adventure would really begin, as Spike had already begun to plan how he would spend his visit to the illustrious city.
Spike and Winona had found a cozy little bed and breakfast run by a sweet elderly couple, the Cozy's. Spike had no money on him, however. Luckily, Tea and Warm had agreed to allow Spike to stay if he promised to help out a bit with the chores. (Warm was getting on in years, and there were just certain things he couldn't do.) They had even promised Spike a few extra bits so that he wouldn't have to work every time he needed a place to sleep.
Which is how Spike ended up in the kitchen scrubbing dishes for most of the morning. It wasn't too bad. There weren't many guests at the Fireside Lodge. Still, by the time Spike had finished the dishes, his claws were all wrinkly. He dried them with a towel, and quickly scampered out the door.
"Have fun, Spike!" Tea called out to the dragon before he disappeared.
"I will!" Spike called back to the stallion. "Come on, Winona!" The dog barked and ran after Spike.
~~~
Spike spent his day sightseeing. Not doing anything in particular, just trying to absorb as much as he could.
The first thing he stopped to watch was the famous Las Pegasus Fountains. Brilliant liquid rainbow shot high into the air in one of the most unique displays Spike had ever seen. The fountain was a dual-level construct with a stone fountain on the bottom that shot the rainbow liquid (how it didn't blend into a muddy brown was beyond Spike) to the second level, A cloud layer with more fountainy bits to shoot the rainbows higher into the air. The cloud layer held a magical enchantment that caused it to shift about every few hours, changing the patterns it created with the slightly glowing liquid it displayed.
Next, Spike went to see the miniature version of the Statue of Friendship. It was a near identical match for the one he'd seen in Manehattan on the other side of Equestria, albeit only about half the size. This too showed off the blend of earth pony and pegasus architectures, with the statue floating on a cloud anchored to the ground.
Spike's third, and favorite, destination was the High Flyer. A gigantic ferris wheel that held miniature cabins, complete with complementary juice bar. (The snooty ponies running the ride called it an 'observation wheel' when Spike bought the ticket, correcting him in a manner only a city pony could.) The ride took about a half-hour to complete, with the cabins offering spectacular views of both the ground of Las Pegasus and the cloud layer, which it broke through for about ten minutes in the middle of the ride. Spike spent the entire ride glued to the window, while Winona (who was surprisingly allowed to ride for free) hid under one of the seats whimpering.
~~~
Spike flopped down on the bed in his tiny room back at the Bed and Breakfast, exhausted after his day of seeing the city sights. He didn't think it was possible, but seeing the city had been more exhausting than his walk to Las Pegasus. Still, it was a good kind of tired.
"Oh! Almost forgot!" Spike retrieved a pad of paper and a quill (complementary to all rooms) and scratched out a letter to his friends. He told them all about the Half-shoe Inn, his travels through Whitetail Woods, and his day in Las Pegasus. He left out the scary parts though. He didn't want Twilight to worry and come to take him home.
After deciding he was satisfied, Spike breathed out an emerald flame, sending the letter on it's merry way. Then he curled up on his bed next to Winona and fell fast asleep, dreaming of the adventures tomorrow would have in store.
Spike (after more morning chores for Warm and Tea) and Winona were back out on the town. Spike wanted to see a show today. Or maybe ride the High Flyer again. Or maybe he'd hit some of the carnival game places that seemed to be the only thing on the Las Pegasus Strip.
As Spike tried to decide what he wanted to do, Winona let out a sharp bark. Spike looked at the dog, wondering what caused the outburst (along with a few ponies around them). Winona was sitting next to a sign. An advertisement for a show, in fact.
"Come see the amazing show-stopping talent that could only be," Spike read aloud "the Great and Powerful Trixie." He gave Winona an incredulous look. "Seriously?"
Winona wagged her tail excitedly.
"Fine." Spike sighed, fishing out some bits to buy tickets to the show. "But you own me."
Spike approached the ticket counter and lay his bits down. "Two tickets, please."
"I'm sorry, but we can't allow that... dog into the theatre." The ticket pony, a yellow mare with an attitude that made Spike's blood boil, practically sneered at Winona. Winona whimpered softly in response.
"But you've gotta! She's... my... service dog! She helps me with stuff because I need help with stuff." Spike lied. Badly.
"No pets. Rules are rules."
"But she's not a pet. She's my friend!" The argument was starting to draw attention from passers-by on the street. "You can't make me leave her outside!" There were whispers from the crowd. Many seemed to be in agreement for Spike.
Spike didn't miss a beat. "These guys won't let me see the show with my friend!" More murmurs. "What's wrong with a dog seeing a show with us? I'm not a pony and they're letting me see the show!" More murmurs. The ticket mare could practically feel the shift in the atmosphere of the crowd.
"I... fine! But if the dog makes one sound, you're out of the theatre, got it?" The mare rubbed a hoof against the bridge of her muzzle. 'I don't get paid enough for this.'
~~~
There was a small part of Spike that wanted to say he hated the show. But if he were being honest, Trixie was a fantastic showpony when she wasn't trying to humiliate the crowd or take over Ponyville. The special effects were amazing. Trixie performed tricks where she made a pony vanish, levitated a series of objects and herself over the crowd (a high-level spell that even took Twilight a long while to master), and a series of illusions that could only be described as jaw-dropping.
Winona remained perfectly silent during the show. Spike was impressed, though even if she had been barking the whole time nopony would have heard it over the cheers of the crowd.
"I hate to admit it, but Trixie's amazing!" Spike looked down at Winona as the crowd shuffled out. "We should see if we can go talk to her backstage!" Winona tilted her head to the side. "Don't be like that. Besides, I'm sure she's forgiven herself for the last visit to Ponyville. Twilight has."
Spike stood and found his way behind stage. Surprisingly, there was no bouncer or security to say he couldn't go backstage. Maybe this place was more lax about stuff like that? He stopped at Trixie's dressing room. He knew it was Trixie's because there was a gold star on the door with her name. Inside, Spike heard angry voices. Out of curiosity, he pressed an ear to the door...
"I don't care what you say! We had a deal!" An angry sounding stallion yelled.
"But, the contract ended two weeks ago." A distraught sounding mare replied. "Trixie was supposed to be long gone. I had to cancel my Manehattan tour because of this."
"The contract ends when the boss- our boss says so." Another stallion, this one sounding stern and uncaring. "B'sides, you gotta keep working as long as the boss has your contract, or you lose all the money you made here."
"What? That wasn't part of the contract!" the distraught mare cried. Spike recognized the voice as Trixie's. "You can't do that to me!"
"On the contrary. You really should read the fine print of your contract a bit better." The angry stallion interjected, sounding incredibly smug now. "It says right here."
"... the owner of the Pony Carlo has full rights to extend the length of the contract as seen fit. Any breach in contract results in forfeiture of all earnings made by the signee- You can't do this!" Trixie had been reading aloud. Now she sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
"I can, and its happening. You're free to go, but all earnings you've made will go directly to the Pony Carlo." The smug sounding stallion replied coldly. Hoofsteps could be heard on the other side of the door. "Oh, and if you do break contract, I'll personally make sure you never work in Las Pegasus again."
Spike backpedaled from the door as fast as his little legs allowed right before the door opened, revealing the smug stallion and the stern one. Smug stallion wore an expensive looking business jacket. His jet black mane (a clear dye-job, judging by the lime green roots) was slicked back, drawing attention from his orange fur. He had a cutie mark of a pile of bits.
Stern stallion was beefy, with a dress shirt that barely fit over his muscled body. He had tan fur and a deep blue mane. His cutie mark was, unsurprisingly, a pony silhouette blocking a doorway. Judging by his size, Spike could tell blocking doors would be easy for this pony.
"Hey, hey. Trixie, you've got another fan visiting." Smug stallion flashed a too-wide smile at Spike. "You want the little guy to come in, or should he come back later?"
"Spike?" The cyan mare peered around the beefy stallion in the doorway. "I- send him in, Pit Boss. Trixie knows this one."
"If you say so, showmare. Good to meet ya, kid." Pit Boss patted Spike on the shoulder and trotted away, beefy stallion following close behind. Spike entered the dressing room with Winona.
"Hey, Trixie..." The dragon shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "How's it going? Long time no see, huh?"
"Trixie is doing great! She has her own show in Las Pegasus! Nothing could possibly be going wrong!" Trixie responded, a bit too sharply. She seemed to realize this and winced. "Sorry. I'm fine. Is... Is Twilight with you?"
"She's back in Ponyville." Things were going from awkward to unbearable at breakneck speed. "I'm on my own, travelling around. Kinda like you used to do. Well, with Winona though. So not alone, exactly." More shuffling of Spike's feet. He was having trouble looking Trixie in the eyes after overhearing what he had heard.
"That sounds nice." Trixie replied wistfully. "I wish I could do that again." There was a long, unbearable silence as neither of them said anything. Trixie finally broke the silence, breaking down into sobbing. "Oh, Spike! I don't know what to do!" The mare threw her forelegs around the dragon, who patted her back awkwardly.
"Hey... Don't- don't be like that. I'm sure there's something we can do to help you outta this situation. Maybe we can burn the contract or something. Or tell Princess Celestia!" Spike said, trying to comfort the sobbing mare. Winona even stepped in and nuzzled at Trixie. "I've got it! We'll steal the contract and send it to Celestia! She'll know exactly how to get you out of this!"
"You... You'd do that for Trixie? Even after what I did to Ponyville?" Trixie broke the hug, stepping back and wiping the large tears away.
"Well, sure. Nopony deserves to be treated like this. That Pit Boss is no-good." Spike nodded, as if to affirm his statement.
"I- I don't know what to say. Thank you, Spike."
"You can thank me after we find a way to get our hands on that contract." Spike smiled. "Um... any ideas?"
The plan was simple. Trixie would find a way to distract Pit Boss and his bodyguard, Meat Shield, while Spike got hold of the contract and sent it to Princess Celestia. Hopefully the contract would be enough to get the princess to intervene on Trixie's behalf, saving Trixie and letting her keep the money she had made working for the Pony Carlo. Spike had considered sending the contract to Twilight, but decided that Celestia would have more experience with this sort of thing, considering she had to deal with nobles on a daily basis.
Winona had been left in Trixie's dressing room. Trixie had been too afraid that Winona would cause suspicion.
"Sorry, girl. Trixie's got a point." Spike scratched the collie behind the ear. "Heh. Never thought I'd say that. Twilight'll laugh her tail off when I tell her that."
"Trixie can still hear you, Spike." The mare shot Spike a flat expression.
"Sorry." Spike stifled a laugh and put on a serious face. "Let's do this."
~~~
"Trixie would like to apologize for her behavior earlier." Trixie stood in Pit Boss' office, speaking to him about her 'outburst' form earlier. "It was wrong of me to try and get out of the contract."
Spike was amazed that Trixie wasn't choking on the words. She really was a good showpony. He was currently hiding under a bench in the hallway, waiting for the opportunity to slip past Meat Shield and grab the contract. Trixie had said that most contracts were kept in the top drawer of Pit Boss' desk, so Spike would quote: "Have to channel Twilight's pink friend's ability to teleport." Spike could only assume Trixie meant Pinkie Pie.
"Well, I have to say I'm surprised that you've had a change of heart." Pit Boss responded. "Of course, for your outburst earlier I'll have to dock your pay from the next show. I'll have to take, say, forty percent?"
"You can't! I'm barely making enough to get by as it is!" Trixie cried out.
"Oh, sorry. I think I misheard you. You want me to take forty-five percent?" Pit Boss replied coolly. Spike was wondering if this guy was a pony or just a snake.
"I-" Trixie bowed her head in defeat. "No. I'm... sorry."
Meat Shield looked over from his position by the door and chuckled. Spike took the opportunity to slip past the hulk of a pony and hide behind a potted plant. Score one for BatSpike. The dragon thought as he congratulated himself. He quickly slipped to another potted plant to distance himself from the door.
"That's what I thought. Now, is there anything else you needed?" The slimeball of a casino asked. "If not, I'm a very busy pony."
"I-" Trixie's eyes shot to Spike for a fraction of a second. A fraction too long. Pit Boss followed the mare's gaze, easily spotting the purple dragon amidst the red decor and green plant he hid behind.
"Meat Shield, you idiot! You let somepony slip past!" Meat Shield ran into the room, pausing inside the doorway. Pit Boss pointed a hoof at Spike. "Get him!"
"Run Spike!" Trixie's horn glowed brightly, and the room was filled with pyrotechnic magic. Bursts of colorful light flashed everywhere, half-blinding everypony who wasn't Trixie (who had long ago become accustomed to the bright spells). "Get out of here!"
Spike darted forward to the desk, rather than listen to Trixie's words. He threw open the top drawer of the desk and breathed a bright gout of green flame into the drawer without finding the particular contract he needed.
The dragon's world was filled with bright lights as something slammed into his head with the sound of breaking glass. At roughly the same moment, Trixie let out a cry of pain of her own.
"You really thought you could get away with such a boneheaded plot?" Pit Boss dropped the remnants of a shattered vase from his mouth. A lock of his coiffed mane had slipped free, hanging in front of his eyes. All in all, it lent to the mad expression on his face. "You thought you could best me? ME!" The stallion sneered down at Spike. "Meat Shield, tie these fools up until I can decide what to do with them."
Pit Boss walked over to a groggy Trixie and pulled a rolled up paper from his coat. "Looking for this? I knew you'd try something stupid." He waved the contract tauntingly in front of the mare. "Too bad. Even if you destroyed this contract, that wouldn't release you. I have copies. You'll work for me forever." The stallion laughed maniacally as Spike felt himself get hoisted into a chair and roughly bound.
"I'm really sorry, Trixie." Spike sighed from next to the mare. "I tried."
Spike found himself tied to a chair next to an equally bound Trixie. Pit Boss paced in front of the two, silently thinking about what to do to them.
"Don't blame yourself, Spike. Trixie should have tempered herself in the beginning." Trixie glummly replied. "Working in Las Pegasus is a dream come true. When I got the opportunity, I didn't even hesitate to sign up." Tears began flowing from the mare's violet eyes for the second time that day. "This is all my fault."
Spike's heart dropped. "Don't blame yourself. Its this bonehead's fault for being such a lowlife." Spike nodded his head at Pit Boss.
"Shuddup!" Pit Boss flipped Spike's chair backwards, leaving Spike staring up at the ceiling. At least my arms are tied to the armrests. Spike though, thankful for small miracles.
"Meat Shield! Bring me one of the contracts. We're about to have a new employee." Meat Shield responded by rifling through one of the filing cabinets on the far side of the office. "Weren't you saying last week that you could really use an assistant for your shows, Miss Lulamoon?" Pit Boss had an amused tone to his voice.
"Leave Spike alone! I promise I'll cooperate from now on, just don't get him tied up in this!" Trixie called, struggling against her ropes.
"Very poor choice of words. It looks like your little friend is already- Hey! Meat Shield, tie the dragon's mouth!" Spike had been trying to burn away the ropes binding his wrists to the chair. Having been caught, he quickly found his mouth tied tightly shut.
"Now, I've got an offer of employment here for you... Spike was it?" Pit Boss held a new contract up. A pre-made document of employment, from what Spike could read from his position. Spike glared from the floor, hoping his expression said exactly how he felt about working for such a shady pony.
"I said leave him alone! Cut my pay, make me do double shows! Just don't force him into your terrible schemes." Trixie whimpered from the floor. Spike felt a wave of gratitude wash over him.
"I told you to shut up! Meat Shield, tie her muzzle too." Meat Shield grunted and complied. "Now, Spike. I just need you to sign this contract and I'll untie the both of you.
"Working for me ain't so bad. You get your own room, free meals, and even-" A knock came from the office door, which Pit Boss realized in hindsight should have been locked from the beginning. He had done so while Meat Shield had seen to the 'employees'. "Who is it?! I'm busy discussing business!"
No reply came from the door. Pit Boss growled, a few more strands of his mane coming loose from their perfect position. He opened the door a crack and glared out. Tied up employees being spotted were bad for business after all.
"What do... you..." Pit Boss' voice trailed off as he stared up at the pony interrupting him.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but may I come in?" A matronly voice responded.
Pit Boss found himself staring at Princess Celestia herself. The Princess Celestia. As in the one who ran Equestria. Flowing mane and crown and everything.
"I-I-I'm in the middle of some important business. Is there any chance this can be rescheduled?" Pit Boss stammered, glancing inside at Trixie and Spike, who had no idea the princess was there.
"Well, I'm here to discuss that actually." Celestia responded warmly. "I've just recently gotten word that some of your contracts have some very unfair clauses in them. When I found out, I figured I'd simply teleport here and see if this was in error."
"I, um... I'm not sure what you mean. What kind of word did you get? I mean, I assure you, all of my employees are treated quite fairly."
"Well, that's just it. I was sent what I can only assume were copies of some of your contracts by a dear friend of mine. Perhaps you've met him? He's a young dragon. Goes by the name of Spike?" Celestia smiled down at Pit Boss, who had broken out in a cold sweat.
"I uh, can't say that I've ever met a dragon. I'd be too afraid of the green flames to stick around anyway." Pit Boss let out a nervous laugh.
"Funny. I didn't say he had green flames." Celestia raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Maybe you should let me in so that we may discuss this in a more professional manner?"
"Like I said, I'm in the middle of negot-"
"I'm certain that they'll allow a princess to interrupt." Celestia didn't allow the shift stallion to finish his sentence before she gripped the door in her magic and forced it open, pushing Pit Boss away from the doorway in the process.
Princess Celestia stepped into the office in all of her resplendent glory. Spike had never been so happy to see Celestia. Not that he'd ever been unhappy to see her.
"Hello Spike. I'm sorry to to interrupt when you're all tied up. I got your letters." Celestia smirked at the dragon. A golden magical aura enveloped the ropes around Spike and Trixie's ropes, deftly removing the bindings. "I must say, I'm very proud of you for bringing this to my attention." Spike blushed deeply as he stood up.
Meat Shield had taken to grovelling before the princess. "Please don't hurt me! I was only following orders!" Pit Boss took the opportunity to bolt from the office.
"Oh, I have no intention of hurting one of my subjects. I have, however, alerted the local authorities. They'll be taking you into custody any moment now, along with your boss. I'm must say, I'm very disappointed that any of my subjects could act so cruelly." Celestia glared down at Meat Shield in the way that an angry mother would scold a filly for playing ball in the house.
"Thank you so much!" Trixie threw herself at the hooves of Celestia, her tears now those of joy.
"You shouldn't be thanking me. It was Spike here who brought the matter to my attention." Celestia nodded to the dragon, who turned an even brighter red.
Trixie threw her hooves around the dragon. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou! How can the Grateful and Powerful Trixie ever repay you for helping me?" Trixie was now standing on her hind legs and twirling Spike in circles.
"You can start by putting me down." Spike replied, Trixie quickly aquiescing to the request. Spike flopped dizzily onto his but. "Thanks."
Celestia cleared her throat. "Thank you again for bringing this to light, Spike. That was very brave. Now if you'll excuse me, I must see to other business" Celestia flared out her wings before vanishing in a golden flash, leaving Spike and Trixie alone in the office.
~~~
The next day, Trixie had packed up her things in a new cart. She was eager to leave Las Pegasus far behind. As far as she was concerned, if she ever came back to Las Pegasus it would be too soon.
"So where are you gonna go?" Spike asked.
"I don't know. South maybe. Trixie has been off the road for a long time, and would like to visit an old friend." Trixie stared towards the rising sun, saying another silent thank you to the Princess of Sun for her timely interference in what could have been a horrible situation.
"Sounds fun." Spike replied, Winona barking in agreement.
"And what about you? Where will you travel to next?" Trixie looked back down at Spike, who she could never repay for his assistance.
"Dunno. I haven't thought about it. I just want to see new stuff, ya know?"
"Trixie knows that feeling all too well. It's the same one that spurred me to travel as well, you know."
Spike laughed in response. "Well, good luck on the road then."
"And to you, my scaly friend." Trixie smiled. She slipped into the harness of her cart and started walking down the road. Spike waved after the mare, who made it roughly ten feet before stopping and turning around. "Would you like to come with me Spike? Pit Boss wasn't wrong when he said I was looking for an assistant."
Spike pondered for a moment before responding. "Sure. As long as you don't mind Winona coming too, of course." Winona barked exitedly.
"Of course." Trixie smiled softly, not unlike Twilight's smile.
"So what's it like travelling Equestria, Trixie?" Spike asked from the roof of Trixie's cart. He was currently pretending to be a pirate lookout, partially due to the fact that Trixie had multiple costumes behind the curtain of her travelling home, slash storage area, slash stage, slash perfect area for Winona to rest. It was a really neat pirate hat too.
"Its fantastic, Spike. Everything Trixie had dreamed of as a filly." Trixie called from a platform jutting off the front of the cart. "Though, there have been some... issues." Trixie's pale magenta magical aura was focused on the wheels of the cart, rotating them to propel the cart forward.
"Like what?" Spike was now fencing with invisible enemies, as if he was fighting to the last.
"Well, you saw Las Pegasus. And Ponyville. Twice." Trixie flushed deeply. "But mostly the stuff that goes wrong are the things that Trixie cannot control. Incliment weather, detours, and even monsters."
"M-monsters?" Spike stopped his play fight and peered off the roof of the cart at Trixie.
"Oh yes. Trixie has had to either deal with or run from a variety of Equestrian monsters." Trixie replied almost nonchalantly. "Bugbears, Hydras, even an Ursa Major one time." Though Trixie had very clearly recalled fleeing for her life when it involved that last monster.
"How'd you take care of so many monsters? Even Twilight and her friends had trouble with the bugbear that attacked Ponyville."
"Trixie... ran, if we're being honest here." Trixie winced in a mix of shame and fear at the memories.
Spike let out a soft chuckle. "I'd have run too. Hydras are scary."
The trio continued on in silence. It wasn't an awkward one, like when you fart at a birthday party. More of the comfortable silence one could share with a friend.
The world around them rolled past. The landscape slowly changed from a coastal ride to one of a more arid landscape. Bushes and coastal flora was slowly replaced by hardy plants; cacti and the like. The dirt road they traveled became rougher, as if it hadn't been used in a long time. Grass became sand and rocks. The further from the coast the three of them got, the drier the air became.
"Welcome to the San Palomino desert, Spike." Trixie called dramatically to the dragon from her seat below. Winona barked once sharply, drawing a giggle from Trixie. "And you, Winona."
~~~
Night had fallen on the desert, quickly shifting the temperature from a mildly uncomfortable autumn heat to a cold, starry night. Spike, Winona, and Trixie had set up a small campfire off the side of the road. The only sound heard for miles was the song of the crickets in the distance. Millions of stars twinkled overhead, making Spike dizzy if he stared up at them too long. The only thing interrupting the view of the stars was the bright lights of Las Pegasus, still visible in the distance.
"This is nice." Trixie stared at the sky. "It has been too long since Trixie has been able to sleep under the stars." Moisture began welling up in the cyan mare's eyes. "I really can't thank you enough, Spike."
"Aw, don't thank me. It was Princess Celestia who really saved you." Spike flushed, rubbing a claw over the back of his head.
"Yes, but she wouldn't have been able to intervene if she hadn't been told of Trixie's peril. And she was only told because you were there." Trixie pointed out.
"Yeah, well. You'da done the same thing for me."
Trixie pondered this for a moment. In the past, she doubted she would have bothered helping... anypony really. Now? Trixie reflected on that for a moment. She'd like to think that she would have helped Spike. Or anypony, had she discovered them in the same situation she had found herself in. But honestly? Trixie had never found herself in any situations that had put her in a situation where she'd have to help anypony. And a part of her wondered if she would help. This scared her.
"Trixie? You okay?" Spike's voice pulled Trixie from her thoughts.
"Oh, yes. I- Sorry Spike." Trixie shook her head, as if it would force the melancholy thoughts from rattling around in there anymore.
"You sure?" Spike looked at the mare in concern.
"Y-yeah. Trixie was just remembering the past." The mare lied as she brushed back a lock of her pale blue mane.
"Wanna talk about it? I'd love to hear it." Spike scooted a bit closer, eager for a story now.
"Well," Trixie tapped a hoof to her chin. "Trixie could tell you about one of her favorite adventures..." She let her voice trail off as she thought about where to start.
"It was about two years ago, now. Trixie had just finished a show in Vanhoover." Trixie began. "It was right after the show, Trixie met a fi- I mean friendly mare who seemed to really enjoy the show."
"Wow! That was so amazing, Great and Powerful Trixie!" A mare with a cream coat and a seafoam green mane approached Trixie excitedly. She bore a cutie mark of a crescent moon with a semiquaver it. "I'm such a huge fan!" She was practically bouncing in excitement, her turquoise eyes gleaming in adoration at the sight of the amazing Trixie.
"Trixie is pleased that you enjoyed the show. It means a lot to her that somepony could be such a large fan." Trixie tossed her head back, flipping her majestic mane. Clad in her trademark cape and hat, Trixie struck an impressive figure. It was no wonder that fans would go weak-kneed at the sight of-
"Uh, Trixie? Did anything happen in this story, or are you just going to talk about how awesome you were?" Spike interjected, breaking Trixie's self-absorbed rant.
"Ahem." Trixie cleared her throat with a light rosiness in her cheeks. "Trixie could probably cut out some of the details centered on her appearance."
A short while later, Trixie and this new mare had struck up a conversation with the mare over drinks. Songbird was her name. They'd stopped at a place called the Tide and Bridle. It offered a lovely view of the bay, and smelled of strong cider and aged wood. The dimly lit tavern was a good place to just blend in for an evening.
"I can't believe I'm hanging out with a famous mare like you, Trixie!" The bubbly Song giggled. "I'm super lucky!"
"Yes, well there are times when Trixie enjoys the company of fans." Trixie replied casually. She took a sip from her drink. "So what do you do around here, Songbird?"
"I'm a singer for a lounge, actually. I'm trying to make it big, but it's super hard to get noticed in a place like Vanhoover." Songbird stared into her drink with an embarrassed smile. "I'm kinda jealous of you, actually."
"Well, Trixie is known across Equestria. She could see why one would be jealous." Trixie stated modestly as she took another drink.
"Wow, Trixie. Really modest there." Spike rolled his eyes.
"Hush. Trixie is about to get to the good part."
Trixie and Songbird talked for quite a long time. Not about anything in particular. They swapped stories about all sorts of things; performances, fans, idols. Eventually the crowd in the tavern dwindled as they talked into the dark hours of the night.
"Let me get you another cider, Trixie." Songbird offered.
"Trixie really shouldn't..." The showmare hesitated.
"Aw, just one more?" Songbird pouted ador- adamantly.
"Well, Trixie supposes that there couldn't be any harm in one more." Trixie gave in.
Songbird slipped over to the tavern keeper for a moment before returning to the booth she shared with Trixie. She slid a fresh cider to Trixie and raised her own with a hoof. "Cheers!"
Trixie levitated her cider and clinked it against the one Songbird held. She took a deep drink, polishing off half the drink before placing it back on the table. Songbird only took a dainty sip before setting her drink down. Trixie immediately felt the effects of something. The room spun, and Trixie found herself on the floor as Songbird stepped over.
"Uh-oh. Looks like somepony's had a bit too much. Here, let me take you out of here." Songbird's words seemed so far away. Maybe it was the sudden dizziness, but she seemed to have lost the bubbly quality to her voice.
~~~
Trixie awoke in a cage. Songbird was on the outside of the iron cell, smiling giddily.
"You're awake! Goody!" The earth pony was positively glowing with excitement. "I'm so glad you decided to come home with me! Now we can be best friends forever!"
"I... What?" Trixie responded in confusion. "Where have you taken Trixie?"
"Oh, you're in my home. After you passed out, I decided to take you here. I've never had a celebrity friend before." This situation had officially gone from pleasant to ultra-creepy in entirely too short a time. Trixie glowered at the mare.
"Release the Great and Powerful Trixie this instant!"
"Oh, no." Songbird giggled. "If I did that, then how could we stay friends?" Songbird trotted over a set of stairs leading upwards. "You just make yourself comfortable. I'll see you in the morning, with potatoes and eggs. Doesn't that sound scrumptious?" She didn't wait for Trixie's response before trotting away and leaving Trixie alone in a dimly lit basement.
Trixie, however, had one benefit that Songbird didn't seem to factor in. Trixie was a unicorn. And Songbird left the keys to the cage hanging on a peg on the far side of the wall. Trixie waited for some time, until she could no longer hear sounds coming from upstairs. Then she waited a bit longer before finally floating the keys over and releasing herself from the cage. She went straight to the authorities and reported Songbird. Less than an hour later, Songbird was in custody and Trixie was leaving Vanhoover for a very long time.
Spike looked absolutely terrified, having pulled his knees tightly into his chest. "How was that one of your favorite memories of traveling Equestria?!"
"It was a situation that could have ended poorly, but thanks to Trixie had a happy outcome." Trixie replied coolly.
"Sounds more like you were lucky you were a unicorn." Spike nibbled nervously on a claw.
"Merely semantics, Spike." Trixie rolled her eyes. "You should get some sleep. We have a long way to go before our next destination." The mare draped her cape over herself like a blanket and lay down.
"I don't think I'll be sleeping tonight." Spike replied. Winona snuggled up to the poor dragon in an attempt to calm him.
"So where are we headed, anyway?" Spike asked alongside the cart. After three days of riding, he and Winona really needed to stretch their legs. Winona was nearby, bounding about grabbing sticks and chasing away birds. She seemed to be enjoying herself.
"Trixie didn't tell you?" Asked Trixie with an expression that mixed confusion and surprise. "I swear I did."
"Nuh-uh. You said you were visiting an old friend, but not who they were or where they were." Spike explained, clearly recalling the details. Live with Twilight Sparkle long enough and her eidetic memory started to rub off.
"Oh, uh... Trixie was headed up to a rock farm nearby to um, visit Maud Pie." Trixie coughed and cleared her throat after saying whom she was off to visit, making it difficult to understand the last part of her sentence.
"What was that last part? You coughed and I couldn't hear it." Spike asked for clarification. "Uh, Trixie? Are you feeling okay? You're face is all red and stuff."
Trixie had indeed turned a bright shade of red as Spike pressed his line of questioning. She was kind of sweaty, too. Like whenever Spike was talking to Rar- Sweet Celestia Trixie had a crush on somepony.
"You like somepony at this rock farm." Spike grinned slyly. "Who is it? Do I know him?" Spike climbed onto Trixie's riding platform and sat next to the uncomfortable mare, eager for details.
"Um, I-I-I was just in the mood for visiting a friend who helped Trixie out after her first disagreement with Twilight Sparkle." Disagreement. She'd boiled down the fiasco that ended with an Ursa Minor rampaging in Ponyville down to the word disagreement. Had Spike not been enjoying seeing Trixie squirm, he would have called her on that one.
"Oh yeah? I remember you saying you worked on a rock farm for a bit. Which one? Do I know anypony there?" At this point, Spike saw staring into Trixie's eyes, as if attempting to mesmerize the poor mare into spilling the beans.
"Perhaps? She's uh, she's one of Pinkie Pie's sisters. Her name is Maud." Trixie tilted her head downward in defeat. Her dragon companion wasn't going to let this one go.
"No way! You have a thing for Maud! How come Maud never told anypony you two were special someponies?" Spike chuckled. Trixie blushed. Winona ran up next to the cart to see what the ruckus was about.
"I- That is- Trixie-" Trixie kept starting her sentence over, unable to find the words she so desperately sought. She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "Trixie isn't sure what she feels towards Maud. And Maud probably isn't interested in being special someponies with a mare that's more apt to be travelling the world than spending time with her. Not that Trixie is looking to be special someponies with Maud or anything. Trixie is simply hoping to someday return the favor Maud did her when she let Trixie work on the Pie Rock Farm."
Spike seemed to accept this, and rode in silence from that point on. In truth, his mind was oddly filled with mushy stuff like finding a way for Maud to like Trixie back. But something like that would take something Spike rarely did unless gemstones were involved: planning.
"Trixie can't do it!" Trixie was hiding inside her cart, boxes and trunks magically stacked to form a barricade to lock herself inside her cart.
Spike rolled his eyes and sighed. Replace the trunks with books and he'd have a full-on Twilight meltdown on his claws. Seriously. Twilight still had breakdowns over her princess duties sometimes where she would barricade the doors to the castle's library with a wall of books and refuse to come out. Last time she did it Spike had to borrow a rope from Pinkie Pie and repel down the outside of the castle, entering the library from a window. Suffice it to say, Spike was a master at dealing with scared ponies.
"Come on, Trixie. What's there to get worked up about? So you haven't seen Maud in a long time." Spike did his best to adopt what he called his 'Celestia Tone' of voice; a reassuring tone that promised things would get better. "It just means she'll be happier to see you after a long time gone."
Trixie had started her breakdown at roughly the same time they crested a hill and spotted the Pie Rock Farm. Before Spike knew what was happening, the cart had stopped and Trixie had masterfully built her fortifications inside the cart.
"Trixie, you're being silly. What's the worst that could happen?" Spike asked, trying to reassure the mare.
"Maud could say she doesn't want to see the Great and Timid Trixie and send her away. Or she could have met an amazing stallion while Trixie was stuck in Las Pegasus. Or she could have met a stallion and that's why she doesn't want to see Trixie!" Trixie was working herself up in a perpetual cycle of building off of her own insecurities at this point.
"Look, you like Maud, right? Even if it's just as a friend?" Spike took a different approach, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and foreclaw to stave off the headache Trixie was unknowingly inflicting upon him.
"Y-Yes. Trixie consideres Maud to be one of her best friends." Trixie replied hesitantly.
"Okay, and Maud considers you a friend, right?" Spike was making headway.
"Maybe? Trixie could have just been somepony Maud decided to help. Maud could have just been helping because that's the kind of pony she is." Maybe spike wasn't making as much headway as he thought.
"I don't think so." Spike had now moved on to rubbing his temples. "I mean, yeah, Maud's one of those ponies that'll help you out of a jam, even if she's not much for conversation. But when she steps in and helps ponies, its because she cares about them in her own way. I watched her run an insane obstacle course super fast and then punch through a boulder to save Pinkie Pie once."
Silence from the inside of the cart, save for Winona's whimpers as she cuddled up to Trixie to comfort the mare in her own way.
"Look Trixie. I'm gonna level with you. You're being a pain in my tail right now. If Maud walked up right now, what would she think?" Spike switched gears yet again, using a tactic from Twilight's book. Seriously. Replace Maud's name with Rarity and he'd be quoting Twilight right now.
"She's not walking up right now though. Trixie knows you lie."
"No- I mean if she walked up. This is a 'what-if' scenario." Spike sighed. How did he always end up having to coax crazy mares out from behind barricades? Spike bet that if he were a pony, his cutie mark would be negotiating.
Another moment of silence from behind the box wall of the cart before Trixie answered again.
"Maud would probably make a joke about cave-in's or something. Something like 'You look stuck between a rock and a hard place.'" Trixie replied, doing a surprisingly accurate imitation of Maud's monotone manner of speech.
"I- What?" Spike was confused now. "I've met Maud. Maud doesn't make jokes. I think I've only seen her smile once."
"Maud makes jokes around Trixie all the time. Or did, when Trixie was getting back on her hooves." A trunk shifted out of the way, finally revealing Trixie's face as she spoke matter-of-factly.
"Wait. You're saying you've had Maud crack jokes around you, when nopony else even sees her smile, and you're still worried that she won't want to see you?" Spike could have kicked something he was so frustrated. "She obviously thinks you're somepony to be friends with if she makes jokes!"
Trixie was silent for the longest time as she bit the inside of her cheeks. "You really think so?"
"Ugh." Spike slapped a hand against his forehead. "Yes. I really think so. You're working yourself up over nothing." Spike pointed a claw at Trixie. "You need to go talk to her. If you don't, we'll end up camping on this hill forever, and I really don't wanna camp again when we could stay the night in a nice warm bed. Do you?"
"Well, Trixie would like to slee-" Trixie turned a startling shade of red and stopped mid-sentence. "Trixie would like to say hi to Maud and nothing else!"
"Ok, then. Let's get going!" Spike said excitedly. He'd made a breakthrough with Trixie after all. Though he couldn't understand why Trixie was still bright red, he was relieved to see her dismantle Fort Luggage and magically urge the cart forward again.
Trixie took a deep breath. Then another. Then a third as she continued to stall. Finally, Spike stepped forward and knocked on the door. The two were situated in front of the Pie family's home. The scent of dust and moist earth hung in the air. Another rain was scheduled to move in soon, though this one wasn't going to be anywhere near as rough as the one Spike had been caught in. Gray clouds covered the sky.
"Spike! Why'd you do that? Trixie isn't ready, I'm not ready I- Hello, Mister and Missus Pie." Trixie switched from nervous-breakdown-mode to warm-and-friendly-mode nearly immediately. A cold bead of sweat could still be seen making it's way down her forehead as she grinned as warly as she could, which in this case meant her smile was borderline psychopathic.
"Trixie. It has been many months since we have last seen ye." A dull brown stallion remarked, with a tone that somepony would use when offhandedly saying 'it looks like it may rain'. "What brings ye back to these parts? Are ye looking for work again?"
Trixie blushed deeply, mumbling something akin to a 'no'. "Trixie was simply in the area and thought that maybe she could stop by and say hello." The nervous mare rubbed a foreleg against the other. "If that's okay, I mean. Trixie would hate to intrude."
Spike was dumbfounded. Every time Trixie had ever been through Ponyville, she'd been... not this. This was a completely different mare Spike was dealing with. It was like the boastful showpony had been replaced with Fluttershy.
"Truly, ye are always welcome, Trixie. Please, tell us though, what is the name of ye friend here?" A light cobalt gray mare asked, presumably Missus Pie.
"I'm Spike!" The dragon stepped forward and held out a clawed hand. Neither of the ponies held out a hoof of their own. Both simply nodded politely at the dragon, who held his claw out for a few moments longer before lowering it.
"I am Igneous Rock Pie, and this be my wife, Cloudy Quartz." Igneous replied.
"Ye art welcome here, Spike." Cloudy Quartz added, which Spike was pretty sure meant 'welcome'.
"Pleasure to meet you both! Pinkie Pie's told me loads about her family!" Spike smiled.
Igneous raised an eyebrow. "Ye have met our daughter? Telleth us, how fares she?"
"Last I saw her she was good. A bit sad, but that's just because I was leaving Ponyville for a bit." Spike answered.
"This is good news." Cloudy Quartz replied evenly. "Please, enter. Mine home is thine home as well."
~~~
After a... lovely lunch of rock soup and bread, Spike found himself regaling Pinkie Pie's parents with what had happened on his adventure. Through the story, Trixie remained distant, as if preoccupied with something out the window. Igneous and Cloudy remained stone-faced through the story, showing no trace of shock at the events in Las Pegasus, nor relief when things had turned out all right.
"It sounds as if ye have had a trying time so far. Please, feel free to stay the night." Igneous offered.
"Thanks! We've been sleeping in Trixie's cart at night, so a bed would be amazing." Spike gratefully replied.
"If ye shall excuse us, we must be getting back to the fields." Cloudy said primly as she rose with her husband. The words seemed to snap Trixie out of whatever reverie she was in.
"What? But I didn't think you worked the fields yourselves anymore. Is Limestone hurt?" Trixie asked. Limestone, who Spike hadn't met yet, was the eldest daughter of the Pie family, and was also the one who handled most of the rock farm's duties nowadays.
"Nay. Limestone is unharmed. There has been an... issue, one that requires more hooves in the field as of late." Igneous replied with the slightest droop of his head.
Trixie stood abruptly. "Then we'll help too. Call it repaying you for letting us stay the night."
"Tis not necessary. We shall overcome this trying time, as we always have." Cloudy Quartz reassured Trixie.
"Trixie was not asking to help." The mare said, showing the first signs of being her usual self. "Trixie was telling you that we would help you. Just tell us what to do." Spike just wondered why it had to be a 'we'.
Spike was accustomed to heavy lifting, thanks to his time living in the Golden Oaks Library. He was accustomed to bizarre commands, thanks to Twilight's somewhat baffling habit of reshelving every book in the library every few months (a task that had become more daunting now that they lived in a castle). Spike was also used to digging and working in the dirt because he was lucky enough to help Rarity on her gem-hunting excursions. Spike was not, however, accustomed to rock farming and all of it's surprising intricacies.
Like where to move rocks to, and why they needed to be rotated around the fields. He'd understand if rocks ripened like gems did, but they didn't. Unless they contained gems inside them? Spike was overcome with curiosity, but when he'd tried to crack one open, he'd been reprimanded by Trixie.
"Spike! You're supposed to be helping the rock farm, not ruining the rocks!" Trixie had scolded harshly. Spike wondered if Trixie even knew why she was moving rocks around an open field.
The land itself wasn't good for normal farming, but that didn't mean the Pies couldn't have grown hardier plants. Cacti, for example, required little water and would actually benefit from the gravel in the soil. Gravel meant better drainage for the plants. Plus, the fruits from cacti were tasty. Spike hated the random facts that stuck in his head whenever Twilight went on a rant about a new interesting subject.
By the time dusk settled over the farm, Spike was good and ready for a long nap. Judging by the frayed manes and tired eyes of everypony else, Spike wasn't the only one who felt that way.
"Ugh. I'm beat." A mare with a bluish gray coat said as she flopped onto a worn cushion in the living room of her house.
"Mhmm..." A weary looking lighter gray mare agreed.
Trixie had introduced the two as Pinkie Pie's sisters Limestone and Marble, respectively. Limestone was clearly a sister of Pinkie's. She was brash and a bit rough around the edges, but she had the same was of saying what she meant that was distinctively 'Pinkie'. Marble, on the other hand, could have passed for a relative of Fluttershy's. Spike hadn't heard her say a word since meeting her, unless he counted 'mhmm'.
Igneous and Cloudy Quartz had gone to the kitchen to prepare a quick meal. Spike wished he could order a pizza. He'd never had to work so hard in his life. Seriously, what was with moving rocks around a field?
"Thanks for helping Trixie. And you Spike." Limestone was laying on her back, staring at the ceiling. "We needed the help." There was an undertone in her voice. Resentment maybe?
"Bah. Trixie needs no thanks." Trixie waved a hoof of dismissal. "But Trixie has been curious about one thing. Why are your parents in the fields? Last time Trixie was here, you and Marble were capable of handling everything yourselves." Trixie looked at the eldest Pie sister with concern.
"Ugh..." Limestone huffed with more than a little frustration. "Some jerk is trying to buy the farm. He keeps saying that we don't make nearly as much as he could if he could make if he owned the land. Wants to bring in fancy machinery and excavate everything. Since he showed up, we've been having problems around the farm. Wagons breaking in the middle of the night, tools going missing, things like that." The mare glowered as she spoke. "I just know that jerk's behind it somehow. But the only way he's getting my farm is over my dead body!" Limestone emphasized her point by smacking a hoof against the cushion she lay on.
"Whoa. That's some pretty serious stuff. Maybe we can talk to this guy and convince him that you're not interested?" Spike offered.
"Don't think we haven't tried that. He just says that he'll pay enough to make sure that we never need to work again." Limestone glared at Spike.
"Well, wouldn't that be a good thing?" The dragon asked. Limestone's glare could have burned holes through his scales.
"This farm has been in my family for generations! Ever since Holder Cobblestone built this farm!" Limestone was scary when she yelled. "I'm not giving it up because some stuck-up rich pony wants more money." Limestone was on her hooves, stomping forward toward's Spike as she spoke. She ended her short speech nose to nose with the dragon.
"Okay..." Spike gulped in fear. "So how do we help?"
Limestone's expression softened into something akin to confusion. "What?"
"How do we help? Me and Trixie are here, so we should do something." Spike told the mare. "Like maybe catch whoever's messing with your farm equipment? Then we can prove who's behind it and get them to stop!" Spike exclaimed, seeing no flaws in this plan whatsoever.
"You'd really do that for us?" A timid voice asked, barely audible despite the silence in the room. The voice was soft velvet, and just so happened to belong to Marble Pie. She was staring at Spike in awe.
"Well, yeah. Why wouldn't I? I couldn't just sit by and watch you guys lose your homes." Spike responded, unsure why there was confusion in the first place.
"I think what Spike is trying to say is that if we didn't help we'd be no better than the pony trying to take your farm." Trixie chimed in. "Trixie says we come up with a plan and catch the pony responsible. Call it paying you back for helping Trixie back onto her hooves."
Limestone gave a devilish smirk. "Fancy Hooves won't know what hit him."
After dinner (a lovely rock soup) Limestone, Marble, Spike, Trixie, and Winona all discussed their plan to catch whomever was responsible for the vandalism around the rock farm. In the end, it was decided that everypony would split up and watch specific areas of the farm where it was most likely for somepony to try and break something. Trixie would watch the silo, Marble would keep an eye on the windmill and the house, Limestone would patrol the quarry with Winona, and Spike would watch the fields.
Time passed slowly for everypony. For the longest time, nothing happened. Spike did his best to keep his attention on things, but he'd have been lying if he said he wasn't bored to tears. Limestone kept an eagle eye out for any movement that wasn't herself. Marble had hunkered down beneath a bush to keep a silent vigil over her designated area. Trixie paced back and forth, trying to keep the entire silo in her view.
It was Trixie who spotted something out of the ordinary first. A darkened silhouette moved to the door of the silo, pausing only long enough to look around, presumably for witnesses. The shadowy figure slipped through the doorway. Trixie put on a look of determination before rushing to get to the silo before the figure could leave. As she crossed the short distance to the door, she focused her magic to send up a bright ball of light that hung in the sky above the silo. With luck, the others would see it and come running.
Trixie slipped through the doorway as quietly as possible. The silo smelled of dust and oats. The Pie family used the silo as a food storage. Trixie couldn't help but wonder why anypony would settle for rock soup when there were delicious oats in the silo nearby. Not important! Trixie will apprehend this intruder. Trixie gulped.
The figure didn't seem to have noticed Trixie. It shuffled about, moving barrels of oats about. Whoever the figure was, they were strong. The heavy oats were moved quickly and the figure slipped behind the barrels. Trixie knew this was her chance.
"Yaaah!" Trixie cried out as she hurdled over the barrels and onto the back of the figure. Trixie had the advantage, and both she and the figure tumbled to the ground. Both of them rolled about as Trixie fought for the upper hand. Trixie's hat was lost in the tussle. Some of the barrels toppled over and rolled away.
"Hold still!" Trixie cried. Trixie gripped her cape in a magenta magical glow and removed it. With a fluid motion, she wrapped the cape around the forelegs of the figure, tying it into a knot. "Now to see who you are!"
Trixie focused her magic yet again, illuminating the silo. Beneath her was an attractive blueish-gray mare with a striking blue-violet mane. The mare blankly stared up at Trixie, who stared back with a look that seemed to border between shock, embarrassment, and horror. Time seemed to have stopped.
"Hello Trixie. It's been a while." The mare's even voice stated.
"Maud?" Trixie asked with more than a little confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"This is my family's farm." Maud replied. "I could ask you the same question."
"I-I Trixie was staying the night. Visiting with a friend. We were told that there was somepony making trouble, so we were looking for suspicious ponies." Trixie explained. She used her magic to unbind the mare on the ground. "When Trixie saw you, she thought that she'd found the ponies breaking things around the farm."
"I see. That makes a lot of sense." Maud stood, rubbing a hoof against the spot on her leg she'd been bound at. "No hard feelings, then."
"But what are you doing here? Why were you sneaking around the silo?" Trixie's voice was filled with confusion.
"I just got here, but it's late. I was going to sleep in the silo to avoid waking anypony." Maud's voice, on the other hoof, was borderline robotic.
"Oh." Trixie scuffed a hoof against the dirt floor of the silo. She didn't know what to say. She was alone with a mare that she felt... something for, though Trixie couldn't put her hoof on exactly what emotion that was.
'We're alone. I should say something! But what?' Trixie's mind raced as she tried to break the silence. She could just picture it now: She finally says something to Maud. The right words. Maud's stony front that she put up would crack and she'd finally realize her feelings for Trixie. Then she'd lean in close and... Trixie stood petrified, lost in her train of thought.
"Trixie, you're turning red." Maud pointed out.
Trixie let out a sound that could be best described as a squeak combined with a strangled yelp. Her mind had gone far beyond what she'd have been ready for and this was reflected by the fact that Trixie's face had indeed turned a deep crimson. Trixie opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the door to the silo slamming open.
~~~
Spike saw the light of Trixie's magic shoot into the sky. Thinking that Trixie (the only unicorn on the farm at the moment) had found the farm saboteur, Spike took off running towards the silo as fast as his little legs could take him. He either went around or leapt over some of the larger rocks in the field. He wasn't aware of it until he had to sprint across it, but the rock farm was huge!
The poor little dragon was panting for breath and he hadn't even crossed the fields yet. So far... Spike couldn't help but miss being able to ride on Twilight's back at that moment. The dragon was so focused on getting to the silo, he didn't see a shadow in the bushes move.
~~~
Marble saw the light shoot into the air as well. Should I go see what's going on? What if somepony gets mad that I left my spot to watch? The mare teetered, stuck between running to help and staying put to keep an eye on the house. If somepony snuck into the house, her parents would get hurt. But if someone was in the silo, somepony else could get hurt. What do I do? The mare was so torn, she never saw the shadowy figure approaching behind her.
~~~
Limestone growled when she saw the light. She knew the unicorn was the only pony on the farm who could do such a thing. "Come on, Dog. Let's see what she found." She'd better be signalling us and not somepony else. Limestone had been slightly suspecting Trixie. With her arrival so conveniently coinciding with the farm troubles, who could blame Limestone for thinking such a thing?
Still, the light meant something. Limestone began trotting quickly towards the light, swivelling her head back and forth as she made her way to her destination. She was still going to keep an eye out, in case this ended up being some sort of distraction. Winona had different ideas though.
The collie darted off, leaving Limestone behind.
"Hey! Get back here!" Limstone cried out as she gave chase. "You're supposed to stay with me!" Limestone was focusing on catching up with Winona. She didn't even see the shadows shift in a rocky outcropping.
"What happened?" You ask as you slowly start to come to. Everything is fuzzy. You remember the light at the silo, and wanting to know who the culprit behind it was. But then things went dark. And your head! You realize that there's an excruciating pain in the back of your skull. Like somepony beaned you with a lead pipe in the ballroom.
"So you're awake." A voice states. The voice sounds... scruffy? Gravelly. That's the word. "Boss' wantin' a word with yous." Gravelly voice said. You already wished somepony would give him a swift kick to the face.
"Where am I?" You realize that there's something that's dried and itchy on your face, though you can't see what. You contort your face into carious expressions, as if that will somehow give you the ability to see your own face. Even though it's a pipe dream, your movements cause the dry stuff to flake away in small red specks.
Blood. It's dried blood on your face. Somepony really did wallop you over the head. Oh, that's bad. Some part of your brain points this out, like it wouldn't have been evident to you otherwise. It's not like the sight of blood was a clue.
"Who are you?" Your voice sounds distorted. You're not sure if that's an echo you're hearing or the residual effects of the strike to the back of your head.
"I do apologize for the actions of my associate. The poor Brute is only good at one thing, I'm afraid." That voice. Why does that arrogant voice sound familiar? It was the kind of stuck-up voice a high-class snob would have. One where there was alway a condescending undertone to their words. "Brute Force, leave us."
Hoofsteps leaving the room. You realize you've yet to see either pony the voices have been belonging to. You struggle against your bindings, but to no avail. You've been tied to a pipe or pole or something, your front legs bent uncomfortably behind your back. You've been positioned to face away from the rest of the room, the most likely reason being that whoever is behind this wants to hide their face from you.
It starts coming back to you now. You were headed to the silo. Something caught your eye though. Movement in the shadows. Somepony who didn't belong there. You foolishly made the mistake to try and grab the pony. They were a lot stronger than you expected though. You were tossed to the ground like a rag doll before a sharp blow to the side or your head turned the world to blackness. Then you woke up here.
"Fancy Hooves." You growl as you recall the name that irritating voice belongs to. The name makes your blood boil. "When I get out of here, I'm gonna kick your flank!" You struggle against the bindings, determined to rip them apart like you plan to do with the pony who wants the land your farm sits upon.
"Oh, I think you'll find you're in no position to make threats, Limestone." Fancy Hooves replies coldly. "You see, even though Brute Force was there to break your equipment, I find his mistake of taking you to be quite fortuitous. Without you, your filthy rock farm is sure to fail." The posh socialite lets out a laugh that makes you want to shove a hoof down his throat. "And when that happens, the land will sell for even less than I could have hoped for!"
"One problem though. Even if we lose the farm, you won't be the one to own it. I'll go straight to the authorities, even if I have to walk to the Appleoosa sheriff to do it." You retort. There's no way Fancy Hooves could stop your testimony once you got free.
"Oh. Did I not mention that? Sorry, my dear Limestone, but you're never leaving this place." The aristocratic pony lets out another snobby laugh as his hoofsteps echo away into the distance.
~~~
Spike slammed the door to the silo open, panting for breath. There's fear in his eyes as he sizes up the situation. He spotted the telltale purple of Trixie's hat behind some barrels.
"Trixie, come quick! Limestone's been kidnapped!" Spike rushed over to the mare, only to find Maud Pie in the silo with her. It's Maud that speaks first.
"What happened?" She asked in her monotone voice. Though she didn't show any signs of emotion in her voice, there's something in her eyes that told Spike that Maud was worried. He sees a hint of something there. Fear? Anger? Spike isn't sure, and didn't have time to figure it out.
"I was running to the silo, because I saw Trixie's light. While I was coming here, I saw some big stallion putting Limestone in a wagon and leaving!" Spike pointed a claw away from the silo as he spoke. "We have to go help her!"
"Trixie will handle this. Spike, go find Marble." Trixie ordered, the awkwardness she'd been feeling moments before replaced by adrenaline.
"I'm coming with you." Maud bluntly stated. "Its not safe for you to go alone, Trixie."
"I wanna come too!" Spike added. "Marble went to the house to tell Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz to go get somepony to help."
"Fine. Where's Winona?" Trixie looked down at Spike.
"I dunno! She was with Limestone when they were in the quarry, but I didn't see her when Limestone got grabbed." Spike shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "I'll go find her!" The dragon ran back out the silo to search for the missing canine.
"Maud, Trixie is sorry about this. I'll do everything I can to help your older sister." Trixie placed a reassuring hoof on Maud's shoulder.
"I know, Trixie." Even Maud couldn't hide the tears that threatened to slip from the corners of her eyes.
