In Spike We Trust

In Spike We Trust

• Cornflak

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Everypony made it to the library. I didn’t really expect Rarity to actually come with me, though. I just feel like everything I do is rubbing her the wrong way. It doesn’t make any sense because she’s supposed to start falling love with me. I could have sworn it was working for a second there.

It really was working, right?

“Alright, girls.” Twilight helps me snap back to reality, “I want us to split up into groups so we can cover more ground.”

Sure, that makes sense. Cover more ground.

Whatever.

As long as we get away from the library as soon as possible, let them split up as much as they want.

“Now, wait a minute.” Applejack cuts in, “Before we all start trompin’ around town, Ah wanna know what everypony thinks about this here situation.”

“Yeah!” Pinkie Pie bounces into the the group, “Like, why would somepony wanna take the Elements of Harmony? Who could be so mean and sad and crazy-”

“I dunno!” Rainbow Dash interrupts and hovers above the ground while she punches the air, “But if you ask me, they’re about to get what’s coming!”

Note to self: watch out for Dash.

Fluttershy just looks around like she’s scared, “Um...maybe they just need a friend.”

“Who knows?” Twilight moves to the middle of the circle, “Right now, we need to focus on finding clues before it’s too late. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, you two will look around town square.”

And then the two ponies fly away in some other direction.

“Applejack and Pinkie Pie, check out the marketplace.”

And then they gallop away in another direction.

“Rarity, you and I will investigate the-”

“Hey!”

I feel sick when I hear that little voice.

The squeak that sounds like a mouse trying to get your attention.

The three of us look down and see a frail pegasus pony on four shaking legs.

There’s a familiar camera dangling from his neck.

Twilight arches a brow, “Um...hello?”

The small guy hops around and laughs, “Are you guys gonna look for the Elements?”

Rarity smiles, “That’s simply adorable. Would you like to come along?”

If I didn’t love that pony from head to hoof, I’d probably have already tackled her to the ground. Having this photographer on our backs is just going to make everything more risky.

“Really!?” he looks like he’s about to explode, “Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes!”

“Hold on, Rarity.” Twilight steps forward. She must be able to read minds, too. She looks down at the little pony and narrows her eyes, “What’s your name?”

“Oh!” he giggles and runs a hoof through his mane, “I’m Featherweight!”

“Hm. Well, Featherweight, what makes you want to come with us?”

“Uhh...um, I can take pictures and look for clues!” he jumps a little and laughs.

“Oh, really?” Twilight sounds skeptical, “Are you sure you’re not looking for a good story to publish in the paper?”

Featherweight freezes and his jaw slacks a bit.

That’s when Twilight loosens up and laughs, “It’s okay. Maybe you can help us.”

“Really? For real?”

“Sure, why not?” she confirms, looking at me and Rarity like she’s thinking, “Who *is** this pony?”*

“That’s so cool! Um, um...hey, where can we go? Where do you want us to go?” he smiles really big and shows off a pair of buck teeth.

Twilight thinks and looks up at the clouds, “Well, I was thinking about sending Spike to Canterlot. Maybe you can go with him.”

Yeah, I have to say something now.

“Or!” I get everypony’s attention, and now I feel like I’m standing in a hot spotlight and I’ve forgotten my line, “Or....or, uhh...maybe he can go with you and Rarity.”

Twilight grins, “Oh, don’t be silly, Spike. You can’t tell me that you want to investigate Canterlot all by yourself.”

Maybe I do.

“Besides...” she keeps going, “...Princess Celestia is expecting you. Your friend can look around the castle while you’re busy.”

A shiver travels down my spine when I hear about the princess.

“C-Celestia? What does she want with me?”

“She wouldn’t tell me. I told her about our search party and then she asked for you, specifically, to visit her in the castle.”

“Do I have to?” I can feel my teeth chattering.

Twilight blinks, “She’s the princess, Spike. Of course you have to. Why?”

“It’s just...” I stop myself and wonder if I should just spill the beans right here and right now. Discord said he would buzz off for a while. Maybe he’s not watching me, “It’s just that...maybe...”

“Spike, do use your words, darling.” Rarity’s losing her patience.

“I’m just nervous!” I yell out. It’s not really a lie, but it’s not really the whole truth, either.

They both laugh.

Twilight catches her breath and rubs an eye, “Oh, you’ll be fine. Maybe she just wants to see if you’re okay.”

“Yeah...I hope so.” I look down at Featherweight, who’s been smiling this whole time like a foal at a carnival.

“Anyway, everypony will meet back here at sunset.” Twilight turns and trots away.

Rarity lingers and tells me, “Good luck.” before leaving.

That’s when it occurs to me that they never told me where they’re going to search.

No big deal, I guess.

We’ll just meet at the library after Celestia talks to me, and then I’ll get to hear about how nopony found any clues.

“Ready to go, Mister Spike?” the little photographer pipes up, making me want to punch him in the nose. I’m not an idiot. I know exactly what this little guy wants. Twilight even said it to his face. All he wants is a good story to get his name out there. He’s the last pony I need following me around.

But I bite my tongue and just sigh.

“Let’s go.”

___________________________________________

“You are now departing from..Ponyville.”

The train ride to the fancy city of Canterlot is a long one. Mainly because Featherweight won’t leave me alone. He’s been sitting across from me and asking about my job as Celestia’s messenger. I told him that all I do is send Twilight’s letters to the princess, and vice-versa. But he wants more info. Just like any other journalist, he’s looking for something spicy or out of the ordinary for his newspaper.

“So, is that all you do?” he tilts his head. He seems disappointed.

“Yep. Pretty much.”

“Wow...that’s really boring.”

I claw at the seat beneath me and leave scratches in the soft material.

“Are you okay, Mr. Spike?”

“Sure.” I rub my temples because I’m starting to get a headache.

“You don’t look like you’re okay.”

“I’m really okay.” I say more directly.

“So, who do you think did it?”

“Did what?”

“Stole the Elements!” he says excitedly like he answered a question correctly on a game show.

“Hey, keep it down.” I say quietly and look around the train. Some ponies are already starting to look over here, but nothing major. Eventually, they go back to what they were doing.

“Oh, sorry!” he says in a whisper, “So, who did it?”

“How should I know?”

“Well, you were holding the Elements of Harmony at the party, right?”

I have to sit there and think if I really just heard those words come out of his mouth.

“W-w-what? You...I didn't...uh...”

He laughs like he just told a joke, but he keeps going along with it.

“You know! At the party! I took your picture! See?” and he holds out a photo of me at the party, just like he said. I snatch it from him and try to get a closer look. I’m making a stupid face and my arms are all over the place. I think it was taken when I ran into Featherweight. But still, it’s clear as any other picture you would see in the morning paper. I’ve been caught red-handed by this pipsqueak.

But I can’t let this happen.

This won’t happen.

So I rip the photo in half and then I tear the two pieces into four parts, and then I just keep shredding the pieces into little bits.

“Hey, stop it!” he comes at me and scrambles to take the pieces from my claws, but I can see him coming before he can make it in time. I open the window to my right and toss all of the scraps outside the train. The wind carries them away, never to be seen again.

When I close the window and sit back in my chair, I notice Featherweight pressing his face against the cold glass.

“Why did you do that...?” he says before he starts crying silently, “That was...my best picture...you tore up my favorite picture, Mr. Spike!”

But I don’t have any time to feel sorry for him.

“Why did you have that picture!?” I raise my voice. I can’t help it. I’m just so angry right now.

He turns to me and he has tears streaming down his cheeks, “I don’t know...”

“Don’t lie to me! What were you gonna do with it?”

“Your next stop is...Canterlot.”

Featherweight tries to stop stammering and get his words out.

“I w-was just...I w-w-wanna get a g-goo-ood storyy-y!” he hides his face behind his hooves like he’s ashamed.

Good.

I hope he’s ashamed.

“Were you gonna show that to Celestia!?” I yell again. I don’t even look around to see who’s watching.

He just nods.

It takes every bit of my energy to hold back from attacking him.

From here, I start whispering harshly.

“Do you know what they’d do to me!?”

He shakes his head, but he still won’t lower his hooves.

“They’d take me away!”

This is when he finally stops hiding and looks at me, “What do you mean...?”

“Jail! I don’t wanna go to jail!”

“So, you...you really did steal the Elements of Harmony?”

“Yeah...I did.” I fidget when I finally admit it, “But nopony’s gonna believe you without proof, so just stop before you get any ideas.”

“But they can’t arrest you, Mr. Spike! You’re the messenger dragon!”

I know we’re both whispering, but I can’t help but worry that somepony’s gonna hear us and make a straight shot for the princess when the train stops.

“It doesn’t matter. Anypony can get in trouble for something like this.”

“Now arriving at...Canterlot. Have a nice day.”

The train screeches to a halt and I use this time to swipe at Featherweight’s camera. He’s quick, though. He hops back and sits down in his seat where he’s out of my reach.

I sigh and then I point a sharp finger at him, “Look. No pictures today. Got it?”

His big, brown eyes are still watering. He nods his head in silence.

“Actually...don’t ever take any pictures around me, and don’t take any pictures of me, either.”

“Okay...” he looks scared.

“Good. C’mon.”

And the two of us step off the train. From here, we have the perfect view of Canterlot’s tall buildings and shiny streets. In the distance, we can both see our next destination, the royal castle.

I swear...if I see a single flash, I’ll have another felony over my head.