Heart’s Manifestation
By Littlecolt
Twilight Sparkle heard the sound of birds chirping. Her eyes fluttered slightly, bright sunlight bleeding in from between her eyelids. A pounding pain shot through her head as the light touched her field of vision and she quickly pulled a foreleg up and wrapped it over her face.
“Uhhhh… Spike,” she moaned. “Spike, could you close the curtain?” A groan came in response from the foot of her bed.
“Just use your magic…” Spike managed to mumble. “I don’t feel so good.”
Twilight sighed. She opened her left eye the smallest little crack that she could, just enough to see the curtain. With a slight ringing sound, she slid the curtain closed with her magic. She exhaled with relief and rolled onto her back, the sunlight no longer accosting her. Her body was still aching from the previous day. Twilight, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence had spent hours cleaning up the mess that Rarity had made while under the influence of the Inspiration Manifestation spell.
As she was thinking about the events of the previous day, a thought came to her mind. She sat up and rolled forward, bringing her face down to the foot of her bed. She looked down at Spike’s basket. The dragon was curled up and covered by his blanket.
“Spike, what did you do with that book, anyway?” she asked, amazed that she hadn’t thought of that previously.
Spike groaned again in response, and his blanket rustled in the dark. “Don’t ask,” he managed.
“This is actually really important, Spike,” Twilight said, putting on her lecturing voice. “That book needs to be returned to the castle where it can be locked up again.”
Spike groaned again, followed by a burp. “I think this might be bad,” he said. “I should have thought it through better.” Another burp followed his words, and a flash of green light came from under the cover.
Twilight rubbed her eyes and blinked. “Spike!” she said, having sensed the magic that just burst from the dragon. “What did you do?” She reached her hoof down to the basket and flipped the corner of Spike’s blanket up, revealing a purple hoof sticking out from underneath, barely visible in the dark.
“I ate it,” Spike mumbled quietly. Twilight blinked her eyes again and crawled over the edge of the bed. A light spell shone from the top of her horn, and she threw the blanket off of Spike completely, revealing the body of a purple unicorn, smaller than a full-grown stallion, but big enough to where Twilight wasn’t sure how he was fitting in the small bed.
“You what!” Twilight said loudly, her eyes going wide as she saw Spike’s new body.
Spike turned his face toward Twilight, clenching his eyes shut, seeming to brace himself for some sort of impact. “I ate it!” he shouted, and then shook slightly.
“You’re a unicorn!” Twilight responded, falling from the bed and banging her face against the floor.
“What?!” Spike yelled, sitting up and lifting what would have been his front claws up in front of his face. He saw purple hooves and fell backwards again. His stomach began grumbling again, and his newly formed horn began to glow bright green.
Twilight pushed herself up to her hooves, her mane still frazzled from the night before. She shook her head to get the hair out of her eyes and stared down at Spike, who was now flailing his legs and sputtering a lot of syllables that weren’t any words in particular. She took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice to a soothing tone as she spoke.
“Calm down, Spike. You have to get ahold of yourself. However this happened, we’ll figure it out,” she said. “If you get too excited, or panic too much, who knows what sort of magical outburst you might have. You’ve never used unicorn magic, so it might end up being wild like with a foal. Just… stay calm.”
Spike breathed in and out deeply. “Calm. Calm. Calm, right,” he kept repeating. The magical light from his horn began to fade as his breathing became more steady. “Okay… I think I’ve got this.”
Twilight smiled and hunched down over him. “Okay, now tell me, what was that about eating the book? You didn’t… actually eat it, did you?”
Spike nodded his head in response. Twilight breathed in deeply again and closed her eyes.
“Do you think that’s why I turned into a pony?” Spike asked, lifting a front hoof up again and staring at it.
“Well, I can’t think of any other reason. At least it doesn’t seem like the book has affected you like it did with Rarity.”
Spike nodded. “She couldn’t remember anything that happened afterwards,” he said somewhat sadly, remembering how she had been treating him so fondly while she was under the book’s control. His eyes began to glow green as he was thinking, and his thoughts began to grow hazy.
Twilight noticed the change in Spike’s eye color and the glow returning to his horn, and quickly reached her hoof out and knocked it against his horn. The magic fizzled and Spike returned to normal.
“I have a really bad feeling about this. We need to handle this, and fast,” Twilight said, placing a hoof against her chin in thought. “Maybe I can use the spell that transformed us into breezies to change you back into a dragon. That might at least slow this all down until we can find a permanent solution.”
Spike nodded and climbed out of his basket, his knees wobbling for a moment as he got used to his new legs.
“Okay, hold still. I don’t know if this is going to work,” Twilight said, and then closed her eyes, concentrating on the spell. Her horn lit up and a bright circle of magic formed around Spike. A bright flash filled the room. When it dissipated, Twilight opened her eyes.
The same purple unicorn version of Spike was still in front of her. She shook her head.
“Spike, I need to go to the library of the castle. There must be a book there that can tell us what to do. You should stay here,” Twilight said. “I’ll be as fast as I can, and I’ll put up a forcefield just in case.”
“In case of what?” Spike asked nervously.
“We don’t know how your body is going to react to having eaten a magic book. Books with spells written on the pages don’t just contain words, they contain elements of the spells that were written on them,” Twilight replied. “Now that you’re a unicorn, that magic could manifest itself from inside of you, I just don’t know. I’ve never heard of anypony eating spell books before, other than Discord.”
Spike sighed. “Oh well, I didn’t want to go anywhere today, anyway,” he said, his tone of voice lowering.
“Don’t worry, Spike,” Twilight said, pulling him close in an embrace. “We’ll get through this, just think of it like food poisoning. You’ll be sick, so to speak, for a little bit, and then you’ll get better. I promise.” She nuzzled her face against his and then pulled away.
“I’ll be back before you know it!” Twilight said reassuringly, and then sped down the stairs and out the door, the flash of a forcefield spell erupting in her wake and surrounding the library.
Spike stood still, staring towards the door. He lifted a hoof up to his face and rubbed the spot where Twilight had nuzzled him. The sensation of his own furred face rubbing against hers had been an entirely new experience for him.
That felt really… good, he thought to himself. He shook his head and walked as best he could, though still shakily, down the stairs and into the main room of the library. I wonder what it’s like to really be a pony? I’ve been around them my whole life. I set out to find out what it was like to be a dragon before, but I couldn’t find the answer.
The answer to what? a small voice in his head asked, but he disregarded it.
What do I even look like? Spike wondered. He trotted slowly into the bathroom and stared into the mirror. His light purple coat was complemented by a pale green mane. His blank expression stared back at him as he thought. In the end, I found that I was more of a pony. But I could never really be one… until now. I’d never even thought about it before. I knew I was more like a pony, but I’d never thought about actually becoming one. It’s strange… it feels so… normal. Like this is who I’m meant to be.
Who are you, really? the small voice in his head asked, and Spike once again disregarded it.
After several minutes of staring at his reflection, he turned his attention to the rest of the bathroom and came to another realization. “Oh no,” he said to himself. “Gotta go. I have absolutely no idea how this is going to work.” A pained expression spread across his face.
After what must have been fifteen minutes, Spike emerged from the bathroom with a drained expression on his face. “Okay, I never thought I’d have to learn how to do that again,” he said, shaking his head. “Best not to dwell on it.”
Get us out of here, the voice in Spike’s head said. He paid it no mind, but looked towards the door to the outdoors.
He walked, more confidently now, to the front door of the library and pulled it open. Outside, the shining purple forcefield that Twilight had set up formed a wall in front of him. He reached a foreleg out and pressed against the forcefield, its magic crackling against his hoof.
This is here to keep me in, I know Twilight did it for everypony’s safety, Spike thought. But I don’t feel any different. And when else would I have the chance to live a day as a pony? Yet here I am, trapped indoors.
As he thought that, his horn glowed a faint green color, and the forcefield sparkled in front of him.
What is it you want most, creature? I can sense it, the voice in Spike’s head whispered. We both want the same thing.
Rarity! What would she think if she saw me? She’d be so surprised! Spike thought. I wonder if… now that I’m a pony… maybe she would…
Look at you differently! Yes! the voice in Spike’s head responded more loudly. I can give you whatever you desire. I made you a pony because that’s what was in your heart! No matter what, whatever you wish shall be made! You and I will join with the white unicorn and shall once again reshape Equestria to our will! To your will!
Spike’s eyes became a faded shade of green, and his horn began to glow brightly. His mouth stretched into an unnaturally wide smile. I wish Rarity could see me right now, he thought.
If that is your desire! the voice in Spike’s head responded, and there was a flash of magic. A voice came from behind a moment later.
“Who are you? How did I get here?” Rarity’s voice asked in a demanding tone. Spike’s eyes snapped back to normal and his horn’s magic vanished. he turned around quickly, startled by the sudden voice. A very confused looking Rarity was standing in the middle of the library. He stared into her eyes nervously, unable to speak for a few seconds.
Rarity walked towards him, her eyes narrowing. “Yes you, I’m talking to you. Who are you and what are you doing in Twilight’s home?” she asked, then stopped and lifted her eyes toward the ceiling. “Then again, I suppose it’s a library, so if it’s in the public hours, anypony could enter… but that’s beside the point!”
“Rarity, I,” Spike started, but was interrupted by her again.
“Goodness, what’s going on outside?” Rarity asked, the purple glow from beyond Spike catching her attention. “Why is the library inside a forcefield?” As she asked this, she locked her eyes back with Spike’s, her expression becoming angry.
“Rarity, it’s me!” Spike blurted out.
“I don’t recall. No, I’ve never seen you before,” she said.
Go to her! Stare deeply into her eyes! The three of us will be joined once again! the voice in Spike’s head shouted suddenly. He shook his head and closed his eyes.
“No, that’s not…” Spike said, his voice pained. “Rarity, it’s me! Spike! I know you don’t remember everything about yesterday, but that book did this to me. Twilight went to figure out how to change me back, but… I don’t know now.”
Rarity blinked and then stared at the unicorn before her. His voice was undeniably similar to Spike’s. “Spike? Is it really you?” she asked, now eyeing him up and down. “That still doesn’t explain why I’m here, though. The last thing I knew, i was in my shop cleaning up the mess of horribly rushed garments that had appeared, and then suddenly I was here.”
Spike stepped towards her and felt his heart beating faster as he drew nearer. He stared unblinking into her eyes. She stood only a little taller than him, and he had not seen her from this sort of vantage too often in the past. His mind became cloudy as the voice within pushed him onward.
Yes! Go closer! She is ours! Ours for the taking!
“Yes,” Spike said lazily as his eyes began to grow a pale glowing green. “Mine for the taking.”
Rarity blushed and stepped back, flustered with how Spike was behaving. “Now now, Spike, just because you’re a unicorn now,” she started, but stared into his eyes. Her own eyes began to glow, her eyelids drooped down, and her voice became calm. “That doesn’t mean…”
“Come with us, Rarity,” Spike said calmly, his nose inches away from hers as he stared up at her. “We will bend Equestria to our will, starting here in Ponyville. This will be our new palace! Our crystal throne!”
Rarity shook her head, regaining herself. her lips trembling and her face now wearing a look of terror. “Spike!” she shouted. “What are you talking about? Stop this at once!”
A flash of magic filled the room, and the two of them teleported away, reappearing outside. They floated above the library, encased in a ball of green magic. The library itself crystallized beneath them with a loud cracking sound. The top of the mighty tree formed into a platform, atop which was a throne of purest emerald. The two ponies landed gently upon the crystal deck and stared out across Ponyville.
Spike! What have you become? Rarity thought, unable to speak or control her own body. It was as if she had become paralyzed.
“It’s all for you, Rarity!” Spike shouted. “For us! You wanted this world to be more beautiful! Yesterday, I thought it was a bad thing! I even ate the spellbook that gave you those powers in order to save you! But now I see clearly. Yes, now I know! As a baby dragon, I was just a sidekick! An assistant just tagging along with you as you worked your magic!”
“Spike, please!” Rarity pleaded, concentrating as hard as she could just to speak. “You must stop this at once!”
“No, Rarity! Now that I am a unicorn, things have changed! I can be more than a sidekick! I can be your partner, and so much more!” Spike said, laughing. he turned towards Rarity and brought one of his front hooves up to her chin, stroking it gently. “You and I were meant to be together, my sweet, and this book has made it possible! The three of us will rule over this land, with you and I as king and queen!”
Tears formed at the bottom of Rarity’s eyes. “Where has my little Spikey-Wikey gone?” she asked, her voice warbling. “What have you done to him, you monster?”
Spike laughed. “You’re wrong,” he responded. “I grew up as a pony, but I was trapped in that pathetic dragon body! Aging slowly, getting treated like a little baby, always doing everything Twilight told me to do! Nopony ever looked at me as anything but a stupid little runt!”
“That’s not true, Spike!” Rarity said, clenching her eyes shut and pushing her tears back. “Think about all the time we’ve spent together. Think about all the moments we’ve shared. You are one of my very best friends, Spike, and I won’t let that book change you like it changed me before!”
Spike shoved Rarity and turned away from her. “And you,” he said. “You never looked at me as anything more than that, either. Oh, you would talk sweetly to me, make me think I had a chance, but in the end all I could ever be was your friend! Nothing more! Well, look at me now!”
“Yes, look at you now,” Rarity responded. She felt her body responding again and stepped nervously towards him. “And listen to you, too. You talk as if being friends means nothing, but that’s wrong, and you know it. Look at me, Spike!”
Spike turned his head towards her and stared into her eyes, tears having formed in his own.
“You and I are the best of friends,” Rarity said, nervously lifting a hoof and placing it on Spike’s chin. “Is that not something wonderful?”
Spike felt a lump forming in his throat. Don’t listen to her! use our magic and take control of her once and for all! the voice in his head screamed, but Spike shook his head in resistance.
“You don’t have to prove anything to me, darling,” Rarity continued. “And you certainly don’t have to reshape Equestria into some new kingdom, although I am flattered by the lengths to which you were willing to go for me.”
“But if I don’t, then how can I possibly make you see? How can I make you look at me in a different way?” Spike asked, trailing the question with a sniffle.
Rarity shook her head and closed her eyes. “Spike, there is no need for anypony to look at you any differently than they already do, especially me. We all love you just the way you are. Well, just the way you were, rather. it doesn’t matter to anypony that you’re a dragon, and it certainly doesn’t matter to me if you’re not some big, handsome stallion.”
Spike pushed his face closer to Rarity’s. Their noses touched, and Rarity’s eyes opened. “But Rarity, I want you to see. I want you to know,” he said, his jaw shaking as he spoke. “Rarity, I’ve always lo--”
“Hush now, dear,” Rarity interrupted him. She closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his. Spike’s eyes went wide and his horn erupted with a massive pulse of green energy. The magic shot up into the air and the dropped back down. The ball of magic circled around the two of them, lifting them up into the air.
From the distance, a spark of purple magic flashed over the Everfree Forest, and a second later, Twilight appeared on the crystal platform, a large book bulging out of the top of her saddle bag. “I teleported as soon as I saw!” she said, out of breath. “What in the world is going on… here…?” She stared at Rarity and Spike as they floated in the air, their lips locked together.
Another flash of green magic lit up the area. As the light dissipated, Rarity and Spike floated back down to the floor and landed Spike was a dragon once again, and the book of the Inspiration Manifestation fell to the ground beside them.
Twilight sighed. “Well, I was going to say I think I might have found a way to get you back to normal again, Spike, but… I guess that won’t be necessary.”
Spike and Rarity both fell to the ground, fast asleep. Twilight walked over to her two friends and stared down at them. She levitated the book up and placed it into the other pouch of her saddle bags. “What am I going to do with you two?” she asked, and then looked around at the crystal tower that used to be her library.
“And let me guess, I’m going to have to clean this up, too,” she said with a groan.
The following day...
“What do you mean you two don’t remember anything?” Twilight asked after taking a large gulp from her cup of coffee. She was sitting at a table with Spike and Rarity in the library after the two of them had finally woken up from having a twenty hour nap.
Rarity daintily sipped from her cup of tea. “I mean I don’t remember anything, it’s as simple as that,” she said. “I do feel sorry about the mess we’ve caused over the last two days, but now that you’ve returned us to normal, all should be well now, right?” She blinked her eyes and smiled a big smile at Twilight.
“Yes, though it wasn’t me” Twilight said, tapping the large spellbook on the table next to her. “According to this book, magic that behaves like the Inspiration Manifestation spell can be absorbed, which is what happened to Spike. Instead of the normal counter to the spell, a variation of it has to be found that would make the merged spell unable to sync with the host.”
Spike blinked. “What does that even mean?” he asked.
“It means that since the original way to break the spell was to speak true words, the way to force it out of your body was for you to truly believe such words,” Rarity replied with a nod.
“I just wish I could have seen that big emerald throne you mentioned earlier,” Spike said. “It sounds awesome.”
Rarity chuckled. “Not as awesome as you might think,” she said.
Twilight eyed Rarity suspiciously. “How would you know?” she asked.
“Just a guess. Call it a lady’s intuition.”
“I do remember one thing, though,” Spike said, staring down into his own cup of tea. “I remember that something wonderful happened.”
Rarity and Twilight both blushed and stared nervously at Spike.
“I don’t remember what it was,” he continued, and the two mares sighed with relief. Twilight eyed Rarity suspiciously again. “but I think it helped me finally realize something important. Thinking back, maybe being a pony has sort of been a dream for me for a long time. Maybe I should have been born a pony.”
“Well, Spike, I don’t know about--” Twilight started, but Spike interrupted her.
“No, but see, I think that’s wrong,” he said. “I can feel it in my heart. Even if I am a dragon that’s more like a pony, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I’m me, and you all are my friends!”
Rarity smiled and patted Spike on the head. “That’s definitely right,” she said. “Why don’t you write about that in the diary, Spike? We should never forget it.” She leaned in and kissed him on the forehead. The dragon’s face erupted with a bright red blush, and he nodded his head. he hopped off his chair and ran up the stairs to the bedroom.
Twilight smirked at Rarity. “So you don’t remember anything?” she asked, her voice flat and sarcastic sounding. She lifted her coffee cup and sipped from it, eyeing Rarity the whole time.
Rarity leaned closer to Twilight and grinned. “If that was his first kiss, he’s going to make some lady dragon very happy someday,” she whispered.
Twilight snorted and sprayed coffee everywhere. She lifted a napkin off the table and wiped off her face, and the smiled. The two ponies laughed together. Spike’s voice came from upstairs. “What’s so funny down there?” he asked.
Twilight and Rarity just smirked at one another.
The End
Author's Note
Well, I think that's about as good as it's going to get. I hope you enjoyed it. I wish I'd had more time to spend on it, but as it is, I am satisfied.
