The filly stopped in her trek across the dark bedroom, startled by the sudden voice. “You're still awake?”
“It's too dark to sleep,” the baby dragon replied, shifting further down his blanket. “That, and I'm scared.”
Twilight inhaled sharply, held her breath, and exhaled gently. “There's no need to be scared, Spike.” She came toward their bed, her horn ignited in a soft lavender glow. “I'm here with you now.”
Spike smiled. When the filly moved to join him on the bed, he shifted slightly to left, and once she was under the covers as well, he quickly scooted back over and began to snuggle against her chest. “Will you please read me a story?”
“Will you please go to sleep afterward?”
Spike nodded. His snout rubbed up and down her coat, tickling the filly.
“Okay, which story would you like to hear about tonight?”
“The great cave!” Spike wiggled in place just as her small hooves wrapped around him. “I want to hear it, Twilight.”
“But that's a bit of a scary one, isn't it?” Twilight hugged the baby dragon closer to her chest, nuzzling the top of his head with her chin. “I don't want you having any nightmares now. Plus, I'm not sure I like the way how they portray dragons in a—“
“Read, Twilight!” Spike beat his tiny fists onto her chest. “Read!”
“Okay, okay!” Twilight hugged him closer in order to cease his attacks. “But we're skipping any parts that are too scary, okay?”
She didn't even need to wait for a response as her aurora soon manifested itself around a bookcase on the other side of the room, pulling out a worn leather binding from the rest of the books. It lazily flew over to the bed and opened its pages upon reaching the duo's faces.
“The Great Cave, the author unknown.” Twilight flipped open to the first page, with the baby dragon's gaze eagerly following. “Once upon a time, there lived a brave knight in shining armor—“
“Our Shining Armor?” Spike said as he looked up at her.
“Sorta,” Twilight giggled, looking down at him, “but not quite.”
They both returned to looking at the book.
“Anyway. One fateful day, the princess he swore to protect was kidnapped by an evil—“ Twilight blinked and quickly shook her head—“by a giant a dragon!”
“A giant dragon!” Spike lost his breath at the thought. “Was he bigger than me?”
“Extremely,” Twilight replied, “but I like you more. So, this giant dragon swipes the princess with his claw and flies off to a distant tower, and as far as everypony thinks, she is never to be seen again—all except for one.”
“The knight!”
“Exactly.” Twilight nodded. “Dragon or not, the knight had made an oath, and he swore to uphold it no matter what. He embarked on the journey to save the princess the very next day, with only his sword and his wits about him.”
“His wrists?”
“Wit.” Twilight shook her head. “In fact, it was actually his shield.”
“Tell the story properly, Twilight.”
“Okay, okay!” Twilight giggled as she rubbed a hoof on the top of baby dragon's scaly head. “So the first obstacle the knight faces is a body of water that cuts across his path, deeper than any river he had ever seen before. This wouldn't have been an issue if the knight knew how to swim!”
“Did he go back home to learn?”
“He didn't have time!” Twilight said, putting the tip of her hoof to the illustration of the distant stone tower, where the silhouette of the dragon could be seen landing. “The princess was in danger, and the knight was prepared to do anything to save her—so he hopped in the water and struggled against the current!”
Spike held his breath.
“He sunk into the water like a rock as the stream carried him downward, and for but a moment, he thought this was how his journey would end.” Twilight flipped to the next page, where a school of fish swam alongside the knight. “He watched how the creatures of the sea moved through the water, and in learning from them, began to do the same, and not a few moments later, he emerged on the other side.”
Spike threw up his claw and giggled with delight, while Twilight stole a glance outside at the moon high up in the sky. She quickly turned a few pages saying: “We don't have enough time to cover the whole story, but we'll get to the part where the knight saves the princess, okay?”
The baby dragon huffed, but after a few seconds, nodded his head.
“Where were we? Ah yes, this should work to serve as the climax.” Twilight cleared her throat as he began her narration voice once again. “Upon completing the many trials of his quest, the knight soon found himself at the top of the tower, stronger and better than when he began, having finally become the stallion that could uphold his oath.”
Spike tried to focus on the words as they were being read, but the words were beginning to get blurry and his eyes were becoming harder to keep open. He pressed his face fully into the lavender coat, snuggling into its warmth and being lulled by the distant heartbeat, the voice of the filly heard through her body as well.
“The dragon landed and unleashed a roar, angered that he may lose what he rightfully earned.” Twilight yawned and flipped the page. “The dragon said: 'Leave me be with my treat, and in a kind return, I will show you the path to the great cave.' But the knight knew better than to listen as he drew his sword, saying: 'You will not keep me from the princess, whose heart is pure and noble, while yours tries to tempt me with its greed.'
The voice of Twilight was becoming distant to the baby dragon as he soon closed his eyes.
“The dragon then replied: 'All succumb to their heart's true desire. The Great Cave lies at the top of the world, its path treacherous and its pursuers relentless—but in you, I see the will to power! The journey will make you weak, but in that weakness lies the strength to destroy the darkness that blankets the cave.'”
Spike cracked open an eye, the book but a blur to him, though the tale itself phased through his drowsiness.
“The knight still continued his path toward the dragon, coming to the tower's center, screaming: 'Why should I care for such a place when what I desire lies on the other side of this tower?' The dragon roared with laughter, saying: 'For The Great Cave contains all that the heart could ever desire! Your will for power will finally be sated, your poverty will be assuaged by the cave's endless wealth, and in its deepest depths, you will find the secret to eternal life!'”
Finally, the baby dragon could look no more, as his eyes came to a close, and sleep began to take his hold on him.
“The knight drew his sword at once against the dragon, saying: 'No power and no jewel could rival the life and beauty of the princess herself! I do not care should I live or die, so long as the princess remains safe from harm!'”
Twilight flipped the page, faintly feeling the smooth scales rubbing against her soft fur. “Their battle lasted for a very long time, and although the knight was still no match for the dragon, those who lurked in the sky beyond was impressed by the knight's will: they shot down a powerful lighting bolt that imbued his sword with a special power, and in risking his life, the knight ran forth and struck the blade deep into the dragon's heart.”
Twilight cringed as soon as the words left her lips. She didn't hesitate to glance down at the baby dragon who, much to her relief, looked to be asleep. She gently nudged him with a hoof. “Hey Spike, are you still with me?”
“Wuh...huh?”
Twilight smiled. “We're almost done with the story. Did you want to finish it now or later?”
Spike lifted his head. “Now, please.” He quickly dropped back into her coat.
“Okay then, let's try to get this over and done with quickly then.” Twilight flipped a few pages ahead, which she was more than glad to do. “With the battle won and the princess in his hooves, the knight faced the dragon one last time. He knew the beast would no longer be a threat, though he knew not why it still remained.”
Outside the open bedroom window, the sound of crickets echoed into the night.
“The dragon hovered in the air, his wings weak and his chest heavy, he struggled to speak: 'Brave warrior, you are unlike the rest of your kind. Your oath permits you reason, which gives you will—a power undaunted by any taunts of life or death.' The dragon landed on the rim of the tower, continuing to speak: 'Join me on the journey to The Great Cave, and with my strength and your sword, the nine ancient dragons shall fall to us, and we will then rule from the peak of the world!'”
Twilight flipped to the last page. “The knight only shook his head, and in turning around, spoke to the dragon for the very last time: 'All that I need is in my hooves already, and as for the sword that can bring about great profit, I leave struck into the heart of this tower, so it will never dare rise once more.'”
Twilight closed the book once more. She let it float back to its home on the shelf, and once it was there, allowed the magic to fade from her horn as she turned on the side. “So how about it Spike, feeling better now?”
She was surprised to feel him nod.
“You know, I think you've asked me to read that book more than any other.” Twilight pulled the blanket up along their bodies, covering both of them up to their necks. “Is there any particular reason you like that book so much?”
“Mmmhmm.”
Twilight waited for a response, and after a few moments of silence, sighed. “...do you plan on telling me?”
“Mhmm, it's because I feel like the dragon.”
Twilight froze for a moment. She then cleared her throat. “S-Spike, you know you're nothing like that dragon, right?”
“But I kinda am!” Spike willed his eyes to open, his gaze traveling up the lavender chest in order to find its owners eyes and lock with them. “Well, I am like that dragon, if you're like the princess.”
“Spike...” Twilight couldn't help but blush as she looked down at him. “I'm nothing like a princess.”
“But you totally are!” Spike shook his head. “You're smart and powerful and look really nice! You are a princess, just not a real one yet.” He grinned. “Just like how I'm not a knight just yet, but I'm still your dragon number-one assistant.”
Twilight smiled, softly tilting her head. “I'm afraid I don't see how this pertains to the story.”
“It's because of how bored and sad you look whenever you're in the castle!” Spike pointed a claw at the bookcase. “Maybe that dragon stole the princess away because she was the same like you, and maybe, just maybe, he took her to that tower so she could read and practice without anyone bugging her!”
Twilight blinked. “Huh. So that makes the knight the bad guy then?”
The baby dragon nodded. “If it were you and me in the story, I would protect you from him so you could be left alone!” He even clenched his claw. “I'll even get better like he did in the story to protect you. I already made an oath like he did to be your number-one assistant, so that must mean I have that will thingy as well!”
“You know what Spike? I think you do.” Twilight lowered her muzzle, rubbing her nose against his, something he happily did the same in turn. After a moment, she broke away and pulled away, coming to kiss his cheek and bring him back to her chest. “But willpower requires a lot of sleep to maintain. You're going to get a lot of sleep now to protect me, right?”
Spike eagerly nodded his as he finally closed his eyes for good.
Twilight lowered her head into the pillow, her heart racing and her cheeks pink, unable to hold herself back from hugging the baby dragon a little tighter. “Hey, Spike? Everything you just said right now... did you truly mean it?”
She felt him nod, and for a moment, she struggled to find words to speak. She wanted to thank him, to confess of just how much this little bundle of scales meant to her, but as her eyes came to a close and sleep finally weighed over her mind, she found all that she felt in something as tiny as four words.
Spike awoke in a cold sweat, his every breath a struggle for air as his eyes fought to adjust to his surroundings. It took few moments, seconds filled with panting and enduring the hammering of his heart, but as he managed to calm himself down, the drake began to remember where he was.
He turned his head on the stone floor, the darkness of his residence pushed back by the tiny green flame dancing on sticks in the center of the cave. Most of the bundled wood was charred, but the flame kept burning on, bringing little warmth to the area.
Spike rose to his feet and arched out his back, popping the kinks he'd developed overnight. His swept across the area as he did so, from the curved stone walls that rose around the tight space, to the faint trace of the ceiling made out by the diminished light.
The firewood crackled and echoed throughout the cave. Footsteps were pronounced and every breath was amplified in the area. Spike returned to where had awakened, kneeling as he began to roll up the brown cloth he had slept on. Once that was done, he stole a glance to his right, where he spotted a tan rucksack with a large top flap, which, after some movement from himself, placed the rolled-cloth underneath as he clicked the flap into the sack itself.
Rising, he swung the straps over his shoulders, coming to stumble back a few feet back from the weight. With a look of determination, he quickly rebalanced himself, took a step forward, and then another and another, getting into a steady pace. The length of the cave soon began to narrow, and at its entrance, a boulder blocked the opening; the hiss of wind cutting along its sides.
Spike laid a claw on it, shivering as it was cold to the touch. With a sigh, he glanced over his shoulder and at the dancing flame, the sight too much for him to bear as he clenched his eyes shut, placed both claws on the boulder, and in summoning all his strength, he slowly began to push against the rock, feeling it start to roll. In the new opening, a vacuum of frigid air sucked out the cave and extinguished the green flame.
The boulder soon came to shift in place, refusing to budge another inch. Spike stumbled away from it. He was at once blinded by shining light and attacked by the cold winds, making him shiver as he raised a claw over his eyes. He took a deep, cool breath, and made his first step back into the outside world.
After a few seconds of walking, Spike had reached the curve of the slop he was on, and was able to lower his claws as his eyes had finally adjusted. He looked outward, to the mist the enveloped the distant tundra, the haze too thick to see past, and the constant pour of heavy snow did nothing to help with visibility.
Spike felt his body freeze up, his legs and feet lock into place. There was no distant tower or landmark, no golden light to illuminate his path. He glanced back to the cave, the chances of him returning to it slim. He closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling deeply, thinking of lavender.
When he opened his eyes, Spike began down the hill.
Spike fell forward into the snow; he didn’t even groan.
The howling winds whipped above his head. The thick mist obscuring the tundra rose higher than ever before. It hadn’t been long since he left the cave, but even in that short amount of time, the blanket of snow had enough volume to take the body of the drake into its hold.
Spike kept lying in place. His breaths came slowly now, the same pace in which his body shivered and his eyes began to close. He often liked to pretend that he wasn’t here, that the snow and wind was just some part of a terrible nightmare, and if he thought about home, that he would finally wake up and find himself in his bed.
When he opened his eyes, he was still freezing to death.
Spike tilted his head back and looked forward, placing and pushing his claws against the snow, his movements slow and lethargic, but his body rising all the same, and after a few moments, he was back on his feet.
Though he wasn’t very happy to begin walking again.
Time was a frozen abstract in the winter wasteland. Morning, afternoon, evening—they all phased together into a white mesh out here. Navigation was also a lost cause; footsteps were filled in the second after they’d been indented. Hope and logic were lost to the place, and those who had entered here with them in their hearts were sure to succumb to beneath the snow.
Spike carried forward with only a rucksack kept to his back and a claw raised over his eyes. The hiss of wind changed in pitch, but he did not care, he did not stop, as he carried on ever north.
But the hiss caught his ear again, and a second later, came the sound of snow crunching. Spike slowly came to a stop, looking around himself at the thick mist that surrounded him, hopeless to make anything out that wasn’t a few feet around him.
Snow crunched again.
Spike’s fluttered as his heart pounded. The crunch was distant but numerous, more and more starting to come from around him, building closer and closer, each one more heavy than the last as faint silhouettes could be seen in the mist.
The drake did his best to stand tall, but his knees kept buckling. He raised his claws and curled them into fists. “I-I’m not afraid of you!”
The figures howled.
One of them dropped to all fours and began sprinting toward him, eyes shining red as its glow cut through the mist, and a second later, as did the rest of its deformed body. Spike cried as he stumbled a few feet back from the creature.
It towered over him, coming to stand on its two legs as it held its arms out, unleashing a screech that forced the drake to cover his ears. When it was done, it gazed down at the drake, its thick, snow-white muzzle parted, exposing its yellow fangs and bloody tongue.
Spike stuck his feet into the snow, trying to control his breathing as the creature continued to examine its prey. The drake shook his head and unleashed a cry himself, small and pitiful that the wind overtook its sound, though it did not stop him flexing out his claws.
He charged forward, claws held at his side and head held eye, sights set on the creature’s chest. It became more familiar to him the closer he came towards it, and when he was a foot away, he cocked his claw and prepared to unleash it on the beast.
The creature lowered its head, forcing the drake to look deep into its eyes.
Spike froze.
“N-No!” Spike lost his balance as he fell onto his rump, unable to tear his gaze away. “Please, stop!” More of the creatures phased through the mist, eyes glowing red and muzzles snarled, forming a circle around the drake. “Don’t do this, I’m begging you!”
The environment shifted. Darkness consumed the sky as the particles of the mist become tainted with blackness; the snow was gone and the moon blood red. Spike quivered as he rose to his knees. “Take me instead…”
Each of the creatures commenced in a joint howl, their heads tilted back and their paws held out, claws covered in blood pushing themselves outward from their digits. Once their howl was over, all of them took a step forward, and then another and another, their circle around the drake tightening.
Spike struggled to rise to his feet, but the weight of his sack was too great, and he fell to his knees once more. He threw back his head, and as he felt the shadows upon him, shouted: “Twilight!”
The first claw raised and was outlined by the red glow of the moon. A second later, the sharp contours flew down at the drake, nearing his exposed throat as he himself was too scared to even flinch.
Then came the sound of metal colliding with keratin.
Spike gazed up from the snow as the mist became white again—just as white as the stallion standing in front of him, back turned with a sword held in a purple glow, trembling as it struggled to hold back the arm of the creature.
The sky was blue. The moon was no longer visible. The stallion pushed the creature away. He then looked over his shoulder at the drake, a black scarf covering him from his muzzle to his neck; his blue eyes shining just as bright as the creatures.
“Spike?” The stallion asked, hovering his blade forward. “What are you doing here?!”
“Damn it!” Shining slammed his shoulder into the bipedal wolves, raising his sword to block the slash from an other's claws. “There's too many of them!”
Spike stood dazed.
“Get it together!” Shining pushed back the claw, and in tilting his sword, delivered a slash to the wolf's neck. He quickly hopped back and in front of the drake. “I can't take them all on myself.” He glanced around. “Quickly, we need to find an opening.”
Spike was still just as dazed. “Shining... is that—“
“No questions, Spike!” Shining looked straight, saw something, and took a stance. “We'll talk later! For now, I need you to hop on my back."
Spike stared at him for a second. He huffed. “I didn't ask for your help.”
“And I wasn't asking you either.” Shining spun the blade in his magic, the collected blood splattering onto the snow. “I was commanding you. Now do it!”
Spike glared at him.
“Fine,” Shining said, “have it your way.” His magic manifested itself around the drake just wolves began to pouch, each in the air once the drake was on his back, but by the time they reached their target, the stallion had already broken forward in a burst. “Hold on tight to my mane!”
Spike was already doing so out of instinct.
Shining charged forward with his blade straight, spotting a wolf that stood in his way, arms wide as it prepared to bring its claws down upon them, though the stallion did not break his course. He saw the claws drop in his peripheral vision, but that was nothing compared to seeing the tip of his blade drive deep into the creature's chest; he withdrew his blade a moment later and jumped up on the creature, hooves colliding against its chest as he weighed it to the ground, using its weight to jump forward and over the next set of the wolves.
A few seconds later and snow crunched underneath the stallion's hooves. He continued his forward motion the second he landed, looking over his shoulder to see two wolves on his path, each on all fours and gaining speed. He turned back and looked right into the claw the swiped across his face.
The claws dug deep into his snowy cheek as the impact sent him twirling through the air. Spike held on for only a second, letting go of the mane when he was high in the air, falling and then colliding into the snow a moment afterward. He felt a similar impact just behind him, confirming with a glance that Shining was behind him and laying on his side; three trails of blood leaked down his cheek.
Spike to his feet quickly, stumbling back and forth as the wind pushed him about. When he looked up, the wolf already stood before him, towering and growling; its claws dripping with blood. The drake fell back out of shock, crawling backward as the wolf began forward, flinching as he felt his body come against Shining.
Spike felt the shadow of the wolf upon him, causing him to look left and right for something, anything that could save him. A few inches away, something glinted in the snow. Spike made a lunge for it immediately, gripping the handle of the blade as his muscles flexed to hold it up, pointing its tip at the upcoming beast.
The wolf didn't cease in its steps. It walked straight up to the drake, stopped before the sword, and in raising its paw, gripped the blade, and with a sharp and strong yank, pulled it out from his claw and tossed it back into the snow.
Spike gulped.
Two more wolves joined the current one at his sides, each rising to their legs.
Spike couldn't stop himself from shaking as their shoulders blanketed his body. He looked over his shoulder at Shining, who had yet to move since he had fallen, and then back forward at the upcoming beasts. He couldn't think, he couldn't feel anything but his fear, and in curling his claws, turned around and made a run for it.
Spike knew he was a coward, though liked to pretend otherwise.
It was always situations themselves that provoked his cowardice. When he was back in his room, alone and under a warm blanket, he was never a coward there; in the comics he read safely under his sheets, he could never understand why, in conflict with the villain, the hero's sidekick would always run away from the battle.
But as his feet sunk into the snow, things were different than how they were in fiction. Wind actually cut across his cheek and his legs ached and burned; the blood in the snow was real and monsters were not a thing of fantasy, but rather, inspired by reality.
Spike knew he was a coward. He just didn't want to admit it.
“Hihya!” Spike's foot was caught snug by something beneath the snow, causing him to fall forward. At once, the distant footsteps changed to breathing in his ear fin. He should have known better than to embark on this journey alone, that his cowardice wouldn't miraculously disappear upon deciding on a simple stupid choice.
“Yuahh!” The breathing changed to a distant yelp as something else collided with the snow. Spike looked up to see Shining standing over him. “You beasts stand away from my brother!” One of the wolves began to charge at him, and Shining did the same to him, their charges lasting only a few seconds before the two crossed—Shining leaping up to its chest as the other brought his claw into his barrel.
Spike rose back to his feet. “S-Shining!”
The stallion was too busy throwing his head back and slamming it forward into the wolf's muzzle, repeatedly. A few headbutts later, the wolf unlatched its claws and began to fall back, with the stallion launching off its chest and spinning back around once he landed back on the ground.
Shining glanced back. “The sword! I need you to find my sword!”
Spike twirled around as he looked. “I-I can't see it! There's too much snow and—“
“No excuses!” Shining yelped as a wolf charged at the right of him, knocking him to the ground and pinning him there. “Just find it!” He kicked his hooves against the muzzle of the beast.
There was no way the sword could be found in such a condition, not too mention under such intense stress. Spike wanted to cry as he fell to all fours and dug about in the snow, but he knew all he was doing was wasting time.
“Any day now!”
Spike closed his eyes for a moment as a burp left him, leaving a trail of smoke. “That's it!”
“Spike!”
“Just give me a second!” Spike inhaled as much air as he could manage, feeling a heat beginning to burn in his chest as he charged forth toward the struggle. Then he felt it, the fire begging for release, and he was more than happy to comply as he leaped into the air—unleashing a jet of green flames upon the wolf/
Shining was afforded a moment in his opponent's shock deliver a strike across its muzzle, knocking it off himself as it rolled about the snow in order to put out its burning coat.
“Thanks for the assist.” Shining took a stance once more as the rest of the pact caught up. “But we're still finished without that sword.”
“I was just getting to that!” Spike charged his chest once more as he planted his feet firmly into the ground, and with a few seconds of air, unleashed another stream of flames as he slowly twirled himself around—melting the snow and pushing apart the mist. On the ground, something glinted. “There, grab it!”
Shining made a break forward, hopping left and right in his movement, though he kept still as one of the wolves stepped over his sword. He didn't break speed as he carried forward; in fact, he sprinted faster as he came before the beast.
Spike covered his eyes as the wolf's claws came down on the stallion...
...but Shining was too quick for them as he bent forward and changed into a slide, passing beneath and between the wolf's legs and picking up the sword with his mouth. Once he passed underneath the wolf's tail, he spun himself around and delivered a slash to its heels.
The wolf fell immediately.
“Quick!” Shining called from behind the fallen body. “Get over here now!”
Spike went to break into a sprint but felt something grab his leg. He looked down, following the charred white arm to the burned face of the wolf before, its snarl more ugly than before. He chuckled. “Uh, I didn't mean it?”
The wolf clenched its paw, raising the drake into the air and smashing him into the ground behind him, before hurling him forward. Spike screamed the whole way, his back aching as the wolves below reached up to him, and by the time he was to meet the ground, he fell on something much softer than snow.
“Not what I have in mind,” Shining said as he shifted in place, getting the drake settled on his back, “but it'll do.” He pressed his hooves against the ground, and in giving a mighty neigh, charged forward once more.
Spike was already alerted to the wolves on their trail, but on having grown a little wiser, charged another flame and unleashed a curved burning wall before their pursuers—each coming to a stop well before the flame.
The two carried forward, through the wind and mist, free from danger for the present moment. In spite of this, the drake still had to sigh as he turned back around.
Spike didn’t know how long they’d been wandering. The wind still struck their faces all the same with the veil of the mist still too thick to see through, though did this did nothing to stop Shining from his trek ever eastward.
“I’m telling you, we’re going the wrong way.” Spike scooted up along the stallion’s back, still holding tightly to his mane. “Those wolf-like-things stopped chasing ever since, like, forever ago! Can’t we take a short break?”
“Those wolfos won’t stop for us, and we won’t be stopping for them.” Shining winced upon lifting his hooves, a spot of blood in the snow where they had been. “I sent out a patrol to manage their rising numbers, or at the very least, to bring wanders safely back into the empire. The patrol got good at evading them… maybe a little too good.” He sighed and winced—a common trend for him now. “That same patrol has yet to come back home. They may look like beasts, but those wolfos are more cunning than their expressions let on.”
Spike kept quiet. He digested the information. He digested the previous situation. He digested his moment of cowardice—he was disgusted by it. More and more, the memory played, accompanied by meeting the same fate as the stallion.
Why did he run? He was a dragon, a little short but brave, with claws just as long and fangs just as sharp. Even as the memory played among the harsh wind, he still heard his scream clearly. He tried to change the past, that he stood tall and fought back, that it was such a safe choice—yet the truth always emerged even in his illusion.
Spike shook his head. “Okay, so maybe a break is out the question. But it still feels like we’re going in the wrong direction.”
“And how would you know the right direction?” Shining glared back at him. “Last I check, you were still in the wasteland, alone, with no destination in mind.” He looked forward. “What was your plan anyway? Running off like that just to come here—” he glared back again “—you should know better than anypony that these lands aren’t the same!”
Shining heaved once he was done. The drake’s face was blank. Shining took a few short breaths, stopped in place, closed his eyes, and after a few moments, opened them once more with less intensity in his gaze. “Look, I’m… I’m sorry I yelled at you. Finding you out here, here!” He shook his head. “You have a lot of questions to answer for, Spike. And a lot of worried ponies to tell that you’re okay.”
Spike had been listening in silence, though eyes narrowed near the end. “Let me down.”
“What?”
“Let me down!” Spike felt the blue strands of mane slip through his digits. “I can manage walking by myself.” Without waiting for a reply, he turned around and hopped off the stallion’s side and into the plump snow. “And I’m not following you anymore.”
“You’re my responsibility now, Spike.” Shining twirled around and stood in-front of him. “No one heard from you in weeks. All the scouts came back with their hooves empty. All the letters to the princess were—”
“Wait a second, letters!” Spike laughed as he shook his claws with excitement. “That’s it, a letter!”
“...what?”
“You’re trying to get to the Crystal Empire, right?” A hesitant nod answered his question. “So that must mean we’re pretty close to it, right?” Another nod, but this time, done more so in a confused manner. “That means all we have to do is a send a letter to Cadence and everything will be alright?”
“It doesn’t actually have to be a letter!” Spike scanned the area, and in the heat of the moment, forgot that they still couldn’t see anything. He immediately set himself on Shining’s satchels. “I need something of yours. Anything that the princess knows is yours will do.”
Shining quickly pushed him away. “Easy with that stuff! Why should I—”
“Come on, Shining!” Spike stepped back. “You said it yourself, those wolf… things are still probably chasing after us! Just trust me and give me something!”
“Trust you? After what happened?”
Spike went to open his mouth when realization dawned on him. Slowly, his lips closed and his eyes were drawn downward, any excitement evaporated and the coldness set once more upon his scales. “You… saw that?”
“Yeah, I did.” Shining looked down at him. His voice didn’t hold anger… but there was a tone to it that was hard to distinguish. “I was able to come to pretty quickly and defend myself. Afterward, I went looking for you.”
Spike kept silent.
Shining sighed. He brought his muzzle to his satchel, opening it up and dipping into it, rummaging about until his teeth connected with it. Slowly, he rose back out and brought the cloth—with the royal emblem of the Crystal Empire on its corners—to before Spike. “Here, this should be enough.”
Spike stared at it for a moment, and then at the captain.
“Go on, take it.” Shining nudged it into his claw, opening his palm and leaving the cloth there. He brought back his muzzle. “Just… promise me it won’t burn up in flames, alright? It means a lot to Cadence in me.”
Spike took the cloth, curled his claw, nodded his head, turned around, and a few seconds later, brought it to his mouth as he burned the cloth up in flames; it burnt in a second and transformed into a thin jet of a bright green flame.
Shining was not pleased for a total of a second.
The thin flame began to snake its way through the mist above. Its glow cut away the thickness of the haze and illuminated the snow below and ahead. The trail left behind a faint wave of heat as it continued forward, over the ground in small curves and twists, leading northbound at a slow pace.
Spike leaped up in joy. When he landed, he turned to Shining. “See? I told you that we were going in the wrong direction!” And with that, he quickly chased after the trail, keeping beneath it as it illuminated the way, a smile—or perhaps a grin—plastered on his face.
Shining couldn’t help but smile himself, though when he took a step forward, that smile quickly faded. He rose his forehoof to his eyes and saw only blood where his white fetlocks were supposed to be.
“Are you coming or what!” The now distant voice shouted.
Shining sighed and winced as he put down his hoof. In pulling out another smile, he quickly caught up to the drake, and together, they kept under the protective glow of the hovering bright green trail, the thick walls of mist always at their sides, and what lay ahead still obscured to their eyes.
The journey toward the Crystal Empire had begun with hope, the glow of the trailing green flame leading Spike and Shining through the storm, but the further they traveled with only more snow to tread across, that hope soon gave way to despair.
“... you sent it to the right address, right?”
“Of course I did!” Spike huffed. Every step forward, the snow rose to his thigh. “Or, at least, the cloth will go wherever Cadence is.” He gulped. “You haven’t, uh, been out long enough for her to have to come and find you, right?”
Shining hesitated. “No.” A moment passed. “But Cadence has been known to get involved before there’s been a warrant for her to act.” His body shivered, and it wasn’t from the cold. “But she wouldn’t leave the Crystal Empire undefended. Especially not now.”
Spike shivered as well. “Guess we stick with the trail then.” He looked about. “Not like we have much choice otherwise.” Another step forward, another sinkage into the snow. The level reached up to his abdomen, the bottom of his rucksack dipping into it. “Or we can just tip over and fall into the snow. Brought my blanket and everything.”
“Enough to share?”
“... guess we’ll keep walking then.”
Shining sighed and came up to his side. “Here, hop on my back.”
“No thanks.” Spike pointed to his legs. “These work just fine, thank you very much.”
“What’s the matter with you?” Shining asked. “I save your life and suddenly you’re not accepting favors?” He shook his head as anger crept along his muzzle. “Look here, from this moment on, I’m the one that’s responsible for having you delivered safely to the Crystal Empire. There, you can answer to the princesses yourself.”
Spike looked away.
“Walk on your own legs then.” Shining returned to looking forward. “Just as long as they—” Shining stopped as the tip of his horn pulsated a deep purple color, each frequency extending further and brighter than the last.
Spike also stopped with a groan. His body became heavy and his energy levels became low, the weight of his rucksack almost impossible to carry as it seemingly pushed away from something ahead.
“We’re here.”
“H-Here?” A sudden jolt ran through Spike’s body as he was forced to clench his eyes, only managing to crack one open. “I don’t see anything but snow and—” His words stopped when he saw his flame pass disappear in thin air.
Shining took a few steps forward, lowering his head but keeping his horn raised. Then, ever slowly, he pushed its tip forward, and just like that, a massive, translucent dome made itself apparent against the winter storm.
“Woah.” Spike’s jaw as he stepped forward, keeping a few inches from the surface of the dome. “So this was how you hid and protected the Crystal Empire.”
Shining didn’t reply. Magic shot from his horn around the shape of its user, dispelling the surface of the dome and allowing the stallion to walk through.
Spike paused before the same area.
“Are you coming or what?”
Spike gulped.
He then walked through the dome, it sealing behind him.
Spike couldn’t lift his jaw even if he wanted to. The ethereal place never failed to amaze him every time with its brilliance. The captain and the drake were on a riding road that led into the central hub of the empire. Buildings and statues greeted them on either side with each shining just as brilliantly as the last. On a field just to there left, colts and fillies were kicking back and forth a small ball, all shiny and nice and obvious to the world beyond their protective dome.
“Stop.” Shining command as the drake was torn back from his gaze. He turned around and looked up at the stallion, who at the moment, was pulling off his dark cloak. Once it was in his hoof, he held it out before the drake. “Put this one. We’re heading into the housing district.”
“So?” Spike crossed his arms and took a step away. He straightened his spine, but it didn’t help much seeing as he only came up the captain’s muzzle. “What does that have to do with anything? The ponies here love me!”
“Not all of them. Not anymore.” Shining stepped forward and draped the cloak around Spike’s neck, pulling the hood over his head as the rest of it fell down to over his tail. “We’re to make it to the tower without any distractions.” Shining turned and began forward. “I’ve already been away for far too long because of you.”
Spike wanted to say something, anything, but words failed him as his feet carried him forward. Together, they carried through the magical city of crystal, though the magic of the buildings or the rainbow colors that filtered through the sky were lost to the small dragon. His head was down as he followed alongside the captain.
Spike saw his reflection in the immaculately smooth surface of the street. It surprised him at first; he had almost forgotten what he looked like.
“Spike…”
It was weird to see himself now. The cloak did well to hide his face from others, but he could see clearly through the veil of darkness his hood cast.
“Spike…”
It was weird for him to think that he’d forgotten what he looked like. Appearances aren't something he just forgot, and after some journeying and time alone, he could no longer recognize himself immediately.
“Spike!”
The drake finally rose his head, just when it was too late. He walked face first into some kind of block of crystal, rebounding second laters with a snore snout. He took a few steps back, rubbing his nose and looking up at what he had bumped in to.
It provoked tears from his eyes.
He hadn’t bumped into a block of crystal, but rather, a leg of one. Standing before him was a small statue, a crystalize depiction of a baby dragon with his claw on his hip, head back and eyes up, holding a crystal heart to the sky as he gazed upon it with a smile.
Shining stood back from the dragons, watching with indifference.
Spike kept staring at the statue in silence. After a few moments, his eyes began to close and his memory began to play, breathing deeply and as a shiver coursed through his body. Slowly, his head began to lower, and when it came to open his eyes, he saw his reflection once more—of the dragon that looked back at him, without a smile and a scar over his left eye.
A hoof seized his shoulder. “Come. We’ve wasted enough time here.”
Shining took back his hoof and turned around, the clops of his hooves starting to become distant.
Spike raised his head and began to walk backward, allowing his gaze to linger on the statue for a few moments longer. Then, with a heavy sighed, he turned his head and quickly bounded toward the captain—only to be stopped when he looked up.
Shining stopped underneath the tower, turning around. “What has you stopped?”
“Nothing.” Spike looked and began forward once again. “I’m coming.”
“You haven’t answered my question,” Shining said when the drake came to his side. “What kept you?”
Spike felt his heart ready to burst as he was led down the long corridors of the tower. The weight of his rucksack had become stupidly heavy the closer to the tower he got. Luckily, once Shining and he were inside, he was permitted to take off his hood, but the sight of the passing guards on his side made him wish he had it back on.
“The formalities of being in the presence of a princess are simple.” Shining was a few feet ahead on the red carpet—it was although he was leading him to his execution. “I trust you haven’t forgotten them?” For something posed as a question, it sounded like anything but.
“Yeah, I remember them.” Spike tried to distract himself by looking up and out the passing windows. “Kneel. Bow my head. Speak only when spoken too.”
“And to answer all questions honestly and truthfully.” Shining glared back at him. “Your sudden departure from Ponyville has raised a lot of questions.” He returned to looking forward and at the upcoming door. “And concern.”
Spike continued to stare out the windows. Soon, the stained glass turned into depictions of crystal ponies standing around a crystal heart. The next prorated buildings with families gathered in front of them. History soon changed to war as the next depiction was of the crystal ponies bearing arms and charging against a mist of blackness, eyes glowing red through the darkness.
Wind cut across Spike’s face. He shook his head—his heart jolted—as just a few feet ahead, the door to the throne were pushed open by the guards who had been standing on duty.
Spike looked back up to the glass only to see six ponies gathered around a crystal heart. He quickly shook his head, quickened his pace, and after a few steps, slowed down once he had entered the throne room. Behind him, the doors resounded with a thud as they were then closed.
“Make sure the third patrol answers to me immediately upon their return,” Cadence ordered from her throne to the guard bowing below her. A royal cloth was draped over the arm of her throne. “Shining Armor may have made contact with the missing assistant of Twilight Sparkle. Have another patrol ready to—”
“That won’t be necessary, my love.” Cadence gazed down the red carpet and gasped at who she saw approaching her. “Have any guards set for patrol set on standby and all those who return sent to their homes for the time being.” He came alongside the bowing guard and said to him: “You are dismissed. Get some rest while you still can.”
The guard gave a salute. Once given permission, he turned and began down the red carpet, passing another as he did so. A few moments later, the doors were opened for him, and once he was out, the princess bounded down the steps from her throne.
“Shining dear! You had me so worried.” Cadence quickly threw her forelegs around the neck of her love, hugging him dearly as he was quick to do the same. “Your squad returned saying you had wandered off. Then I had our handkerchief delivered by—”
“That’s another issue we have to deal with.” Shining’s voice became cold once more as he stepped away from the hug. He raised his muzzle and glared down at the approaching drake. “Princess Cadence, I’ve brought with me the—”
“Oh, Spike!” Cadence didn’t hesitate to rush over to the drake, throwing her forelegs around his neck and pulling him against her chest. She nuzzled the side of his head, saying: “Where have you been all this time?! So many ponies have been worried for you.”
Spike didn’t know what to say in response. He expected punishment instead of comfort. “I… I’ve been wandering a lot.”
“Wandering away from home!” Cadence pulled back so they could face each other. “You can’t just leave home without telling anypony where you’re going. Didn’t you ever think about how your friends would feel about this? What if something had happened to you?”
“... I left them a letter.”
“A letter is nothing compared to a proper goodbye.” Cadence smiled as tears burned at the corner of her eyes. She quickly wiped them away. “Ponies care about you, Spike. They love you as well. You can’t just leave them like this.” She brought his head against her chest, her soft fur rubbing against his smooth scales, the beating of her heart bringing about a long forgotten warmth in the drake.
In a way, the guilt Spike felt was worse than any punishment. He let himself sink into the alicorn, giving himself to the mare. “I’m… I’m sorry.”
Cadence kept holding him.
“I… I didn’t mean to hurt anypony.” Spike felt his voice crack. “I just thought that if I left a letter, that everything would be okay! That if anything happened to me that the g-girls would be okay with it.”
“Why would the girls ever be okay with something happening to you?” Cadence eyes widened with realization as she dropped her muzzle on the top of his head. “No, no, no. That wasn’t your fault. Do you hear me? None of what happened is your fault, okay?” She nuzzled him the best she could. “Nopony is mad at you for what happened. None of your friends would rather see you freezing in the north than back home with them.”
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
“You have nothing to be sorry for!”
“I’m sorry…”
Shining turned around, gritting his teeth as walked toward the door and left.
"...that’s when I left Fluttershy the letter.” Spike stood on the red carpet leading to the throne, where Cadence listened with an expression of indifference. Shining stood to her right and a scribe to her left, writing into a parchment with a feather tip. Guards flanked down both side of the carpet, suited in armor with their weapons rested, all standing impassively.
“I couldn’t stay at home and do nothing,” Spike continued. “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were doing the best they could, and the helped whenever they could, but I wasn’t doing anything.” He sighed. “So, I decided to set out and find the Great Cave.”
The guards shifted in their armor.
“The Great Cave?!” Shining stepped up to the throne. “You created all this drama because of an old fairy tale? Spike, something like that doesn’t exist!”
“The Great Cave is real!” Spike took a step forward. “Twilight even said so! When she read the story to me as a kid, she always said that it was real and that I would be the one to find it!”
“Because you were a kid!” Shining slammed his hoof into the ground. “And Twiliy isn’t here!”
“Shining.” Cadence stared her husband down. “This is my investigation, not yours.”
Shining drew a sharp breath as he took a step back. “As you wish.”
“Before we continue any further,” Cadence began as she turned back to the drake, “would you like to take your rucksack off? You haven’t had a chance to part with it since entering the throne room.”
“If it’s okay with you, I would rather keep it on.”
“You are allowed to wear it then.” Shining narrowed his eyes at his wife’s words. “After you departed from the residence of Fluttershy, you were at once reported to the Royal Sisters and a lookout had been issued for you once.” She shifted on her throne. “How did you evade detection all the way to the Frozen North?”
“Mostly by staying out of towns and avoiding coming into contact with most ponies,” Spike said. “I kept to trails and camped in caves whenever I could. I packed a few gems with me, and that was enough to last me until I got here.”
“And here is when you came into contact with Shining Armour?”
Spike nodded.
Cadence sat in silence for a moment. “I think the court has enough information to consider all events covered.” She looked about the throne room, and once she had made eye-contact with everyone, returned to look at Spike. “Spike the Dragon, from this moment on, I declare myself responsible for you for the time being.” She rose from her throne. “A letter detailing what was discussed here will be sent to the Royal Sisters in the morning. Future actions will be decided by Princess Celestia herself.”
Spike lowered his head. “So I won’t be allowed to continue my journey to the Great Cave?”
Cadence proceeded down her throne steps. She wore a soft smile. “I’m afraid not.” She reached the throne floor and came before the drake. “With court over, I will be the one to show you to your private quarters.” She gazed at everyone in the room. “You’re all dismissed and are to return to your duties at once.”
The guards stomped their hooves, saluted, then proceeded to leave in a single file line.
“Come,” Cadence said to the drake, stepping in front of him. “Let’s get you set up.”
Spike nodded his head and followed her across the throne room. The entire time, he could feel Shining’s gaze upon him, and a glance up at the throne was enough to confirm his suspicion as the stallion stared him down. Soon enough, Cadence and he came to a pair of doors to the right of the throne room—a pair of guards opening them for the duo.
Spike and Cadence carried down the smaller hall. Once the door closed behind them, the princess exhaled heavily. “I’m glad that’s over.” She cracked her neck left and right, then gazed down at the drake. “You think you would get used to court would get easier after a few sessions, but I still feel as tense after every one!”
Spike kept silent.
“You’re not talking?”
Spike sighed. “Sorry.”
“No, no. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.” Cadence looked forward and the two carried on in silence. The silence lasted for approximately a few seconds before the princess broke it, saying: “I’m sorry about how Shining acted in there.”
“You don’t have to be.” Spike lowered his head. “I can understand why he’s mad at me.”
Cadence opened her mouth to say something, but the words she wanted to speak failed her. So instead, she decided to talk about something else. “You know, that oath I made in there was pretty redundant.”
Spike looked up at her.
“Remember when I used to fillysit for you and Twilight?” She smiled. “I had already made an oath to Velvet to watch over and protect the two of you. All I’ve done in there is repeat myself!”
Spike tried to smile. He failed.
“Of course—” she lowered her head “—I haven’t made too good on that oath.”
The two stopped before a door near the end of the hall. Cadence looked at the drake and was surprised to find him smiling.
“Don’t worry, princess,” he said, “neither have I.”
