Spike's Bizarre Adventure

It was late morning in the small town of Ponyville. Just like any other day dozen of ponies walked through its dusty streets as they cheerfully greeted each other. And just like any other day two creatures moved about inside the slight famous Carousel Boutique. One of them was its owner, Rarity; the other was Ponyville’s number one assistant and resident dragon, Spike.

But, differently from any other day, Spike didn’t answered to Rarity’s beck and call, neither did he lost himself on the beauty of the mare of his dreams. Instead he just dozed off in place, the little of consciousness that he had left keeping him from falling face first into the boutique’s floor.

“Spike.”

The dragon didn’t answered the sweet tone that called for him. Instead he stared blankly at one of the couple of mannequins that the boutique had.

“Spike.”

The sweet voice called again, and once again it failed to reach him. The fog that covered his mind turning any sensorial input into vapid vapor.

“Spike!”

With a more authoritarian and loud tone the voice penetrated through the fog and awoke Spike from his standing sleep, causing him to jump back in surprise.

“Wha what?!” he asked as he looked around searching for the source of the voice. After a few seconds his gaze set on Rarity who was standing in front of him with a worried look on her face.

“Spike, haven’t you been sleeping well?”

Spike thought for a moment before answering, he really wanted to put a brave face, to tell her that everything was fine, but she knew him to well and lying would just be a waste of time.

A heavy sigh left Spike’s mouth. “No, I keep having this strange dream and it’s keeping me awake all night.”

“Oh dear, if you’re not feeling well then you don’t need to come help me if you don’t want to,” Rarity said as she sat beside him and wrapped her foreleg around him.

“But I want to help.”

“Oh please darling, in the way you are you’re going to be more of a burden than help. And it would severely pain me to see you work half-dead because of me, besides, I was able to work before without you, there’s no need for you to bother yourself with that.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Now, Spikey Wikey, would please tell me what are these dreams that are bothering you?”

“It’s not these, it’s it. Do you remember the whole ‘human world’ incident a few weeks back?”

Rarity just nodded her head up and down.

“Well, I don’t know if it has anything to do with it. But the thing that I keep dreaming of is this human.

I’m surrounded by darkness and the only thing I can see is him. He is really tall, as tall as Celestia, and strong, he could give Big Mac a run for his money. His hair is long and gold, his upper body is covered in scars that look like constellations, and he wear this torned cloth on his waist that looks like Luna’s mane, you know with the whole ethereal night sky. His skin is also of a very dark blue.

But what really makes him scary is his face, it has this gold lightning bolt tattooed across it and his expression is completely blank. Like he’s some sort of stone statue or something, and it just creeps me out.”

After finishing his story, Rarity looked at him for a moment with her mind trying to find a way to help the little dragon.

“Hum… have you tried talking to Twilight about it?”

“Yes,” Spike said with defeated tone. “She tried out a bunch of different spells, from dream-eaters, to mental purification, to something called Stone Sleep. Nothing worked. I also tried talking to Luna but she said that whatever this is it is something that she has never seen before.”

Rarity return to deep thought as she tried to find someway to help. The poor thing is dead tired. He reminds of myself when I just can’t sleep of worry. That particular thought brought an idea to her. Rarity then walked away from Spike and to her kitchen.

“Rarity? Where are you going?”

“One minute, darling!” she exclaimed from the kitchen.

Not even a full minute after, Rarity appeared carrying a plastic transparent pot that was filled halfway with a grey powder. “Here, Spikey,” she said handing the pot to him.

“What is it?” Spike asked as he looked at the grey powder.

“It is a special powder that Zecora made for me. Put on some hot water and you got yourself something that will make you sleep from one morning to the other.” Rarity gave Spike a reassuring wink and went back to her dresses. “Now go get some well deserved rest, and promise me that you will only come help when you’re feeling better.”

“Thanks, Rarity! But I make no promises, I will come help even if it might kill me!” Spike said before leaving the boutique.

Rarity chuckled at his sudden enthusiasm. Such a charm… maybe one day...

Spike rapidly walked through the streets of Ponyville, the anticipation of finally getting some rest powering his body. But then a sign that was hanging from a wagon made him come to a halt.

“Deepsight’s One-Hundred-Percent Accurate Fortune Reading,” he said reading the sign aloud.

Spike took a moment to think about it. Eh, why not?

Entering the wagon, Spike founded himself face to face with circular table that was covered with a light blue cloth, and facing him was an earth-pony mare that sat on the end of the table.

“Come in, young dragon,” the mare said with a rough voice that penetrated Spike ears all the way to his very soul.

As he walked towards the table Spike noticed all the different trinkets that hanged from the ceiling: from dream-catchers, to smooth carved stones, a few wooden totems, and even some silver coins. All of them adding to the magical and mysterious atmosphere that flooded the wagon.

Spike sat on the wooden chair opposite to the mare. And the moment he took a good look at her, he questioned her early estatement. Because the mare’s eyes were completely white, a sign that showed to the world her blindness.

“Give me your claw, young dragon.”

Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and bidding by her will he extended his hand to her.

“Wait, how do you?”

“Shesshh…” she said putting her hooves over his claw and then looking down.

“Bits,” she muttered.

“What?”

“You forgot to put the bits on the table. Three bits will do.”

Spike put the pot on the ground and then grabbed three bits from his scale pocket which he then immediately threw on the table.

Hearing the sound of the coins hitting the soft cloth and the hardwood underneath it the mare smiled. “Good,” she said.

For a few moments the only sound was the soft mumbling that left the mare’s mouth. But then she suddenly stopped and raised her head. Her white eyes stared directly at Spike’s green, even if her inability would make such act impossible, and just like with her voice Spike felt her gaze penetrated his corporeal body and stare directly at his soul.

She then released his claw and using her hooves slid the bits back to him. “You can have your bits back.”

“What? Why? What did you saw?”

“Nothing.”

“What?”

“You see, there are some folks that we in the business call ‘fateless’. They go on with their lives doing as they see fit, changing their destinies with every action they make. You have no fortune, young dragon, none at all. I have nothing to tell you, and so, here’s your bits back.”

As he walked outside, Spike had a blank expression on his face, his brain completely failing on creating a worthy reaction. Until one word finally appeared on his mind. “What.”

It took a couple of minutes, but Spike was finally home. Now he only needed to walk inside, drink the stuff that Rarity gave him, and hopefully get some sleep.

“Ah Spike! You’re home early!” Twilight exclaimed as he walked inside.

Spike winced at her tone, that excited tone that she had when she found something interesting to do, a tone that gave Spike a very clear message. I’m not gonna be sleeping any time soon.

“Hi, Twilight... who is this guy?” Spike said pointing to a blue unicorn that was sitting on the ground surrounded by books and that had one floating in front of his face.

“Have manners, Spike! This is Keen Eye, he is a collector of books.”

“Hello,” the unicorn said. He then lowered the book from his face and looked at Twilight. “I have to say, Miss Sparkle, your library has a fine collection of books.”

That's it! That’s the breach that Spike needed! They’re going to start talking about books and forget about anything else, now Spike only needs to very quietly go upstairs and he is free!

“Oh, thanks. And please don’t call me Miss Sparkle, that would be my grandmother.”

Very lightly Spike stepped on the the library’s stair, as to not make any sound that would bring Twilight back from her book world. He was halfway there, just a few more steps….

“I’ll remember that. Say, my throat is a little dry, do you have anything to drink?”

“Of course we do! Spike!”

Twilight’s yell put to a complete stop Spike’s ascend and caused a heavy sigh to leave his mouth. “Yes, Twilight…”

“Would you please go make some tea for us?”

“Yes, Twilight,” Spike said as he slowly descended and then walked to the kitchen. You’re really lucky that I love you as much as I do…

Once in the kitchen, Spike quickly grabbed two mugs, put water on both of them, and then with a breath of green fire he instantly heated them. After putting the tea leaves on the water Spike idled for a moment, but then something on the kitchen caught his attention. There’s a fly on the wall… how do flies keep themselves like that anyway?

In the corner of his eye Spike noticed that the tea was ready. But before taking them to Twilight, an idea appeared on his head. I really hope Twilight and her guest like their tea steaming hot! He thought as a wicked smile formed on his face, once again he blew fire on to the mugs heating them even more.

Spike could barely contain his laughter as he walked back to Twilight. But then the moment he entered the room his laughter completely died down, and its place came a mix of terror and worry produced by the scene before him.

Twilight laid unconscious on the floor with Keen Eye knelt besides her.

“What happened?!” Spike managed to say, barely stopping himself from panicking.

“Don’t worry, she was only knocked out,” Keen Eye said raising from the floor, his voice cold and stern. “I don’t like hurting anyone that isn’t my target, unless it is necessary.”

“What?”

“Now, would you kindly die for me?”

Moved by pure instinct and fear, Spike jumped back into the kitchen, and just in time as a invisible force swiped where he previously were taking part of the wall with it.

Spike hid himself behind one of the kitchens cabinet, his mind working in overdrive as he tried to come up with a plan. I need to find help, but I can’t just leave Twilight with him… Spike then looked to his left and saw the kitchen’s window. That’s it! I’m just gonna walk to the window and yell for help! But before he could take even a single step Keen Eye’s voice reverberated through the library.

“I hope you don’t try to run or call for help. Or else your dear Twilight might not wake up.”

This stopped Spike completely.

“Look, dragon, my job here is to kill you and only you. So how about this: you come to me with no resistance and I promise that I will not lay a single hoof on your friend.”

The weight of the situation and the decision that he would had to make caused him to sweat heavily. A storm of thoughts raged inside his mind composed of all the things he would lose with his sacrifice, all the things he would never experience… but then the storm completely vanished when he thought about all the things that she would lose.

I can’t protect Twilight… but I can save her.

Making his resolution, Spike left his hiding spot and slowly walked to his doom. Once he was face to face with Keen Eye he looked at the unicorn not with fear or dread, but with courage.

“I made my choice, give me your best shot.” Spike then spread his arms leaving himself completely open to anything that the unicorn could throw at him.

“You’re very brave for a young dragon. Now die!”

At the last moment Spike closed his eyes and waited for the attack. But after a few seconds of feeling nothing he opened his eyes, and the sight that met him left him speechless.

Standing before Spike, with his back turned to him, was a very tall man. But even without looking at his face Spike knew who this was: the long flowing golden hair, the scar plagued body, all the same characteristics that figure that haunted his dreams had.

“What?!”

Keen Eye’s cry snapped Spike back to reality, in doing so Spike noticed the reason why the figure had appeared. In front of him was a pony, or at least something that looked like a pony. It had not single strand of hair. Its body was made of a reddish leather, instead of eyes it had two long cylindrical lanterns that were carved into its face, and where the mouth should be there was a long sticht that gave the impression of a smile.

Keen Eye backed away from Spike and the figure, the leather pony following him. “You, you’re also a Stand User?!”

“Stand User?” Before Spike could question what that meant, a strange feeling washed over him; natural but indescribable at the same time, similar of how someone is aware of their limbs. Changing his attention to the figure, Spike realised what the feeling was. The figure’s eye were his own, his fists were his fists, his body was free for him to control.

Spike clenched both of his fists as resolution and anger gave his face a stern look capable of scaring even Discord away. I can feel it... its immense strength, the weightless of its body, and even its name. Yes, my Starman. And with him, I can finally protect Twilight.

Keen Eye, on the other hand, hadn’t recovered himself from the surprise of Starman’s sudden appearance. I wasn't informed of this! I need to rethink my strategy, buy some time to think this through.

But before he could move, Starman sent a punch right to his face. In only a few seconds Keen Eye’s Stand defended the punch with both forelegs, but the punch was so strong that it sent them back a few meters. Too fast, and so strong! If I was delayed even for a second I would have been knocked out!

Without giving him time to compose himself, Spike launched another punch at him. But this time Keen Eye evaded the punch by jumping to the left. Spike could only watch as Keen Eye’s Stand digged its metal hooves into the floor and opened a hole that they both fell into before closing itself.

“What.” Was all that Spike could say as confusion softened his stern expression.

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Confused? This is my Rats in the Cellar ability, the ultimate escape power! With it I can hide and move inside any surface! This makes me the greatest assassin, not even Princess Celestia herself is save from me and Rats in the Cellar!”

Keen Eye’s voice echoed through the library as Spike wandered aimlessly.

“Now, the moment you turn your back to me I will strike you down so fast that not even your Stand will be able to protect you!”

Inside the library’s wall Keen Eye was already smacking his lips in anticipation. But then Spike stopped walking, looked directly where he was hidden, and smirked at him.

“Found you.”

With blinding speed, Starman punched a hole where Keen Eye was, grabbed him, and threw him across the room.

“How- how did you do that?” Keen Eye desperately tried to get away from Spike, but he was so overruned with fear that the only thing he could was slowly slide himself away.

In response, Spike tapped his right ear with his right hand while resting his elbow on the back of his left hand. “My hearing is better than even a cat’s. I also know this library inside out, even better than Twilight.”

As Spike and Starman approached him, Keen Eye began to panicked.

“Look, there’s no need to do anything drastic okay? I’ll tell everything you want to know, just- just don’t do anything that you might regret.”

“You… you threaten me, you hurt Twilight! Oh YES, you’re going to tell me everything you know… from your hospital bed!”

Keen Eye could only release a small weep before getting every bone of his body, except for his jaw, broken by Starman’s lightning fast barrage of punches.

“ZORARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARA RAAAA!!”

Keen Eye…  Rats in the Cellar…

Left unable to fight...