The Secret of the Bond
The Secret of the Bond
a short fimfic
by Mr. Page
***"Secrets are made to be found out with time."
-Charles Sanford
Spike was snoring quietly, at peace amongst the realm of a calm, dreamless sleep. Nothing was clear and all senses were gone; he was there yet not there, a being that drifted without form and without knowing or caring. And so, in what seemed like only seconds, he felt a gentle nudging at his arm, and the world and all its life appeared again.
"Spike," came a voice he had known all his life. It belonged to somepony very dear to him. "Spike!" she called louder.
"Huh? Wha?" Spike said groggily. Slowly, he opened his emerald green eyes. Everything was dark and blurry, all except for her. "T-Twilight? Wha-what is it?"
"Spike, get up," she urged.
"Ah, come on," Spike complained, his claw reaching around for his blanket. "It can't be morning yet."
"It's not," said Twilight, her tone serious. "But I don't think it's nighttime, either!"
Not understanding what this meant, and unable to feel where his blanket had gone, Spike opened his eyes a little bit more. It didn't take long for them to regain focus and shoot open in surprise.
Twilight was standing at his side, her face etched with worry. Scrambling to his feet, all tiredness falling shorter by the second, Spike looked around in all directions.
The beautiful castle he and Twilight had so recently called their new home was gone. In fact, as far he could tell, so was Ponyville and all of Equestria.
From what little Spike could make from his surroundings, he and Twilight were inside of a dark place where the darkness was so thick, nothing else could be seen. Spike found this very odd, because he could clearly see Twilight when he looked at her, yet there was no light as far as he could tell, except for. . . .
Twilight followed Spike's gaze to what she too had noticed upon waking in this place.
Not too far away there stood a door, slightly ajar, from which faded blue light was seeping in through the cracks and keyhole. What was particularly out of the ordinary was that this door didn't seem to be held up by anything. There were no walls at its sides nor anything behind it; come to think of it, there didn't seem to be any floor either, even though Twilight could clearly feel that she was standing on something.
"Where . . . where are we, Twilight?" Spike asked nervously, still looking around.
"I don't know," Twilight answered with unease. She didn't want to sound scared, but she couldn't hide the fact that this was completely unexpected, as well as unnerving.
"I don't remember this being part of the castle," said Spike. "Twilight, you don't think this could be a trick or dream or something?"
"Don't know," she repeated. "Wait here."
Extending her feathery purple wings, Twilight gave one strong flap and took off into the air. Spike watched her ascend upward, farther away from him and into the towering darkness.
Twilight glanced down as her wings continued to beat. Spike's purple and green self stood out like a spot of pure white on the infinite black. She turned full circle, looking everywhere before flying back down again; if not for Spike, she wouldn't have known where to land.
"See anything?" Spike asked.
"No, not a thing," said Twilight, frowning. "There's nothing here except you, me, and that door."
The two eyed the strange passage again.
"Should we . . . check it out?" Spike asked hesitantly. He could tell that Twilight was as uncertain as he was, but he didn't know what other opinion was available to them.
"Maybe . . ." Twilight answered slowly, and she racked her brain on the reasons why they should or shouldn't go through the door. Her common sense told her that it could be a trap — she and Spike had no idea how they got here, and the farthest back she recalled they had been in their beds, sleeping soundly inside their new home. . . .
"Let me check one thing first, Spike."
Twilight closed her eyes and Spike watched as her horn emitted its familiar violet glow, shining like a tiny beacon amongst the endless black. Spike took this opportunity to look around now that they had some extra light, but still he could see nothing except for the door. It was though nothing existed except for the two of them and their only way forward.
Turning back to Twilight, Spike saw the spell she was trying to cast intensify. Twilight gritted her teeth as though the magic was causing her strain. Her straight long mane and tail were fluttering in an non-existent breeze and her hooves trembled slightly. Spike also heard a light whirring which steadily got higher as the light became so white it was almost blinding.
Then, without warning, a dome of light burst from Twilight's horn. It enveloped herself and Spike and continued to stretch onward until it disappeared completely like a warm ray of sun, swallowed by a dense cloud.
Spike rushed to his best friend's side, who was kneeling forward on one hoof, breathing heavily. "Twilight! You all right?" He helped her get back up.
"Yeah . . . I'm fine, Spike," she said, steadying herself and catching her breath. "It's just . . . that spell . . ." she panted ". . .it was . . . quite a doozy. . ."
Looking around, Spike noticed no change to their environment. An eyebrow raised, he asked, "Did it do anything?"
"I . . . think it did," said Twilight looking from side to side. "That was a spell I learned a little while ago from Princess Luna. It's suppose to help you and others break free from dreams, particularly nightmares."
"So . . . you don't think we're dreaming?"
"I'm not sure, to be honest," Twilight answered. "I only just learned this spell a few days ago, and I heard that the strength of the dream, or the mind of the person dreaming, can determine whether or not the spell works."
"So . . . it could be a dream even if your magic is working fine?"
"Maybe," shrugged Twilight. "Whatever's going on, though, I think it's obvious we've got to go through there," she motioned towards the nearby door.
A moment went by with the two of them staring at the lone passage — this single, solid object, standing like the remains of a long lost ruin, cryptic and foreboding. Then, with a short, deep breath, Twilight took the first step forward and Spike followed at her side, ready to go wherever they were headed and help in any way he could, as was his duty . . . his life and his wish.
Now only an inch away, both looked inside through the door's crack, but the faded blue light was all the more brighter up close.
Twilight looked down at Spike and he up at her. She nodded and Spike reached out his purple claw for the door's side and pulled it open. It let off a loud, slow creek.
At once the brightness of the light died away until the door was fully open. Twilight and Spike now faced a room in which the color of light blue illuminated off nearly every surface. Together, they stepped inside.
Almost immediately, Spike and Twilight stopped and sucked in two short gasps. Spike braced both his scaly arms. "C-c-cold!"
"Yeah, it-it is. . ." said Twilight, letting off a small shiver, though she wasn't entirely sure why.
Twilight hardly ever had any problems with the cold in winter, let alone anytime else; her fur was usually plenty enough to keep herself warm. As for Spike, regardless that he was a reptile (and thus cold-blooded), being a dragon helped keep him warm even on the coldest winter days. But looking down at her beloved assistant, Twilight noticed something else that didn't make sense.
If the room really was cold, why couldn't she see Spike's breath as it left his mouth? She let out a forceful breath herself, but couldn't see any trace of it on the air.
Though Twilight couldn't quite place it, the cold didn't seem to be from any temperature, but rather more due to the room itself. From magic perhaps? She looked on.
Spike, ignoring the unnatural chill, looked forward at where he and Twilight just entered.
The room was enormous; no . . . it was bigger than enormous. Like the strange blackness he and Twilight had just left, Spike couldn't make out any ceiling. Not even the towers of Canterlot Castle appeared to match this height. The top simply seemed to go on forever.
The room was lighted by candles emitting blue flames. They were mounted on tall iron candleholders and placed at the ends of incredibly long wooden shelves. Looking down the row he and Twilight faced, Spike saw that it stretched on for what seemed like miles; he couldn't see the room's other side at all. It seemed to shrink the farther he looked. The shelves also stretched to quite a height, but did, at least, stop at a certain point.
And on these long, shadowed shelves, Spike and Twilight saw that they held nothing but more blue-flamed candles and, most distinctive of all, hundreds of strange glass spheres, glowing as blue and bright as the million candles lighting every fraction of the gigantic space.
"Twilight?" asked Spike, looking around the humongous area. "I don't suppose you know what this is, do you?"
"No," said Twilight, stepping forward a little. "This room does ring a bell from a place I read in a story, but other than that, I've never been here before. There's no room like this in Canterlot or the Crystal Empire, and I have no idea what these things might be," she pointed her hoof at the glass balls which amassed down the rows.
Spike walked forward and stopped at Twilight's side. He looked up at the first shelf.
"Look, Twilight," he said, pointing at a sign mounted into the wood. The candle's blue glow shined across the metal, which read S:2 – N:01. "Kind of looks like a library."
"Yeah, you're right," said Twilight, staring at the sign. "The 'S' must stand for 'section' or 'shelf', but I don't know what the 'N' can mean other than 'number' or the numbered shelf in the particular row." Twilight frowned in light frustration. "Not very clear organization. How is anypony suppose to know where to find anything?"
"No idea," said Spike, his eyes roaming, "that is, if there's anything worth finding here." He walked closer to the first shelf in Section 2 where a gleaming glass orb sat at the edge. "I mean, what are these things?"
Spike reached out his claw.
"Spike, wait!" Twilight cried, but it was too late.
The moment the tips of Spike's fingers touched the ball, he froze on the spot and his expression became quite blank, his eyes wide and unfocused.
"Spike?" Twilight said, her own eyes widening. "Spike!"
She rushed over and shook him gently. At once, Spike blinked and, clearly surprised, turned his head left and right.
"Whoa . . . what was that?" Spike asked, his claw bracing his forehead.
"Spike, are you okay?" asked Twilight, very worried. "What happened?"
"I . . . I don't know. After I touched the ball, everything went sort of dark and I couldn't think. I forgot what I was doing, I didn't even know who I was!"
Spike took a nervous step back from the sphere he had touched and clung to Twilight's side.
"Right. . . . I think it'll be best that we don't touch these," said Twilight, staring up at the hundred orbs on these two rows alone. They surrounded her and Spike like stars in the cold shadows. Some of them, Twilight noticed, were gray and without glow, as though they had died years ago and were mere remains amongst the many that still thrived with a shimmering blue.
Spike looked back towards the door where they had entered. Even at these few steps inside it looked farther away. "Think we 'ought to go back?" he asked, his voice a little too hopeful.
"I don't see much point in that," said Twilight. "There's nothing for us out there. We should at least have a look around, try and find out where we are. But don't separate!" she added quickly. "I don't want us getting lost from each other."
Spike nodded without complaint. Together, he and Twilight started forward, moving down the long, shadowy stretch, farther into the vast room.
There was no sound except for their footsteps and what sounded like a quiet wind, as though somepony were exhaling slowly and continuously.
It took over 30 seconds to reach the end of the first row of shelves, where they found a small intersection in which even more shelves continued in all directions, the lines of dazzling blue spheres alight like neon bulbs.
Both Spike and Twilight turned to an opposite shelf and looked closer at the orbs without touching them. There were labels attached to the mounts on which the balls stood. By the blue light they gave off, as well as those from the candles, Spike and Twilight could make out written dates, letters, and names to which neither of them could decipher any meaning. Whatever this place was, it was certainly curious, and any potential information it held, even more so.
And then, they heard something which broke the sound of the quiet breeze: giggling. From the sounds of it, it was coming from a young mare. It was too gentle a laugh to match Pinkie Pie's famous giggles, yet not soft enough to be Fluttershy's graceful voice.
Spike and Twilight both turned and saw who it was.
Standing before them was a mare with light magenta-colored fur. Her eyes were very strange: slightly off-set, the irises were in the shape of pink and violet spirals as though they were hypnotized. She wore a yellow beanie with a green propeller atop her violet and white mane which matched her tail: long and poofy, with the ends set in curls. And on her flank, her cutie mark showed a screw next to a baseball.
Again she giggled. "Hi," she said happily, waving a hoof at the two baffled friends.
"Screwball?" said Spike, completely taken aback. "What are you doing here?"
Smiling her mischievous yet innocent little smile, she shrugged.
"Screwball," said Twilight. "What is all this? Is Discord playing another of his pranks?"
At hearing her father's name, Screwball smiled even more sweetly. "Ah, Daddy isn't doing anything bad. He's just trying to show you two."
"Show us what?" asked Spike.
"Uh-uh," Screwball shook her head, smirking, "me and Daddy never give the straight answer. It's much more fun when you discover rather than be told outright."
She gave another giggle which Twilight and Spike supposed was cute. Like her father, Screwball thrived in the fun of chaos and misdirection. But, also like her father (recently reformed), she wasn't out to hurt anyone. Nevertheless, ever since a week ago — when Discord invited her over to spend time with his friends — Twilight, Spike, and the other ponies couldn't help but tilt their heads every so often at the strange mare.
What was perhaps most strange about her, though, was that Screwball could fly and use magic, despite not being a pegasus or unicorn.
"Screwball," said Twilight with seriousness. The swirly-eyed mare looked intently back at her. "What's going on? Why are we here?"
Smiling in a way that was both sweet and devious, Screwball (who didn't have wings) lifted herself off the ground and her propeller beanie started to spin like mad. "You have to catch me first!"
Then, a sound like a motorboat's engine started up and Screwball turned and flew off down the blue lit hall.
"Screwball, wait!" called Twilight, her wings unfurling. "Come back here!"
Twilight pushed up off the floor and flew after the silly mare. Spike ran after, the many blue lights on the shelves passing over him as he rushed down the row.
Twilight beat her wings and flew as hard as she could, but Screwball seemed to know whenever she was being caught up with. Every time Twilight got close enough to grab her tail, Screwball either turned sharply, shot upward amongst the towering shelves, or straight-out vanished into thin air. Yet each time she left Twilight looking in all directions without a clue, Screwball would let out a giggle, giving her position away. She wasn’t trying to hide at all — she wanted Twilight to know where she was.
Spike watched them both from down below. It was almost as though they were playing a strange game of air-tag.
Coming to another intersection, Spike saw Twilight dart off to the side and disappear beyond the shelves.
Again, Spike could hear nothing except the eerie sound of wind, slow and unending. His claws gripped onto his arms, not from the room's unnatural cold, but from being all alone.
But then, a little flash of light appeared at his side and there stood Screwball, seated on her flank. "This way, Mr. Cute Dragon."
Giggling, she lifted into the air again and began to fly backwards with perfect navigation. It seemed she knew this enormous place as well as she knew her cutie mark, which made as much sense as she herself.
"Hey, wait up!" Spike yelled, breathing hard as he turned a corner and followed Screwball, wherever she was going. This continued for a while as though Spike were running a maze. The only times he took his eyes off Screwball was when he looked up at the high shelves for some trace of Twilight. He couldn't see her, nor could he hear the sound of her wings flapping. Spike knew they were moving farther away from each other by the moment. . . .
And the farther Spike ran, the more he began to wonder what was going on. If Screwball was here, it must mean that Discord had something to do with what was happening. From the moment Spike had met her about a week ago, Screwball made it clear that she was Daddy's little girl, as well as his little helper. She would do anything for the Spirit of Chaos, who gave her life and taught her everything she knows.
But Discord wasn't their enemy anymore, Spike reminded himself. Discord truly regretted his crimes, and he was doing his best to make amends. But even so, what was all this? Why would Discord bring he, Spike, and Twilight here to this strange place? What could he be trying to do? Knowing Discord, it could be just about anything, which didn't make it any more calming.
"Not too far now, little dragon," Screwball beamed. "Come on, don't stop now! You're almost to home base!"
But Spike had to slow down. He was getting tired as he ran through the cold room, plus his vision was starting to flicker with sparkles from having passed so many of the glowing orbs, and still he saw no sign of Twilight.
They came to another intersection where a sign read S:5 – N:26, and it was here that Screwball vanished on the spot in a small poof of light. Spike froze, his eyes darting down several halls of shelves. He had no idea where he was now, of how far had he been led away from the door . . . away from Twilight. . . .
"Twilight?" Spike called out to the room, praying that she would hear him, hoping beyond anything that she was all right. "Twilight!" he said again, louder and more worried.
"Over here, Mr. Cute Dragon," came Screwball's voice, her tone sing-songy.
Spike turned, and there in front of a shelf sat Screwball, smiling pleasantly and waving her hoof. He ran up to her and they now stood bathed in the blue light.
"Okay . . .," said Spike, breathing heavily. "Enough. . . . Where . . . is Twilight?"
"Don't worry, she's fine. Here, I'll bring her to you," said Screwball, and without warning, Spike saw a large something appear out of a spark of light, floating high over his head. Stepping back, Spike looked up and saw a gigantic neon sign, bigger than forty billboards, hanging in midair. Its bright red lights stood out like a lighthouse in this vast room of blue, displaying two large, flashing white arrows pointing down and boarding the message:
RIGHT OVER HERE!
Looking back at Screwball, Spike watched her give one last friendly wave with her hoof, and then she disappeared from sight completely, leaving nothing except her fading giggle and the line of blue, ghostly orbs that had been right behind her.
"Spike?" he heard Twilight call out faintly. "SPIKE!"
"TWILIGHT!" he shouted to the air. "I'm over HERE!"
"I'm coming, hold on!"
Spike sighed with relief; Screwball had been telling the truth when she said Twilight was okay. He turned back to where the silly, spirally-eyed mare disappeared, feeling far more relieved than he was seconds ago, no longer feeling the coldness of the room.
A few moments passed with Spike just standing there, surrounded by blue light, waiting patiently for his precious friend. Out of curiosity, he stepped closer to the lowest shelf and stared at one of the candles. It was a most unusual, yet seemingly normal little thing. The flame motioned slightly every so often, burning a bluish hue that could match Rainbow Dash had her fur been a tinge darker. Wax was built up on the candle's body in solid white drips, and yet . . . it didn't look to be very soft, as though the flame were having no affect. . . .
An eyebrow raised, Spike lifted a scaly purple finger and brought it close to the flame; being a dragon with fire-resistant scales, he had no fear of being burned.
Spike could not feel the flame.
He moved closer and placed his whole palm into the fire, waving it back and forth. There wasn't any kind of warmth whatsoever; his claw just passed right through as though the fire were transparent.
Even more curious now, Spike heaved a breath and exhaled it. The flame flickered and waved on the air, but did not leave the candle's wick.
Now reaching forward, Spike gripped the candle and scraped his thumb down the side. A thin sliver of wax peeled off, but then turned to ash and vanished. Spike watched as the candle he scratched repaired itself as new wax grew out and healed the outer shell.
"Weird . . ." said Spike, though he supposed he shouldn't be too surprised, given the overall strangeness of this place.
And then Spike's vision drifted elsewhere. . . .
It wasn’t until Spike looked, really looked hard, did he spot something . . . something odd, even more strange than the candle fire or the playful mare who had led him here. . . .
Stepping to the side, Spike focused on the glass ball which rested beside the candle he had inspected. The orb sat there alone between two others that had long since gone dark. Cautiously, Spike reached out and touched the shelf. It was covered in a mile of dust; the place looked like it hadn't been cleaned for centuries.
Spike squinted harder. He was having trouble reading the dusty label that was tied to the mount on which the glass orb stood. Even so, he could swear that the names on it were. . .
"Spike!" said Twilight, landing beside him. The moment she touched the floor, the huge neon sign above them vanished.
Forgetting everything else, the two friends ran forward and hugged. When they pulled apart, Twilight asked, "Where's Screwball?"
"She disappeared right there," Spike pointed at the spot where he last saw the goofy mare. "But Twilight, look at this." He moved back to the shelf and reached out his claw.
"Spike, no!" cried Twilight. "Don't touch—" but Spike didn't touch the glowing sphere. Instead, he grabbed the tag which lay beneath its mount. She watched him brush it off and a layer of dust fell away onto the floor. She then saw Spike's eyes widen. He looked back up at her, confused and surprised.
"Spike? What is it?"
He stepped closer and held the tag out to her.
Twilight read it by the light of the candles nearby, the soft blue glow making the tag's writing stand out quite well.
Atop the label was a date, farther back than Twilight could imagine — a whole millennium. And beneath this date was a hoof-written series of letters and names:
S.S.B. to P.C. & P.L.
(?) Twilight Sparkle
and
(?) Spike
She read the tag again, reading slowly aloud. "S.S.B." She stared harder. "P.C. and P.L.?"
"You know what that means, Twilight?" asked Spike, who was looking back at the orb from which the tag had been resting.
"No," said Twilight, though she couldn't suppress a tiny feeling in the back of her brain that rang each time she read these initials. But as for her and Spike's names. . . .
"Spike?" asked Twilight. "You said Screwball disappeared in front of where you found this tag?"
"Yeah, right there," he pointed at the spot. "As I chased her, she told me I was ‘almost there’, at 'home base'. What happened with you? Did you get lost?"
"No. I was chasing her," said Twilight, frowning with confusion. "She was up there with me the whole time, but vanished when that huge sign appeared over where I found you. I had flown quite a long way away, but I could still see it, and then I flew over and found you. But . . . I don't understand. How could Screwball have been in two places at once?"
"She's Discord's daughter, Twilight," Spike said simply. "I'm pretty sure her powers make as much sense as his do. The two aren’t exactly fans when it comes to making sense."
"Yeah . . . true . . . so," she said, "did Screwball say anything to you?"
"No. She just waved at me and disappeared," said Spike, and they looked back at the orb that now sat without a label.
On a whim, Spike walked closer to it. Like the shelf, it was covered in dust, filtering the ball's transfixing glow.
Spike knew what he should do next, but his memory shot back to when he touched that last sphere, of how his mind seemed to freeze inside his skull. Though he had felt no pain, he hadn't liked it: being unaware and without thought. If Twilight hadn't been there with him. . . .
However . . . this ball held his and Twilight's names . . . it must belong to them . . . surely it would be all right to touch. . . .
Spike opened his claw and brought it over the sphere. He heard Twilight tense but she made no move to stop him.
The quiet wind seemed even louder now. . . .
Slowly, Spike lowered his claw, closer to the surface of the glass. And then, very quickly, he tapped it with his index finger.
Nothing happened. Spike felt perfectly fine.
He glanced over at Twilight, who nodded, signaling him to go on.
Holding his breath, Spike placed his palm against the glass sphere, gripped it in his fingers, and lifted it off its stand.
The orb was warm, but not as in temperature. . . . Like this strange room from which the cold wasn’t in the air, the heat coming from this glass object seemed to fill Spike from the inside, like a fire to match his own. He rubbed his free claw over the surface to clean off the dust, then he brought it closer to Twilight.
They stared at it, this unusual thing which, somehow, concerned the two of them. Spike raised his finger and slowly brought it near.
"Twilight?" Spike asked. "Do you think this thing needs magic to work?"
"Maybe . . .," she said. Concentrating, she focused intently on the round object in Spike's claw. Her horn glowed and the swirling contents of the sphere, which looked like smoke, began to slow down. Twilight knew she had done the correct thing. Moving in closer, she and Spike stared at the glass ball. They could see something beyond their reflections, appearing on the inside, out from the blue whirling mass of smoke.
It was a unicorn . . . dressed in a belled-rimmed hat and a star and moon covered cloak. He had a long white beard. . . . But just as the wizard was about to speak, a voice, loud and powerful, exploded around the room.
"NO!" the regal voice demanded. "NOT-YET!"
The wind stopped blowing, all sound was extinguished.
Twilight and Spike looked all around and their hearts began to thud. The whole room and its shelves were disappearing, the candle flames being extinguished, being devoured by the darkness which now seemed solid, like a fast approaching storm. The bright blue spheres, however, remained lit and were now flying all around like frantic fireflies in a jar. The ones without glow fell to the vanishing floor and shattered, the sounds of breaking glass echoing madly.
"Twilight!" Spike looked to his friend in fright.
But Twilight didn't know what was happening either. Acting on instinct, the two friends clung to each other and held on. They watched as the sphere flew out of Spike's grip and zoomed upward into the unknown. But that was of no importance right now; all that mattered was holding onto each other and not letting go, as, all around them, glass exploded and came raining down like hot dust.
***
At exactly the same instant, Spike and Twilight gasped and shot up in their beds, waking from the second most real dream they had ever seen.
"Twilight?" Panting, Spike turned and saw his best friend, breathing as hard as he was.
"Spike?" Twilight got out of bed and walked over to him. "Did . . . did you see all that, too?"
"The room with all the glowing blue things?" asked Spike, getting out of his little basket. "Yeah. Wait! You mean, you saw all of it too?"
"Of course. You were there with me. And so was Screwball."
"Who was that who shouted, though? The one who said, 'No, not yet?'"
This time, Twilight had an answer, yet she didn't totally understand it. "It sounded . . . like Princess Luna. . . ."
"Luna?" said Spike, bewildered. "But why?"
"I don't know." Twilight walked past him and gazed out the bedroom window, from which she could see the peaceful town of Ponyville, perfectly still and soundly asleep.
She and Spike were still home, together and safe. It had all just been a dream. . . .
And yet...no. It had to have been more than just a dream. They both shared it, they both experienced it; it had something to do with the two of them. . . .
And it had happened once before. . . .
"Twilight," said Spike, standing at her side. "This is just like last time. . . ."
"I know," said Twilight softly, and the two of them thought back onto this week.
A few days ago, Twilight and Spike had both woken from a dream similar to the one they just shared. It was similar not so much in appearance, but rather in strangeness and the fact that they had both witnessed it.
In the previous dream, Twilight and Spike had been walking down a nonexistent, moonlit hallway in Canterlot Castle, adorned by stained-glass windows depicting events from their past: Twilight as a filly playing with the infant Spike, their first journey to Ponyville in the golden flown carriage, Twilight's ascension to alicorn princess, Spike saving the Crystal Empire for the second time.
Not too long into this stained-glass display, Screwball had appeared before them and began leading them down ever elongating passages. Eventually they stopped in a hallway which ended not in a door, but in what appeared to be another stained-glass window, covered by a long red curtain with their names embroidered in shining gold thread. But before Twilight and Spike could glimpse what lay hidden behind the curtain, the overly-large silver moon from outside the surrounding windows began to glow. It became so bright that its light enveloped everything, and before Spike and Twilight knew it, they were back in their bedroom, wide-eyed and very confused at what had happened.
And now they've come back from another strange dream . . . just days after the first. . . .
"Come on," said Spike, tugging at Twilight's side, "let's go get some water."
“Right,” said Twilight with a soft smile. “Good idea.”
They walked from their bedroom and down to the kitchen. It felt weird walking through their new home — making different turns and stepping into different rooms as compared to when they had lived in the library, before it was destroyed. Even after a week, the castle still felt overwhelming, regardless that it was small.
Spike filled two glasses from the sink and passed one to Twilight. Using her magic, she took it and began to drink. Sitting down in a chair made of polished marble, Spike sipped his cold water while looking around their new kitchen. It was larger than the one the library held, and the surfaces of everything were shinny due to the crystal and marble, minus the wooden cupboards and chrome sink.
"You okay, Spike?" asked Twilight, having noticed his quiet, wandering gaze.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he answered honestly. "It's just . . ." he looked again around the inside of the small castle.
"Just a bit to get used to?" Twilight finished.
"Yeah . . . a little. But no big deal." Spike let off a small chuckle. "Who knows? Maybe those weird dreams we’ve had are just from our new home and learning to live in it." But Spike knew this idea was silly and unlikely, especially due to the fact that both he and Twilight shared the same dream not once, but twice in the same week. "Nothing to worry about. I mean," he smirked, "we used to live in Canterlot, and we got used to Ponyville just fine. We'll be okay. I mean, you're here with me, and how many get to live in their own castle?"
Twilight smiled at her little assistant, proud of how mature he was handling their new home. Though . . . it was more than that.
Spike was no longer just the little dragon assistant he had been back in Canterlot; no more was Twilight just a knowledge-hungry student — her alicorn wings duly noted. They had both changed during their time in Ponyville, have both grown and become more than what they once were. And yet, despite all these changes, the two of them were still the best of friends — always there for each other, their friendship strong and growing more so with every task.
"Anyway, Twilight?" Spike asked, staring at his glass of water.
"Yeah, Spike?"
"That unicorn we saw in the glass ball. Was that . . ."
"Star Swirl the Bearded? Yes," answered Twilight, "I think so. It would explain the initials S.S.B."
"What do you think he was about to say, before we heard Luna shout?"
Sighing, Twilight shook her head. "I really have no idea. It could've been anything. He hasn't been around for centuries, and so I have no idea how we'd find out. Not including his scrolls in the Star Swirl the Bearded Wing, most of his other personal records are kept securely in the Top Secret Canterlot Archives. Princess Celestia doesn't permit anypony other than Luna to go the small section concerning Star Swirl, not even me. She actually sounded a little nervous when I asked her about it, if I remember that day right. . . ."
"But . . ." said Spike, holding his glass of water, "our names were on that tag. If that was Star Swirl we saw, why would he be talking about us? I mean, like you said, he's been gone long before any of us were born."
Twilight merely nodded. It was strange. The fact that Spike and her shared dreams twice now . . . each holding an unexplained secret that concerned them both. . . . Not to mention that room full of blue candles and glass orbs. . . . Twilight knew she had read about it somewhere. . . .
"Hey, Twilight?" asked Spike.
"Yeah?"
"I think we should write and tell this to Princess Celestia," he said. "Maybe she or Luna might have some idea about what's going on. I mean, if Screwball's been in our dreams, we can bet Discord might have something to do with it."
Twilight raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not saying I think he's up to no good," Spike clarified, placing his glass down on the table. "I believed Discord when he said he was sorry for what he did. I don't think he'll risk our friendship a second time, especially not Fluttershy's. But we all know Discord can be . . .well . . ."
"Unpredictable and reckless?" Twilight asked dryly.
"Yeah, pretty much," Spike nodded. Pulling out a quill and blank scroll, he held them up and said, "So?"
Twilight considered for a moment, but it wasn't a hard decision to make. "Yes," she nodded. "I agree. I think Princess Celestia would like to know about this."
And, wasting not a second more, Twilight began to dictate as Spike recorded each word, his quill moving quickly in clear strokes across the paper. In under a minute, the message was finished, the scroll rolled up, and sent off to Canterlot, led the way by Spike's green fire breath.
"OH!" Twilight said suddenly, her eyes widening with comprehension.
"What?" Spike turned, surprised. "What is it?"
"I remember where I saw that room before, the one with the glass orbs!"
"Really? Where?"
"It was in a book I read," Twilight grinned. "VERY good story. . . ."
***
"Sister!
Luna was flying at top speed through the shadowed halls of Canterlot Castle, her destination the sleeping quarters atop the highest level. Upon reaching the chamber that held her older sister's bedroom, the armored stallions standing guard by the magically protected door stepped aside without question and allowed the Princess of the Night to pass. Luna's horn glowed a light misty blue and the door to her sister's room shot open; the message was far too urgent to stop and knock.
"Sister! A thousand pardons for disturbing you but Discord—"
But Luna's words died in an instant.
Princess Celestia was already awake, standing beside her bed and looking quite calm, not at all offended that her little sister had just entered so loudly without knocking.
"Hello, Luna," Celestia greeted with a kind smile. "How are you on this very lovely night?"
Her senses collecting in a mere second, Luna remembered why she came here and began again, her voice full of insistence and urgency.
"Sister, please!" Luna said quickly. "It's Discord! He has just made another attempt to reveal the secret! I felt Princess Twilight try to break free of the dream! I managed to stop it in time, but Princess Twilight and Spike almost found out! They came this close!" she held her hoof up to her nose, her heavy breathing causing her to shake.
"Please, calm yourself, little sister. I am already aware of what has happened," Celestia said steadily. "Somepony else got to me first and has informed me of Twilight and Spike's little expedition."
"What?" said Luna, her eyes wide. "Who?"
The Princess of the Night realized then that her big sister wasn't alone. From behind Celestia's flowing colored tail walked a familiar and odd little mare, her off-set eyes in spirals, a propeller beanie atop her long curly hair, and her cutie mark a literal representation of her name.
"Screwball?" said Luna, even more surprised by this completely unexpected visitor. "You . . . how did you get in here?"
"She appeared inside my bedroom not too long ago and whispered in my ear as I slept," Celestia answered with a smile. "I am really quite thankful that she decided to tell me."
"But she helped Discord!" Luna added, her face serious once more. "She has assisted him in leading Princess Twilight and Spike towards the secret, twice mind you!"
"Well of course I helped Daddy," said Screwball, rocking back and forth on her hooves. "I'm his daughter, and as a piece of him, it's my duty to help, if only partly."
"Screwball . . .," Luna said exasperated, her voice now grave, "Princess Twilight and Spike are not suppose to know anything about . . . about it! We have warned you once already, as well as your father!"
"Daddy's not trying to hurt them," said Screwball, her voice gone soft from Luna's hard tone. "He's their friend now, and he only wants them—"
"We understand, dear," Celestia said calmly, placing her hoof gently on Screwball's shoulder. "We know you wouldn't do anything to hurt anypony, especially your new friends. But there are some things they just aren't ready to hear. Even though Discord has changed for the better this time, I would greatly appreciate it if—"
"Wow!" came a voice from out of nowhere. "People are saying my name a lot tonight!" And then, in a flash of light, Discord appeared inside the bedroom, right between Celestia, Screwball, and a very annoyed Luna. "I must be getting popular with you two," he said, wiggling his white, bushy eyebrows in Celestia's direction.
"'Popular' is a very imprecise word for the one I have in mind!" said Luna coldly.
"Daddy!" Screwball cried happily, and she whizzed up into the air, shot into her father's mismatched arms, and nuzzled his long neck.
"Hello, my sweet little anomaly," said Discord sweetly, giving a hug in return. "You did excellent in tonight's attempt."
As touching as it was to see the father and his daughter embrace, Luna cleared her throat and said, in a firm yet fair tone, "Speaking of tonight's attempt, me and my sister would like a word with you, Discord. Now."
"Indeed," said Celestia with a nod, her voice still much calmer than her sister's. "Screwball, if you can please head back home, I would like to have a few words with your father."
Screwball, knowing better than to argue with Princess Celestia or Princess Luna, nodded and gave a soft and very cute yawn.
"Ah . . ." Discord crooned. "Looks like it's time for somepony to say good night."
And with a snap of his taloned fingers, a pink cloud made of cotton-candy appeared underneath Screwball and she laid down upon it, snuggling into its fluffy cushion, closing her eyes.
"Good night, Daddy," she said lovingly.
"Sweet dreams, my little pony," said Discord, brushing her head lightly. "Daddy's very proud of you."
Screwball smiled, and, already beginning to snore, she was lifted up into the air on the pink cloud which floated across the room and out of the window.
Celestia smiled warmly as she watched Screwball drift away. Even Luna couldn't help but show a light smirk for the little oddball. Despite her behavior, Screwball really was a good pony and a daughter who's love for her father was true.
As soon as the sleeping mare was out of earshot, however, Luna’s face hardened as she turned back to Dicord.
“Now,” she said, her voice firm and dead serious. "Explain yourself!"
"Explain myself?" said Discord, sounding as though he had never heard a more ludicrous demand. "Why, it should be obvious, my dear, Luna, and that's saying a lot coming from me. I was trying to show Twilight and Spike the knowledge you two haven't yet revealed to them. Couldn't be more straightforward than that."
"Discord . . ." said Celestia, her voice not as firm as her sister's, but still serious. "We have explained it to you already. Twilight and Spike are not yet ready to receive that information."
"Really?" Discord raised an eyebrow. "They both seem ready to me. I mean, let's look at few things, shall we?"
Discord raised his taloned left arm and snapped his fingers. A large sheet of white paper appeared inside the bedroom and floated in midair for the two sisters to see. With a pointer in his lion hand and another snap of his talon fingers, Discord now stood dressed in a scientist's white lab coat and sported a pair of large glasses, making him appear slightly clever, and oh so smug.
Clearing his throat, Discord stated, "Exhibit One," he raised the pointer to a spot on the paper. "Twilight has grown and done much. Saving you, Luna; defeating me; saving the Crystal Empire, with Spike, mind you; and, of course, becoming an alicorn princess." With each example given, Discord tapped his pointer onto the paper and a crude crayon drawing of the said-event appeared. Luna wasn’t at all amused, but Celestia couldn't help chuckling at the drawing of Twilight as an alicorn: the wings that the drawing sported resembled those commonly found on butterflies.
"And," Discord added, adjusting his glasses and smacking his pointer on the paper, "last but not least, Twilight's recent victory against Tirek after he almost annihilated all of Equestria."
"Which he almost did thanks to your help," Luna added bluntly.
Discord’s smile dropped and his demeanor lowered. "Yes . . . yes, that’s true. . . . But, nevertheless," he continued, "the evidence for Twilight is clear. Granted, she's had help during all those events, but she's kept a steady head and led the path to victory each time. I mean, come on, you two! We all know how exceptional she is! And besides, she won’t be alone in knowing the truth, which actually brings me to my next point."
Discord cleared his throat again. With another snap of his fingers, the drawings of Twilight and her accomplishments vanished off the paper, and in their place was an image of an adorable baby dragon who Princess Celestia had known since his birth.
“Exhibit Two: Spike," said Discord. "Born under the influence of Twilight and you, Celestia" he directed to the white alicorn. "He has been raised by ponies, been taught their ways, and is living, breathing proof that dragons aren't always the vicious, greedy, self-preserving brutes that the majority of his kind often prove to be. He's even had his moments to shine, such as at the Crystal Empire AND saving it yet again, stepping in purely on instinct. He has shown as much of the Elements of Harmony as his pony friends have, and is incredibly faithful to them, especially Twilight. And though he's young, Spike has shown to be wise at times and is quite responsible with his tasks.
"In fact, Celestia," Discord said with a matter-of-fact tone, "the fact that you actually taught Spike, a dragon, how to magically deliver messages, says a lot about the trust you have in him. I mean, to actually teach him magic. . . ."
"I do trust Spike," Celestia answered calmly, "though my decision to teach him that bit of magic was mainly from seeing his dedication to Twilight. I have watched Spike grow as much as I have watched Twilight, and I can say, without any doubt, that his devotion and love for her is very powerful. It is for that reason why I made him Twilight's assistant. Nothing makes Spike happier than being there to help Twilight, and, all the same, I don't think Twilight would want to have anypony else serve the role as her assistant. The two have, in their own way, become siblings since that fateful day, growing up and learning from one another, being each other's first true friend."
"And speaking of his bond with Twilight . . ." said Discord. He tapped the pointer again and a cutesy crayon drawing of Spike and Twilight appeared, holding and hugging each other. "It is there I am happy we see eye to eye. They have grown very close over the years, as you two and Star Swirl expected them to. The fact that the chest from the Tree of Harmony gave Spike his own little throne, which sits alongside Twilight’s, must make it obvious, if not to him, then to the others that he has a crucial role to play in Equestria's future."
"A crucial role indeed," Celestia commented. "One he has played for a long time already, as too have his friends, as we all know."
"And yet," said Discord, pressing the pointer inward between his palms, squishing it into nothing, "no one has bothered to tell him or Twilight the reason why they both share these roles, about how they came together in the first place, and how their friendship could play a huge difference for Equestria’s future.”
Motioning his lion's paw to the paper, the scenes from the two dreams Discord had secretly endowed on Twilight and Spike appeared. This time the pictures were perfectly detailed, and moving to boot. Celestia and Luna stepped closer to watch.
One half of the paper showed Spike and Twilight wandering the Canterlot halls toward a large stained-glass window veiled by a heavy red curtain. The second half showed a scene where Twilight and Spike faced a room full of glass orbs and blue-flamed candles, which Celestia gave a light smirk to.
"The only things I have done," said Discord, his lab coat and glasses gone, "is try to give the two subtle hints that there is something significant about their bond. Oh, don't look at me like that, Luna," Discord grinned at the annoyed blue alicorn, "You know me well enough to know that I would never give the answers directly. I just give things a little push and then watch things fall into place on their own."
"Which nearly ended with Princess Twilight and Spike learning what they are not yet ready to know!" she shouted. "I barely made it in time to stop each of those twisted and fabricated dreams! How hard is this for you to understand?" She approached Discord until she was threateningly close. "They-are-not-yet-ready! You might be reformed, and everypony and my sister might've forgiven you, and even I am willing to give you a third chance, but you're still as unpredictable as you've always been, and as harmless as they seem, your little 'antics' still cause us trouble!"
Sighing, Discord shook his head. "Oh, Luna. You're so easy to predict. I understand your view on the matter, but still, whether you like it or not," he added with seriousness, "Twilight and Spike will find out the truth one day."
"I know . . .," Luna responded more calmly. "But now isn't the right time. It would be best for them to discover it on their own. And when they do, we will explain it fully to them, as well as why me and my sister haven't told them for so long. Until then, do me the courtesy and stop your attempts at sending messages through their dreams. If I sense you trying to blab Star Swirl's secret to them again, believe me, you will be sorry!"
There wasn't the slightest doubt that Luna was being completely serious, and Discord knew quite as well. Laughing lightly (with a hint of nervousness), he responded. "All right, all right. I'll keep Twilight and Spike's dreams to themselves, and yourself. Besides, they already suspect me of sending them clues; I don't want to make it too obvious for them. But, I must say, I'm happy to hear you agree with them finding out on their own," he smiled deviously. "Things like this are always much more fun when—"
Before Discord could finish, he and Luna turned around at hearing a small POP, which always happened whenever something appeared out of nowhere.
A folded scroll fell to the ground and landed in front of Celestia's hooves. Using her magic, Celestia levitated the scroll up off the floor and unfurled it, her bright pink eyes glancing over the message quickly.
"Ah," she said, smiling lightly. "It seems Twilight and Spike are already starting to ask questions. They even suspect Star Swirl the Bearded might have a hoof in it as well."
Princess Luna looked outraged. "I told you!" she gritted her teeth towards Discord. "You're being too reckless! You might very well have written them a detailed message!"
"Oh and you would prefer I keep them completely in the dark," Discord shot back, "like you do every single night, figuratively AND literally?"
"Enough, both of you!" Celestia snapped. At once, both Luna and Discord fell silent, startled by Celestia's sudden tone. She calmed herself before continuing. "Discord, I agree with Luna that you've gone a little too far using these dreams to try and point our newest princess and her assistant towards the secret. I concur that it will be best they uncover it for themselves. And Luna," she said, with the same amount serious, "Discord is right when he says Twilight and Spike will discover the truth one day. The time IS coming, perhaps even sooner now that the Princess of Friendship understands her role in Equestria."
"But sister," said Luna, her voice heavy with concern. "The weight of this prospect could affect all of us. What it could mean for Equestria and ALL its inhabitants, particularly between the ponies and dragons . . ."
"I know, Luna," said Celestia gently. "But . . . we'll worry more about it when the time comes."
At that moment, the tall grandfather clock in bedroom's corner chimed midnight. Celestia left of a tired sigh, and said, "That will be all for tonight. The three of us shall discuss this matter further with Cadence and Shining Armor. Being so close to Twilight and Spike, they should be informed about this as well. And now, I think it will best we all return to our own duties."
Luna bowed her head and walked away to the door, heading back to keep watch over the Equestrian Night. "Remember Discord," she said with a hint of warning, "stay – out – of their – dreams. I will be keeping a closer watch from this moment on, and if you or Screwball try to filter in through anypony else's dreams, I WILL know."
And with that, Luna left the room, leaving Discord and Celestia alone.
Hearing her sigh, Discord turned and saw Celestia walk out onto to her open balcony from which she could see Ponyville, where, even from all the way up here in Canterlot, the small castle was perfectly noticeable.
Floating beside her, Discord rested his head on his arms and said, his voice playful, "Thoughts drifting and falling without control, little princess?"
Shaking her head, Celestia responded, "I really wish you hadn't done this, Discord. Twilight and Spike are going to be more curious by the day about what those dreams meant."
"That was pretty much my intension." Grinning, Discord then said, "I guess you can say I did my job well."
"Discord, please," said Celestia, her voice soft but her face firm. "I know as well as you do that regardless of your life change, you're still the Spirit of Chaos and need to cause a little disorder, even disorder that doesn't negatively affect anypony. However, going as far as to reveal—"
"Oh, you can be so like Luna sometimes!" Discord rolled his eyes, but then smiled. "It's really quite adorable."
Celestia smirked. "And you say Luna's predicable."
"Me? Predictable?" Discord said in mock-outrage. "Never! I'm Chaos!" He paused to reconsider this statement. "Well . . . perhaps more Organized-Chaos due to being reformed, but Chaos, nevertheless."
"Speaking of nevertheless," Celestia said with seriousness, "please do as Luna orders and keep out from other ponies' dreams unless the action proves itself justified. I do not want my sister to have a reason to be angry with you."
"True, very, very true," said Discord. "Luna can certainly be terrifying when she wants to be." He drifted down to stand on the floor of the balcony. "As for a third nevertheless, I do hope you'll take a hint from my two little hints. Twilight and Spike are almost ready."
"I know," Celestia nodded. "The time, as I have said, is coming. The way I predict, it will mostly likely happen on it's own accord, and when it does, I will do EVERYTHING in my power to assist them."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were you," said Discord, staring down at Ponyville's small castle. "As long as they have their friends, I think those two will come out for the better. And besides . . . they also have you."
Discord reached out his taloned arm and placed it around Celestia's soft shoulders.
Smiling affectionately, the Princess of the Sun asked, "Tell me just one thing?"
"Hmm?"
"Why did you use the Hall of Prophecy? Though comparable, it's not a fully accurate depiction of Star Swirl's little prediction."
Discord smirked. "As I've said, I would never give the answer in a straightforward manner — it's just not my style. As for using the Hall of Prophecy, why not? I thought the location, though not original, was appropriate — much more cryptic than a stained-glass window or a red curtain with 'Twilight and Spike' stitched in gold thread."
Shaking her head, Celestia laughed. "What am I going to do with you?"
"For a start, sitting to watch the stars would be nice."
Holding no grudge with anything that had happened, Celestia agreed. Together, the two sat down on the balcony and leaned in on each other to gaze at the sparkling, dark blue sky which Luna had brought about. And, flying high above them, Luna gazed down at her sister and the Spirit of Chaos, and she couldn't help but smirk a little.
To think . . . her sister and Discord. . . .
Looking back up at Equestria, shadowed beautiful by the night and illuminated by the glowing silver moon, Luna stared down at Ponyville's small castle, where its two residents were now back to sleep, laying peacefully at each other’s sides.
The two had no idea just how monumental their friendship would prove in the days to come. One way or another, however, they will come to realize it. And, regardless that the future was impossible to fully perceive, Luna had no doubts that, no matter what may come or what Twilight and Spike will face, they will see it through together.
They were, after all, the best of friends, whose bond had grown throughout the years and is blossoming into something that could change everything, and everypony, as well as every non-pony.
Yes, Luna smiled warmly. The future was before them. Where it will lead, that will be for them to decide.
***
