Chapters "One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood." (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
"Come on Spike! Pinky Pie's Nightmare Night party will be over before we even get there," Twilight shouted at spike, "It can't be that bad!" The lavender Allicorn was shouting at Spike from downstairs. "No, I look ridiculous," the dragon yelled back to her. He obviously wasn't going to come out, and now Twilight was just fed up with waiting. She spread her wings and flew up the stairs of her old home to Spike's room.
After Twilight Sparkle had become a princess. She had moved into the castle in Canterlot. Spike lived there for two years until he got older. When he was eighteen years old he moved back to Ponyville. Even though he had only been gone for two years, he missed the the old library were he used to live.
The library was a large hollowed out tree that was still alive, by magic or some other force. Spike had still remembered the smell of oak and old paper that filled the place. It felt more like his home than the cold chambers of the castle. So, thanks to Princess Celestia, Spike was given the task of running the library. After serving as Twilight's assistant for so long, he was perfectly qualified for the job. Twilight still visited Spike every now and then to check up on him.
Tonight was Pinky's annual Nightmare Spooktacular Costume party. Twilight was already dressed as Chrysalis the changeling queen, since nopony really understood her Starswirl the Bearded costume that she used to wear.
Spike didn't want to come out because he was embarrassed by how his new costume had turned out. He was planning on going dressed as Discord, but when he heard Rarity was going as a vampiress, he couldn't help but to change his costume to a vampire. Twilight made her way to his door and unlocked it with her magic. As she stepped in through the door, she couldn't help but laugh at spikes costume.
It was a mess.
Anypony could see that Spike's costume was last minute. He was wearing his old suit jacket which didn't fit him anymore. This was because Spike had hit his first growth spurt. The makeup was not solid all across and kind of looked like a pie had been smashed in his face. "It's a disaster, I look like an idiot." His arms, which he couldn't move because of the tight fitting jacket, finally split the sleeves down the seams. He grabbed a towel off of his bedside and wiped the makeup off of his face. Twilight could again see the purple scales of her 'little brother's' toned face.
He had certainly changed since his growth spurt. Spike had grown to pony size and walked on all fours in public, so as not to intimidate anypony. Spike's face also changed drastically. By dragon standards, he would be considered a fairly handsome drake. Spike had even grown wings, to which Rainbow Dash was exited to have yet, another flying buddy. He picked his flying lessons up a bit faster than Twilight, and he could even fly close to the same speed as Rainbow Dash.
Twilight sighed and walked over to Spike putting a hoof on his shoulder, "Spike, I know you want your costume to match Rarity's, but you know, have you ever thought that you're trying to hard to get her attention?" Spike drooped his head down. Rarity was another pony that lived a couple of blocks away from the library in the Carrousel Boutique. Spike had a huge crush on her when he first came to Ponyville. Spike believed there was no other mare or dragoness that could match her beauty.
He still loved her, but now he thought just maybe, he should listen to Twilight's advice for once. "Okay," he sighed, "I guess I should get back into my Discord costume." He was still most likely going to flirt with Rarity, just in a different costume. Although, he wasn't sure if she would recognize him. She was out of town for the past week when Spike came back to Ponyville, and she had only just gotten home last night, so she had yet to see what had become of him. In fact, she didn't even know he was back. Spiked sighed.
Twilight's horn lit up as she used her magic to get rid of the old suit jacket Spike was wearing and threw it away in the trash bin at the side of Spike's Desk. Spike went over to the closet to pull out his Discord costume. Twilight was pretty impressed when she saw it.
Spike had designed the costume himself. Sweety Bell, who was Rarity's little sister, helped him get the supplies to make it. Sweety thought it was cute that Spike had a crush on her older sister. She supported Spike because of his respectful and caring personality. Sweety was tired of all the stallions that left Rarity heartbroken. She supported Spike by helping him in any way she could. In this case it was a costume.
The main piece of the costume was a pinstriped brown suit which had been altered in different areas. The left sleeve was hemmed up to the elbow. Spike wrapped his left arm in discolored bandages and pulled on a tight glove which allowed his claws to be visible, it was the griffon hand. For his right hand, he wore a gold plated gauntlet that he forged at the old Canterlot blacksmith. The pants were another sight. The legs were two different colors and materials. The right leg consisted of green jean material while the left leg matched the suit jacket.
Spike walked over to his desk. There was a wooden box on the desk which was covered in postage stamps. Spike lifted the lid off of the box to pull out its contents. It was a silver helmet, much like the style of the royal guard, except there were changes made to this helmet. Instead, the faux mane was black instead of blue, and there were two horns, one from a deer, and the other from a ram.
As Spike pulled on the helmet Twilight stood there dumbfounded. "Spike, you made that?" She was referring to his costume. She had never seen Spike make anything like this before. Twilight had known spike to age gems, every now and then, but costume design, it wasn't like him at all. "I have to say I'm really impressed."
"Yeah, thanks." Spike said trying not to sound disappointed. Even though his costume was amazing, and it even impressed Twilight, who usually wouldn't care, he still felt like his costume wasn't good enough. "Okay I guess we should get going." The moping dragon began to make his way towards the door, trying to sound depressed.
Twilight smiled and headed for the door after him. "Alright then, let's go. My guard is waiting outside for us." Spike was confused. What did she mean by guard? As they continued down the stairs, Spike could see through the window a dark figure standing outside the library. Twilight opened the door with her magic. Spike recognized the pegasus guard who stood at the door in costume.
"Hello princess Twilight, and Spike. It's nice to see you again." Spike smiled at the orange pegasus guard. It was that guard from the crystal empire. Applejack had teased Twilight about having a crush on him. What was his name...ah yes, Flash Sentry, that was his name. Wasn't that the same name of that kid with the guitar in the other world? Maybe.
Spike observed Flash's costume, "Let me guess...your supposed to be King Sombra?" Spike wasn't very impressed by the costume, but he had a hunch that Twilight had something to do with that said costume.
Flash seemed to be excited that Spike recognized his costume. "That's right. I thought you remember him," Spike did remember unfortunately, "Princess Twilight ordered it for me." Spike almost laughed because his hunch was right. He had discovered the reason behind the costume. Twilight was crushing on a guard, how cute, Spike laughed in his mind. Flash spoke up just then, "We should probably be on our way now." Flash began to walk away.
Spike turned to Twilight and gave her an evil grin. "What? He's just my escort in and out of the castle. I just wanted him to have a costume so he'd fit in better."
Spike laughed again. "Uh huh. I understand. Don't worry I won't tell anypony about your 'coltfriend', yet."
"Ohhhh, why you little..." She was cut off by Flash who called for them to keep up. Twilight turned back to Spike as they began to approach Flash. "Spike, please, you don't understand, there is more..."
Spike cut her off, "Don't worry I won't interfere." He sighed. "It's your business not mine, and besides I'm happy that you found your special somepony." Twilight smiled, happy to know Spike was willing to respect her personal life. "At least you have somepony, right?" He sighed again as his head drooped down.
Twilight looked at Spike who was starting to drag his feet. "You do know..." She paused until spiked looked up to her. "...You do know that the party is at Rarity's house this year, right?"
Spike stopped as a rush went up his spine. "W-what!" He stared at Twilight with his emerald green eyes wide open.
"Yeah, she's hosting the party," Spike couldn't believe his ears, "at the Carousel Boutique."
*****
"Pinky! Is everything ready for tonight?" The white unicorn was getting impatient with Pinky Pie. "Pinky! The guests will soon be here any minute. Are those tables set up yet?" Rarity was shouting at Pinky from upstairs. Finally she stomped out if her room and downstairs, only to find tables set up with chairs against the walls, but no Pinky. "Pinky?" The doorbell suddenly rang.
Rarity fixed her her royal purple mane before opening the door. "Hi yah Rarity, I'm here!" It was Pinky. Her name described her almost perfectly. She was a pink pony with a hot pink mane, but her blue eyes contrasted the color of her body. "Do you need me to set up those tables?"
Rarity stared at Pinky who was wearing a chicken costume, "I thought...didn't you set up these tables?" Pinky looked past Rarity to see that all the tables had been set up already.
"Hmmm, no. But hey, you know what this means?!" Rarity stood there puzzled. "It means...I have more time to DECORATE!" Pinky ran past her into the Boutique almost knocking her down. Pinky pulled out a bag, seemingly from nowhere, full of party supplies. Rarity sighed as Pinky went about decorating the walls of the boutique.
That was strange, she thought, who set up the tables then? "I guess I'll just leave you to that Pinky." Rarity sighed, trying not to worry about the tables. "I'll go change into my costume now." She began to walk upstairs to her room when she remembered,"Oh and Pinky, when Vinyl Scratch gets here, be sure to let her in! She going to be our DJ for tonight!" She shouted from the stairway.
"Sure thing Rarity!" Pink responded back. Rarity smiled as Pinky went back to decorating. She continued into her room and closed the door behind her.
Rarity stood in front of her mirror and began to spray a rainbow of colors into her hair. For the party she was dressing as Princess Celestia. She tried to mimic Celestia's mane by spraying a variety of pastel colored hairsprays into her own mane. Rarity was careful to style her hair so that it was wavy, like Celestia's, instead of her natural curly hair.
She went over to her dresser where she pulled a gold tiara out of her jewelry box. As she placed it on her head she looked up at her mirror. She started to straighten the tiara and make the minor adjustments to her mane with a brush. Rarity paused as she studied the picture that was stuck in the frame of her mirror. It was a picture of her and her friends, but there was another she noticed standing next to her friend Twilight.
It was a young purple dragon with emerald green eyes. She sighed has she remembered him,"Has it really only been two years, it feels like more." She felt a stir of emotions rise up as she remembered the little dragon, always trying to help her. He meant well, but Rarity never learned to appreciate his service, until he left. After he left, she had to do more of her chores by herself again. She did't realize how much he had done for her.
Rarity frowned as a wave of guilt rushed over her. She had basically used him the whole time he was in Ponyville. He dug gems for her, acted as her pin cushion, and even took out her trash every week. The little dragon, Spike, had a crush on her. He even told her, but what did she do?
Nothing. Nothing worth his time.
Rarity opened her jewelry box once more. She dug deep into the box till she found what she was looking for. She pulled out a heart shaped fire ruby, that was mounted in a gold band necklace. Spike, the little dragon, had given it to her. It was going to be his birthday treat, but he decided otherwise. It belonged to him, but he gave it willingly to her. Spike gave Rarity the heart, or...was it his heart? He was young, yes. But at the same time, he was caring, loyal, he listened, and...
Rarity's eyes began to get a little watery, but there were no tears. She managed to hold them back. "Do you even remember me?" She was talking to the picture. It almost seemed like his image smiled at he specifically. "I wish..." She couldn't pull the words out that she wanted. "...I'm sorry."
If only he could be there...
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." (Leo Buscaglia)
"Hey Vinyl, you got any good music for tonight?" Pinky shouted over the crowd of ponies in costumes. Vinyl looked over to Pinky. She pulled down her shades slightly revealing her crimson red eyes.
"You know it Pinky! I got a whole new set of albums from Wooden Toaster, Living Tombstone, and Blackgryph0n." The DJ pony pulled her shades back up to her face and turned on her set of speakers and subwoofers. She smiled as she cranked up the levels on her sound board. Vinyl pulled her microphone out , "Yo let's start out with the all time classic 'Nightmare Night '" The crowd began to roar and shout as Vinyl pulled out the record and placed it on the turntable.
The music began with a dark but high note piano tune which began to get louder and louder until it changed to electric piano, dubstep, and bass. As the tempo on the music picked up, Vinyl began to nod her head to the beat. The whole crowd of ponies in the Carousel Boutique began to go wild as the heavy music spread piercing every corner of the room.
Rarity turned her head towards the door just when she felt the wave of sounds coming from the bass. She was just finishing tying up the fake wings to her sides. Her costume was completed with that, and the chest plate which was gold with a purple gem mounted in the center. "All right then. It's time to party."
Rarity opened her door and began to walk down the stairway. She took a long look at the whole scene. Everypony was rocking out and having a great time dancing all over the place. To the side Rarity could see Pinky Pie do a stage dive, landing in the hooves of ponies that carried her across the room. Big Macintosh, one of the Apple farmer family, most ponies knew him as simply Bic Mac, stood at the makeshift bar: serving apple cider to various mares and their colt friends. Rarity sighed at the thought. She watched as Fluttershy came walking up to Big Mac to ask for some cider. He seemed to blush as Fluttershy took the drink from his hoof. Big Mac sighed a breath as she walked away from the bar. He appeared to be eyeballing her flank as she walked away. He snapped out of it though as another colt came up to get a drink. It was the Doctor. He walked up with a blond haired pegasus mare trailing behind him. Her derp eyes all too familiar. It was Ditsy Doo, who just kept staring at the Doctor, nuzzling his neck. The two had been married for at least two months now. Rarity made Ditsy's dress herself.
Why the hay, she thought, were there all these couples? She groaned as she eventually made her way to the bottom of the stairs. It was really disconcerting, seeing all these mares with their coltfriends, who did she have? Rarity sat down at one of the tables.
The front door opened just then, two ponies walked in. The first one was a cyan blue pegasus, with a rainbow mane, dressed as Daring Doo. "Hey Rarity!" Rarity waved to her friend Rainbow Dash. "I'm sorry I'm late, I was just making sure Zecora didn't forget about tonight." Following the mare pegasus was a zebra pony dressed as a witch doctor. Her name was Zecora.
Zecora lived in the Everfree forest outside of Ponyville. She was no stranger to anypony, but it wasn't always that way. Many of the ponies in Ponyville used to fear her, they once believed that she was a witch. That all changed when Twilight set things straight, showing everypony that she was just an apothecary from a distant land. She lived in the Everfree forest because there was a rich supply of herbs for her medicines there. Most of all, she enjoyed the natural peace of the forest. It was a place where she could think, and meditate, but it was lonely.
"Good evening my miss Rarity, I'm sure this party shall be a nice break from the Everfree." She spoke to Rarity in her usual singsong voice. She was really looking forward to be around friends again.
"Really darling? I thought you loved the forest."
"Alas that comfort has its ends, but tonight is a night to be enjoyed with friends." Rarity didn't question the zebra. She wanted spend the night with friends, and that, was that.
"Why howdy Rarity. It sure is good to see ya back in town!" Rarity recognized that country accent. It was her friend Applejack, another Apple farmer family member, the sister of Bic Mac as a matter of fact. The blond haired orange pony was dressed in the same scarecrow costume she always wore on nightmare night for years. "So how was Canterlot? Ya meet any good lookin stallions?"
Rarity sighed at this question. "No, I didn't, but that's alright I guess. By the way...anything interesting happen while I was gone?" Rarity finally asked. She hated being out of the loop of information. She had only been out of town a week, not much could have changed, but she still wanted to know everything.
"Well..." Rainbow Dash paused in thought, trying to figure out what to say. "... wait, didn't you hear?"
"Hear what?" Rarity was a little worried, but curious nonetheless.
Applejack responded,"Spike is back." Rarity's heart stopped.
"What?" She practically squeaked with her eyes wide.
"Yeah! Spike is running the library now! He lives there..." Rainbow Dash added. "...uh, Rarity?" Rarity sat for a moment, taking in what she just heard, and then without warning, she took off into the crowd knocking two other ponies over in the process.
Applejack was confused,"What the hay, is she freakin out bout for?"
*****
"Well, it looks like we're here." Twilight said to Spike as they approached the doors of the Carousel Boutique. Flash was just ahead of Twilight leading the way. They would have gotten there earlier if Flash wouldn't have gone soldier on everypony that passed them. If he thought they were even looking at Twilight wrong, he snapped at them with a piercing stare, commanding them to 'go about their business'. He meant well, but he was a tad too serious.
"It's about time." Spike groaned while Twilight scolded him with a look on her face. It was that look Spike had seen before when she was mad, but this time Twilight was practically growling at him.
"Here we are, your majesty." Flash held open the door to the boutique as both Spike and Twilight walked in. They were a bit overwhelmed by the loud music at first. As they stepped further into the crowd, their ears began to adjust to the sound levels. Twilight searched the crowd for her friends. Spike took one look at the cider bar a knew exactly where he was going.
"I'm getting a drink." The dragon said with a dead pan expression .
"Fine," she rolled her eyes. "Just stay out of trouble."
As Spike walked off, Twilight had spotted her friends. She ordered flash to follow her over to the table where her friends were . As they slowly approached, Applejack was giving Twilight a grin silently gesturing towards Flash. Applejack was the first one to notice Twilight's crush on Flash, those years ago, and she continued to do so tonight.
"Howdy Twilight! Who's yer friend?" Applejack teased. Twilight composed herself for a response, while at the same time trying not to blush.
"He's just my guard while I'm here in Ponyville. Anyway, where's Rarity, Pinky, and Fluttershy?" The apple farmer raised her brow as she let out a sigh.
"Well, Pinky is busy having fun," as usual, "Fluttershy went to go get some cider, and y'all just missed Rarity. She just done took off a minute ago, not sure why. We had just told her how Spike was back in Ponyville ." Twilight giggled inside fully grasping the situation.
"Oh."
*****
"Fluttershy!" Rarity was screaming for her friend.
"Oh hi Rarity. What is it?" The yellow pegasus spoke barely above a whisper. Her costume was simple: a butterfly. She wasn't known for being very enthusiastic about Nightmare Night. Rainbow Dash was barely able to convince Fluttershy into coming tonight.
"I need your help with Spike!"
"Spike? Oh I just saw him arrive a minute ago."
Rarity's heart began to beat faster. "What?!" Truth to be told, Rarity was afraid to see Spike. She was afraid to face him again. She was afraid of what he might say, or what he might not say. The feeling and reason behind her actions seemed to be unexplainable. It was so strange to her. Why was she doing this?
"He's changed so much since he left." Fluttershy told her.
*****
Spike had just taken the first few sips of his cider at the bar with Bic Mac watching him. He had missed the taste of it. There was no drink in Canterlot that could ever compare to the taste of good old Sweet Apple Acres apple cider. "It's good to back in Ponyville."
"Eeyup. Ya know lots of folks round here have missed ya and Twilight since ya left." Big Mac gave a weak smile. "I figure though, now that I think bout it, I recon it was Rarity that missed ya the most. Ya should a seen her when the train took off, all teary eyed and what not."
"Really..." This is not what Spike had expected to hear at all. The only other time he saw Rarity even cry was the time of the whole dragon monster incident. They were falling, and there was no guarantee that they were going to survive. Spike confessed his feelings to her then and there as they were falling. Rarity had cried, smiling as she understood. Fortunately, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were able to save them, but nothing really progresses between Spike and Rarity after that. Things went back to the way they were.
"Yeah, if ya want to talk to her, she's over there talkin to Flutters."
"Who?"
"Fluttershy."
"Oh. Wait, since when did you start calling her Flutters?"
"Uhh...I got more customers. Good with luck Rarity." After throwing that awkward line out, he was off to serve customers that already had their drinks. He was obviously trying to hide something.
"Okay. I'll just...go."
Spike turned to where Bic Mac pointed to earlier. There she was, Rarity. The white unicorn was still beautiful even though her radiance was hindered by the princess Celestia costume. Spike was trembling, not sure what to do. Should he talk to her? Would she even remember him? He began to shiver as he tried to walk towards her.
*****
"Fluttershy, what do you mean changed?"
"Well Rarity, why don't you see for yourself." The yellow pegasus grinned as she looked past Rarity.
"What's that supposed..." Her voice was cut off by another one.
"Hiya Rarity." Rarity froze as she recognized the voice. The voice was slightly deeper, but it was still his voice. A chill went down her spine, but at the same time, an undecided joy. She had to face him, she wanted to, but she found it difficult. As she turned to face the source of that familiar voice, a gasp managed to escape her mouth as she stared at Spike's emerald green eyes.
"Spike?" Her voice finally squeaked out. Rarity 's eyes wandered from Spike's, and then she took in the full view of Spike's changes. He was taller, he had wings, and his physique was, a bit enticing. But his face, was what Rarity thought most, interesting. For a dragon, he was actually, kind of handsome.
Spike sighed with relief,"Glad to see you still remember me. I Didn't think you'd even recognize me."
"How could I forget one of my closest friends." Spike sighed slightly under his breath at this phrase. He couldn't help but to stare at her eyes, those sky blue gems that shined brighter than all the stars at night.
Rarity turned to Fluttershy as if to say something, but she didn't say anything. There was an awkward silence until Fluttershy understood, "Oh, I um, I'll just leave you two to catch up." Fluttershy got the hint Rarity was giving her and walked back over to Big Mac.
"It...it's great to see you again Spike." Rarity managed to say, it was the only thing she could think of.
"And...it is always a pleasure to see you, Lady Rarity." Rarity blushed bright and red. She looked down trying to hide it. Such a gentlecolt he was, but Spike isn't a colt. He is in fact a dragon. Well, he can't be called a gentledragon, it far too long. What was that old Equestrian word for dragon? Ah yes, draco or 'drake' depending on the translation. Gentledrake. That has a nice ring to it. Very well...
"Spike you always were such...a gentledrake." She almost didn't say it, not being sure of the term she had just made up. But to her delight, it had made Spike blush.
The heavier beat music slowed down to a stop when Vinyl took to her microphone again. "All right everypony, we're gonna slow things down here. So, all you couples out there get ready to dance. And all the bachelors out there, well, be good gentlcolts and ask some of the wallflowers to dance with you." Vinyl placed the microphone back where it was. She pulled out a record simply labeled "ThePianoColts ". Vinyl gently laid the record onto the turntable and carefully set down the needle.
A delightful combination of piano and cello began to flow through the room. The peaceful tune set the mood as mares around the room giggled lightly while the stallions asked them to dance with them. It was quite a sight, almost too perfect, and yet, here it was, the perfect opportunity for Spike to make his 'move'.
"May I have this dance Milady?" Spike held out his hand to Rarity. She looked at his hand, and placed her hoof in it, looking back to his face she smiled.
"I'd be delighted." Spike stood up on his hind legs, lifting Rarity up onto hers. She wrapped her fore legs around his neck trying to stay up with him. He held on to her so she wouldn't lose balance. Rarity looked up at Spike, who was smiling as he carefully began the simple four step waltz that Twilight had taught him.
'This wasn't so bad' Rarity thought to herself. He was being such a 'gentledrake' to her now, even though she had used him for manual labor those years ago. 'Why did he come back to Ponyville. Did he just want to be on his own for once, or was it something else? Did he come for me? Does he still have that 'crush' on me he once spoke about?' Her mind was filled with questions she was afraid to ask. She tried to ignore them. She just focused on Spike.
"I heard a lot of ponies missed Twilight and I while we were gone." He broke the silence that hovered around them.
"Yes, we all did." She began to think,'Or at least, I missed you.' She smiled to the thought, laying the side of her head against Spike's chest and closing her eyes. Everything seemed to slow down. It was peaceful, and a comfort filled an empty hole in her heart. Peace at last.
No force in the universe could take this from her.
Ch.4: Wolf and Broken Glass
"The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much."
(William Hazlitt)
Zecora sat at the table while all her friends danced to the slow song. She smiled as she saw Spike and Rarity, standing above the crowd as they danced. They didn't seem to care about anything. They were just living in the moment. Zecora sighed as she looked back to the full glass of cider which she had neglected to touch since the moment she got it.
Just as she lifted the glass, about to take a sip, she noticed a figure sitting behind Vinyl Scratch and the subwoofers. She could tell it was a unicorn, but she couldn't quite make out who it was. Who was it? And what were they doing behind the subwoofers? Zecora set down her drink, and began to approach the unknown figure.
"There are not many in Ponyville that are new, so who may I ask are you?" The figure stood up and walked out of the shadow of the subwoofer. He was a head taller than Zecora. Yes, he, was quite the stallion. He had light brown fur with a darker brown mane, which had a reddish tinge to it. But, what bothered Zecora most about him were his dark green eyes. They almost looked, fake.
"Oh, uh, hello. I've actually been in town for...three weeks, I believe now." He gave a closed smile. There was a sort of serene atmosphere around him. This unicorn seemed so calm. "The name is Wolf."
"Three weeks? This can not be so, Pinkie Pie would know." The stallion raised an eyebrow at this statement.
"Pinkie?"
"That mare, the one over there." Zecora pointed over to Pinkie who was bear hugging a grey unicorn. She had her face buried in the unicorn's chest. He rested his head on her fluffy pink mane. The two glided short distances, in the same place, to the beat of the music.
Wolf saw the two dancing in the distance. He stared with a slight seriousness on his face toward Pinkie, wincing his eyes. All of a sudden his face loosened up, dropping the look entirely into a new one, as he turned back to Zecora. "Never met her." He dead panned his face on these words.
Zecora frowned at his response. This was strange. Pinkie Pie usually notices everypony. Why not Wolf? Why hasn't she noticed him? He couldn't be avoiding her. Nopony can. "Wolf. What kind of a name is that?"
"Well..."
"Or did your parents just pick it out of a hat." Wolf laughed. "You don't exactly look like a wolf." She turned her head slightly taking in the full view of Wolf. "You're a far cry from those creatures." Wolf smiled again, no he wasn't a wolf, but Zecora sensed that he was hiding something. But what?
"It's short...for Wolfenstein. It's not exactly the name I wanted, but, it's the name that I was born with. Most people just call me Wolf though. Wait a minute, I have neglected to ask of your name. Which is?"
"Zecora." She let out in a breath.
"Zecora. Well, that is a beautiful name." To this Zecora couldn't help but blush at Wolf's flattery. "You don't see many 'zebras' around these parts, do you?" He smiled as he turned his head back to a control panel. There was a small high pitched tone that he silenced by altering the levels on the control panel. When he was satisfied with the levels he turned back to Zecora.
"What exactly are you doing here?" She was still curious as to what he was doing.
"Oh. I'm just back here in case something goes wrong with the subwoofers. You know, just keeping the sounds level. And besides, I'm not one for dancing much." Zecora laughed a bit at this.
"Neither am I, but I am willing try." She held out her hoof to Wolf.
"Heh, um, you're asking?" He raised his eyebrow as he was not sure what to make of her gesture.
"Yes."
Wolf's confused look turned into a meek smile. "Well, all right." He lead Zecora to the dance floor. The music was still going, a long song. The two began to clumsily dance.
"So, Mr. Wolf, speaking of you, what exactly is it you do?" Wolf looked down at Zecora not sure what to say.
"Professionally?" Zecora nodded. "Well, I haven't had a steady career exactly. I just work enough to keep myself on my hooves. Now I have a job in construction. It's not the best job, but it gets me the bits I need to pay off my expenses."
"Where do you live anyway? You didn't exactly say."
"You're rather curious aren't you."
Zecora smiled. She was being a little more 'friendly' around Wolf. Why? "I'm just being a good friend, knowing to which house a gift I might send." What was she saying? This is getting a little too awkward. But Wolf didn't seem to mind, he just kept smiling. Neither of the two had noticed the fact that they were dancing properly now to the rhythm. Zecora stared at Wolf's perplexing eyes. What was he hiding? Her eyes wandered to his neck where she saw a golden emblem hung up by a leather band. "What is that?" She broke the silence that sat between them. Wolf looked down at his neck seeing what Zecora was looking at.
"Oh this? Well, I got it from-"
There was a loud clap of thunder and flash of lightning outside. The lights in the Carousel Boutique went out leaving all the party guests in darkness. Everyone started complaining. "Blasted STORM!" Some were shouting, others were bumping into each other. There was a loud scream heard throughout the Boutique. Then there was silence. There was another clap of thunder. "What the hay!" Ponies began to panic. Another flash of lighting.
A voice rose over the crowd,"Every one just calm down, please." It was Rarity. "I'm sure I can fix this. I need to get to the fuze box." She was about to make her way to the back door when a warm scaly hand stopped her. "Spike I need to get to that fuze box!"
"Rarity, there's a lightning storm outside. You can't just-" there was another flash if lightning as the thunder began to roar even louder. Rarity then clung onto Spike's arm. The crowd became more restless as the sound of thunder grew louder.
All at once the thunder stopped, but the sound of heavy rain echoed through the room. The room grew silent. A small orange light could be seen through one of the windows. It was an lantern, but who was carrying it? There was another flash of lightning which struck right next to the lantern. The sound of the electricity was audible. The light illuminated the street outside, revealing the one holding the lantern.
It was a tall, really tall, dark figure, but he was only seen for a second in the light of the lightning flash. Then the lantern was the only thing visible again. "Who was that?" a voice called out.
Then there was another flash. The lightning struck the lantern, electrocuting the tall figure holding it. His body lit up with the electrical power surging through him. His black mane that covered his face, shot up, but while all this was happening, the figure didn't even flinch.
After the lightning had passed through him into the ground, there was darkness. The lantern he held was destroyed by the lightning. But then, a lower set of lights shown through the window. A pair of yellow, glowing eyes sat there for what seemed like forever. The crowd began to back away from the window. A loud grunt was heard from outside on top of the pouring rain. "What's he-"
CRASH.
The window exploded into tiny pieces and shards of broken glass. The thunder started again as the glass hit the floor where the crowd had once stood. Every one began to panic. Spike held Rarity close as she screamed. The pair of yellow eyes still sat outside in the darkness. Spike couldn't help but stare. Those eyes were filled with anger, hate, and suffering. And just as they had mysteriously appeared, they closed, vanishing into the night.
*****
After they had all sat in the dark for the longest time. The lights suddenly came on.
The whole Boutique was a mess. Costumes were torn. Ponies were injured, some by the chaos of the crowd, and others by the glass of the shattered window.
Zecora looked around the room taking in what had just happened. Then she realized,"Wolf? Wolf?!" He was gone. Zecora sat down where she stood, frustrated and stressed by the situation. She looked down at the ground breathing heavily trying to calm down. In the corner of her eye, she noticed a shimmer of gold. Zecora turned to the source of the light. It was Wolf's necklace. Wherever he was, he must have dropped it. She picked it up and studied it carefully.
Flash was poised in a stance in front of Twilight to protect her. When he saw that there was no danger he turned back to Twilight who jumped at him with an unexpected hug. When she finished she looked over to where the window had shattered. She could see an object in the center of the floor. She nudged Flash and pointed to the object. He nodded and went to investigate.
Flash looked at it and then picked it up. "It's a brick, with a note." Twilight walked over to him. "Here." He handed the brick to her. She unwrapped the note from the brick with her magic an held the note up so she could read it.
"It says, 'I am watching you.' What? Who would do this? More importantly, why?" Rarity was listening. "Why throw this through the Boutique's window?"
Flash thought for a moment,"Was it intended for the owner of the Carousel Boutique?" Rarity could feel her heart pounding at this question. Was some one threatening her? Who, and why?
Rarity spoke up,"Why would anypony threaten me, like this?!" She began to cry. She was afraid. Some one had attacked her home, disrupting the party in the process. "What if they come back?!" Spike put an arm around her shoulder as she began yo tear up. Rarity buried her face in Spikes shoulder begging for peace in her mind. Spike held onto her, trying to comfort her.
Twilight walked over to her friend. "Hey, it'll be okay. We'll find out who did this." Rarity sniffled as she tried to wipe her tears away. "We can find another place for you to stay while we sort things out."
"Thank you Twilight." Rarity managed to stop crying. "Where would I stay though?" Twilight thought for a moment, then she looked up at Spike who was still holding Rarity close.
"Spike! I'm sure there is plenty of room at the library for Rarity to stay. Am I correct?" Spike didn't know what to say.
"Yeah, well, uh..."
"Excellent. Rarity you can stay at the library." Spike gave Twilight an angry look. "For only a few days of course." Spike was a little embarrassed that Twilight had called him out like that. Yes there was room at the library, but Spike was nervous about Rarity being there. He wasn't sure why, it just felt wrong, almost as if Rarity was being forced to stay with him by Twilight. It just felt wrong, but Spike didn't want to be rude. He looked down at Rarity.
"Alright, but I have to pack a few things." She smiled weakly up at Spike and then headed upstairs.
Spike turned to the crowd. "Alright everypony. I guess this party is over." Without question, or hesitation, the crowd turned towards the door and left one by one. Spike watched as they ran through the rain trying to get home as quickly as possible. Although, a certain aquamarine colored unicorn stayed behind. She looked upset as she came up to Spike. "What is it Lyra?"
"I can't find Bon Bon, anywhere." Lyra seemed like she was about to cry. Spike was tired of crying, he'd heard enough crying for one night.
"When did you last see her?" Lyra thought for a moment on Spikes question.
"When we were dancing together, just before, the lights went out." A small tear rolled down Lyra's cheek. "Where could she be?"
*****
"Hey Spike." Flash sat down next to Spike who was waiting for Rarity. "I notified the police about the incident. I helped them file a missing pony's report for Bon Bon. I also asked them to keep you and Twilight informed about any progress in the case. It's a shame the party had to end like this. It was, enjoyable, while it lasted." Spike chuckled in his head.
"Bet you had fun dancing with Princess Twilight." Spike grinned.
"And what do you mean by that?" Flash began to tense up as he broke out into a cold sweat.
"Oh nothing," Spike said sarcastically. This time he laughed under his breath.
"Agh, Spike?" Spike turned his head towards Flash. "From one guy to another, is it that obvious?" Spike smiled, trying not to laugh.
"You have a crush on my 'sister' Twilight."
"SHHHH" Flash practically flipped in his seat. Spike rolled his eyes.
"Alright, alright. Your secret is safe with me." Flash was surprised.
"Really?"
"Yeah sure. But..." Spike leaned in close to Flash. "...just remember, if you ever break her heart, or hurt my 'sister' in any way, I will lock you in a cage and set you on fire while I enjoy chowing down on a big old bucket of gems. Do I make myself clear?" Flash nodded. "Good! No pressure though." He smiled at flash and leaned back against the wall. Twilight walked up just then.
"Oh Spike, I forgot to tell you earlier. I hired an assistant for you in the library. He probably won't arrive until tomorrow morning." Spike raised his eyebrow to this.
"Do I really need to pay for an assistant. You know I'm capable of handling the library on my own, right?" Twilight sighed.
"Yes, I know you can, but who's going to run the library when you're sick or out of town? And you're not paying him. He's getting payment from the ones who actually own the library. Do try and be nice to him, he's been through a lot."
"So this is a pity job he's getting?" Twilight gave Spike the look again.
"Yes, so deal with it."
"Fine, alright." Spike groaned.
"Good. All right then. Flash, we'd better get going if we want to catch the train back to Canterlot." The two exited the Boutique, walking past the few police ponies that stood out side talking to some witnesses. It was still raining. Spike sighed, wondering what was taking Rarity so long.
"Spike?" Spike looked up to see Rarity walking down the stairs carrying only a few bags. She had washed out the highlights in her mane and removed her costume. She looked once again like the goddess Spike had remembered. Her beautiful silk-like purple mane was back in its natural curl. But, Spike reminded himself, that Rarity was only staying at his house as a guest and nothing more. "Spike. I'm all ready to go." Spike sighed as he picked up Rarity's bags and headed for the door. He shielded Rarity from the rain with one of his wings.
*****
Spike woke up. It was still dark outside, but the storm was raging on. He looked at the clock on the wall. It was midnight. He groaned trying to go back to bed. There was a knock at the door. Spike began to think in his head,'If it's that stupid assistant just arriving, so help me I'm gonna...' He opened the door. It was Rarity.
"Sorry to wake you Spike, but I couldn't sleep through the storm." Spike gave a weak smile. He was still tired. "I know this might be a strange question, but..." Spike raised his brow waiting for the answer. "...could I possible, uh, sleep with you?" Spike's eyes grew large at this question."Oh! Not like that! I mean, just, I don't want to be alone, and-"
Spike stopped her from mumbling. "Don't worry. I understand." He gave another weak smile before opening the door for her.
"Thank you." She waited for Spike to get in the bed first, then she wiggled in under the sheets facing away from him. Spike stared at the ceiling, trying to fall asleep. Rarity had already fallen asleep. He could hear her breathing slowly and calmly in a sort of rhythm. Suddenly Rarity had turned in her sleep. She latched on to Spike's arm holding it tightly. Spike felt her warm soft fur on his arm. It gave him chills. He looked down at Rarity who was slightly smiling in her sleep. Spike looked back up to the ceiling. his mind pondered on the events that happened that night. Who would attack Rarity, and why? What happened to Bon Bon? Spike's head began to hurt from all the unsolved questions. He felt his eyes getting heavy. The sound of the rain and thunder began to die down under the sound of his own breathing. He slowly drifted back to sleep next to the mare of his dreams.
Ch.5: Colt of Mystery Part 1
"Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive." (Elbert Hubbard)
Spike partially opened his eyes, as a reaction to the the beam of sunlight that shone through one of the windows. He didn't move as tried to fall back to sleep. But then he noticed, Rarity was gone. 'She probably just woke up already,' he thought closing his eyes, but there was another sound in the room.
Spike could hear someone breathing, it was too heavy to be Rarity, and the sound of pages turning echoed through the room, the pages of a book. He cracked one of his eyes open to see who was there. There was a lanky unicorn sitting there in Spike's chair.
He was dark grey, almost black, but not quite. His mane was a mixture of darker hues of blue. A pair of navy blue eyes sat behind a pair of square, metal framed reading glasses. At his neck sat a purple bow tie with a collar. A blue luminescence glowed around his horn as he held up a book titled "Knitting for Fillies". His cutie mark was a pencil and paintbrush. He looked up from the book, peering over his glasses.
"Rise and shine sleeping beauty." The unicorn said, in a husky voice, as he began to grin. Spike rolled over in his bed irritated by the unicorn's presence. He let out a sigh as he tried to fall back to sleep. It didn't last. Spike parted his eyelids again as he heard the floorboards creak behind him against the side of his bed. He furrowed his brow as heard the unicorn whispering over his ear. "Spiiiiiike. Spike. Spike?" Spike was losing his patience. "Hey, Spike. Who's that sexy white mare downstairs?" Spike's eyes shot open at the unicorn's comment. "Is she like a PROSTITUTE or something?"
Spike bolted up in rage. "HOW DARE YOU!!!" Spike growled as he lunged at the unicorn. Just before Spike rammed into him, the unicorn used his magic to teleport out of the way. Spike face planted onto the floor, hard. He rolled onto his back while grabbing his snout as he hollered unintelligible mumbles.
"Alas! I have awoken the 'dragon' from his slumber!" The unicorn said triumphantly. Spike growled at him as he now rolled onto his side. The unicorn slowly approached Spike. "I do apologize for the, vulgar comment I made about your lady friend downstairs. I was just trying to get your attention." He held out his hoof to help Spike up. "She's not my type anyway. Too white." Spike reluctantly took the hoof to hoist himself up.
"You must be the assistant Twilight sent, right?" Spike said as he continued to rub his nose.
"That is correct. I used to work at the library in the crystal empire, but the head librarian there grew a little impatient with me. Still don't know why." Spike rolled his eyes. "Then, I was put 'in charge' of the library in Canterlot Castle, but it was boring."
Spike was surprised. "Why?"
"The only two people that ever came in were Princess Twilight and Princess Luna. Luna had the decency to at least ask me where she could find her romance novels, but Twilight, nope. She just empties a shelf, reads through all those books, and then leaves the mess for me to clean up."
"I hear you on that one. She did the same thing with me." Spike laughed. He was beginning to warm up to this new assistant, but he was still slightly pissed about how he was awaken from his sleep.
"Right then, OH...WAIT..." The unicorn face hoofed as he remembered. "...I forgot to introduce myself. The name's Mythic, Mythic Pen. Most ponies call me Myt for short, spelled M-Y-T but pronounced M-I-T."
Spike raised his brow. "Well, it's nice to meet you...Myt."
"My pleasure as well...Spike. Right then, now that we're acquainted, may I ask exactly where my room is?"
Spike looked down from Myt at the floor, scratching the back of his neck in thought. "Well, the guest room is occupied for the time being, but the basement is open." Looking back at Myt, the unicorn smiled back as he walked out of Spike's room.
"Thank you, Now I know where to unpack." Spike rolled his eyes as Myt trotted out of the door and downstairs.
*****
Zecora held the strange emblem in her hoof. It was almost like a cross, except the top was looped. The brown leather band that it was tied onto was tattered and old. The edges of the gold emblem were smoothed over. It could be decades, or it could be centuries old.
It was the necklace Wolf had dropped at the party the previous night. The mysterious colt had disappeared so suddenly and unexpectedly. He disappeared right along with Bonbon. The police needed help with this, they asked Zecora because they knew they could trust her. She had been there in the past to set things straight anytime there were problems in Ponyville. In this case, she felt determined that if she could find Wolf, she could find out a clue as to where Bonbon was.
Zecora put the necklace back in here saddlebag as she approached Sugar Cube Corner. The sweetshop, that stood at the corner of one of the streets near the middle of Ponyville, it had been built in the form of a gingerbread house, but it was not edible. The family that owned the shop, the Cake family, had rented out the attic to Pinkie Pie who also works at the shop. Zecora knew that Pinkie knew everypony in town. Not only this, she was an expert at finding the ponies she didn't know. Zecora was sure Pinkie could give her some tips on finding the one she was looking for.
Zecora looked at the door's window. There was a sign in red letters that read "CLOSED". She knocked at the door. The door cracked open revealing a creme colored pegasus colt with a brown mane and brown eyes. His name was Pound Cake. He looked up to Zecora timidly as he spoke, "Hello?"
"Hello there little one. There is some business with miss Pinkie Pie that needs to be done." The colt sat there, translating Zecora's natural rhyme in his head.
"You need to see Pinkie?"
"Yes."
"Oh. Hold on, let me ask my dad." The small colt walked off leaving the door open. Zecora sat there and laughed a bit as she heard the colt call out to his dad. A few moments later he came back to the door. "Okay, my dad says you can come in. Pinkie is upstairs." He pulled the door open for Zecora.
"Thank you." She made her way through the door and into the sweetshop. The walls were lined either by shelves or glass cabinets, all containing assorted sweets, cakes, and pastries. A taller, lanky, orange earth pony walked through the door. Zecora recognized the familiar underbite of Mr. Cake.
"Why hello Zecora, my son tells me you need to see Pinkie."
"That is correct."
"Just go up those stairs over there she's on the top floor in the attic."
*****
When Zecora reached Pinkie's room she saw that the door was cracked open. She pushed the door open to see that Pinkie was still asleep. Pinkie's chicken costume was hanging on the frame of her bed, but there was another costume hanging on the other side. One that was not Pinkie's.
Zecora approached the bed side. Pinkie was not alone. A grey unicorn lay on the other side of Pinkie with his arm draped over her. Zecora remembered his name, Pokey Pierce, or something like that. Using her hoof, Zecora bumped Pinky on the shoulder. Pinky suddenly awoke into a yawn,"Awwwh...mmm. Pokey?"
"Pinkie it's me Zecora." Pinkies eyes opened in shock as looked up at Zecora.
"WHA-. Ahhh!" Pinkie fell out of her bed. "What are you doing here?! Out, out, out, out, OUT." Pinkie began shove Zecora across the floor towards the door. Meanwhile Pokey simply turned in the bed grabbing onto a pillow, still asleep. Once they were out the door, Pinky closed it behind them. "It's not what it looks like!" Pinky stated as a worried look overtook her face.
"Pinky it is no concern to me, I have other business and shall let it be."
"Whew. Thanks. So what was it that you needed?"
"I am looking for somepony that was at the party last night, I need-"
"You need some tips on how I do it?"
"...I was hoping you might."
"Sure! Okay, here's what I do. First..."
Ch.6: Colt of Mystery Part 2
Chapter 6: Colt of Mystery Part 2
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." (Robert Frost)
Zecora continued down the open street market. Following the tips that Pinkie had given her, she led herself here.
She carefully searched through the crowd in hopes that she might find Wolf. As she did this, a voice that she knew came ringing from one of the vendors. "Oh, Zecora!" Zecora turned to see that Rarity was prancing towards her wearing saddle bags. "How are you. Many are still a bit shaken from the events of last night. Are you alright? You look a bit...flustered."
"I'm quite all right, there's just someone who seems to escape my sight, so what brings 'you' here?"
Rarity laughed a bit. "Actually I'm here to pick up some groceries for Spike. I swear, all I could find in the library's kitchen was a few instant noodle cups and a half empty jug of milk in the refrigerator. He really needs to eat healthier. I know it's a bit strange for me to be buying his groceries, but it's the least I can do while he lets me stay at the library."
"Where is Spike now?"
"Oh, the kind dear, he and that new assistant of his, uh Myt I think was his name, the two of them are going over to the boutique to clean up whatever damage there was and install a new window. I'll only be at the library for a few weeks until that's done."
"A truly special friend I see, wouldn’t you agree?" Rarity began to blush a little on that word...'special'.
"Yes, Zecora, I suppose you are right. Oh! Look at the time! I'm sorry but I must be off." She began to walk back towards the library. "Oh! And good luck doing...whatever it was you were doing."
Zecora smiled as the white unicorn began to gallop away. She turned back to the original direction she was headed. She continued to scan through the crowds of the market place. Wolf was not going to be easy to find.
Everypony was bustling about and all around. Faces flashed by so fast, but none of them were his. Finally she reached the edge of the market where an apple cart had been set up. Zecora recognized the three Apple farmers that were managing the cart. It was Applejack, Big Mac, and... "Zecora!" She smiled as the youngest of the three, Applebloom, a yellow furred filly with red hair and a large bow in her hair, came excitedly running up to her. "How have things been in the Everfree forest?"
"Things have been well, but as for my mission, not so swell ." Applejack then stepped up behind her little sister.
"What are ya doing? I mean, ya said somethin ‘bout a mission?"
Zecora let out a sigh at Applejack's question. "I am looking for someone from the party that was lost, it is important that I find him at all cost." Applejack thought for a moment.
"Well what do ya know 'bout him?"
"I know a name and a face. I thought I'd try here in the market place." Applejack thought again.
"Did he happen to mention a job, or uh, place of work?" Zecora lit up inside with realization.
"Yes! What an excellent deduction. He did say something about working in construction." Applebloom suddenly shared in the excitement. She popped up to her sister's face.
"Applejack! Can I help Zecora find the one she's lookin for?" A smile stretched across Applebloom's cheeks as she was up in Applejack's face.
"Hold it there sugarcube, you can't go alone with Zecora and I can't just leave the apple cart here unattended." Applebloom was ready to retaliate her older sister's remark.
"Big Mac can watch the cart, can't ya Bic Mac."
"Eeyup." Bic Mac smiled with his signature response. Applejack knew Applebloom wasn't about to give up.
"Fine. We'll check the construction site two blocks over to see if he’s there, and then it's right back over here at the cart, ya hear?!"
"Alright, let's go already!" Applebloom skipped along down the road between her sister and Zecora. She kept thinking about how she would tell her friends, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, about investigating a missing persons case. Although, she would be exaggerating, a little. Okay, to be honest, a lot.
*****
They approached the construction site which was busy as different workers were running about and performing assorted tasks. A mechanical crane that stood aside was lifting a metal I-beam up to move it elsewhere. Applejack walked straight up to the pony that appeared to be in charge.
"Hey Nailgun?"
"Oh, hey Applejack. What can I help you with?"
"My friend here, Zecora, is lookin for someone, a unicorn. We were wonderin if he was workin for ya."
"What's his name?" Zecora came up to answer his question.
"His name is Wolf."
"Oh, that freaky guy." Nailgun's face deadpanned when he had heard the name.
"What's so bad 'bout him?" Applebloom was curious.
"Not bad, just strange." The three just stared at Nailgun, unsure of what he meant. "I mean...he's a unicorn, and he can lift and pull weights five times greater than what my other workers can. It's just unnatural for a unicorn. I've never seen anything like it. And, he doesn't use magic. Not once has any of us seen him use it. If you want to talk to him, he's over there." He pointed over to a unicorn who was pulling a cart of bricks. It was wolf. “Strange fellow.” Nailgun walked off once the three saw where Wolf was.
Zecora speedily ran up to Wolf with a sense of relief. When he saw her coming, he stopped pulling his cart and unhitched himself from it. He did not look so pleased to see her. "What are you doing here? Why did you bring them?" He gestured towards Applejack and Applebloom.
"Let them be they are fine, but I need your help finding another friend of mine." Wolf's face dropped all expression. "Her name is Bonbon."
"I'm sorry I can't help you." He turned back to the cart he was pulling. Zecora stood dumbfounded.
"What? But, why?" She was almost begging him for help. He snapped around at her in an almost irritated manner.
"Because I ca-," he stopped. His ears began to twitch. His face turned to horror as he turned towards the large crane. Zecora walked closer up to him. "Did you hear that?" He whispered.
"Hear wha-"
SNAP
One of the cables on the crane had snapped. The whole arm of the crane began to collapse as it went out of control. The heavy steel I-beam came swinging towards the mass of construction ponies.
"Everypony RUN!" Wolf shouted at the top of his lungs.
It was too late...
*****
After the dust had lifted out of their view, they could see all of the aftermath of the crane's rampage. Carts were broken, piles of bricks and wood were toppled over, and the arm of the crane had been mangled to the point where it was obviously unrepairable. It seemed like no one got hurt...right?
"APPLEBLOOM!!!"
They all could hear the cries coming from Applejack. She was trying to lift the I-beam off of something or someone. The other workers rushed over to help her. Zecora could see the legs of Applebloom sticking out from under the beam.
The workers all came to try and lift the beam up. Zecora ran over to Applejack. Applebloom's body was stuck where the beam had crushed her small body. Applejack kept whispering to herself,"No...no...please Celestia no...don't take her from me..."
Just then ponymedics came along withe three wonder bolts. Soarin, a light blue pegasus with a dark blue mane, was the leader these wonder bolts. He came up to the scene,"What happened here?" Applejack turned her head to see the wonder bolt standing there. She had met him once before, she sold him an apple pie at the Grand Galloping Gala.
"Soarin! Please! Help!" Applejack screamed to Soarin.
"Wonder bolts! Go!" They all dashed towards the beam to lift it. Soarin came right up alongside Applejack and began to help lift the beam. The beam came up enough that they could move it to the side. All attention was then turned to Applebloom's limp body.
One of the ponymedics rushed up to Applebloom. Soarin came up to Applejack's side as she watched the ponymedic. He tried nudging her to see if she would wake up...nothing. He then moved his hand over her mouth to see if she was breathing...nothing. Lastly he checked for Applebloom's pulse...nothing.
"She's dead." Applejack's mind must have shattered at this point. Her sister was gone.
"No..." Was all Applejack said at first. The ponymedic turned Applebloom's head to the side finding a very clear skull fracture. "No! No no noooo!" Applejack collapsed against Soarin who held her there. "No no no... It can't be... It can't..." She was crying uncontrollably into Soarin's shoulder. Zecora walked up to her friend.
"I am sorry." Placing a hoof on Applejack's shoulder, she hung her head low. There was a moment of just silence alongside Applejacks's crying. Suddenly a commotion broke out around Applebloom's body.
The ponymedic was arguing with someone. "Hey what do you think you're doin-"
WHACK.
Nailgun spoke up. "Wolf! What do you think you're doing? What the ha-umph." Wolf threw a punch at Nailgun. Applejack turned to see what happened. Wolf snatched up Applebloom's body and darted down the road carrying her lifeless body on his back.
"Wolf wait!" Zecora ran after Wolf.
"Where's he takin my sister?!" Applejack trailed behind Zecora up the road which lead towards the outskirts of Ponyville. Applejack kept running after Zecora and Wolf.
*****
Applejack kept running. But, she couldn't keep it up. She had used all her energy lifting the beam. Just when she was about to give up, she felt her hooves lift off the ground. She was floating but still moving forward. Someone was lifting her up. Applejack turned her head to see who. "Soarin?!"
"Just hold on. We're gonna catch up!" He picked up the pace and began to fly faster. Zecora was just up ahead chasing after Wolf. There was a building in the distance. It was the old windmill that had been damaged years ago during the whole fiasco with Discord. But why was Wolf going here. What could possibly be inside.
Wolf made it to the door and proceeded to close it behind him once he was inside. Zecora stopped at the door and began to pound on it trying to break open the door, but it was too strong. The door was impenetrable. Soarin finally caught up, carrying Applejack.
He set her down gently and then rushed to the door. "Sir! I demand you open this door, at once!!"
"It's of no use Soarin..." Zecora stated. But just a few seconds after that, the door clicked and fell open by itself. It was dark inside and the only light was what shone through the door frame onto the floor. A pair of glowing eyes appeared. They did not have the most hospitable appearance. They stared, specifically at Soarin.
"Hey!" Soarin shouted, but the eyes had disappeared. "Come back here!" All of them were hesitant to enter. Soarin suddenly ran in.
"Soarin wait!" Applejack squeaked.
CRACK
The sound of broken clay pottery echoed through the room and out the door. Soarin fell halfway into the light of the door unconscious. He was dragged back into the dark by someone. The door shut again. Applejack and Zecora tried to force the door open, but to no avail. They leaned their heads against the door to try and listen to what was going on inside. they waited a while...
The sound of a heavy door echoed through the door. It opened, then closed, there was a quiet click, light began to glow from behind the door which clicked again. Zecora and Applejack pulled their heads away from the door. With one hoof, Zecora pushed the door open revealing a room with a stone floor and wood walls. A broken flowerpot with dead flowers lay scattered across one area of the floor, possibly where Soarin ran in. There was a large metal door in one corner and a spiral staircase in the other. Halfway up the staircase was Wolf who stared down at Zecora. "This way." He said, before continuing up the staircase.
Zecora and Applejack ran up the stairs after him.
When they reached the top, they were in an even larger room where a table stood in the center. A small figure lay on the table covered by a white cloth. Hanging on the corner was Applebloom's bow. Wolf walked up behind the table pushing a cart which also had a cloth covering it. "Do you want your sister back?"
"Wha-" Applejack was a little shocked, seeing her dead sister just under the white sheet.
"I'm asking you a question. Do you want your sister to live again?"
"Again?"
"Yes. I can bring her back but only...with your permission." He glared at Applejack who couldn't believe her ears.
"But, that's impossible, ya can't really just, can ya?"
"Yes, I can bring her back, and the only thing standing between her body and life is your choice. Will you give me your permission, or not?"
Applejack only stuttered for a second before she spoke. "If ya can do what ya say ya can do, then yes you have my permission. I just want my sister back, please." She broke into tears again.
"Then you shall have her back. I promise." He yanked the cloth off of Applebloom and the cart. Applebloom was scratched and cut up from head to toe. Wolf pulled the cart over to the end of the table where her head was. His horn lit up a sort of gold color. Two small golden beams of electricity arched from his horn to Appblooms head. The the strange electrical magic moved around the area where her skull had cracked open. The first beam pulled the shattered skull back into place while the second sealed the crack. The electrical beams then sealed the open skin on her head. Wolf stopped the magic.
He then picked up a syringe off of the cart. It had an unusually long needle and was filled with a luminescent blue liquid. Wolf injected the needle straight into Applebloom's chest, where her heart was. About half of the blue liquid flowed in before Wolf pulled the needle out. He lifted up one of her arms. Zecora watched in amazement as all the cuts and scratches began to heal instantly before her eyes. "Now comes the tricky part." Wolf spoke straight to Zecora who he knew was watching him closely. "Zecora could you help me attach these?" He lifted up some electrodes and prongs from the cart. Zecora listened as he told her where to place each one. "This goes there, that one there, ah yes, that one over here..." This went on until they had finished. He grabbed a cord from the cart which all the electrodes connected to it. He extended the cord to a machine against the wall.
He plugged the cord into the machine and switched it on. The machine began to hum, but it died back down. "Blast, I need more power. Applejack?"
"Wha-?" She was still sobbing.
"I need you to help me..."
"B-but, I can't." Wolf walked up to her putting a hoof on her shoulder.
"All you have do, is turn that crank." He pointed to a generator in the corner of the room. "You crank that generator, keep cranking, and you're sister will come back, I swear. Just don't look. You don't want to look. Don't look until it’s over."
"Uh, alright." She walked over to the generator, closed her eyes, and began to turn the crank.
Wolf quickly fastened straps to Applebloom's legs to hold her down. Zecora watched the lifeless body as Wolf went back to the machine. He slowly turned one of the dials. Zecora watched as the body in the table slowly began to twitch and move in jagged ways. Wolf continued to increase the levels on the machine thus increasing Applebloom's thrashing about. Zecora's heart began to pound as Applebloom's mouth began to flap open and shut uncontrollably.
"What's happenin?" Applejack begged refraining from opening her eyes.
"Keep cranking and DON'T LOOK!" Wolf snapped at her.
This went on for five minutes with Applejack begging, Wolf screaming not to look, and Zecora horrified. A terrible scream sounded from Applebloom.
"CRAAAHHUUHUHAAH..."
The words creeped up to Zecora's lips as she whispered to herself, "She's, ALIVE." Wolf snapped down a switch and the whole machine shut down. Applejack stopped cranking, exhausted. Zecora and Wolf both zoomed over to the table where Applebloom was breathing erratically.
Wolf strapped an oxygen mask onto Applebloom's face and turned the dial on the oxygen cylinder below the table, feeding her fresh air. Her breathing began to stabilize. Applejack rushed over to her sister who had just opened her eyes. "Sis-?" Was all Applebloom muttered before her eyes closed again.
"Is she?" Applejack was afraid of the answer.
"No, she's not dead again. She is very much alive. Your sister just needs rest. No more need to die now. Everyone will live."
"Thank you Wolf." Zecora smiled up at him.
He smiled a little, until he turned back to Applejack. He pulled another syringe out of his pocket. He quickly jammed it into Applejack's neck injecting a green liquid. She collapsed without a struggle of any kind. Zecora backed away in fright.
"Why did you lie, you said no more needed to die?!" Her voice cracked as Wolf turned back to her.
"She's not dead!" He rebuked Zecora.
"Then wha-"
He began to shake his head at her. "She's just asleep. I wiped her memory. She won't remember any of this. Me...this place...she won't even remember her sister dying. It all will just be a bad dream when she wakes up." He turned to Applebloom and injected her with a new syringe containing the same green substance. "Nopony must know about me. When 'they' wake up, 'you' must tell them a different story. We'll put them in the park. When the older one wakes up, tell her that her little sister fell and hit her head." Wolf pulled some gauze out and wrapped it around Applebloom's head even though she didn't need it.
"You said 'everyone' you met. They all need to forget. If that's how it has to be, then w-why not me." Zecora stared up at Wolf, who refused to face her. He hung his head low for a bit, and then he struggled, but eventually he managed to look Zecora in the eye.
"I trust you. You're the first person I've trusted in years."
"How many years?"
"Too many. Now, can 'I' trust 'you' Zecora? I need help. I can't do this alone. Will you keep this a secret?"
...
"Well?"
"Yes, Wolf." She tried to smile.
"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." (William Arthur Ward)
...two weeks later...
"This is ridiculous!" Myt shouted at Spike. "All we were supposed to do was fix the window!"
"We did..." Spike mumbled as the two of them slowly dragged themselves back to the library. They had finished installing the window the previous day, and today they returned to make sure there were no other problems.
"It's not fair!!! I came to work as an assistant librarian! I was supposed to check out books to ponies. NOT run home improvement services for a spoiled diva!"
Spike tried his best to ignore Myt's rants and comments about Rarity. To their dismay, when they reached Rarity's Boutique 'this' morning, they found that the place was in an even worse state. The carpets were torn and stained with red wine, the broken wine bottles from the kitchen were scattered across the carpet. The wallpaper was half stripped and hanging loosely from the walls. And the pièce de résistance was that the window, just left of the one they had fixed, had been shattered.
"I did not sign up for this!"
"ALRIGHT! I get it!" Spike snapped at him. "We're going back to the library; we'll have lunch, run the library till four, and call it a day." Spike turned his head back to the road where the library was just coming into view. "We'll continue work on the house, next week."
"Fine."
Spike pulled his keys out of his tool bag and unlocked the door to the library. He flipped the sign on the front door from closed to open. Spike shoved the door open, tired and hungry. Myt followed behind Spike as they entered the library. But, something was off. There was an extra shine to the floor. Had it been swept? Myt ran his hoof along one of the bookshelves and then looked at it. "Hmmm, the dust is gone."
"Oh no." Spike realized what was going on...a fashionista was loose on a cleaning spree in the library.
Myt had no clue as to what was going on. "What is it?"
"S-she, she cleaned."
"Spike?" Rarity's sing song voice came ringing from the kitchen. She came trotting out with duster, levitated by her magic. A nervous smile stretched across her muzzle. "Whatever is the matter?"
"Y-you cleaned!"
Rarity let out a controlled sigh. "Yes. I cleaned. It was filthy, and I couldn't just leave it like that. What kind of house guest would I be?"
"Well, you didn't have to do that. I would have gotten Myt to do it." Myt darted his eyes at Spike in anger.
"Hey!" Myt didn't appreciate Spike's thoughtless remark.
"Are you getting paid?!" Spike snapped.
"Yes. But-"
"Then shut up." Spike cut Myt off before he could finish. Myt snorted before walking over to a stack of books that needed to be catalogued. Dismissing the large stack, he continued downstairs to his room in the basement. Spike held his hands up to his face as he shook the stress from his head vigorously. Rarity just laughed at the two. She patted Spike on the shoulder. He groggily looked up to her, still frustrated from the discovery at the boutique. Rarity forced a smile trying to look earnest. "Rarity, I'm sorry."
"What is it Spike."
"Rarity...we went back to the boutique to make sure everything was in order but..."
"Yes?"
"Well, someone trashed the lobby, and another window is broken." Spike lowered his head. It wasn't his fault, but he felt responsible in some way. He waited for what he thought would be another fit of fear from Rarity, but what came next was the last thing he expected.
"Oh well that's just too bad, I can't possible go back go back now. I guess I'll have to stay here until this gets sorted out." What? No crying, no yelling, screaming? No WORST POSSIBLE THING? "I hope you don't find me as an inconvenience. Do you Spikey?" She said cooing him. Wait. Did she seriously just call him that? Spike had not heard her call him 'Spikey' since he was little. Something was up.
"You could never be an inconvenience. You're always welcome to stay. Until this is all sorted out." Spike forced his smile, not sure what was going on. She was fine, with everything. Not worried about the fact that her house was trashed and that she had to stay in that musky guest room. Everything was just dandy.
"Oh thank you Spike, I'll be in the kitchen fixing up lunch." With a smile a smile and a wink, she waltzed back into the kitchen. 'Why is she so beautiful?' Spike thought, 'too bad she can never see me as anything more than a friend.' His thoughts were interrupted by a cry from Myt.
"Nooooooooo!!!"
"What now?!" Spike snapped, annoyed by Myt's interruption of his train of thought. He turned to see Myt running up the stairs from the basement whimpering, shaking, and bug eyed.
"She 'organized' MY ROOM!" Seriously? "It's called controlled chaos for a reason!" Spike didn't need this right now. The stress was getting to him. But, he managed to restrain himself from pummeling Myt.
"Please, Myt...just attend to anyone who comes in. I don't need your crap right-" Spike paused catching a set of red hoof prints where Rarity had just been standing, "-now. Uh, what is this?" Myt looked down at the hoof prints squinting his eyes. He carefully walked up to them. He pulled a magnifying glass from seemingly nowhere. Myt examined the red substance that made up the hoof prints. Unexpectedly he licked it up into his mouth.
"Pbbbbtt...YUCK!"
"What?! What is it?"
"It tastes of alcohol, expire grape juice, and...my goodness it's WINE! I just tasted wine!! Gaahk!!!" Myt yanked off his bow tie and used it to wipe off his tongue. He began to roll in the floor as the taste spread in his mouth. Spike rolled his eyes and looked back to the hoof prints which lead to the kitchen. They were Rarity's hoof prints. Spike could tell. But he didn't understand, why was Rarity trailing wine?
"Myt! Clean up this mess." Spike walked towards the kitchen door.
Still wiping his tongue Myt mumbled, "Wiff pwleasure, ehh!"
*****
Rarity did not notice Spike sneak in through the kitchen door. She was happily humming away as she continued to chop up carrots for a salad. Spike crept carefully behind her. He watched as she went about making the salad, then he saw. There was a trace amount of red wine splotched around the edges of her hooves. She stopped with the knife then, with her magic, lifted the carrots into the bowl of assorted leafy greens.
Spike stepped a little closer. His eye caught something that hung from her tail. It was an offset color that was almost unnoticeable. Trying to remain as stealth as he could, he plucked the object from Rarity's tail, but his claw had snagged one of her tail hairs drawing her attention. She turned to see who was violating her tail. "Spike! What are you-"
She went silent as Spike stood there with the object he had just snatched up. It was a piece of wallpaper, from the Carrousel Boutique, Rarity's home. "What is this?" Spike stood there, baffled by the evidence he discovered. Rarity was biting her lower lip, realizing she had been caught. "Why do you..." He tried to put the pieces together, "...you trashed your own house?" Rarity looked down and nodded her head, a frown creeping up on the corners of her mouth. "Why?!" Spike barked. Needles to say, he was angry. "I spent all that time, building a new window for you, from SCRATCH!" Rarity's heart sunk at this. "They don't make windows like that; I had to set, panel by panel, every piece of glass. Why?! Do you just like making me work!? Do you enjoy me working my FLANK off for YOU?!!!"
"No..." She mumbled.
"Then WHY? Why did you do this? Why do you do this to me?!" A tear escaped the corner of his eye.
Rarity realized that she had gone too far. It finally came, one of her worst fears. She never wanted to see Spike like this; she never wanted to hurt him. She just wanted to be closer. "I'm sorry, I just-"
"What?! You 'just' wanted to see how much I would do for you? I'm tired of this...all the time, every time I run errands for you, you never really appreciate what I did, and all that I try to do. But now this? I don't know what to say..." Spike could feel the anger growing inside of him. A sickness began to spread, wrapping around his heart. An evil notion of hurting Rarity dared to cross his mind, he fought it with one last question bellowing off of his lips. "WHY!"
...
He hadn't noticed yet that Rarity was cowering on the floor, crying with her eyes held shut. She sat on the floor with her hooves to her mouth. Spike felt ashamed of himself. The one thing he never wanted to happen, he had hurt Rarity, with his words. He turned away leaning against the wall, letting his own warm tears cascade out of his eyes. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry Rarity."
There was nothing but silence. Myt stood outside the kitchen door listening, but he thought it best not to say anything. He went back to cleaning the wine stains on the floor.
Rarity opened her eyes. Her mascara had begun to run down her cheeks. "Spike...I didn't want to leave..."
"What?" Spike didn't understand this. What did she mean?
"I wanted to stay here, with you. I didn't want to be alone. I'm not afraid of some, ruffian, who comes and threatens my home. I just saw it as an excuse to..." She stopped there. Rarity's eyes began to tear up again as her head drooped to the ground. Spike placed his hand on Rarity's shoulder, trying to comfort her, and soon he was met with a hug. Rarity was hugging him? Yes, she was, she was actually hugging him, openly. This was the first time she's ever...it seemed so, unreal.
Spike returned the gesture by wrapping his arms around her, followed by his wings...creating a comforting barrier around her.
Yes, she was hugging him...but this was different than other hugs, this was warm, this was comforting, and Spike almost dared in his mind to think, “Is this what love feels like?" However, he had accidentally spoken out loud. His eyes had bugged out realizing what he had just said.
Rarity looked up to Spike who had blushed and turned his head away in embarrassment. Smiling, Rarity pulled Spike to face her pondering on what he just said, 'Is this what love feels like?' She pulled herself to respond, "I hope it is...it feels wonderful." Rarity embraced Spike even more having told him the truth, but since her words were subtle Spike didn't catch on right away.
"Uh, Rarity?"
"Yes, Spikey?" She whispered.
"What did you mean by that exactly?"
Rarity blushed as now she realized she had to direct in her words. She lifted her eyes, to be met by his, those emerald pools. 'Green really is a nice color,' she thought. "Spike, I-I-," here it comes, "I love you."
...
"Spike?"
...
"Spike?! Did you hear what I sa-" she was cut off by one of Spike's fingers. It was warm against her lips...much like the rest of him.
"I heard you, but now I must ask you a question."
"And what would that be?"
"Do I have your permission to express how I feel, milady?"
Rarity smiled at Spike asking for permission to express his feelings. He always was a gentledrake. "Spike, well of course you can- op" she was cut off again. However, this time she was not cut off by his finger, she was cut off by his lips pressed against hers.
It was a rather bold move on Spike's part, or so he thought himself. Much to his surprise, Rarity wasn't resisting. He half expected her to yank herself away and smack him, but she didn't. Instead she pulled in closer, intensifying the heat between their lips. Spike pulled his mouth from Rarity's, from shock, and for air.
"Spike...that was beautiful." Rarity managed to say, still gasping for breath.
"How long?"
"'How long' what?"
Spike looked down at the mare of his dreams. "How long have you had feelings for me?" He was afraid to hear the answer, but he still wanted to know.
A small tear fell from the corner of Rarity's eye. "Ever since the day you left with Twilight to go back to Canterlot. I wanted to tell you, but, I was afraid, of what others would say about...us."
"You know our friends, they would never judge us. If anything they would support us. Our friends' opinions are all that matter. And besides, you'll always have me."
With a smile Rarity nuzzled up against Spike's neck, taking pleasure in the warmth it provided. She held him tighter, as he wrapped his wings closer around her. This was the first moment they shared together when they both knew. "I love you, my Spikey Wikey."
*****
Myt had been listening the whole time through the door. "Ah yes, love. Why couldn't it have waited till after lunch was made?" Having done the best he could to try and clean up the wine prints on the floor, he trotted over to the closet to put away the cleaning supplies. After this he went back over to the uncatalogued books. Just before he began his work he noticed...his bare neck. A glow came from his horn and in a bright flash, a new bow tie appeared around his neck. "Much better."
Right as he was about to begin cataloguing the books, Myt noticed the bell on the door entry way ring. He looked up to see that a certain zebra had walked in through the door. It was Zecora.
"I am looking for a book, and I am sure this is the place to look."
Myt was not about question the zebra too much, about her accent or her stripes. He had seen ponies made out of crystal, chocolate rain, and long list of other things out of the 'norm'. "Is there a particular subject or genre you were looking for?"
Zecora stood silent a bit before answering, "Bringing life back to the dead."
"Okay so fiction..."
"No!"
"Wow, you're serious aren't you?" Myt turned his head to the bookshelf. He browsed through the titles until he found what he was looking for. "Well, this is the closest thing you'll ever find to what you're looking for." Myt levitated a brown, leather bound book off of the shelf and set it down in front of Zecora.
She could barely make out the title from the gold leaf letters which decorated the cover, "'GALVANISM'. What is that?"
"Well, nowadays, most 'scientists' refer to it as electrophysiology.’Galvanism' is more of a historical term. The idea was that electricity could bring dead things back to life. Although, nopony really had too much success. The most that anyone had done so far was make muscles twitch and nothing more. That's not to say that it can't be done though. Hospitals do it all the time with a defibrillator. If your heart stops they can use the electric current from a defibrillator to restart it, but only within a given amount of time."
"But still, you have not yet said, is it possible to bring life to the dead?"
Myt tried to choose his next words carefully. "It's not so much 'impossible' as it is, 'unethical'."
"Unethical?"
"Let's say...not advisable."
Zecora looked down at the book that Myt pulled out earlier. The leather cover was worn and old. The corners were bent, and the pages had yellowed. With her hoof she opened the book to a random page. The ink was slightly faded, but not overly so.
As she skimmed through the pages, she examined the many sketches, notes, and photographs that were laced throughout the book. Most of the sketches were diagrams of electrical circuits hooked up to various "specimens". These drawings were followed by their descriptive notes, explaining their purpose and development.
It was the photograph a few more pages in that caught her attention. It had to be at least a hundred or so years old. Maybe even older. It was a picture of a group of nobles, scientists, and writers. Most of them were well dressed, all in their own unique styles and family decorations. A strange one stood in the back with an hourglass cutie mark with a ridiculously long scarf wrapped over his neck twice. Another stallion was adorned with medals, awards, and age. In the center of the group were three distinguished figures.
The two on the left appeared to be husband and wife. He wore a light suit with a rather frilly shirt. His wife wore a more simple and conservative black dress. Although, the photograph was in black and white, so there was no definite way to distinguish color. But, it was the face to their left, it was unmistakable, but how could it be him?
"Impossible..." Zecora deathly whispered to herself. It was him. Why was he there? Is it really impossible? How could he still be alive to this day? Zecora looked at the description which read, "The Board of International Equestrian Science ". And at the bottom of the picture there was writing in cursive...
Mr. & Mrs. Shelly with their good friend Doctor Wolfenstein
"Miss?" Zecora looked up at Myt who was holding another book. "I know this is a fiction book, but it may answer any ethical questions you might have regarding the subject." He set the book down next to the first book.
It was a paperback book, not as old as the first. On the cover there was a pencil sketch of an old castle with lightning striking the roof. Yellow letters spelled out "Frankenstallion: A Modern Ponetheus". Zecora scrolled her eyes down to the bottom of the cover where the author's name was. "Mare E. Shelly".
'Shelly? The same Shelly in the book? And Wolf, he knew her and her husband.' She wondered how much the book had to do with Wolf.
Zecora opened the book to the first page and began to read...
*****
Wolf came up out of the basement. He heaved the metal door in the entry way shut and locked it. He had been down there all day, but was finally done with his business. He pulled himself to walk up the spiral staircase into his makeshift lab. He wasn't alone.
Another figure, tall and broad stood by the table. "I heard you got another one..." His gruff roar of a voice echoed through the empty room. "...or two." His face and body were littered with scars from where old stitches used to be. His dim yellow eyes concentrated on Wolf.
"Well, well, well...haven't seen you in a while. What brings you here my brother." Wolf proceeded towards the tall stallion.
"Since when did you ever consider me you brother?" He brushed his greasy black hair out of his face. "Just like Victor, you even referred to me as the monster."
"I never knew your name, if you ever had one."
"Mountain Tail. That's what my friend calls me." He actually smiled on that line.
"So, Mountain Tail, you've made a friend? Another blind pony, or another freak like us?"
Mountain Tail looked angry, but he had learned to control his temper through the centuries. "She is a Griffon, but yes, she is blind. I found her wandering in the Everfree forest. She was lost."
"Lost...funny. It's funny that all good things we find were once lost in some way or another. So, you like her?" Wolf looked up at Mountain Tail who was blushing but frowning at the same time. He was blushing because of the fact that he had grown fond of the griffon, but his frown displayed the bad news of the matter.
"She can't live as long as me though. It won't last."
Wolf gave a moment of silence for his friend before he spoke again. "I am sorry... You know I could always-"
"NO!!! I will not have you turn her into one of us! I could never ask that of her..."
"That is why I respect you, a bit more than Victor. He never weighed consequences. But, at least you found some to be close with." With his head low Wolf marched himself over to the cart full of syringes and electrodes.
"What about that zebra mare I've seen you about with? Is she, 'not' close?"
Wolf laughed. "If she knew who I really was, if she saw the real me...she would run away from me as if I were you. And like you said, we're not like them. They can never be like us."
"I understand that Victor did not give you the cleaner cut looks of your other brothers and sisters. And, I am sorry about what happened to them by the way."
"Why? It wasn't your fault. If anything it was mine, it was mine. This...I did this. If it weren't for me I wouldn't have to run, from town to town, kidnapping ponies."
"You only have three more-"
"I know!" Wolf snapped at the monster. "I know. I was lucky with the recent one, the wonder bolt. I was rather concerned with finding him, but he came ever so conveniently in the right circumstances. Perhaps Faust is smiling on me. I've already got the earth pony from Ponyville. Now I just need the pegasus, the 'unicorn', and the last one I know...is a royal guard somewhere in Canterlot." Wolf began to breathe heavily. He was tired, stressed, and ready to die...again.
"You've managed to get the first twenty spies without getting caught..." Mountain Tail stood by Wolf who was deep in thought. Wolf waited till he was able to control his breathing.
"Let's hope Chrysalis doesn't catch me snagging her last three spies."
Ch.9: Monsters at the Gala
"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." (John F. Kennedy)
"Spike? Spike, are you alright in there? Does the suit fit?" Rarity waited outside of Spike's door. Nervous? Completely. She hoped, and prayed to Faust that the new suit she had made for Spike would fit him. Her mind wandered and began to ache with anticipation. 'I hope it fits...what if it doesn't? Oh goodness...why is he so silent? It has to fit...what if...is he not coming out because it doesn't fit...and he doesn't want to hurt my feelings? Oh my...the Gala is tonight...if it doesn't fit, this is the worst possi-' her train of dreaded thoughts were cut off by the creaking of Spike's door slowly nudging open.
"Rarity?" He stepped out wearing the suit. Spike was just finishing clipping on a red, jewel encrusted bow tie. "How do I look?" Rarity managed to completely ignore the hard work she put into the black silk suit jacket. It was that bow tie that caught her attention. She remembered giving it to Spike years ago. But she never thought anything of the gift.
"Spike, you held onto that old bow tie for all these years? Bu- why?"
"You gave it to me..."
"I never really expected you to keep it all these years."
Spike smiled as he lifted a claw to stroke Rarity's cheek. Her fur was still as soft as ever. Her cheeks radiated heat as a blush tinted her face. "This bow tie was made by the hooves of an angel. Why wouldn't I keep it?" Rarity felt herself melt at Spike's words. His tender voice echoed it's way into her heart, leaving her practically speechless. "Hey uh, Rarity?" She quickly snapped herself out of the trance.
"Yes Spike?"
"You're gonna put on your dress aren't you?"
Oh yeah. "Yes, of course...heh."
"Well, the room is all yours." Spike held the door open for Rarity while she grabbed the dress that had been hanging on the banister the whole time. "Come out when you're ready." Carefully, Spike shut the door after she walked in. He waited...
...and waited...
...and waited some more...
...'Maybe I should, never mind.' He thought as he waited...
Then Rarity's voice came ringing from inside. "Spike? I need need your help with something." He cautiously pushed until the door was ajar. He peeked in to see that Rarity was in her dress, but something was off. "Spike, could you be a darling and zip up the back please." She turned her back towards him waiting for him to do as he said.
With two of his claws, he took a hold of the zipper and slowly pulled it up along Rarity's back. Spike almost hated it. The dress covered up her beautiful white fur. "There...all finished." He let out a sigh when all was done. As she turned around, Spike saw the one thing the dress did for Rarity that he liked. It contrasted her face which shined brightly in the low light of the library. It made it easier for him to look up to her eyes. Since Rarity's body was covered, Spike's eyes wandered no where else. They focused on just her, her sapphire eyes that twinkled with delight. 'Easy to get lost in those eyes,' he thought to himself.
"Not quite done yet Spike..."
"Hmm?" What else was there? She already did her makeup and hair, twice. The reason became clear as Rarity lifted something out of one of her bags she had brought earlier. It was something gold, with a wide band. It was a necklace, but what did it carry? What was that gem in the middle? It's...it's...it is. It's a fire ruby, but this was no ordinary fire ruby. This one was shaped like a heart. The very sight of the ornament hit Spike with a fit of mixed emotions that bubbled inside of him. "I-I gave that to you. You still kept it? Even after..."
There was silence. But, it was broken by Rarity's angelic voice.
"Spike. It is one of my most prized possessions. I never learned to appreciate it at first, I just saw it as a new piece of jewelry then, but now, things have changed. I can't look at it without thinking of you, and...it reminds me about you when you first lived here."
"When I was a little runt?"
"Yes Spike, you were little, but you were a faithful little runt. Through all those years, you never gave up on me..."
"I held on to hope."
"I guess I lost that hope after you left. When I saw you leave with Twilight on the train, I didn't see you even crying." Mist came to Rarity's eyes as she remembered the past thoughts that haunted her. "I started thinking that...not even you could love a mare as spoiled and selfish...I didn't think anyone else could ever love me." Just before she could start crying Spike stopped her.
"Please don't, don't cry. I hate seeing you when you cry. I hurt you once, but never again..." He embraced her. That was all he could do. "...I did cry."
"Spike?" The mist began to dissipate as she nuzzled his neck.
"Rarity... I didn't want you to see me cry, I didn't want to feel weak. I realized I was wrong. I should have been stallion enough to cry in front of you. Not liquid pride, like Twilight's brother says, I didn't want to go. I didn't want to leave. I should have stayed." A tear fell from his eye. "I haven't cried in three years. Maybe it was because I cried my eyes out on that train. I don't know."
Rarity just stared at him. Did he just admit to that? A stallion, well... A drake admitting he cried over love. Who else would ever do that? He was gone for three years, but that's not much for some ponies, but between the two of them it felt like centuries. Why? Did they have something greater than what they expected? A bond...
"Spike. You're here, and I love you."
"But why!" His interjection didn't startle her. "How can you? I'm not a stallion. I'm not handsome. I'm a dragon, I don't want to be..."
"Stop that."
"...I wish I was a stallion! Then maybe, I might fit in." He turned away back to the mirror in his room. He stared at his reflection. He saw a beast, a monster. Why him? Why did he have to be a dragon? Why did Faust hate him!
"Spike...I would rather have you as a humble dragon, than a pompous stallion. You are handsome. You really are. Stop telling yourself that you're not."
"Pompous?" Spike butted in.
"Yes."
"Why would I be pompous?" Dazed and confused he waited for Rarity's answer.
She sighed. "You are one of the most handsome creatures I have ever known. If you had been born a stallion, you undoubtedly might have been the most desirable male around. That kind of thing gets to one's own head. I definitely think that you would have become a pompous brat; worse than Blueblood. I hope you stay exactly the way you are...as my handsome gentledrake."
Spike smiled. "And, I hope you stay exactly the way you are: beautiful, generous, and just..."
"Yes Spike?"
"Perfect."
Rarity held a hoof up to her mouth trying to hide the blush that engulfed her muzzle. "Oh my..." Her feelings began to stir inside as Spike turned back to face her. His emerald eyes sparkled in the light. How sincere they were, he truly cared. No other stallion could ever top him. He was the one. Spike had to be the one. "Come here Spike..."
Cautiously he stepped forward, uncertain of what was about to happen. "Yes?"
Closing her eyes, she gently kissed him. His scaly lips had become a strange comfort to her. She could get lost in that sensation for hours if she let herself, but she managed to control herself, this time. She released her grip on his mouth.
Spike sighed in disappointment as Rarity's lips left his. "Mmm."
"Something wrong?" She squeaked a little worried.
"No, it's just...I'll never fully get used to that." He smiled.
"Used to what?" The worry grew on her face. Was it her breath?
Spike held onto Rarity bringing her in for a hug. With his head pressed against the side of hers he whispered into her ear, "I'll never be fully used to kissing an angel."
The tension within Rarity's muscles all ceased. She turned her head, kissed his cheek, and then proceeded to nuzzle his neck. "Why couldn't I have found you sooner?"
"I should be the one asking that question... Why did it take us so long to get here?"
Rarity rested her head on Spike's shoulder for a moment, then she lifted herself to look at him. "Some things, are worth waiting for." She smiled up at him.
"Well Rarity, it was worth the wait." Spike lifted his head a tad higher so he could kiss Rarity on her forehead, just below her horn. She hummed in delight as she felt the warmth of his lips.
Inconveniently, the doorbell rang.
"Oh. Well, Spike?"
"It looks like the others are here."
"Yes. Shall we go down to greet them?"
"After you, Milady..."
"Oh Spike."
*****
"I can't do this..." Wolf sat outside of Zecora's home which was more of a hut that sat a little ways down a road into the Everfree forest. He began to fidget with his maroon tie that hung around his neck. Mountain Tail stood off to the side hiding in the brush.
"You can't just chicken out now!" Mountain whispered to Wolf. "You're not a chicken are you?!"
Wolf felt the butterflies in his stomach turn and twist. "I can feel my blood turning yellow." Mountain Tail face-hoofed. "Why should I have to do this?"
"Because! She invited you..."
"I can't do this!" Wolf bit his lip.
"Yes, you can." Mountain Tail thought for a moment. "You need to do this."
"Why?!"
"Wolf! You're almost nine hundred years old! I'm a 'monster' and have been on more dates than you..."
Wolf raised his brow at Mountain Tail. "Most of them were blind."
"That's not the poi- AHH, just stallion up! Go and knock on her door." With that Mountain Tail hid behind the trees and the brush leaving Wolf alone to make up his mind.
Wolf face Zecora's hut. His heart pounded in his chest, that's never happened before. He made his approach as he straightened his crimson neck tie. Zecora's home seemed to grow as an ominous beast about to snatch Wolf from existence. He stopped himself before he ran into her door. He hadn't realized how close the hut actually was. "You can do this," he whispered to himself. Shakily he rose his hoof to the front door and knocked. When no answer came he knocked again,"Zecora?" The door fell slightly open revealing the inside of the hut. Wolf pushed the door all the way open with his muzzle.
He stood in awe of all the masks, herbs, and assorted potions that lined the wall. The aroma of various flowers and stained wood filled his nostrils. As he carefully walking further into Zecora's hut, he noticed the cauldron sitting off to the side. Wolf placed his hoof on the black cast-iron surface. It was cold and reminded him of a similar cauldron that his mother...
"Hello? Be you friend or foe?" Zecora's sing song voice came ringing from around the corner of the room.
Wolf tensed up. "Oh, uh...I'm sorry. I didn't m-mean to intrude...I...uh..." His stutter began to die down when Zecora came into view from around the corner. Her mane draped downed over the side of her face while a blue lotus flower was perched between her mane and her ear. Her body was cloaked in a dress that matched the vibrant blue in her eyes, the image of her cutie mark recurred in a pattern of orange and red hues. Around her neck hung a wood bead ornament of sorts. However, aside from the facts of what she was wearing...her attire seemed to make her flourish in magnificent beauty.
"Wolf? Is something wrong, why have you been staring so long?"
Zecora's sing song voice snapped Wolf out of his trance. "Oh sorry, I- it's just that-," he couldn't stop staring at her eyes which were like pools of clear blue water, "it's just that you look...beautiful."
At this, Zecora blushed hard. Her muzzle turned bright pink underneath her monotone fur. She had never been told she was beautiful by anyone before. "Thank you, Wolf."
Finally Wolf remembered what he had come to do. "Well, are you ready for the gala?"
*****
DING DONG
Myt opened the door. "Oh! Hello again Zecora." Myt took in the sight of Zecora, and Wolf who stood nervously in the doorway next to her. "Zecora I don't believe you've ever properly introduced me to your 'coltfriend' here." At this Wolf's muzzle lit up like a bright red light bulb. Myt smiled at Wolf 's discomfort. "Come on in."
Zecora and wolf were met by Spike and Rarity who sat next to each other on the couch across from the Doctor and his wife Ditzy. The room lit up with smiles all around as they all introduced themselves to Wolf.
For the most part, Wolf simply smiled and gave a simple "hello" to everyone. Then he stopped when he faced Ditzy.
Wolf's smile fell away from his face. His eyes seemed to focus like camera lenses, but not exactly. Zecora was oblivious to his behavior; assuming that Wolf was just surprised by Ditzy's unique eyes. Myt was the only one that sensed anything was wrong.
"It's a pleasure to meet you miss." Wolf forced a half smile. He was hiding something. To his dismay, Myt was eyeballing his strange mannerisms which made him even more uncomfortable.
"Well then." Spike stood up. "I suppose we best be going to the gala now.
"Allons-Y!" The Doctor chanted.
*****
Dancing...
"Zecora?" Wolf whispered.
Dancing.....
"Yes Wolf?" A smile followed her quizzical tone.
All around.......
"What do you think of me?"
Music...
"Well, you're nice. To see that I only had to look twice." She giggled under her sing song voice.
Moment.....
"You really think so?"
By moment.......
"I wish you could see." She smiled, but then another thought crossed her mind. "What do you think of me?"
Tonight...
"You, are beautiful." Wolf said shyly. "You can see past the cover and see others differently."
Is the night.....
"Others?" Zecora questioned. Her heart was pounding as she still danced close to Myt.
We are here.......
"Well," he said, "me." He looked down into Zecora's sea blue eyes. They were shimmering, glistening like the stars.
Can it be...
"Wolf..." She could see past his contacts into his golden eyes.
Maybe.....
"Zecora. I wanted to tell you something. But, I'm afraid."
Just maybe.......
"What is it?" Zecora felt something in her heart. Something new.
Strange...
"Do you trust me?" He was afraid.
But true.....
"Of course..." She gave her best smile.
Love is near.......
"Something else too..." He was shaky.
Music fades...
"What is it?"
Music falls.....
"Something to show you." Wolf stopped, he breathed, and outran his fear.
Music dies.......
The music ended. The crowd of couples cheered at the end of the song. Their roaring cheer masked another sincere scene in the background. No one saw the act of love and relief that had broken free of its chains. Only Zecora and Wolf were free from the world as their lips embraced one another's. Neither experienced, neither cared.
The kiss ended and Wolf pulled Zecora close to him as he embraced her. "Just in case," his voice wavered, "I just wanted this much."
"Wolf? What's wrong?" Zecora could feel the single tear that fell from his face.
"If you trust me put these in." He stuck something in her hoof, wiped his eye, and disappeared into the crowd.
Zecora looked at her hoof which held ear plugs. Why would she need ear plugs. "Wolf? Wolf!!!" He was no where in sight. Afraid if what was going to happen next, Zecora quickly shoved the plugs into her ears.
Wolf was weaving his way through couples; his target in sight. He ran up and bumped into the side of the Doctor. "Oh I'm so sorry! I should have watched where I was going..."
The Doctor saw Wolf trail off in the distance. "No problem! Just...wait a minute." He turned to his wife. "Ditsy, have you seen my sonic screw driver?"
Wolf bolted behind a large subwoofer next to the stage that held up the musicians. He pulled out the mechanical device he had stolen from the Doctor. Wolf concentrated his magic on it.
The sonic screwdriver was absorbed by an orb of gold light that sparked with electricity. Wolf moved it towards one of the plugs on the speakers. As he concentrated, the tip of the screwdriver lit up.
BORWORWORWORW
The amplifier exploded with sound that roared through the whole palace. Windows shattered as ponies frantically screamed and tried to cover their ears but to no avail. Zecora watched in horror as everyone began to fall. The earplugs she wore weren't entirely effective.
Zecora's vision began to blur as an intense pain took over her mind. She was still conscious though.
The sound stopped.
Zecora turned to look around. Everypony was on the floor. She checked the pulse if several ponies. They were all still alive. What was that sound? Zecora looked everywhere. Even the princesses were passed out. In the distance she could see Wolf carrying two bodies on his back. One orange, and the other was grey. Zecora forced her shaken and distressed body to follow him.
*****
The princesses were the first to awake. Then, one by one, the rest of the guests began to rise. "Is everyone alright?"
Spike held Rarity in arms. She hadn't woken up yet. "Doctor!" He gave a pleading look to the brown stallion who had just woken up. "Help!"
Drowsily, the Doctor looked around. "Ditzy?" She was nowhere to be seen. "Ditzy?!" He panicked. "Ditzy!!!" She was gone.
"Who keeps yelling?" A drowsy voice came echoing out of Rarity's mouth. She looked up at Spike. "Where...what happened?" Spike wrapped his arms tight around her. To his relief she was alive, thankfully.
Princess Twilight watched the crowd as she rose from the ground. "What the?" She looked at Luna and Celestia who were equally as baffled. Twilight looked to her side. There was an empty pile of gold armor. "Flash?" His armor was haunting as a chill thought ran through Twilight's mind. "Oh no. Please no..."
Suddenly a loud voice came ringing out. "I know who did this!!!" That voice was usually a pestilence, but now it sounded of justice to be be paid. "Princess!" Myt came running up to twilight.
"Myt? What do you mean you know who did this?" Twilight waited as Myt was trying to catch his breath.
"Twilight," he breathed heavily, "it was Wolf."
"Who?" Twilight asked.
"It was Wolf. He's a new stallion that came into Ponyville. And, I think Zecora is helping him." Myt stared at Twilight.
She was angry.
Ch.10: So, the Truth... (Part1)
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Ch. 11: So, the truth... (Part 2)
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)
The storm that loomed over Canterlot was still raging on. Everypony was asleep, or trying to. The rain continued to beat down on the simple glass frames of the small houses that scattered the landscape. This was a different Canterlot, an old one. It was not so bright and cheery as the city most ponies know of today.
Many were still plagued by memories of Discord's rule which resulted in the deaths of countless colts. Even the young Celestia had received heartache. After Discord was defeated, Luna attempted to overthrow Celestia. Nopony knows why, but it haunted Celestia that she had to banish her own sister. She would have to live with that for a thousand years.
After the chaos had ended, Canterlot had only just begun to be rebuilt. During this time an unknown stallion went on a killing spree throughout all the towns. Eventually he was caught, but this still set back the progress of rebuilding Canterlot. On top of all this, plagues began to break out all across Equestria.
There was a race for all the apothecaries to find cures. Many died from the exposure from their patients while treating them. When the apothecaries were failing, a new group of radicals rose to the challenge. Scientists, which were for the most part frowned upon, claimed that they could produce the cures that were needed so desperately.
They succeeded.
The pony scientists cured the plagues that had infected the lands. They had gained a new found respect. Science became a new power that received praise and rejoice. The good it had brought, however, blinded the ponies all over Equestria. They never imagined it could bring about monsters.
*****
The old abandoned stone windmill sat a little ways from Canterlot on a hill. The old sails had long since been gone, and the old cobblestone road was decayed and covered by moss. The old mill hadn't been used for some thirty years now. The previous owner was believed to be dead.
A pony by the name of Victor Frankenstallion was once the owner until he died thirty years ago. He was brilliant scientist whose studies and works were most unethical. Victor obsessed over the creation of life and bringing life back from the dead. He was successful in one case.
He brought life to a body made with dead parts from other ponies that had been stitched together. It was a towering creature that stood twice the height of anypony. Victor made the mistake of letting it escape. The creature was exposed to a world of hate and rejection. He only learned to talk by listening to conversations while he hid in the shadows. The creature was smart, so smart, that he himself had gone insane dwelling on the curse of his existence. He blamed Victor for making him hideous. He wanted to make Victor Frankenstallion suffer.
The creature did just that. All of the Frankenstallions, except Victor, had been murdered by the creature, but none found a trace from the creature, except Victor. Victor knew he had to hunt down the creature himself.
Victor disappeared, and was believed to be dead.
Now some thirty years later, his old windmill, which had served as his laboratory, was once again alight. The stone windows shown with blue light. The stormy night masked any and all of the electrical sounds that roared through the mill. Nopony was aware of what was happening, except for the monster.
The monster that Victor had created those many years ago was still alive. It now made it's way up the cobble stone path which lead up to mill, his birth place. He effortlessly pushed open the heavy wooded door which was infested with termites. As the creature stepped inside he saw that the other side of the door had been reinforced by steel plating. He began to walk up the long winding staircase. Wires and machines of all sorts lined the stone walls. These were new machines that the monster did not recognize. When he reached the main room of the mill, he couldn't believe what he saw.
All around the room were the bodies of ponies floating in tubes and vats of a luminescent blue liquid. Ranging from embryos to being full grown, the bodies were all connected to machines through a sort of mechanical umbilical cord which fed the bodies with nutrients and maintained their vital organs. The bodies were all different in color, but they were pale for the most part. Each one twitched a little in their tubes with the occasional kick of the leg. The monster himself almost couldn't bare the sight of it.
As he continued up the stairs he could see the shadow of a stallion he all too well recognized. It was Victor Frankenstallion, still alive and hardly aged at all. The monster stood half way behind a beam watching him. He watched Victor activate a mechanical arm which rotated around the room to pick up a specific tube. The arm lowered the tube onto a large metal table. After the arm left the tube and retracted to its original position, Victor hooked up some stray piping to the tube which drained it of the blue liquid. The monster watched as Victor pulled the body out and detached the umbilical cord. He pushed a button which reactivated the mechanical arm as to carry the empty tube off to the side. The monster was curious and began to approach Victor.
"I see you've learned some new tricks since you made me," the monster's deep voice came like a boom, that startled Victor, a bit. The monster stood at twice the height of his creator. The thick black stitches that held his face together was enough to make Celestia scream. Patches of different colored fur made up his face, and a greasy black mane drooped over the sides of his yellow eyes. Victor, was wearing his same old lab coat, his coal black mane was short and contrasted his brown fur. The unicorn smiled at the monster.
"So you have found me. Why, are you here? Back to torment me I presume!"
"No, I've already had my revenge on you, but I find it wise to check up on one's past enemies. I have decided to make a truce with you."
"HA!" Victor cackled. "A truce, really, that's it, you think you can just come back like this after killing my family, and ask for a truce!? You must be joking!"
"As you well know, I suffered as well. It's because of you that everypony runs and cowers in fear at the sight of my face. Don't you even dare talk to me about family, I never even had one. Remember that you're dealing with a double edge knife Victor. If we continue to fight over this, we'll both still get hurt."
"Hmm, and I suppose, it's not like either of us is going to die anytime soon."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The monster was confused, but Victor went on to explain how, by the power of science he was able to stop his biological clock and augment his body to preserve it. Age and injury was no longer a problem for Victor. He was just as immortal as the monster was. They both would endure long and possibly miserable lives in Equestria.
"So my 'father' has found a way to match my status," the monster chuckled, "so might I ask how you are doing, and as a matter of fact, what are you doing?" Victor frowned at the monster's question. "That is a rather complicated subject." The ageless scientist fell into a feeling of depression. Nevertheless, he thought it would be best if he told the creature his unfortunate and complicated situation.
"I tried to start a new life, but to no prevail. I changed my name to hide my identity. I used an old alias I had used during the rule of Discord. I called myself Wolfenstein, but most ponies just called me Doctor Wolf. I put my medical skills to use as a doctor in any hospital that would offer me a job. For a short time I even worked in the royal palace, but Celestia herself kicked me out for apparently eavesdropping. I did learn secrets, secrets that should never be spoken, and I had no intention of telling anypony else. After that I was on the road again, trying to help people. But..."
A small tear escaped Victor's eye.
"I noticed my luck was not what it once was. Every time I had the chance to save somepony, they always seemed to die regardless of all my efforts. I was kicked out of hospitals. No one wanted me around. I was considered a bad omen. I knew that I was cursed for my sins. I was not allowed to save people. Then I came back here, to the mill. I started again. I learned how to create bodies without using parts from dead ponies. I have perfected my process. I can grow bodies from scratch. They really are my creations. I will teach them everything I know, all about how they came to be, how to create life, and how to save it. They will not be cursed, for they have not yet sinned like I have. They will have a fresh start. They'll never know hate, they'll never know fear, and they will never have to face death by age. This is my plan. I want to repay the ponies I've done wrong to, and this is how I'll do it. A secret army, of ponies, bred to save and protect lives.
"Here lies the first, he will lead them, he will lead my children on the path of good." Victor came back to the table where his new creation lay. Victor pulled over a cart and attached electrodes to the body. The monster looked at the body that lay there, "Is that, an alicorn?" The pale body had a curved horn that poked through it's wet mane. The wings however were not quite normal at all. They were a bit larger than normal, and they were webbed like dragon wings. Victor lifted open one of the eyelids of the body. The monster was shocked when he saw a reptilian slit shaped pupil stared back at him. Victor closed the eyelid.
"What is he?" the monster managed to say still dumbfounded. Victor explained, "He is a mix of many things, but not completely made from scratch. He and his mother died, while he was still an embryo no bigger than a hoof. I harvested him, so to speak, I augmented him with new traits and alternating strands of genetic material." The monster didn't understand. This form of science was not known to him. When he asked Victor, the only answer he got was that it would change the future. Victor pulled a crank that opened the roof.
A large network of wires and machines were turned on. The monster could see through the rain, which began to pour through the roof, as three lightning rods extended towards the sky. The rain began to wash the body which still lay lifeless on the table. Victor finished the final setup stages for the machines. He approached the table. On the side was a switch.
The monster knew he was about to witness the birth of a new creature, a new race even. He watched as Victor pulled the switch down with a great force. The electricity sparked on the contacts of the switch. The electricity now began to pulse throughout the body that lay on the table. It twitched and made sharp jagged movements with all it's limbs. The body's back arched almost unnaturally. The monster sat there as this went on for solid five minutes. They would be the longest minutes of his life as he wondered, 'Is this what it looked like, when I was born?'
Victor disconnected the switch. He closed the roof, retracted the lightning rods, and shut down the machines. The monster stepped closer to the body, "It, it's breathing!" Victor pulled out a stethoscope and began to scan the body's chest for a heart beat. Victor stopped as he heard it, beating, loud and clear. The body twitched slightly again. Then it, or, 'he' opened his eyes. The colt's golden yellow eyes almost glowed through the dark. Victor began to laugh to himself as the monster stepped away from the new colt which now stood up, spreading his large webbed wings. The monster looked up and then over to Victor who was crying in laughter, "It's alive, it's alive, IT'S ALIVE!!!" A loud sound came from the new colt as it cried in the dark and presence of the laughing Victor Frankenstallion.
"Happy and heart-warming moments in life are a treasure on their own. We guard them closely so that they cannot be stolen. But like all treasures they inevitably will be stolen. So, it is up to us to steal them back." (Mythic Pen a.k.a. Myt)
...three weeks, and some home improvement, later...
The end of the fall was coming soon. The air was more crisp, the leaves all missing from the trees, and winter was creeping around the corner. Winter meant cold, and cold meant the need for snow clothes, and that, meant business for the Carousel Boutique. It was the busiest time of the year. Ponies filled out orders for new winter clothes and also clothing gift wrapped for Hearth's Warming Day. Rarity was going to be up to her neck with orders. She had already gotten an early start on her work. A sort of newfound inspiration was driving her to complete orders a bit faster than her regular pace of work. Many saw her work all day, leave her house at night, and not return until the morning. Some thought it strange, while others just minded their own business. It was said that she still felt uncomfortable sleeping in her home at night, considering the whole fiasco on Nightmare Night. She spent the nights in the home of somepony, or rather, some dragon that is.
It was a warm morning for Spike. The blankets were overflowing with the warmth of him, and his company. He was the first to awake. The weight on his chest compelled him not to yawn lest he should wake the sleeping beauty that lay before him. Spike enjoyed these moments, when he could enjoy seeing Rarity sleep. He imagined her as an angel resting by his side. He swore she was an angel, only she left behind her wings to be down here. 'She must really love me to do that,' Spike thought. Stroking her mane with his claws, he listened to her soft heart beat while her breathing came as a rhythm of song.
Rarity also was enjoying her rest as she cuddled up onto her dragon, the dragon that no one, outside of her friends, knew she was close with. Her secret she kept from the rest of the outside world. She relished being wrapped in Spike's strong scaly arms. His scales felt so strange against her fur, but in a good way. She liked it. As she lay her head against his chest, she listened to his strong dragon heart thumping away. She was too drowsy to notice the knock at the door, but she did notice her scaly body pillow trying to escape.
Spike attempted to set Rarity down to see who was knocking at his bedroom door, but to no avail. Rarity had coiled her forelegs around his neck pulling herself tighter and closer up under his chin. She tried to bury her face in the warmth by nuzzling his neck. Spike attempted to coo her from her compelling grasp, "I'll be back in a moment." After he kissed her fore head just under her horn, she reluctantly let go sliding from his chest and onto the bed which was still warm from his body heat. Rarity cuddled up in the empty blankets which were now absent of her dragon.
Spike carefully made his way to the bedroom door, trying to stay quiet. When he cracked open the door he saw that it was Myt standing behind the door. Opening the door, Spike carefully stepped through and gently shut the door behind him.
"So...did you two-"
"No!" Spike's muzzle grew red at Myt's perverted question.
"Oh sorry." Myt laughed at Spike. "I guess I assumed wrong."
Spike had reached his breaking point... Controlling his voice the best he could, he snapped at Myt, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"What?'
"Never before have I ever met a pony who was so stuck up, rude, snarky, perverted, or inconsiderate as you!" Myt looked down, but Spike kept going. "What is your problem. You're rude to Rarity, you find it amusing to tease me at the most inappropriate of times, and you seem to be a pessimist whenever you can! You make fun of Rarity and I. Why? Cause we love each other? Do you think that's something to make fun of? What do you even know about love?!" Myt's face was blank, he just stared at the ground.
"I'm sorry." Myt let out out in a small sigh.
"What? That's all you can say? 'I'm sorry' ?" Spike stared down at Myt who held his hoof up to his neck, holding on to something. "Myt? What are you..." Myt pulled on what he was grabbing. From behind his bow tie, came out a little heart-shaped gold locket. "What is that?" Spike calmed down a bit. He watched as Myt used his magic to open the locket and place it in Spike's claws.
Spike examined it. Inside was a picture of a mare. She had a blonde mane with mustard colored fur and scarlet eyes. A heart and rose cutie mark adorned her flank. "Her name was Amber, Amber Heart." When Spike looked up at Myt, all he could see in his eyes were black holes staring back. "She... 'was' my fiance." Spike felt his own words, which he said earlier, fly back at his face.
"What do you mean 'was'?"
Taking in a deep breath, Myt answered Spike's question. "She died six years ago. She got sick and...her immune system shut down. She couldn't fight it. There was nothing the doctors could do." Myt took the locket out of Spike's claws and tucked it back under his bow tie.
Spike went silent. He felt terrible now for what he said to Myt.
"Its okay Spike. I am sorry. I shouldn't have been acting like a jackass in the first place."
"Myt, I-"
"No Spike, you didn't know, its my fault. Its my responsibility watching how I act around others. I screwed up." Myt composed himself. "Can you forgive me?" Spike couldn't believe his ears. Myt, who he had just insulted on a personal level, was asking him for for forgiveness. Ah, to hay with it...
"Water under the bridge...Myt." When Spike said this, Myt's face lit up with a smile.
There was silence...which was broken by Myt.
"So 'Romeo'," all Spike could do was laugh and roll his eyes, "what's the game plan for this wonderful Thursday?" Myt whispered still aware of the sleeping unicorn mare in Spike's room.
"Well, today is re-shelving day, I have some letters to write, reports, and I think that's about it." Spike thought for a moment. "Oh, did Zecora ever return those books she was going through?"
"Well, she never exactly took them anywhere." Myt stated, his voice still a bit groggy from the morning.
"Then where are they?"
"I sort of helped her set up the guest room as a study room for her. All of the books are still there. I asked her once what it all was for..."
"And?" Spiked asked expectingly.
"She said it had something to do with that incident at the Nightmare Night party. I was never there, but it sounded pretty exciting." Myt laughed at the idea, but then he remembered something else. "Oh, and there is a guard waiting downstairs for you. His name is Flashy or something like that."
"You could have told me this sooner."
A grin spread across Myt's face. "Yeah, I could have..." Laughing, Myt proceeded down the staircase followed by Spike who couldn't help but join in Myt's laughter.
While Myt headed into the kitchen Spike approached Flash Sentry. "You have news for me?"
"Regarding the missing pony-"
"Bon Bon?"
"Yes. Her disappearance is just one of many." Flash's tone darkened.
Spike was now worried. "What do you mean many?" He was afraid of the answer, but had to know.
"Ponies have been disappearing all over Equestria. In Manehatten, Baltimare, Las Pegasus, Van Hoover,
Apple Loosa, Canterlot, and now, Ponyville. Three were taken from every one of the other cities. It's the same pattern too. An earth pony, a pegasus, and a unicorn..." Spike felt his heart skip a beat. "...were taken from each city. Bon Bon was an earth pony. Now that she's gone..."
Spike knew what was coming. "Flash, that means..."
"That means that every pegasus and 'unicorn' in Ponyville is a potential target." The one word that stood out to Spike was 'unicorn'. 'Rarity is a unicorn! She's in Danger!!!' The thoughts in his head kept screaming into his ears about to burst out.
Just then a voice came ringing from upstairs. "Spike?" It was Rarity. "Is everything okay?" She came trotting down the stairs in her robe up to Spike and Flash. Spike looked to Flash, his eyes screaming with concern and worry about Rarity. "Spike dear, something wrong?"
Spike turned around to face Rarity, forcing a smile. "Everything is fine. Flash here was just giving me an update on their progress in finding Bon Bon." He lied.
"Oh really?" She turned to Flash. "How close are you? Have you caught the scoundrel that foalnapped our friend?" Rarity waited for the response.
Flash decided to join in on Spike's lie. "Not yet, but we're close. I was just suggesting to Spike," he stumbled trying to finish his part of the lie, "uh, that he should keep a close watch over you. Just in case. You know...for safety reasons."
Rarity just smiled not even considering that what Flash had just said might have been less that truthful. "Very well. I guess, since Spike has to watch over me, he'll be escorting me to the spa with my friend Fluttershy today." She turned back to Spike. "Dear, I'll be in the kitchen making myself some breakfast." With that she headed into the kitchen. And greeted Myt, who was less than happy to see her.
Spike turned back to Flash. "What about the rest of the town?"
"We've already informed Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to stay safe, but they're not fully aware of the situation. The two of them are going to stay with The Apple Family. Two guards are going to be posted there by night in disguise. That goes for the rest of the town as well. We have guards disguised as street vendors, shop workers, and we even have some dressed as tourists. If all goes well, we'll be able to catch whoever is taking these ponies."
"Is there any way I can help?"
"If you come across any information you think could be useful, tell us."
"Of course." Spike hadn't heard anything yet, but was ready to bring any new information to light.
Flash bowed before Spike, then he turned for the the door but stopped dead in his tracks. "Oh! I almost forgot." He pulled a parcel out of his chest plate and gave it to Spike. "These are tickets."
"For what?"
Flash smiled. "The Winter Hearth's Warming Gala. It was Twilight's idea. She thought it would relieve some tension with what's going on and all."
"Thanks Flash. Oh, and, good luck with Twilight." To this Flash's face turned redder than a tomato before he composed himself and marched out the door of the library. Spike locked the door after Flash was gone. He then pulled himself towards the kitchen to join Rarity for breakfast.
*****
Zecora knocked at the door of the windmill. Anxiously she waited, and waited. When no response came, she knocked aggressively at the door. To her surprise, it fell open by itself. Carefully nudging it open, she walked inside. The lights were on upstairs and dimly shone down the spiral staircase that stood out in the dark.
With each step, Zecora's hooves caused the metal frame of the stairway to creak as she inched her way up to the top. She could hear Wolf cursing to him self as he came into view.
He was tightly wrapping bandages around his torso. Under the bandages the outline of wings could be seen forced flat against his sides. He was using his mouth to pull the bandages tighter and fasten them down. Zecora's next step made a loud creak on one of the floor boards. Wolf snapped around with his back to Zecora. He avoided direct eye contact while he shouted, "What are you doing here?!"
"I just came to-"
"What?! What did you come to do?!"
"I didn't mean to intrude, but you don't have to rude!" Zecora snapped back. She was getting tired of his charades. He was hiding something from her. Now she was questioning why she even agreed to keep his presence here a secret. She needed to know what he was hiding. "Look at me..."
"I can't-"
"Why not?"
Wolf lowered his head to the point where his horn scratched the ground. He mumbled something to himself before he raised his head. Turning his head towards Zecora, he kept his eyes held shut. "I don't want you to see me like this. You've already seen that I hide my...wings-"
"Wings? You're an Allicorn?"
"No, not exactly. These wings aren't norm-, never mind. Please just forget this, don't tell anyone about it...just leave..."
"No. You asked me to keep your secret, but ever since we had met..."
"I know I've kept you in the dark..."
"Is your name even Wolfenstein?"
"No..." Wolf admitted.
There was silence. Zecora's eyes wandered over to the table next to Wolf. On it lay his jumpsuit, empty bandage boxes, and a pair of green contact lenses. He was hiding his whole appearance. Was it out of shame or something else? She walked up to the side of Wolf and placed a hoof on his shoulder, to which he clenched his eyes shut even tighter and turned his head away.
"Wolf..."
Zecora brought herself around to face him. She pulled his head to face her with her fore hoof.
"Please...you can still trust me."
Wolf let out a sigh. Straitening his neck, he opened his eyes up to Zecora. She choked slightly on her breath. His eyes were yellow, a golden yellow, but they were nothing like she had ever seen before though. They could have easily been mistaken for real gold had it not been the for the fact that they were organic. They appeared to be glistening, though there was no light shining on his eyes. His irises appeared to glow a low light that Zecora almost swore was a direct result of his eyes being an open gateway to his soul. Another peculiar thing about his eyes, were his pupils. They were slits, like dragon eyes. The slits seemed to grow and shrink as if by Wolf's control. His real eyes, which he had hid with contact lenses earlier, almost appeared as rare flowers similar, no, identical to flowers Zecora had seen before in her homeland. They were beautiful.
"Wolf...uh."
"I know, they're hideous. I'm hideous, my existence is hideous. If he had never made me then maybe..."
"Who?"
"Never mind that, it's all in the past."
"Wolf!" She thought for a moment. What could she say to get him to talk? Wait, what about, no that's just a fiction story, but maybe, just maybe... "Was it Frankenstallion?"
To this, Wolf's eyes widened. An expression of disbelief over took his face. "What did you just say?"
She had caught his attention. "It's not just a story, is it? Victor. Victor Frankenstallion. Did he do this to you?" The rhyme in her voice had vanished. But at the same time, a sincerity arose in her voice. A sense of sympathy, overtook her. "You can still trust me."
Furrowing his brow, he stood up, almost towering over her. "How do you know about Victor Frankenstallion?" Zecora cowered slightly, but was quick to respond.
"Mare E. Shelly's book, a story I suspect from you, she took. However I don't believe that you were the monster, though your eyes speak otherwise."
Wolf sat down still eye level with Zecora. He contemplated on Zecora's words. "Mare E. Shelly, but, she's been dead for nearly two centuries. She turned Victor's story into a book, heh." He looked to Zecora who had also sat down in front of him, now looking up at him. "You read the book, didn't you?" Zecora nodded her head. "Well, that's only half of the story. I'm not the monster in that book, but you have seen him, he was the one in the street on Nightmare Night, the one that threw the brick. That message, 'I am watching you', it was meant for me. Me, the second of Victor's creations, but not the last." He stopped to see that Zecora was giving him a warm smile.
"Wolf? Something wrong?"
"Zecora, I'm nearly nine hundred years old."
She laughed. "Years to age, you've had plenty, but you don't look a day over twenty." Now Wolf finally smiled. An expression Zecora had only seen one other time: the night that she first met him at the Nightmare Night party. "So tell me what you've been doing all these years. Please?"
Wolf sat there perplexed by the zebra's blue green eyes. "Victor made me and others, to wander the lands, helping ponies in need; saving the innocent that died young."
"Like Applebloom?"
"Yes, but I'm the last one now, all the others are..." A tear escaped one of his shimmering gold eyes. "...they're..." He couldn't say it, but Zecora understood. "It's my fault...I...I..." He began to tremble. Zecora watched, nine hundred years, and goodness knows how many of those years were sorrow, she watched as Wolf buried his face into his forelegs and let out a silent cry. Nine hundred years, and in an instant, Zecora watched its toll on Wolf bleed out through this emotional response. Could he just not take it any longer?
Zecora stood up and sat down next to Wolf. She wrapped her foreleg around his neck and leaned against him, comforting him. "Shhh, it'll be alright." She whispered to him. At the sound of her voice, Wolf's breathing slowed, his sobbing stopped; he looked up to Zecora. His cheeks were matted where tears had once rained down, his eyes looked tired, but appeared more ancient than before. "Have you been alone, all those years?" Once again, Zecora's natural rhyme had vanished. "Weren't you ever close to some one?"
Gathering himself he wiped his eyes. "No, I can't get to close to anypony. They grow old and die, while I live, forever. It's funny that so many wish they could be immortal like the princesses that rule Equestria, but I know, it's a curse. It's a terrible curse." Zecora knew he wasn't the monster from Mare E. Shelly's book, but she recognized a pain that Wolf shared with him. He couldn't escape himself. He was what he was. There was no changing what Victor did. "The monster, well, I shouldn't call him that anymore. He's made and lost friends along the centuries. Right now. Some poor griffon he found. She went blind after a head head injury. The mon- I mean, he found her, and nursed her back to health. He takes care of her. She's grown as fond of him as he has of her. I think her name was Gilda, or something like that."
"He's still alive?" Zecora reluctantly asked.
"Of course..."
"So he didn't destroy himself like he said he would in the book?"
"Zecora, he tried, but he couldn't. He can't die, nor can I, by any normal circumstances." He looked down at Zecora. "Since I can't die, I continue doing what I've always done, I help where I can, and then I move on. I came here to Ponyville, to help. I try to help, but there are some who are afraid of someone that can bring life back to the dead. That is why no one must know I am here, or who I really am. If they were to know, they would reject me."
"Wolf." Zecora's face beamed with hope as she was pleased to speak her next words. "Times have changed. They may learn to except you as they have learned to accept me. When I first came here, many were filled with fear. But soon, I gained their trust. Just as you have gained mine."
Wolf stared almost in disbelief. "Y-you actually trust me?"
"Of course. If I didn't, I'd be no better than the ones that distrusted me in the beginning. But, I must ask you something."
"What?"
"Our friend, Bon Bon, where is she?"
Wolf sighed and then, he smiled. "She is under my care. Your friend, she has cancer." Zecora couldn't believe what she was hearing. "It is a bit trickier to treat cancer, but I promise, that not only will she be cured, but also, the gene she carries for cancer will be removed completely. I will be thorough in setting ponies' memories back. It'll be like she never left at all." Zecora's face beamed with relief.
She pulled Wolf into a hug, to which he didn't know how to respond, so he just let it happen. He enjoyed it while he could. Guilt hid inside him though, Zecora didn't know it, but Wolf was lying about Bonbon. Cancer was the least of her worries.
*****
Rarity sat with her friend Fluttershy in the steam room. Both wore robes as one of the Spa ponies used a ladle to pour water on the heated rocks: generating more steam each time she did so. Fluttershy was listening to Rarity who was going on and on about one particular person...Spike.
"Oh Fluttershy, I thought it couldn't get any better!" Rolling her eyes a bit, Fluttershy continued to smile as she listened to Rarity talk. "Just as I was making my breakfast, Spike walked in carrying a parcel, and when I asked him what it was, he covered my eyes with his claws. He told me it was a surprise. When he lifted his claws, I saw them..."
"What were they?"
"Tickets!"
"Tickets?"
"Yes Fluttershy! Tickets! Tickets to the Hearths Warming Winter Gala. Oh Spike has really out done himself. Oh it'll be so romantic, dancing with him to the slow music of the Canterlot orchestra, under the bright moonlight. It will be simply divine..."
Fluttershy giggled a bit at Rarity's ranting.
"Oh, and you know what Fluttershy? He even had tickets for the rest of our friends, and their dates if they so desire. Although, Pinkie said she's not coming. She has still been down in the dumps ever since Pokey Pierce left her. The poor thing, I do hope she cheers up soon, her mane has gotten a little flat lately. At least it's not as bad as the time Cheese Sandwich left her. Anyways, since Pinkie didn't want her tickets, I gave them to Ditsy and her husband, oh what did he call himself, ah yes The Doctor. A strange fellow, but a happy couple. I was honored to make Ditsy's wedding dress. I thought they could use some time out of that tiny blue box they live in..." She let out a sigh after inhaling the steamy air that filled the room. "Just next week, it's going to be wonderful."
Fluttershy bit her lip. "Actually Rarity, I won't be going either..."
"What! Why?"
"Well..." Fluttershy couldn't stop herself from blushing. "...actually Big Mac sort of asked me out on a date..." Her muzzle lit up bright red. "...it's next week too, the same time as the gala. I promised him I would go with him, so I won't be able to make it to the gala."
Rarity stood baffled. "Fluttershy...You! And Big Mac! My goodness I'm so proud of you."
Timidly Fluttershy hid behind her hair. "Oh it's nothing serious really, yet."
"Oh, I heard you say 'yet' which shows anticipation. Aside from that, since you won't be needing your tickets, who should I give them to?"
Fluttershy thought for a moment. "How about Zecora, it might be good for her to get out more often."
"Maybe. I would be even more surprised if she brought a stallion along with her. Come to think of it, I think I have been seeing her crossing through the market more than usual. She said she was looking for someone... Oh my word, Fluttershy, do you think she's seeing somepony?"
"Well, she could be, I guess."
"Hmm, look at us, finding love, one by one. Things seem so great right now, this could be the beginning of a good life. You know...I don't see how things could ever possibly get worse." Rarity took in a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she let out her breath in a sigh. "I hope Spike is fine waiting for us in the lobby."
*****
Spike sat out in the lobby, waiting for Rarity. Having browsed through all the magazines, he finally grew bored.
"This sucks." he huffed.
