Chapter 1

Of Age

Chapter 1

Dear Princess Celestia,

Rarity lowered her large feathered quill and stared at the paper in front of her. Was this really what it'd come to?

She slumped her shoulders. Yes. Yes it was. Rarity sighed her most dramatic, drawn-out sigh, even though she was alone in her shop.

It was just her luck that Twilight, the keeper of any and all books a pony could dream of, had no books on the life history of dragons. It was just her luck that none of the doctors in Ponyville, not even the veterinarian, knew anything about the growth rate of dragons. It was just her luck that dragons clearly had some odd method of maturing that made it impossible for her to figure out Spike's relative age to her. Er...to her and her friends, of course.

Rarity pushed the letter far away from her across the table.

It was just her luck that Applejack had to walk in on her and Spike's luncheon.

Now, they weren't doing anything beyond sharing a plate of hay fries, but Applejack had raised an eyebrow, and Rarity had known she hadn't heard the end of it. Sure enough, later that evening, just as she'd finished tucking away her thread for the day, Applejack arrived at the shop.

"Hey, Rarity."

"Er – hello, Applejack."

"Ah don't have long, so ah'm gonna cut to the chase. Yeh should really be careful. Yeh know. With Spike."

"Why, whatever do you mean?"

"Ah mean, spendin' extra time with him, treatin' him special…yer gonna give that lil' guy ideas. He's so young, and yeh know how the kid feels about yeh."

Rarity lifted her head high, pushing the memory to the back of her mind. While Applejack's words cut deep as diamond, there was no use obsessing over them. She was already doing all she could to figure out just how much of a…er…"kid"…Spike really was.

The unicorn magicked the letter back over to her and looked down at it once more.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I am writing with an inquiry, rather than a report. Twilight was uncertain, so I was wondering, on the behalf of Spike of course, if you knew the growth rates of dragons, and the age at which they reach maturity.

Rarity let out a groan, dropping the letter on the table. No matter how innocently she tried to phrase it, her question still sounded like it was in very poor taste. For a second, she imagined Applejack somehow getting a hold of the letter, and her face flushed.

"Yeh know how the kid feels about yeh," Applejack's voice repeated in her mind.

Yes. Yes she did know how the…the…

Rarity jabbed her quill into her inkwell harshly. Applejack just couldn't be right. Spike wasn't a kid. Not really. He was older than Sweetie Belle, at the very least. And who knows how much aging is done inside a dragon egg, anyway? It's a well-known fact that different species mature at different rates, after all. Spike was obviously old enough to encompass the body of a fully grown, monstrous dragon. His birthday proved that. He couldn't have achieved that if he was truly still a baby. At least, not by the pony-standard definition of baby. No way. He…he…

The ink dripped off the quill, slowly falling back into the inkwell that Rarity hovered her pen over. She watched each drop fall, trying to use its steady rhythm to keep her breathing in check.

She wasn't really having feelings for a…child…was she?

No. She couldn't be.

Rarity jabbed the quill into the inkwell once more. Spike was…he was far more mature than the fillies and colts that ran around Ponyville. But how to prove that to the world? If somepony who knows him as well as Applejack couldn't even see it, how would anypony else?

The shadows in her shop got longer and longer until it was clear that the day had drawn to a close. Rarity magically lit several lamps, providing enough light to illuminate her immediate area and the letter in front of her.

She had to finish it. She had to know.

Taking a deep breath, she went back to writing.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I will be honest in this letter, dear Princess. While I am asking for Spike's sake, I am also personally curious about all things dragon. Their culture, their biology, their behavior, etc. Anything and everything you could pass on to me would be most appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Rarity

There. That didn't sound so bad.

Rarity set down her quill. Perhaps she'd been worrying for nothing. Her wording was innocent enough. As long as Princess Celestia didn't do one of her annoying "see-right-through-what-you're-saying" things, she should be alright.

Now to send it.

Spike opened up the library door to reveal a dark evening sky and the beautiful white unicorn who stood in contrast to it.

"Rarity!" he exclaimed, unable to keep back a huge smile.

"Hello, Spike," Rarity replied. A slight tremor colored her voice, and Spike furrowed his eyebrows, stepping aside to let her in. "I was wondering if I could ask you a favor?"

"Anything," Spike agreed quickly. He trailed after her as she wandered farther into the library, watching her carefully. She seems nervous...but why?

"Is Twilight in?" Rarity asked, glancing around.

"Yeah, but she's busy star-mapping up on the balcony," Spike said. "I can get her if you want, but I don't think she wants to be interrupted…"

"Oh, that's alright." Rarity levitated a rolled-up parchment out of her saddlebag. "I really just came by to see if you could send this letter to Princess Celestia for me."

A letter. Of course. She's not here to visit me… "Oh. I see," Spike said, trying not to sound overly dejected.

As Rarity levitated the letter towards him, he noticed it wavering in the air unsteadily. It was almost as if…She doesn't have her usual magical control. What's gotten her so worked up?

"Anything the matter?" Spike had to ask.

"Oh, no. Nothing's the matter at all, Spike. Just sending a letter. Just a simple letter. Short. Concise. Just wanted to write the princess. You know…" Rarity trailed off.

Spike eyed her. "Yeah…" Something was bothering her. It couldn't have been more obvious if she'd had the word UNSETTLED written across her forehead. But Spike said nothing else, and instead just caught the letter out of the air from where it hovered.

He took a deep breath in preparation to send it, but as he did so, Rarity took a tremulous step forward.

"You're sure you want this sent?" Spike asked, looking over her way. She sure didn't look sure.

"Of course," Rarity replied, edging one corner of her mouth up in a forced smile. "Completely sure. Just…please hurry up and do it."

Spike shrugged. If she wasn't going to tell him what was going on, he wasn't going to ask, as much as he wanted to know. He inhaled deeply and breathed his green fire at Rarity's letter, sending it the princess's way. "There you go," he said, once it had fizzled away into the night.

Rarity's smile relaxed into a more genuine expression. "Thank you, Spike." She bent down and nuzzled his cheek. "You're always so quick to help out."

His world blurred and Spike temporarily forgot all about whatever weirdness had been going on with Rarity as he leaned into the warmth of her cheek. Rarity's smell wrapped around him and he had to struggle to stay upright on his feet. "Yeah…" he managed to say. "You know it's never any problem helping you."

"I know," Rarity whispered. She pulled back and looked down at him. The worry was back, Spike noted. Just barely…it was just a little crease in her eyebrows. "Spike, how…that is to say, if you were…that is, compared to…" The unicorn bit her lower lip, her hooves dancing slightly.

"Yes?" Spike asked. Half of him wanted to help her worry go away, but the other half was wondering how he could get a picture of her with that adorable expression on. Oh, the indecisions of love…

"Nevermind," Rarity said, stopping her hooves from moving. "It's nothing. I'll just be going now." She began walking back towards the door.

"You could stay, you know!" Spike darted after her. "Twilight's being boring tonight. I could use the company. I've just finished baking a batch of cookies." He cut in front of her, looking up hopefully.

Rarity smiled down at him. "Thank you, Spike. But I think it's for the best if I go home now. I, er, have a big day planned tomorrow, and will need my beauty sleep. Another time?"

"Aww," Spike didn't bother to hide his disappointment. "Alright. Another time. That's a promise."

She blinked fondly at him and Spike's insides scrunched up, gleefully flipping over themselves. "It's a promise," Rarity said. "Have a good night, my little Spikey-Wikey."

Spike stepped to one side and let her out the door. "Good night, Rarity." He watched her walk away into the night, and sighed to himself. How did I ever get so lucky? She could just ignore me, especially after I…His face flushed a little, remembering how he'd pretty much spilled his feelings for her back on his birthday. …well, after that whole…incident. But no. She doesn't ignore me.

She's even sweeter to me than she was before.

Spike stood at the door, watching the darkness for long after Rarity left, allowing the cool nighttime breeze to flow in around him. Owlowiscious hooted his annoyance at the cold from his perch behind Spike. The bird was finally awake, at least. Twilight had been asking after him for over an hour now. Speaking of birds, though…

"That's enough mooning over your crush for the night, Spike," the dragon told himself, heading back inside. "Peewee needs to be fed."

Spike headed upstairs to take care of his littlest charge, replaying his encounter with Rarity over and over in his mind. Especially the cheek-nuzzling part.

Why would she do that if she didn't care…at least a little?

Rarity wasn't an easy pony to understand, but Spike had allowed himself the tiniest of hopes of late…the tiniest of hopes that she might feel something for him in return.

After all, she didn't treat any of her other friends the way she treated him.

Rarity dropped a silk flower on the floor, startled as a knock sounded on her shop door. Spike walked in half a moment later.

"Good morning, Rarity!" The dragon sounded chipper.

"G-good morning," Rarity stammered, staring at the rolled-up letter he carried with him. She abandoned the hat she'd been working on and trotted over to the dragon quickly. Has Princess Celestia written back already?

"Got this this morning." Spike held up the letter. "Figured it was probably a reply to you, so I didn't open it," he said, relieving Rarity's biggest fear before she even had a chance to voice it.

Her shoulders relaxed. "Why thank you, Spike," Rarity replied. "Such a gentlecolt." She graced him with a smile, and watched him melt a little.

Then she frowned slightly, as Applejack's words came back to haunt her. She chased those words to the far corners of her mind. He's not a child. I don't care what anypony thinks. He might be a baby by dragon standards, but as far as ponies go…

Rarity snatched the letter out of Spike's grasp, perhaps a bit too greedily, as the dragon stepped back in surprise.

"Important, then?" Spike asked.

"Er…yes," Rarity said. No reason to lie about that, at least.

"Alright," Spike replied. "Then I'll let you get to reading it."

He turned to go, and a sudden panic rose up in Rarity. "Spike, wait!" she called out. What happens if I read this and the princess says…what if…what if…? She swallowed hard. "Spike, I…"

The dragon stood in her shop doorway, tilting his head at her.

Rarity winced inwardly. How could she ever put into words to Spike what she couldn't even sort out for herself?

"I just…I just wanted you to know that…I…you…" Rarity blabbered. To cope with the utter embarrassment she was feeling, a little part of her mind envisioned her smacking her head into a wall repeatedly. "I just want you to know that you're a good…friend to me, Spike," she finished lamely.

"Oh. Okay," Spike said.

There was silence.

"Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day," Rarity concluded. It might have been the most incoherent ramble she'd ever given, but confound it if she didn't finish it off politely. She was a lady, after all.

"Thanks," Spike said, "You too." The dragon turned and wandered back out of the shop, and Rarity had to exercise her full willpower not to rush him out faster.

As soon as he was finally gone, Rarity flipped the sign in her shop's window from OPEN to CLOSED and tore the ribbon off the letter from the princess.

Her eyes moved back and forth over the paper, taking in every word, and getting wider every moment.

"Why, that wasn't…that wasn't the point at all!" Rarity gasped, dropping the parchment. "What is this?"

The paper floated down gently to her neatly swept shop floor.

Rarity gaped down at the letter, steadying herself against the wall with one hoof. Staring back up at her was the following message:

Dear Rarity,

Thank you so much for your letter. You have impeccable timing. Few know of this, so I would thank you to keep it to yourself for the time being.

The dragons and the sea serpents are on the brink of war. Our Equestrian pony emissaries have all been turned away from the conflict by one or both sides. They simply refuse to allow us to mediate.

However, the sea serpents did mention that they would allow one pony to step in. Just one.

That pony is you, Rarity. I am unsure as to why they have requested you, or what you may have done to win their favor, but they seem to hold you in a high degree of esteem.

I was on the fence as to whether I should contact you and request your help, when your letter arrived. Your expressed interest in dragon culture and society was a clear sign that I could indeed rely on you for this important mission.

If you feel comfortable accepting this task, please meet with me in Canterlot tomorrow at noon. I will explain everything then. If you do not feel comfortable, please consider meeting me anyway, to gain a better understanding of this situation.

Thank you for your time. If you would, please send a response back via Spike. And please do not mention this to him, or to anypony else. This is a matter of utmost secrecy.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia

Rarity stared at the letter on the ground.

A matter of utmost secrecy.

Please send a response.

The unicorn sat back, her mind racing. "Opal…dear…how do you feel about spending tomorrow at Fluttershy's?"

Chapter 2

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Chapter 2

The train ride to Canterlot seemed to stretch on much longer than usual. Rarity never allowed herself to slouch in public, but it was getting hard to stay upright. She'd had to wake up extra early to catch the first train out so that she could reach the palace by noon. Her eyelids drooped, and she could feel her shoulders threatening to go next.

Wake up, Rarity! Who knows who else is on this train right now? You aren't exactly traveling to Appleloosa. The unicorn nonchalantly glanced around the train, wondering if there was anypony important she could recognize by sight. Nopony stood out, but that didn't mean much. Rarity prided herself on knowing a great deal about the higher end of Canterlot society, but even she couldn't pick out a face to go with every famous name.

She stretched her front legs to get her blood flowing and wake up her tired brain. The train rounded a bend and it looked like they were finally arriving in Canterlot. Thank Celestia, Rarity thought, then smiled to herself. She could thank Celestia. She'd be meeting with her shortly. And then you find out what all this "stopping a war" business is about…Rarity's smile faltered a little. This was no social call.

The train pulled to a stop, and Rarity climbed off it into the bustling Canterlot crowds. She adjusted her saddlebag and then began her walk to the palace.

"Rarity!" a familiar voice called, before she'd even managed to take two steps.

Rarity turned, her mouth falling open. "Shining Armor?"

The Captain of the Royal Guard trotted towards her from farther down the walkway. "I'm so glad I found you. Princess Celestia's been waiting and I was worried I'd missed you getting off the train."

Waiting? "Oh no, I'm so sorry!" Rarity said. Celestia's been waiting? Her face paled at the thought. "I do hope I'm not late."

"You aren't," Shining Armor clarified. "But the train was. Do you know what's going on?"

"Going on?" Rarity asked. Shining Armor began to walk at a brisk pace, and Rarity had to trot to keep up. Most unladylike, but perhaps she made up for her rushed appearance by being in the company of the Captain of the Royal Guard and the newest member of the royal family.

"Yes," Shining Armor said. "Nopony here has any idea why the bridge over Bumblebee River has collapsed, or why the tracks out near Greenpalm Grove have been smashed up, but it's diverting all the trains through Canterlot and backing everything up."

"Oh my, that does explain why our little trip took extra long this morning," Rarity mused. "Though I can't say I have the faintest idea why there's been so much destruction in the east…" She looked away from Shining Armor, keeping her expression hidden for fear of betraying what her actual thoughts on the incidents were. So Celestia hasn't voiced her concerns even to her own nephew-in-law? Rarity filed that bit of information away, wondering just who Celestia had told about the brewing war.

They continued through Canterlot, approaching the castle grounds. "So what's my sister been up to in Ponyville? I haven't heard from her in a while," Shining Armor said, changing the subject.

"Twilight's been quite busy," Rarity explained for her friend. "I'm sure she wishes she could have more time to visit and write, but Princess Celestia's given her a large assignment that takes up nearly all of her time lately. She's been a little stressed out – "

"And I'm sure she's completely thrilled about it," Shining Armor laughed. "She's always happiest when she's got some huge deadline looming and too much work to do."

Rarity laughed in return. They passed through the castle gates. "That's Twilight, alright," she agreed. The guards gave Shining Armor a salute as he walked by.

"So what's she doing for the Princess?" he asked next.

"Some sort of scroll translation, from what I can tell. Something about ancient star alignments, or some such. It all seems very tedious," Rarity replied.

"Right up her alley." Shining Armor nodded.

"Indeed," Rarity agreed.

"And how's Spike? I felt bad that we never got much of a chance to talk at the wedding," Shining Armor said. "Little guy used to be my best bud around here. Always hangin' around Twilight and Princess Celestia, he didn't really have much of a father figure. He'd trail after me, though." The stallion chuckled to himself. "Always asking questions, wanting to see what he could help out with…"

Rarity couldn't help but smile at the mental image Shining Armor's words painted. "It's wonderful he had somepony like you to look out for him when he was young. He's doing well in Ponyville, I dare say. I don't think Twilight could do without him."

"I don't doubt that," Shining Armor said. They rounded the corner, heading up the castle stairs. "Does he ever get a chance to hang out with other ponies? Twilight was never very good about sharing his time after he became her assistant."

"Why, yes, sometimes," Rarity replied. They reached the castle doors, and the guards magicked them open. "He frequently visits me at my shop. And visits other ponies, too," she added quickly.

"Good, good," Shining Armor said thoughtfully.

They walked into the main hall. Princess Celestia sat at her throne at the far end, and Rarity had to admit she was a bit disappointed at the timing. She wondered if she could talk to Shining Armor some more later about Spike's early life in Canterlot. It was something she'd never heard much about…

"I'll leave you now," Shining Armor said, bowing to her and cutting off her train of thought.

"Please send my best wishes to Cadance," Rarity replied.

"I will."

"Welcome, Rarity," Princess Celestia called, her voice echoing in the large hall.

Rarity nodded a polite goodbye to Shining Armor, then turned and walked down the garishly bright red carpet towards the princess. "I do apologize for being late," Rarity said. "Thank you for your invitation, your Highness." She bowed low to the floor, averting her eyes from the overly dyed carpet.

"Please, Rarity, rise," Princess Celestia said. "You're a guest of honor here, as always."

Rarity stood up straight, looking at the princess and feeling a pang of jealousy for her fabulously flowing mane. No matter how stressed out Princess Celestia was, her mane was always perfect.

"There's no time to waste," the princess continued, rising up off her throne to her hooves. "We must speak at once. In private." She turned and walked down the stairs to the side of her throne.

And here we go, Rarity thought, setting her shoulders. I doubt whatever I'm about to hear will make it any easier to decline the princess's request. Rarity followed the princess into a small back room, keeping her head held high, despite her reservations about everything going on. An ornamental wooden table sat in the center, with an old map spread out over it. Rarity peered at it, curious.

Princess Celestia spun to face Rarity. "Rarity, before we speak of anything further, I must ask: just what would you be willing to do to stop a war?" Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked down at Rarity to await an answer.

Rarity bit her lower lip thoughtfully. It was a fairly loaded question. "Well…" Rarity began slowly. "…I would, of course, do everything I could. That is to say, everything I personally could. I'm not much of a soldier, so I wouldn't be interested in using physical violence or whatnot, as I'm sure there are far better candidates than me for that sort of thing, but if a war could be won with a finely sewn evening gown, I would of course be your mare. Though I know that's not at all what you're asking of me." Rarity paced across the room to give her nervous hooves something to do. "You wish for me to act as an ambassador of sorts, correct?" She looked up at the princess.

Princess Celestia nodded.

"If there truly is nopony else better suited to the task, then it would be most wrong of me to refuse the job," Rarity said, going back to her pacing. "Though if I would be gone for a considerable amount of time, I would need to close up my shop. It would make paying the bills a bit trickier, without a steady income from sales and consignments…but of course, these trifles would be nothing compared to those that a war would cause. I'm certain I could convince Fluttershy to watch Opal during my absence, and I would need to remind my parents that I would be out, so they would not send Sweetie Belle over – "

"So you would be willing to spend time away on a journey?" Princess Celestia asked carefully.

"Yes, mm-hmm." Rarity nodded. To that much, she could agree.

"What about participating in negotiations?"

That part was a little trickier. "I…I'm not certain," Rarity answered truthfully. She'd been thinking about it ever since she received the princess's letter. "I've never been trained in diplomacy, though I fancy myself a genteel enough pony to handle delicate situations. This situation, however…well, it's…well. You understand. It's much larger. I am honestly not sure how I will approach it, but I suppose I would be willing to try…"

"I would be greatly appreciative if you would try," Princess Celestia said. Her tone was grim. "There hasn't been a war on this scale in centuries, if it does indeed come to pass. Nopony would be prepared for the devastation. Nopony would be guaranteed safety. This war must be stopped."

Rarity blinked, unable to form a response. Nopony safe…Images of her friends and family surfaced in her mind. Sweetie Belle…Fluttershy…Pinkie Pie…Spike…

Celestia walked over to the map on the table. "You see, the sea serpents have control over the world's waterways, except for the few they've allowed for our use in Equestria and a handful of other nations. The dragons claim the land, save, once again, for the land various countries have negotiated from them. The sea serpents and dragons have a truce on grounds that are fifty yards from the water's edge. Both species share those regions, and have for nearly as far back as I can remember. But now, the dragons claim to have discovered an ancient scroll that deems the entirety of the land all the way to the water's edge as their property, and their property only. Nopony has yet to see this scroll, because each of my ambassadors have been rebuffed and sent away. Likewise, we have been unable to speak to the sea serpents to see if we can aid them in their talks with the dragons. They, too, seem to see little value in our offers of help. They've told us repeatedly that it's their problem to fix, and ponies should not get involved."

Princess Celestia traced out the run of Bumblebee River. "But their conflict is already encroaching upon our territory. We cannot stay out of this any longer. In my last correspondence with the sea serpents, they mentioned that there was one pony to whom with they would consider speaking."

Princess Celestia glanced over at Rarity.

"Me," Rarity whispered.

"Precisely," the princess said with a nod. "They say that your generosity and reasonability is legend, and that if anypony can help win their land back for them, it will be you."

Rarity stared at the map. Bumblebee River ran to the west. One of its tributaries ran in through the Everfree Forest, feeding the reservoir in Ponyville. "Why do they need the land?" she asked. "Do they not live in the water all the time?"

"Sea serpents must lay their eggs and hatch them on dry land," Princess Celestia explained. "I am uncertain as to how or why a deal would have been struck at any time in history that would force the sea serpents to give up their access to land. It is critical to their existence."

Rarity took in a deep breath. "Alright," she said, staring at the Ponyville reservoir on the map. "I'll go. I'll do what I can."

Princess Celestia's whole body relaxed in relief. "I was hoping you would agree. Thank you, Rarity."

"I shall go back to Ponyville and gather my things. Perhaps I could ask some of my friends to accompany me – "

Princess Celestia shook her head. "No friends. No other ponies."

"No other…?" Rarity stared up at the princess. No other ponies. And I suppose asking if Spike could come as my helper is out of the question, what with the sea serpents hating the dragons right now and everything. "Alright then." She regained her composure. "Then I expect you'll be selecting some guards to escort me – "

"Unfortunately, no," Princess Celestia interrupted again. "I wish I could, more than anything. But the sea serpents were very clear: only you."

Rarity's mouth fell open. Gaping like a school filly wasn't very becoming of a lady like herself, but she couldn't help it.

"I am truly, truly sorry." Princess Celestia's eyes swam with apologies. "I'll be sending a small group of guards to follow you at a distance, but that's the best I can do."

Rarity nodded slowly. "Alright."

"You're a brave mare, Rarity," Princess Celestia acknowledged. "Your courage will be rewarded. Now, please allow me to spend the rest of the day imparting to you as much information as I possibly can, and preparing you in the art of negotiation with these two cultures."

"Of course, Princess," Rarity agreed. What else could she say?

The train ride back to Ponyville took just as long as the ride out the day before. Rarity stumbled into her shop mid-afternoon, and collapsed on her sofa.

What have I gotten myself into?

She rolled over and stared up at the ceiling. The curtains were drawn, so there was only a faint, almost grey-ish light illuminating everything around her. She hadn't realized her blue curtains would result in such an awful hue when they blocked the sunlight. Rarity made a mental note to change them as soon as she got back from her trip.

She sighed and rolled back over on her side. After all that she'd gone through yesterday, she still had no answer from the princess about the way dragons age. You'll be seeing plenty of them soon enough, Rarity thought to herself, tracing one hoof along the sofa cushion. After you walk right into their warzone and try to talk some sense into the creatures, maybe one of them will be polite enough to answer your questions…?

Rarity groaned dramatically, burying her head under the sofa pillow. "Unlikely," she sniffed. "Spike is the only dragon I've ever seen who has any sense of propriety and kindness."

She allowed herself several more minutes of sulking, but then dragged herself back to her hooves to stand up. There was packing to do, after all.

"Oh hi, Rarity," Twilight said, answering the library door. Spike bolted upright from his seat at the kitchen table. He set down the series of parchments Twilight had given to him to alphabetize, hopped off his stool, and quickly made his way into the main library.

"Rarity!" he exclaimed, smiling wide. "Hi!"

Rarity nodded in his direction. "Hello, Spike," she said. She looked back and forth between him and Twilight. "I've just come by to let you both know that I'm going to be out of town for several days on business."

"Back to Canterlot like yesterday?" Twilight asked.

Rarity gone? For days? Spike's stomach sank, and he tried not to shuffle his feet too dejectedly as he walked over to Twilight's side.

"Er…no," Rarity said. "Somewhere else. Princess Celestia has asked for my help with something, but I'm not at liberty to say what exactly."

"Mysterious!" Twilight replied brightly. "But at least with you gone, Spike will actually be around here more, and can help me with the scroll translations the Princess entrusted to me." The purple unicorn winked down at Spike, and Spike raised an eyebrow.

"Scroll translations. Uh…goody?" he replied.

Both ponies laughed, and Spike felt his stomach lift back up again. Making Rarity smile had to be his favorite thing in the whole wide world.

"Anyhow, I just wanted to pass the word along," Rarity continued. "Opalescence is staying with Fluttershy, and Applejack's promised to keep an eye out for Sweetie Belle when my parents need a sitter."

"Can I do anything to help?" Spike asked, stepping forward.

"Yeah, please let us know if you need anything else taken care of," Twilight said.

"That's very generous of you both, but I think everything is all in order," Rarity replied. "Though, if you wouldn't mind, perhaps one of you might check in on the shop every few days? Just to make sure nothing's broken into or anything like that."

"Absolutely!" Spike agreed quickly. "I'm your guy, I'll stop by every morning and every night!"

Rarity looked down at him, her eyes softening. "Thank you, Spike."

Spike stared back up at her, swallowing his emotion. "Are you…are you going to be gone for very long?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," Rarity said in return, her eyebrows knitting together ever so slightly. "It may be quite a while."

How long is a while? Spike wondered.

"Honestly, it may be weeks. Or more," Rarity answered his unspoken question.

Weeks? To his horror, Spike felt tears spring to his eyes at that news. No crying! Oh, for Celestia's sake, Spike, keep it together!

Rarity's own eyes looked a little watery in turn. Spike wondered if he'd be allowed to give her a goodbye hug. If Twilight would only leave for just a moment…

"Well, good luck, Rarity," Twilight said. "We're going to really miss you around here. I hope you're able to come back soon."

"Absolutely," Rarity said, smiling at Twilight. "I will be back as soon as I can." She looked back at Spike.

There was silence for several moments. Spike continued to mentally will Twilight to leave, but she just stood there next to him. Come on, Twilight…he begged silently. Twilight clearly wasn't reading his mind like Rarity had.

Rarity opened her mouth, as if to say something else, but then closed it again.

"So are you going to say goodbye, or just stand there, Spike?" Twilight teased.

Spike flushed. "I'm going to say goodbye!" Spike insisted. "I just…well, that is…"

"Oh, Spike," Rarity laughed lightly. "You're too much sometimes. I'll miss you, you know."

"I'll miss you," he replied, looking up at Rarity. "Good luck on your trip."

"Thank you," she said. Then, after one more moment's hesitation, Rarity turned to leave. "I'll call on you both when I return," she told them as she walked away. Spike's lip trembled a bit.

"Okay, lover-boy." Twilight poked Spike in the side. "Don't get too crushed. She'll be back."

Spike swallowed, staring after Rarity's retreating form.

"Besides, she said she'll miss you." Twilight pointed out. "So I'm sure she'll think about you while she's gone."

Spike looked up at Twilight. "Really?" he asked. His frustration with her for not giving him and Rarity a moment alone disappeared rapidly. "You really think so?"

"Sure," Twilight replied. "I've known Rarity for a long time now. It's obvious she cares for you a great deal and values your friendship."

Spike looked back out the library door. Rarity was gone. "She cares for me," he repeated.

Twilight tugged on his shoulder. "So instead of wallowing in sadness, how about we go be productive? Those scrolls aren't going to translate themselves."

Spike shook his head, clearing it. "Right," he said, then followed Twilight back into the library.

"Whatcha packing for?"

Rarity jumped. She spun to the voice behind her. "Sweetie Belle!"

"Mom and Dad say you're going away for a while," the little filly said, trotting into Rarity's bedroom. "Where are you going?"

"You startled me!" Rarity exclaimed. "Please remember to knock in the future. At the front door," she stressed, to make it perfectly clear. "You can't just let yourself into somepony else's home."

"But you're my sister." Sweetie Belle cocked her head to one side.

"Yes, well…" Rarity trailed off, using her magic to recollect the blanket she'd dropped in the midst of folding. "All the more reason."

"That doesn't make any sense," Sweetie Belle pointed out. Then she walked over to Rarity's dresser, and Rarity had to dash over, snatching up the map that she'd had laying out next to her lantern.

"Some privacy, Sweetie Belle, please!" Rarity hastily shoved the map into her saddlebags, which sat on her bed half-packed.

"Why are you going to the eastern border?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Rarity shot her sister a glare. "Who told you that?"

The filly shrugged. "Your map."

Rarity groaned, tilting her head back in exasperation. "This. This is exactly why you need to be more respectful. My trip is none of your business, and I would appreciate it if you'd quit snooping."

Sweetie Belle blinked. "I wasn't snooping. Your map was out for anypony to see."

"No it wasn't," Rarity explained, magicking the folded blanket into her bag. "It was in my private bedroom, inside my private house."

"Sorry, Rarity."

Rarity narrowed her eyes at her sister. She didn't sound sorry.

Sweetie Belle trotted over to the bed next. "Can I help you pack?"

"No, thank you," Rarity replied. She didn't care how haughty her voice sounded. She was tired, stressed, and emotionally spent. "You should really be getting home. It's almost dark."

"I guess." Sweetie Belle kicked one hoof along the floor. Then her ears perked up and her eyes widened. "Oh! Oh! I could come back in the morning to help!"

"No," Rarity said firmly. Though it wouldn't matter if she did. I'll be gone by then. She planned on leaving under the cover of darkness, so nopony would see which way she was going. Most everypony assumed she was going back to Canterlot for business, and she didn't need anypony asking why she was heading south instead of north. Not to mention why she wasn't catching any train. "Just leave. Please."

"Aww," Sweetie Belle pouted. "Fine then. I just wanted to help."

"I know, Sweetie Belle," Rarity sighed, magically picking up her hairbrush and comb. "But there just won't be anything for you to do for me in the morning."

"Alright." Sweetie Belle slumped her shoulders, watching Rarity pack her brush and comb in the side pouch of her saddlebags. "I'll get going then. Hope you have a good trip." She dragged her hooves to the door, and it suddenly dawned on Rarity that this would be the last she'd see of her sister for some time. A war where nopony would be safe…the princess's words echoed in her mind.

"Sweetie Belle…wait!" Rarity called, trotting after her. Her sister turned, and Rarity pulled her in for a hug. "Be good while I'm away, alright? Don't give Mom and Dad too much trouble."

Sweetie Belle hugged her sister back. "Don't worry about me, Rarity. I'm a big filly. And you'll see, I'm going to prove to you just how mature and helpful I can be."

"Ow, that was my hoof!"

Spike sat up in bed, awakened by the voices outside.

"You sure she went this way?"

"Absolutely."

"Cutie Mark Crusaders, Pony Trackers!"

"Shhhh!"

This didn't sound good. It was one in the morning. What were those three doing up, much less wandering outside of the library at this hour?

"Twilight?" Spike called. His adoptive sister was fast asleep in her bed, zonked out after another night of scroll translation. He poked her a little. "Twilight, I'm going to go check on something outside, okay?"

"Wha – ?" Twilight asked, blinking a little. "Spike?"

"I'm going to go check on something outside, okay?" Spike repeated. "I thought I heard voices."

Twilight's eyes were already closed again. "That's nice, Spike. Let me know if Mars has set yet."

"Sure." Spike rolled his eyes a little. He pulled Twilight's blanket up over her more, tucking in the sides. There wasn't any time to waste beyond that. The fillies' voices were getting farther and farther away.

Spike jogged down the stairs and out the front door into the dark. Which way…?

A gaggle of giggles answered his question. He ran in its direction as fast as his little feet could carry him. For a while, he was worried he'd lost them, but then after what seemed like an eternity of running, another burst of giggles sounded, followed by an annoyed complaint.

"Will you two cut it out?"

Sweetie Belle. He knew that voice. Spike dashed along in the direction of the sounds, nearing the edge of Ponyville.

"You're going to give us away!" Sweetie Belle insisted.

"So where d'yah think yer sister's goin'?"

"No idea," Sweetie Belle replied. "But I knew she wasn't leaving in the morning. Rarity would never pack up her hairbrush a full night before starting a trip. Plus, her lantern was out on her table with that map."

"But why would she go into the Everfree Forest all alone at night?"

The Everfree Forest! Spike's eyes flew open wide. Rarity, no! Not at night!

"Yeah, I thought only Rainbow Dash was brave enough for that sort of thing."

"That's what I wanna find out," Sweetie Belle explained, her voice growing fainter.

Spike had to jog faster to keep up with them. How the three fillies were moving so quickly, he had no idea. All he knew was that he had to catch up and then…

Spike grimaced, racing past Fluttershy's cottage into the edges of the wild forest after the little ponies. I need to bring them home. But…that leaves Rarity all alone in the Everfree Forest…

He ran faster. I'll figure it out once I've caught up to them.

"Whoa!" Scootaloo yelled from ahead somewhere amidst the darkened trees. "HEY, LET US GO!"

Spike gasped. A huge winged creature rose up in the air over the tree line. From its claws, it dangled Scootaloo's scooter and wagon, with all three fillies hanging on desperately.

"HELP!"

Spike's heart stopped in his chest at the sound of their screams. "No!" he shouted.

But the creature was already flying away deep into the forest, with Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle in tow.

Chapter 3

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Chapter 3

Rarity picked up her right front hoof, grimacing at it. Covered in mud and filth already. Why didn't I think to bring my boots?

She tilted her head back, rolling her eyes skyward at her own incompetence. Just what else didn't I think to bring that I'll end up needing?

The stars shimmered above her as Rarity wracked her brain for any other useful items she might've forgotten. If only I wasn't on a rendezvous schedule with those guards, I could go back and get my boots…and maybe some extra bars of soap…

Alas, she'd agreed to meet a segment of the Canterlot guard on the far edge of the forest by sun-up, at which point they'd then stay back and give her a day's head start. They'd trail her at a distance, looking out for her safety during the remainder of her trip. Rarity sincerely hoped they'd be as good at tracking her as Princess Celestia promised they would be. Especially since she was giving up going back for boots just to meet them on time.

Resigning herself to muddy hooves, Rarity walked onwards through the small clearing she'd stumbled into earlier. The ground squished uncomfortably with every step, making awful squelching noises that made Rarity wince.

Hopefully these noises don't attract the attention of any of the less savory inhabitants of the forest, Rarity thought to herself, keeping her ears perked up for the slightest sound of an attacker. She'd been lucky so far, and she knew it. Odds were she'd come across something unpleasant sooner rather than later, though. She'd prepared a dazzle spell as a last minute distraction move if something did come after her, but she'd rather not have to use it.

Then, almost drowned out by the chirping sounds of the Everfree night, Rarity heard a scream.

The unmistakable scream of a young pony.

Oh no! What other pony could be in the forest right now? Her head spun around as she tried to pinpoint its direction.

"Help!" the faint cry sounded.

There. Rarity's eyes locked onto the source of the scream.

A gangly creature flew through the air, its leathery wings beating rapidly. It struggled to carry with it a familiar looking wagon and scooter…with three fillies dangling precariously from its claws.

A cold shock crashed through Rarity. Sweetie Belle.

All promises to Princess Celestia and the Canterlot guard were immediately forgotten. Rarity's hooves couldn't move fast enough as she chased after the beast that had her sister.

Spike clambered through the thick forest, racing after the Cutie Mark Crusaders and their extremely scary-looking kidnapper. If only he'd brought some parchment and a quill, he could've written a note to Twilight to bring help, but he hadn't. And there was no way he was going to turn back to go get help and lose sight of Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom in the process. He was the only one who knew where they were and what had gotten them, after all.

Gotta…catch up…Spike's breathing was ragged and his muscles felt like they'd been torn to shreds, but he didn't dare slow down. The forest was dark. If he lost even a moment of time, he might lose the fillies forever.

He forced himself over another fallen tree, slipping slightly on the damp moss. Spike's eyes followed the creature making a slow descent in the distance. Once it was below the tree line, Spike lost sight of it, but that didn't stop him from running in the direction it'd gone.

It's landing! The thought brought both relief and added panic. Landing made it easier to catch up, sure, but landing could also mean it was getting ready to make dinner out of its catch…

His heart tightened in his chest. Hold on, I'm coming! Spike ducked under a mass of busted tree limbs, wincing as they scraped against his face. Then he had to skid to a halt as he almost ran into a dark boulder in his path. Spike ducked around the rock and continued on in the direction he'd saw the beast go.

Just what is that thing, anyway? Spike wondered. He'd never seen anything like it. Horned head, wings like a giant bat, but a long scaly body like a dragon who'd lost way more weight than was healthy. He had no clue what it could be, or just how quickly it may devour ponies…

The sound of screams gave Spike confirmation of which way to run. He remembered just an hour earlier, when it'd been the sound of giggles leading him in the right direction. The difference was panic-inducing to comprehend. Yeah, well this is what happens when you go into the Everfree Forest at night! Spike mentally chided the fillies, pushing a bunch of ferns out of his way. What were they thinking? What was RARITY thinking? She was the one to go into the forest in the first place!

Spike's heart beat even faster. He hoped whatever creature he'd been chasing didn't have friends. And if it did, that none of them had Rarity.

He burst through a thorn bush, brushing at his scales to knock the pokey thorns away.

"Let us go!" Sweetie Belle's familiar squeak sounded.

Spike looked up quickly. Just ahead of him was a pond, the moon reflecting on its calm waters. Next to it was a scene completely the opposite of calm.

Scootaloo's tail was trapped under the beast's claws, but she beat at it with her two front hooves viciously. Apple Bloom was loose somehow, leaping about and doing high-flying kicks at the creature's stomach. Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle was held tight by a huge fist, struggling with all her might to break loose.

"Take that, yeh big hunk of ugly!" Apple Bloom shouted, careening into the monster's chest.

"ARRGHHH!" Scootaloo punched at the reptilian arm repeatedly.

"I said, let us go!" Sweetie Belle chomped her teeth down on the hand holding her up.

The creature howled in pain. They've got it annoyed, but not enough to give up on them yet, Spike realized. They were actually doing okay on their own, but they clearly still needed help.

"Yeah!" Spike leapt forward out of the bushes. "Let them go!"

"Spike!" Apple Bloom looked over, startled.

"Spike!" Scootaloo exclaimed, mid-punch.

"Smmmmk!" Sweetie Belle's eyes flew open, her teeth still clamped down tight on the scaly finger.

Spike raced into the fray, gearing up his fire to full blast. Admittedly, fully blast still wouldn't be that much, but the monster was no dragon, he was sure of that. Which meant there was a chance its scales weren't fireproof. He inhaled deeply, feeling the flames kindling inside him, and was about to exhale when the creature spoke.

"Find your own food, dragon!" Its voice sounded like somepony slowly stepping on a set of bellows.

Spike swallowed his fire to respond. "These ponies aren't food! They're my friends! Now let them go!"

"Friends! Hah! A likely story," the creature wheezed. The scales on its head were long and winding around its face, almost like a thin lion mane. Horns jutted out in all directions from the scales.

Spike gestured down at his short stature. "Look at me! How would I be big enough to eat three ponies?"

The monster narrowed its eyes at him, sizing him up. It took a couple moments. Okay, so whatever it is, it isn't the smartest of species.

"Perhaps you have a point," it conceded. It looked back down at the two fillies in its claws. "More for me, then."

"Not if ah can stop yeh!" Apple Bloom shouted, launching another kick attack.

She was immediately swatted aside. Spike winced as Apple Bloom crashed to the ground, skittering through the leaf litter. Meanwhile, the creature opened its mouth wide, reaching down towards Sweetie Belle with sharp, dripping fangs.

"No!" Spike leapt forward, grabbing onto the beast's outstretched arm and swinging himself over it so he was between Sweetie Belle and the gaping maw that formed the creature's mouth. "I told you to let them go."

"Why would I do that?" the creature asked, pausing momentarily to eye Spike.

Spike felt his body trembling. "Because…because…" He glanced behind him at Sweetie Belle. Her eyes shimmered, pleading. Looking down where Scootaloo lay trapped, with Apple Bloom by her side, he saw identical expressions on both of them as well. They're counting on me. He swallowed. "Because ultra-intelligent creatures like us shouldn't just go and eat each other," Spike said, trying to appeal to the creature's vanity. "Obviously."

"Meat is meat." The creature shrugged.

Maybe it didn't have vanity. At least not about its brainpower.

Plan B.

"Well if meat is meat…" Spike tried next. His shaking was almost out of control, but he somehow kept a grip on the beast's arm. "Then eat me first. Maybe you'll be too full to eat them, then."

It laughed, a wheezy, thin laugh. "A gargoyle, eat a dragon? Oh, this would be too much."

"Exactly!" Spike exclaimed, relieved that he finally had the thing agreeing with him. A gargoyle, huh? So that's what it is. "I'll fill you right up. You might as well let them go now."

"Spike, no!" Apple Bloom yelled from below. "Yeh can't do that for us!"

"No way, Spike!" Sweetie Belle agreed.

"If you're going to eat Spike, you're just going to have to eat all of us!" Scootaloo yelled fiercely. It would've been touching if it wasn't so stupid.

Shut up, Scootaloo! Spike wanted to yell back. Didn't they see he was trying to help them?

The gargoyle laughed some more. "I didn't mean you'd be too much to eat. I can most certainly eat you and your pony friends, with no problem."

"Fine then," Spike said. He began restocking his inner fire. "Prove it."

"You're shaking, dragon," the gargoyle mocked. "You're afraid and you're putting your courage in the wrong place. Oh well. Goodbye, my cowardly cousin." The giant mouth opened once more, reaching for Spike this time.

Apple Bloom leapt up towards him but just couldn't get high enough with her kick. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo screamed.

Just as the gooey, saliva-covered teeth reached over the top of Spike's head, Spike let out his dragon breath.

Green fire filled the gargoyle's mouth.

It shrieked and flailed its arms, sending Spike flying. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were released from its grip, as it clawed at its own mouth. According to Twilight's books, gargoyles could make fire much like dragons could, but theirs wasn't nearly as strong. Spike had known it was a gamble to try the trick, but it'd paid off. The gargoyle just couldn't handle a mouthful of dragon flame, even from a baby dragon like himself.

Spike pushed himself back to his feet, allowing for a smug smile as the creature tore off into the night.

"Yeh did it, Spike!" Apple Bloom tackled him with a hug.

"That was the coolest thing I've ever seen!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "Almost as cool as a Sonic Rainboom!"

"That was more like a Dragon Fireboom!" Sweetie Belle chimed in. All three fillies burst out giggling at that, rolling along the ground near their wagon, which the gargoyle had also left behind.

Spike wanted to laugh with them, but he was still too shaky. Those teeth had been really close to his head…

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity's voice called from a distance. "Sweetie Belle, I can hear you, where are you?"

Spike's shaking stopped. "Rarity!" he exclaimed, breathless.

She was okay. Rarity was okay. She was nearby, and she was okay.

"Over here!" Sweetie Belle's voice called through the trees.

Rarity raced along, desperate to get to her sister. The horrible things she'd heard…screams, roars, trees toppling, crashing…If Sweetie Belle's hurt even a little bit, I'll find that beast and, and…

Rarity pushed past the last branch separating her and her sister.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity exclaimed, running over to the little filly. Relief flooded her. Her sister was, at the very least, okay enough to stand. "Are you okay? Are you in pain? Tell me if anything hurts." Rarity set her hooves on Sweetie Belle's shoulders, looking her over. The darkness made it hard to see if there was any bruising.

"I'm fine, Rarity," Sweetie Belle pushed her sister's hooves away. "Really."

"But that beast had you! I saw it!" Rarity said, refusing to stop her fussing. Her sister was filthy. There was a pond nearby, maybe she could use the water to help wash her coat…

Sweetie Belle pushed Rarity's hooves away a second time. "Really really. I'm fine! Spike saved us!"

Spike? "What?" Rarity spun.

There, against the grove of gnarled trees, between Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, stood Spike. He bore one of the most serious expressions she'd ever seen on the dragon's face. Spike saved them?

"I'm glad to see you're safe, Rarity," he said.

Her mind couldn't begin to process everything that was going on. "Spike – what are you – what are any of you doing out here?" Rarity asked, the question finally hitting her.

"What are you doing out here?" Spike countered, his eyebrows knit in concern. "Rarity, it's the middle of the night and this is the Everfree Forest."

"Exactly." Rarity huffed, narrowing her eyes. "It's no time for little fillies to be awake, much less traipsing about someplace as horrid as - "

"It's my fault, Rarity," Sweetie Belle admitted, interrupting her sister. "I followed you with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, and then Spike must've - "

"WHAT?" Rarity exploded. "How could you? Into the Everfree Forest? And you!" She spun at Spike, betrayal stinging her heart. "You let them! How could you? Sweetie Belle could've gotten hurt!"

"Let them?" Spike took a step backwards. "I didn't – I wasn't – I'm not here because – I wasn't – I was following them!"

Rarity bristled, yanking Sweetie Belle over and throwing a protective hoof around her. "My baby sister! How could you let her do this?"

"I DIDN'T!" Spike yelled, stamping his foot. "I followed them! I heard them outside the library, and chased after them when I realized where they were going! Then that gargoyle came – "

"Gargoyle!" Rarity gasped.

"Yes, and – "

"And Spike saved us!" Scootaloo interrupted the dragon.

"Yeah, so don't yeh be mad at him!" Apple Bloom agreed.

"Seriously, Rarity, it's my fault," Sweetie Belle said, squirming out of her sister's grasp.

Their words swam around Rarity's mind like dyes stirring into water. She stumbled backwards, trying to sort it all out. Sweetie Belle followed me…Apple Bloom and Scootaloo followed her…and Spike followed them? And then they got attacked, and Spike…Rarity's eyes flooded with tears. Spike saved them. Spike saved Sweetie Belle.

The chirping, nighttime forest noises filled the silence as Rarity worked out what to say next. She'd snapped at Spike, when the dragon deserved none of it at all. Why, if it wasn't for him…

"Spike, I'm so sorry," she said, dabbing at her eyes. "I was emotionally distraught, and reacted before I had all the facts. I should never have accused you of such irresponsibility."

Spike, who'd been wringing his hands nervously, the poor dear, dropped his arms to his sides. "Thanks, Rarity," he replied. "I forgive you. You were just worried."

Rarity bit her lower lip, looking at him. His eyes were still downcast. I've gone and done it again. I always manage to hurt him. Rarity hung her head in shame.

Then she remembered why she was in the Everfree Forest in the first place. She glanced up at the sky, checking to see if there were any signs of daylight yet. Still none.

"Listen, I've got to…er…" she trailed off, looking at the three fillies leaning up against one another. Their eyes drooped. Next to them, Spike yawned, a wisp of smoke trailing from his mouth.

She couldn't just leave them falling asleep in the Everfree Forest. Rarity knew that much. But the Canterlot guard…she had to meet them at sun-up. There was such a thing as being fashionably late, but Rarity didn't feel like this was one of the proper situations for it. She really should strive to be on time.

Though…she looked around. After all the running she'd done, Rarity had the stomach-sinking realization that she wasn't quite sure where she was. She needed to look at her maps, including the star maps she'd borrowed from Twilight. She magicked her lantern on and set it on the ground by their feet.

"Perhaps it's a good idea to get some sleep," Rarity suggested. "We should be safe for the night if we stay together," she lied. There was no way to guarantee safety, but she knew Sweetie Belle would never truly fall asleep if she was worried about something.

The three fillies nodded their heads simultaneously and sunk to the ground, passing out almost immediately. Spike rubbed at his eyes, stepping closer to Rarity as she sorted through her bags for her maps.

"Can I help you with anything?" Spike asked.

Rarity shook her head. "You should just get some sleep," she said, squashing down the warmth at knowing Spike was still willing to help her out when he clearly needed to rest, and also just after she'd treated him like a moldy, moth-eaten roll of cloth.

"I'm alright," Spike insisted. "What can I do?"

"Nothing, Spike, really," Rarity replied, unfolding her maps magically in front of her. "I'm just sorting out where I am now and where I'll need to go in the morning."

Spike scratched at his arm. "Aren't we going back to Ponyville?"

"You are," Rarity said. She gave him a significant look. "I'm trusting you to get Sweetie Belle and her friends back safely in the morning. I would do it myself, but I made a promise, and I really can't go back on it…"

"Wait, where are you going?" Spike asked. His green eyes narrowed.

Rarity hunched her shoulders, looking away from him. "I've got to go through the forest. To the other side. For the job Princess Celestia gave me."

"To the other side?" Spike exclaimed. "But that's crazy!"

"It's what I have to do," Rarity said calmly, tracing her hoof along the map to begin sorting out where she'd run that night.

"But…it's too dangerous!" Spike started pacing back and forth next to her, his purple scales reflecting slightly from the lantern light. "You can't! You'll be hurt. Or worse!" He turned to her, his face stricken. "You have to let me go with you."

"Spike, I'm perfectly capable of walking through a forest on my own," Rarity said. "Your offer is kindly meant, but I'm afraid it's impossible to agree to."

"But, but…" Spike began wringing his hands for the second time that night.

"Spike," Rarity said softly, putting a hoof on his shoulder and looking him square in the face. "If you come with me, who will get the girls home?"

Spike looked up at her. The lantern light flickered in his eyes. Rarity held in a small breath. While she'd seen the look from him before, the level of concern the dragon's expression carried for her never failed to catch Rarity by surprise.

"Rarity," Spike whispered. He blinked. His eyes looked a little damp. "Is…is the rest of your job going to be just as dangerous as the first part? This job you have to do alone?" He swallowed.

Rarity could feel him tremble under where her hoof sat on his shoulder. She opened her mouth to lie and help calm him down. But the words that came out weren't the ones that she'd intended at all. "I think so, Spike," she found herself saying. "And, I must admit, I'm rather scared by the whole idea."

His eyebrows knit together. "I see," he said softly.

Rarity's breathing was shallow. She was more than scared. She was terrified. She was going to be completely alone. Unless you take Spike up on his offer to go with you. The idea of Spike being there, by her side…it was so tempting…

But no. Rarity set her shoulders. If Spike came, he'd be in danger with her.

She couldn't let that happen.

Rarity dropped her hoof down from where it sat and turned away from Spike. "I'm sorry, Spike. I didn't mean to make you worry so much," Rarity apologized, looking back down at her map.

Spike was silent for a moment, but eventually he spoke. "It's alright." The dragon slunk away, lying down on a patch of moss near the pond. "Just stay safe. I'll get Sweetie Belle and the others home, I promise."

"Thank you," Rarity whispered. Her hooves moved forward of their own accord in the dragon's direction. She took several involuntary steps before she realized what she was doing.

No, Rarity. She shut her eyes, taking in a deep breath and regaining her willpower. No little cheek kisses, tonight. As much as he deserves one. Rarity held herself in check, backing away from where Spike rested. You'll just hurt him worse if you eventually find out that he's actually too…she swallowed. Too…young. She looked over at her sister and her two friends. They wouldn't be there if it wasn't for Spike.

She shook her head. This was far more confusion than any one mare should have to handle on her own.

Spike slowly opened his eyes. Daylight streamed through the forest canopy. Most forests would be awakened with a cheery scene of songbirds and basking turtles. But as Spike sat up, all the sunlight managed to do in the Everfree Forest was make the skeletal trees look like they glowed like eerie daytime ghostly spirit scary...things.

He looked over to where Rarity had been poring over her maps just hours earlier. She was gone. Spike was hardly surprised, though maybe that was part of the reason the morning seemed so gloomy.

What did cause him to pause was when he glanced to his other side to check on the fillies. Apple Bloom snored loudly…one…Scootaloo lay next to her, her wings twitching in her sleep…two…but beyond them…

"Sweetie Belle." Spike's heart dropped straight down to the soggy forest floor. "No."

The third filly was nowhere to be seen.

Chapter 4

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Chapter 4

"Let's go after her!"

"Cutie Mark Crusaders, Missing Friend Detectives!"

"This isn't a game, guys," Spike said, climbing up on a stump to appear as authoritative as possible. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shut their mouths and looked up at him from where they stood by the dismal, scummy pond. "We need to be realistic. Sweetie Belle is missing," Spike continued, hoping his hands weren't shaking too much. "None of us knows which way she went. If she followed Rarity last night, she could be miles away from us by now or already lost or maybe that gargoyle captured her again or maybe she's fallen down a hole or maybe—"

"So what are we waiting for?" Scootaloo interrupted. "Let's go!"

"Wait!" Spike hopped off the stump, darting at the orange filly and holding out his hands to stop her from running off. "No! We can't just go chasing off in a random direction in the Everfree Forest."

"We won't jus' pick one at random," Apple Bloom said, stepping forward. "Maybe we can figure out which way she went first."

"Yeah, did Rarity tell you which way she was headed?" Scootaloo asked.

Spike shook his head. A chilly breeze brushed past them all. "She…not really," he said, shuddering from either the wind or his half-lie, he couldn't tell. She's heading out of the forest. All the way to the Eastern edge and beyond. I don't know exactly where, but I guess we could start by heading East…

…although I promised Rarity I'd get the fillies home. Would she want me to chase after Sweetie Belle, possibly losing two more ponies in the process? Or should I get them home first, and put together a rescue team? Spike glanced up at the sky, which had begun to cloud over. What would Twilight do?

"If Rainbow Dash was here, she could just zoom right through the forest and find Sweetie Belle like that," Scootaloo said, slamming her front hooves together in emphasis.

"Applejack could've just tracked her down," Apple Bloom sighed. "She's real good at findin' Winona when she gets loose."

"Heck, even Fluttershy would do a better job out here than us," Scootaloo grumbled. "Remember when she saved us from that cockatrice?"

Remember when I saved you from that gargoyle? Spike wanted to point out, but held his tongue. They weren't trying to be insulting towards him. They were just being realistic, which is exactly what he told them to try and be. It was true, pretty much anypony would be better in this situation than him. He couldn't fault them for pointing that out. Still, though…Spike crossed his arms, settling his shoulders back and narrowing his eyes.

"Maybe we should—" Spike started, but was cut off as an orange blur sailed into his chest. "Oof!"

"Whoa!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

Spike stumbled backwards, flailing so as to not fall. When his eyes found what had hit him, they lit up. "Peewee!" he gasped. "What are you doing out here?"

"What are you doing out here?" an all-too-familiar voice demanded.

"Twilight!" Spike spun towards the unicorn, relief washing through every scale on his skin. "Thank goodness!"

Through the mossy forest branches, Twilight walked into the clearing where Spike and the fillies had slept. Peewee continued to flutter around Spike, trilling enthusiastically.

Twilight magicked Spike towards her, throwing a hoof around him in a hug. "Spike, you nearly gave me a heart attack! I woke up, you were gone, Peewee was going crazy, and as soon as I opened the door, he flew out towards the Everfree Forest of all places, and—"

Spike hugged her back. "You have no idea what's been happening," Spike said. He backed away from Twilight so he could look her in the eyes to explain. "I followed the fillies last night into the Everfree Forest and then this gargoyle—"

"Sweetie Belle's missin'!" Apple Bloom interrupted. "She went after Rarity—"

"Spike totally destroyed the gargoyle, but then we were lost and—"

"Wait, Sweetie Belle's been kidnapped by a gargoyle?" Twilight asked, interrupting Scootaloo. She danced back in panic.

"No no no," Spike said, shaking his head quickly. "Well, hopefully not…"

"Spike, I think you'd better start at the beginning," Twilight said. She sat down by the edge of the pond, waiting expectantly.

Spike sighed. That's what I'd been trying to do! he thought to himself, but he knew better than to grumble at Twilight. "Alright," he said. "Here goes."

Rarity sidestepped quickly away from a patch of Poison Joke. Her hooves tripped through a viney patch of some other plant, which she sincerely hoped wasn't anything worse than the one she was trying to avoid.

"Ugh!" she shuddered, turning and careening straight into a spider web. "Ugh!" she repeated even louder, shaking the thin silk threads off her face. "This forest! I'm so sick of it!"

Rarity tripped into a mud hole and screeched in rage.

"Urgh!"

She'd had enough of the outdoors, and she wasn't even a full day through her quest yet. Rarity pulled her feet out of the sticky mud and stumbled to the side, collapsing on the ground and letting out a sob.

"This is impossible," she gasped. If only she could take a moment to rest…some time to actually get some sleep…This wasn't the first time she'd pulled an all-nighter before, but it was the first time she'd done it while also filling the hours with intense running, crazy amounts of panic, and emotional goodbyes.

Rarity pulled her thoughts away from the night before. She didn't have time to dwell on the images floating in her mind…Sweetie Belle, asleep in the pile of fillies…Spike, his eyes closed tight in a restless slumber…

She shook her head. The sun was up. She was late for her meeting with the Canterlot guard. Rarity felt her eyes watering. Failing already.

She pushed her tears away, wincing as she streaked mud over her cheek with her hoof. Not much she could do about that now. She just had to press on. Rarity continued to head east, following the newly risen sun.

It was with great relief that she wandered past the old ruins, where long ago she and her friends had faced off against Nightmare Moon. Rarity knew those ruins were near the far edge of the forest. It couldn't be much farther now.

The unicorn subconsciously put a hoof to her throat, remembering how the Element of Generosity had materialized around her neck, changing her life forever. She'd been a simple shop owner, with simple dreams. She'd just wanted to become a top fashion designer famous throughout all of Equestria for her amazing dresses and super exclusive clients.

And then…

Then there were the Elements of Harmony. Taking down Discord. Fighting off Changelings. Getting kidnapped by Diamond Dogs. Getting kidnapped by a dragon.

Everything had changed for Rarity when Twilight Sparkle came to town. She brought with her adventure. She brought with her Spike.

Rarity sighed. Yes, her priorities had changed. Taking on this journey was clear evidence of that. A little part of her longed for the simpler times. But as she walked through the forest and thought more about it, Rarity knew she would never trade her dear friendship with Twilight and Spike for all the fashion awards in Equestria.

The trees became more sparse, and Rarity's head lifted up slightly. Was she finally out of the forest?

She felt herself kick up her pace into a trot.

Yes!

Yes, she was!

Rarity went into a full gallop, racing into the meadow ahead of her.

"I'm so sorry I'm late!" Rarity apologized, calling out. She glanced around for the guards. They must be quite bored by now, waiting for her to show up. Though perhaps they were relieved to have some time off. Princess Celestia had them sent over from their extended duties near the coast, after all.

Rarity slowed her steps, looking left and right in the clearing. "Hello?" she called. "Anypony there?"

Silence answered her.

Rarity stood, frozen still, as a breeze softly pushed the blades of grass around her.

The guards weren't there. Rarity swallowed. Alright. No need to panic. They might just be running late, as you were.

She sat down. I'll just wait a bit. It'll be fine. They'll come.

Rarity couldn't believe how nice it felt to sit on the dirt and the grass. She was sure her coat was getting filthy, but she couldn't bring herself to care. At that moment, the only thoughts she could process were that she needed to wait for the guards, and that it'd been a long time since she'd gotten any sleep…

"Oh wow. Okay. Wow. Okay." Twilight paced back and forth. "This is a situation."

"Understatement of the year there, Twilight, thanks," Spike said, rolling his eyes at the mare. "So what do we do?" He'd hoped that when he'd finished his story, Twilight would have an immediate plan of action. That was her specialty, after all. She was the planning queen.

But apparently that wasn't the case. Twilight just continued to pace back and forth, getting her hooves more and more muddy by the minute on the banks of the scum pond. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had the good sense to be quiet as she thought through the possibilities.

"Well, with only a vague idea of which way Rarity went and therefore, which way Sweetie Belle followed her—"

"If Sweetie Belle followed her," Spike pointed out. "We can only hope she did."

"Right." Twilight made a squeaking noise of panic. "We need to find Sweetie Belle. That's a priority. But we can't know which way she went for sure, though most likely following Rarity means going to the other side of Everfree Forest…we can't possibly drag two more fillies through the forest, though." Twilight looked over at Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "We have to get them home. Then we organize a full search party, and head back out to find Sweetie Belle."

"And Rarity?" Spike asked.

"Spike, you know full well that Rarity can take care of herself, and that she's on a mission for the Princess that we shouldn't interrupt," Twilight said. "So we find Sweetie Belle. If she's with Rarity, then we find Rarity, too. But if she's not, we'll just have to let Rarity finish whatever job it is she has."

"Hey, wait a minute," Scootaloo said. "So we're going back to town? Without Sweetie Belle?"

"To organize a search party, yes," Twilight said. "And get you two back safely."

"But we want to help find Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom protested.

"You can," Twilight said.

"Really?" Apple Bloom asked, her eyes shining.

"Yes," Twilight replied. "From the safety of Ponyville. Now let's get going." Twilight turned and began to walk away.

"Hey!" Apple Bloom yelled. "No way! We're finding her now! Together!"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo agreed. The two fillies stood side by side, holding their heads high.

Twilight stopped walking and gave them a look. Neither filly moved. Spike fiddled with his claws, Peewee on his shoulder.

Nopony budged and the stare-off continued on. Spike shook his head. You can't win against them with stubbornness, Twilight. Trust me.

"Guys, listen," Spike started. "We have to find Sweetie Belle, yes, but remember earlier? How you were saying how Rainbow Dash and Applejack could do a much better job? Well that's what Twilight means here. We go back – not abandoning Sweetie Belle – so that we can get other ponies to help find her. Because, you know, on our own we wouldn't be that great at it. I mean, yeah. Even with Twilight. We need help."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom eyed each other, considering. Eventually, they both hung their heads. "Yeah, I guess so," Apple Bloom said.

"If that's the only way," Scootaloo added.

"It is," Spike said. "Well, I think it is, anyway."

"It is," Twilight said firmly. "Thanks, Spike. Are you all ready to go now?"

The fillies nodded their heads glumly and they followed Twilight out of the clearing. Spike walked behind them, Peewee nuzzling into his cheek. Little guy must've been the whole reason Twilight found them in the first place.

"Thanks, Peewee," Spike said. "We wouldn't have gotten out of here without you."

The baby phoenix trilled in delight.

By the time they finally got back through the Everfree Forest and past Fluttershy's cottage, Spike could scarcely trust his eyes. Ponyville had never looked more inviting. Spike wanted to run into the library, slam the door, and fall into his bed. However, as they walked into the town, Spike knew that was the opposite of his options at the moment. He had to track down Sweetie Belle. That meant getting the search party together and heading back into the forest.

Peewee flew around Spike's head as he followed Twilight down the streets of Ponyville. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were abnormally quiet behind him. They had been the entire walk out of the dark forest that'd swallowed up their friend. Spike had to drag their wagon behind him, with Scootaloo's scooter tossed in it. The little orange filly didn't look up to moving it herself. She didn't look up to anything. Neither did Apple Bloom. Both of them dragged their hooves along, barely keeping up with him.

Spike scratched the side of his cheek with his claw. He didn't know what to say to make them feel any better. He wasn't any happier than they were that they had to leave Sweetie Belle in the forest somewhere. There wasn't anything good about this situation, except maybe that at least not all three fillies had gotten lost.

"Okay, let's get you two to Sweet Apple Acres," Twilight said, nodding back to the fillies. "Then we can meet up with Applejack and start putting together our search crew."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded, and Spike grimaced. Poor girls, he thought to himself, sighing inwardly. But then his grimace twisted, and his cheek muscles yanked back in a familiar way.

"BUUUUUURP!" Spike belched, a letter materializing out of his fire. He dropped the wagon handle and snatched the letter out of the air before it fell on the street. "Twilight! A message from Princess Celestia!"

Twilight stopped in her tracks, quickly trotting back to Spike and the fillies and magicking the letter out of his hands.

"What is it?" Scootaloo asked.

"What's the princess got to say?" Apple Bloom wanted to know.

Twilight scanned through the letter, her eyes getting wider and wider. "Spike. I think our search party might be doing double duty," she said slowly, lowering the letter once she was done.

"What is it?" Spike asked. Peewee landed on his shoulder, leaning forward with interest.

"The guards Princess Celestia asked to help Rarity on her quest haven't reported back to her in over twenty-four hours," Twilight explained. "She thinks they might be in trouble. They may have never even met up with Rarity."

"What?!" Spike exclaimed. Where was his paper breathing sack when he needed it? "Rarity was supposed to have guards?! And they aren't—they never—they aren't reporting in? Well…well then Rarity needs help! Like, now!"

Twilight nodded grimly. "Exactly."

"Rarity?"

At the sound of her name, Rarity slowly blinked her eyes open.

"Hey, Rarity? You okay?"

The unicorn felt a hoof nudge her side. "Sweetie Belle, not now…" Rarity mumbled, covering her hooves with her eyes to block the light. She wasn't sure what time it was, but she was quite certain it was too early to be awake. Her body informed her that she needed at least three more hours of beauty sleep.

Sweetie Belle paused, and Rarity nestled further into the grass.

The grass.

…Wait.

Rarity's eyes flew open, and she leapt to her feet. "Sweetie Belle! What are you doing out here?!"

The meadow breeze pushed past Rarity, rustling the grass surrounding her and her sister. Abundant sunshine shone down on them both and reflected off the nearby stream, but the scenery at that moment was lost on the unicorn. Everything flooded back in a flash. Her mission. The Everfree Forest. Leaving her sister, Spike, and her sister's friends. Arriving at the meadow. No guards to meet her—

"I followed you," Sweetie Belle said.

Where are the guards? "Well yes, I can see that," Rarity replied to her sister, waving one hoof around, flustered. "But…but… but why?" Had Sweetie Belle completely lost her mind?

"You were going deeper into the forest!" Sweetie Belle explained, pacing back and forth through the clover patch she'd been standing in. "I had to make sure you were safe!" Her voice squeaked on the last syllable, and Rarity winced.

Safe. Her baby sister, trying to keep her safe.

The guards are supposed to keep me safe, Rarity thought to herself, looking around. And they still aren't here. She bit her lower lip, and looked back at Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie, what am I going to do with you?" she groaned. "Do you have any idea what you've wandered into?"

Sweetie Belle didn't look Rarity in the eye. "Well, not exactly…" She set her jaw. "But what did you want me to do? You were—"

Rarity couldn't bring herself to listen as Sweetie Belle rambled on about how impossible it'd be to not follow her sister when she was wandering away into the Everfree Forest. There was only one thought in Rarity's mind: How do I get her back home safely and not break my promise to the Princess? They were at least a day's walk away from Ponyville, if not more thanks to the dangers of the Everfree Forest. Rarity knew she was lucky enough to get through the forest unscathed herself, but to attempt it again, and this time with Sweetie Belle in tow…Rarity shuddered at the thought. But what choice did she have? Who knew what dangers lay ahead in her mission? Looking around the meadow, Rarity still couldn't find any signs of the guards she was promised, and without guards, how could she just walk into giant reptilian territories and be assured safety? Much less assure Sweetie Belle safety? Rarity bit her lower lip. She was caught between a diamond and a crystallized rock wall, that was for sure. Some part of Rarity's mind registered that Sweetie Belle was still talking, and her ears faded back into the tirade of her little sister just in time to hear her shush up.

"And how was I supposed to know if you—hey, what's that?" Sweetie Belle stopped talking and instead gaped over Rarity's shoulder.

Rarity turned, and then it was her turn to gawk. Coming straight at them, lumbering gracefully up the stream, was a long, purple serpent with a familiar flowing mustache.

It's...it's...Rarity stared, blinking as the creature drew closure.

"Oh my, that river ends quickly, doesn't it? What an adorable little tributary. Unfortunately, it doesn't do much for us swimming types," the sea serpent said. Then he smiled at the two ponies he approached from across the meadow. "It's been too long, Rarity the Most Generous One! Far too long! And my my my, who is this precious one with you? I had hoped you'd come alone, but isn't she just charming!"

"Uh…who is this, Rarity?" Sweetie Belle asked, her hooves dancing nervously.

Rarity smiled in return, ignoring her sister and regaining her composure. She took a step forward towards the sea serpent. She'd had her suspicions, but she should've just plain guessed, really. Of course this was why the sea serpents had wanted to see her. "It has been far too long. May I say, your mustache has grown in even more fabulous than before."

"All thanks to you." The sea serpent bowed in her direction.

Rarity blushed a bit. "It's rather embarrassing, and I'm ever so sorry, my dear, but I'm afraid the last time we met, I never did catch your name."

"Really?" the sea serpent asked, putting one hand to his chest in shock. "How rude of me! Well, allow me to introduce myself, then. My name is Stef'an Ma'Ganette, Duke of Sea Serpentia and your recommender, escort, and guide to my kin!"

Chapter 5

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Chapter 5

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack exclaimed, galloping up the Ponyville street towards them. "Oh thank Celestia, yer safe!"

Spike moved out of the way as Applejack ran past, scooping her kid sister up into a hug.

"Aww, Applejack, ah'm sorry if ah made you nervous," Apple Bloom said.

"Nervous?" Applejack stepped backwards, pulling back to look the filly in the eyes. "Try terrified! Where in tarnation have you been?"

"It's a long story," Twilight cut in. "The important thing is that she and Scootaloo are safe now, as is Spike."

"Yeah, but…" Scootaloo began, throwing a glance back in the direction of the Everfree Forest.

"What is it?" Applejack asked.

"Sweetie Belle is missin'!" Applebloom sobbed.

...Because of me, Spike added, guilt coursing through his little dragon body. Because I failed Rarity. He crossed his arms over his chest, unable to look Applejack in the eye.

Twilight took a careful step forward. "We need to organize a search party. We think she went after Rarity."

Applejack put a protective hoof around Apple Bloom. "This is terrible. Jus' terrible. Where was Rarity headed anyway?" Applejack asked.

"To the other side of the Everfree Forest," Spike explained, wincing. "She was supposed to go alone, but I'm pretty sure Sweetie Belle followed her. And it gets worse. Rarity was supposed to have guards meet her, but now—"

"But now it seems they aren't coming," Twilight finished. Spike felt a tremor of panic go through him, glad that Twilight at least had her senses about her to explain things properly. "Listen, Applejack," the mare continued. "It really is a long story and just now got even more complicated. We need to gather everypony together. I'll explain everything then. We have a job to do."

Applejack nodded. "If you say so, Twah'light," she replied, nodding firmly. "Ah'll round up the girls and we'll meet at yer place in a jiffy."

"Thank you," Twilight said.

Spike watched as Applejack walked off back through Ponyville. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo followed her, their shoulders still droopy. In turn, Spike trailed Twilight to their library, with Peewee following him. The atmosphere was solemn, even as everypony else in town went about their business as usual.

Twilight walked with an air of calm that Spike could only wish to emulate. He had no idea what Twilight was planning, but by the look in her eyes she'd put together some sort of idea in her brain already. Usually he found that reassuring, but knowing Rarity was out there, in danger, without the help she was meant to have…Spike didn't feel very reassured by anything at the moment.

"Twilight, do you think Rarity's okay?" Spike asked. He couldn't help himself.

Twilight hesitated, and Spike's face paled even through his purple scales. Oh Celestia, she doesn't, Spike realized. She doesn't think she's okay.

Twilight looked at the dragon, her eyes a bit wide. "I'm sure she's fine," Twilight said with far more confidence than Spike knew she must really have. Twilight wasn't as bad as Applejack, but she still wasn't the best liar in Equestria, by any stretch of the imagination.

"And I'm sure Sweetie Belle is fine, too," Twilight said, continuing towards the library. "But all the same, we really should hurry."

At least on that, Spike could agree. Twilight picked up her pace, and Spike walked as fast as his little feet could move to keep up with the mare. His legs protested at the speed, exhausted from the night before and all the walking he'd been doing recently, but Spike moved them quickly anyway. If I was a bigger dragon, this would be easier, Spike sighed to himself as they reached the library and went inside. Twilight walked straight through the first room, past the bookshelves, while Spike leaned against the wall inside, panting a bit. As fast as he could run, it would never be as fast as Twilight or the others. He was just too small. Too small.

Too small to help Rarity? a little voice nagged him from the back of his mind. You don't have to be. You know how to grow bigger.

Spike slammed a fist against the wall behind him.

No. No way. He'd never grow like that again. He'd never grow so fast that he forgot everyone and everything he cared about. He wouldn't.

Spike looked down at his two small feet under his baby fat belly. All the same…it'd be nice to at least grow a little. Situations like this just highlighted how tired he was of being treated like a child and continually looking like one, too. He couldn't remember the last time his height had changed.

Well, other than that one awful day.

Spike clenched and unclenched his fists. He watched Twilight race around the library, gathering materials. They'd grown up together, him and her. Somehow, though, Twilight had grown way more than he had.

Spike narrowed his eyes. Stop it, Spike, he told himself. Better to not grow at all than to turn into some kind of monster again. Maybe this is how it's supposed to be. Maybe us dragons just age loads slower than ponies.

But there was still the matter of his bizarre birthday growth spurt. Spike shook his head, leaving the wall and walking up the library stairs where Peewee had flown earlier. He didn't have time for these thoughts. He needed to pack.

"A pleasure to properly meet you, Lord Ma'Ganette," Rarity said, dipping her head out of respect. A duke? She'd had no idea. Next to her in the meadow, her sister bowed slightly, too, just a brief moment after Rarity did.

The sea serpent put a hand to his cheek, turning and blushing. "Oh, no need to be so formal! I consider you a friend! Please, call me Stef'an," he insisted.

Rarity smiled, glancing back up at him. "Very well, then, Ste'fan," she said. "I'm ever so honored to be in the company of such a high ranking official such as yourself." She kept her face pleasant, despite wanting to wince in horror as she realized what the state of coat and mane must be. She had been sleeping in the grass, after all. Rarity was also fairly certain she still had mud on her face from the Everfree Forest, as well. Oh dear. "Please excuse my appearance, and that of my sister," Rarity apologized. "We've been traveling, you see, and had we known we'd be meeting a duke, we would of course of tidied ourselves up for the occasion."

"Rarity?" Sweetie Belle asked, as Stef'an Ma'Ganette scoffed at the mere suggestion that Rarity didn't look anything less than fabulous.

"Yes, Sweetie?" Rarity asked.

"Uh…how exactly do you know the Duke of Sea Serpentia?" Sweetie Belle blinked up at her sister.

"Why, she rescued me from a terrible fate, of course!" Stef'an replied for Rarity.

"You did?" Sweetie Belle asked, raising a surprised eyebrow.

It was Rarity's turn to feign embarrassment. "Oh now, really, Stef'an, it wasn't all that much," she said, waving a hoof towards the sea serpent.

"Oh it was, it was!" Stef'an insisted. "Why, without you, I would've been half-mustached for goodness knows how long! How could I face anyone in the Royal Court like that?"

"Half-mustached?" Sweetie Belle asked, looking up at Stef'an's fully-mustached face.

"Oh yes, it was a tragic tale," Stef'an said. "I'll never forget that day. A little cloud of smoke came rushing at me from out of nowhere, and suddenly, poof! Half of my glorious mustache was gone! Torn! Oh, cruel, cruel fate!" Stef'an put the back of his hand to his forehead, dramatically.

Rarity's heart swelled for the serpent. A tragic tale, indeed.

"But then!" Stef'an gasped, turning his claw out as if he was peering into the distance. "From the mists of the forest, came a savior! This lovely young mare," he said, gesturing to Rarity with gratitude in his eyes. "She most graciously offered me her tail in place of my missing mustache, and ever since that day, I have sung her praises to all the high courts of Sea Serpentia! A pony! A pony who understands the important things in life!"

"You gave him your tail?" Sweetie Belle asked, her voice squeaking in surprise. "I don't remember you ever being tail-less!"

Rarity laughed, actually and truly embarrassed by that point. "Oh, Sweetie, it—it grew back fairly quickly."

"But why did you give him your tail?" Sweetie asked next. "I mean, I get not wanting to walk around with half a mustache," she said, looking up at Stef'an. "But why not just shave the other half off, so both sides can grow back in together, evenly?"

"Why…why…" Stef'an gaped at the filly.

Rarity's eyes flew open wide. "Sweetie Belle! Do you hear yourself, young lady? To lose just one half of such a magnificent mustache was bad enough, but to even suggest losing both halves! You…you cannot be serious!"

"No, she cannot!" Stef'an agreed.

Sweetie Belle looked mildly terrified, as both the sea serpent and her big sister glared down at her. She winced. "Well…it's good that I…wasn't serious, then. Right? Didn't you get the joke? I was just joking," she covered quickly.

Rarity watched her sister carefully. She obviously hadn't been joking, but she did at least have the good graces to act as if she was, for Stef'an's sake. That was a start, at least. While Sweetie Belle's suggestion had been perfectly reasonable, the filly clearly had no idea of how much a mustache mattered to Stef'an's self-identity. It seemed that Sweetie Belle needed a lesson in the art of sensitivity at some future date. Rarity filed that thought away, looking up at Stef'an and hoping her sister's slip-up hadn't completely ruined their rapport.

"A joke?" Stef'an asked slowly. "Oh, a joke! I see! Well, that's entirely different, then!" he said, scooping Sweetie Belle up and giving her a noogie. "What a wonderful gift! Having such a sense of humor!" He laughed, and Rarity couldn't help but laugh a little, too. However, her laughter was more out of relief and amusement at Sweetie Belle's uncomfortable expression as her mane got tousled by a giant reptile.

Nice save, Sweetie Belle, Rarity thought to herself in approval.

Stef'an Ma'Ganette set a dizzy-looking Sweetie Belle back down on the ground and beamed at Rarity. "I do ever so like your sister! She's more than welcome to join us on our trip back to my home waters!"

Rarity blanched a bit. Sweetie Belle, on her assigned mission to stop a war? Rarity went completely still, processing the idea. She could see no way this would end well.

"Great!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, using one hoof to straighten out her mane. The filly grinned at Rarity.

Rarity held back a groan, doing her best to maintain an air of sophistication around the duke. Stopping this war depended on her making a good impression on the sea serpents and later, the dragons. However, with Sweetie Belle along for the ride…

"Sweetie Belle, I think it may be best if we get you home, dear," she said tentatively. "This is a rather dangerous mission, after all."

"All the more reason I should come along!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

That's the stupidest reasoning I've ever heard, Rarity wanted to say. She gave her sister a stern look. "I'm not sure I follow your logic," Rarity said instead, mindful of Stef'an behind her.

"There is no safer place in the world than the center of Sea Serpentia," Stef'an said.

Isn't your country currently at war? Once again, Rarity held back from saying what was really on her mind. "I'm sure Sea Serpentia is lovely," Rarity said delicately. "And quite well protected," she added, "But given your current international predicament, I'm not sure it is the best place for my baby sister to visit."

"Far safer there than to venture back through that horrid forest," Stef'an pointed out.

Rarity looked at the grass below her feet. He had a point. She couldn't very well send Sweetie Belle back through the Everfree Forest alone, and taking her back herself would mean losing at least two more days of travel, plus goodness knows what sort of dangers. If only the Royal Guards had showed up, like they'd been meant to…

…Speaking of…

Rarity looked up at the sea serpent. "Stef'an," she began gently. "Not to pry, but wasn't I supposed to be accompanied to your kin by the Equestrian Royal Guard? Why are you here to fetch me instead of them?"

The sea serpent dropped his skinny arms to his side. "We hadn't heard from them. They were meant to send word to us at a check-in point last night, but never did. The others said we should wait longer, but how could I leave a lady like yourself waiting out here all alone? I just had to come find you."

Rarity's mind reeled. The Guards hadn't checked in. She could think of a few different reasons they may not have checked in, but to both not check in and to not reach the meadow on time…well, Shining Armor just didn't run a Guard that wasn't punctual. There was little doubt in her mind that her Guards had to have run into trouble. Big trouble.

Oh dear.

Rarity gave herself a brief shake of her head. She couldn't let herself think too much about it. "Thank you, Stef'an," she said to the sea serpent. "That was quite thoughtful of you."

Stef'an glanced around. "I do suggest we get going now, oh Generous One," he said in reply. "We do not know what delayed your Guard, but I have my suspicions." His eyes moved skyward and Rarity felt a tremor go through her body.

Dragons. Stef'an thought dragons had gotten the Guard.

That's it, Sweetie Belle is going home RIGHT NOW. It was no longer a matter of propriety, and was entirely a matter of safety. Rarity took a step towards her little sister, ready to magically chuck her straight over the Everfree Forest back to Ponyville if it came to it.

As if reading her thoughts, Stef'an put a claw on her shoulder. "With the state of things—that is, with the Guard not arriving—well, I personally would be nervous to head back into there, and I'm much bigger than either of you."

Rarity stopped walking, her breath quickening as her mind caught up with what Stef'an said. If there was a force out there successfully hunting down the Royal Guard, what chance did she have? What chance did any of them have? It wasn't as if she actually could magically chuck her sister over the forest back home. Maybe Twilight had that power, but Rarity knew her levitation skills were nowhere near those of Celestia's favorite student.

Sweetie Belle glanced between her sister and the sea serpent. "Rarity…" she began slowly. Rarity knew that meant Sweetie Belle was about to suggest something that she was nervous to ask her sister about, and prepared herself for the worst. "I don't want to go back into the forest," the filly said. "Last night was enough. Can't we go with Stef'an? He could take us somewhere safe, and when we're with him, scary things should leave us alone."

And I could continue with my mission, as the Princess asked.

Rarity didn't like where this was going. Sweetie Belle was making too much sense. Dangerous sense. Stef'an would be like a shield of safety from most perils, just by his sheer size.

A light went on in Rarity's brain. Alright, one last tactic. "Stef'an, is there any chance you could swim us back through the Everfree Forest on that river we found you at last time? I really would like to get my sister home to Ponyville. Then I would happily accompany you to your country."

Stef'an hesitated. "It would be a bit of detour…"

Rarity put on her best pleading eyes, blinking up at the serpent.

"…But I'd be willing to sacrifice a day if that would give you peace of mind," Stef'an added quickly. "I did bring a raft for your use, after all."

Rarity beamed. "Thank you, Stef'an!"

Sweetie Belle looked warily back at the forest, tense as thread caught improperly in a sewing machine. Rarity feared she would argue further. Instead, the filly kicked a rock across the ground.

"Stupid forest," was all she said.

"Woo! Woo! Woo!" Pinkie Pie jumped up and down in the library, attempting to catch Rainbow Dash. The pegasus flew overhead, dipping every other moment in the air and laughing hysterically.

"As I was saying." Twilight glared at the two of them. "I can't imagine why Princess Celestia didn't ask us to help with this covert mission to the middle of a warzone in the first place, but she is asking now."

Applejack coughed loudly, caught Spike's glance, and rolled her eyes at Pinkie and Dash. That got Spike snickering a bit, despite his nerves.

"Yeah, yeah, no problem." Rainbow Dash waved a hoof at them, dodging another of Pinkie's leaps. "I mean, seriously, how many times have we saved Equestria by now? This is going to be a cakewalk."

"It is?" Pinkie stopped jumping, instead throwing her hooves to her face. "I love cakewalks!"

"Pinkie," Twilight warned. "It won't be that easy. Rainbow Dash is just being facetious."

"Fas-what-us?" Pinkie asked, blinking at Twilight.

"It means I was being super fast," Rainbow Dash explained before Twilight had a chance to respond. "Seriously, Pinkie, do you never read?"

"Actually," Twilight said, "Facetious means—"

Spike stamped one foot. "Could we maybe stop with the language lesson and get going with the plan to save Rarity and Sweetie Belle?" he asked. He knew Twilight, and if she got off on a teaching tangent, they'd never get the conversation back on track.

Twilight looked over at him, startled. "Oh! Right. Yes, where were we?"

"Somethin' about an ancient scroll givin' dragons the rights to sea serpent territory?" Applejack supplied.

"Right," Twilight nodded. She continued to give her friends a rundown of Princess Celestia's letter, and Spike found his thoughts drifting back to Rarity out there in the wilderness. He'd already read the letter. Rarity's mission sounded next to impossible. Couldn't Twilight just explain things on the way? Rarity needed help now.

"Um, excuse me, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked as Twilight finished her explanation.

Twilight rolled a map into her pack and nodded towards Fluttershy. "Yes?"

"Um, if it wouldn't be too much of a bother, I think I would be more useful here. You know. In Ponyville," Fluttershy said, shrinking away from her friends.

"Fluttershy." Twilight narrowed her eyes.

"You know. Just as uh…well, backup? Ponyville backup?" Fluttershy suggested hopefully.

"Oh, don't tell me you're afraid of dragons again." Rainbow Dash landed on the library floor next to Fluttershy, jabbing one hoof into her shoulder. Fluttershy squeaked. "I thought you'd gotten over that!"

"You did stare down that one dragon pretty impressively, sugarcube," Applejack said.

"That was just one dragon!" Fluttershy flew backwards a couple of steps, away from the other ponies. "You're asking me to walk straight into a battle full of dragons!"

Spike sighed. He should've seen this particular obstacle coming.

"It's just fine to be nervous, Fluttershy," Twilight said, approaching Fluttershy gently. "But remember, we need you along for this. Rarity and Sweetie Belle need you. You have valuable skills that I'm sure will help get us through."

"Please, Fluttershy?" Spike asked, walking up next to Twilight. "Remember, I'm a dragon, too, and I'm not that scary. I don't think, at least…" Spike put a thoughtful claw to his lips. "Anyhow, I'm not going to feel safe about this unless you come."

"That's right," Applejack nodded. "You don't want Spike back here in the library all panicked because you backed out on us, do you?"

"Well, if you put it that way…" Fluttershy said slowly.

Spike's eyebrows creased. "Hold on a minute." He turned to Applejack. "Back here in the library? But, but, I'm coming with you guys!" He spun to look at Twilight. "Aren't I?"

Twilight locked eyes with him, and Spike held himself back from collapsing on the floor at Twilight's hooves and begging. She has to let me come! Rarity's in trouble! "Twilight…" Spike swallowed. "Please. I…I already packed and everything."

After a moment's pause, Twilight finally nodded.

"Wait, hold on a tick," Applejack said, walking between Spike and Twilight. "Yer lettin' him come? Just because he wants to? Ah mean, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo wanted to come, too, but ah didn't let them."

"Oh really? How'd you manage that?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yeah, seriously." Twilight cocked her head. "They're pretty resourceful."

"Ah, uh…" Applejack kicked one foot along the floor sheepishly. "Ah may've lassoed them to an apple tree."

"What?!" Twilight gasped.

"Only fer a bit!" Applejack defended herself. "Big Macintosh's gonna let them go before nightfall!"

"Oh no. Those poor dears," Fluttershy said, walking over to look out the window in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.

"Eh, they'll be alright," Applejack said. "What doesn't break yer hooves jus' makes 'em stronger."

"Well, nopony's lassoing me to a tree!" Spike said, grabbing his packed bag and moving as far away from Applejack as possible. "I already made arrangements with Cheerilee to watch Peewee and everything!"

"Spike—" Twilight started.

"How could we leave Spike behind?" Pinkie Pie asked, putting a hoof on Spike's shoulder as he accidentally backed straight into her. "He has to come! Why, without him, how do we infiltrate dragon territory?"

"Infiltrate d-d-d-d-dragon territory?" Fluttershy asked, her attention focused back on the task at hoof.

"Well, duh!" Pinkie snorted. "None of us are dragons, are we? Spike's got to do it! He'll dash in, behind enemy lines, dodging fearsome fireblasts—"

Spike's hands began to shake at that. Dodging fireblasts?

"—all while wearing this!" Pinkie Pie slapped a fake mustache on Spike's face from Celestia-knows-where.

Spike's eyes lit back up. "Yeah! Now that's what I'm talking about!" He grinned, going almost cross-eyed to look down at the 'stache below his nose.

Twilight magicked it off his face before he managed to focus his eyes on it. "That's enough," she said. "This is serious."

Spike's shoulders drooped.

"Spike, I was going to say earlier that of course you're coming," Twilight said. Spike sucked in a disbelieving breath, staring at Twilight. "Pinkie's right," the mare continued.

"When it comes to mustaches, I'm always right!" Pinkie declared proudly.

"Not about that." Twilight shot Pinkie an annoyed glare. "About Spike infiltrating dragon territory. Not that I'd ever send him in alone," she said, as Applejack began to protest, "But in general, it might not be a bad idea to have a dragon along when we're trying to stop a war involving dragons."

"Yes!" Spike actually leapt into the air, his hefted bag smacking against his back when he landed. "Thank you, Twilight!"

"Besides." Twilight gave him a knowing look. "I don't think I'd ever hear the end of it if we went off to help Rarity without him."

Spike rubbed the back of his head, sheepishly.

"Whatever you say, Twah'light," Applejack shrugged in response.

"So are we going to get going soon or what?" Rainbow Dash asked, flying back up into the air and hovering over them all. "All this talking isn't helping Rarity or Sweetie Belle, you know."

Twilight nodded. "Yes. We should get a move on. Let's meet at the edge of town in fifteen minutes, and we'll make our way through the Everfree Forest together."

"I'm ready already!" Spike said. "I'll go wait there for you all!"

"If you say so," Twilight said, smiling at him a little.

Spike smiled back. Twilight wanted him to come along. He was going to save Rarity. Everything was going to be alright.

Spike left the library and made his way over to the forest's edge, counting down the minutes until everypony else would get there. As he walked past Fluttershy's cottage, he listened for the familiar sound of the small stream that ran out of the Everfree Forest. Oddly, try as he might, he couldn't hear it.

Spike strained his ears, pausing when he finally got to where the little stream should be. He peered into its banks.

It was completely dried up.

"Huh," Spike said, staring at the pebbles in the stream bed. "That's weird."

"WATCH OUT!"

Rarity threw herself over Sweetie Belle. The raft they'd attached to Stef'an nearly cracked in half as a large wave crashed over them.

"Careful back there!" Stef'an called out, dodging as rock after rock hurled towards them from the air. The river they'd been traveling rapidly dammed up, and Stef'an made a rushed one-eighty turn, swimming speedily back upstream.

"Hold on, Sweetie!" Rarity said. Her little sister screamed as another rock just barely missed them. Both her and her sister were completely drenched, but that was of little matter to Rarity at the moment. "Stef'an, please! Be careful!"

"I know!" Stef'an said, his head still above the stream water so he could watch for hurdling rocks. "I'm so sorry, I'm going as fast as I can!"

Sweetie Belle shrieked again as a particularly large boulder smashed into the bank next to them, cascading water over them once more.

"Who's attacking us?" Sweetie asked.

Rarity looked up, though only for a moment as another wave of water washed over them. But the moment was all she needed.

Huge beasts. Leathery wings.

"Dragons!" Rarity gasped.

"I'll get us out of here, don't worry!" Stef'an said. "Would you two be dears and promise to hold your breath for a minute?"

Rarity didn't even have time to reply. Half a second later, Stef'an dove as the river deepened. Water incased both her and her sister, and Rarity used her magic to cling tightly to Sweetie Belle and their rather opulent raft. The river rushed over them, and Rarity hoped Stef'an would remember that ponies needed to come up for air with much more frequency than sea serpents.

It looked like they wouldn't be taking Sweetie Belle back to Ponyville, after all.

Chapter 6

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Chapter 6

Fish flopped along the ground, directed by Fluttershy towards their brand new pond.

"Ah just don't get it," Applejack said, throwing her shovel to one side. Spike darted around, picking up the discarded shovels as Twilight finished filling the pond with water from the reservoir. "Water doesn't just stop flowing for no good reason."

"No, it doesn't," Twilight agreed. "But I think that may need to be a mystery we answer as we catch up to Rarity."

"Which we would've already been doing if somepony would've let us leave sooner," Rainbow Dash said, eyeing Fluttershy as she finished nudging the last fish into the pond.

Fluttershy, whose nose was already near the ground, shrunk even lower down. Spike winced, even though inside he agreed with the blue pegasus.

"We need Fluttershy with us," Twilight said. "And if she wanted to make sure the animals were safe before we left, that's her decision."

Spike set the shovels down in a pile by Fluttershy's cottage, trying to hold in grumbles about Fluttershy's priorities. One shovel clattered to the ground as he turned away, but he didn't bother going back to pick it up. They had to get going. Rarity and Sweetie Belle were out there. Couldn't we have just asked some other ponies to take care of this whole pond-digging business? But as Spike imagined that scenario, he realized it would've taken just as long.

"Now, once you've got the hole dug, you'll need to fill it up gently…no need to rush…too much water will hurt the earthworms!"

Spike could just see Fluttershy micromanaging any task that involved animals. Quietly, of course. He shook his head, walking back over to everypony by the new pond. What's done was done. At least now they could get moving.

"Everypony set?" Twilight asked, magically adjusting the straps of her saddlebags.

Fluttershy straightened up. "Oh, yes, thank you, Twilight."

"Whatever it takes to get you to come," Twilight said. Fluttershy nodded, and then they both turned and began walking into the forest, with the other ponies following.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Spike thought, hefting his bag over his shoulder and walking behind everypony else. He could hear Fluttershy mumbling to herself as they walked.

"Now, you've made a promise. Dragons or no dragons, Rarity needs you."

Pinkie Pie bounded alongside the pony lineup as they marched through the first paths of the Everfree Forest. Naturally, she was singing. "We're coming to save you, Rarity! Don't you fret or fear! We're coming to save you Rarity, even-if-you-don't-really-need-it-and-Sweetie-Belle-is-safe-and-your-secret-quest-is-taken-care-of-and-those-Royal-Guards-just-got-lost-or-something-we'll-still-bring-you-some-friendship-and-hopefully-some-CHEER!"

The pink pony gasped for air, her chest heaving in and out. Spike passed her, shaking his head. Applejack glanced back over her shoulder at Pinkie Pie.

"Better keep singin' to a minimum, there, Pinkie," Applejack said. "We don't want to attract any unnecessary attention in these woods."

An image of timberwolves flashed through Spike's mind, and he gulped. I hope Sweetie Belle caught up to Rarity. I hope, I hope, I hope—

"We'll be fine," Twilight said. "As long as we stick together."

Spike picked up his pace, barely listening to any more of the ponies' conversation. Sweetie Belle has to be okay. She has to be. And Rarity…she…she…

His small dragon brain couldn't even begin to process what he'd do if Rarity wasn't okay.

Air tore into Rarity's lungs as they surfaced. Sweetie Belle gasped beside her. Rarity grabbed for her sister, throwing a hoof over her to prop her upright on the raft. Her chest burned as she took a second, desperate breath.

Stef'an turned his head to face them and the gold plated raft caught the sunlight as it shifted, making Rarity wince. "They're still coming," the sea serpent said, gazing up into the sky. "We haven't lost them yet. We need to get farther from the forest."

"Rarity…no…I can't! Please don't make us go underwater again!" Sweetie Belle pleaded, quivering beneath Rarity's hoof.

"Stef'an?" Rarity asked the serpent as he swam them snake-style through the river. Her coat dripped around her hooves, and she was sure the food in her pack was ruined.

"I'm sorry," Stef'an said. His golden eyebrows creased together. "I'm afraid it's the fastest way I travel, and we need speed to lose those gargoyles."

"Gargoyles?" Rarity spun to look at the creatures flying after them. What about the dragons?! But no… The more she stared, the more she realized the beasts with the leathery wings weren't dragons at all. They were far too thin, and far too ugly.

…They were the same as the creature that had made off with her sister, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo the night before. Except now, there were more of them. At least six or seven, from Rarity's quick count. All headed their way. Oh my.

"Hold on tight again, please," Stef'an directed as the gargoyles drew closer.

"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle squeaked, scotching even more under Rarity's hoof and hugging her sister's body tight.

"Deep breath, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity said, sucking in her own.

Down they dove. Rarity's pinched her eyes shut, once again using her magic to cling extra tight to their raft and to her sister.

The river water rushed around them, though this time, there were no rocks hurdling past them. It seemed the gargoyles were at least out of boulder-throwing range. Judging by Stef'an's swimming rate, Rarity hoped they'd soon be long gone entirely.

She could feel her mane flowing behind her in the water like somepony had grabbed it and wouldn't let go. Same with her tail. She didn't dare open her eyes for fear that sand or river grime would get washed into them as they traveled underwater at Stef'an's, admittedly impressive, super-speeds. Gargoyles. Gargoyles. Why gargoyles? What is happening? Rarity's brain couldn't begin to think of an answer, perhaps from lack of oxygen. Her chest ached between her wasting lungs and her pounding heart. Adrenaline shook her whole body. All thoughts of gargoyles quickly vanished and the thought of breathing took over completely.

They needed to surface. It was too much. She needed air, and she needed it now. Same with Sweetie Belle. The little filly's grip was loosening.

Rarity used her last bit of energy to magically tug on the fin on the right side of Stef'an's head, pulling it upwards. He got the message, and swam back to the surface. Both her and Sweetie Belle gasped once more, splashing through to the top of the river.

As soon as she could manage it, Rarity spun to glance behind them. She couldn't even see the forest anymore, much less any gargoyles. She hesitantly allowed herself a moment of security. After all that swimming, she was pretty sure they'd done it. Pretty sure they'd escaped.

Sweetie Belle coughed next to her on the raft, and Rarity pushed her sister's mane away from her face, making sure her eyes and nose were clear. "Are you alright, Sweetie?" she asked.

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle said weakly. "Yeah, I think so."

"You're sure?" Rarity asked, fretting over the filly until Sweetie Belle pulled away, swatting her sisters' hooves back. "Er—right then." She glanced over her shoulder once again. Still no gargoyles. They were safe. Weren't they?

"We've lost them," Stef'an said. He slowed down his swimming to a more casual pace.

"We have," Rarity said, breathing a sigh of relief at his confirmation. Stef'an swam onwards, presumably towards a meeting spot for others of his species, at least Rarity could hope. She'd certainly lost enough time already on her mission.

"I just don't understand. Why are gargoyles attacking us?" Sweetie Belle asked, wringing out her mane with her hooves. The water dripped down onto the fancy raft, running off the sides and down Stef'an's scales into the river.

"The gargoyles have been doing a lot of strange things lately," Stef'an said.

"Last night a gargoyle wanted to eat us," Sweetie Belle said. Then her eyes flew open. "Do you think we weren't big enough for all of them? Maybe they've moved onto hunting sea serpents!"

Their guide shook his head. "I don't think they were going to try to eat me," Stef'an said. "Though I'm sure I'd be a delicacy." He put a thoughtful finger to his chin.

"Oh, indeed, of course," Rarity said, barely even thinking about what she was agreeing with as her brain turned over the facts. So now, not only are the dragons against the sea serpents, the gargoyles are as well? Or are they just a rogue group, doing their own thing?

"No, I think they were trying to keep me away from the Everfree Forest," Stef'an said. "After all, it was just a few weeks ago that they chased me out of there, rather rudely, too."

"Gargoyles chased you out of the forest?" Rarity asked, making sure she understood him correctly.

"Yes, and I wish I knew why," Stef'an pouted.

"Wait, so if they chased you out of the forest…" Sweetie Belle stared back upriver. "Maybe they were trying to take it over or something. What if…what if there's more of them? Rarity!" She spun to face her sister. "What about Scootaloo and Apple Bloom?! And Spike? Do you think they got out of there okay?"

Rarity's heart flipped in her chest. Spikey Wikey? It took all of her willpower to keep her facial expression calm and collected. "I'm certain they're fine, Sweetie," she said, as reassuringly as she could. A small whimper managed to escape her mouth, but her sister didn't notice.

Stef'an watched Rarity carefully, and deftly changed the subject. "I suppose that's a mystery for another day. We'll be at the sea and on our way to Sea Serpentia's ceremonial meeting isles soon."

"Oh dear, the meeting isles already? Well, we better prepare ourselves, then." Rarity refocused her attention. How are the sea serpents going to welcome an ambassador whose mane looks like something Opal coughed up?

She knew exactly what she'd need to do to pass the time between now and when they arrived at their destination. Her horn glowed as she began to tackle both her and Sweetie Belle's ragged coats. She could only hope it'd be enough of a distraction. She desperately needed the vision of an entire horde of gargoyles attacking her Spikey Wikey to disappear back into the far corners of her imagination.

Her hooves shook. Rarity narrowed her eyes in an effort to keep them steady.

Please just stop already, overactive imagination. Spike is just fine. He's safe back in Ponyville, where he belongs. Far, far away from any gargoyles.

"Well, I think we can safely say we've figured out what happened to the river," Rainbow Dash said, flapping her wings to fly up higher.

Spike's toes squished unpleasantly through the muck of the flooded forest. Ahead of them, the river spilled around a huge pile of boulders that had dammed the entire thing up. "It wasn't like this yesterday," Spike said, scratching his head. "I don't get it."

"Um, everypony?" Spike heard Fluttershy ask meekly. He'd let somepony else answer. He needed to figure out what was going on with the river, and if it would have affected Rarity and Sweetie Belle at all.

Twilight walked around the muck, examining the rock pile from every angle with Applejack. "This isn't natural," she determined, stopping in her tracks.

"Ain't natural at all," Applejack agreed, poking at one rock with her hoof.

"Ahem," Pinkie Pie cleared her throat. "From my professional opinion, growing up on a rock farm and all…" Pinkie picked up one rock to peer at it closely. "These rocks are definitely not from around here."

"Everypony?" Fluttershy asked again.

"You're right, Pinkie," Twilight said. Spike noticed she wore an expression of mild surprise at Pinkie's reasonable contribution to the conversation, though she hid it well from everypony else. "There are no cliffs around," Twilight continued, scanning the area. "No mountains anywhere close enough to have caused a rockslide into this very spot."

"Um…um…!" Fluttershy squeaked.

Spike hopped up onto one of the larger boulders to escape the mud for a few moments. "I mean, I know this is the Everfree Forest, and wacky stuff happens here, but random rocks?"

"Just. Plain. Weird." Rainbow Dash flew past Spike, circling the rocky dam.

"Everypony!" Fluttershy trotted forward to the middle of them all, her eyes darting about at the trees overhead.

"Yes, Fluttershy?" Twilight finally answered.

She flew up to cower behind Rainbow Dash, shrieking, "Up in the trees! There are…there are…d-d-d-dragons!"

"Dragons?!" Spike looked up so fast he nearly felt his neck snap. What? No! Impossible!

Above, glowing eyes glinted in the dark of the forest. Before anypony else had a chance to scream, they attacked. But as soon as they left the trees, Spike realized they weren't dragons at all.

They were gargoyles.

"RUN!" Twilight yelled. She didn't need to say that twice. They bolted.

There must have been at least fifteen, no, twenty of the gargoyles at their heels. Applejack did a barrel roll through some thick weeds, dodging as one swooped towards her. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew so fast their wings became a blur. Spike ran as quickly as he could, but he just couldn't keep up with his friends. A raised tree root tripped him up, and Spike soon found himself sprawled spread-eagle in the mud.

A massive roar sounded behind him, and he flipped himself over just in time to see a huge set of jaws flying towards his face. Instinct kicked in, and Spike blew out his dragon fire straight into the beast's mouth.

It shrieked an awful sound, like a hoof down a chalkboard. Spike threw his hands in front of his face and scooted backwards away from the gargoyle, accidentally smashing straight into a tree. The gargoyle flew away into the canopy, clawing at its mouth.

"You again!"

He looked up, just in time to see another gargoyle—a familiar one—dive-bomb him.

"Spike, look out!" Twilight screamed.

The next thing Spike knew, he was teleported several yards away. He watched as the gargoyle from the attack on the fillies smashed into the ground, where Spike had been moments earlier. It climbed to its feet, breathing raggedly. "That one!" the gargoyle pointed. "Stuff its mouth and eat it quick!"

Spike froze in place.

"Oh, I don't think so!" Rainbow Dash zoomed to a halt and spun around to face the creature. Then she flew straight at its face and punched it in one of its glowing eyes.

"Yeehaw, that'll teach'em!" Applejack cheered, rearing up on her hind legs. "C'mon girls, we ain't gonna outrun 'em, so we'll just have to out gun 'em!" She darted forward to join Rainbow Dash, bucking gargoyles aside like they were some sort of bizarre winged apples.

But as valiant as his friends were, Spike knew they were outnumbered. And he didn't have enough dragon fire to beat them all. He was just too small. Again.

"Get the little scaly one!" another gargoyle yelled, flying at him after he used his dragon fire to scare one of the beasts away from Fluttershy.

"Spike, get out of here!" Twilight yelled, right before teleporting him even farther from the battle.

"Hey, you said ponies would be easy food!" one of the gargoyles hissed at another as Pinkie Pie popped in and out from around the trees so quick that Spike was sure Twilight had to be teleporting her, too.

"They will be!" the other responded.

Spike's eyes flew open as one of the gargoyles heaved a rock straight towards Twilight.

"WATCH OUT!" Spike screamed, tearing towards the unicorn.

But then, a massive blast of fire burst straight past the gargoyle with the rock. And with it, a roar of epic proportions. What was THAT?! Spike knocked Twilight to the ground, which turned out to be entirely unnecessary, because the gargoyles had already scattered.

"Dragon!" they screamed. "Dragon!" "Fly away!" "Just you wait! Wait until we're ready, then you'll be sorry!" the gargoyles shouted as they flew through the forest branches, leaving their prey back in the mud. The forest went eerily still.

Pinkie Pie broke the silence. "Dragon?! Where? Where?" she hopped around, nosing behind the trees in search.

"Dragon?" Fluttershy squeaked, but Rainbow Dash grabbed her tail before she could fly away.

"It's not a real dragon," the blue pegasus said. Her eyes narrowed. "Alright, kid, come out, wherever you are." She scanned the ground around where she flew, and Spike climbed to his feet to look around, too.

What's going on?

"I know you're there!" Rainbow Dash said, putting one hoof on her hip. "I taught you that roar!"

"Aww, come on!" a voice said from the thick of the forest.

"She's caught us, Apple Bloom, there isn't much else we can do," a second voice said.

"Apple Bloom?!" Applejack trotted forward. "Is that you ah hear in there?" Spike shuddered. Applejack's "stern-and-disappointed" voice could give Princess Celestia's "you're-in-trouble" voice a run for its money.

"Dang it, Scootaloo, couldn't y'ave disguised yer roar some more?" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked out of the woods, lugging with them their wagon. In it, sat a number of items, including a burnt torch and a huge empty jar.

"What are you two doin' here?!" Applejack demanded.

"Yeah! How dare you save us!" Pinkie Pie leapt over by Applejack's side.

"Er…that ain't exactly what ah meant," Applejack said.

Spike groaned. Of course Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had followed them. He was pretty sure he saw Applejack's lasso in their cart mixed in with their other supplies. Why Applejack had thought a bit of rope was going to stop these fillies, Spike had no idea.

"Girls, following us was a very dangerous idea," Fluttershy said, flying down and gently landing by their sides. "You could have been hurt! Or worse!"

They pair of fillies finally had the good graces to look ashamed.

"Just how did you make that much fire, anyway?" Rainbow Dash asked, flying over to poke at their cart of stuff. Pinkie was already digging through the whole lot.

"Rainbow Dash," Twilight chastised. "Now isn't the time."

"What? It was kind of awesome!" Rainbow Dash said.

Scootaloo beamed for a moment, then shook her head, as if clearing it. "You all don't get to talk. You were going to just leave us behind when our friend was in trouble!" Scootaloo said, glaring up at all the ponies, including Rainbow Dash. "You can't blame us for wanting to help!"

"Yeah, and without us, you'd all be gargoyle dinner!" Apple Bloom added, holding her head high.

They did have a point there, Spike had to admit. And it seemed the others were drawing that same conclusion, too.

"Well, thank you for saving us," Applejack said, grudgingly. "But don't think yer gonna get away with this misbehavior!" she warned.

The fillies smiled at each other, victorious. "So we get to come along now, right?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well, we did let Spike come, didn't we?" Rainbow Dash reasoned. "Why not these kiddos, too?"

What?! "Hey now! Don't lump me with them!" Spike protested.

Rainbow Dash gave him a playful punch in the shoulder. "Right, I suppose they did make a scarier dragon than you did! So how did you do that trick with the fire, anyway?" She turned back to the fillies.

Spike's cheeks burned. He could barely even hear the pair of fillies as they described the kerosene solution they'd swiped from Sweet Apple Acres. Two fillies made a scarier dragon than me. And somehow, I still think I can protect Rarity? Puh. Yeah, right. His shoulders slumped, and he walked away as the ponies continued to chatter amongst themselves.

Why am I even bothering to come along? I can't do anything useful. Spike kicked at a broken branch, sending it flying into a puddle from the flooding forest. Rarity doesn't need me. She never has. I've probably just been annoying her all these years. Now I'm going to show up, interrupting her special mission, with my uselessness. Tears welled up in his eyes, and Spike swiped at them with one arm. The other still shouldered his pack, which was now soaked with mudwater.

Gargoyles are afraid of dragons, but they're not afraid of me. I guess I wouldn't be afraid of me, either. I'm kind of a pathetic. I'm a dragon that won't grow big. That'll probably never grow big. All because I can't be myself when I'm that way. Spike leaned against a tree. Apparently, "myself" is pretty lame.

"Hey, there."

Spike glanced over his shoulder. "Oh. Hi, Twilight."

The purple unicorn walked up to him, putting a gentle hoof on his shoulder. "Don't listen to Rainbow Dash. You know how she jokes."

Spike looked away from the mare out into the forest and sniffed loudly to keep his tears back. "Yeah. Jokes."

"Hey," Twilight said again. "Hey. I know you. You're much more than meets the eye, Spike."

"Puh, yeah right," Spike said. "I can't even protect my friends. I'm supposed to be a dragon, Twilight. A dragon! You saw how scared those gargoyles got when they thought a real dragon had showed up."

"When a real dragon showed up? Spike, I think they were already plenty scared of this real dragon," Twilight prodded him. "You totally took down one of those things with just one fire blast! Didn't you notice how they singled you out after that? You were the primary threat to them. Maybe not as much as a fully grown dragon, but still. They didn't give a hoof about the rest of us."

He thought about that for a moment, replaying the events in his head. He wasn't quite sure the gargoyles had been quite as focused on him as Twilight made it out to be, but it still perked up his wounded pride a smidgen. Spike looked up at her. "So you really think there's more to me than meets the eye?" he asked.

"I don't just think, I know," Twilight said. "And come on, when am I ever wrong about anything?" Before Spike could respond, she shrugged sheepishly. "Wait, don't answer that."

They both laughed. Spike began to feel better in spite of himself.

"Now let's get back to the group," Twilight said. "We have some missing friends to find."

Spike straightened up. "Right."

The ocean sparkled like one giant, gorgeous sapphire. Rarity had never seen anything so beautiful in her entire life. "Oh, Stef'an, your kingdom is simply lovely!" she cooed from the sea serpent's back. Sweetie Belle propped her front two hooves up on the fancy, shimmery raft, her little filly eyes wide.

"I never knew there could be so much water in one place!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

Stef'an beamed back at them. "Just wait until you see our ceremonial meeting isles!"

Rarity's imagination began to run wild, envisioning a lush, tropical locale, with white sand beaches, palm trees, drinks served in coconuts…

"Do you guys wear war paint there and stomp about and set things on fire?!" Sweetie Belle asked, hopping over to look Stef'an eagerly in the eye.

Rarity was once again painfully reminded of how differently she and her sister thought. "Sweetie Belle, don't be rude."

"What?" Sweetie Belle asked, blinking innocently. "What did I say?"

Stef'an was laughing. "Oh, Most Generous Rarity, your sister is simply adorable." He mussed up her mane again with one of his skinny little fists. Rarity sighed and went back to magically fixing Sweetie Belle's hair. "I'm so glad you decided to bring her along."

"Decided to". Right. At least in that moment, Sweetie Belle's mind seemed to be thinking exactly what Rarity's was, because the filly gave her sister a sheepish grin.

"Well, darling, let's carry on then," Rarity said to Stef'an, gesturing out at the ocean. "I'd love to see these isles of yours."

"Of course!" Stef'an said. "Of course, of course! I'm sure everyone there is anxiously awaiting our arrival! I've told them all about you. I just know they'll love you."

Goodness, I hope so, Rarity thought to herself, looking out across the water. Otherwise this is going to be a ridiculously perilous trip for negotiations that might not even take place.

They traveled on for another couple of hours. Rarity wrung out the rest of the river water from the blanket she'd carried in her back, and then magically hovered it over her and Sweetie Belle for sun protection.

"You need to be mindful of your coat in the sun, dear," she said, passing on what she considered to be some important, sisterly, sage advice.

"Apple Bloom says the sun's good for a pony!" Sweetie Belle protested.

"Well, it is if you want to live the rest of your life with wrinkles!" Rarity huffed. "Have you seen Granny Smith?"

Sweetie Belle sat down under the blanket. "Good point."

"Almost there now," Stef'an said after a while more had passed. "Look! You can see the isles in the distance!"

Their blanket dropped to the raft, as Rarity glanced up. Both her and her sister dashed forward to look out. Rarity's jaw dropped open when she caught sight of what Stef'an was pointing at. "Oh my," she said in a whisper.

Ahead of them weren't the sandy islands of paradise Rarity had been envisioning, after all.

Instead, craggy rocks jutted out of the water, forming a massive circle around a much bigger, central craggy rock nearly the size of Ponyville. Giant waves crashed repeatedly into the isles, spraying water in every direction imaginable. Each rock was naturally dark in color, but most of the surfaces had been form-fitted with golden plates, making the entire thing reflect the sun so that it was almost painful to look at. Sweetie Belle shielded her eyes next to Rarity.

"Wooooow," the filly said, peering closer. "Look at them all!"

She wasn't talking about the rocks or the waves. Rarity was certain Sweetie Belle was talking about the sea serpents that swam around the rocks and in the waves.

Dozens of them, each in different colors and sizes. Rarity winced each time a wave crashed into the ragged isles, fearing that a serpent would get smashed up against the rock, but they all seemed to know what they were doing. For such a flamboyant species, they were certainly formidable enough when in their natural habitat. And how exactly am I supposed to convince them—them AND the dragons—to stop fighting?

"Marvelous, isn't it?" Stef'an asked, his eyes misting up. "It's great coming home. Now, are you ready to meet my kin?"

Rarity swallowed. Ready or not, they were here. She squared her shoulders. "Yes. Yes, I am."

Chapter 7

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Chapter 7

Rarity set a hoof down on the dark rock, doing her best to avoid the most pokey-looking parts. It must be volcanic, she decided. That would explain why her crystal magic was tingling in her horn. Volcanic rock often contained gems, after all.

"This place is so cool." Sweetie Belle hopped off Stef'an's raft, trotting up next to her sister.

"I'm so pleased you approve!" Stef'an exclaimed, clapping his skinny hands together. He swam near the edge of the larger isle.

Their arrival clearly attracted the attention of the other sea serpents, and Rarity took a protective step in front of her sister. Three particularly large serpents swam up to the water's edge to get a closer look at them. Waves burst around the trio, making it seem like they were just as rooted to the ocean floor as the islands themselves were.

The three serpents dwarfed Stef'an, and Rarity realized with a moment's panic that she had no idea what sea serpents ate. Please be herbivores. Or, at the very least, civilized carnivores. Both her and her sister were now surrounded by the massive swimming reptiles. Rarity took some comfort in remembering that all previous ambassadors had returned unscathed to Canterlot after failing in their own missions to talk with the sea serpents.

"So is this the one?" one of the serpents asked, gesturing towards Rarity. His hair was even poofier than Stef'an's, if that could be imagined.

Stef'an nodded as waves splashed around him. "Indeed, indeed! And we've had quite the harrowing journey to get here, let me tell you!"

"I really like her mane!" another serpent cooed—a female one, from what Rarity could tell. Even while in awe and—admittedly—a bit of fear of their size, Rarity had to admire the way the sea serpent's scales shimmered in the sun. They could rival the Crystal Ponies for glossy shine.

"Oh yes, look at that curl!" the third exclaimed, poking at Rarity's mane with one skinny blue finger. "How ever do you get such definition while retaining such bounce?"

Rarity laughed nervously, still blocking her sister. "Why, thank you," she carefully stepped just out of reach, to ensure her mane wouldn't get too fussed over. "It's no difficulty, really. I rarely use product on my mane, most of this is natural."

Sweetie Belle scoffed from behind her, and Rarity quickly changed subjects.

"In any case, it's simply a pleasure to meet all of you, and have the honor of visiting your esteemed ceremonial isles."

"My my, who is this?" the blue sea serpent asked, leaning over Rarity. It seemed Sweetie Belle's snort of disbelief hadn't gone unnoticed, after all.

"Why, this is my sister, of course," Rarity said, deftly throwing one hoof around Sweetie Belle in a conveniently binding hug. Sweetie Belle squeaked in protest. "She's in my care at the moment, so she had to come along. I sincerely hope that won't be a problem."

"Oh, what a dear-heart!"

"So precious!"

"She's a little angel!"

Sweetie Belle grinned at Rarity, pulling out of her grip. "I think I'm safe," she whispered slyly. "But thanks for the concern."

Rarity frowned slightly as her sister pranced forward. The sea serpents all bent down, resting their chins in their hands and propping their elbows along the rocky shore as they "oohed" and "aahed" at the filly.

"Don't worry, she'll come to no harm here," Stef'an said, noticing Rarity's narrowing eyes.

Rarity carefully masked her expression. "Oh, I wasn't worried." She smiled up at her guide. The last thing she wanted to do was offend the Duke of Sea Serpentia before she was introduced at Court.

"It's alright," Stef'an said. "It's natural to feel nervous around larger creatures. I even feel that way myself, at times!"

Rarity did notice that Stef'an really was the smallest of the serpents around them, without an exception to be spotted. She wasn't sure how to go about asking why that was, without coming off as insensitive.

"How about we show you two to your chambers for the evening?" Stef'an suggested. "That way you both can get some privacy and rest before meeting the full Serpentia Court tomorrow morning."

The setting sun elongated the shadows of all the serpents in the water, creating an interesting banding pattern along the rocky isles. Rarity stood in one such a band, with Stef'an floating near her. In the shadow the air felt cooler than it had in the mid-day sun, and Rarity looked forward to heading somewhere indoors.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Rarity agreed. "And perhaps, before you leave us for the night, you may be so kind as to fill me in on some of the finer points of your culture and society?"

"Absolutely," Stef'an agreed. "Follow me."

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity called. "We must be going now, dear! The duke is showing us to our chambers."

Sweetie Belle waved goodbye to what quickly became a dejected looking set of sea serpents. "Coming!" she called back, cantering quickly to catch up.

Rarity turned away from the sun, following a trail through the rock near the water's edge, as Stef'an swam alongside. Sweetie Belle was soon at her side once more, and she could breathe a small sigh of relief.

"I like them, Rarity!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. "They're really huge, but really nice!"

"That's lovely to know, Sweetie," Rarity said. She stepped over one of the many dark rocks that littered their pathway. "Just remember, we're here on delicate political business, and anything you say—"

"Represents what anypony in all of Equestria might say," Sweetie Belle interrupted. "I know, I know. You told me enough times on the way here."

"Thank you, Sweetie," Rarity said. Stef'an swam near them in a silence, wisely staying out of their sisterly conversation. Rarity was grateful that their guide was so understanding. "Anyhow, as we were saying, Stef'an." She turned to face the purple sea serpent. A bit of ocean spray got her in the face, but Rarity pressed on. "What is your Court like? I'm afraid we have limited knowledge of the inner workings of your fascinating culture over in Equestria."

"Oh, we're a simple society, really," Stef'an insisted. "Our Queen—my great aunt—rules over us all with great fairness. Court usually meets every new moon, but we've been meeting much more frequently of late. This dragon crisis really has us in a tizzy."

They rounded a bend, heading into a watery cave, with a golden arching entrance. Rarity gasped, staring up at it. The archway easily rivaled any of the arches in Crystal Castle for beauty, and Rarity's horn tingled even more as they entered the cave. It was lined with gems of all kinds, laid out in gorgeous patterns along the walls. To stop herself from drooling, Rarity, forced her head back to face Stef'an. "And what is your role in Court, if I may ask?"

To her side, Sweetie Belle poked at one of the gem murals at the wall, and Rarity swatted the filly's hoof away.

"As a young duke, my role isn't much of anything, to be honest," Stef'an admitted. "I'm meant to be out in the world, protecting our rivers and tributaries. All of my generation is meant for river guardianship, which is why you won't see many of my peers around here. But after those nasty gargoyles booted me out of the Everfree Forest, I was forced to come back to our meeting isles. It's the only place I have now." His big eyes began to bubble up with tears.

"Oh darling, I'm so sorry to hear that," Rarity said. She offered up a hoofkerchief from her saddlebag, which had finally just dried out.

Stef'an took the dainty cloth square between two purple fingers and dabbed at his watery eyes, which reflected the torchlight from throughout the golden cave. Rarity recognized dramatics when she saw them, but also knew that dramatics weren't false emotion, as much as they were exaggerated emotion. "I can't imagine losing one's home to a bunch of vicious gargoyles," she said.

The sea serpent put the back of his hand to his forehead. "And now the dragons want to take over our home, too!" he wailed.

Rarity blinked. They do? "Well, not your entire home, correct?" Rarity asked delicately, just in case she'd misunderstood the situation. "They are trying to take over the sea serpent breeding grounds, aren't they?"

"They might as well take over our entire home!" Stef'an wiped at his eyes some more. Rarity's hoofkerchief was back to being soaked.

I really should've brought spares, she grimaced inwardly.

"Without breeding grounds, where will our ladies lay their eggs come summer time? No eggs means no cutesy wootsy baby serpents, and no cutesy wootsy baby serpents means no new families, and no families means no home!" Stef'an exclaimed. His voice echoed through the cave.

"Oh my," Rarity said softly. Sweetie Belle remained quiet, which Rarity was beyond grateful for. Together, they continued to walk down a rocky path illuminated by enormous torches. Their shadows danced along the wall, including Stef'an's sobbing form. "Stef'an, I am truly sorry. I promise, during negotiations I will do anything I can to ensure your breeding grounds aren't handed over to the dragons."

"Really?" Stef'an asked, wringing out her hoofkerchief.

"Absolutely," Rarity said, holding her head high. "There must be another way to resolve this all." I just wish I knew what it was…

"Oh, thank you!" Stef'an said. "I knew we'd picked the right pony to help our cause!"

Rarity smiled, though inside her stomach clenched. As an ambassador and negotiator, she wasn't meant to take sides. But Stef'an clearly thought she was there to fight solely for their rights. Rarity took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of composure she had. She'd said too much. It was time to change subjects.

But what to talk about?

"Are dragons really that bad?" Sweetie Belle asked, taking advantage of the temporary silence. "I mean, we know a dragon, and he's pretty nice."

Rarity shot her sister a glare. She couldn't see how bringing up Spike while waltzing through sea serpent caves was remotely a good idea. Then again, Sweetie Belle wasn't exactly known for thinking her ideas through.

"A nice dragon?" Stef'an huffed. "Must be the only one of his kind."

"Why don't you tell us some more about dragons," Rarity said quickly, before another word could escape her sister's mouth. "I shall be negotiating with them soon, after all, and it would be helpful to know more about their temperaments and customs."

Stef'an sniffed, handing the hoofkerchief back to Rarity. She didn't even bother touching it, she just quietly magicked it over her shoulder and hid it under a rock behind them as they walked. "Very well. Where would you like me to start?"

Rarity's eyes opened slightly wider, and not just because the light continued to dim. Oh. My. This is it, she realized. This was a genuine chance to learn more about Spike's kind, from a creature who'd clearly had more interaction with dragons than ponies ever did. It was the perfect opening. "Well…" she began carefully. "You'd mentioned your breeding grounds. Do dragons have an equivalent? Perhaps if they do, we could reason with them in regards to how they would feel if they were denied access as your kind may be."

"Generous Rarity, are you suggesting we threaten the dragons?" Stef'an gasped, splashing backwards in the water.

"Oh, goodness, no!" Rarity said. "No, no, no! Just…" That came out wrong! "I wanted to know how dragons breed…and what their society is like…er…in regards to baby dragons growing up and…well…oh, nevermind that. It was probably a silly suggestion. Maybe you can instead tell me something about the past dragon negotiations here?"

"Oh yes, I can certainly do that!" Stef'an said.

Rarity breathed a sigh of relief. Nice save there, dear.

"There haven't been any," Stef'an said. Rarity's relief froze up.

"What exactly do you mean…there haven't been any?" Rarity asked.

Stef'an shrugged. "Every time we've tried, negotiations end before they really begin. Someone starts yelling, and it gets out of hand quite quickly."

"That doesn't sound very productive," Rarity observed.

"It hasn't been." Stef'an sighed.

Rarity's brain ran in circles. How am I supposed to negotiate between two species I barely know anything about, when they can't even bring themselves to have a civilized discussion together? They rounded one more passageway in the caves, and Stef'an's expression went from downcast back to perky.

"Anyhow, look! We've reached your chambers!" He pointed to a huge sapphire-encrusted doorway, with swirling patterns, almost like the gems were riding on waves like the ones just off the island's shore. A large torch next to the doorway just added to the effect.

The sheer beauty of the doorway helped Rarity tuck away her fears about negotiations. "Amazing," she said. "If the door is this magnificent, I can hardly wait to see what is inside."

Stef'an beamed. "They're your chambers, you're more than welcome to go in! I'll leave you to them for a while. I'll be back to bring you both a meal, of course." Stef'an nodded to both Rarity and her sister. "Please, make yourselves comfortable in the meantime."

"Thank you ever so much for your kindness," Rarity said.

"Yeah, thanks!" Sweetie Belle agreed.

Stef'an turned and swam back up the watery channel that flowed through the center of the massive cave system.

"Alright, let's check this room out!" Sweetie Belle said, squeaking out her words a bit in her excitement.

Rarity's horn glowed, giving them a bit of extra light so she could see the door handle properly. Sweetie Belle pushed the gigantic door open, and they entered a massive, fully lit chamber, clearly designed for a much larger creature than themselves. The swirling designs from the doorway continued throughout the chamber, as a magnificent wave motif. Rarity's mouth dangled open, in complete awe.

"So cool!" Sweetie Belle said, trotting into the middle of the enormous room. A mass of soft blankets lined a pit in the middle of the room. It was quite a bit different than a pony sleeping set-up would be, but it looked beyond comfortable.

"Marvelous," Rarity murmured. She walked farther in, noting the beautiful emerald-inlayed ceiling. Oddly, it did seem that there were quite a few gaps. Maybe past visitors had swiped some of the gems for themselves?

Sweetie Belle flopped onto the blanket pile, squirming into them and sighing. "I've never looked forward to bedtime so much," she said.

"Me neither," Rarity replied, in all honesty. "We'll need to thank Stef'an and the Court tomorrow for these wonderful arrangements."

Sweetie Belle leaned back, eyeing her sister. "Are you going to ask the Court about baby dragons, too?"

Rarity's eyes flew open. "Sweetie Belle!" she exclaimed. "What in Equestria are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on!" Sweetie Belle said, flipping around so she had her body fully wrapped in one of the blue blankets. "You were trying to learn more about Spike, weren't you? Out in the cave just now?"

"I don't know what you mean," Rarity pranced over to a large mirror at the side of the room, setting down her saddle bag.

"Rarity." Sweetie Belle's reflection in the mirror stared straight at her. "You only know one baby dragon. It's not hard to guess what you were trying to figure out."

Why...she's got some nerve! "So what was I trying to figure out?" Rarity asked, turning the questions back on her sister. She gazed down her nose at the filly in the blanket pit.

"Easy. You want to know when Spike will grow up big enough for you two to..." Sweetie Belle began to make smooching-noises, and all color drained from Rarity's already pale face.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity exclaimed. She magicked a blanket over the filly's head, then trotted to the opposite side of the chambers. "You…you…!" But she was too mortified to even formulate a proper response.

Sweetie Belle, meanwhile, was giggling up a storm. "Hah! I knew it!"

"You know nothing!" Rarity spun back to face her sister, who'd managed to dig herself out of the blanket Rarity had buried her in.

"Oh come on! Spike's got the biggest crush on you ever," Sweetie Belle said. "And you certainly don't seem to mind. I mean, you two spend almost as much time together as I get to spend with you." Her gleeful expression took a downwards turn, and Rarity's eyebrows creased together.

"Oh, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said, walking over to her sister. "I'm so sorry. Does that bother you? How much time I spend with Spike, that is? Compared to my time with you?"

Sweetie Belle looked up at her sister. "Maybe a little. Sometimes. But I know it's just because you two are totally in looove." She waggled her eyebrows and grinned.

Rarity's cheeks burned, and she shoved her sister back into the blanket pile. "You're dreaming."

Sweetie Belle's giggling resumed, earning her a loud "huff" of annoyance from Rarity.

"Spike's just a friend," Rarity went on to explain. "A dear friend, yes, but nothing more. I enjoy his company because he makes me smile. Besides, even if—"

Sweetie Belle popped back out of the blankets. "Even if what?" she asked.

Rarity went an even deeper shade of red, and hated herself for it. "Even if nothing. You mind your own business, young lady."

"Hey, if I'm going to have a dragon for a brother-in-law someday, I'd say that's completely my business!" Sweetie Belle teased back.

Rarity glanced around their chambers nervously. "Sweetie Belle! Watch what you say around here!" She dropped her voice. "Dragons aren't exactly well loved in this kingdom, if you can't tell."

"Not well loved by the sea serpents, maybe," Sweetie Belle said, grinning even broader at her sister.

Rarity took a deep breath.

This was going to be a long night.

They'd just made it out of the Everfree Forest in time. The sun finished setting, and night enveloped them, turning the meadow they'd reached into a field of rustling darkness.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash set to work getting a small campfire going. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom helped. The crew had decided there was no option but to bring the fillies, because frankly nopony could think of a way to make them stay behind that would ensure that they wouldn't just go running off on their own again.

Spike didn't want to be anywhere near Rainbow Dash after what she'd said earlier, so he'd opted to help Twilight and Fluttershy get the tents set up. Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie worked on putting dinner together. Initially, Spike hadn't liked the idea of stopping for the night, but now he had to admit, he was getting pretty tired. He probably could count on one hand the number of hours of sleep he'd gotten the night before, and Spike usually preferred to use two hands and a foot to count his sleep hours.

"You think they came through here, Twilight?" he asked, holding up a pole for Twilight to slide canvas over.

"Rarity and Sweetie Belle? Or the gargoyles?" she asked in return.

Spike moved to the next tent pole. "Well, I'd meant Rarity and Sweetie Belle, but…both, I suppose."

"The gargoyles came through here," Fluttershy said quietly. "I saw their claw marks in the trees at the edge of the forest."

Spike looked at her. "When?"

"Oh, I flew up to check as soon as we got out of there," she replied.

Spike felt a little bad that he hadn't noticed her absence at all since they'd left the forest. But then he stopped feeling bad when he remembered how scared she'd been of the gargoyles and of the idea that a dragon could be nearby. But she's not scared of me, now is she?

He awkwardly moved around to the side of the tent she was working on and held up a tent pole for her, trying to not let his annoyance with her show. "Oh. Well…so…that means the gargoyles were here…" A thought struck him, and he dropped the pole to the ground. Panic exploded in his belly like a phoenix bursting into flame. "But they aren't now, and neither are Rarity or Sweetie Belle! Do you think—?"

"No," Twilight cut him off. "Don't even go down that road, Spike."

"But—"

"They're fine," Twilight said.

"But how do you know?" Spike sat down on the grass, clutching at his chest. His could swear his heart was going to squeeze itself to death with images of those awful creatures chasing after Rarity…

"Because if she didn't reach Sea Serpentia today, the sea serpents were supposed to contact Princess Celestia. And don't you think the Princess would've told us if she hadn't made it there?" Twilight reasoned.

Spike kept breathing in and out deeply, trying to calm himself.

"It does sound like they're both okay, Spike," Fluttershy said, walking up next to him and putting a hoof on his shoulder.

Spike closed his eyes, willing himself to relax. You're no good to her all freaked out like this. Rarity needs you to be calm.

"Yeah," he finally said. "Yeah, you're both right. That makes sense."

Twilight looked up at the sky. "I'd better take some time tonight to touch up my sky charts, and work on those scroll translations some more," she said. "I'm afraid something big is coming, but I just don't know what."

"Do you need any help?" Spike asked.

Twilight shook her head. "Not tonight, Spike. Stay with Fluttershy and help her finish setting up camp."

Spike nodded. "Can do."

The unicorn walked off, magically unrolling several long scrolls of parchment all while staring at the stars. Spike bobbed back and forth on his feet next to Fluttershy, not quite sure what to say.

He knew what he wanted to say to her. He wanted to ask her why she was afraid of dragons, and now gargoyles, but wasn't afraid of him.

But Spike had no idea how to ask that without sounding like a jerk. So instead, he just said, "At least it's not raining out tonight, huh?"

Fluttershy nodded, flying up a little ways to secure the top of the tent. Spike shuffled along, fitting the canvas tight. While he'd appreciated what Twilight had said to him earlier after the gargoyle attacks, he couldn't help but still feel pretty pathetic about the whole not-being-a-scary-enough-dragon thing. He tried to tuck those feelings away, but they nibbled at his insides like a bunch of Fluttershy's rabbits.

He and the pegasus finished setting up camp in relative silence, then joined everypony else by the campfire to eat some of the honeyed biscuits Pinkie had made.

Spike picked up a biscuit from the plate Pinkie was offering around, and realized it was shaped like a four leaf clover.

"For luck!" Pinkie said brightly. "Got to keep those gargoyles away somehow!"

"Fluttershy, you know other creatures best," Applejack said from across the campfire. "Any idea if those beasts are going to come back tonight?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "Oh, I sincerely doubt that. They think there's a dragon with us, and they're clearly quite afraid of dragons."

"Not that you'd be able to relate at all, am I right?" Rainbow Dash poked at Fluttershy, causing her to blush. "Aw, I'm just messin' with ya." The blue pegasus smiled.

Everypony laughed, even Fluttershy, but Spike couldn't bring himself to join in. The gargoyles "think" we have a dragon with us. "You're not talking about me, are you?" Spike phrased his question more like a statement, and crossed his arms.

The laughter stopped. Fluttershy, who was sitting next to him on a log, looked at him hesitantly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, when you said the gargoyles think we have a dragon with us. You're not talking about me. You're talking about the fake dragon those two came up with." Spike jabbed his thumb towards the two Cutie Mark Crusaders, who were busy chowing down on their sixth honeyed biscuit.

"I…oh…" Fluttershy stammered.

"Of course she meant you," Twilight said quickly. "Didn't you Fluttershy?"

"Yes, oh, of course," Fluttershy said, nodding.

Spike narrowed his eyes. "You don't have to lie to me."

Fluttershy didn't answer. Nopony spoke. Instead, they all just exchanged glances.

Clearly unable to take the silence any longer, Pinkie burst out. "Hey, everypony! Look what I can do!" Pinkie hopped up on her log, balancing on one front hoof, and spun around with streamers bursting out from Celestia-knows-where.

"Pinkie," Spike said. "Stop. Thanks, but stop."

Pinkie collapsed back on the log. "Sorry, Spike," she said, pulling her streamers back together.

Spike sighed, rubbing his temple with his claws. "It's okay. I get it, everypony." He looked around the campfire. "You don't think of me as a dragon."

"Oh, Spike, of course we think of you as a dragon," Applejack said.

"No, you don't," Spike said, glaring through the firelight at the farm pony. "You think of me as a baby dragon. Like that's some entirely different species or something."

"But I thought you didn't want to be a real dragon?" Rainbow Dash said. "Remember when those dragons chased you after the migration?"

"And when you grew all ginormous after your birthday?" Pinkie added.

"Yes, and yes, I know," Spike growled, standing up and clenching his fists. "I don't want to ever be like those dragons. I don't want to be a mean, greedy, monster. But I don't see why being a dragon always has to be such a bad thing! I'm a real dragon! Am I a bad thing? Or do I not count as a dragon unless I'm horrid and awful and terrifying?"

"Spike, of course you count as a real dragon—" Twilight started.

"Fluttershy isn't afraid of me!" Spike spun at the yellow pegasus. "She's supposed to be afraid of dragons! She's even afraid of gargoyles!"

"That's because you're different, Spike," Fluttershy started to explain.

"Because I'm a baby? Because I'm useless? Because no one in their right mind would be afraid of tiny little Spike?"

"Spike, stop it!" Twilight demanded. "You're overreacting!"

"Really? Am I?" Spike spun back to face Twilight, who sat amidst a pile of scrolls. "Then you tell me what I am! I make a lousy dragon, I can't pass for a pony, so what am I?"

He didn't even wait for her to answer before stomping off. He couldn't deal with any of them right now. All of them, with their nice simple identities. With their cutie marks. Heck, they even got freaking magical necklaces confirming who they each were.

Spike kicked his way through the grass. It just wasn't fair. Life wasn't fair. He didn't understand. They didn't understand.

"I just want to protect them," Spike sank to his knees, his eyes watering. "I want to protect Rarity. But a baby dragon can't do any of that."

The darkness made it impossible to see much other than the stars. He wasn't sure how long he lay there in the grass, but after some decent chunk of time had passed, he heard rustling.

"What is it, Twilight?" he groaned, not even bothering to look up.

"It..it ain't Twah'light," a small voice said.

"It's us."

Spike sat up. He could just make out Apple Bloom and Scootaloo standing a little ways away. He blinked, hoping he didn't have any more tears on his face. "You two? What do you want?"

"Just to talk," Scootaloo said, sitting down.

"Is that okay?" Apple Bloom asked.

A cool breeze floated by them all. With just the starlight, it was hard to read the expression on the Cutie Mark Crusaders' faces. But based on their postures, it didn't seem like they were there to lecture him. Spike nodded. "It's fine."

The two fillies looked at each other, then back at Spike.

"Listen," Apple Bloom said. "Ah know you probably don't want to hear this from us…"

"Since, you know, we're pretty young ponies…"

"And yer tryin' to prove how you ain't a baby and all…"

"But we were thinking. You're trying to figure out who you are. And that's kind of our specialty." Scootaloo scratched awkwardly at her mane.

Spike watched them carefully.

"Now, we ain't comparin' you to a blank flank or nothin'," Apple Bloom added quickly. "Jus' sayin' that if you ever want to talk about anything…"

"We'll be around," Scootaloo finished.

Spike stared at them, unsure how to respond. "Is that it?"

They both nodded. Then they turned and headed back to camp. They were halfway there when Spike thought to shout after them.

"Thanks!" he said.

They both paused, looking back at him. Then they turned and continued on their way. After a while longer of gazing at the stars, Spike followed suit. They're right, actually. But growing up dragon is different from growing up pony, he realized, glumly. I'll never get a cutie mark. I guess I just need to find out what I'm meant for on my own.

When he got back to camp, everypony was already asleep, except for Twilight, who was still going back and forth between watching the sky and reading her scrolls. Spike walked by her, trying to be quiet. He wasn't sure he wanted to face her, after his embarrassing outburst at dinner.

But she noticed him. "Spike," she said.

Spike stopped walking, just inches away from their tent. "Yeah?" he called back.

"I know who you are," Twilight said.

Spike had one hand reached out to grab the tent flap, but didn't grab it just yet.

"I know you think you make a lousy dragon, don't think you can pass for a pony, and don't know where you fit. But I know who you are. And you'll see it someday, too."

Spike hesitated, then nodded. He wasn't sure if Twilight could see his nod in the dark, but he didn't trust himself to say anything out loud. He grabbed the canvas flap, opened the tent door, and crawled inside for the night.

Chapter 8

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Chapter 8

Stef'an led them through the tunnels, towards the soft morning daylight that illuminated the mouth of the cave. "Now, don't you fret," the sea serpent said from the water by the rocky path. "The Court is sure to love you. Both of you. You're kind, you're beautiful, you're everything we sea serpents hold dear."

Rarity and Sweetie Belle walked side by side. Rarity glanced down at her sister, who gave her an overly exaggerated smile of encouragement. It didn't do much to settle the butterflies in Rarity's stomach.

"Besides, today you won't even need to actually do any negotiating. The dragons won't be here until tomorrow."

Rarity let out a slow breath, willing the butterflies to relax. That is a fabulous point, Stef'an. I won't have to do any negotiating today, will I? I just need to make a good impression on the Court. That's not so hard, now is it?

Despite all her negotiating clothes being water-damaged, she still managed to put something together for the occasion. A straightforward blue dress and matching hard-rimmed hat made for an outfit that Rarity hoped read, "mature professional". For Sweetie Belle, Rarity had to improvise. She hadn't expected the filly to come along, after all, so she initially had nothing for her sister to wear.

Sweetie Belle stepped over some rocks along the cave path, and Rarity allowed herself a moment of pride. Her sister looked darling in the lavender skirt and striped top she'd managed to trim down to size the night before. Both their outfits had exhausted Rarity's supply of relatively unscathed clothes, so Rarity had warned Sweetie Belle repeatedly not to allow her top or skirt to get stained or torn. She could only pray her sister would actually heed that advice.

The roar of the crashing waves grew louder as they drew closer to the cave's exit. It wouldn't be long before they'd be outside in the early daylight.

"Now, Queen Ili'ana usually arrives last to Court, and will expect everyone to bow at her entrance," Stef'an explained, "She should be referred to as 'Her Majesty', but please don't let that intimidate you at all. My great-aunt is a very approachable ruler."

"She sounds wonderful," Sweetie Belle said, skipping over a particularly large rock.

"She is, she is!" Stef'an cooed.

Rarity smiled. Just took a bit of coaxing, and her sister was becoming a natural at sweet-talking. She'd make a lady out of her yet. "With you as a nephew, how couldn't she be?" Rarity added, demonstrating to Sweetie Belle how to step up the flattering game even further.

"Oh my!" Stef'an giggled, his purple face going pink. "You're too much!"

The three of them rounded the outer edge of the cave into the morning sun and Rarity glanced at her sister to see if she was paying attention to her impromptu lesson. But Sweetie Belle was staring up at the sky with her mouth gaping, instead. A whoosh of air ruffled Rarity's mane and Rarity looked up as well, her chest immediately tightening.

"Oh…oh my," Rarity whispered. Her hooves began to quake against the rock.

Shouts went up around the Meeting Isles. "Dragons! The dragon emissaries are here!"

A giant shadow passed over Rarity and her sister, taking several moments to clear as the sea serpents scattered in the waters. "Whoa," Sweetie Belle said. "They're huge."

"I don't understand," Stef'an stammered, as three more of the giant beasts flew by. He nearly dropped the raft he'd just picked up at the cave's mouth. "They aren't supposed to be here yet…they weren't supposed to come until tomorrow! Oh no, what will Queen Ili'ana do now? Is she prepared? Am I prepared? Oh dear!"

Rarity was wondering the same about herself, but held her tongue. This is no time to panic. So the dragons are here early. So it sounds like you will be negotiating with them today after all. Calm down. They likely did this to throw us off guard. I don't have to let that tactic work, though.

"Well, we mustn't be late, then," Rarity said, urging Stef'an onwards now that they were out of the cave. "Let's continue to Court and see what their reasoning is for stopping by early."

"Right!" Stef'an hooked the golden raft up to his back so that Rarity and Sweetie Belle could climb aboard. Once they were on, Stef'an swam out away from the large isle towards a secluded section of smaller rocky points. Rarity had to marvel again at how easily Stef'an cut through the ocean waves, and—to be completely honest—she took some comfort in knowing that Stef'an could swim so well, just in case the dragons circling overhead tried anything.

There were five dragons in all. Each was easily the size of the dragon that fell asleep near Ponyville years ago. They came in a variety of colors and shapes—though none had the same bulk as Spike when he had transformed on his birthday, Rarity noted. She wasn't sure why a small swell of pride crept into her stomach at that thought, but it was a welcome change of emotion from her nervous panic.

"So now what?" Sweetie Belle asked, as they approached a semi-circle of rocky points.

"Now I do what I came here to do," Rarity said, with more confidence than she really had. The dragons landed on the points of rock, one on each. The last dragon to land had a beautiful turquoise coloration, and Rarity realized her blue dress looked quite drab by comparison. Show off, she thought to herself, harrumphing ever so quietly.

Stef'an swam them into the center of the rocky points. Sea serpents were wrapped around each rock, like vines around fence posts. The landing dragons crumbled some of the rock down onto the sea serpents heads, and there were many exclamations about that, mostly consisting of variations on, "My hair! You bully!"

"Tut, tut!" Rarity chastised the dragons loudly from the center of the ring of outcrops, doing her best to emit an aura of authority. "Now, I'm sure you can land without causing such a mess." Rarity tossed her mane, turning up her nose as more loose stone splashed into the ocean. The dragons all turned to glare at her. "You're graceful creatures, after all. Don't tell me the noble dragons have lost their infamous elegance?"

The dragon glares turned downward in shame, save for that of the turquoise dragon. He continued to stare her down, with deep magenta eyes. "So you're the ambassador?"

Rarity's legs shook so bad she was certain she was going to collapse like a glop of oatmeal, but she kept her voice steady. "Indeed I am. And who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"

His eyes never left hers. "Rojo," the dragon replied after a moment's pause.

A murmur went through the sea serpent Court. "She's so bold!" "So well spoken!" "And has such a fabulous mane!"

Rarity continued to hold Rojo's gaze. "Well, then, it is lovely to meet you, Rojo. I do hope you fared well on your journey here."

"Well enough," Rojo's gruff voice replied.

"Please, allow me to introduce myself," Stef'an spoke up, offering a spindly hand. Rojo did not take it, but that's perhaps because he sat so high above the water line, he would've had to fly down to greet the sea serpent. "My name is Stef'an Ma'Ganette, Duke of Sea Serpentia. My aunt will be with you shortly, I am sure. I do apologize, but we weren't expecting you until tomorrow—"

"We came early," Rojo interrupted.

"Oh yes, I see," Stef'an continued without missing a beat. Rarity had to hand it to him—he knew how to keep his composure, at least when his precious mustache wasn't threatened. "Well, welcome to Sea Serpentia, and please, if there's anything I can do—"

"You can give us what you owe," Rojo said. Rarity began to wonder how she could reinsert herself into the conversation before it went sour, but then a new voice spoke.

"Again, I must remind you that we never took anything from you," the new voice said. Rarity turned to see a red and white serpent swim towards them, with long, flowing locks of blonde curls and a sparkling tiara.

Stef'an bowed his head, and every other sea serpent did the same. Queen Ili'ana, Rarity realized, pushing Sweetie Belle's head down with one hoof and bowing herself.

"Don't play cute, Ili'ana," Rojo sneered. "We don't have time. The gargoyles are on the move, and we need our defenses fully prepared."

"Funny you say that when you've wasted so much of your muscle on intimidating my clan lately," Queen Ili'ana said, taking her place around the largest rock spire. Her ruby scales were dazzling in the sunlight, Rarity noticed as she lifted her head. "Would your strength not be better spent gearing up to fend off the gargoyle invasion?"

Gargoyle invasion? Rarity's eyes opened wide at that. She threw a preemptive hoof over Sweetie Belle's mouth. One look at her sister, and she knew she wanted to ask the very thing Rarity was pondering. What do they mean, gargoyle invasion? Does Princess Celestia know about this?

"We would be better strengthened if you just give us what you owe!" Rojo slammed a fist down on his rocky perch, sending another cascade of rocks on top of the head of an unlucky member of the sea serpent Court.

"And what, may I ask, do they owe?" Rarity cut in from her position on Stef'an's back, in the midst of the circle of angry reptilians. "As the Equestrian ambassador, I must insist that I get all the facts straight so that I can properly mediate."

"Ah, yes," Queen Ili'ana nodded towards her. "Rarity, the Generous One. Welcome. Please forgive my rudeness. I should have introduced myself sooner."

"Oh, no, there's nothing to be forgiven," Rarity insisted. "You have, understandably, been busy."

"Busy planning how to rob us further," Rojo muttered.

"Again," Rarity said, increasing the volume of her voice. She was already sick of Rojo's attitude. "It would be most helpful if I could hear both sides and take a look at this ancient scroll that you've found."

"Give her the scroll, Nef," Rojo said, waving one hand at the yellow dragon on his left. "Maybe that will get her to shut up for a minute."

Well, I—! Rarity scoffed, but restrained herself from saying anything rude in return. The yellow dragon flew down to Stef'an's level, and handed Rarity a large piece of rolled parchment that she had to use her magic to hold up. The dragon flew back up to its perch as Rarity unrolled the yellow paper, wincing as a few parts disintegrated before her eyes into the ocean.

Sweetie Belle put her hooves up on the edge of the raft, reading alongside her sister.

Dragonkind hearby grants five dragon eggs to the serpents of Sea Serpentia, per agreement that they be returned in no more than five hundred years time. Failure to comply will result in all nullification of the Water's Edge treaty of Dragon Age 506, and all territory up to the waterways will fall under Dragon jurisdiction.

"That scroll is over two thousand years old," Rojo said as Rarity lowered the parchment to look back up at the reptiles around her. "We found it almost a year ago, and since then the sea serpents have denied repeatedly to honor the agreement. They are a millennia and a half late."

"It's a fake!" one of the sea serpents called out.

"Or a lie! Where's their proof we never returned the eggs?" another shouted.

Rarity's mind churned over a few different thoughts, processing this new information. So this is about eggs. The dragons have an actual reason for being so pushy. "Your majesty?" she asked Queen Ili'ana. "If I may, do you have any idea if this scroll is as old as they claim? And if so, why would the sea serpents have asked for five dragon eggs in the first place?"

"It is as old as we claim!" Nef, the yellow dragon, piped up. "Watch!" He blew red hot flames straight at it—and thereby, straight at them. Sweetie Belle shrieked and ducked, the flames going around the scroll like the waves around the rocks. Rarity jumped back to get out of the way.

Stef'an sniffed. "Rude, much," he said, brushing his side to rid it of the scorch marks. But while the sea serpent's side was blackened, the fragile scroll stayed intact.

"Fire magic," Rojo said. "Only a scroll touched by it could withstand dragon flame."

"And who can create fire magic?" Rarity asked, helping her sister to her feet, doing her best to keep her voice civil. Nearly fry my sister, will you? Hrmph.

"It's a lost art," Rojo said. "Only the dragons of legend could achieve it—"

"Like the eggs we're looking for!" Nef said.

"Quiet," Rojo said, glaring at the yellow dragon. "As I was saying, fire magic is how we know this scroll must truly be ancient."

"Really now?" Queen Ili'ana raised a blonde eyebrow at Rojo.

"Really." His voice was stone-cold.

"Alright," Rarity said carefully. You're the ambassador. The negotiator. You have to handle this. "Then assuming this scroll is real—"

The sea serpents around her began crying out in protest.

"Assuming this scroll is real," she said loudly, sending glares all around the Court. Don't they see I'm trying to help? "Then we need to move forward from here. Clearly, the sea serpents must not have these eggs anymore, or this would've been already resolved, correct?" she asked Queen Ili'ana.

The queen nodded.

"Right then," Rarity continued. A nervous lump sat in her throat, and she had to fight the urge to swallow hard. She had over a dozen massive reptiles surrounding her. She had to choose her words wisely. "Since the sea serpents cannot possibly give the eggs back, nor could they reasonably lose their breeding grounds on the water's edge, we must find another solution."

"Impossible!" Rojo roared. "It's the eggs, or their land!"

The other dragons shouted their agreement, and Rarity winced. This was not going well. "Listen!" Rarity insisted. "It's absurd to hold these serpents accountable for the misdeeds of their ancestors! If the scroll is as old as you say, it wouldn't be beyond reasonable to just set it aside and forget it ever happened."

That was clearly not what Rojo and the other dragons wanted to hear, because they began to roar even louder.

"I understand that it hurts to have an agreement not be honored, but taking away the sea serpent's breeding grounds isn't going to help anyone," Rarity said, her legs dancing a bit with excess nervous energy. She steadied them and hoped no one noticed. "It won't bring your eggs back."

"But then they'd know the pain of losing their children!" Rojo growled, his magenta eyes focused on the sea serpent queen. "We'd have our revenge."

"And your revenge is going to help you fight the gargoyles?" Rarity asked, as a last ditch attempt. "Isn't that the real reason you want the eggs back? To use them somehow against the gargoyles? That's what you alluded to earlier, after all. Isn't there anything else you can think of that would help you in that battle that actually still exists?"

That actually got Rojo and the others to shut up for a moment. They eventually all turned inwards and began speaking quietly with one another. Rarity took the chance to turn back to Queen Ili'ana. "And you, your majesty—I asked once before, but I'll ask again: why would your kind ever want five dragon eggs in the first place? What did you hope to do with them?"

"I wasn't alive back then," Queen Ili'ana said, shrugging. "I wouldn't presume to know."

"New idea," Rojo said, cutting in before Rarity could question her further. "Give us one hundred thousand gemstones and we'll consider the debt paid."

Queen Ili'ana gaped, and Rarity struggled not to do the same. "One hundred thousand?"

"And not the puny ones, either. High quality," Rojo said. "Enough to feed an army."

"You want one hundred thousand gemstones, just so you and your hairless brethren can eat them?" Queen Ili'ana asked, incredulous. "Of course not. That's impossible."

"Then no deal," Rojo said. "Sorry, your majesty."

Rarity's head spun, trying to keep up with the turn in events. "You would use the gems to feed yourselves during the battle with the gargoyles, is that the idea?" she asked. "To provide an extra boost of strength?"

"Barbaric!" one of the sea serpents scoffed.

"Exactly," Rojo nodded at Rarity. "Maybe you do have a brain in that tiny pony head of yours."

"Well…then that actually seems like a reasonable solution," Rarity said, skipping over the insult. "Not ideal, but possible." She turned back to the sea serpent queen. "Would you consider this as an alternative, your majesty?"

"We don't have one hundred thousand high quality gems to give and you know it," Queen Ili'ana said, glaring up at Rojo. "We've been selling pieces of our own homes and furniture just to get by."

Rojo rolled his eyes. "Oh please. Don't talk to me about how broke your nation is. It's your own fault for squandering your money on beauty products and lavish accessories."

"Squandering!" another sea serpent protested. Stef'an hung his head, making shameful circles with the tip of his finger in the water.

"Beauty does have its cost," Queen Ili'ana admitted. "But it's one we've all been willing to pay."

Rarity actually groaned out loud. So the sea serpents were bankrupt. That's why there were gems missing in her room. Her businessmare-sense was screaming inside. Dear Princess Celestia…today I learned that dragons are a bunch of STUBBORN BABIES and that sea serpents don't know how to run a financially stable collective!

"Rarity," Sweetie Belle whispered. "I don't think Queen Ili'ana is telling the whole truth. She looks like Apple Bloom does when she's skipped her chores."

Rarity narrowed her eyes at the queen. Now that Sweetie mentioned it, she did look a bit shifty. She could believe that the sea serpents were broke, but there was one thing the queen hadn't yet addressed to Rarity's satisfaction. "Are you certain you have no idea why the sea serpents would've wanted dragon eggs?" she asked Queen Ili'ana yet again.

The queen crossed her red arms. "Well…even if I did, it wouldn't be of much use. I only know where one might've ended up after all."

"One what? One egg?" Rarity asked, leaning forward.

Rojo burst off his rock spire, kicking shards of rock back with his clawed feet so he could fly directly in front of the sea serpent queen. "WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR ANCESTOR'S EGGS?!"

Queen Ili'ana stared him down. "It's just a myth, really. A family legend, passed down."

"Through your lineage?" Rarity clarified. Rojo's beating wings caused a burst of wind to nearly push Rarity over, but she stayed upright. "A royal family myth isn't something to be taken lightly."

Queen Ili'ana settled her shoulders. "Fine, fine." She tossed her curls. "Did no one ever wonder how us sea serpents ended up with hair in the first place?"

"Hair?!" Rojo yelled, practically spitting. "What does hair have to do with any of this?"

"Possibly everything," Queen Ili'ana replied coolly. "So I'd sit down and listen if I were you."

Rojo grumbled to himself, but flew back up to his rocky point and sat down anyway.

"Now," Queen Ili'ana continued, the breeze from his wingbeats ruffling her blonde curls. "If I tell you where you might find an egg, will you let us have our breeding grounds back?"

"Possibly," Rojo said. "But probably not."

"Would you at least reduce the number of gemstones the sea serpents would owe you?" Rarity asked, seizing the opportunity.

Rojo studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. By one fifth."

Rarity shrugged at Sweetie Belle. It was something.

"Fine, we'll take it," Queen Ili'ana said. "Now, to begin. Years and years and years ago, sea serpents did not naturally have hair like we do today."

There were several gasps through the Court, and Stef'an grabbed at his head, as if worried his hair would just poof away into nonexistence at this revelation.

"Instead, we were covered in scales," the queen continued. "Forced to look upon our equine neighbors with envy. That is, until one pony offered us a spell that would grant us all what we desired deep down: hair."

Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow at Rarity, who shushed her. A mane was a fabulous thing, after all. She could see where they were coming from, even if she couldn't see where this story was going.

"But to grant a reptilian species hair was going to require powerful magic, and this pony said she would only do it if we had something of equal value to give her in return."

Oh. I do see. "A dragon egg," Rarity whispered. A shiver went down her back, in the opposite direction of the ocean wind.

"You sold one of our unborn children so you could have HAIR?" Rojo roared, flames escaping his nostrils.

Queen Ili'ana nodded. "So the legend goes."

"We would NEVER give away one of our own to those creatures! Who was this pony?!" the turquoise dragon demanded.

"Some member of the Equestrian royal family," the queen said. "I'm not sure who. They said they wanted it to predict their future with magic, according to the version my grandfather used to tell. Though my grandmother said it was to determine an heir to the throne."

Rarity couldn't keep her eyes from growing in alarm as the pieces fell into place. A dragon egg. Sold to Equestrian royalty. From a time with fire magic and enchanted scrolls. To identify a special pony…

"Rarity…remember Twilight Sparkle's cutie mark story?" Sweetie Belle asked. "What if—?"

Rarity shook her head quickly, shushing Sweetie Belle up. "Not a word," Rarity hissed at her.

"Regardless, we don't know if Equestria still even has this egg, or when it was sold to them," Queen Ili'ana said. "Or what may have happened to it, if this story is true at all."

Rarity, however, didn't doubt the truth of the tale for one moment. She and Sweetie Belle continued to watch each other carefully. It didn't need to be said out loud.

Spike.

Twilight magicked the last of her scrolls into her pack. "I just don't understand why Princess Celestia is so concerned about comet collisions right now," the unicorn said. "I mean, the comet paths she's having me track aren't even from existing comets anymore! If these scroll translations have taught me anything, it's that the comets smashed into each other hundreds of years ago. They're wiped out now! There's no danger!"

Spike shrugged, helping Twilight hitch her bag. "Don't look at me. You're the genius in the family."

Twilight sighed. "I hate to question the Princess, but I really feel like this project can wait. What's the rush, really?"

"Got me, Sugarcube," Applejack said.

"I just want a night to sleep, is that so much to ask?" Twilight groaned, dumping more sand onto their campfire remains.

"Oh, quit complaining, you love nerding it up at all hours," Rainbow Dash snorted, flying past them all. "It's what you live for."

Spike grinned a little. Rainbow Dash hit the nail on the head. Twilight couldn't even come up with a proper response.

"And that's why we love her!" Pinkie Pie said, jumping on Twilight and ruffling up her mane.

"Okay, okay!" Twilight said, laughing and shaking the pink pony off her head. "I get it. Maybe I do bring these sleepless nights on myself."

Spike yawned. Twilight wasn't the only one who hadn't slept well. Unfortunately, staying up all night staring at the walls of his tent didn't bring him any new insights into who he was. All he'd figured out was what he was not.

The group finished breaking camp and headed out on their way towards the coast. They'd have to locate a sea serpent and try to catch up to Rarity and Sweetie Belle before anything bad happened. Princess Celestia had made it very clear that there was serious danger out there, and even with their bouts of joking, not one was taking this assignment lightly.

So Spike and the others trudged onwards, downriver, towards the east and the rising sun. Spike held his bag with one hand, and used the other to shield his eyes. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom raced up around him, chasing each other. The other ponies chatted. Well—Pinkie chatted, and the other ponies laughed when appropriate.

Spike followed their long shadows on his two stubby legs, wondering how quickly he'd fall behind today and have to accept a ride from Twilight. Four real legs would be so useful, but he only had two to work with. Again, different from everypony else.

He was tired of feeling so completely out of place. Really, really tired of it. He had Twilight, sure, but Twilight had the others. Her friends. The Elements of Harmony. They all had each other. And the fillies had their Cutie Mark Crusaders clique. Why did he have to be so different? Was that why he didn't have anypony else to be close with?

Spike shook his head, trying to force some positivity out of his thick skull. That's too many gloomy thoughts for such a bright and sunny morning, even if we are on a rescue mission. I'm not a complete outcast, after all. I have Twilight. At least, a little. And I can dream of being special to one other pony…

Remembering Rarity's gentle smile managed to truly raise Spike's spirits a bit. She didn't smile like that at anypony else. It had taken some time, but she had become more accepting of him than any of the others, save for Twilight. A gushy feeling took shape deep in Spike's core and his resolve strengthened as the sun rose higher in the morning sky.

He'd do anything to see that smile again. They had to catch up to Rarity and Sweetie Belle and make sure they were safe.

Spike forced his little legs to move faster.

"So Equestria has one of our eggs…" Rojo mused, stroking his scaly chin.

"Perhaps," Rarity said, nerves definitely coloring her tone now. But it couldn't be helped. She couldn't let the dragons find out about Spike. She didn't get the impression that they wanted their eggs back out of any parental love. "Though I am a little puzzled as to why you'd want an egg to help you against gargoyles, I must confess."

"There's been rumors," Nef said to Rojo, ignoring Rarity. "Rumors of a young dragon who thinks he's a pony. I'd always thought it was a bad joke gone wild, but do you think…could ponies have hatched a dragon?"

"That's ridiculous," Rojo said. "No way they'd have that kind of power. But the point does stand…" He turned to stare at Rarity and Sweetie Belle. "Equestria has one of our eggs. And we'll need some incentive to get them to give it back to us."

Rarity's stomach dropped. Oh no. This can't be good. She took a protective step in front of her sister, standing between her and the semi-circle of looming dragons.

"Now, don't do anything rash, Rojo," Queen Ili'ana warned.

No sooner had the words left her mouth, though, the dragon slashed one turquoise arm forward, and the other four dragons dive-bombed Stef'an and the raft on his back.

"Sweetie Belle, look out!" Rarity screamed, knocking her sister down just out of reach of the first set of claws.

"GET THEM!" Rojo bellowed.

Rarity magicked her hard-rimmed hat into the eye of one of her attackers, and he fell into the ocean, clawing at his face in pain. Around them, the sea serpents launched themselves onto the dragons, pulling and yanking. Stef'an thrashed, and Rarity nearly flew off the raft, a wave of water crashing over her and slamming her back down.

"Stef'an, get them out of here!" Queen Ili'ana ordered, amidst the roaring, the fire blasts, and the funnels of spraying water.

"Hold on!" Stef'an made to dive under the water, but just then, a set of hot claws grabbed Rarity around the middle, and she was yanked up into the air, water droplets flying.

"RARITY!" Sweetie Belle shrieked.

"No!" Stef'an twirled, gasping.

Rarity desperately kicked, but her legs were pinned too tightly. Her heart clenched in her chest as Rojo flew in, grabbing for Sweetie Belle, his pupils dilated and his claws spreading. She continued to struggle in the grip of her captor, her damp dress tangling around her. She couldn't get free. "Stef'an, go!" she screamed. "GO!"

"No! NO! RARITY!" Sweetie Belle yelled. Stef'an hesitated for only a moment. Then he gave Rarity a sorrowful salute, and dove beneath the waves, Sweetie Belle in tow. A burst of fire followed them, making the ocean boil.

And that was the last thing Rarity saw before Rojo swooped up to roar in her face, smacking her upside the head so that she lost consciousness.

Chapter 9

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Chapter 9

Spike sat atop Twilight's back as they continued on their way to the coast, rubbing his sore feet. He'd made it several hours walking, but he just couldn't keep pace with the ponies for the long haul. He had to make the decision to set aside his dignity for the sake of getting to Rarity and Sweetie Belle sooner. That's all there was to it.

"So do you think we'll see any more of those gargoyle things?" Scootaloo asked Rainbow Dash. The two of them were a little ways ahead of him and Twilight in the grass-littered dune landscape. Applejack walked up ahead as well.

"I don't know, kid," Rainbow Dash replied. "Nothing we can't handle if we do, though, right?" She smiled at the filly, and Scootaloo jumped up to give her a high-hoof. It took her a couple tries to get enough air, and she kicked up some serious sand in the process. Spike had to shield his face.

"Yeah, because we handled those critters so well before, RD," Applejack said, rolling her eyes at the pegasus's suggestion.

"Hey, we did awesome!" Rainbow retorted.

"No, we did awful. The only reason the things left us alone was because of that roar the girls did, and nothin' more." Applejack nodded in thanks to Scootaloo. Apple Bloom, meanwhile, was walking with Pinkie Pie farther back, since she and Applejack still weren't exactly seeing eye-to-eye about her tagging along.

Rainbow did a barrel-roll in the air over Applejack's head. "You're just jealous that you didn't kick as much gargoyle-butt as I did."

"Oh, for cryin' out loud, it wasn't a contest!" Applejack tilted her head back, getting more irritated by the second.

"Exactly what I'd expect the loser to say."

Twilight sighed loudly, possibly in exasperation at Rainbow Dash and Applejack's arguing, which had been going off and on for several hours now. Spike wasn't quite sure.

"If only I'd brought my books on gargoyles," Twilight moaned. "Stupid!"

Nope, nevermind. She's sighing about her lack of foresight. Spike rolled his eyes upward, shaking his head. "Twilight, don't beat yourself up over that," he said. "You were thinking about getting to Rarity and Sweetie Belle, and the negotiations between the dragons and the sea serpents. You couldn't possibly bring every book in your library."

"Oh wow, that would be so useful though, if I could! I need to learn a spell to do that…"

Spike stretched a bit, smelling the ocean not too far from them. "Fluttershy, don't you know anything about gargoyles that could help us?" he asked, before Twilight got too carried away on her spell-learning tangent.

"Only a little," Fluttershy admitted, walking alongside him and Twilight.

"Probably more than us, though!" Apple Bloom said, trotting to catch up. "Could you teach us somethin'?"

"Oh, I don't know…" Fluttershy shuffled her wings self-consciously.

"No, that's a great idea!" Twilight said, turning her head brightly. "Come on, Fluttershy, go ahead and share what you know!"

Pinkie Pie, who was somehow still bouncing even after a full day of travel, chimed in. "Yeah, come on!" She gave an extra-enthusiastic bounce, landing next to Fluttershy.

"Well…if you really insist," Fluttershy said, taking a small sidestep so as to not be so close to the pink pony.

Rainbow Dash flew a bit lower to listen in, and Applejack and Scootaloo slowed down their trotting to be closer to the conversation as well.

"I'm afraid I don't know too much," Fluttershy said, "But I do know that gargoyles relate to rocks like dragons relate to fire. Gargoyles can breathe fire, too, just not nearly as well. Ever since Spike moved to town, I've learned that dragons enjoy eating gems in addition to collecting them. Since gargoyles are similar to dragons, I wouldn't be surprised if they ate rocks, given how much they seem to be tied to them. But that's just speculation, of course. I wouldn't presume to know that for certain."

She paused her mini-lecture, and Spike thought back to the gargoyle he'd first met. That one definitely was interested in eating more than rocks.

"Anything else?" Twilight asked, encouragingly.

Fluttershy shook her head, her mane hiding her face even more than usual, as if she was shrinking back from her own outburst of information. "I'm sorry, Twilight. That's all I know."

"Well, it's a heap of a lot more than what ah knew a minute ago," Applejack said. "Rocks, huh? That's somethin'."

"They like rocks, do they? Oh, I'll give them a rock," Rainbow Dash said. "Straight to the face!" She mimed chucking a boulder through the air, and Scootaloo obediently burst out in laughter.

"Yeah, that's right!" Scootaloo said.

Fluttershy winced. "I don't know if that's the best idea, Rainbow Dash…"

"Well, I think it's a great idea!" Pinkie Pie piped up. "I mean, if they come near my family's rock farm, I'll…I'll…well, I don't know what I'll do, but it won't be PRETTY!" She snorted and Spike had to hold back a giggle.

"Alright, girls, let's all calm down," Twilight said. "Besides, look! We're here!"

Rounding a bend, they finally arrived at the ocean. Everypony oohed and aahed. Spike gaped at the serene scene in front of him. He'd never seen anything quite like it before.

Waves washed gently up onto the sand. The lowering sun in the western sky made the beach twinkle a little, and the ocean itself completely dark. The ponies walked forward, their hooves sinking slightly in the sandy terrain. The evening breeze pulled at Spike's back, seeming to tug him towards the black ocean waters.

It just goes on forever. Wow. I mean…wow. But just as he was about to whistle at the sheer size of the sea in front of them, Apple Bloom screamed like he'd never heard her scream before.

Spike held on tight as Twilight jerked to the left. "What is—?" Twilight began to ask, but then let out her own horrified gasp. When Spike's eyes fell on what everypony was shrieking about, he clutched at his chest.

A ways down the beach, Sweetie Belle's tiny form lay motionless in the sand, surrounded by that of a huge purple serpent. The creature wasn't moving, either. Rarity was nowhere in sight.

"SWEETIE BELLE!" Scootaloo and Apple Bloom shouted, racing across the beach. Everypony else was quick to follow. Spike held onto Twilight's mane as she galloped, panic making his heart clench in his body.

Sweetie Belle! Oh no. No, no, no. She has to be okay. She has to be okay. Oh please, let her be okay!

Rainbow Dash got there first, with Fluttershy just behind. The two of them knelt down next to Sweetie Belle, feeling her head and neck.

"She's unconscious, but okay!" Rainbow said. "At least I think so!"

Twilight skidded to a halt next to the two pegasi and Spike leapt off her back, squeezing past Pinkie Pie to get close to the filly.

"Is she breathin'?!" Applejack asked, busting through them all.

"Oh my gosh, her tail!" Fluttershy gasped. "The poor dear!"

"Tail? What tail? I don't see any tail—oh! Oh my gosh!" Pinkie Pie threw her hooves over her mouth. "It's been completely burnt off!"

It really was burnt off. In fact, much of Sweetie Belle's hindquarters were burnt. Spike swallowed, looking around as Fluttershy and Twilight worked to dress the scorch marks on the little filly's flank.

"Do you think she's got her cutie mark under there?" Apple Bloom asked Scootaloo. The two huddled together, holding one another tight with tears in their eyes. Beyond them, the huge serpent no one seemed to care to mention lay, with his…mustache in the sand. Mustache?

"Rainbow Dash, do you see Rarity anywhere around here?" Spike asked, wondering if he was just hallucinating the facial hair from panic.

Rainbow Dash flew back up into the air and immediately zipped around several laps of the beach. She came back and landed, shaking her head sadly. "No luck," she said.

Spike slumped his shoulders. "Well…just because she's not here, doesn't mean she's not safe," he said out loud, more for himself than for anypony else there.

"Yeah…" Rainbow Dash trailed off, not looking Spike in the eye.

Spike wrapped his arms around himself, digging his claws into his scales. She's okay. Rarity has to be okay. She HAS to be. Wherever she is.

"Hey…we know him!" Pinkie said, interrupting Spike's thoughts and poking at the huge purple serpent.

"Oh wow, we do!" Twilight said, magically tilting his head towards them to get a look at his giant face. "It's the mustache guy from the Everfree Forest!"

Okay, so apparently I'm not hallucinating. How did a sea serpent get a mustache?! Aren't they supposed to be like dragons, but from the water? How is this fair?

"He's burnt, too, oh my goodness!" Fluttershy noticed, flying over to examine his back, which was blackened like Sweetie Belle's flank, and Spike retracted any thoughts of jealousy.

Next to him on the ground, something sparkly caught Spike's eye. He walked over and dug through the sand a bit to discover a golden platform-looking thing, with straps. "Hey, anypony know what this could be?"

Before anyone could answer, Sweetie Belle started to cough. Spike abandoned his discovery and raced back over to her side.

"Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"You okay?!" Scootaloo asked.

The filly fluttered her eyelashes open. "R-Rarity?"

"Not here, kiddo," Applejack apologized. "How're you feelin'?"

Sweetie Belle shot to her feet, falling almost as soon as she stood. Spike tried to reach for her, but he wasn't quite fast enough. Collapsing in the sand, the filly struggled to get back up.

"Rarity! No! Where am I?! Stef'an?!" She turned, getting assistance from Rainbow and Fluttershy to stand back on her hooves. Spike let the little filly lean up against him, putting an arm over her protectively. "Is he okay?" Sweetie Belle squeaked, trying to get over to the sea serpent. Spike held her back, not sure she should really be walking anywhere yet.

"We think so," Twilight said carefully. It was getting dark, so Twilight lit one of their traveling lanterns and hovered it overhead. "Sweetie Belle…what happened? Where's Rarity?"

Sweetie Belle turned to face the unicorn, the tears in her big eyes reflecting the lantern light. Then she said seven words that punched straight into Spike's gut.

"They took her! The dragons kidnapped Rarity!"

The first thing Rarity saw when she opened her eyes was the backside of a huge, red dragon. Her eyes slowly focused, and then she noticed the thick metal bars separating her and the beast.

Then she realized she was the one behind the bars.

Resisting the urge to bolt upright, Rarity took a long, quiet breath, and willed her mind to go back through the events she could remember leading up to her current predicament. The cold ground throbbed against her temple, which felt a little sticky. Blood, she supposed, shuddering at how badly her coat must be stained from it. The memories worked through her brain one at a time, and she winced involuntarily, recalling Sweetie Belle and Stef'an diving underwater. She could only hope Stef'an had gotten her baby sister to safety.

Rarity took another deep, quiet breath and lifted her head ever so slightly off the rocky floor of her prison cell. She was near the mouth of a cave—these reptilian types do love their caves, don't they? Rarity observed—and evening light poured in like a pale silk blanket. The red dragon stretched a bit, scratching at its side. Rarity wondered if it was meant to be her guard. If so, she felt a little surge of pride.

The dragon grunted and Rarity froze in place. She wasn't sure she should let on that she'd woken up. Maybe if they thought she was truly passed out, she could find a way to quietly escape…

"So you're up," the red dragon said. It turned its head over its shoulder to glance at her and Rarity held back a groan.

How did it know?

The dragon grinned slyly. "Never question a dragon's hearing."

Rarity nodded. Her legs remained folded up underneath her, and between her scrunched posture and the caked blood on her face, she couldn't remember a single time in her life when she's felt so completely vulnerable. The dragon shifted its shoulders, cracking its back.

"Rojo would've been upset if you'd died. Glad you pulled through."

Rarity narrowed her eyes. "Rojo was the one who hit me."

The dragon shrugged. "All the same." Then it turned to face back out the cave.

Rarity's mind raced. They wanted her as a hostage for one of their lost eggs—for Spike. But there was no way she was going to let them use her like that, so she simply had to come up with a plan to get out of here. She briefly entertained the notion of kicking up a fuss like she had done with the Diamond Dogs, but she doubted that simply being annoyed was going to be incentive enough for the dragons to give up their chance to regain a lost egg. Or rather…a lost Spike.

Oh, Spike! Oh no! You'd better not find out about this. Oh, that will not end well. Not well at all. Rarity pulled her hooves to her mouth, covering the gasp she wanted to let out. That noble little dearheart would trade himself in a minute for me! I cannot let that happen! Quick, Rarity…what else do you know about dragons? Greed…pride…

An idea hit. Perhaps not a terribly good idea, but it was an idea all the same.

"Excuse me," Rarity said gently, doing her best to keep the shakiness from her voice. She had to try something. "But I couldn't help but notice how your scales catch the setting sun so perfectly."

The dragon turned back to face her, staring at her shrewdly.

Rarity continued, her expression completely innocent. "Back home I'm known for my skills as a fashionista, and seeing as we have some time to pass, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing some scale-polishing tips with me? I simply must know what you use to create that luminous shine."

The dragon continued to stare at her, and Rarity wondered if she'd hedged the wrong bet. Perhaps not all dragons were as easily flattered as Spike and that ruffian that Fluttershy had rid Ponyville of ages ago.

But then the dragon buffed its claws up against its chest, and snorted out a bit of smoke. "Heat treatment," the dragon said. "Keeps the scales looking young."

"Oh, I see," Rarity said. "Intriguing! I'm Rarity, by the way." She climbed to her feet, a little woozily, and held out one hoof.

"Moxie," the dragon replied, using two claws to reach through the bars and shake her hoof. "And let me tell you, it's so nice to have someone finally notice my scales. It takes forever to cook them up to this level of shine, but does my mate ever comment on them? No. Typical male flyboy, he is. Cares more about showing off in front of the others than spending time with me and his egg. Then I get stuck on guard duty, to afford volcano-care for the baby."

Oh my…so it's a female! Rarity could run with this. Absolutely. "My word, that sounds awfully insensitive of him," she said. "Leaving a lady such as yourself to do all the work."

"I know!" Moxie replied. She heaved her massive body further into the cave and plopped down next to Rarity's cell. "And you wouldn't believe what he said last week when I asked him to spend one day in to egg-sit."

"What did he say?" Rarity asked, sidling up next to Moxie. "Tell me everything, dear."

If she played her cards right, Rarity held a small hope she could yet get away before Spike learned of any of this.

After Sweetie Belle had finished explaining what had happened, Twilight asked Spike to write a letter to Princess Celestia. His handwriting had never been shakier, ever since the day he'd first learned how to hold a quill. All the while, writing out the details of the missing dragon eggs and the broken treaty, Spike could only think about Rarity. He had to do something. He had to find her! He couldn't let the dragons hurt her.

Spike sent the letter with a whoosh of his green flame, and sat back on the sand, watching the stars begin to come out. Three stars near each other twinkled especially bright, and Rarity's cutie mark surfaced in Spike's mind. He put his head in his hands and shook.

Somehow…I'll save you…I will…

"And uh…by the way, Spike?" Sweetie Belle asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"Yeah?" Spike asked. A wave crashed up against the shore, almost reaching his feet in the sand. He scooted back a ways to join the others, who sat around the unconscious form of the sea serpent.

"Well…I don't know how exactly to put this…" the filly continued. "But…the whole dragon egg thing…we kind of think that maybe you—"

"Please," a voice said from behind them, cutting off Sweetie Belle's confusing rambles. "Let me explain."

Spike scrambled in the sand, spinning around. That voice—that's—!

"Princess Luna!" Twilight exclaimed.

Spike's eyes were wide, watching as the alicorn landed on the beach. Everypony bowed, and Spike did as well, even as he had to scoot even farther up the sand to escape the incoming tide.

"Not now, really, it's alright," the princess said, walking forwards towards them. "Please. Stand."

Slowly, each pony got back on their feet.

"What are you doing here, Princess?" Twilight asked. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm afraid everything is not alright." The princess's face was grim. In the dark of the evening, her very body seemed to melt into the sky above her, leaving just her stony, serious eyes to look at each of them in turn. "I bring terrible news. Gargoyles have invaded Equestria."

"Oh my!" Fluttershy gasped and Pinkie Pie leapt backwards in shock.

"We've got to go help!" Rainbow Dash immediately flew up into the air.

"Wait!" Princess Luna held out a hoof. Her tone was so commanding that it stopped Rainbow Dash mid-flap and Pinkie Pie mid-bounce. "We just received your letter telling us what has come of Rarity's peace negotiations. I had to come at once. There is much that needs to be attended to, and much I need to personally…er…come clean about."

"Princess?" Twilight took a tentative step forward. A cool night breeze pushed her mane across her forehead.

But Princess Luna didn't look at Twilight. Instead, she turned her attention to Spike. "Spike…young dragon associate of Twilight Sparkle. Friend of the Equestrian Royal House. I am sorry for not telling you sooner." She dipped her head, almost shamefully, and Spike was at a loss as to where this was going.

Sweetie Belle, however, gave her two filly friends a look. Based on her expression, and on what Sweetie Belle had been trying to say moments before, Spike began to formulate a seemingly impossible idea. Hold on…stolen dragon eggs…sold to a pony many centuries ago…

"It was a different time," Princess Luna continued. "And I was a different pony. Or rather, I wanted to be. I let jealousy guide my hoof, and it's only since I've reawoken that I realized who you were, Spike."

"So you were the pony that traded with the sea serpents?" Spike asked, putting the pieces into place. The sea continued to slosh, creeping up towards his feet, like the sensation inside him crept up towards his heart.

Luna nodded, looking at him with great significance. "Yes."

Spike swallowed. Everypony was watching him now. Twilight had eyes the size of the full moon that had just begun to rise over the ocean. "And that would make me…" Spike trailed off, wringing his little clawed hands together.

"Yes, Spike," Princess Luna confirmed. "Your egg was taken from the dragons over two thousand years ago. You are what the dragons are looking for."

Chapter 10

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Chapter 10

"Oh my gosh!" Pinkie gasped, throwing her hooves up to her cheeks.

"Whoa, Spike! I mean…whoa!" Rainbow Dash said.

Spike barely heard them, or the others, as they chattered amongst themselves. Part of his brain registered Twilight putting a hoof on his shoulder. Everypony was talking at once—to each other, to him, to Princess Luna—but Spike didn't especially care to listen to what any of them had to say.

"I'll do it," Spike said.

"And then after that, we'll need to throw a Holy-Moly-Spike's-An-Antique party, and after that we'll need to organize a search party to find all his two-thousand year-old brothers and sisters, and after that—" Pinkie stopped talking when Twilight shoved her hoof in the pink pony's mouth.

"Hold up, what?" Twilight spun at Spike. "You'll do what?!"

"I'll go trade myself for Rarity," Spike said. "The dragons don't want her. They want me."

The purple unicorn gaped at him. A passing cloud over the moon covered her face in a temporary shadow. "No. No way, Spike," she said, shaking her head. "Not going to happen."

"But what about Rarity?" Sweetie Belle asked. Her voice sounded weak, and Fluttershy gently covered her with one wing as a sea breeze blew in. "We can't just leave her!" the filly exclaimed, looking up at Fluttershy, who hugged her a bit tighter.

"Rarity can handle herself for now. If there's anythin' I've learned through the years, it's not to underestimate that gal," Applejack said. The cloud passed, and the moonlight beamed down on them all once again. "Besides, we don't even know exactly why they want little Spike."

Fluttershy shivered. "It could be for something…dangerous," she said.

"Wait, if it's dangerous for Spike, it's dangerous for Rarity! At least he'll have the whole 'being a dragon' thing going for him. What's Rarity got to keep her safe?" Rainbow Dash snorted.

"I'm not letting Spike walk into a trap," Twilight said, stepping in front of Spike protectively.

"Don't I get to make that choice for myself?" Spike fumed.

"Maybe we could make a fake egg and give them that instead!" Pinkie suggested brightly. "Oh, oh, let's give it purple spots!"

"That's the stupidest thing I've heard in a long while, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said.

"No, this is the stupidest thing you've heard in a long while: blllblllblllbllbllllergh!" Pinkie stuck her tongue out at the pegasus.

"Quiet, all of you!" Princess Luna stamped her hoof.

Everypony settled down quickly, looking up at the alicorn.

"Now, listen," she commanded, glaring at each of them. Spike shrunk back. "There's a lot to explain, and even more to do. Arguing will not assist in any of this."

Twilight hung her head. "I'm sorry, Princess."

"Oh, me too," Fluttershy said. "I didn't realize we were arguing."

"Well, we weren't exactly playin' nice," Applejack admitted. "Ah think we're all just a little high-strung because of the general situation."

Spike crossed his arms. High-strung, huh? The only reason Rarity was in danger was because of him. He was pretty sure that gave him the right to be as high-strung as necessary. Nopony's going to keep me from rescuing her. Not even Princess Luna. I'm a dragon. Apparently my egg was laid over two thousand years ago! I should be in charge of me. And if I want to save Rarity, then that's what I'll do.

"Indeed."

Princess Luna's gaze lingered on Spike, as if she knew his thoughts and was daring him to take off without hearing her out. But as much as he wanted to, the sensible part of him did realize that whatever she had to say probably was important. Rarity would need to wait just a little longer.

"First: I must explain what happened a millennium ago. It might enlighten us as to why the dragons are looking for these eggs today," Princess Luna began.

Spike plopped down in the sand, listening intently.

"I bought Spike's egg over a thousand years ago, before my…transformation. I needed assistance to change who I was," she explained, looking more than a little uncomfortable discussing the subject. "Dragons kept in their eggs gain a remarkable power—they are able to rapidly change to match the age of their egg, given the right incentive. I sought to harness this power. I wanted to change myself, but even with my level of magic, I could not change the core of my being without aid."

And then, with that one brief explanation, everything made sense. A chill went straight through Spike. Dragons change to match the age of their egg? Does that mean…I'm supposed to actually be as big and mean as I was on my birthday? His eyes flew wide. No! No way, that's not me! That can't be me!

"By using Spike's egg, I was able to complete my transformation," Princess Luna continued. "At that time, his transforming power was great, but that was over a thousand years ago. He has had much more time to collect this power within him and grow it to even higher levels than what he had that fateful day all those years ago. And it is that power that the dragons want."

"But…dragons don't have magic," Twilight said, trying to understand. "They couldn't use Spike for any sort of transformation."

"They couldn't use him to transform any of them, true," Princess Luna said. "But they could have him transform himself."

Spike blanched. No. No. I can't. I…

"Oh, I get it!" Pinkie said. She poked Spike in the side. "Like that time you turned into a giant rampaging monster and destroyed Ponyville! That's what the dragons want!"

"That, from what I understand, was only the beginning of what your dragon friend was capable of," Princess Luna said.

"Okay, enough!" Spike said, twirling to face the whole group with false bravado. Everything in him shook, from his stomach to his scales. "Who…who cares why the dragons want me? The point is, they'll let Rarity go if I go see them."

"But Spike…what if they just make you turn into a huge beast again?" Twilight asked.

"What if they do?" Spike retorted. "For Rarity, I'll—I'll…" The shaking overtook him, and he curled into a ball on the beach, wrapping his arms around his knees.

No. He didn't want to ever go back to being that horrible monster. That wasn't who he was. But if it means saving Rarity…

"Princess, could you maybe go back to the part about gargoyles invading Equestria?" Rainbow Dash asked. Spike was extremely thankful for the subject change, and it seemed Princess Luna was as well. Talking about her transformation into Nightmare Moon had taken its toll on her carefully masked emotions.

"Yes," Princess Luna said, almost with too much enthusiasm for such a dark topic. "In fact, that is the primary reason I am here. My sister and I have analyzed the gargoyle threat to Equestria, and believe that it is twofold: first, they're after our resources. Specifically, our mountainous resources. Gargoyles absorb rock for power, and can produce it right back out again as weapons. Equestria is ripe for the picking, so to speak, in that regard."

So Fluttershy was right about the gargoyles' affinity for rocks, Spike thought to himself, glancing over at the pegasus. She was only half-listening, as she attended to the wounds of the moustached sea serpent who was still out cold. Sweetie Belle had been placed in the care of her two young friends, who each sat on either side of her, keeping her warm as the night grew more and more chilly.

"Second," Princess Luna continued, "The gargoyles pose a more immediate threat. They have attacked several villages already, looking for…food."

"Oh no!" Pinkie exclaimed. She grabbed Applejack by the shoulders. "Applejack, we have to protect Sweet Apple Acres!"

Applejack sighed. "Ah don't think that's what the princess was implyin', Sugarcube."

"Huh? Then what…?" Pinkie blinked.

Twilight grimaced. Spike swallowed, rubbing at his neck. He was pretty sure he knew what Princess Luna had meant, but he didn't want to be the one to break it to Pinkie.

"We've got to stop them," Rainbow Dash declared, before that topic could go any further. "We can use the Elements of Harmony again!"

Princess Luna shook her head. "There is no one villain in this. The Elements can defeat evil, but only if it's concentrated in a particular area. This threat is widespread, and requires different tactics."

"Then what can we do?" Twilight asked. She sounded just about as desperate as Spike felt.

"I need to borrow two of your friends to return with me to Equestria, Twilight Sparkle," Princess Luna said. "And then you must go to meet with the sea serpents. We must enlist their aid, and the dragons' aid as well."

"Two of my friends?" Twilight asked.

"Yes. Rainbow Dash, you're the one who can do the Sonic Rainboom, correct?" Princess Luna asked.

"You bet I can!" Rainbow Dash puffed out her chest proudly.

"Perfect. We're going to combine that with Shining Armor's shield spell and use it to blast the gargoyles out of Equestria, town by town."

"Awwww, yeah!"

"And Pinkamena Pie?" Princess Luna asked.

"Present!" Pinkie jumped into the air, waving one hoof.

"Pinkie?" Twilight blinked. "You need Pinkie?"

Princess Luna's mouth twitched back, as if she doubted her own choice now that she was confronted with the cotton-candy-colored pony. "Yes," she eventually said, using her magic to levitate the bouncing Pinkie back onto the sand. "From what I understand, she has a particular expertise that may prove invaluable in determining where the gargoyles will strike next. You grew up on a rock farm, correct?" she asked Pinkie.

"Sure did!" Pinkie replied, saluting. "I'm at your command, Princess-Ma'am!"

Princess Luna took a deep breath. "Yes. Well. Thank you. I will take the two of you back to Canterlot."

"You're splitting us up?" Twilight clarified, taking a tentative step forward.

"In war, one must often make difficult decisions," Princess Luna said. "You will see your friends again, Twilight Sparkle. For now, you and the others must proceed to the sea serpents meeting isles. There, you must gain an audience with the dragons to discuss this war and how to deal with the gargoyles beyond Equestrian borders."

And turn myself in, so that Rarity can be free. Spike's claws pinched the insides of his fists. I'm coming, Rarity. I promise.

"What about the girls, here?" Applejack asked, gesturing to the fillies. "We can't take them with us to meet with sea serpents and dragons and plan attacks on gargoyles. You see what happened to Sweetie Belle!"

"Hey, wait a second!" Scootaloo objected. "We can totally help with battle planning!"

"Yeah, come on! We chased off the gargoyles before!" Apple Bloom said. "Cutie Mark Crusaders: Warriors!"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo high-hoofed Apple Bloom, and they both turned expectantly to Sweetie Belle.

But Sweetie Belle didn't offer them a high-hoof. Instead, she looked at them both sadly. "No, guys. I don't think so."

"What?!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"Listen, I know we all want to help," Sweetie Belle said quickly. "But you two weren't in the last battle. And that one only had a handful of dragons and sea serpents in it. I can't imagine what a battle with even more giant reptiles would be like. It's no place for us."

"But we could get our cutie marks in fighting!"

"And you could save your sister!"

"Spike's already going to do that," Sweetie Belle said.

Spike's heart nearly broke at Sweetie Belle's simple declaration of trust.

"And I don't want my cutie mark in fighting," the filly continued. "I don't think either of you understand. This…this just isn't something we should get involved in. Besides, somepony's got to make sure Stef'an gets healed up okay."

"But Fluttershy's already doing that!" Scootaloo said, gesturing to the yellow pegasus by the sea serpent's side.

"Speaking of," Twilight said. "As long as we're dealing out responsibilities, Fluttershy, I think I have a very important job for you."

"Oh dear," Fluttershy said, ducking behind the sea serpent's bulk. "Wh-what do you want me to do in this…w-war?"

"We can't just leave these fillies by themselves," Twilight said. "Why don't you stay here and keep an eye on them?"

Fluttershy, who had been wincing in anticipation of her assignment, opened her eyes suddenly. "Oh! Oh yes, I can do that!"

"Perfect," Princess Luna said. "And Applejack, that leaves you to accompany Twilight Sparkle. She will need your help on the eventual battlefront."

"Me, your Highness?" Applejack asked, her eyes wide. "You want me to help with a battlefront? Ah thought we were just meetin' with sea serpents and such. Plannin' things and the like."

"I'm afraid we'll all be in battle soon enough," Princess Luna replied. "And having a strong, level-headed pony like you at the frontlines might be crucial."

"I can't think of anypony I'd rather have by my side in such a situation," Twilight said, smiling at the Earth pony.

If Spike had any emotion left to spare, he'd be twisted up in jealousy. However, he noticed that nopony had mentioned his role in all this for quite some time. "Hey, uh…Twilight? Can we talk for a moment?"

"Sure, Spike," Twilight said, turning away from a now-determined-looking Applejack. "What is it?"

He pulled the unicorn aside, dragging her up the beach a ways. "Listen," he said, once they were out of earshot of everypony else. "I know you don't like this, and to be completely honest, I don't either. But if I offer myself up to the dragons, Rarity goes free."

"Spike—"

"No, listen! I know that they're probably going to try to make me into a huge monster again. But maybe I'm supposed to be! Maybe that'll save everypony from the gargoyles! Maybe, I just need to—"

"Sacrifice who you are?" Twilight asked. "What good could possibly come from turning you back into that greedy thief, Spike? That's not you!"

Spike balled up his hands. "That's where you're wrong, Twilight. That is me. Somewhere, deep down. That's who I am. And if I can save Rarity…if I can help save everypony…I need to try."

Twilight was silent, looking out over the dark ocean.

"I'm over two-thousand years-old, Twilight. I think I'm old enough to make my own decisions," Spike said, narrowing his eyes.

"Oh, Spike, you're not two-thousand years-old," Twilight sighed, shaking her head. "Your egg was hatched this century. I know, because I was sort of there, remember? It doesn't matter how long you were in that egg, you weren't born until I magicked you out of it! So that means I'm older than you—"

"But that doesn't mean you get to tell me what to do!" Spike said, not giving up so easily. "I mean, you know, besides sweeping the library and stuff."

Twilight went back to silence again.

"Twilight, Rarity's in real danger," Spike pleaded. "And I'm the only one here who has a way to save her. Please, Twilight…"

"Spike," Twilight said slowly, shutting her eyes. "If I don't tell you what to do, why does it sound like you're trying to ask my permission for this?"

"Because I…" Spike trailed off, closing his mouth. Oh. He leaned forward, and gave Twilight a hug. "I love you, Twilight."

"I love you too, Spike," Twilight said, wrapping a hoof around him.

They sat like that for a long time, with the stars twinkling overhead.

"And then he told me that he was out late because of gargoyle target practice!" Moxie huffed. "But I know he was just harassing sea serpents again. It's one of his favorite pastimes."

"He's got some nerve," Rarity said. It was dark out now, with just a few torches lit around her cave-prison. They'd been talking for a while…or rather, Moxie had been talking for a while, and Rarity had been cycling through a small variety of generic replies.

Meanwhile, her full attention was on slowly, magically shifting a boulder near the far side of her cell. Minutely, smidge by smidge, Rarity was pushing the rock in-between two bars, delicately widening the gap. She had to be quiet about it, because she'd already underestimated her guard's superb hearing before. Rarity was not the type to make the same mistake more than once, nor was she the type to put all her creativity into one design. If she didn't end up winning Moxie over, escaping through her own jail bars would work quite nicely as an alternative.

A gentle night breeze floated through the cave entrance, pushing Rarity's mane just enough that it tickled her head wound, sending a rather sickening sensation through the unicorn.

"Our egg is just weeks away from hatching," the dragon continued, missing Rarity's grimace of discomfort. "You'd think he'd want to be around more often!"

Rarity steadied her breath, resisting the shudder that tried to go through her body. "I don't even know why you stay with him, frankly, dear," she said, budging the boulder another eensy bit.

"Not stay with him?" Moxie seemed genuinely startled by the suggestion. "But he's my mate. Why wouldn't I stay with him?"

Rarity quickly abandoned her magic as Moxie's eyes fell on her. "He doesn't seem like much of a mate if he won't even spend time with you," she said in a rush, hoping that Moxie hadn't noticed the glow of her horn moments earlier. "I mean, really."

"But…he's my mate. We're bonded," Moxie said, gazing down at her from the mouth of the cave. Her huge, scaly brow drew together, perplexed. "Do ponies not mate for life?"

"Well, ideally we would," Rarity said. She shuffled her body a bit, hoping to keep the dragon's eyes on her and not on the back of her cell where the rock remained lodged partway between the bars. "But realistically, that doesn't always happen."

"Realistically?"

"Love is a fickle thing, dear," Rarity said. She felt like she was talking to a child and winced as Moxie's expression crumbled before her. "Sometimes it doesn't work out in the long run…oh, but don't worry! I'm sure you and your mate can sort out your differences!"

Great, Rarity, now you've gone and made the poor dear cry!

Moxie wrapped her huge dragon arms around herself. "We have to…we have to! I love him, we're bonded! He's my life-mate!"

Look what you've done, Rarity, she mentally berated herself. Fix this! Think: what would Fluttershy do? Rarity reached a hoof through the bars to pat Moxie on the side. "Oh, don't cry, darling! It'll all be fine; don't worry your pretty head about it. Everything will work out."

Moxie wiped at her eyes. "You think so?"

"Why, of course!" Rarity exclaimed. "You love each other, and that will get you through anything!"

Moxie nodded, sniffling loudly. "You know what? You're right. You're absolutely right. I had no idea ponies could be so wise! For such short-lived creatures, you sure have some brains in those tiny heads of yours."

"Er…thanks," Rarity said, deciding to take that as a compliment.

"My mate and I have some issues to work through, but we can handle it." The dragon sighed contentedly. Smoke tendrils trailed from her nostrils after she closed her mouth. "Wow, I haven't felt this calm in ages! You're a really good listener, you know that?"

"So I've been told," Rarity said, really just wishing she could get back to working on the other part of her escape plan. But Moxie's eyes were casually surveying the cave, and Rarity knew she had to keep her focused and talking. "So…an egg! That must be so exciting for you. Is this your first?"

"Yes, it is," Moxie replied. To Rarity's relief, she went back to looking out the cave entrance. "Everyone keeps saying that as soon as it hatches, time is going to fly by, but for now I just can't wait until my sweet baby comes out! I feel like it's taking forever. Do you have any ponylings of your own?"

"Me? Children? Oh no, no, no," Rarity said quickly, as she resumed budging the boulder. "I'm not…ah…quite ready for that stage of life."

"Ah," Moxie said. "No life-mate. I see. Probably for the best seeing as you're locked up here."

No life-mate yet? Rarity bristled. Well, that's quite the assumption! But then Rarity paused her magic for a moment. A thought struck her. A thought that, by all rights, shouldn't even have entered her mind in her current predicament. But…

This could be your chance, Rarity! You actually have a real, definitively adult dragon with you. You could ask her about…

But then Rarity's face fell. How could she go about any of this without revealing Spike's existence?

Rarity pursed her lips together, abandoning her escape attempt for the time being. This would take her full concentration. She tucked her mane back a ways, keeping it from brushing up against her head wound again, as she thought up how to begin. She mentally went through everything they'd been discussing so far until…Ah-hah! There's an idea. Lead with that.

"Dear, you said that time will fly once your egg has hatched," Rarity began casually. "With dragons living for such a long time, I imagine it must actually take years for young dragons to get to your size."

"Oh yes. My baby won't even surpass you in size until he or she is at least three years old," Moxie said.

The unicorn's eyes flew open wide. "Wait—baby dragons are as big as ponies by their third birthday?" Rarity asked, making sure she'd heard correctly.

"Perhaps fourth, but yes," Moxie said. "Around that age. Really, every dragon is different. Some grow much faster than others."

"Well…to be my size by four years-old is actually growing quite quickly, by pony standards," Rarity said. And by Spike standards…

"Oh really? Well, that's still plenty small to get crushed…or worse." Moxie shuddered. "Us dragons aren't always the most careful of species, I suppose."

Rarity laid out the facts in her mind, as she would pieces of fabric on her work table. So Spike was laid in his egg over two thousand years ago. And he's far, far smaller than he should be for his current age, even subtracting two thousand years. Dragons grow fast so they don't get hurt by older dragons. Except Spike, for some reason. Perhaps that's why they want him and his fellow eggs? Though, a tiny dragon against a horde of gargoyles doesn't make much sense…

Regardless…all this drastically calls into question Spike's status of "baby" dragon. Something special is definitely going on with him. "Kid", indeed! Take that, Applejack!

Something akin to giddiness fluttered up inside Rarity, which was absurdly out of place as she sat in her dark prison cell, dealing with a bloody head wound and a giant, fire-breathing guard.

"Ahem, so," Rarity continued, delving deeper. "I'm afraid I'm just a tad bit unfamiliar with dragon life, as is probably evident to you by now. Just how fast do dragons grow up?"

"Grow up?" Moxie looked puzzled again. "Grow up to what?"

"Uh…you know," Rarity said, waving one hoof. "Grow up. Become an adult dragon. Stop getting bigger. That whole…er…thing."

Moxie tilted her massive head to one side. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. Dragons continue to grow for their entire lives. There isn't a stopping point."

Rarity bit her lower lip and looked away. As interesting as that fact was, it didn't answer her real question. Maybe she should be a bit more blunt. "Well…in pony society, at least, one completes growing and then is usually deemed old enough to, as you might say, take a mate. Is there such a marker in your culture?"

Moxie shrugged. "A dragon can take a mate whenever they find their life-mate."

"Even if they're still young?" Rarity gasped.

Moxie looked at her a little funny. "Well, a dragon won't claim a life-mate until they're old enough."

"But that's what I'm asking…what is 'old enough'?"

"When a dragon finds their life-mate," Moxie said.

Rarity resisted the urge to bang her head against one of her jail bars. Did all dragons use such circular logic?

"You ponies are an odd sort," Moxie observed.

Rarity groaned, sinking a bit where she sat. But despite her frustration, a tiny glimmer of hope had been kindled deep inside her. A glimmer she didn't want to fully acknowledge, because along with it came another emotion she wasn't sure she was ready to face…

So…dragons are old enough to claim a…er… "life-mate" whenever they find theirs. And when they do, they mate for life.

Rarity shifted in place, attempting to sort through the implications of this new information.

If Spike had truly fallen for her, he was, by dragon terms, old enough to become romantically involved. No matter his age in years, apparently. Though with the knowledge that his egg was laid over two millennia ago, Rarity wasn't even sure what age to put him at anymore, anyway.

If Spike had truly fallen for her, he would stay by her side for life. For life.

If Spike had truly fallen for her.

Rarity had no idea her stomach could flip so many times in a row. Behind all the emotions roiling inside her, the new, terrifying one surfaced front and center.

If.

But if not…Spike might fall for somepony else. And be bonded to them forever. Somepony other than me!

The emotion, Rarity realized with growing alarm, was fear. Her brain spun, trying to process this. It was like she'd been knocked upside the head by Rojo all over again.

She was petrified at the prospect of Spike being devoted to her—and her alone—forever. However, even more than that, Rarity, the smart, classy, independent fashionista of Ponyville, was afraid to lose the affections of one tiny, scale-covered library assistant to anypony else.

Oh dear.

Rarity was in trouble. And not just because she was locked in a dragon prison cell.

"So this is it then, is it?" Applejack took her hat off, standing near Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash flew overhead of the pair. "You two be safe now, y'hear?"

"You betcha!" Pinkie Pie giggled.

"Yeah, don't worry, we'll be fine," Rainbow Dash said, waving one hoof dismissively as she fluttered in place. But after a moment's pause, she rubbed the back of her head, looking away. "But uh…yeah, you be careful, too, AJ."

Spike stifled a yawn. It was really, really late. His tiny dragon body demanded sleep, but he wouldn't give in.

"Spike?" Scootaloo asked, walking his way from up the beach.

"Yeah?" he turned to face her and the other two fillies. Apple Bloom supported Sweetie Belle's body as they walked. Meanwhile, Twilight and Princess Luna magicked the golden raft they'd found by the sea serpent into the water, casting some spell together to make it float on its own.

"Just wanted to say good luck," Apple Bloom said. "Y'know. With everythin'."

"She means not just the war stuff. She means the figuring out who you are stuff, too," Scootaloo said.

"He knew what ah meant!" Apple Bloom stamped her hoof.

Spike smiled. "Thanks, guys," he said. "Really."

"Spike?" Sweetie Belle said. Her voice sounded exhausted, and Spike wasn't entirely sure she should be moving around at all. But Fluttershy was still distracted trying to get the sea serpent to wake up, so that must've been how the other Crusaders got their friend all the way up the beach without getting stopped.

"What is it?" Spike replied.

"Rarity's not going to be very happy if you get hurt for her sake," Sweetie Belle said. Apple Bloom leaned up against her even more, so the filly could remain upright. "So don't do anything too dangerous, okay?"

Like giving myself over to the dragons so they can use me as a weapon in a war against gargoyles? "Uh…yeah. Sure," Spike said. "I'll try."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom exchanged looks, and Spike knew he wasn't fooling anypony.

"Ready, Spike?" Twilight called from the ocean's edge.

"Look after her?" Spike asked to the two uninjured fillies. Sweetie Belle drooped where she stood.

They nodded.

"Spike?"

"Coming!" Spike called back to Twilight, looking one last time at Sweetie Belle. Rarity was going to be devastated to learn what had happened to her sister. But nothing more he could do about that now.

As he walked up the beach to meet Twilight, Princess Luna stepped in front of him.

"Spike," she said. "A word of caution."

"Yes, uh, Princess?" Spike replied, stopping. His toes curled in the cool sand, and he wished he still had his blanket. He'd somehow lost it in the gargoyle fight.

"Transforming is a dangerous business," she said, gazing down at him. "It's easy to lose control and let the…other you take over."

"Believe me, I know," Spike huffed. Like I need to be reminded of that.

"So it is wise to avoid it if possible," the princess said.

"And if it's not possible?"

"Then find a way to come back," Princess Luna said. With that, she turned and walked away.

Spike stared after her. You say that like it's just that easy. He narrowed his eyes. Oh well. The cards were dealt, and he had to deal with what he had.

Twilight and Applejack waited for him on the golden raft. Spike had to wade through the lapping ocean waves along the shoreline to get to them. He climbed aboard upon reaching them, shivering. The water certainly hadn't helped him feel any warmer. Blanket, I miss you…

Twilight magically pushed them away from the shore, swelling the water underneath them to assist in their travel. Princess Luna's horn glowed exceptionally bright, and Spike wondered if she was casting them some sort of final good luck spell, until he realized she was using her power instead to assist Fluttershy in waking the sea serpent.

As the huge serpent moaned, the princess turned to face their raft. "Best of luck, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Spike!" she called, her royal voice easily projecting over the ocean.

"Send us a postcard from Sea Serpentia!" Pinkie Pie said, waving.

"Uh…sure, Pinkie!" Twilight called back.

"Good luck with protectin' Equestria and all!" Applejack said.

"Oh, please be careful!" Fluttershy called out. "And tell me everything about the sea serpents when you return! That is, if it isn't too much trouble..."

"Will do, Sugarcube!" Applejack said, waving her hat.

Rainbow Dash gave them a parting salute, and the fillies all waved enthusiastically.

Spike squatted, sitting down on the raft and wrapping his arms around his knees. Everypony was putting on a brave face. It was admirable, really. But it did make him feel pretty lame for barely holding back from hyperventilating at what was to come. As they pulled farther and farther away from the shore, Spike gripped his knees tighter. He'd made his choice. There wasn't any turning back now.

I'm coming, Rarity. Anything, for you.

Chapter 11

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Chapter 11

"You look a little ill," Moxie noted. "Head wound bothering you?"

"Y-yeah," Rarity said, putting a hoof to her temple. "I suppose."

She laid back down on the dusty cave floor, turning her face away from the dragon. Spikey Wikey…what does any of this mean? Can I…? Do you…? Could we…? The questions swirled through her mind as her heart pounded in her chest. To be with Spike…for life… Or to watch somepony else get that privilege. Or some dragon. Oh goodness, what if he decides he doesn't want to be with me because I'm not a dragon?

Rarity shut her eyes tightly. Now that she knew she and Spike could, technically speaking, be together, every other insecurity she'd ever felt about the situation came to light. And the very fact that she had all those insecurities…well, Rarity wasn't an idiot. As much as she'd like to deny it, she was painfully aware of her reaction to the thought of losing Spike. She'd always known Spike had a thing for her, and there was no denying any longer that she clearly felt something in return for him. It was, after all, what had launched her into this entire mess in the first place.

But were those feelings strong enough to last forever? For life? Would that be fair to Spike if she thought she wanted to be with him, and decided later she didn't? Would he, as a dragon, ever be able to go on and be with someone else?

There were too many questions, and they all piled on top of Rarity's shocked psyche, which itself was still attempting to deal with admitting that her feelings for Spike went far beyond friendship, and even far beyond a silly flirtatious crush. This was serious. And she needed answers.

I'll never forgive myself if I hurt him.

"Moxie…how did you know you'd found your life-mate?" Rarity asked, not turning around.

"How did I know?" Moxie repeated the question back.

Once again, the dragon sounded surprised to be asked such a thing, just as she'd been with many of the Rarity's questions that night. Rarity pushed a bit of dirt off her front leg, wondering what the Rarity of just a few days ago would've thought about how much filth she was currently covered in.

"Well, it was sort of an instantaneous feeling," Moxie said. "I saw him, and it was like everything around us came to a stop. The same thing happened to him. That's how it is for every dragon."

"I don't think that's how it is for every pony," Rarity pouted. She scrubbed at her leg with her hoof, working on a particularly stubborn clump of dirt. "I wish it were, though. That'd make things so much easier."

"Is there a pony you would like to make your life-mate?" Moxie asked. "You could tell me. I mean, it's not like you have anywhere else to go right now."

Rarity let out a sarcastic laugh.

"And I owe you. You listened to my problems. Why don't you tell me about yours?" Moxie asked. Rarity could hear her scales creak, as if she was leaning over. Sure enough, when Rarity tilted her head back to look at the dragon, she had her neck craned down low, near Rarity's level.

Rarity sighed. As long as she didn't mention towards whom she had affections, she couldn't see how it could hurt. "Well, alright," Rarity said. "We do have some time to pass, anyhow." And maybe I can keep working on widening the cell bars while we're at this.

She gently began to apply magic to the boulder at the back of the cave again, keeping her head turned away from Moxie so the dragon wouldn't see her horn glow.

"There is someone I think I'm interested in," Rarity said. Her voice was soft, as if saying it any louder would make it more real. "The trouble is, until recently I wasn't sure if it'd be possible for us to be together. But now that I know it is possible, I know I need to make up my mind once and for all regarding my feelings for him. I know he feels something for me. He's basically told me so before."

An image of Spike spilling his secret as they fell through the air came unbidden to the front of Rarity's mind, and she had to pause her magic for a moment to regain control of her emotions.

"But ponies don't fall for their life-mates right away?" Moxie asked, for clarification.

"No, we generally do not," Rarity replied, wiping at her eyes and continuing to face away from the dragon into the dark of the cave. She couldn't quite seem to get her magic to start back up. Stupid emotions. "And that's the trouble."

"But now you think you do want him."

"Perhaps…" Rarity said, evasively. "But I don't want to hurt him if I'm mistaken, and there are still a few things that could get in our way."

"Like what? Besides you being locked up here." Moxie laughed a little.

Rarity wasn't sure she found in the humor in that, especially given that she couldn't concentrate enough to get that rock through the bars at the moment, but pressed on anyway. "Well…we're different. He's…" she trailed off, trying to pinpoint differences that didn't reveal Spike's identity. "For one thing, he was raised in Canterlot, and I was raised in Ponyville."

"And that's a bad thing?" Moxie tried to understand.

"No, actually," Rarity said, her brow creasing. "That's not a bad thing at all. In fact, that could be—no." She shook her head, cutting herself off before getting carried away with a fantasy about moving to Canterlot. "Anyhow, there's more…" He's a dragon. He breathes fire and might be more interested in someone with scales. He eats gemstones. "He…" How do I explain any of that? "…He likes different food than I do."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew how petty they sounded. Moxie didn't even bother replying.

"Not that that's a big deal, either," Rarity sighed. And actually, who better to supply Spike with endless food than a unicorn with the special ability to find gemstones? She shook her head for a second time. There were still problems. Problems unrelated to his dragon-hood. "He's…he's got an immature streak!" she landed on, decisively.

There. There was no way of getting around that difference.

But Moxie just snorted. "Don't they all. Glad to hear that's not just male dragons with that problem."

Rarity became more flustered by the moment. "Well, there's that, and he…he…" What, Rarity? He doesn't like dresses? Come on, now you're just grasping at straws. Rarity poked at a rock on the ground. "It's hard to explain if you don't know him."

"So tell me about him," Moxie suggested.

"Well…alright," Rarity began carefully. She took a moment to gather her thoughts. Spike's identity had to be kept a secret. With any luck, she'd be out of here before these dragons ever realized he existed, and she could keep him safe. That is, if she could ever get the cell bars pried apart far enough. "He's supportive. Caring. Generous." Rarity absentmindedly traced designs in the dirt, her heart aching. "He likes to play the hero, and says the most adorable little sarcastic quips when he thinks nopony is listening." She smiled a little. "And he'd do anything for me."

Moxie looked at her for a while. "I don't know. I'm not seeing any problem."

Rarity's smile fell. "Yeah. Well…we're different."

"And that means you can't care for him as much as he cares for you?" Moxie asked. "Because it sounds like he's a great find. Even if ponies don't fall as fast as dragons, maybe you should give it a try. You don't want to lose him."

"But what if I end up changing my mind later? What if I don't want to be with him forever?" Rarity asked, biting at her lower lip at all the nervous possibilities.

"Then you don't stay with him forever," Moxie said. "You're the one that said ponies don't mate for life. He could go find someone else then."

Rarity laid her head down on the ground sideways, wishing she could just melt away into the floor. "I don't think that would work in this situation."

Moxie scratched one arm awkwardly. "You sound confused, and it's making me confused. You did get hit on the head pretty hard. Maybe you need some rest."

"Yes…yes, rest is a good idea…"

Rarity closed her eyes. She'd never escape half exhausted and she'd never sort out her feelings in such a state, either. If only she had somepony to talk to that could understand the full situation. If only she was with her friends. Honestly, at the moment she'd risk the teasing and humiliation she was sure they'd dish out upon learning about her conundrum. But instead, she was trapped in a cave, far away from anypony she knew, with only her guard to comfort her.

A crushing loneliness took root in Rarity's heart, followed almost immediately by a wave of guilt. You don't even know what your friends are facing right now. They could be dealing with even worse than you. Several horrible thoughts entered Rarity's exhausted brain, mostly to do with gargoyles. The darkness of the cave didn't do much to calm her imagination.

The only comfort that allowed Rarity to slip into sleep at all was knowing that Stef'an would protect Sweetie Belle, wherever they may be.

Twilight's eyes were on the horizon, but in the dark, Spike couldn't tell what she was watching.

"So where exactly are these sea serpent meetin' isles Princess Luna said we should go to?" Applejack asked, holding onto her hat. They were traveling rather quickly across the ocean, and wind whipped at them from all directions.

"The Princess enchanted the raft," Twilight said. "It should take us straight to them."

Spike lay on his back, staring up at the stars, as a fine ocean mist sprayed over him. A few stars shot across the sky and he sighed. "Been a lot of those tonight," he noted. "Maybe it's a good sign?"

"A lot of what?" Twilight asked.

"Shooting stars," Spike replied.

Twilight's head jerked upwards, her eyes narrowing at the sky. "There shouldn't be."

"What's so weird about a few extra shootin' stars?" Applejack asked.

Spike rolled onto his side, yawning. "Nothing. Twilight's just upset that she doesn't have the sky as memorized as she thought she did."

"No, you don't understand," Twilight said. "Shooting stars are actually bits and pieces from asteroids and comets, and only occur in such great numbers when our planet passes through the debris field of such an object in space."

"And yer point is…?" Applejack asked.

"We aren't traveling through any field like that right now!" Twilight said. "Or…we shouldn't be. Spike! Get my scrolls out!"

Spike climbed to his feet, wobbly a bit on the moving raft. He went over to Twilight's bag, and unpacked the scrolls she'd brought from the library. "You really want to work on your scroll translations right now, Twilight?" Spike asked, dismayed.

Twilight didn't answer him. Instead, she just levitated the scrolls out of his claws, opening them up in front of her, and comparing some of the star charts to the sky above.

"Twah'?" Applejack tentatively stepped towards her.

"Don't bother," Spike said. "There's no use talking to her when she gets like this. I vote we get some sleep while Twilight figures out whatever it is she's trying to figure out."

"Yer sure?" Applejack looked at Spike.

"Positive. Look," Spike said, waving a hand next to Twilight's face. "Twilight! Twilight!" He turned back to Applejack, as Twilight continued to read her scrolls. "See? Nothing. Now, I don't know how long it's going to take to get to the sea serpents, but I have a bad feeling that I'm not going to be welcomed there with a fluffy feather bed, so I'm going to get as much sleep as I can before then."

"Well, alright, then," Applejack said, settling down on the raft. "Might not be a bad idea."

Spike lay down on the gold plating, watching the shooting stars continue to go by. Slowly, his eyes closed and he drifted off into a restless slumber.

In her cell, many miles away, Rarity slept, fitfully tossing and turning, unaware of the beautiful cosmic light show just outside. She hugged her legs in close to her body, shivering in the cold cave.

Her homesick mind allowed her only to dream about the friends she missed so dearly.

"Idiot! Idiot, idiot, idiot!"

Spike bolted upright on the raft. It was still pitch black outside. "Twilight?! What's wrong?!"

"I translated these scrolls incorrectly, that's what's wrong! Asteroid, not comet, Spike! Asteroid!"

"And the difference is…?" Spike asked.

"The difference is that asteroids are much, much rockier than comets! Comets are mostly ice and dust and if they break up, it's just tiny bits that often melt. Asteroids leave behind massive chunks of rock and metal!"

Applejack sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Wha's all this about?" she asked, sleepily.

"All this time, I've been mistranslating one key word, and now there's an unpredicted massive meteor shower! What I thought was a comet collision that would've created a light meteor shower several centuries from now, actually was an asteroid collision. With completely different compositions and initial orbiting paths, the asteroids left behind a huge debris field that has migrated into our planet's path now. With my new calculations, there's enough material to bombard us for many nights in a row!"

"Are any of these asteroid bits goin' to hurt somepony?" Applejack asked, climbing to her feet, putting her hat on, and looking up at the skies.

"I don't know!" Twilight said. "Two asteroids collided, who knows the size pieces they've left behind? And what they could be used for? Oh, I've messed up big time. Big time, big time! What will Princess Celestia say?"

"Hold on, wasn't it Princess Celestia who told you to follow these comet things in the first place? Doesn't that mean she got it just as wrong as you did?" Spike asked.

"No, she was having me track a whole variety of celestial bodies from a report written by astronomers centuries ago. Figuring out what they were about was my assignment, Spike!" Twilight began to get that frazzled look that Spike knew all too well. "She wasn't doing the translations, I was! And I messed up!"

Spike put a hand on her back. The poor mare's chest was heaving in and out. "Twilight, it's not a big deal. So we get an unexpected series of shooting stars for a few nights. If you want, we can write a letter to Princess Celestia right now and tell her what you've learned. How does that sound?"

Twilight's breathing slowed ever so slightly. "That…that could work."

"There, y'see, Sugarcube?" Applejack said. "Nothin' to worry about."

"Oh, I hope not," Twilight replied.

We have plenty of other things to worry about, Spike said internally, feeling more than a little frustrated that Twilight was panicking about her scroll assignment, and not about the fact that gargoyles were destroying Equestria, that Rarity was currently kidnapped, and that he'd have to embrace his marauding, constantly unsatisfied monster-self to fix any of it.

"Dear Princess Celestia," Twilight began, as Spike wrote. "Please share this information with Princess Luna, as soon as possible. The meteor showers affecting our skies are a result of an asteroid collision centuries ago, and now the rock, likely high in iron content, is raining down on the planet. This may be what the gargoyles are after."

Spike's claw jerked to a halt, mid-sentence. He had not thought of that possibility. And now he felt like a complete heel for assuming Twilight's panic was from thinking she'd simply botched an assignment.

"Whoa there," Applejack said. "You mean to say the gargoyles could use these space rocks?"

"Not just use them," Twilight said. "I'd speculate it may be why they're on the rampage at all right now. It's just too perfectly timed."

"So…are we allowed to panic yet?" Spike asked, scratching his back with the feathered quill.

"Just finish the letter!" Twilight ordered.

Spike did as he was told. After sending the message, he looked towards the horizon. A few rays of sunlight began appearing in the East. Could've really used a bit more night there, Celestia. But I guess I'll just have to face all this without much sleep. Seriously, the gargoyles are after space rocks? And I need to grow big and fight them? Is the whole universe conspiring against me?

Twilight began to talk again, but was cut off as two huge bursts of spraying water showered their magically-propelled raft, drenching all three of them.

Yep. Definitely being conspired against.

"What the—?" Applejack started.

Two absolutely gigantic sea serpents reared up on either side of their raft. Spike's jaw dropped clear open. These creatures made the one back on the beach look like a puppy.

Water continued to rain down on them, dripping off the serpents' bodies.

"What are two ponies and a dragon doing in Sea Serpentia?" one of the two sneered, running a hand through his blond hair.

"Just what I was wondering," the second one said. His blue scales glistened in the morning sun.

"And how did they ever get a sea serpent raft?" the first asked.

They began to circle, and Applejack, Twilight, and Spike huddled together tightly.

"We're…we're sorry to intrude," Twilight began, scrunched by Spike's side. "We're representing Equestria, and have come on behalf of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to inquire after our missing companion, Rarity."

"Rarity?" the blond sea serpent repeated back.

"Rarity," Spike piped up. "She's a unicorn, about this tall." He separated himself from the two ponies and held his hand up to their height. "White coat, lavender mane, the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen—"

"You of all creatures should know where she is," the blue sea serpent said, leaning down and shoving one finger at Spike's chest. "Your kind stole her!"

"Hey now," Applejack said, stepping defensively in front of Spike. "Spike here didn't have anythin' to do with that. He's here to help rescue Rarity!"

"We really need to speak to your rulers," Twilight said. "We have important information to share about the war."

Spike opened his mouth, and then shut it when Twilight gave him a warning look. Apparently he wasn't allowed to mention yet what his role in all this was.

"A likely story," the blond sea serpent sniffed, tipping his chin up and away from their raft.

"But we're friends of Stef'an's!" Twilight said next.

"The Duke? Doubtful," the blond one said.

Twilight scowled, stamping a hoof impatiently. She looked just about as frustrated as Spike felt.

"It's true!" Applejack said. "We do know him!"

"They do know his name at least…" the blue one said. "And that of the Generous One."

The first sea serpent tapped his chin. "You have a good point there. Alright, you've talked me into it! To Queen Ili'ana with them!" He clapped his hands together, and the next thing Spike knew, their raft was being dragged through the ocean at super-speeds.

"Th-th-th-th-that w-w-w-w-w-w-was e-e-e-easy!" Applejack noted, as they rapidly bounced over wave after wave. The three had gone back to clinging to each other for dear life.

"I-I-I-I m-m-may ha-ha-have ha-ha-ha-ad s-s-s-s-s-s-ome-th-th-thing to do w-w-w-with th-th-that!" Twilight looked up at her glowing horn.

"T-T-TWILIGHT!" Spike exclaimed.

"I kno-know I-I-I-I pro-pro-prom-is-s-s-ed n-n-n-ever to d-d-d-do the m-m-mind c-c-control spell-ll, Sp-Sp-Spike, b-b-b-b-but th-this w-w-w-was an emergen-en-en-ency!"

"C-c-c-c-can y-y-you u-u-use your p-p-power t-t-t-to ma-ma-make th-th-th-th-them slow DOWN?" Spike asked.

Turns out the question was moot, because they came to a sudden, and splashy, halt at that exact moment. Spike was nearly thrown from the raft, caught only by Twilight's magic.

Spike crossed his arms, sitting on the finally-still raft in a giant puddle of water. Yep. He did not like how this day was starting.

"Whoa," Applejack gasped. Spike allowed his eyes to drift up, and he gasped then as well. In front of them were several enormous craggy spires of rock, all arranged in a circle. And around the rocks, dozens of enormous sea serpents swam. Spike shrunk back a bit. He had no idea sea serpents got this big.

"These must be the meeting isles," Twilight observed. "Fascinating!"

The two sea serpents that had brought them there shook their heads quickly. "Y-yes," one of them said. "But how did we get here again? And why did we bring you?"

"Uh, no time to explain," Applejack said, her face blanching as she evaded the question. "May we please speak to this here Queen Ili'ana you talked about?"

"Well, uh…" the blond one fiddled with his hair some more.

"Did someone say my name?"

Spike spun around to see a red and white sea serpent with impressively long locks of hair gliding through the water towards their raft.

"Your Majesty!" the blue sea serpent exclaimed.

"Ah, more ponies. I shouldn't be surprised. I suppose you're here about your kidnapped ambassador?" the queen asked.

Twilight bowed low, and Spike and Applejack followed suit. "Your Majesty," Twilight began, impressively keeping her balance even as a big wave flowed through, bumping their raft up and knocking Spike to his tail. "Allow me to introduce us. My name is Twilight Sparkle. This is my friend Applejack, and—"

"—a dragon," the queen finished for Twilight. She swam once around them, narrowing her eyes down at Spike, who gulped as he stood back up. "Well, I think I see what's going on here. I wish I could say I was more shocked, but you ponies rarely have regard for things that are meant to be beyond your control. Bring out the prisoner!" she ordered, spinning towards the two sea serpents that had brought them to the isles.

Twilight put a protective hoof over Spike's shoulders. "Excuse me, your Majesty, but just to be clear—what do you think is going on here?"

"Please excuse my bluntness, and any rudeness from my guards," Queen Ili'ana said, tossing her hair. "It's just that there is much going on at the moment here, and the time for usual pleasantries is long past. It's obvious to me that the dragons have made their demands to your nation, and you've brought one of the eggs that they wish to obtain in exchange for your missing citizen. Except that you've already hatched that egg. And somehow ended up at our isles mistakenly, instead of by the dragon's shore."

"Okay, that's scarily close to accurate." Twilight raised an impressed eyebrow.

"You don't encounter many ponies associating with baby dragons," Queen Ili'ana replied, winking.

"True, ah suppose. Though you didn't quite get everythin' right, there," Applejack said, wringing out her mane. "We haven't actually heard from the dragons themselves. Sweetie Belle told us what was goin' on, thanks to Stef'an savin' her life and all."

"My nephew saved the young unicorn?" Queen Ili'ana smiled. "Glad to hear he's okay, then."

"Well…'okay' might be an overstatement—" Applejack said, throwing her mane back over her shoulder with a wet thwap.

"Oh, can we please fix their manes?" one of two sea serpent captors interrupted, twiddling his thumbs impatiently. "They're all so damp and unkempt."

"I thought I asked you to go get the prisoner?" Queen Ili'ana said.

"Oh! Yes! Right! Straight away, your Majesty!"

Both serpents swam off towards the biggest off all the rocky outcrops.

Prisoner… "You mean you have Rarity here? I thought the dragons had her!" Spike asked, his heart leaping into his throat, as he put two and two together.

"Oh goodness, it talks!" Queen Ili'ana said, putting a hand to her cheek. "And so young, too!"

Both Twilight and Applejack narrowed their eyes at that.

"I do more than just talk," Spike harrumphed. Inwardly, though, he felt pleased at his friends' reactions. "Now where's Rarity?"

"Rarity? The Generous One, yes," the queen said. "Well, we certainly don't have her. I'm talking about a different prisoner."

Spike crossed his arms. No Rarity. Impatience began to get the best of him. If he was going to trade himself for the love of his life, he'd really rather just get on with it. But it seemed that he'd have to wait a little while longer.

Queen Ili'ana guided their raft over to one of the flatter rocks, allowing Spike, Twilight, and Applejack to finally climb onto solid ground. Spike had to admit, it was a relief to be back on rock again. He definitely wasn't born for sea travel.

"So who is your prisoner?" Twilight asked, interrupting Spike's enjoyment of feeling the rocky grit between his toes.

"Him," Queen Ili'ana gestured behind her at more of the rocky isles, and Spike stretched to see what she was talking about.

Her two serpent guards returned, dragging a chained yellow dragon through the water. Several onlookers pointed, whispering. The dragon snorted smoke out its nostrils, and looked like it wanted to tear every single sea serpent apart with its claws if it could only get free of the chains. Spike shrunk back a little.

And you're going to turn into that soon, he reminded himself, swallowing hard.

"He looks angrier than a frog in a cornfield." Applejack whistled.

"Sure does," Twilight said.

"He's one of the dragons that lead the attack on our meeting," Queen Ili'ana said. "The same attack that resulted in your friend's kidnapping."

Spike's eyes steeled over. The creature was tossed unceremoniously onto the rock beside them. It lay flat, thrashing in its chains. Something in Spike's core clicked over, and he balled up his fists, marching straight up to the yellow dragon's face.

"Where. Is. Rarity?" Spike demanded, leaning in to look the dragon in its golden eye.

"Whoa there, Spike," Applejack said, as she and Twilight darted up to his side. Then both ponies immediately ducked, as the yellow dragon snorted fire out through its nostrils. The fire washed over Spike, and he held his ground. The yellow dragon remained on its side, glaring at Spike. Ash fell around them.

"Where is she?!" he demanded again, stomping one foot. Twilight bit her lower lip, watching nervously from the side.

"Spike…" she started, taking a tentative step towards him.

"He ain't gonna be able to answer you with his mouth all chained like that," Applejack said, stopping Twilight from getting any closer by holding her back with one hoof. "Is there any way we can let this here dragon talk to us?" she asked the sea serpent queen.

"If we unchain his mouth, he'll fry us all!" one of the queen's guards replied.

"Aren't you sea serpents?" Spike asked, raising an eyebrow. "Can't you just squirt some water at him or something?"

"Oh. Right," the guard sheepishly replied. He and the blue sea serpent began undoing the chains around the dragon's mouth.

Queen Ili'ana rubbed her temple. "I promise we aren't all this dense," she said. "We did manage to capture at least this one dragon during the fight, after all."

"Barely," the dragon growled, once its mouth was freed. "Seriously, it's no wonder you water snakes needed us to reach a truce. You'll never be able to take on the gargoyles alone, or you might mess up your precious hair."

"That's enough out of you, Nef," Queen Ili'ana snapped back. "Keep civil, or the chains go back on."

"Because that's so civil," the dragon snorted.

"Oookay," Twilight interrupted. "Now that we're talking, we have a few topics to get through."

"First, you tell us what you did with Rarity!" Spike insisted.

The dragon, still lying on its side, glared once again at Spike. "No. First you tell me who this jabbery little baby is," Nef replied.

"You mean you haven't figured it out?" Queen Ili'ana said, tossing her hair. She smiled smugly. "He's part of our debt."

Nef's golden eyes flew open, looking at Spike in an entirely new way. "There had been rumors…but Rojo said—"

"That it wasn't possible for ponies to hatch a dragon, I know," Queen Ili'ana cut in. "But here he is."

Nef continued to stare at Spike.

"These ponies brought him to trade for their unicorn friend," Queen Ili'ana said. Twilight winced at that, and Spike looked her way to make sure she knew that he knew that wasn't the wording Twilight would've chosen.

"One fifth of your debt then, eh?" Nef said. "Very well. And how do you suppose you get him to the rest of the dragons? Just going to swim up with him and hope to not get blasted out of the water?"

"I was thinking, as a token of our good will, we might send him back with you," Queen Ili'ana replied, tucking a strand of hair casually behind her head.

"You…wait, what?" Nef asked.

Spike blinked.

"We aren't the barbarians your kind tends to be," the queen continued. "We were only holding you as leverage to get the pony ambassador back, but your fellow dragons clearly didn't care enough about you to make that trade. And we have no interest in holding a prisoner just for the sake of having one, so you're free to go with the hatchling."

The sea serpent guards looked a bit startled, but began to unchain the rest of Nef's body once their queen gave them a nod. Nef himself had a calculating look in his eyes, but didn't say anything out loud.

"Now, wait a moment," Twilight said, stepping forward. Spike noticed that she'd stepped closer to him, and wondered if she'd done so on purpose. "There's still a lot to discuss here. For example, we've learned some terrible news regarding the gargoyles. They're attacking Equestria now, and may be gaining power through the absorption of meteorites."

"Really?" Queen Ili'ana looked genuinely surprised.

"Somehow, we have to stop them from havin' access to these space rocks," Applejack said. "Otherwise, who knows what kind of power they might end up with."

Queen Ili'ana crossed her arms thoughtfully. "Indeed. This is serious news."

"Yeah, thanks for the tip," Nef said, shaking off the rest of his chains. The next thing Spike knew, two sets of claws clutched at him, and he was hoisted up into the air faster than a book snatched off a library shelf.

"Hey, wait!" Spike said, struggling to reach back to the ground which was rapidly getting farther from his feet. Nef's claws bit into his scaly sides.

"But we're out of here," Nef said, grinning with his full mouth of teeth.

"No!" Twilight exclaimed. "Spike!"

"Spike!" Applejack gasped.

Nef extended his wings and flapped up once, then twice, then three times. Each flap took Spike farther and farther from the startled sea serpents, and from his friends.

"Nef, get back here! We're not done yet!" Queen Ili'ana shouted.

"I'd say we are, actually," Nef sneered, flapping ever faster.

"Wait!" Spike yelled again. "Please, wait! I didn't get to say goodbye!"

"SPIKE!" Twilight galloped after him across the small rocky isle.

"Time to embrace your destiny, Squirt," the dragon said.

Tears sprang to Spike's eyes. Applejack and Twilight became specks on the isle. Then the isle itself became a speck. And soon enough, all Spike could see was endless ocean.

Twilight…

Rarity rested her magic for another moment. The strain of applying such a precise amount of push on the boulder for hours on end had taken its toll. She flopped over in her cell, in what was definitely a most un-lady-like way. "Urgh," she groaned. If only she could borrow Twilight Sparkle's power for half a moment. Then she could just magic herself right out of this cave, instead of having to rely on such tedious telekinetic methods.

The morning had been exceedingly dull. Moxie's shift had ended, and her new guard didn't want to chat at all. Breakfast had been a pile of torn cliff grass that the new guard had clearly just yanked from outside the cave walls. It was most upsetting.

But suddenly, there was commotion. Shouts echoed off the black cliffs. Rarity thought she spied a yellow dragon flying in, and nearly a dozen other dragons flying out to greet it. Even her lackluster guard looked intrigued.

Something was happening. But what?

Spike was dropped onto the craggy stone, and immediately encircled by dragons of many different colors. A large, turquoise one stepped forward.

"You're sure he's one of the eggs?" the dragon asked Nef, who had just landed behind Spike. They perched along a massive cliffside of black, porous rock. The mid-day sun baked down on them, and Spike knew that ponies would be sweating like crazy if they were there.

But they weren't. His friends were a long way away now. And he wasn't entirely sure he'd ever see them again…at least not as his recognizable self.

"I am," Spike said, fighting back his emotions and climbing to his feet. "I was hatched by Twilight Sparkle from an egg that Princess Luna had traded for centuries ago."

"Talkative for his size, ain't he?" Nef said. "See?"

The bigger dragon leaned down to look Spike in the eye. "But how do we know?" he asked again.

"Because…uh…because…" Good question. Spike thought for a moment, wiggling his toes, then held up a finger in triumph. "Because I've turned huge before! Went on a serious rampage back in Ponyville. Scary stuff." He put his hands on his hips. "So…if that's why you want me, then you've got me! So now, uh…let Rarity go!" Spike was a little proud of his speech, but the huge dragon in front of him just looked quizzical.

"Rarity?"

"The pony we've got," Nef said. "Rojo, I think he's for real. Why else would the ponies have him?"

The other dragons all murmured their thoughts to one another, and Spike gulped. This was just like the time he'd tried to convince the dragons at the migration that he was a real dragon, except about a hundred times scarier. Mostly because these dragons were about a hundred times bigger, give or take a power of ten.

"Okay, kid," the dragon called Rojo said, jabbing a finger at him hard enough to make Spike fall backwards onto the craggy rock. A breeze floated past them, and a cloud moved in front of the sun. "Prove it. Grow."

"G-grow?" Spike asked. He climbed to his feet a second time, feeling like a lost mouse amongst manticores.

"Yeah. Grow," Rojo leaned down again to stare Spike in the face. His eyes narrowed, and smoke escaped through his teeth.

"Ah…I…" Spike stammered, backing up a few steps. "It doesn't just work like that…you kind of have to…I kind of have to…"

The dragon circle closed in on him, and Spike began breathing so hard he could feel his lungs push against his scales.

"First, let Rarity go!" Spike demanded, finding his last ounce of courage. "You made a deal!"

"Deals only good if you're the real deal," Rojo said. "Now grow!"

"I…" Spike felt tears coming to his eyes. Now was not the time to act like a baby. He clenched his fists. "I can't!" Spike stomped forward towards Rojo. "Not just out of the blue, anyway," he said. "I have to get greedy first. I have to want things. That's what happened last time. The more I took, the bigger I got."

Rojo sat back upright, tapping a finger to his chin.

"Ridiculous," Nef said.

"Not entirely," Rojo responded. "It makes a certain amount of sense. Why are we so big, anyway?"

Nef scratched his yellow scales. "Uh…because…"

"Because we have to defend our hoards," Rojo explained. "So if we want to supersize the little purple guy, we need to get him a hoard."

"Well, he can't have mine," Nef sniffed.

Spike breathed out. Yes. A hoard made sense. "And you'll free Rarity," he said, while he was on a roll. "Because I'm not growing if she's not free. And if there's so much as a scratch on her, you'll have me to answer to!"

Rojo looked down at Spike through slotted eyes. "Really?"

"Yes, really," Spike said. He crossed his arms and drummed his right fingers across his scales. "You let her go, or I don't cooperate."

Rojo cocked his head to one side. "This seems awfully important to you."

"Because Rarity's awfully important to me," Spike said. "She means everything to me…she's…"

But then, Rojo was laughing.

"What…what's so funny?" Spike asked.

"Oh, this is just too much," Rojo said, slapping Nef on the shoulder. The yellow dragon stumbled forward a little, clearly not getting the joke. "You…you…"

"Rarity's nothing to laugh about!" Spike felt more incensed by the moment. "She's the most beautiful, most generous pony you'll ever meet! She's talented, kind, gorgeous—"

"And you really like her, don't you?" Rojo asked.

"Well, yes!" Spike said. No way was he going to let a bunch of dragons talk him out of his feelings towards his pony friends. He'd learned that lesson well enough before. "I…she's...!"

"Are you in love with this pony?" Rojo's taunting tone turned eerily intense, and his grin went from one of mirth to one that looked like a predator about to make a kill. Spike really didn't know how to respond. What was Rojo trying to get at?

Nef, however, gasped audibly. "No. Oh, gag me. Are you serious?"

Spike's face went bright red.

"I think he is," Rojo said, standing back upright again. "Well, I know what goes into this dragon's hoard first."

"Hey again," a voice said, as a decent sized thud announced the presence of a dragon landing at the cave's doorstep.

Rarity looked up. "Moxie!" she exclaimed, genuinely happy to see her previous guard's face. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you. You have no idea how boring the new guy is."

Moxie laughed a little, but her tone was less than bright. Rarity's new guard, meanwhile, just yawned. Both dragons stood in the cave entrance, and Moxie looked like she had something behind her back. Rarity bit her bottom lip, wondering what had gotten into the red dragon. She seemed more distant than usual.

"So, uh…" Moxie started. "Really sorry about this. But you're being transferred to a new cell. Not sure why, but I've been asked to put this on you." Then she pulled out a simply disgusting looking harness and chains. Rust flaked off it from where Moxie's claws held it.

"Wh-what?" Rarity gasped. "But why?" Is it because they found out what I was doing with the boulder? Did they learn of my escape plan?

"I really don't know," Moxie said, using a huge set of keys to open up the cell door. It creaked open, and several cliff birds flew away at the noise. "Sorry," she apologized again.

Rarity debated running. But there were two dragons between her and the cave entrance, and a straight drop down to the sea below even if she got out. Her hesitation cost her, because before she knew it, Rarity had the harness tightly clanked on. She fell to the floor under the weight, and her collapse was no dramatic act.

"Good grief, with a harness like this, how could they ever except anypony to carry or pull anything?" Rarity asked.

"Come along now," Moxie said, tugging a bit at the chains. "There's unfortunately been a change in plans."

Rarity stepped forward with great effort, following Moxie out of the cave until they reached the edge. At that point, Moxie picked Rarity up and began to fly. The harness crunched up against Rarity's coat, and she just knew it would leave a stain.

"A change in plans?" Rarity asked, calling over the wind.

"Yes," Moxie replied. "I guess you're going to be staying with us for a while longer."

They neared a new cave. This one was far bigger than hers, and instead of being divided into multiple cells, it just had one set of bars, squarely placed over the entrance.

As they neared it, a different dragon opened it for them, and Moxie landed, letting go of Rarity inside. She did appreciate that Moxie let her go gently, and didn't just drop her like other dragons had done before. Though with the harness on, she still felt like she'd been slammed to the floor.

Her legs wobbled under her in her new prison. The harness would do a better job at keeping her contained than any cell, that was for sure. Speaking of…maybe there will be an easier way to escape from this place. Rarity scanned the cave, her horn tingling even before her eyes spied the piles and piles of…gemstones.

"Oh my stars," Rarity gasped. She had to close her mouth to keep from drooling. Why would they jail me with all these priceless jewels? Not that I'm complaining, mind you.

"Rarity?" a voice then asked, echoing through the cave. Rarity's heart froze inside her.

"Spike?" Rarity stared up at the top of one of the larger gem piles. There indeed sat Spike, his arms around his knees in the most miserable fashion she could imagine. "No!"

"Rarity, I'm so sorry," Spike said, squeezing his knees even tighter to his chest.

"Spike, how are you—but how did you—but…no! Why?! You weren't supposed to be here!" Rarity stammered. What's going on? Why is this happening? "Do you have any idea what they want to do to you?"

Spike nodded glumly from atop the gem pile. "I do. And that's why I came. They said they'd let you go if I came."

"Oh, Spike…" Rarity pulled herself towards him across the cave floor, trying to heave the weight of the harness. Tears spilled from her eyes, and she collapsed under the rusting contraption, too physically and emotionally exhausted to continue. "I'm so sorry, Spike. I was going to escape…to come find you…to stop you from coming…to save you…"

Spike looked at her. "And I was going to save you."

The tears came even faster now, and Rarity put two hooves to her mouth. "Spikey-Wikey!"

A huge sniffle came from the cave entrance. There, Moxie sat, wiping at her own eyes. "I think I finally understand our talk last night, Rarity."

The dragon slouched her giant shoulders, then turned and shut the barred cell door.

Chapter 12

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Chapter 12

Spike's heart felt like it was crumbling into as many pieces as there were gold coins in their cell. Rarity was sobbing at the bottom of his gem pile. Sobbing! To top it all off, despite being surrounded by more gold and gems than he'd ever seen in his life, Spike couldn't get himself to grow. It just wasn't working. Not when he knew Rarity wasn't safe. For a moment there had been the smallest urge to snatch up one of the bigger gemstones next to his left foot, but Rarity's tears squashed that desire down completely.

Another sob escaped the unicorn on the cave floor, and Spike couldn't take it any longer. He slid off his gem pile and walked over to her side. A nasty looking harness was padlocked onto her, and Spike knew that Rarity must be not only uncomfortable in it, but horrified at all the rust and dirt caked into the thing.

"I'm so sorry, Rarity. I told them that I wouldn't let myself grow if they didn't set you free, but then…then they decided differently," Spike said, his tone dropping lamely at the end of the sentence. He raised one hand to gently pat Rarity's shoulder, then lowered it without touching her. He wanted to comfort her, but given that he was the reason she was in this state, he wasn't sure she'd want his comfort.

Rarity looked up at him through watering eyes. "Spike, the last thing I wanted was for you to come here and be forced to change. Promise me you won't let them turn you into something you don't want to be, even if they do set me free."

Spike wasn't sure how to respond. "Rarity…" Even talking quietly, their voices had an echo effect through the cave. "I don't think I can make that promise. I have the power to fight off gargoyles, if I could just grow big again."

"Spike, no!" Rarity gasped, her eyes flying open. "Fight the gargoyles? Y-y-you?" she stammered, struggling to pull herself upright. "No, you can't!"

Spike narrowed his eyes at her strong reaction. "Wait. Why not me?" Spike asked. Don't go there, Rarity. Not you, too.

"Because, because…because others can handle it!" Rarity exclaimed, looking completely aghast at the thought. She continued to struggle to stand. "You can't put yourself in danger like that. I simply won't allow my little Spikey-Wikey to get hurt!"

"Won't allow your…?" Spike took a deep breath, steadying himself and resisting the urge to clench his fists. He tried his best not to let his offended feelings bleed too much into his reply. So she doesn't think I'm dragon enough to take on the gargoyles, either. "Maybe you don't know what's been going on out there, Rarity, but someone's got to stop the gargoyles. They've invaded Equestria! They're going to suck up power from space rocks and make a bid for the entire world! We can't exactly just sit around and let that happen."

Apparently he didn't do a fantastic job keeping his emotions masked, because Rarity's blue eyes now shimmered with a glint of iciness. "Well, excuse me if I've been out of the loop. It's not as if they deliver the Ponyville Express to dragon prison cells," Rarity huffed, falling back to the floor in a heap. Spike winced. "And even if you're right and someone does need to stop them, that someone does not need to be you—ugh! This harness!" She kicked her back legs uselessly along the rocky ground. "It is impossibly heavy!"

Rarity's horn began to glow, and Spike realized she was trying to alleviate the weight of the harness with her magic. Then…

"Ow!" Rarity gasped. Her horn went bright, and then went out completely.

"Rarity!" Spike exclaimed, reaching for her. He tried to tug at the harness, but had no idea how to help remove it. "Oh, Rarity…we have to get this off you," he said.

They could argue about his abilities to fight gargoyles later. Spike hadn't realized just how much of a burden the harness was for her. He'd seen her pull huge cartloads of jewels, what was going on…?

"Better watch out. That harness is specially designed to suppress unicorn magic and energy," a gruff voice said from the cave entrance. It was Spike's green-scaled guard.

"Hey!" Spike spun. Rarity peered out from behind him towards the cave entrance. "You take it off of her, right now!"

"Under strict orders not to," the green guard replied, blowing a lazy smoke ring out over the cliff.

"Suppress my…wait, whatever you do mean?" Rarity asked. "Why only now? If you were going to block my magic, why not do it earlier?" A bead of sweat fell down the side of her face as she tried to stand once again.

"Earlier you weren't around our mutual friend here," the guard gestured back at Spike. "Can't have you using that unicorn magic to brainwash him into not doing his job."

"Brainwash him!" Rarity looked appalled. "Like that's even possible!"

"Actually…" Spike said, thinking back to Twilight and the sea serpents. "It uh…sort of is." And is sort of creepy.

"We've had a long history with unicorns," the guard said. "We know what your kind is capable of, and we don't take any chances anymore."

"Well, really!" Rarity sniffed. "You may have a long history with unicorns, but you clearly haven't a long history of respecting ladies."

"Rarity, maybe I can figure it out," Spike said quietly. Rarity looked at him, and he tried to give her a reassuring smile. Truth was, he was still a mixed basket of emotions towards her, especially regarding her views on how well he could handle himself against gargoyles, but that didn't mean he wouldn't find a way to set her free.

Spike set to work on the harness, quickly finding the padlock. The keyhole was oddly shaped, and Spike looked around, trying to see if there was some tool in his new hoard that he could use. Then, an idea struck him.

"Hey, guard!" Spike said.

"Yeah?" the green dragon replied.

"You're supposed to get me whatever I want, right? So I start growing?" Spike asked. "Wasn't that what that Rojo guy told you?"

"Yes…?" The guard raised an eyebrow slowly.

"Then I want the key to this lock!" Spike demanded.

"Hah!" the green dragon laughed. "Nice try. You can have anything else, kid. No keys." The guard turned around again, blowing another smoke ring.

Spike kicked at a rock on the cave floor, dropping the padlock. "Well, it was worth a shot," he grumbled.

"A valiant effort, dear," Rarity said.

They smiled at each other. Spike's anger at her faded for a moment. Honestly, as horrified as he was that she was in this situation at all, and as offended as he was that even Rarity doubted his ability to fight, it was good to see her. He'd missed her.

"Don't worry about me," Rarity told him, still lying on the ground because of the awful harness around her. "I'll find a way to get them to take this thing off of me. I've already made some in-roads here, after all. Though…where did Moxie go…?" Rarity looked out of the cave, her expression falling. She shook her head. "Oh well. In the meantime, maybe you could fill me in on what's been going on? However did you get here? And how did you know I was here?"

It seemed Rarity was willing to put their argument aside, so Spike would, too. He sat down next to her, and began to explain. "Well, I guess it started after we separated in the Everfree Forest. I woke up the next morning and found Sweetie Belle missing…"

Rarity found she couldn't speak right away when Spike's tale was over with. Oh, Sweetie Belle… Her eyes threatened to start watering again. At least her sister was being taken care of. She could think of nopony better suited for the task than Fluttershy. But to be so badly burnt…

Rarity looked out of the cave, over the ocean. Smoke billowed over one of the cliff edges, probably from a volcano, given the nature of the rock around them. "Thank you for updating me, Spike," Rarity quietly said. "It seems a lot has happened."

Spike nodded at her side. Rarity worked to wrap her mind around it all. Stef'an, terribly hurt. Her own sister wounded. Their friends split up. The gargoyles, readying for a major attack, and possibly growing in strength through the use of meteorites…

Her gaze fell back on the little dragon at her side.

…and Spike, trading himself to the dragons in what he thought would be an exchange for her. Trading himself so he could grow to match the age of his egg, and fight the gargoyles for his species. Couldn't he see that the dragons were just using him? That they didn't care? And that she did?

Rarity shut her eyes.

How did it all end up like this? All she'd wanted to know was if there was a feasible way for her and Spike to be together. That was all she'd written to Princess Celestia about. And now… Well, here you are. Together at long last, a sarcastic voice laughed at her inside her head. Happy?

No, she answered herself, resting her chin on her front legs, still lying on the cave floor. I am most certainly not.

"Spike," Rarity began. She hated to bring the topic up again, but she couldn't let it go. Enough horrible things had happened already. She might be trapped in a cave and her magic unusable because of some old rusting harness, but she wasn't completely powerless. She could still keep Spike from turning huge and greedy again. Spike always fell to her persuasions, given enough pressure.

Well, except for that time he decided to go on the dragon migration…but that was just one instance, and this won't be like that. Right?

"Please…I know a lot has happened, but you can't let them force you to grow unnaturally. You just can't," Rarity said. She scrunched her front hooves up towards her face, looking to appeal to Spike's weakness for her pouts. "Those awful dragons just want to use you. That's why they want you to change. You really don't have to do this!"

Spike just stared at her, stubbornly crossing his arms. "Haven't you been listening at all? I do have to do this."

Okay, so maybe this is more like the dragon migration situation than I'd realized. "No, you don't," she argued, abandoning the pout and resorting back to logical reasoning. "We can find another way to stop the gargoyles, Spike. A way that doesn't involve you putting yourself in danger!"

Spike sighed and stood up to begin pacing. "Rarity, I can actually help this time," he said. "I won't be the lame guy in the way or the baby left home at the library to let others fix things. There's actually something I can do. I can—"

"Darling, please," Rarity interrupted, reaching one hoof forward—admittedly a little desperately by that point. "Just listen to reason."

"I want to help!" Spike growled, stamping his foot.

He glared down at her and Rarity fell silent, actually shaking under his gaze. A new set of tears waited to spill from her eyes. Spikey…Wikey?

"I—that is-that I—" Spike resumed his pacing, his brow creasing in distress. "Listen, if I turn big, I can fight off a lot of gargoyles at once, and maybe help protect everypony I care about. I can't do that when I'm small. If I turn big, then maybe I can keep the gargoyles away. Don't you see?"

"But…but then what?" Rarity asked. Behind her, torches were lit at the cave entrance in preparation for nightfall. "You'll just…stay like that? Forever? Keeping the gargoyles at bay as a huge, greedy beast of a dragon?" The gems in their cell began to glimmer with reflected firelight, and Rarity noticed that Spike's eyes did as well.

Spike threw his hands in the air. "Maybe! I don't know! I haven't got that far!"

Rarity looked up at him, wishing she could stand up and have more of a position of authority, as she was accustomed to with Spike. But the harness barely allowed her to budge, and she was trapped, held against the ground. "Spike…please." Rarity realized she was begging, but couldn't stop herself. "We can't lose you like that. I can't—"

Spike looked at her sharply. "You can't?"

Oh dear. She hadn't meant to let that slip out.

Rarity's already-parched mouth felt even drier than before. She frantically tried to come up with some way to twist her own words, but they were already out there, hanging between her and Spike. His fire-reflecting eyes fixed on her with such intensity, that Rarity found it hard to breathe.

Well. If there was any chance that owning up to her feelings would keep Spike safe, then now was the time to stop hiding them.

Rarity dropped her head, unable to look him in the eye as she prepared for what she knew she had to say. Her hooves shook so bad, they almost looked blurry against the stone floor, and she really hoped Spike's guard wasn't listening in too closely.

"I can't lose you, Spike. Please," she whispered. "Not when I've only just started realizing how much you really mean to me."

Spike's mouth dangled open, gawking at the unicorn in front of him. He was as stunned as if he'd been in the danger-zone during one of Rainbow Dash's sonic rainbooms. Was she…did she…could she…? Half a million questions swirled through his brain at once.

"So…this isn't about not believing that I can fight off gargoyles?" Spike found himself asking. Ugh! He wanted to smack his head into the wall. Of all the things to ask, you go with THAT? Rarity just told you she…that she…!

"Oh, goodness no!" Rarity looked back up at him. "Spike, I saw firsthand how powerful a grown dragon you could be! I'm sure you could take on enormous numbers of gargoyles! But if you do, you might end up hurt, or you might…" She lowered her head again. "You might not be able to turn back. You might stay like…"

"Like a monster," Spike finished for her, still reeling from her earlier words. She doesn't want to lose me…

"Oh, I wouldn't say monster," Rarity pushed at some dirt on the ground, looking far more self-conscious than he could ever remember her being in all the time he'd known her. "You'd just be doing what dragons do, after all. You know, rampaging, roaring, hoarding things…that whole business. If you were a monster, that would make all dragons monsters, and that's a rather unfair label, don't you think? I mean, really?"

She was rambling. Spike was still frozen in place. Rarity was rambling.

"Anyhow, the point I'm trying to make is that I don't know how we'd ever get you…back. I don't know what did it last time…"

"You did," Spike said. Had she really never known that?

"Oh." She locked eyes with him for a moment, and judging by how wide hers were, Spike realized she really hadn't known it was because of her that he went back to his normal size after his Ponyville rampage. He wondered, as their eyes didn't move from one another's, if her heart was beating as quickly as his.

Rarity cares about me. She…she needs me. She's nervous around me. Have I fallen into some alternate universe where everything is the opposite of what it normally is? What's happening?

"So…" Rarity said carefully, still looking into his eyes. "If you were to grow again, and I was there to ask you to return to your normal self, would you be able to do so?"

Spike's heart squeezed in his chest. Yes, he wanted to say. Yes, yes, in an instant, Rarity, I love you. "I don't know," he found himself saying instead. "See…that big, scary version of me technically still is me. Maybe it's time I embraced that."

Stupid, stupid, stupid, he berated himself, finally tearing his eyes away from the unicorn. Of all times to obsess over personal identity…

Rarity opened her mouth to object, but then shut it again. Eventually, she nodded. "I…I suppose I can respect that. It is your body and your mind, after all. Who am I to tell you what to do with it?"

Who are you? You're my everything.

"You should be whomever you chose to be, Spike," Rarity conceded, her voice just above that of a whisper.

Spike felt everything inside him twist like a pile of yarn Opal had gotten into. Make that thorn-covered yarn. Make that exploding thorn-covered yarn.

He couldn't take it anymore. It was just too much. Knowing that Rarity not only cared, but accepted him for whichever choice he made about himself...knowing that there was only one way to keep her safe and that was to turn into a creature that might not even remember Rarity, much less love her as he did…

The tears spilled out from his eyes, as if he had no more room in his skull for anything else now that it'd been overwhelmed with so many thoughts and feelings. "Rarity…"

He threw his arms around her neck, holding her tight. His forehead bumped up against the rusting harness she wore, and the reminder of her imprisonment just made him sob harder.

Rarity felt numb, and yet was intensely aware of the dragon clinging to her like some sort of scaly winter scarf. She put a hoof to Spike's back, wishing once more that she could stand upright rather than lying awkwardly on the floor.

"It's alright, Spike," she managed to say. "It'll be alright. You…you do what you need to do, and I'll be here for you, darling." She swallowed down her real emotion, caressing the dragon's back, and leaning her head against his little shoulder.

Spike shook, tremors moving through him from the tip of his head, through his toes. Rarity had hoped to calm him down, but the emotional floodgates were open. The poor dear was terrified and unsure, that much was obvious. And her confession of feelings probably hadn't helped to stem his confusion.

Way to go, Rarity, she chided herself. Trying to help him by convincing him to stay small just because you told him to. Manipulating him by revealing your feelings at what was probably the worst possible time… Rarity's heart ached, and so did her face as she struggled to keep her tears back. What were you thinking?

Rarity wished she could go find a hole somewhere to curl up in and hide so she wouldn't accidentally hurt him more. But she couldn't pull herself away from him, because when it came down to it, all she actually wanted to do was hold him close and cry in return.

The thought of Spike choosing to grow and remain huge had shot an icy shard of panic straight into her heart. Last time he'd been that way, he'd been so unruly that he'd practically forgotten all his friends, and lost all respect for their emotions and belongings. He couldn't really want that again, could he?

Though…it is only natural to want to accept oneself for who one is. Maybe this really is something Spike needs to do. And maybe I need to stand aside and let him make his own choices.

She shuddered. But if he turns into what he's hoping to turn into, the dragons might abuse him as an ally. He might end up seriously hurt, or worse…

Rarity blinked, practically begging her eyes to stop tearing up already. Hadn't she cried enough today? Spike, I promise, I'll stay by your side. You can do whatever you think is best, but I'm going to be with you to make sure you're safe. Why, if anything happened to you…I…I…!

The horrible thought crumbled what was left of Rarity's fragile emotions. "Oh, Spike." Rarity choked out a sob of her own and finally gave in to her tears. She clung to him tighter, and the two of them shook together.

Rarity wasn't sure for how long they held each other, but it was well into the night when the crying stopped and the last of their tears dried up.

Back out at the cave's entrance, the guard had changed, but sadly Moxie wasn't the replacement. The dark sky told her they'd long missed sunset, and eventually Rarity had no choice but to shift her legs a bit underneath her to avoid cramping. The harness creaked as she did so and Spike awkwardly pulled back, giving her room to move.

The removal of Spike's body from her side was like a cold splash of water. The night air moved into the gap between them, making her shiver. And for some reason, it was then that Rarity became fully self-conscious of what she'd revealed to Spike earlier.

The little dragon stood near her, rubbing his arms, and she desperately wanted to go back to holding him. But the idea of asking to do so made her so horrifically tongue-tied that Rarity wasn't sure she'd ever be able to speak again.

Goodness, asking would only remind him about what I said about…about…well, about not wanting to lose him! Rarity's heart raced. There'd be no getting around it anymore. It'd be confirmed. Oh dear. Oh dear, dear, dear. How did I ever let that get out? How do I face him now? I told him I…

She could feel her face flushing, and she turned away from the dragon to look out at the moonlight.

"Rarity?" Spike asked.

"Yes?" Rarity replied. She didn't trust herself to say anything else.

"No matter what happens with me, I'm going to make sure you'll be okay," he said. "I'll make sure you're safe."

She glanced back at him. He stood in a moonbeam, determination coloring his face. His eyes were out on the horizon, watching the shooting stars.

"I know, Spike," she replied quietly. And she really did, she realized. It was a truth she'd come to accept over the years without ever fully recognizing she'd learned it: Spike would keep her safe, and she would keep him safe. That was just how things were.

Watching Spike in that moment, Rarity finally made peace between her mind and her heart. Spike was the dearest, noblest soul she'd ever met. He cared deeply for her. More than she deserved, based on how she generally treated him. Moxie's words from the night before floated through her head.

"I don't see a problem."

And neither do I, when I really think about it. Rarity felt a small hint of a smile come on. Why shouldn't we be together? He cares for me, I care for him…what's stopping us?

Outside, not even a cricket chirped, and Rarity's question was answered.

Nothing was stopping them.

Rarity took a deep breath, taking in the cool air and blinking a few times, feeling oddly content for being in their current predicament. It was a refreshing change of emotion.

"Spike?" she asked. It was time to be open. It was time to give Spike what he deserved. "I'm afraid this harness won't let me move very far. Perhaps you could come closer again? It's going to get chilly tonight."

Spike's moonlit expression went from bold and determined to flabbergasted and panicked in under a second, and the poor dear fell backwards in shock. Rarity giggled as he flailed, trying to stay upright and only just managing to do so because his own tail caught him.

"Oh, Spike," she said, shaking her head. "Relax. I'd just like to, ah…" Rarity felt her blush returning. She should've known she wouldn't be able to keep up the air of non-embarrassment for long. "I just think it'd be nice if we…well, if you really do grow into a giant dragon soon, then this might be our only chance to…that is…" Oh goodness, Rarity, stop stammering, you're making this out to sound like a far more indecent proposal than it actually is! "That is to say, could we maybe go back to holding each other again? At least for the night? I…rather liked that."

"Yeah," Spike said, nodding dumbly. "Yeah, of course." He took a few steps back towards her, and tentatively put an arm around her neck again.

"You are simply adorable when flustered, you know that, dear?" Rarity asked, wrapping her hoof around him.

"Me? Flustered? Puh, I've never been better," Spike boasted, giving her a small grin. "You, however, are sounding more than a little flustered."

"Moi?" Rarity scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous," she said. But she couldn't stop a sigh of contentment from escaping her as he settled down next to her, leaning into her side. This was right. This felt right.

"It will be nice to have tonight at least, I guess," Spike said, his tone changing to something far more grim. "Tomorrow, I need to try to grow again."

Rarity swallowed, then nodded. Shutting her eyes, she rested her head against his. "And if that's your decision, then I'll help you." She hated the words coming out of her mouth, but she knew they were true. She really would help Spike do anything he decided he needed to do.

Spike chucked a ruby across the cave, snorting out puffs of smoke.

It wasn't working. Why wasn't it working?

"Give me another gem!" Spike ordered, just as they'd decided he should. Asking politely wasn't how he'd grown the first time, after all.

Rarity, guarding "her" pile of gems, put a hoof to her forehead in mock distress. "Don't you dare take any more! These are mine!"

Spike dashed over and grabbed a gem, running back across the cave to shove it in his stack. The smallest sensation of wantneedwant coursed through him, but before he could grasp it, it was gone again. Spike sagged his head in defeat.

"No fair! You leave these gems alone, mister, they belong to me!" Rarity goaded, dramatically tossing her mane.

If Spike hadn't been so frustrated that this entire ploy wasn't working, he'd have been more amused at how much Rarity had gotten into her role. But instead, all he could feel was disappointment.

"You can stop, Rarity. I give up." Spike kicked at his gem pile, scattering several of them across the cave. He caught one and tossed it into his mouth, chewing and then swallowing. "I just don't know what else to do."

She dropped her act and frowned a little in concern. "Maybe it's not working because you aren't actually taking anything new?" Rarity suggested. With a full night's rest and a good breakfast in her, she had a bit more strength today and was actually managing to stand with her harness. She took a step towards Spike so as to gently place one hoof on his shoulder. "Maybe we need to have you demand more from the guard again?"

But they'd tried that already. The guard had brought them item after item after item, and while each tickled at Spike's greed, none managed to capture it the way he'd experienced on his birthday. And he wanted so badly to grow this time. He needed to grow. It was just…

Spike glanced at the hoof on his shoulder, then up into Rarity's eyes. He knew the problem, even if he didn't want to fully admit it. Last time he'd grown huge, he'd nearly hurt Rarity. And with her still kept here, he felt like he'd be betraying his own decree that he wouldn't grow at all as long as she was a prisoner.

That was all there was to it, really. Spike knew it, and knew he'd have to own up to it eventually. He couldn't grow with Rarity around. His feelings for her went against everything that made him greedy, and were now just compounded by the understanding that she felt something in return. Spike turned from Rarity and nodded decisively.

She needed to go.

And at that thought—the thought of sending her away from him—something in his chest growled.

Rarity's hoof flew off Spike's shoulder. "Spike!" she exclaimed. "There! You did it! You're a little taller!"

Spike froze in place.

He was taller. He'd felt it.

No. His face paled.

"You did it! You—oh," Rarity bit her lower lip. "Oh, no, you're back to being your regular size again."

Spike stumbled away from the unicorn, clutching at his chest. He'd almost let his greed focus on Rarity. He grabbed at the wall. No. He'd never allow that to happen. Never again. You have to get her away. She has to go free. For her own safety.

That was the final straw. It was time to take action.

"Guard!" Spike demanded, marching up to their cell bars. "Go get Rojo! Tell him I've figured out how to grow!"

Spike caught Rarity's inquiring eye as his guard flew away with the news. He couldn't bring himself to share his revelation with her. She looked at him, her head tilted in an innocent curiosity that reminded Spike of her little sister. But Rarity's eyes revealed a sadness that Spike had never seen in Sweetie Belle. As much as Rarity told him that he could be what he wanted to be, he knew she didn't want to see him turn into a beast again. Frankly, he didn't exactly want it either. But what choice did he have?

"Rarity…" he started. But then a surprisingly familiar feeling began to rumble in his throat, and green flame burst forth. A scroll fell to the cell floor and Spike's eyes flew open.

A letter from Princess Celestia!

"Is that what I think it is?" Rarity gasped.

"Yeah," Spike replied, just as shocked. "It must be a reply from the message Twilight had me send yesterday morning."

All thoughts of getting himself to grow and setting Rarity free were pushed aside for the moment. He picked up the scroll and walked it over to Rarity so they could read it together.

Dear Twilight,

My sister has spent the night analyzing the meteor threat, and it is unfortunately far worse than even you had feared.

By midnight tomorrow night, the largest pieces of the asteroid collision will head our way. These must be what the gargoyles are waiting for, based on your brother's assessment of their attack strategies so far. The good news is that with Pinkie Pie's help, we've managed to keep the gargoyles from acquiring much of Equestria's rocky resources. The bad news is that it has taken most of my strength to do so. I am uncertain how helpful I will be in redirecting these meteors, though I will do what I can during the day when my power is greatest.

While my sister has been working with Rainbow Dash to defend our innocent civilians, which is our number one priority, she will spend the tonight attempting to avert the incoming debris to a new course as well. With her manner of powers, I believe she will be far more effective than I. However, I worry that even she may not be powerful enough to simultaneously move the moon, defend against the gargoyles, and reroute thousands of meteors.

It is thus that I ask for your help, Twilight Sparkle. We will need your magic to assist in moving each rock away from our world, and out of the reach of the gargoyles. If they manage to absorb the largest pieces headed our way tomorrow evening, I do not wish to imagine what horror they would unleash.

My dear student, I am sorry to share this burden with you. I would not do so if I didn't know that you could rise to the occasion.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia

Spike and Rarity looked at each other when they'd finished reading. Spike's mind reeled. This was not good.

"Whatever shall we do?" Rarity asked. "How do we let Twilight know?"

At first, Spike didn't know how to answer, but then he realized there was a simple solution—one that fit into his current plan pretty much perfectly. Spike closed his eyes, and pushed the letter at Rarity. "We'll let her know, because you'll take this to her."

"I—what?" Rarity blinked, stumbling back a step and nearly losing her balance under her harness.

"You're going to leave, Rarity," Spike said. "I can't…I can't grow with you here. It's just not working. Once they understand that, they'll have to set you free."

Rarity's mouth hung open. Spike rolled the scroll back up and tucked it behind her ear, giving her one last hug. Then he wordlessly stepped away, picking up a gem and squeezing it.

It was for the best. It was all for the best.

Rarity spent several moments just staring at him. Finally, she found the words she'd been searching for. "Spike, I—"

"So what's this I hear?" a voice interrupted Rarity. The cave rattled as a couple dragons landed just outside.

She glared at whoever it was that had just arrived. Turquoise scales shimmered at the edge of their cell, and the door swung open with a clang.

"Rojo," Rarity said, not bothering to keep the malice out of her voice. Her head still smarted from where he'd hit her.

The dragon stepped into their cell, dropping to all fours to fit. "You've figured out how to grow, have you?" he asked Spike, completely ignoring Rarity to snort a puff of smoke over Spike.

Spike nodded. Other than his little purple hands shaking by his sides, he held his ground well against the brute. Rarity had to admire his nerve, even as she fumed that he'd decided on a plan of action without consulting her—a plan of action that involved sending her away! Couldn't he see that she needed to be here, with him? Admittedly, she couldn't think up another way to get Princess Celestia's message to Twilight, but it sounded like there was more behind kicking her out than just turning her into a delivery girl. An ill feeling took hold in Rarity's stomach. She did not like where this was going.

"So why haven't you grown yet?" Rojo demanded, slamming a fist into the cave wall.

Rarity ducked her head instinctively, but luckily none of the stalactites fell.

Spike gave Rarity one last sorrowful look, and her heart felt like it was tearing straight down the middle.

"Because I can't do it with Rarity here," Spike explained, turning back to Rojo. "When she's here, I care too much about others. About…her. And as long as I'm worried about her safety, I don't think I'll ever be able to give into my greed. She has to go."

"But…but Spike," Rarity gasped, unable to keep quiet any longer. He was sending her away, and somehow she had to stop that from happening. She had to! "Without me with you, how do I know that you'll be safe? How do I make sure the other dragons don't use you as some sort of awful gargoyle punching bag? If I'm gone, how do I help you?"

Spike stared at the floor. He had no answers for her, and his silence cut through her like scissors through silk. Her horrible harness began to weigh on her once more, and she found she could scarcely take a step forward towards the little dragon, no matter how badly she strained to do just that.

Rojo, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes. He finally looked over and acknowledged the unicorn. "Interesting," he mused. "Maybe that guard of hers really was onto something…"

Moxie? Rarity thought, feeling a rush of betrayal. Not only was her heart breaking, it was getting trampled on.

"So it's more than just infatuation," Rojo stated, turning back to Spike. "It's not just a romantic notion you hold in your raised-by-ponies fool-brain." He shook his head, dumbfounded. "I didn't think it was possible, but it seems that this…pony is actually your choice for a life-mate."

Spike had his chest puffed out proudly, about to respond, but then paused and raised an eyebrow. "My…what now?"

Rojo didn't clarify, and Rarity figured it was just as well. She wasn't sure she could take hearing Spike declare his lifelong devotion to her. Not when they were about to be separated for Celestia knows how long. Not forever, she pleaded internally. Not separated forever. I'll find a way, Spikey-Wikey.

"That does change things," Rojo said.

"Well, what it really means, is that you need to set her free!" Spike demanded.

Rarity felt like she was watching all this unfold from some far-removed tower. This couldn't be real. This couldn't actually be happening. She wasn't ready. She'd known Spike was set on growing to match the age of his egg, but she wasn't ready to say goodbye like this.

Rojo laughed. "Perhaps I should. Having her here hasn't helped you along, in any case. And a life-mate isn't something to be hoarded."

It all happened so fast. Rarity was pulled out of the cell by her chains in what seemed like an instant.

"Spike!" she managed to call out one last time. She tried to force her way out of her chains with a burst of her magic, but then her head felt as if it'd been filled up with sand. Perhaps it was because her heart had just exploded in a million pieces inside her. Rarity's horn flickered out, and her legs fell limp at her sides the moment she'd tried to kick.

No. No! SPIKE!

Claws gripped her, crushing the harness against her coat. Reality blurred, and the edges of her vision were lost to her. She and Spike looked at each other—he was all she could see. Rarity tried desperately to say with her eyes what she wasn't able say out loud.

Don't get yourself killed.

Don't forget who you are.

Don't forget who I am.

Don't forget how much you mean to me.

She couldn't tell if he comprehended any of her silent pleas. And then she was in the air, being flown away.

He would have to face whatever came next on his own. And she might never see the Spikey-Wikey she'd grown to care for ever again.

Spike punched straight through a pile of gems as soon as the other dragons left. Letting out a scream, he dove into another, kicking like a foal having a tantrum. Rarity… His eyes watered. At least she'd be safe now. Even if they hadn't been able to say a real goodbye.

He burst out a massive jet of flame towards the wall, wrapping his arms around himself and collapsing on the cave floor, his mouth searing. He just wanted to squeeze himself out of existence. What was he doing? Was this what he really wanted?

Spike wiped at his eyes, trying to settle down. Rarity was gone. He had gotten what he wanted, at least in that regard. She was safe. Safe, somewhere he might never see her again.

The least he could do was to do the job he originally came here for.

He let himself scan the piles of gems, working to calm his breathing. He had to do this. He was past the point of changing his mind.

It took a moment, but eventually, the twinkle of a gem got his attention. Need. Want. WANT. Unlike when Rarity was near, this time, the urge didn't disappear. The feeling remained, and with new determination, Spike grabbed.

And then, he grabbed something else.

And something else.

And with each gem he grabbed, it became easier and easier to grab another. It was as if his desperate, coursing emotions fueled his desire to keep everything close to him. If he couldn't have Rarity, he'd have every other thing he could get his claws on.

Want.

WANT.

Spike wanted things. And nopony was there to stop him from taking.

Chapter 13

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Chapter 13

By this point, Rarity could hardly consider herself surprised, really. Instead of being flown away from the dragon shoreline territory, Rarity found herself heading back towards her formal cell.

"Hey!" Rarity yelled. Her voice was back, and she was going to use it. "Excuse me, but whatever happened to setting me free?"

"Eh, we're keeping you for a little longer," the guard holding her said. "Just in case."

"Spike isn't going to like this," Rarity cautioned.

"We'll take our chances," the guard replied.

Rarity winced as the dragon shifted her in his claws, scraping the harness against her side. Of course she wasn't being set free. They were hedging their bets. She'd be more upset, save that she could see the logic in their plan.

Not that she approved of it.

Spike… She could hear his roars from here, echoing over the ocean. She knew he was changing, and she knew there was nothing she could do about it. Please be safe, Spike. Please. Rarity dropped her head and let a tear fall into the ocean below.

With it, she gaped in horror, slid the scroll from Princess Celestia.

"No!" she gasped. "Quick, catch it!"

"Catch what?" the guard asked.

The scroll hit the water. "Nevermind," Rarity whispered. She heard another roar from Spike, and her anguish squeezed her chest tighter than even the grip of the dragon carrying her.

Pull yourself together. You need to warn them about the meteors.

"Listen," she began. She couldn't reach her eyes to wipe them, so she just focused on blinking rapidly. She had to get this information across, even if she wouldn't be able to get to Twilight herself. "By midnight tomorrow night, a huge meteor storm is coming. The gargoyles are going to absorb the space rocks to gain extreme power. We have to stop that from happening. A dear friend of mine is meant to help use her unicorn magic to deflect the meteors, but she doesn't know that she's been given this task. Can you or one of your dragon friends please pass this message along to her? And please let your leaders know that this threat is coming?"

"We already know about the meteor storm," the dragon said. "It's in the prophecy."

"Prophecy?!" Rarity exclaimed.

"Yes," the dragon explained. "It's been around for centuries. The gargoyles will make a bid for power when the sky raineth stone…the ancient one will summon victory…diamond in the rough…yadda yadda yadda…something archaic like that. Have you ponies never heard it?"

"No we have not," Rarity huffed. "Did none of your kind think this would be good information to, oh, I don't know, share?"

"Guess it was need-to-know basis, then."

Rarity didn't know whether she should be angry or furious, but then they arrived back at her original cell and she realized she didn't have time for either. Several cliff birds flew away in a flutter as the dragon landed.

This was her one chance.

Mustering her strength, Rarity kicked at the dragon's side as hard as she could as soon as the guard released her from his claws, but her kick was dodged easily. The harness weighed down on her, and she nearly fell once again. One kick was clearly all she was going to get, thanks to the energy-draining properties of the rusting magical contraption.

"Oh…" she put a hoof to her head, feeling faint.

Then, Rarity was nudged through the door, and it shut behind her with an ear-ringing creak. She choked back a cry of injustice.

"Nice try," the guard said, locking the door.

"Please," Rarity begged. Her legs couldn't take it any longer and folded under her body. "At least tell my friend Twilight Sparkle that she needs to help Princess Celestia and Princess Luna deflect the meteors. Please. I got the message meant for her by mistake, and now—"

"Relax," the guard said. Another roar sounded in the distance, and he grinned. "I think we got this gargoyle thing covered."

Rarity listened as Spike's roars became louder and bolder by the moment, and she narrowed her eyes, seething.

That. Was. It.

Someway, somehow, she was getting back to Spike.

She was going to get Princess Celestia's message to Twilight.

She was going to stop this whole mess without Spike taking the brunt of the battle onto himself.

At least, she was going to do all of that as soon as she figured out how to escape this harness and her cell.

The guard checked her cell's lock one more time, and then sat down in front of it, leaning his huge dragon head against the rocky cave entrance. Rarity looked to the back of her cell… Yes!

Her boulder was still there, jammed between the bars. It wasn't pushed wide enough yet to have her fit, but it wouldn't take much magic more to get it to that point.

From the cave floor, Rarity put her full concentration into getting her horn to work again.

Come on, horn.

Sweat began to form on the side of her face.

Just a little bit of magic, please.

Rarity dug her front hooves into the floor.

Do it for Spike.

She bit her lip, shutting her eyes and grasping to pinch the last shred of magic she could feel in her, pulling it forward.

COME…ON…!

Rarity blinked her eyes open. It was dark out again. The firelight of her cell bounced her shadow along the ground in front of her, and her eyes drifted up towards the boulder and the cell bars.

They were exactly like she'd last seen them. She must have passed out from the effort.

Rarity let out a frustrated scream, kicking all four legs as she lay on the floor.

It wasn't fair. How could this be happening?

Tears stung the corners of her eyes. She was just about out of hope. With no magic, no strength, and no way to get to Spike, Rarity couldn't see a way that any of this would end well at all.

There was nothing left she could do.

"Rarity, you awake now?" a voice called from the cave entrance.

Rarity's head sprung up. "Moxie?!"

"Shh, keep it down," Moxie said, easing her way into the cave.

Rarity's heart swelled at the familiar red form. "Moxie, they let you be my guard again!" Rarity exclaimed, but then Rojo's words crashed back into her, and she recoiled away from the dragon. "But how could you tell Rojo my feelings for Spike? How could you betray me like that?"

Moxie hung her head. "I'm sorry about that," she said. Her big dragon eyes had large circles underneath them, and her scales, instead of their usual polished appearance, were covered in dust. "I'd meant for him to see that you were not suitable for Spike to hoard because of the nature of your feelings towards one another. I thought if he understood that you two wished to be life-mates, he would reconsider his capture of you and set you free."

Rarity gave Moxie the stare-down. "Whoever said I wished to be Spike's life-mate?" she asked. "That's being a little presumptuous, is it not?"

"You don't wish to be Spike's life-mate?" Moxie stared back at her. "Really?"

Rarity's mouth went dry. "Well…that's entirely beside the point right now!" She frowned. "You told Rojo about how I felt, how Spike felt, and now look at us! He's been turned into a huge beast, and I'm still trapped here!"

"Not for long," Moxie said. She jangled a set of keys.

Rarity's jaw dropped open. "Moxie…"

"We have to move fast," Moxie said, working to unlock the door. "I'd wait until you finished moving that big boulder through the bars, but we don't have time." She winked at Rarity and Rarity continued to gape at her.

"How long have you known I'd been—"

"Since the moment you started that little project, dear," Moxie grinned. "Now hurry. Your guard thinks I'm just relieving him so he can have a snack break. He could be back at any time."

Rarity forced herself up and stumbled forward, wincing at each tweak in her back from the harness. As soon as she was within Moxie's grip, the dragon pulled her out of the cell, shoved a key into the rusting padlock, and yanked the harness off of Rarity.

The effect was instantaneous. A shudder of power shimmered straight through Rarity, and her eyes glistened with renewed strength. She trotted in several quick circles, leaping into the air more than once, as if channeling Pinkie Pie.

"Oh my, you have no idea how good it feels to get that thing off!" Rarity exclaimed. She used her magic to levitate several rocks around her, spinning them in the air like a little rock ballet. She looked at Moxie. "But I still don't understand why you're doing this. Not that I don't appreciate it."

Moxie looked at her gravely. "Because it isn't right what they're doing to you and your life-mate. He's…well, he's heading to battle as we speak. They told him you'd been captured by gargoyles after they'd set you free. I've never seen a dragon so angry in all my life. Or so gigantic, for that matter. He really is a spectacle to behold."

Rarity's hooves went cold and she dropped the rocks she'd been levitating. "They told him what?" she gasped. "Oh, I'll get that Rojo, if it's the last thing I do!"

"Revenge, later; stopping your life-mate from being turned into gargoyle-jelly, now," Moxie said, flying up into the air and offering one giant foot towards her. "You coming?"

"You bet I am!" Rarity seethed. This time when claws closed in around her, Rarity welcomed their presence. Spike turning huge and being used against the gargoyles like some sort of weapon was one thing, but being used because of the false belief that she was in danger took it to an entirely new level of ruthlessness.

The dragons didn't care about Spike. That much was obvious. He was just a tool to them. A means to an end. And she feared they wouldn't hesitate to use that tool until it was completely worn down.

They took off flying into the night, and Rarity looked back at the cliffside. A ways up, she could see where Spike's cell once had been. All that was left of it was a dark, gaping hole where the cave had been. It was like an explosion had occurred.

"Did he really do that?" Rarity whispered.

Moxie, with her exceptional hearing, nodded. "Yeah. Told you. He's huge."

Rarity grimaced as they flew past the destruction, on towards the mainland. The ruined cliffside gave her some pause. As angry as she was about his forced situation, maybe Spike wasn't going to need her help as much as she'd thought. It wasn't like Spike was heading into battle completely helpless...

The more she thought about it, the more her responsibility to pass on Princess Celestia's message preyed on her mind. She had less than twenty-four hours to inform Twilight of the princess's plan. Was going after Spike really the priority right now? Her gut told her yes, but some part of her had to acknowledge how much easier fighting gargoyles would be for Spike if Twilight stopped their access to the meteors.

Rarity's internal debate was then interrupted. Over the cliffs and farther inland, she finally saw the first signs of battle. And she couldn't help but gasp in horror.

Past the volcanoes lining the shore, gargoyles and dragons clashed. From this view, they were no bigger than flies, but Rarity knew that up close, the battle must verge on sickening to watch. In the dark of the night, it was only the illuminating effects of dragon breath that allowed her to see any of the fighting at all. But there was no shortage of that light source. There wasn't a moment that'd pass without a fire blast from at least one dragon, and gargoyles flung rocks just as rapidly. The huge beasts crashed into each other time and time again. As she watched, one of the flying reptiles tumbled out of the sky, crashing into the ground with a puff of smoke.

Rarity swallowed. Somewhere amongst all of that, Spike fought for her. She could feel her heart practically explode inside her chest.

"Moxie…" she croaked. It was decision time. "Moxie, I think we have to go back. We need to find the sea serpents. I need to pass on a very important message to my friend Twilight, and last I heard she was with them."

"But what about your life-mate?" Moxie asked, flapping twice and leaning upright to slow them down. "Don't you need to get to him?"

"You yourself said how gigantic he's grown. He'll be alright for a little while longer," Rarity said. I hope. Then she realized she'd replied without argument about Spike's relation to her, and blushed a little. Oh, pish-posh. It's just that there's no time right now to nitpick about such things.

"Well, if that's what needs to be done," Moxie said, turning in mid-air.

"Thank you," Rarity said. It is what needs to be done, right? The decision left her feeling terribly uncomfortable. But it was made. They began flying back towards the ocean…

…And then, the gargoyle struck.

With a horrid screech, the beast smashed into Moxie, nearly knocking her out of the sky. Rarity screamed, coming loose in the dragon's grip, before Moxie tightened her claws once more and answered the attack with a ferocious fire blast.

The gargoyle fled in the direction of the coast, Moxie in fiery pursuit.

"Get it!" Rarity shouted, fury coursing through her. That sneak! How dare he? "Show that despicable creature who's boss!"

Bolstered by Rarity's rallying cry, Moxie flew even faster. The gargoyle continued to retreat, turning south once it reached the water. Moxie shot one last blaze of flame after it and then snorted.

"Pathetic," Moxie said.

But when the smoke from her snort cleared, Rarity spied where the gargoyle had disappeared off to.

Down the coastline, a different battle raged than the one they'd seen inland. Instead of gargoyles versus dragons, it was gargoyles versus sea serpents. And if she squinted, Rarity was almost positive she could see Applejack lassoing one of the skinny reptiles onto the beach.

Applejack?! "Moxie, there!" Rarity pointed with one hoof.

"I see it," Moxie said. "Looks like we've found your sea serpents."

The dragon took in a huge breath of air, then flattened her wings in a spiraling dive towards the battle. Rarity squealed at the unexpected speed, but she soon discovered its purpose. As they flew down the beach, gargoyles began turning to attack the incoming dragon. But with the speed she'd built and the spiral maneuvering, Moxie dodged each of them—though some were a closer call than others.

Rarity bit at her lower lip, her face pulled taut as she tried not to shriek in terror. Held in Moxie's claws, she could do nothing to help as they flew into the worst of the fighting. A huge boulder nearly slammed into Moxie's side, and Rarity had to recoil in her claws to avoid getting hit. Rocks sailed back and forth, littering the sky and occasionally even smashing into each other.

Then, there was the water. This wasn't like any little splash fight Rarity's sister and her friends might partake in—no, this was water gushing with enough force to bruise, to tear, to destroy.

Moxie must've realized that, because she very quickly landed in the sand before getting too close to the sea serpents' blasts, dropping Rarity to the ground. She shut her giant dragon eyes—sand pierced the air around them—and Rarity had to cover her own eyes, too. The gargoyles were clearly using what the beach offered them in their attacks. Moxie threw out a wing to shield Rarity, and then a massive wave washed over them, drenching the sand particles straight out of the sky.

"NOW!" Rarity heard some serpent yell.

Moxie kept her wing over Rarity, but Rarity could hear the whoosh of water. The first wave must've just been a precursor. This one was the real deal.

Through the silhouetted images Moxie's thin wings provided, Rarity watched the gargoyles get blasted away in one absolutely gigantic rush of water, like a wall rising straight through the air. Moxie shuddered as the water crashed back down over them, but luckily the worst of it landed on the sea behind them. When the dragon finally pulled her wing back, the gargoyles were all flying away.

"We got 'em on the run! Come on!" Rarity heard a familiar voice yell. She turned, her mouth dropping open.

In the darkness of the late, late night, Applejack raced up the seashore. She led a charge of serpents behind her, swimming just off the shoreline and shooting gushes of water at the retreating gargoyles.

"Woooeee! That's a sight ah'll never get tired of—wimpy gargoyle backsides! They're runnin' with their tails between their legs!" Applejack cheered.

Rarity's jaw refused to reattach to her face. The sea serpents cheered with the Earth pony, and Moxie gave Rarity a nudge forward.

"Isn't that the friend you need to find? Go to her," Moxie said.

Rarity's hooves sank in the wet sand, still processing what she was watching. Just down the beach, Applejack leapt into the air, giving a head-butt to each sea serpent in turn. The sea serpents ran their fingers through their flowing hair after knocking craniums with the pony. They looked even more egotistical than they'd been back at the council she and Sweetie Belle had been at.

"That's not Twilight," Rarity finally managed to say. "That's my friend, Applejack. But she may know where Twilight is."

One of the sea serpents looked up the beach towards them, finally noticing the uninvited duo. "Hey, what's a dragon doing here?" the serpent asked.

"It's with the Generous One!" another exclaimed, throwing his skinny hands to his face.

Applejack spun, and it was her turn to have her jaw drop. "Rarity!"

Rarity let out an emotional laugh. Applejack raced towards her, kicking up wet sand as she ran. Rarity began to run as well. The two friends reunited, embracing and clinging to each other tight. Applejack's hat fell to the ground behind her as she and Rarity held onto one another, not letting go.

"Ah was beginnin' to worry we'd never see you again!" Applejack exclaimed.

"And I was afraid of never seeing any of you again!" Rarity cried. It felt unbelievably good to see one of her dearest friends once more. Rarity knew there were tears in her eyes, but did nothing to stop them.

They hugged for another moment, and then finally released one another. "So they let you go? When Spike traded himself in for yeh?" Applejack asked, picking up her hat.

Rarity looked up at Moxie, who had joined her by her side. "Not exactly, but that's besides the point right now." She turned back to Applejack. They could catch up later—she had a message to deliver. "Do you know where Twilight is?"

Applejack gestured inland. "Somewhere at that dragon battle. She'd gone after Spike when she saw him with the other dragons, flying into the thick of things."

Rarity blinked. "Flying?"

Applejack nodded. "Who knew, right? And Rarity… Ah've never seen Spike like this before. He's much larger than from his Ponyville stampede. Ah don't know how he did it, but he was easily twice again as big as any of the other dragons."

Rarity's insides crumpled. "He thinks the gargoyles kidnapped me," she explained.

Applejack's eyes widened in understanding. "That might do it."

"I have to get to him, but first I have to find Twilight." Rarity sighed. "Moxie, I'm sorry, I guess we should've gone straight to the battle. My friend must be there, after all."

Moxie scratched one arm awkwardly, and didn't reply. Rarity felt like a huge mooch for asking for another ride back, but she didn't see another way around it. She opened her mouth to pose the awkward question, but then paused.

Nearly a dozen sea serpents had leaned in from the water, staring at her in a sweeping semi-circle configuration.

"Can I help you?" Rarity asked, looking into their giant, mustachioed faces.

A green one nodded. "We were just wondering what the Generous One was doing with the likes of her." The serpent gestured at Moxie.

Rarity bristled. "What I'm doing with—well, really! Moxie is a dear, dear friend!"

The sea serpents all looked at each other, with varying expressions of disbelief.

"Really? That brutish dolt?" the green one asked.

"Hey now," Applejack said. "Let's all stay civil here, okay?"

"Easy enough for us." Another of the serpents snickered. "Better get rid of that prehistoric beast if you're looking for civil, though."

Rarity's eyes hardened. "Wouldn't your time be better spent rallying to prepare for your next battle, rather than insulting my companion?" she asked the serpents through gritted teeth.

"What next battle? We chased off the gargoyles already. The ocean is safe," a sea serpent answered, smoothing its flowing black hair.

"But…" Rarity's eyebrows knit together. "The war isn't won yet. You have to swim upriver, and go inland to help the dragons!"

At that, the sea serpents all broke out in laughter.

Applejack took her hat off, appalled. "Well of course that's what we need to do!"

They just laughed harder.

"Come on, troops! We can't just leave them without any help!" Applejack said.

But the sea serpents brushed off each of her attempts to listen to reason, laughing and cracking jokes amongst themselves. As the dragon insults piled higher, Moxie took more and more steps away from the beach.

It was official. Rarity's patience had run out.

She narrowed her eyes. Screw diplomacy. "Oh, that is it!" she exclaimed, stomping a hoof in the sand. "You lot listen here! There is a war going on! Creatures of all sizes and all backgrounds are dying as we speak! You think you'll be safe just because you chased a few gargoyles away from the ocean? That the gargoyles won't finish their battle with the dragons and come back for you? And here I thought I was dealing with a noble race of beautiful, majestic serpents. But you're nothing more than a squabbling herd of snobbish sea snakes!"

The sea serpents had fallen silent by that point, all staring wide-eyed at the unicorn. Their eyes glistened in the last of the moonlight.

"Well, your pettiness will be your undoing!" Rarity continued. "Either you step up and do the honorable and decent thing, or you can forget ponies ever having an ounce of respect for you or your hair ever again!"

There were several gasps from the dark water. The swimming sea serpents each threw arms around one another at the very suggestion. Waves lapped up at Rarity's feet as the tide moved in, but she held her ground. Applejack's eyes grew positively enormous, and she gawked at Rarity like she was seeing her for the first time.

"Is that what you really think?" a voice asked from amongst the serpents.

Rarity tilted her head up, doing her best to look down her nose at the gigantic creatures. "Yes. That is what I think."

Queen Ili'ana swam forward from the gaggle of serpents. They parted as she neared the end of the surf. Rarity held back the urge to bow. The queen didn't deserve one right now. Rarity was just so sick of all this fighting, all this division…couldn't the sea serpents and dragons see what they had in common? Couldn't they unite against a common enemy? Was that really impossible for them?

The sea serpent queen regarded Rarity for a moment. Then, she nodded.

Rarity blinked.

"You have a point, Generous One," Queen Ili'ana said. "We are acting cowardly. Perhaps it is time to set aside our differences and assist our cousins in their fight."

Next to her, Applejack let out an audible breath of relief. Rarity could hardly believe it, but Queen Ili'ana's solemn nod confirmed it. Somehow, against all odds, she'd done it. The sea serpents were going to help the dragons.

A smile broke over Rarity's face and turned to find Moxie, but the dragon wasn't anywhere nearby. Where…? It took her a moment, but she did finally locate her red scaly friend off to the edge of the beach, near the rocky cliffs.

"Then we're gonna have to regroup and think through a plan," Applejack was saying to Queen Ili'ana from Rarity's side. "Using the rivers, we won't be able to make a full frontal attack like this last time. We'll be single file ridin' up into battle."

Rarity left Applejack and the queen to hash out their plan, and instead trotted over to Moxie. The night air was slowly lifting, as a few rays of sunshine began creeping over the horizon.

"Is everything okay?" Rarity asked. "I'm so sorry they treated you like they did. They had no right to say those things."

Moxie held onto the edge of the cliffside, her claws digging into the rock. "No, they didn't. But that's not why I'm over here."

"It's not?" Rarity asked.

Moxie shook her massive head. "No. Rarity, I'm sorry. I hate to say this, but I'm afraid I can't spend any more time helping you. I have to leave."

Leave? Why? While Rarity waited for Moxie to explain further, her brain already started thinking up what she'd need to do to get to the battle without Moxie's assistance. Maybe I can catch a ride with the sea serpent army…

"I wish I could do more, but I must see to my own life-mate," Moxie continued. "He was wounded in battle yesterday, and is at the healing grounds. They have such a large number of injured at the moment, he might get overlooked, and I need to make sure his hurt wings are properly covered by the volcanic soil."

Rarity tore her mind away from planning and looked up at her friend. "Oh, Moxie! That's awful news! I'm so sorry to hear that. What happened?"

Moxie actually began to tremble with emotion. The rock she clung to had several pebbles slide off of it to the ground. "He was defending the nesting grounds. Protecting our egg from a gargoyle raid. And they swarmed him."

"Oh my." Rarity put a hoof to her mouth.

"And to think I ever doubted him," Moxie continued, hanging her head.

"No," Rarity said, stepping forward. "You can't think like that, darling. What's important is that you'll be there for him now." And to think, she'd come to rescue me when her love was in such condition!

Moxie extended her wings, flapping them once. "You're right. Again. Who knew I'd ever be getting advice from a pony like this? I'm glad I got you out of that cell. You're a true friend."

Rarity smiled, in spite of the general situation. "You're the true friend, Moxie. Go be with your life-mate. And tell him he's incredibly lucky to have you in his life. I certainly know I am."

Moxie smiled down at Rarity. "Thank you. Best of luck."

"You, too," Rarity said.

Then, Moxie shoved off the cliffside and flew back out over the water, into the rising sun.

Traveling by river wasn't nearly as slow as Rarity had feared it would be. She'd forgotten the intense speed at which sea serpents could travel when they needed to.

She and Applejack sat on the back of Queen Ili'ana herself, on a makeshift raft made from a few beach logs. Sun beat down on them for most the morning, but the clouds had begun to roll in part-way through the day. During their travel, Rarity filled Applejack in on her imprisonment, and Applejack explained what she'd been up to ever since Spike turned himself in.

By noon, the air around them became noticeably warmer, and Rarity knew they must be close to the battlegrounds. It wasn't just the volcanic environment giving off heat, though. With every moment they moved upriver, they drew closer to the fire-breathing dragons in the distance. Just like the night before, the battle raged on in the sky, with rocks and fire blasts shooting back and forth. But this time, they were close enough for Rarity to begin making out some of the more horrific gritty details.

The entire sea serpent army was headed straight into the thick of things. That was the plan. The sea serpents would need the river as a water source, and it unfortunately ran straight through the battle. Rarity felt momentarily guilty, as they moved past a few stray bodies of charred gargoyles. If any serpents were harmed, she knew she'd be partially responsible. She was the one who talked them into this, after all.

"Hey!" a dragon shouted from the sky, at the battle's edge. Beyond him, Rarity could now tell that the majority of the flying creatures filling the sky were gargoyles. They were like flies, and the dragons were clearly extremely outnumbered. "What are you—" He flew down, gawking. "You!"

"You!" Rarity gasped, staring at the yellow dragon, recognition setting in.

"Hello, Nef," Queen Ili'ana paused her swimming to acknowledge the dragon. "We've come to lend a hand."

"How did you—?" he began, still staring at Rarity. Then he shook his head. "Nevermind. What did you say about helping?" he asked the queen.

Rarity was worried he was going to launch into some tirade about how the dragons didn't need help, but he seemed genuinely interested, which alarmed her greatly. The dragons must not be doing as well as they'd thought they would. What that meant about Spike, she just didn't know, and wasn't sure she wanted to.

"Rarity," Applejack whispered, tugging at Rarity's shoulder. "Um, don't look now, but…"

Rarity turned in the direction Applejack was staring, and her heart leapt into her throat.

In the middle of the raging battle, soaring through the sky was the most enormous dragon she'd ever seen. He twisted left and right, breathing green flames from a mouth that could easily swallow a house, and beating gargoyles out of the air with huge swipes of his claws. Atop the purple creature, a unicorn conjured a bubble shield to guard them from the rocks the gargoyles chucked their way.

The swarm of skinny reptiles had Spike and Twilight surrounded. The more of them Spike swatted and charred, the more flocked to lend assistance to their fellow scaly warriors. Twilight's bubble shield kept the worst of the attacks at bay, though, and Rarity felt a rush of gratitude for her talented friend. Twilight was keeping Spike safe. Maybe things would be okay, after all.

But no sooner had the thought crossed Rarity's mind, a boulder smashed through Twilight's shield from behind, sending her sailing off Spike's back to the ground below.

Rarity's heart dropped back down to her stomach. "NO!"

She and Applejack simultaneously leapt from Queen Ili'ana's back to the river's bank and raced across the volcanic fields. Rarity desperately wished her levitation magic was more powerful, as she cast a spell to try and at least somewhat slow Twilight's fall. Even with the spell, though, the unicorn continued to plummet. Twilight's fall might be slowed, but she was still headed for the ground. Rarity couldn't move her hooves fast enough.

But Applejack could. The Earth pony gave one final leap, catching Twilight in the nick of time. Rarity ended her slowing spell, allowing her full energy to go back into running to catch up.

Above them, with Twilight's shield spell gone, the gargoyle swarm intensified. Rock after rock after rock slammed into the ground around them. Rarity shoved Twilight onto Applejack's back, and they ran for their lives. Behind them, Rarity could hear Spike roaring in pain, as most of the gargoyle swarm took him on. She choked back a sob, and helped Applejack get under an outcrop of stone.

"Twah'!" Applejack said. "Say somethin', Twah'!"

"Darling, please!" Rarity said, kneeling by her friend's side, and trying to keep her attention focused on the unicorn rather than the dragon screeching behind her. "Do wake up!"

Twilight groaned, and Rarity cried out in relief. She was alive.

"Spike…?" Twilight said.

"Twah'!" Applejack gasped.

"Where's Spike?" Twilight blinked her eyes open. Her pupils didn't look quite right, and Rarity feared her friend may be suffering from a concussion.

"He's…" Rarity looked back over her shoulder, and immediately wished she hadn't.

The gargoyles had united against him, clinging to him and weighing him down. With a roar of rage, Spike crashed into the ground, sliding up against a cliff. Dust billowed out around him.

"No!" Rarity gasped. The ground shook beneath her hooves from the impact, and she struggled to stay standing.

"Spike!" Twilight shouted. She must've seen it, too.

"Settle down!" Applejack instructed. But Twilight did the opposite, and stood up. "You can't move too much! Yer hurt!"

Ignoring her, Twilight began to stumble forward. Applejack tried to forcibly hold her back, but Twilight was a stronger pony than she let on.

"Rarity, get to Spike!" Applejack said. "Ah'll take care of Twah'light!"

Rarity looked back at the struggling pair. "But what about—?" she started, but as she noticed Twilight's horn fizzling with purple sparks, Rarity realized her friend was in no state to hear about Celestia's message. Or to do anything about it, for that matter.

And somepony had to get to Spike before the gargoyles killed him.

She tore herself away from the two friends she'd only just reunited with, and ran across the rocky field to where Spike was pinned down. The boulders piled around him faster than Rarity could keep track. He continued to breathe fire, and the gargoyles had to maintain a certain distance to chuck their rocks. Rarity stumbled over her hooves, trying to get by his side before he was buried alive.

"STOP!" she screamed up at the beasts, tears streaming from her eyes. The gargoyles above didn't even glance down at her. "PLEASE! STOP! You're hurting him!"

The pile of rocks trapping Spike against the cliff just continued to grow. His wings were completely immobilized, but his arms and legs did a decent job kicking through the pile to keep it from completely burying him. Though, as a side effect of each shove he gave, a new rock would come crashing down the pile towards Rarity. She weaved in and out of the tumbling rocks, trying desperately to get to him. She had one plan, and one plan only:

Change Spike back.

A huge boulder collided with the poor dragon's head, and he sent a particularly giant fire blast at the gargoyle who'd landed the hit. As long as Spike was the biggest dragon on the scene, Rarity knew he'd be the gargoyles' primary target. They'd go after him until he was dead.

Her hooves beat against the ground. What was it that Spike had said? I'd turned him back before? Maybe once he sees that I haven't been kidnapped…

"Spike!" she shouted, trying to get his attention from the base of the pile of rocks. Another rock crashed down, and she had to jump to one side. "Spike, it's me!"

But Spike continued to scorch gargoyles, and the gargoyles continued to slam rocks into his massive body. She might as well be an ant in the dirt for all he'd notice.

The pile had reached his shoulders, and Rarity set her jaw. Darting forward, she began to climb. One hoof over the other, she pulled herself up the pile, sweat pouring down her face. Above her, there was a nearly steady stream of green flame firing. Rarity's lungs screamed in protest the higher she got. Between the exertion and the smoke, she wasn't certain she'd make it to the top. But she had to try. Spike needed her. She had to try.

"Spike!" Rarity blinked dust from her eyes. That wasn't her screaming… She glanced over her shoulder.

Down near the base of the pile, Rarity spied Applejack and Twilight. Applejack had a hoof around Twilight's shoulders. It seemed she couldn't keep Twilight from trying to come help, after all.

Rarity pulled herself up another level of stone. No way could Twilight make this climb. Rarity felt like passing out, and she wasn't the one with the head injury.

She pushed herself harder. Spike let out another cry, but this time, of pain. Rarity's eyes sprung new tears.

"Spike, I'm coming," she said, her hoof slipping on a stone. She narrowed her eyes and tried again.

Finally, she reached the top. She was face to face with Spike, now. But Spike's eyes were on the sky, and she had to duck as he let out another breath of fire.

"SPIKE!" she yelled, holding a hoof to block his hot breath from scalding her face. "SPIKE, PLEASE, LOOK AT ME!"

The dragon pulled his head back, nearly knocking it against the cliff at the sound of her voice. It seemed he'd finally heard her. Rarity trembled. Now she just had to hope this worked.

Spike's browridges shot up as his gigantic pupils focused on her. "Rar-Rarity?" he asked. His voice was deep, echoing…but definitely his.

"Yes, it's me!" Rarity cried out. "I'm okay, Spike!"

"You're…you're…"

A chunk of the cliff itself fell towards them, and Rarity shrieked. Spike pushed forward, freeing his arms to shield Rarity. The cliff piece shattered over his skull, crumbling around them in a cloud of dust and debris. Rarity could just see the gargoyles above, working to lodge another piece free.

Spike screamed in rage, belting out blast after blast of fire at the hundreds of gargoyles swarming overhead.

"No, Spike!" Rarity shouted. "You have to stop! Or they'll keep attacking until you're dead!"

He didn't seem to hear her anymore. Fury had taken over once again.

Rarity let out a terrified sob. Somehow, she had to stop him. She had to change him. She had to save him.

And so she did the only thing she could think of.

Pushing her tangled, dust-filled mane to one side, Rarity stepped forward and reared up on her hind legs atop the pile of boulders. She put a hoof to either side of Spike's mouth, and kissed him.

Everything was a blur. The gargoyles—enemy—the rocks—pain—Rarity—protect—and then…

His world centered once more.

A soft sensation at the end of his snout.

Peace.

It wasn't a proper kiss. Rarity couldn't stop crying the entire time, and her mouth wasn't really even on his, since he was so gigantic. Instead, she pressed up against his scales where they curved in a hooked shape under his nose. But despite all of that, Rarity poured every drop of emotion she had into it.

Come back to me, Spike. Please don't let them kill you.

Rocks continued to rain down on them, but Rarity refused to give up.

Then, Spike's scales began to vibrate, rattling Rarity's whole face. She pulled back in alarm, locking eyes with Spike for one brief moment, until…

POOF.

He changed. No more wings. No more bulk.

He was small again. And he was falling.

Rarity dove, grabbing for him before he hit the rocks. She snatched him out of the air, and they both tumbled together down the pile of stone. Gargoyles swooped around them, and Rarity wrapped her hooves over Spike's body, trying to shield him as best as she could from their continued assault. He wasn't moving, and his eyes were closed.

Spike, please! Just hold on a little longer! Rarity slammed against countless rocks as they toppled down the pile, but finally rolled onto flat ground. Her whole body trembled horrendously, and she untangled her limbs one at a time to make sure none of them were broken. Spike was still unconscious, but he was breathing.

They'd landed on the opposite side of the rock pile from Twilight and Applejack. She could just make out their forms across the way, peering at her from a distance ten times the depth of the Apple family's big red barn.

She moved to go to them, but then a gargoyle dive-bombed her, and she threw herself over Spike.

"RARITY!" Applejack yelled. Gargoyles landed on the rock pile separating them, hissing dares to try and cross. "Is he—?"

"He's alive!" Rarity shouted back.

Twilight let out a sob of relief that she could hear from all the way across the barrier of rocks and gargoyles.

Rarity flipped Spike onto her back, turning to run back to her friends. Then, a gargoyle swiped at her and she had to leap to the side. The creature's dark eyes focused on her intently, like Opal when she stalked a mouse toy.

"No, Rarity!" Twilight yelled. "You have to get him out of here!"

A swift kick and a burst of running freed her from her current attacker, but rocks continued to fall around her, and likewise around her friends. It was like a deadly dance, dodging each one.

"But—!" Rarity started.

"GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" Twilight pleaded. Next to her, Applejack kicked a gargoyle square in the chest, knocking him away from Twilight. "We'll handle the battle! You have to save him! Go!"

Spike's still form on her back steeled Rarity's nerve. She nodded once in Twilight's direction.

Then she turned and ran north, out of the battle and into the volcanic hills.

Chapter 14

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Chapter 14

She wanted to keep running, but Rarity had to step carefully. The volcanic range was active, and lava flows were becoming more and more common the farther in she trekked. Keeping her pace slow wasn't easy, though. Spike was still out cold on her back, and everything inside of her screamed at her to hurry.

She had to find some of that volcanic soil that Moxie had mentioned back when she'd talked about her wounded mate. It was the only thing Rarity could think of that might do something for Spike—if they used it at the dragon healing grounds, it had to be of some help, right?

Rarity hopped around a steaming vent in the rock, twisting to keep Spike safely on her back. If only Fluttershy was here—she'd have some real notion of how to care for Spike's injuries. Rarity grimaced. All she knew was how to fix broken seams in clothing. Completely useless in this situation. Really, pretty much any of her friends would be of more help to Spike than she was in this moment. A tear threatened to fall, and Rarity steeled her resolve. She didn't have time to think such thoughts.

"Hold on, Spike," she said, pausing to look around their surroundings. "I'll find something to help you." Rarity glanced over her shoulder for the hundredth time, making sure they hadn't been followed. "I'll keep you safe," she whispered, almost threateningly. She couldn't be sure they were alone. Just because she hadn't seen a gargoyle in over an hour, didn't mean they weren't lurking somewhere.

The sun was setting in the west over the mountains. It would just be a matter of hours before the meteor shower. Not that I can do anything about that right now. Just one more thing you've failed at, Rarity. She narrowed her eyes and continued her search for softer ground.

There.

Rarity tip-toed around another lava flow, and then reached a patch of ground that lead to a large, essentially barren field. The ground was loose here. Not rock. This had to be volcanic soil. Rarity gently sat Spike down, and began to dig.

Hang on just a little longer, Spike. This will help.

As she dug, her horn began to tingle with an oddly familiar sensation…there were gems nearby. Rarity's hoof kicked through another layer of soil to reveal a small, shimmering diamond. She bit her lower lip. Of course. Volcanic environments are the best places to look for diamonds. There must be quite a few around here. Rarity chewed her lip for a half a second, then bit it even harder. No time for such indulgences right now. She kicked the diamond aside with the dirt, and continued to dig until she had a Spike-sized indentation in the warm ground.

Rarity nudged the dragon into the depression in the soil and covered his body as best as she could, leaving his face clear. She could feel the dirt caked into her hooves, and had to hold in a shudder.

"There you go," Rarity said softly. "You'll be okay now." She wiped some of the dirt from one hoof onto a nearby rock, her eyes welling up as she did. "You have to be okay now."

A glance back only revealed that Spike's eyes remained closed.

"I'm sure this healing soil thing just takes a bit of time," Rarity said, waving her remaining dirty hoof in the air as if she was explaining the situation to somepony other than herself. "Once it takes effect, I'm certain you'll wake back up. We just need to be patient."

Spike remained motionless.

"You'll be okay," she said again. A single tear slipped down her face. "You have to be." Rarity knelt down by Spike's side, laying on the ground next to him and placing a kiss on his cheek. "Please, Spike."

Still no movement. Rarity tucked her face into her hooves and began to cry. Why won't he wake up? She'd known he'd been hurt badly, but to still be unconscious…he couldn't be…he couldn't…not that…

Rarity squeezed her eyes tight, pinching the teardrops out. It just wasn't fair. Spike didn't deserve this. What did he ever do to anypony? He's only ever shown me kindness. True, that's because he's rather enamored with me, but he didn't have to be so wonderful! Not based on how I've treated him, certainly! Oh Spike, if you come back to me, I'll give you everything you've been waiting for. I will. "I'll be yours," Rarity whispered, lifting her head to look at Spike through her tears. "Please."

She leaned in and kissed his forehead. Then both his cheeks. Then the tip of his nose.

"Spike, come back. Be okay. Wake up, and come back to me. I'm the one waiting now, Spike. Waiting for you. For us. So we can be together." Rarity's tears dampened the dragon's face, as she continued to gently kiss him. Nothing she did made any difference, though, so eventually the unicorn just set her head back down on her hooves and sighed. "Spike, it's not very gentlecolt-like of you to leave me just after I figured out that I love you."

A warm breeze drifted past from one of the volcanic vents. Rarity shut her eyes.

Really, her admission should've surprised her more. But in that moment, Rarity finally understood that the revelation was nothing new. She'd felt this way for a long time. When it came down to it, saying the words out loud was as natural as cross-stitching a design on a dress. Without the stitching, the dress would look unfinished and plain. And now that she knew how she felt about Spike, not telling him would leave her feeling just as incomplete.

She opened her eyes up, and looked westward. The sun continued to set, and the sky grew darker by the moment. Thick clouds blocked the stars, but Rarity supposed that wouldn't be enough to keep the meteors at bay. The night should've ushered in cooler temperatures, but being so close to the volcanoes, Rarity continued to sweat. She wondered if there was any water nearby. How long had it been since she'd last drank anything?

Rarity's eyes stung from the dry air. Her tears had long since evaporated, and her body shivered from dehydration. She hung her head. "Spike…" she began, "I'm sorry. I'll be back soon. I just have to check and see if there's something to drink around here, or I'm afraid I might pass out."

She settled her worry by double-checking that Spike still was breathing. Once she'd confirmed that, Rarity climbed to her hooves. She began walking a ways away, staying close to the bigger rocks, rather than exposing herself to the giant, empty, darkened field to the north. She knew over the mountains back east the ocean lapped waves up against the beach. Perhaps she could find some source of water that fed into the sea…

If she strained her hearing, Rarity could just make out the sound of a bubbling brook somewhere in the distance. However, with the lack of sunlight, it was difficult to pinpoint its direction. All she knew is that she must be getting closer, because the sound grew louder with each step. It wasn't a brook as much as a river, perhaps.

"This is the right place, isn't it?" a voice in the dark asked.

Rarity froze.

"Of course it is," another voice said. "We've been meeting here every night, you dimwit."

"Well, no one else is here yet this time!" the first voice replied.

Gargoyles. Their scratchy, high-pitched voice was unmistakable.

"More for us, then," the second responded, laughing.

The first laughed as well. "Let's get to the center. Front row seats!"

Rarity's hooves trembled in the dirt. She could hear the pair of gargoyles walk behind her, out onto the rocky, volcanic field. Somehow, they hadn't noticed her. But there was no way she could deny having noticed them. And now she had a decision to make.

Rarity willed her legs to stop shaking. This was all so much bigger than her, and yet somehow, here she was. She had the potential to eavesdrop on the plans of the gargoyles. To find out where they'd be gathering for the meteor storm, and to get that information back to the dragons and sea serpents before the showers hit. But that would require her leaving Spike alone for a while longer…not to mention requiring a great deal more courage than what the unicorn still had stored up within her.

Despair hit Rarity in full force. When could she just go back to her normal life? To her boutique? To Ponyville and all its little social problems?

She grit her teeth, steadying her breathing. Not yet. None of that yet. Or ever, potentially, if the gargoyles won. There really was only one option, here.

Rarity began to follow the gargoyles at a safe distance, out into the dark field. She swiveled her ears forward to listen to their conversation as best as she could.

"How many do you think will come tonight?"

"There's a good amount of us left. Whoever is worthy will be here."

"It's nice to be worthy."

"You're just lucky. That dragon nearly had your head back there."

"Shut up. My survival means I'm chosen!"

"Right."

"I am! That's how it works! It's prophesized! That's the plan; you know that. Full assault. Survivors get to absorb the biggest night of the space storm. It's destiny."

"I bet you're just here for sacrifice round two. We can't all survive the next phase."

"Shut up! After we get our bigger powers, I'm eating you first!"

Rarity slunk quietly, her mind racing. So they consider this night some sort of honor. Only those worthy get to absorb this evening's meteors. The battle so far has just been to weed out the weak. No wonder we've been overwhelmed. They don't have any gargoyles in reserve! They've all battled, trying to prove they're ready for tonight!

"I'm just glad we're finally getting to the good stuff. The prophecy said tonight will bring a giant one to feed us all, which sounds far better than what we've been dealing with. The past few nights have been okay, but I've barely gotten more than one or two absorptions out of them."

"Even those have helped, though. I can feel the metal in my rocks more than normal. They're heavier. They hurt me more—and the dragons I've clocked them with."

"Imagine what they'll feel like after tonight."

Rarity heard several more gargoyles land around her, and stopped walking. That was it. She'd already overstepped the boundaries of her courage. Now the odds were increasing every second that she'd be discovered by the ever-growing number of enemies in the dark, and she found she could go no further. There was nothing left in her to muster. Rarity's chest rose and fell so rapidly, she was certain she was going to hyperventilate.

Gargoyles appeared in the field by the dozens. Desperately finding the last few working nerves in her legs, Rarity began backing up, out of their way in the cover of darkness. Her horn tingled, and she had to strain to keep its glow down as panic took root. Stupid field! Stupid gems! Stupid volcano-diamonds! Now isn't the time, horn!

After several terror-filled minutes, Rarity finally—somehow—made it out of the gathering of gargoyles alive. She hugged the rocky outcrop at the field's edge, her chest still heaving in and out, possibly even faster than before.

That was too close. It was time to get out of there, now. She'd gotten her information—the gargoyles were going to throw everything they had into this night, and certainly into the attack that followed. They had no one left in reserve. She had to tell Queen Ili'ana and Rojo where they gathered. If they could somehow defeat the creatures while they were all in one place before the meteor shower, they might actually win this war. But they only had a couple hours at best to get here. Rarity had to hurry.

She turned to run, and then stopped in her tracks. In the dim light of the distant volcanoes, Rarity could see the spindly forms of gargoyles all over the rocks between her and where she'd left Spike. There were thousands of them descending the cliffs onto the field. Thousands.

She'd never get past them unnoticed.

Oh dear.

As one gargoyle drew particularly close, Rarity pulled herself under the outcrop of rock she'd sheltered by. She was trapped.

Ponyfeathers! she cursed. Now what?

Everything inside her told her to run, but what would that achieve? She'd be caught. In no scenario could she envision herself getting away using stealth, speed, or force. Rarity pressed herself further into the shadows. Somehow, she had to get out of there. Preferably without dying. Think, Rarity, think! Perhaps she should just show herself, and try to use her wits to get the gargoyles to let her go? Her eloquence had saved her before, after all. Rarity began to reason through her options along those lines.

Finding and trading some diamonds with them won't matter—they're about to get ultimate power from outer space.

Annoying them like the Diamond Dogs probably will just get me killed.

Tapping into my ties to Canterlot royalty and playing the Element of Generosity card will probably just get me killed even faster.

Flattering them would…

Hmm.

Well, there was only one way to find out. Summoning her shredded courage, Rarity stepped out from her hiding spot. It was worth a shot.

"Excuse me," she said, sidling up to the nearest gargoyle. Her tongue felt like somepony had tied a knot in it, but she pressed on. "I'm sure you're not expecting me, but I had to come and watch your big moment. I'm a bit of a gargoyle fan, you see."

The gargoyle turned to her, narrowing its eyes. "Who are you?"

Rarity laughed. She was proud of how well she'd managed to keep the nerves out of her voice so far. "Oh, my, I'm sorry! How rude of me not to introduce myself. My name is Rarity. I'm from Equestria. I know you must be thinking it's rather odd for a pony like myself to choose to associate with a race that's destroyed large portions of my homeland, but that's exactly why I find you all so fascinating!"

Several gargoyles had gathered by now, all staring at Rarity.

"Can I eat her?" one of them asked.

Rarity frowned. "Oh, please don't. At least, not yet," she added, an idea striking her. "You're welcome to set me aside, maybe some place out of the way, and save me as a snack for later. I really just want to watch you all gain power! If I can do that, then you'd be welcome to eat me afterwards."

The gargoyles considered her for a moment. They didn't seem to be the most intelligent of the reptilian races she'd encountered on her journey. Hopefully that would work to her advantage. She batted her eyelashes, keeping her expression innocent.

"You're strange," one of them said.

"You're interesting," Rarity countered.

"Can't see what it'd hurt," another gargoyle said, shrugging. "Maybe not a bad idea to keep some of these creatures around as a breeding stock for food once we've taken over."

Rarity blanched, trying to keep her eyes from betraying her feelings about that particular idea.

"If she wants a show, she'll get a show," it continued, grabbing her. "We'll get you a seat right in the middle, little pony."

This was not the plan. At all.

Rarity found herself being dragged towards the center of the field, bumping along the rocky ground. At least they haven't killed you, she thought to herself, her mind racing to revise her strategy. You can still talk your way out of this. Her tongue, however, not only felt knotted, but had gone completely dry in her mouth. Or maybe you can slip away while they're all distracted by the meteor shower.

But that thought was of little comfort. If they succeeded in absorbing the meteors, what would she have to run away to? Home? No. It'd be destroyed. The gargoyles had already wreaked havoc without the added power of the meteors. There wouldn't be anywhere to run.

Speaking of running, Rarity was rapidly running out of time to get to the dragon and sea serpent armies. At this rate, she'd never get them here to crush the gargoyles before the meteors hit. Much less find Twilight to get her to help stop the storm, if she was in any shape to do so.

And Spike was still incapacitated back near the volcanoes. Alone. Waiting for her.

Rarity fought back a whimper. Staying silent while her world crashed and burned around her—crashed and burned because of her—was next to impossible. The gargoyle dragging her tossed her to the ground, and she slid through the dirt up against a boulder.

"Have a seat," it said. "Showtime's soon."

Rarity cowered by the rock. The clouds above swirled ominously, slowly dissipating to reveal the night sky. Rarity had never been so terrified to see the stars in her entire life, including the day she witnessed Nightmare Moon take away the sun. Soon, she knew, streaks of light would burn through the air above them. Those streaks would usher in a new era of horror, in which gargoyles ruled over the world.

And there was nothing she could do about it. She was trapped, dead-center in the middle of thousands of the beasts. The minutes ticked by. It was hopeless. She could do nothing. The knowledge of that ate away at her core, flaking it apart bit by bit. Of all the ponies to be in this position…

If I had even a tenth of Twilight's magical abilities… Rarity thought to herself.

But no. She was just a regular unicorn. Nothing special. Nothing…

Her horn tingled defiantly.

Oh, stop it! she demanded internally. You're worthless right now! What do I care about the diamonds in this field? How does that remotely matter right now? Stupid horn!

Her eyes pricked with the pain of dry tears, but her horn refused to stop tingling.

Rarity wanted to punch the rock next to her. She had nothing to contribute. No way to save anyone, much less herself.

Then, the first shooting star appeared.

Rarity hung her head. This was it. She'd failed. She'd failed everyone. If only she had some way to turn the meteors around…or even just stop them somehow…anything… But what can stop a fiery, iron-rich space rock from falling through the sky? Much less thousands of them? What am I supposed to do, make a dress and throw it at the things?

A gargoyle leapt up, snagging the first meteor to hit and absorbing it through his thickened, leathery back. Shouts of protests came from the gargoyles around him, and a few tried to show him, rather violently, what they thought about him stealing the first rock. But physical blows against the creature were quickly halted after the meteor-powered gargoyle smashed the head in of the attacker closest to him.

Rarity felt her stomach churn and nearly vomited right then and there. It was a perfect demonstration of what the future held. The gargoyles were about to gain a horrible new weapon:

Iron. They would attack with iron, now. One of the strongest materials on the planet. Almost as strong as…

Rarity's eyes flew open. Her horn still tingled, and realization dawned on her.

Maybe she did have a way to stop the meteors.

"There!" a gargoyle shouted.

Rarity's eyes tracked to the sky. An absolutely massive, blazing rock streaked across the stars. There was only a moment to spare, at best. Rarity shook off her hesitations and climbed to the top of the boulder she'd been thrown against. It was a long shot, but it was all she had.

Even if it was going to get her killed.

You're dead anyway, dear. At least make your death mean something.

With that thought in mind, Rarity set her shoulders and gave in to the horn tingles. Go ahead. Find them, she willed her magic. Find every bit of diamond this field has to offer.

And so the hunt began.

One.

Two.

Three.

The gargoyles clambered over each other, trying to get into the best receiving position for the incoming space rocks.

Ten.

Twenty.

The asteroid chunk sailed through the air, getting brighter by the moment.

Three hundred.

Three thousand.

No one paid any mind to the lone pony on the rock.

Twenty thousand—and counting.

Rarity's horn glowed as bright as the meteor in the sky. Her eyes rolled in her head. As if her magic could sense that this was her end, a power coursed through her, greater than anything her unicorn body had ever felt before. Internal rivers of magic opened inside her, flooding her very being with such strength that Rarity was sure it would explode out of her pores at any moment, and that she would be lost to the universe. But she couldn't let that happen—not before she finished her task.

From the ground under their feet, diamonds began to rise up. The gargoyles, their eyes on the sky, didn't even notice. Big diamonds, small diamonds, diamond dust…every bit of the mineral Rarity could find. The field sparkled in the reflecting light of the meteor above.

And then the meteor exploded.

The sudden burst nearly knocked Rarity off her feet, but she resiliently stood her ground. Her mane fluttered around her, and her horn's glow began to radiate from her eyes, her face, her body…everything.

Go, she willed the diamonds. Go be fabulous, darlings.

The meteor surge rained down from the sky, providing millions of pieces of valuable iron for the gargoyles to absorb. But at that moment, the creatures finally realized something was going on. They began shouting, pointing at the shiny bits of floating gems overhead. The diamonds acted as a veil between them and the incoming space debris.

The gargoyles took flight, angrily shoving against each other. Rarity squeezed her eyes shut, and brought the diamonds together. The bigger pieces meshed with the smaller, and the dust united it all. Instead of a veil, it was now a shield—a shield made of the hardest substance imaginable, and stretching the entire span of the vastly enormous field.

Gargoyles crashed into the underside of it as Rarity raised the shield high up into the sky. She braced herself, and sure enough, her creation began to get pounded by burning chunks of meteor. The iron slammed into the diamond. Rarity clenched her teeth so hard she was certain she'd wear straight through them. But ending her pain wasn't a luxury she could afford, even as she controlled a truly royal quantity of unclaimed diamond. She had a job to do.

The gargoyles screamed their rage, but it was too late. The light from the explosion dimmed. The last of the busted space debris had been caught, just out of their reach.

"WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT'S HAPPENING?"

"I'M GOING TO RIP THIS BARRIER APART!"

"NOT IF I DESTROY IT FIRST!"

Rarity's entire body shook. Knowing she couldn't hold out much longer, Rarity began pinching the diamond shield up and around her catch, like fabric around one of her pony mannequins. Desperate, the gargoyles found the edges of her shield and flew up, trying to get to the rock trapped on top. But Rarity pulled the diamond sheet around the iron, knitting together a massive, protected ball.

She had only a tenuous grip left on her magic, and on her consciousness. Sound grew faint. All of reality became muffled. Rarity knew they were yelling. She knew they were angry. But their words faded away, like a distant echo through a canyon.

Have to…get it…away from them…

Using the last of her energy, Rarity flung the diamond as far over the volcanic range as she could. Her magic exploded outwards with it, sending an intense burst of light towards the east. Rarity smiled as she heard the ball of diamond and iron splash into the ocean beyond. A single drop of sweat made it to her mouth, dripping off her chin as her body convulsed violently from its magic-exodus.

She'd done it.

She'd actually done it.

And now, the gargoyles were going to kill her.

Rarity fell off her boulder. Her energy was spent. Possibly forever. Certainly for the time she had left remaining in this world.

Thousands of screams of rage sounded around her, and soon they were directed her way. The gargoyles had finally figured out what had happened.

Rarity couldn't move to lift a single hoof, much less flee. She'd saved her friends…saved Spike…she'd have to be satisfied with that. Who'd have known that, in the end, this was what her cutie mark had in mind for her?

A rush of air told her the gargoyles were diving in for the attack, and Rarity found she only had one regret—namely that she'd never told Sweetie Belle how proud she was of her.

At last, the moment had come. She could hear the clicking sound of claws a hair's breadth away from her face. And in that moment, she could almost hear Spike's voice, too.

She smiled. Not a bad sound to go out on.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Spike roared. He barreled through the gargoyles like a bunch of bowling pins, and grabbed the unconscious mare from the rocky ground.

His head was still fuzzy, but protecting Rarity brought a clarity Spike had never dreamed he'd achieve in this state. He was still weak from the gargoyle assault on him earlier in the day, and wasn't nearly as large as he was back then, but when he'd awoken to find Rarity gone and spied her in the distance doing…well, doing what she'd been doing…growing had been inevitable.

It wasn't greed. This was something else. Something deeper in his heart. And that something had been more than enough to bring about his change this time around.

Spike flew on, beating his wings faster and faster, Rarity held in his arms. Please don't be dead. Please don't be dead. Please!

Gargoyles pursued him on all sides, but he blasted them aside with green flame. A river in the distance caught his eye. He flew towards that, noticing that the water lead into the ocean. Maybe he could follow it back and find someone to take care of Rarity. Because she couldn't be dead. She just couldn't. He wouldn't let her be dead.

The river became his goal. Spike fled the barren field like it was a graveyard. It had the potential to be, if he didn't get Rarity to safety soon. That thought kept his wings flapping so fast that they burned.

Then, there was a shout.

"Perfect! Here they come! All at once, too!"

Spike looked towards the river, his pupils narrowing.

Up and down the darkened banks, sea serpents swam, sucking in water. In front of them, dragons formed a military line. This was a battle front.

"Wait! It's one of ours!" A dragon pointed.

Rojo, Spike realized with a start.

"Spike!" a different voice shouted.

Spike's eyes flew open even wider. There, on top of the back of Queen Ili'ana herself, stood Applejack and Twilight. He choked out a sob of relief.

As soon as he crossed the boundary of the river, the sea serpents let out a simultaneous blast of water. At the same time, the dragons in front of them shot flame up into the air, intersecting the intense water jets.

Spike groaned, wanting to smack each and every one of them. Of all the idiotic—the flames are all going out, for crying out loud! How is this their master plan?!

But then, he heard the cries of pain. Screeches, really. Terrible noises that no one should ever have to hear.

Trying to chase down Spike and Rarity, the pursuing gargoyles had flown straight through a barrier of superheated steam. Now they were dropping like flies. Hundreds at a time crashed to the ground, writhing. Spike spun in mid-air, gaping, horrified.

The sea serpents and dragons continued their assault from below. In perfect synchronization, they rotated their steam-blockade down like a slowly falling wall. The scalding mist bubbled the gargoyles' wings. Their leathery skin puckered and blistered, welts forming over every exposed bit of their bodies. For some, their screams ended quickly, as the mist had scalded their lungs and finished things. A few even managed to stop in time and flee in the opposite direction, in a full retreat.

The rest—the majority—weren't so lucky.

After an agonizing stretch of several minutes, the gargoyles' cries subsided and the sea serpents and dragons reigned in their attack. The silence was almost as eerie as the screaming had been. The gargoyles were gone.

They'd won.

Eventually, a subdued cheer went up and down the line of the river. No one felt too much like celebrating after what they'd all just been witness to. Spike spied Applejack and Twilight clutching each other on the sea serpent queen's back. They both had their hooves covering their ears.

Twilight.

Spike swooped down, cradling Rarity.

Upon seeing the landing dragon, Twilight's entire demeanor changed. "Spike, oh thank goodness! You're okay!" She leapt off of the sea serpent and ran up to him, using her horn to illuminate a path in the dark.

"Take it easy, there!" Applejack cautioned, running after her. "Yeh still got some restin' to do!"

Spike winced, tucking in his wings. He seemed to remember something about Twilight falling earlier…but he shook his head. No time for that now. She looked okay, and Rarity…

"Twilight!" Spike exclaimed. He thrust Rarity forward. "Please, help her!"

Applejack and Twilight both froze in their tracks as their eyes landed on the pale unicorn.

"No!" Applejack gasped. "Oh no! Rarity! What happened?!"

"She saved us all," Spike said. One huge tear slipped from his eye. "Now, you have to save her, Twilight. Please!"

Twilight stared. "That burst of light. That magic. That was…oh my." She shook her head quickly, her face stricken. "Set her down here, Spike," Twilight motioned to a flat area of the ground.

Spike did as he was told, resting Rarity's motionless body down as gently as his massive claws would allow him. As he did, his senses told him what his heart refused to see:

Rarity's body was cold to the touch.

She wasn't breathing.

Twilight's eyes shimmered with tears as she cautiously approached the unicorn on the ground. Next to her, Applejack howled in despair.

Spike looked at his oldest friend, desperation written all over his face. Twilight returned his gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "Oh, Spike. I…I'll…"

"Please," Spike whispered. Please, don't give up. Please.

Twilight's horn lit up with its purple magic as she sighed. "I'll see what I can do."

Chapter 15

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Chapter 15

The night passed. Sadly. Slowly.

Spike stood guard while Twilight hovered over Rarity. Applejack fretfully darted between their silent vigil and the clean-up of…well…

Spike couldn't watch. The dragons carted away bodies of gargoyles by the clawfuls. There were some survivors, and Applejack had made it her personal mission to make sure the dragons didn't just "accidentally" finish the job with them. Spike wasn't sure mercy was in the dragon vocabulary, but Applejack did manage to get more than a few dragons on her side. Plus, she'd coerced the sea serpents into providing some watery assistance to cool the burns of anyone left alive, so that was of some help.

Spike had never seen so much death in his entire existence. Throughout all of his adventures with Twilight and her friends, with all the enemies they'd faced, nothing had come close to this. Even fighting off the changelings hadn't been this bloody. As the night wore on, Spike couldn't help but remember the few times he'd met dragons before this whole war thing started. He'd been chased, bullied, and nearly talked into killing baby phoenixes by them at various points in his life. They didn't play by pony morals. They had their own code. So did the sea serpents, for that matter, though they spiffed theirs up behind frills and hair product.

And the gargoyles had their own ethics, as well. He wondered if the one he'd met in the Everfree Forest was among the dead.

Spike shifted his huge body, shielding Twilight from the worst of the images. At least trying to save Rarity gave her something to concentrate on. Twilight's eyes were shut, and her horn sparked with some of the most intense magic Spike had ever seen her attempt. She'd been like that for hours. Just sitting there, with Rarity. She hadn't had to watch the horrors behind them on the battlefield even for a moment.

Now, moreso than ever before to him, war seemed like an epically stupid idea. This all was beyond sickening. And Spike still wasn't sure the good guys had won. Just that the very bad guys hadn't. Then again…if he was honest with himself…he had no idea how else the gargoyles could've been stopped. The solution the sea serpents and dragons had come up with was fast, and it was effective.

Hopefully the ponies hadn't had to resort to such methods when battling the gargoyles in Equestria, though. If Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were spared of this type of burned-into-their-brain imagery, it would at least be of some comfort. And thank Celestia that Fluttershy hadn't been here to witness to any of this.

Spike knew he was a lost cause, though. He'd never forget what had happened, but not for the same reasons as the others. He...he was just as at fault as the other monsters. Even if he hadn't been a part of the final attack, he'd…he'd…

Spike shook.

Now he knew. One hundred percent, for certain. He knew what he could be, if he gave in completely. This battle had been his Ponyville rampage all over again, just with much more terrifying consequences. He had the ability to be big, scary, and brutally destructive. It was part of him.

But he didn't have to be that way forever. He was different from the other dragons. He had a choice. His size depended on what he let himself be. And that, at least, was of some relief. If only he could figure out how to control it.

Spike looked down at Rarity. She was the only one who'd ever been able to help him when he became the thing he feared most. And now...

Spike grimaced. She was much the same as before. Twilight's magic glow surrounded her, pulsing in the dark of the early morning. No matter what happened to Rarity, Spike was thankful that she'd been spared seeing the end of the war. If nothing else…there was that.

Rarity. He balled up his fists, digging his claws into his palms. Spike had cried for almost the entire night already, and his eyes now stung from dryness. It was cruel. Unfair. He didn't know what else to do. The longer the hours stretched on, the more Spike realized that Rarity's chances of pulling through…well…

He dropped his head.

She'd already been lifeless when he'd brought her to Twilight.

He really didn't know what he'd been hoping to achieve.

As Spike continued to grieve, shuddering with tears that his eyes could no longer handle, a dragon walked over to stand by his side. "I came as soon as I'd heard. How is she?" the dragon asked.

Spike turned. The red dragon looked at him, her face solemn. She looked a little familiar, but Spike had seen so many different dragons the past few days, he couldn't quite place her.

"Uh…don't know," Spike mumbled. He looked back at his beloved Rarity on the ground in the dark. Who are you, and why do you care what happened to Rarity?

"I'm sorry," she said. She set a hand on his shoulder. "I know she meant a lot to you. And you to her."

The pieces clicked into place. Rarity's prison guard. The dragon who'd dropped her off at his cell. Spike gave her a sideways glance.

"She's one special pony. Taught me a lot," the dragon continued.

Spike nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

"Rumor has it you'd shrunk back down again," the dragon said next, eyeing him. "But now look at you. You might not be anywhere near the size you were in battle, but you're still nearly my height. What happened?"

Spike didn't reply. He didn't know. All he knew, was that being a gigantic dragon was as good as being cursed. And he was determined to figure out how to control his size as soon as possible.

The female dragon just looked back down at Rarity. "If you ask me…based on what I've heard…I think your growing has to do with how much you're honoring your inner dragon."

Spike growled at that, spinning at her. "My inner dragon? My inner dragon?! Why would I ever want to honor that? Have you seen what dragons do?" He gestured wildly at the piles of dead gargoyles.

The dragon regarded him coolly. "War results in death. Some of us are more okay with that than others."

Spike spun back, his eyes landing on the two unicorns on the ground.

The red dragon winced. "Sorry. Bad choice of words."

"You think?" Spike snorted.

"Listen," the dragon said, a bit more gently. "Don't turn your back on your own kind so quickly. We aren't evil, despite what you've seen of us lately."

Spike just snorted again.

"You have to believe me. Your inner dragon also knows how to love," she continued. "From what Rarity told me, that love might be even stronger than the kind of love your peace-loving ponies can produce. A life-long love—true devotion. I think that's what got you to grow, really. You had to protect your life-mate. Keep her safe."

"Rarity isn't something for me to hoard," Spike said. He could still feel the growl in the back of his throat.

"I didn't say hoard. I said protect. Don't blast us all with the same color flame," she said. "We're complicated. We have more drives than just greed. You should know. You're one of us. And in any case—if you dislike us dragons so much, why not go back to being pony-sized? If love wasn't the reason you'd grown so much again, why do you think you're still the size you are right now?"

Spike shut his eyes. He didn't want to think. Not right now. Not with… "Please. Just go away."

It took a moment, but eventually the dragon did step back. "If that would be helpful, of course. Again, I'm sorry. She's my friend, too. Please tell me if she recovers."

By the time Spike opened his eyes, the dragon was gone. He looked down, wondering how much of their conversation Twilight had heard. He doubted it'd be very much. The look of concentration on her face had, if anything, gotten even stronger. He watched her and Rarity, wiping the new tears from his eyes and trying to put that dragon's words out of his mind. Love couldn't be a part of being a dragon. How could creatures that knew how to love be so cruel and destructive?

A moment later, Twilight gasped, interrupting Spike's thoughts. "Rarity!" she exclaimed, nearly toppling over where she stood.

"Twilight!" Spike reached to support her. The tiniest of hopes dared to take up residence inside him. Something had happened. Something must have happened!

Twilight clung to his claws, dizzily standing back upright. Spike watched Rarity, eagerly looking for any sign that she'd improved.

But she looked the same. Still wasn't moving. Still had her eyes closed. Spike's momentary optimism shattered as Twilight's horn glow died down.

"Spike…" Twilight said. Her voice was weak, but steady. Spike tore his eyes away from Rarity, unable to take any more pain in one night. Twilight wiped some sweat off her brow, exhaling loudly. Then she did something absolutely amazing.

Twilight Sparkle smiled.

"Spike," she said again, looking up at her faithful assistant. "I think she's going to be okay."

Like sunrise at the Summer Sun Celebration, hope reignited inside Spike's soul.

Rarity blinked herself awake, one droopy eyelid at a time. She was warm. Cozy, really. Yet, she couldn't feel any blankets. Instead, she felt…

Her eyes flew completely open.

Scales.

Spike was holding her.

That meant he was okay.

That meant she was okay.

I'm…! He's…! Her brain wasn't waking up fast enough to process this properly. They were on a beach. It was a beautiful, sunny day. How did…?

"Looks like somepony's finally awake," a soothing voice said.

Rarity turned her head, looking down to the sand. Princess Celestia?! What are you…?

Spike turned his giant head down to look at her, a toothy grin breaking over his face. "Rarity!"

She looked back up at him, trying to say with her expression what her words couldn't handle just yet. "How…?" Rarity managed.

"Rarity, oh Rarity!" Spike squeezed her against his scales.

Rarity eyes bugged out a bit. "Um…Spike, darling…"

"Sorry!" Spike said quickly, letting go and setting her down. "I'm just so happy you're okay!"

Oh, believe me, I'm happy that you're okay, too! I'm just…I'm a little confused right now. Rarity's eyes shimmered up at the dragon, even as she stumbled slightly in the sand, trying to regain her composure. And my head hurts.

Princess Celestia chuckled from her side, and Rarity flushed. She wondered what state her mane must be in. Perhaps she'd just been in a deadly battle and unconscious for goodness knows how long, but she didn't need to look completely foolish in front of royalty.

Spike continued to smile at her, and she tried to smile in return, but the throbbing in her head made the muscles in her face hurt. Honestly, none of this felt real. Where were they? What was Princess Celestia even doing there? The last she'd known, Rarity had been moments from death, and Spike was still horribly injured.

A terrifying thought hit her, like a splash of bleach on a black dress:

Maybe this was a dream.

Rarity stepped back in the hot sand, glancing around to find some proof she was actually awake, but she had no such luck. Dragons and sea serpents littered the beach in absurdly large numbers. The sun was almost directly overhead. A comfortable breeze floated by, and Princess Celestia's mane, as always, fluttered along with it. There wasn't a gargoyle to be seen.

Convincing herself she wasn't dreaming based on her surroundings was an almost laughable notion. No. She couldn't trust her eyes. What she needed was a real explanation.

"How…" she began, turning back to Spike. "How did you—how did I—how did…?" Where in Equestria did your articulation go, darling? Ugh! There was just too much. "Did we…?"

"We won!" Spike said. "Well…I guess. Wasn't exactly a triumphant victory." Spike's voice dropped its enthusiasm, and Rarity peered at him more closely. "But hey," he continued, clearly trying to muster a happier tone. "What you did was fantastic. You're a hero, Rarity! How did you ever do that awesome magic thing, anyway?"

Rarity put a hoof to her horn, shaking her head. "I…I don't know. I just…had to." Her insides curled up around her. Spike's pained expression…she'd never seen him look like that before. It wasn't anything her imagination would've conjured up. So perhaps this wasn't a dream. Though, watching Spike, she got the distinct feeling he wished it was.

But…it wasn't. As her head cleared, she realized that. This wasn't a dream, and neither was what had happened in that dark field. She'd felt her magic leave that night. She'd felt it. It was gone, now. Her magic, her livelihood, her special talent…

Rarity's face paled.

Now what?

"You did well, Rarity," Princess Celestia said, stepping forward and setting a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "And so did my student, Twilight Sparkle. Spike brought you to her, and she was able to do something for you that I don't think anypony else—myself included—could have possibly done. You were almost beyond help."

Was I that far gone? Rarity winced. She was. She'd known that. She'd been as good as dead. So, it was Twilight that brought her back...

"I need to thank her for saving my life." Rarity looked around. "Where is she now?"

"She's consulting with the dragons." Princess Celestia caught Rarity's eye and held it. "And there's something you should know before you see her, Rarity. What happened to you wasn't a matter of losing your life. It was a matter of losing your magic."

Losing my...yes, I know. I know that all too well.

"The reason you are here now, alive and standing in front of us, is because Twilight saved you by restoring it."

Rarity's jaw dropped. "She…she…what?" Rarity gasped.

Princess Celestia smiled faintly at her, in an almost motherly fashion. "You are the embodiment of the Element of Generosity, Rarity. And as that source of power, you achieved a feat even I didn't know was possible. Which, you can imagine, is saying something." The princess winked at both her and Spike.

Rarity bit at her lower lip, trying to wrap her head around it all. Twilight saved me? Does that mean my magic is back?

"In that moment on the field last night, you generously gave up everything you had inside of you," Princess Celestia continued. "You pushed your own magic away to save everyone else, Rarity. But Twilight, as the Element of Magic, was able to return it to you. Without your Element, her Element wouldn't exist. In giving your generosity and friendship to Twilight over the past few years, she was able to return the favor and empower you."

I…I… "Does this mean I have my magic once again?" Rarity asked, trying to make sure she completely understood before testing things for herself.

"It does indeed," the princess confirmed.

Rarity looked to the side, her eyes landing on a seashell. She aimed her horn. With a burst of energy, the seashell shot up into the air, twirling around. Rarity danced jubilantly in place, letting out a giggle of pure, hard-won glee.

Spike, seemingly unable to go more than a minute or two without touching her, snatched her up into his arms and hugged her once again.

Countless feelings bubbled up inside of Rarity. But the most overwhelming of all was happiness. They'd done it. They'd won. Spike was okay. More than okay, he was holding her! She cooed, doing her best to hug Spike back. Her hooves couldn't even reach to either side of his chest, though, so she just settled for snuggling up against him.

"I'll give you two a moment." Princess Celestia said. "I brought your friends Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie with me on my journey from Canterlot. I should go let them, as well as Twilight and Applejack, know that you're awake, Rarity." She flapped her wings and flew away without another word.

"Spike, you have no idea how happy I am right now," Rarity gushed. "How happy you make me! Spike, I—"

"You have no idea how happy I am!" Spike countered. He held her tighter, but Rarity noticed he was careful not to squeeze her as much as he did earlier. "Rarity, I thought you were dead! I thought you'd died!"

"I was worried you'd died!" Rarity replied. "Darling, you should have seen the state you were in!"

"That state I was in? Rarity, you were as good as gone!" Rarity caught the distinct tremble of a sob in Spike's throat, and her positive mood stumbled. "And the gargoyles were going to…but then they…"

A giant tear escaped Spike's eye, falling to the sand below. Rarity set a hoof on his chest, looking up at him in concern.

"Spike," she asked gently. "What exactly happened? After I…well, you know."

Spike swallowed and set his shoulders. And then he told her the story.

He didn't tell her everything. He couldn't. But even sparing her the worst of the details, Rarity looked a little ill in his arms.

"Poor Applejack," she said, once Spike was finished. "Seems she probably saw the worst of it."

Spike nodded. He hadn't seen much of Applejack yet this morning. When she'd heard Princess Celestia had arrived with Rainbow and Pinkie, she'd taken off to go greet them.

"Perhaps I can get her in for a nice relaxing day at the spa," Rarity mused.

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Not sure she'd consider that relaxing, Rarity."

"Hmm. You may have a point." Rarity looked up at Spike and smiled. The two of them laughed, and a bit of the tension from the past few minutes dispelled.

"I am sorry, though, that you had to be there for all that," Rarity said when their laughter died back down. "You're too gentle a soul to have to witness such things." She snuggled into his chest again, and Spike's insides fluttered.

But then he registered her words and his expression fell. "I'm not gentle. I'm awful. I hurt so many gargoyles…I…"

"Spike," Rarity said, cutting him off and forcing him to make eye contact. "You only did so to save me. To save all of us. You can't blame yourself. They were going to kill every last one of us! Eat us, Spike!"

Spike paled. "Eat you?"

"Yes!" Rarity exclaimed. "Why, that's what the gargoyles were saving me for in that field. Breeding stock for food, if you can imagine such a thing!" Rarity shuddered in his arms. "And here's everypony thinking I'm some sort of hero. I was going to die anyway…I just felt that at least I could do something useful before perishing…" she trailed off, looking out over the ocean.

Spike's wings twitched. The idea of gargoyles snacking on his friends kicked his rage high enough back up that he didn't feel nearly as bad for their terrible fate as he had before. His eyes narrowed, and he tried to focus back on what Rarity was saying.

"Rarity, you are a hero," Spike said, making sure she understood that. "We never would've survived if you hadn't stopped those space rocks when you did."

He could feel her begin to shake. "Spike…" she whispered. "I was so scared."

Spike held her close, and they were quiet for several minutes, just watching the ocean waves in the mid-day sun. He could hear some seagulls calling. Dragons and sea serpents wandered up and down the beach around them, but no one came near. It seemed they all either didn't care, or were respecting the privacy of the two heroes.

"I need to tell you something," Rarity said, breaking their silence. "Something important."

"Yeah?" Spike asked, looking down at her.

She blinked once at him. The way she set her face made Rarity look not only beautiful, but completely and utterly resolute. "I love you, Spike," she said.

Spike almost dropped her. "What?" he exclaimed.

She giggled as he fumbled, trying to keep her from falling onto the sand. Using her hooves to steady herself, she gave him a smile. "You heard me. I love you, my darling Spikey Wikey. And I want you to know that."

She…she…is this possible? Spike grinned so hard that his scaly cheeks hurt. Any attempts to speak on his part just left him stuttering, so he stopped trying. Rarity sighed, leaning into his chest, and Spike shut his eyes. This was perfect. Completely perfect.

"Oh, whoa, he does have wings!" a voice shouted. "THAT'S SO AWESOME!"

Rarity spun and Spike looked up. "Rainbow Dash?!"

The blue pegasus flew towards them, rolling in the crisp air as she did so. "Dude, Spike, this means you can fly now!" Rainbow Dash grabbed at Spike's purple wings, yanking on them and completely breaking the mood, much to Spike's chagrin. "Look at that! Who'd've thunk? Oh, and hey, Rarity."

"Oh good, Rarity, yer awake!" Applejack said, trotting over to join them. She must have followed Rainbow Dash over. "You had us plum worried there, for a while. Glad to see you up and about."

Rarity tossed her mane lightly from Spike's arms. She wore a smug expression that he simply adored. She was clearly tickled to see her friends again, while simultaneously still riding high from the admission that had left him so flustered, and of course, the associated power trip from that moment. He grinned a little down at her. Oh yes, Rarity was one up on him now. But Spike didn't mind one bit.

"I've never felt better," Rarity replied, patting Spike's arm with one hoof. "Spike's been an absolute angel, watching over me like he has."

Rainbow Dash continued to zip around, checking out Spike's wings. "You might want to watch out, Rarity," Rainbow Dash said, grinning slyly. "Now that Spike is totally gigantic and totally cool, I'm beginning to see the appeal. Having a big scaly boyfriend would be pretty epic."

Spike could feel his face go bright red. In his arms, something steeled over Rarity, rising up indignantly through her chest and into her eyes. "Don't you dare, Rainbow Dash!" she exclaimed. "He's mine!" She threw her hooves over Spike's chest, glaring.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash burst out in laughter.

I'm hers. The embarrassment temporarily subsided, and Spike looked down at her, a big dopey smile on his face. "I am?"

It was Rarity's turn to go bright red. Spike couldn't stop smiling. Now who's one up?

But then the singing started, and Spike's embarrassment leapt back into existence with a vengeance.

"Spike and Rarity, sittin' in a tree," Rainbow Dash taunted. "K-I-S-S—"

"—I-N-G!"

Then next thing she knew, Rarity was falling through the air. She hit the ground with a sandy thump. Next to her, tiny-Spike rubbed his backside.

"Sorry," he mumbled. He was back to being small, though Rarity noticed he'd managed to hold onto his wings somehow this time.

Rainbow Dash just howled in laughter even louder. "Looks like Spike can't handle embarrassment any better as a big dragon than he can as a baby one!"

"Leave him alone, Rainbow Dash!" Rarity said, scooping Spike towards her. "He's a dear-heart no matter how big he is."

The pegasus completely ignored Rarity. "Look, he's back to being travel-sized!" She flew circles around them, still laughing hysterically. "It's time to trade turns! He was carrying you, now you—"

"That's enough, RD," Applejack interrupted, holding up her hat. Rainbow Dash, who hadn't been looking, flew straight into it and toppled to the sand. "Let the two of them alone. They've had some rough days."

Rarity shot Applejack a grateful look. Applejack nodded back at her. There were massive circles under her green eyes, and Rarity knew it wasn't just her and Spike that had had a rough few days.

"So, where are Pinkie Pie and Twilight?" Rarity asked changing subjects and releasing Spike. He scratched his arms awkwardly by her side.

"Who ever knows where Pinkie is?" Rainbow Dash climbed back to her feet, chucking Applejack's hat back at her. "She's probably got half the dragons and sea serpents in some massive game of tag or something."

"Twilight's been talking with some of the dragon-folk," Applejack said, putting her hat back on. "Over there." She gestured.

Rarity peered in the distance. "Oh my!" she said upon spying them. "Looks like they're coming to pay us a visit!"

Twilight, Rojo, and Nef all walked up the beach towards them.

You better not hurt my Spikey Wikey, Rojo! Rarity glared at the pair of dragons heading their way. She took a protective step in front of Spike, just as he moved to do the same to her, and they collided. That just got Rainbow Dash laughing again. Rarity contorted her face a bit, refusing to blush any more. She'd get Rainbow Dash back later, that was for sure. But then Twilight drew closer, and Rarity's emotions did a one-eighty.

"I'm so happy to see you awake!" Twilight exclaimed, darting forward to meet her.

"Twilight, darling!" Rarity exclaimed in return, smiling and embracing her tightly. Gosh, it felt incredible to see each of her friends again. Even with the teasing.

Twilight held her close. "We were so worried."

"Twilight, I don't know how I'll ever repay you," Rarity said, in complete earnest. "You saved my life, saved my magic—"

"But you saved us all," Twilight said, pulling back to look at Rarity with glistening eyes.

Rarity blushed once more. It seemed her face was determined to stay red today, no matter what she wished.

"And anyway," Twilight added, wiping an actual tear out of her eye. "What are friends for?"

"What are friends for, indeed," Rarity agreed. They hugged again, and Rarity sighed. She had to be the luckiest pony in the world.

A giant dragon cough interrupted them. "Can we please save the lovey-dovey stuff until later?" Nef asked. "You dragged us over here, now let's get this over with."

"Get what over with?" Rainbow Dash asked.

A deeper cough sounded behind them. Spike turned to face Rojo. He blinked at the turquoise dragon. "Uh…hi."

Rarity bristled. If Rojo tried any funny business…

But he didn't. Instead, Rojo just grimaced. "Hello, Spike," he started. "I uh…just wanted to apologize."

Spike stared up at him. "Really?"

Rarity gaped.

"Really," Rojo said. "I played the wrong card. It all worked out in the end, but I didn't make the best choice for a fellow dragon. I didn't even treat you as a dragon. That was my mistake. And I'm sorry. You're one of us, and should be under my protection."

"Did you put him up to this?" Spike asked Twilight. Rarity was sure she must've. There was no way—

"No," Twilight said, shaking her head with a wry grin. "He honestly felt bad. Only thing I did was convince him to come over here and apologize to your face, instead of asking me to pass on the message."

Rojo coughed again, and Rarity wondered if she'd been wrong earlier, after all. Maybe she was dreaming.

Nef sidestepped closer to Applejack. "You know," he said. "I might have to offer up an apology of my own." He nodded at Spike. "A pony for a life-mate seems pretty strange at first, but you were amazing in battle back there." He waggled his eyebrows at Applejack. "I've never seen anything like it."

Rarity threw a hoof to her mouth, trying desperately to hold back her laughter. Applejack's eyes were as wide as the wheels of her apple cart.

"What do you say? Think they've got the right idea?" Nef asked, elbowing the farm pony.

Applejack laughed nervously. "Whoa there! Let's settle things down a notch, Buckaroo. Don't get yer hopes up."

Nef shifted his wings, actually looking a little dejected, and Rarity couldn't help herself anymore. She burst out laughing, and Twilight and Spike did the same.

Rainbow Dash, however, had her eyes narrowed. "Her? What about me?" She punched Applejack in the shoulder. "I'm clearly the most awesomest pony around."

"Really?" Applejack turned, raising an eyebrow. "And what makes you think that?"

Rainbow Dash flew up into the air, stretching her hooves. "Oh, just, you know, the whole saving Equestria with my sonic rainbooms thing. Nothin' big."

"Yeah, well do you have a badge of honor from the dragons, and an honorary knighthood from the sea serpents?" Applejack retorted.

Rainbow Dash's mouth dropped open. "WHAT? No fair!"

That just got Rarity, Spike, and Twilight laughing even harder. But then, an unassociated giggling sounded in the distance. Rarity snapped her head up. She'd know that laugh anywhere.

"Pinkie!" Rarity exclaimed.

The pink pony raced up the sandy beach, cartwheeling next to a swimming Queen Ili'ana.

"And then I said, 'Don't look over there, look over here!', and the gargoyles turned away from like, the best rocks ever and got pummeled in the face by one of Rainbow Dash's sonic rainbooms! Have you ever seen a sonic rainboom? They're big, and loud, and colorful, and go WHOOSH!" Pinkie Pie flung her hooves apart in the air, faceplanting mid-cartwheel. She leaned up spitting sand. "Super amazing!"

Queen Ili'ana smiled, meeting Rarity's eye. "Your friend is charming, Generous One."

Rarity ran forward to embrace Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie, darling! Where have you been in all this?"

"Saving Equestria," she said, buffing her hoof against her chest nonchalantly. "You know. The usual."

Rarity laughed, and Pinkie beamed.

"Ah, Queen Ili'ana," Rojo said. "I'm glad you're here."

The queen nodded. "Yes. Once I saw that our mediator was awake, I knew now would be the proper time."

"The proper time for what?" Twilight asked.

"A we-just-saved-the-world party?" Pinkie suggested.

"A proper time to continue negotiations," Queen Ili'ana said.

Rarity's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious—even after everything that's happened?"

Rojo nodded. "There's still the matter of the sea serpent's debt."

"But…" Rarity gaped at them. "You just united! I thought we'd moved past this!"

"An agreement is an agreement," Rojo said. "The sea serpents owe us for taking our eggs, of which we've only recovered one. They either pay up the eighty thousand gemstones, or we take their breeding grounds."

Twilight groaned, and Spike followed suit. Rarity held back her own.

"Can't you just set that whole old scroll thing aside now?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash agreed. "That's like, ancient history, anyway."

"Sometimes ancient history sticks around," Queen Ili'ana said, staring pointedly at Spike.

Rarity shut her eyes. There had to be a solution here. She'd gotten the two species to unite in battle. She had to come up with a way to do that off the battlefield.

She opened her eyes, staring at the ocean. "Alright, let's all calm down. I think I have a way to settle this," she said. It hurt to consider, since she'd kind of been hoping to keep it as the most majestic souvenir of all time, but perhaps this was a better cause. "What if the sea serpents gave you a one of a kind, massive jewel, the likes of which would never be seen again?"

Rojo snorted. "One jewel? We're asking for eighty thousand."

Rarity nodded. "Oh, I know. But this one is really quite large. And only the sea serpents could fetch it for you. It's at the bottom of the ocean. It's a diamond encrusted ball of space iron."

Rojo blinked at her. "From the…from the…"

"From the battle, yes," Rarity said.

"But that's…yours!" Queen Ili'ana gasped. "You can't just give that to us!"

"I can and I am," Rarity sniffed. "Now, do you accept or not?" she turned to Rojo.

Rojo's eyes glistened at the very idea. "We accept. We definitely accept."

Queen Ili'ana's face was still one of shock, and she looked back at the pony in front of her. "You truly are the Generous One. Thank you. Our best divers will fetch it at once."

Rarity smiled, her heart tugging towards the giant diamond ball much as her horn did. So much for her most impressive feat of magic ever. So much for all those beautiful diamonds…

But as the sea serpents in witness cheered, she couldn't help but smile. It was for the best.

Rarity hadn't realized it until that moment, but they had gained quite the audience. Sea serpents clustered near the shoreline, and dragons crowded around the periphery of their impromptu meeting. One dragon in particular pushed her way forward.

"Hey, you're okay!" a booming voice exclaimed.

"Moxie!" Rarity grinned, running forward to meet her.

"Didn't I ask you to let me know how she was doing?" Moxie asked Spike, after putting one scaly arm around Rarity in a hug.

Spike kicked a bit of sand on the beach. "Right…uh…sorry."

"What? When did this happen?" Rarity asked.

"You were a little out of sorts at the time," Moxie said, winking at her. "Don't worry about it."

Rarity shook her head. She'd find out about that later from Spike, she was sure. "Moxie, dear, how's your life-mate?" Rarity asked instead.

Moxie smiled. "Just fine. He's just fine. Recovering really well. And our egg is just days away from hatching!"

"Why, that's fantastic news!"

Moxie nodded. "I know! Everything worked out. You know. Mostly."

Rarity frowned. She knew Moxie and her mate were having trouble making ends meet. It had been causing such a rift between them…and now, to throw an injury on top of it…

A thought struck Rarity. "Rojo?" she asked. "Is it too late to amend my offer?"

Rojo turned from his talk with Queen Ili'ana, and now, with a newly joined Princess Celestia.

When did she get here? Rarity wondered. Has she been watching this whole thing? She swallowed. Oh well. Perhaps what she was about to ask wasn't exactly appropriate in major political negotiations, but it was important to her.

"Yes. But go ahead anyway," Rojo said, raising a curious eyebrow.

"I ah…was hoping, you see, that my dear friend Moxie could be freely, and forever given whatever childcare and medical assistance she needs for her egg and her mate," Rarity said. "Without her, I never would've been able to save everybody," she added quickly. "She deserves recognition. Times haven't been easy for her and her lifemate, and it's only appropriate they see some sort of benefit for aiding in the victory over the gargoyles."

Princess Celestia observed her, a twinkle in her eye.

Moxie, next to her, gaped. Astonished smoke tendrils drifted out of her mouth.

Rojo looked mildly annoyed. "What makes you think—?"

But then, Spike flapped his wings once, blasting sand out to the side, even in his small form. He glared up at Rojo. "Weren't you just saying that you were responsible for all dragons under your protection when you apologized to me? Don't they count?"

Rojo actually took a step backwards from him. Rarity's eyes narrowed in triumph. He was intimidated by little Spike!

"Fine," he grumbled. "They'll get all the help they need."

Pinkie Pie whooped in victory, leaping into the air and hugging Moxie's face.

"Erm…who's this?" Moxie asked, her eyes huge and her words muffled as Pinkie gripped her around the jaw.

"Yay yay yay!" Pinkie cheered. "This is great news!"

Rainbow Dash and Applejack laughed, leaning up against each other. Rarity's eyes watered with mirth. Before she could answer Moxie's question, though, several faint voices called out from over the ocean.

"Rarity! Hey, Rarity!"

"Applejack!"

"Rainbow Dash! Check this out, Rainbow Dash!"

Rarity gasped, spinning. Out, over the water, she spied a familiar purple sea serpent, with three little fillies on his back and one yellow pegasus flying overhead.

Rarity ran to the water's edge. "SWEETIE BELLE!" she called. Oh my. I'm coming, baby sister, I'm coming! "Fluttershy!"

Fluttershy landed by her side on the beach a moment later, giving her a hug. "She's okay," Fluttershy reassured her. "She's healing up just fine."

The last bit of tension in Rarity's heart dissolved, and she hugged Fluttershy back. "Oh my goodness, how can I ever repay you?"

"It was nothing, really," Fluttershy replied. "She just needed a little time and a little love, and she's good as new."

The entire group of ponies had made it to the water's edge by then, shouting greetings to the fillies. As Stef'an swam closer to them, Rarity noticed something was a little off with him. Rarity's eyes widened, releasing Fluttershy. He was missing half his mustache again.

"Well, hello, Generous One!" Stef'an called. "Lovely to see you again!"

"Stef'an, your—" Then Rarity stopped. Sweetie Belle turned on Stef'an's back, shaking her rump at her sister.

"Look, Rarity! Look what Stef'an gave me!"

Roped around her little sister's backside was the other half of Stef'an's mustache.

"Her entire back half had been burnt pretty terribly," Fluttershy explained to a stunned Rarity. "Stef'an offered a substitute tail until hers grew back in again."

Rarity laughed. Her smile pinched the corners of her eyes, and tears dripped out. "Thank you, Stef'an," she said. "It looks wonderful on her."

"How could I let a precious little sweetheart like that go around tail-less?" Stef'an replied. "The very thought!"

Rarity shook her head in amusement. It seemed things had finally come full circle.

Later that evening, before the sun went down, Rarity sat alone on the beach, contemplating everything that had happened to her of late. Down the way, Spike and Twilight chatted. Her sister chased Apple Bloom and Scootaloo around, kicking up sand. Her friends intermingled with the sea serpents and the dragons, and Rarity sighed. Moxie was right. Despite the overwhelming odds, it had all worked out.

"Hello, Rarity."

Rarity looked to her other side. Next to her, Princess Celestia touched down on the sand.

"Your Highness!" Rarity exclaimed, bowing quickly. The evening sea breeze pushed at her side, but it wasn't yet cold enough to cause her to shiver.

"Please, get up," Princess Celestia said, smiling. "You're the one who deserves the bows right now."

Rarity flushed, rising to her feet.

"I only have a moment before I need to finish getting the sun down," the Princess said. "But I wanted to check in and say thank you once again, for doing what we could not and stopping this war."

Rarity nodded. "It was no problem at all, your Highness, really."

"Really?" Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow.

Rarity flushed again. "Er…okay, so perhaps it was a bit of a problem. But it all worked out," she said, repeating Moxie's words from earlier.

Princess Celestia nodded. "It did. You proved yourself a true hero, Rarity. That's something I will always be grateful for, and never forget. Nor will anypony else."

Rarity let out a laugh, and Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow.

"Something funny?"

Rarity just shook her head at the absurdity of everything. "Just…I'd always dreamed of gaining fame and being known across Equestria. But I never could have predicted I'd do so as a war hero, of all things."

Princess Celestia laughed lightly. "Well, sometimes life doesn't always work out the way we'd expect. But it does, at least, always work out. As you said."

Rarity's eyes fell on the scene down the beach again, and she sighed contentedly. "It does," she whispered.

"Speaking of," the Princess continued. "I did realize that I never actually answered your question. From your original letter?" she added, spying Rarity's perplexed face. "About how dragons age?"

"Oh!" Rarity's expression blanched awkwardly. She'd almost forgotten about that.

"Do you still need that question addressed?" Princess Celestia asked.

Rarity looked down the beach to a laughing Spike. The dragon caught her eye, and they shared a smile. "No," she answered softly. "I think I've learned all I need to know."

"Very well." With that, Princess Celestia nodded and flew off to resume setting the sun.

Rarity settled her shoulders as Spike turned back to Twilight. The dragon was obviously regaling her with some exaggerated story. His hands gestured more and more excitedly with each passing minute.

Rarity continued to smile. Yes, her questions had been answered.

Now she looked forward to discovering new ones.

Author's Notes:

This is the first time I'm using this Author's Notes box, so I hope it works.

Just wanted to say two things:

1. Thank you. Really. Truly. You're all the best. I appreciate every bit of encouragement and feedback you've offered. You're the reason this story reached its conclusion. I couldn't have done it without you.

2. Speaking of conclusions, you now are faced with a choice. I will be posting a short epilogue (yes, I WILL BE POSTING AN EPILOGUE). ;) You can either choose to NOT read it and leave Chapter 15 as the ending in your mind if you are satisfied here. Or, if you were hoping for a nice, romantic, fluffy conclusion to this fic, you can read it. It's up to you. The epilogue will be posted soon after I post this chapter. I just wanted to give people the option as to what they want as the end. I personally think the epilogue is adorable and encourage reading it if you're intrigued, but then again, I'm biased.

Epilogue

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Epilogue

It'd been a few days since they'd gotten home, and Spike had reached a decision. Actually, two decisions. And somehow, he had to work up the courage to bring these decisions up to Rarity.

He stood outside her boutique, holding one closed fist at her door. Okay, Spike, you can do this. Just knock. You got this. She loves you, remember? This shouldn't be so scary anymore!

But Rarity actually liking him in return was still such a new idea, Spike woke up each morning convinced he'd imagined it all. But he couldn't have. A warm glow still filled him from when she'd held him that night on the beach, after everypony else had gone to sleep. They'd been content that night. Just happy to be near each other. Holding one another. Alive, and together.

But ever since they'd gotten back to Ponyville, life had been so busy, they'd barely had a chance to see one another at all. And now…

Spike's resolve strengthened. He knocked.

"We're just about ready to close for the day, but one last customer it shall be!" Rarity's sing-song voice answered. She opened the door, flipping the 'OPEN' sign to read 'CLOSED'. "Welcome to Carousal Boutique, where—Spikey Wikey!" she exclaimed upon seeing the little dragon. She scooped him up and slammed the door in delight. "Oh, my Spikey Wikey, what a surprise!"

Just the smell of her was enough to make Spike's face produce a gushy, mushy, lovestruck grin. He enjoyed their hug for a moment, and then shook himself out of his reverie. "Hey, Rarity," he said, extracting himself from her embrace and looking up at her. "I'm here because…well, I have a couple things I wanted to talk to you about."

"Of course, Spike, anything," Rarity said. She moved back to a rack of clothing, idly scanning it, probably to make sure it was in the correct order as she closed shop for the night.

Spike swallowed. Here goes. "Okay. Well, first of all, I've…learned a lot about myself lately."

Rarity paused her sorting and tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. Yes. I suppose I can see how you may have done so, mmm-hmm."

Spike narrowed his eyes at her. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?" He didn't state it as a question.

Rarity gave him a sly smile, then pranced by and bopped him lightly on the nose. "Just a little, dear." She moved onto another rack of clothing.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Well, anyway. One of the things I learned is that I'm not alone. In being a stranded baby dragon, that is. There were five eggs taken, and I'm just one of them. No one knows what happened to the other eggs, but I was thinking…I might like to try and find them."

Rarity stopped going through the clothing rack. Her body stiffened, and she looked at him carefully.

"I think I'll start at the Canterlot Library," he continued quickly. "Twilight's already offered to help, but you know how she is. We'll never get out of that library if she has her way. So, seeing as it's Canterlot and all, I was wondering if…maybe you wanted to come with me?"

Rarity's hooves were around him once more, this time crushing him to her fiercely. "Oh, darling, of course! Canterlot would be wonderful! Goodness, for a moment I'd thought you were going to tell me you had to leave me to go on some soul-searching, egg-hunting quest for Celestia-knows-how-long!"

"Leave you?" Spike pulled back. "Are you crazy? I could never do that! If I ever try to find those eggs, I'd want you there with me, Rarity."

Rarity's eyes shimmered and she made some absurdly high-pitched noise. Then she kissed Spike on the end of his nose and his face went red.

"Uh…that sort of brings me to my next question," Spike said.

"Oh?" Rarity asked. "What, this?" She kissed his nose again.

Spike swallowed. "Yeah, actually." You can do this, Spike. Come on. You destroyed hundreds of gargoyles, this should be easy! "I…sort of realized something." He stepped back from Rarity, wringing his claws. "You've given me a lot of, uh…kisses. Which are incredible!" he added quickly, looking up at her before she got any wrong ideas. "But I've realized…well, hold on."

He sucked in a breath. Just like you practiced.

Spike turned around, shutting his eyes and concentrating. He centered his feelings on Rarity…on protecting her…caring for her…on the sensations he'd felt while flying through battle…on his inner dragon. And he began to grow.

One foot began to stretch out, then the other. His wings unfolded larger and larger. It wasn't painful, exactly, but Spike wouldn't describe the sensation as comfortable.

When he reached the size he'd been going for, he reigned himself back in. Turning, he could now look Rarity directly in the eye. "Well," he said, ignoring the dry feeling in his throat. He'd practiced these words in the mirror enough times. They had to come out right. "I realized that I've never actually kissed you back. And I thought it might be nicer to do that if I could be the same height as you."

Rarity's mouth hung open. She could practically feel her heart pounding its way out of her chest as Spike drew closer. Sweet Celestia, she'd never…never…this was most unexpected, and…oh, for crying out loud, were her eyelids fluttering?

Rarity took in a slow, calming breath. No. She was in control. This was…this was…

Spike's green eyes captured hers and Rarity bit her lower lip. She had to admit, he had fabulous idea. He should kiss her. He should kiss her right now.

"The one problem is," Spike said, stopping just a few inches away from her. His eyebrows were knit in genuine concern. "I've never kissed a girl before. So…"

Spike fumbled for Rarity's hoof. His claws clumsily, but gently, lifted it into the air.

"I probably should practice first. If …if that's okay?"

Mother of Equestria, Spike. Rarity's mind raced almost as fast as her heart. You…you…

…You have no idea what you're doing to me, do you?

She watched him. His eyes danced nervously between her face and her hoof, and Rarity realized his adorable naiveté was no ploy. No act. Spike genuinely was terrified of messing this up. She almost laughed, but held back.

"Go ahead, Spike," Rarity told him.

Spike set his shoulders. His wings clenched inwards, clearly a bit panicked. He lifted her hoof slightly higher. As Spike's warm claws cautiously raised it, goosebumps shot through Rarity, setting her entire body on alert.

She shut her eyes. Anytime now, Spike. You don't need to be nervous. A mildly ironic sentiment, given the fluttering feeling currently traveling through her at Wonderbolt racing speeds.

When his mouth finally touched her hoof, Rarity felt her breath hitch. The kiss only lasted for a brief, tremulous moment, but the feeling remained long afterwards.

Love. It felt like love.

He dropped her hoof back down, stepping back from her and looking away. "Okay, so, how was that? Was that okay?" he asked.

Rarity slowly opened her eyes. Spike's own eyes were swimming with sincerity. The poor dragon just wanted to know he hadn't screwed up. But Rarity could still feel his kiss, and was having trouble locating her voice at the moment. So she just nodded.

Spike winced. "Maybe I need to practice again before trying the real thing."

Rarity stepped forward, putting a hoof to his mouth to stop him talking. She shook her head. Her breathing was shallow. "No, Spike. No more practice."

Spike's eyes just looked more pained at that, so Rarity caught his gaze and held it until he came to understand her meaning.

"Oh," he finally said, beneath her hoof.

Rarity lowered her hoof and stepped closer. Spike took a tentative step her way as well, setting his claws on her shoulders.

"Really?" he asked.

She nodded. It was taking nearly all of her self-control not just to lean in and kiss him herself. She'd never felt her heart beat like this before. She felt like a school filly again. Looking into Spike's eyes became too much to handle, so she shut hers. Rarity could feel her breath quicken as the warmth of Spike's face neared her own.

And then, his mouth was on hers, and Rarity melted away into the gentleness of it all. Never in her life had she been kissed this way. She pulled Spike closer to her, holding on tight with one hoof over his shoulder. She couldn't resist any longer, and returned his kiss, deepening it as far as she dared without pushing him back into panic.

The kiss was sweet.

Soft.

Full of absolute, undying adoration.

…Interrupted.

"Hey, Rarity, we got out early today from school and I thought—WHOA!"

Rarity stumbled backwards, her eyes flying open. "Sweetie Belle?!" she turned to the door to face her sister.

"I…I didn't know you were busy," Sweetie Belle stammered.

"Didn't you see the sign said 'CLOSED'? Learn to knock!" Rarity demanded. Next to her, she could see Spike going bright red.

For some reason, that just made Sweetie Belle burst out in laughter. "Definitely will next time! I'll let you two get back to things now, though," she said, grinning.

Rarity groaned, as Sweetie Belle slammed the door and raced off. "It's going to be all over town now," she said, rubbing a hoof to her face.

"Sorry," Spike mumbled, turning away. Rarity could see his body tremble, and she realized he was about to shrink back down to tiny-Spike out of sheer embarrassment.

"Darling, stop." Rarity quickly grabbed him, pulling him back. "It doesn't matter."

Spike looked at her, blinking. "It doesn't?"

Rarity smiled, shaking her head. "Let them talk. They'll just be jealous of us, anyway." She blinked at him her expression turning serious. "Spike, I don't want to hide this. We're in love. Sure, it's complicated, and more than a little odd, and there's some bizarre cultural things to get over, like that life-mate business, but it's nothing we can't figure out. Think of us as trend-setters." Rarity held her head a little higher. "Maybe this type of thing hasn't been done before, but that just means we're ahead of the curve." Spike still looked a bit skeptical, so Rarity added, "And if you keep kissing me like that, I don't think I'm going to have any trouble with that life-mate thing, anyway."

That finally got Spike smiling. "So you're saying you like how I kiss you?"

Rarity stepped closer. She set her forehead against his, carefully tilting her horn to one side. She could feel her eyelashes tickle Spike's scales. "Spikey Wikey, I like everything about you." Rarity lowered her eyelids demurely. "Now, where were we?"

The End