Unintentionally Yours

Chapter 3: Ours

//-----------------------------

Spike leaned against Twilight, despite the uneasy silence between them. A great wealth of questions entered his mind, though none surfaced from his lips. What are my parents like? Are they scary? Do you think that they will really destroy Canterlot if I’m not delivered?

Will Applejack be all right?

He dismissed these questions, instead his mind wandered into thoughts of golden mane and shimmering emerald eyes gazing lovingly into his. Sun kissed cheeks, dotted with pale freckles glowed with a beautiful smile that tugged at them. He reached out to her, his fingers running through her mane. It felt like silk, much akin to Rarity’s myriad of dress designs, and heavenly to the touch.

The young dragon’s breathing deepened as he sank further against Twilight’s side. She pondered the relationship between Spike and Applejack. It worried her that the two of them even shared such a romantic connection, let alone acting upon those feelings. Applejack was nearly Twilight’s own age, at least a few years older than Spike. The dragon himself was, in fact, only a few years from his hatching. He was so young and his moments of immaturity denoted that in spades. Applejack was fully grown, independent and mature. How could she have allowed them to go that far?

Did either of them even see these things, these potential problems at all? Pinkie Pie’s celebration and all of her friends’ response to this unforeseen union seemed strange to Twilight as well. How could they so easily accept this?

Did the problem exist only in Twilight’s mind?

She pondered this as Spike’s dreamlike mumblings began to take audible form.

“Ap-jk,” he breathed incoherently, his tail twitching reflexively. Twilight could not help but rest her head upon him, causing the dragon to snuggle closer in her familiar warmth. It was not long before snoring escaped his nostrils.

Spike and Applejack, she thought, almost aloud. She tried to piece them together logically, methodically. The orange mare was, Twilight admitted, the most levelheaded of the group, even when compared to the academic herself. Applejack was strong, honest and loyal. She loved her family and held them close to her heart. Her truest love was the propagation of the Acres, an extension of her family in of itself. Above all, she worked hard. If Twilight could find any equal to her studious ways, the farm pony would be her physical incarnation. Twilight imagined the blonde-maned mare bucking apple trees and reaping their fruit, Celestia’s Sun glinting off her healthy coat. Applejack was beautiful.

Twilight looked down at the peacefully breathing Spike and did not wonder why he would be attracted to the Element of Honesty. However, the same reasons existed for her assistant’s attraction to Rarity, so she wondered what else could have drawn them together.

Assistant. The word circled around Twilight’s mind for a moment. Spike was such a hard worker, completely dedicated to helping her. It was no stretch to imagine him wanting to help Applejack when he saw the opportunity to. Twilight could see the appreciative Applejack truly connecting with Spike then, but not enough to spawn such an unlikely relationship. Twilight sighed deeply, effectively giving up the quest for any explanation, much like her abandonment of the quest to understand Pinkie Pie’s sixth sense. It no longer mattered, for they would no longer be together.

Still, she thought. He was happy. Now that was being taken away from him, just as he was being taken away from, from his life here.

She nuzzled her little dragon and took notice of his clenched eyes. Dried tears, like dead rivers, stained his scales. With her hoof, she wiped the dryness away and hugged him tightly.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered into his ear, as Canterlot loomed ever nearer.

Applejack was the last to enter the library. She watched as Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash took down the large banner bearing her and Spike’s names. Rarity levitated a broom and dustpan to gather the fallen confetti. Pinkie Pie solemnly gathered the balloons and cans of unused silly-filly string. Feeling as if she was the only one not working, Applejack quickly set herself to helping with the clean up, hoping that it would be enough to distract her.

As she assisted Rarity in gathering the debris, Applejack found herself rubbing her free hoof against her lips. She could feel the steam still rising within her and the faint taste of minerals that teased her tongue. Slowly, she sighed, though no pony could perceive it.

“Applejack…” a voice broke the silence, though it was but a whisper. Applejack raised her head to meet the concerned eyes of Rarity.

“Yeah, Rarity?” she responded half-heartedly.

“Um,” she bit her lip, searching for the right words to say, “What was it like?”

“Like to what?” Applejack responded, crooking an eyebrow.

“To, you know, kiss a dragon?” The fashionista almost seemed embarrassed to ask such a question.

The farm mare was almost as embarrassed to answer it in return. Closing her eyes, she simply smiled weakly and said, “I’d like to answer your question, sugarcube, but I think I’ll keep that one to myself.”

Rarity understood, nodding slowly. She tried to smile, but could not. “I’m so sorry, Applejack.”

“Don’t worry about lil’ old me, Rare,” Applejack shook her head, fighting back the failing integrity of her walled up tears. “There’s no need for me to feel sorry for myself. Ya’ll heard Twilight about them dragons.”

“Yeah, but still,” it was Pinkie Pie’s turn to speak, “you were so happy. It was nice to see you smile like that!” The party pony’s mane seemed to lose some of its volume, growing heavy and dark in the growing night.

“Not much we can do about that anymore, Pink. He’s gone and there’s nothing we can do ‘bout it.”

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to protest, but then –

“I can’t stand it anymore!”

“Fluttershy?” The timid pegasus and her vociferation took Applejack quite aback. The cream-coloured mare held her fore-hooves to her face; her sea green eyes clenched shut.

“Why would you give up so easily on him like that?” Fluttershy pointed an accusing hoof at Applejack, who was still taken aback. The pegasus opened her eyes to reveal not soft submission, but hard determination. “You had love in your hearts, but you allowed it to slip away!”

Applejack narrowed her own eyes and spoke defensively, “There’s more to this than Spike and I, sugarcube. Innocent pony lives are at stake!”

“And yet, that has never stopped you before. That’s never stopped any of us from doing the right thing.”

“Never thought I’d say this, but Fluttershy’s right!” Rainbow Dash dropped her end of the banner and pumped a hoof in the air.

“Guys!” Pinkie Pie popped her head out from under the crumpled banner, her smile beaming, “We should totally get Spike back, that way we could continue this party and even attach another party to it! Oh – it’ll be like a ‘Congratulations Spike And AJ On Your New Relationship AND Welcome Back Spike, From The Clutches Of Nasty, Greedy Dragon Parents So You Can Continue Your Relationship With AJ Party!” By this time, everypony had tuned the pink party pony’s ramblings out, though this did not lessen the warmth that curled in Applejack’s overflowing heart.

“You know what, girls,” replied Applejack slowly, “I reckon ya’ll are right. If anypony can figure out a way to solve this, it’s us.”

“We’re your friends, cowpony,” Rainbow Dash landed right next to Applejack, grinning with confidence, “Of course we’re right.”

An inferno ignited within Applejack then, her heartbeat quickening and her breath deepening. She sought the library’s exit and stamped her hooves impatiently on the hardwood floor as if to charge through the threshold. The same fate, she surmised, would meet any pony or object that dared to obstruct her crusade. Canterlot was many leagues away, but with the furnace in her heart she would run until the high walls of that great citadel towered over her. Nothing would stop her. Except the voice of a certain pink party pony holding an outstretched hoof to her friend’s determined face.

“Wait!” cried Pinkie Pie who sat firmly in place.

“What is it, Pinkie?” Applejack did not halt her shifting hooves.

“Even if you run now, like right now and don’t stop, you won’t be able to catch the Princess’ chariot. I mean, it’s the Princess’ chariot! I bet that thing can outfly Dashie, let alone out pace an earth pony at full tilt, because I know you’re fit and all -”

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash glared at her pink friend, who was once again lost in her own conversation with nopony but herself. Applejack rolled her eyes and attempted to gently push Pinkie Pie out of her way, all under the din of the party mare’s breathless stream of words.

“- and so I figured that we could use magic instead and beat the chariot there!”

“Wait, what was that last part, Pink?” Applejack halted her efforts and actually paid heed to Pinkie Pie.

The pink pony simply blinked and smiled, copying and pasting, “- and so I figured that we could use magic instead and beat the chariot there!”

Applejack frowned and responded, “If Twilight were here, sugarcube, then I would count that as a brilliant idea.”

“Oh, we may not have Twilight, who is super-duper awesome with magic, but we do have a unicorn like Twilight.”

All eyes then turned to Rarity, who had been silent the entire time. Her deep azure eyes widened with concern when all of her friends suddenly turned to stare at her. “M-me!?” The fashionista stammered, but quickly tried to compose herself, “Surely, darling, you don’t mean me.”

“Yep!” was Pinkie Pie’s cheerful response, “I mean you, silly-filly!”

Rarity offered a nervous laugh, “I simply cannot use that level of magic, dear. Now, if you wanted me to make you fabulous, then my magic could work it instantly, but Twilight’s teleportation charm is far beyond me.”

“Not if you have this!” Pinkie Pie popped up behind the alabaster-coated mare, causing her perfectly coiffed mane to rattle out of place. In the party pony’s mouth was a rather large green notebook. In Twilight’s magical scrawl was the pad’s title: Useful Spells. Pinkie Pie dropped the book at Rarity’s hooves. The purple-maned pony levitated it to her eye level and hummed gently as she opened the cover.

Twilight Sparkle was notoriously organized and this truth sprang forward even in her rough notes, which were numbered and ordered in a table of contents. This page itself was subtitled, ‘Version 3.04’ which was to say that the lavender unicorn had spent considerable time in conceiving the perfect table of contents for her rough notes. Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Rarity searched the list.

Headings and subheadings passed her sight before they settled upon one topic in particular, simply worded: Teleportation. Perfect, she smiled with success. The subheadings beneath the bolded Teleportation narrowed her search perfectly: Teleportation of the self – not quite; Teleportation of self plus others – might be useful; Teleportation of self plus objects – certainly not; Teleportation of others – getting there; Teleportation of others to self – not quite so useful, seeing as we are already all together, well, mostly; Teleportation of others to any other than the self – perfect!

“Found it,” Rarity sang with glee. Applejack’s heart brightened at the success. They watched as Rarity flipped to the corresponding section of the notebook and saw her expression crunch into that of studious concentration. After a moment, she lowered the book and studied her friend’s waiting glances. Pinkie Pie simply bounced around in enjoyment, humming happily to herself. Rarity sighed heavily and spoke after her long silence, “I have good news and bad news.”

“Well, out with it, Rare!” Applejack nearly strained against her desire to charge through the door.

Rarity narrowed her eyes at the her friend’s forcefulness and replied, saying, “Twilight herself has yet to perfect this spell, noting instability and much more practice needed. That is the bad news, mostly. The good news is that the spell seems simple enough. I just mentally process the incantation and touch my horn to your head once the transfer of essence has been complete.”

“Essence?” all the friends, including the bouncing Pinkie Pie, tilted their heads in confusion.

“What in the hay does that mean?” Applejack scratched the side of her head.

“It means,” Rarity set the notebook open-faced down to the ground, “that if I were to teleport all of you to wherever Spike or Twilight were at the moment the spell was cast, I would need to interact with an object belonging to that pony, or in this case, dragon, in order to perform this version of the spell.”

“Well, that was a mouthful,” Rainbow Dash deadpanned.

“This does present a problem, because all of you need to have something that belongs to the subject you wish to transport to,” Rarity explained. “It can’t be just anything, it must be a part of who they are, something with deep personal meaning.” Rarity closed her eyes as realization came to those of her friends. “This is why, I suspect, that Twilight has had a difficulty with this spell, because there are so many variables. Too many things could go wrong.”

“That may be true, sugarcube, but I have to try anyhow.” Applejack lowered her hat to cover the determination in her eyes.

“You mean we have to try,” Rainbow Dash nudged the orange mare’s shoulder.

“No, just me,” stated Applejack firmly. “This is my journey to make and Spike is mine to claim. I’ll make that known to his parents and we’ll see what happens next. All I know is I have to try.”

“We’re not leaving you to face his parents alone, Ay-Jay, regardless of how we may feel about big, scary dragons.” Fluttershy gulped, her fire from before dulled to embers.

Applejack ignored them as she approached Rarity, “I have something that belongs to Spike, given only to me. I hope its deep an’ personal enough to take me right to him.”

Rarity was unsure of what the farm pony meant by that statement, but trusted the weight of her words. She nodded with understanding and read Twilght’s notebook aloud in her mind. The words flowed like honey through her thoughts, becoming physical manifestations that coalesced in her horn, which began to shimmer. Before the incantation could be finalized, Rarity glanced back at Applejack, her expression unreadable. Clearing her throat, she said, “I will need to take that which belongs to both of you in order to complete the spell.” She held a hoof out expectantly. “What was it that Spike gave you?”

“The kiss.” Applejack smiled with the memory and placed a hoof gently to her lips once more.

Rarity’s eyes widened, “I don’t see how I could possibly use that.”

“I don’t think we have time to figure it out, sugarcube.” At that, Applejack took a hold of Rarity’s hoof and drew the fashionista in close to her. Applejack then said, “Just finish the spell when I give this to you.”

“But, I –” Rarity could not finish her protest, for Applejack had sealed the distance between them. Much to the surprise of the friends surrounding them, Rarity kissed Applejack. Applejack’s mind raced as her lips pressed against Rarity’s. She closed her eyes and thought of her dragon. She recalled how his lips were surprisingly soft, how his scent persisted even then. The wood smoke curled comfortably in Applejack’s memories, adding sweetness to the kiss she shared with Rarity. She tried not to think about what she was doing, focusing instead on seeing Spike once more.

Rarity, on the other hoof, was awash with panic. How scandalous! How uncouth! How dare that draft pony encroach upon her like that! Then the scent found her. A curious, yet natural mixture immediately calmed her firing nerves. Surprisingly, she did not mind it so much, perhaps because this scent was of a long-burned wood fire. The sensation of the dying embers and coiling fumes ushered in memories of resting before her fireplace on long, sleepless nights. She relaxed and let the kiss flow, allowing her eyes to shut. So, this is what it was like to kiss a dragon. Rarity had her answer, but before she could enjoy it, she found herself kissing nothing but air. With a start, her eyes shot open to see nothing but a dissipating puff of purple smoke, her friends confused and flushed faces, and lastly, a space where Applejack used to be.

The chariot landed silently upon the great balcony that overlooked the river valley below where Celestia was waiting. The moon cast the Citadel in a haunting pale glow, but did nothing to mar Celestia’s spectral mane that billowed behind her. Twilight nudged her number one assistant awake and he snorted with a start.

“Wha- here already?” he asked, rubbing the sleep from his heavy eyes.

“Yes, Spike. The Princess is waiting.”

“Hello, Twilight. Hello Spike,” Celestia approached the chariot, a unreadable expression upon her ageless visage. Spike stood straight before offering a cordial bow. Twilight stared past her princess, simply nodding her head in acknowledgement of her regent.

“Please follow me, Spike, your parents are waiting.” The little dragon followed behind the regal mare, barely keeping up with her billowing, celestial tail. Through the audience chamber and down the cavernous halls lit by countless torches set aflame, the trio proceeded. The starry sky met them upon their final approach to the royal gardens.

Before Spike’s eyes could register what they bore witness to, a great voice preceded any understanding, “Hatchling of so many years before, stolen and yet kept safe, thou hast returned at last!” Spike shrank before the crimson-armoured male who received him. The large head of Royum Dadaelus swayed to face his mate, speaking, “Timid, is he not?”

“It is to be expected when all others tower above you.” Royum Nalthanida’s cool green eyes met the fiery ones of her husband.

To this, Dadaelus simply grunted and faced Celestia, “You ponyfolk have made him soft, and have dulled his senses with your kindness, your laughter.” Steam rose from his flaring nostrils. Spike cringed and Twilight brought herself closer to her number-one assistant, mentally preparing herself for a quick teleportation to spirit the pair to safety, should the elder dragon’s temper grow worse.

“Being in the company of the purveyors of the Elements of Harmony,” responded Celestia, unmoved, “I would expect nothing but great things from your son, my old friend.” Dadaelus grunted dismissively. “Do not write him off so easily.”

“I assure you, Celestia, that if I deemed him unworthy of his heritage, he would not have lived so long as he has before my presence.” Dadaelus drew himself to full height as his claws raked across the prim lawn, producing deep gouges beneath his steel-black claws.

Celestia’s expression did not shift with this display, but simply said, “My gardeners will not be pleased with those gouges, Dadaelus.” The Dragonlord returned to his relaxed position on all fours, a dangerous smile upon his reptilian lips. A long silence settled between the pair of rulers.

Nalthanida lowered her head and locked her green eyes upon Spike. When she was level with him, she spoke softly, saying, “Come to me, little one.” Spike gulped and obeyed, shuffling quietly toward her great snout. When he was mere feet away, the lady dragon drew a deep breath and inhaled his scent. Instantly, her large eyes widened with recognition. “Thou were the egg that I would have named Severezhad, had thee survived the hatching. The smallest and softest of my entire clutch, yet cherished all the same.”

“Mommy?” Nalthanida grinned as Spike’s own emerald eyes widened, his ear pricked with a sound he had all but forgotten. Her voice was a sensation that echoed with the undeniable truth. These were his parents. His very soul bore the brunt of that truth. He reached a claw out to her and pressed it gently upon her blue snout.

Twilight wanted to say something, anything, but she simply stared at the exchange. It was so seamless, so natural. She watched as the lady dragon extended a hand toward him, scaly palms open, welcoming. She dreaded his step toward the dragon and wanted to scream when he did. But, before he went any further, his head turned and their eyes met. Hers, a pleading purple hue, moistened with ready tears, while with his, a faint emerald glow, much like his mothers, denoting both uncertainty and fear of submission.

“Let us go now, Severezhad.”

Severezhad. Spike pondered the name. It sounded old, as if it were lost in time only to be unearthed and put to use once more. He didn’t like it at all, but that was his name. The Princess named him Spike, the only name he had ever known. He wore it proudly. Ever pony he had ever known had called him that. Spike felt right, even though it was a lie. Heck, he entire existance was a lie from where he stood. Still, the lie was better than no existence at all. He preffered the lie because it had given him everything he had ever loved. It gave him friendship, learning, work, play, a big sister, a loving place to live and grow. Most recently, it had given him Applejack.

Applejack. He would never see her again. If he left now, he would never hold her, love her, be her special somedragon. If he left, he would die as Spike the dragon, the lie he cherished. If he left, he would transform into something brutal, brash and ugly. He would become truth itself: Severezhad, the Royumi Prince.

He preferred the world of lies. At least Applejack was a part of that world.

Spike’s eyes then narrowed as he turned to face his mother,“No.”

“What?” Dadaelus barked, shocked. His eyes brightened into malicious red torches. Nalthanida drew her head back, her icy eyes melting with hurt before they evaporated into rage, though she said nothing.

“I said no.” Spike glared at the towers of scale and anger that stood before him.

“Then you condemn Canterlot and these ponies to death!” Dadaelus bellowed. He reared his great head back and fire sprang from his mouth in an upward plume. Twilight ducked and hid herself. Celestia stood perfectly still.

“Why?” Spike shouted back. “Why am I suddenly so precious to you! Where were you all those years ago?” Black smoke puffed from his nostrils. Nalthanida simply stared at her son. Eventually Dadaelus brought himself to look upon his defiant offspring.

“I’ve lost you once, Severezhad.” The lady dragon brought her head low so that Spike could see her at his level. “I am willing to do whatever it takes to never lose you again.”

“Even burn down Canterlot?” Spike asked.

“I would burn the entire world if I could but have all my children return to me.”

“All?” Spike became confused.

“Yes,” Dadaelus interrupted. “You were the last among several Royumi.”

“But the only one to survive.” Celestia chimed in as both adult dragons eyes fell upon her.

Spike then looked upon his surrogate pony princess of a mother, his eyes wide. Then he asked, “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“In time, you were going to know,” answered Celestia evenly. “I did not expect that it would be while you were still so young.” Her eyes then began sad, wistful. Spike looked away from her.

“I am not so young anymore, Celestia.” Spike glowered. He then looked over at Twilight who hesitated in taking a step toward him.

“Am I not allowed to grow up as I want to?” Spike asked, but it was not directed to his best friend, his surrogate sister. Nor was it addressed even to Celestia, his mentor or even to those who would be his true parents.

He thought about Applejack.

“I am not allowed to love?”

“You are allowed to come with us, Severezhad,” answered his mother. “You will learn your place among the stars and you will be glad when you do.”

“Come, son,” urged Dadaelus, softly, his fire ebbed. “Let us fly - save your friends.”

You have to do this. You must protect Applejack. You know this to be true and there’s no way around it. Spike sighed, defeated. He sniffed as he held his gaze onto Twilight before looking over his shoulder, “One moment, please, mother.” Nalthanida nodded.

Spike ran toward Twilight, arms open. She ran to him and received his tight embrace.

“Oh, Spike,” whispered the young unicorn, “I am going to miss you so much. I hate to see you go.”

“Don’t worry about me, Twilight, you’ll have to make do on your own. I miss you already, but remember that I can still write.”

“You’re right,” she sniffed. “I wish you nothing but the best with your family. Do wonderful things, Spike. I know you will.”

“I hope so,” he responded, a lump in his throat barely audible. “Take care of the girls as well. Especially Applejack. Please, tell her-”

“I know, Spike. She knows as well, but I will tell her all the same.” She nuzzled him, much to Dadaelus’ dismay, though he held his forked tongue. At that, the purple dragon slunk back toward his mother’s awaiting palm and slowly crawled onto it and was carried away.

“Our deed is done, wife,” thundered Dadaelus, “I will meet you at the gathering place to dismiss the Thousand. Be careful with your new burden.” The great red dragon glanced at his diminutive son before looking skyward.

With powerful gusts, the mighty wings of the draconic pair beat the air and they were off. Twilight lowered her head and allowed the Princess to drape a caring white wing over her entire body. She wept as the great pair took themselves and their broodling, her best friend away.

The cold night persisted as Celestia and Twilight sat side by side. The Sun Regent’s billowing mane caressed the weeping lavender unicorn, but the Princess remained silent. Then, something broke that silence, “Thou hast requested my presence sister?”

“Yes, Luna, I am in dire need of your assistance.” Celestia closed her eyes as the tall, darkly regal Princess of the Night materialized before her. Twilight appeared to pay no heed, though her quiet sniffling had slowed tremendously. She had known the mare she had defeated, Nightmare Moon’s vessel. Now, instead of terrifying, Luna was gentle. Her fierce stance was replaced by a proud composure. Rather than being far too frightful to gaze upon, Princess Luna was now too beautiful for one to easily look away. Her own flowing mane matched the starry skies above, coupling with her dark beauty.

“Your will is mine own, dearest sister,” was Luna’s response.

“Just as mine is yours,” Celestia smiled.

“Thine request is simple enough and I will see it done.”

“And you know of what I ask before I ask it, Luna?”

“Indeed,” answered the tall, dark mare with a grin on her face, “Thou wishest for me to follow the Dragonlord and his mate to their encampment and espy their intent. This I will gladly do, for my ponies matter as much to me as they do to thee.”

Celestia’s smile broadened, but only enough for Luna to appreciate. The Royal Sisters exchanged nods before Luna closed her eyes and dissolved into a nebulous shroud of mist, visible by no pony, scarcely detectable by even the keenest of senses. Against the easterly winds, the shroud crawled, following the trail of the dragons’ vapour.

Applejack found herself both cold and wet. One moment, she was in the library bucking herself for having to kiss Rarity, the next, she found herself ears deep in a cold wet mud, bathed in moonlight. The only part of her that was dry was her hat, which was better than nothing, she supposed. As she crawled out of the bog, she could not help but wonder how Rarity would have reacted to such a landing. She nearly chuckled with the imagery of a panicking fashionista before she suddenly realized that she was, indeed, alone. From what she could see, trees surrounded her.

“Am I in Everfree?” she wondered aloud to herself, “What in the hay would I be doing there? Spike went to Canterlot.” She stomped the ground in frustration that the spell didn’t work, though she noted that something felt unnatural. The ground was very compact and pebbly, falt and hard. A hard consistency could only be found in a road.

A road? Applejack became perplexed. Why would there be a road right smack-dab in the middle of Everfree? That don’t make a lick a’ sense. She turned to look at the stars, but something caught her eye mid-glance. It was a warm glow amid the darkness, a flickering of a nearby light. A camp fire, perchance? Regardless, she felt drawn to it if that glow was, by any means, a way of escaping this forest.

With mud dripping from her coat and heart beating heavily, Applejack approached the mysterious light, keeping sure to be feathery on her hooves and silent as the grave. As she neared, her nose pricked at the scent of wood burning, old pine and ash. She recognized the nature of the smell, though it was not quite the same. It lacked the gentleness of Spike’s woodfire smell and was more... intense. It made her feel uneasy. Still, she pressed on toward the light where then she overheard voices, carried far in the cool air.

Then she found them: dragons. And not simply one or two, or even a small group, but a legion of what she suspected were hundreds. This was the army and this was their siege encampment.

She saw the fire, its sparks touching the night, its smoke drifting on an easterly wind. About the large blaze were many dragons, scaly and fierce-looking. Quickly, the farm mare took to the thickets and edged slowly toward the ever-growing light, accompanied by the ever-clearer conversations. One such dialogue met her ears and she could see the one who spoke.

“I say we strike at dawn!” declared a deep, dark and dangerous voice.

“Nay, Kàndelthylt,” replied a much more aged voice from a raspy throat, “We are gathered to follow the will of Lord Dadaelus. If he wishes to attack, then we shall. If the ponies violate the agreed terms, we shall have our promised prizes within the citadel. If he is satisfied with his demands, then we depart and disband forever.” Applejack could not see the bearer of the second voice, but she was relieved all the same to hear peace amongst these folk.

The first dragon hissed, “Now our Lord returns.” Were it not for the gloss of his black scales or the fiendish glow of his blue eyes, Applejack would not have seen the dragon. With a great gust that nearly took the muddied pony’s hat away, another, much larger crimson dragon landed among the countless others. Unlike the one who greeted him, this dragon was powerfully built and lordly in stature, truly the most stupendous reptile she had ever witnessed.

There was a brief silence before the rasped voice of the second dragon rose in greeting, “Hail! Hail Royum Dadaelus, Lord of Dragons!” At last, Applejack could see the bearer of the voice of reason. Indeed, the aged tone betrayed the withered appearance of the speaking dragon. His scales, once amber and bright, were dulled and without sheen. His furled wings bore the scars of former dominance; a deep furrow graced the side of his grey head where once a lavish crest protruded. His eyes were of a faint white, all colour lost with age. Was he blind? The pony wondered.

She did not have time to consider, for the great crimson wyrm known as Dadaelus answered the hail, “We are well met once more, Nestoramnen, old friend and trusted advisor.”

“Have the ponies honoured the pact, Lord? Have you received your son?” asked old Nestoramnen.

Before the great one could answer, the black-scaled dragon known as Kàndelthylt interrupted, “Or shall we make ready for immediate assault? My belly aches for fresh pony flesh.” A long dark tongue ran hungrily along black-scaled lips, an act that cast a cold shiver up Applejack’s spine.

“I shall let you judge for yourselves, friends.” The voice of the crimson dragon was bold, but dignified, even as he glared at the one who spoke before him. Within moments, another dragon touched down with a mighty flap of its wings. This dragon, against the glow of the moon and fire, was slighter than the others - feminine, too. Her scales were a brilliantly beautiful pale sea green. The greetings exchanged did not catch the orange pony’s attention so much as the charge carried by the female dragon’s open palm.

Spike! Her mind flared and heart soared, though she remained hushed for fear of discovery. The spell had worked, after all. Rarity will be relieved and Twilight will be happier than a porker in a mud wallow. As she beamed, she watched him, silent. His green eyes were wide and unsure. Her smile disappeared when she saw how he was afraid. She desperately fought the urge to charge in and take him away from there. Just as Spike was silent and afraid, so was the company of dragons silent and unsure.

“Harumph!” A blast of smoke shot from the flaring nostrils of Kàndelthylt.

“Is there a problem, young Kàndelthylt?” asked Dadaelus, raising a brow. “Does the blood of ponies and the bounty of Canterlot’s treasuries tempt you so?”

The dark dragon came forward and spoke his mind, “A full week’s flight from the breeding lands, plus an additional two days of silent encampment with naught but the promise of pony flesh and an equal share of Canterlot’s treasures to whet our appetites and yet this little one’s release is our only reward for our loyalty?”

“You speak out of place, Kàndelthylt!” The old Nestoramnen seethed, stepping forward.

“Stay your anger, young one,” Dadaelus hissed, “the deed is done and our alliance is finished when I lead you back to the breeding lands.

“So it is nothing more than a waste of our time? Of our brothers and sisters who followed you here, to these lands for the chance to increase their hoards, and for what? For this runt of a hatchling, raised by the very flesh we feed upon?” The female dragon did not enjoy that last comment uttered by Kàndelthylt. Her green eyes narrowed and her fangs were bared. Spike, too, seemed more offended than afraid by the dragon’s claims.

“Choose your next words carefully, youth.” The smooth and icy voice of the female dragon spoke softly, “they may not preserve your long years.”

“Shall I chastise him, Lady Nathalida?” the elder dragon offered, earning a sneer from the black-scaled youth.

“Silence, old dimscale!” Kàndelthylt spat. “Nothing by the loyal hound, playing the fool to our so-called Lord and now, his royal brat.” Kàndelthylt loomed over Spike and Applejack saw the fear in his eyes. She could not resist any further as she prepared to launch herself from the thicket and make tracks toward Spike. It was then that the dragons halted in the argument and turned to face her hiding place.

“Ah, horse feathers.” Applejack gulped audibly as the black-scaled dragon reached a claw out to her. With a crash, the large hand had broken the thicket and pinned the farm pony to the ground. The scaled fingers wrapped tightly around her chest, making her breathing a difficult task. At once, she was pulled up and carried over near the fire, her hooves dangling helplessly. Eyes of many hues focused upon her then, including a smaller, emerald pair whom she recognized.

“Applejack?” wondered Spike aloud. He was unable to comprehend her presence, though overcome with joy at having seen her. Then he saw the claw that she was now trapped within and dread overtook him.

“That’s right, darlin,’” breathed Applejack, trying to grin against the pain of the black claw, tightly squeezing. “Looks like they got me before I could get to ya.”

“But what’s this,” cooed Kàndelthylt, “a pony spy in our midst?” He brought the draft pony toward his nostrils and inhaled deeply. “The mud was a prudent plan to fool our noses, spy. Unfortunately, your hoofsteps could not be so easily filtered.”

“Spy nothin’,” breathed Applejack, “I’m here to see Spike.”

“Spike?” Kàndelthylt glanced at the little dragon, standing dumbfounded upon his mother’s open palm. “Is that the name you gave your pet? How poorly dignifying, even for an unfit runt like he.”

“Don’t hurt her!” Spike shouted at the top of his lungs. Kàndelthylt chanced a glance toward Spike, who had hopped down from his mother’s palm and ran toward the black-scaled dragon. “If you’re going to mess with anyone, mess with me and not my girl!”

Kàndelthylt, and every other dragon around them were taken aback. Kàndelthylt glanced between the orange mare and the purple dragon. “Now this is perverse,” seethed the darker youth. “A pony and a dragon, pitiful as he may be, together?”

“It’s… more… likely… than you think, sugarcube,” Applejack’s breaths were becoming ragged under Kàndelthylt’s grip. “Whether ya’ll like it or not.”

“Put her down,” demanded Spike, “and we will all leave in peace.”

“I will show you peace, runt!” Kàndelthylt frowned deeply as he tossed Applejack into the air, his sharp teeth parting. Applejack reached the crest of her rise and caught a final glimpse of Canterlot a fair distance away. Beyond its luminous grace and powerful towers, was Ponyville, nestled away in the valley beyond the mountain’s feet. She smiled in that moment, remembering her friends before she began to fall. Ponyville, Canterlot, and eventually the purple mountains themselves began to become obscured by the treetops of the forest.

She fell, fell, fell down, into the waiting jaws of the vile dragon that had tossed her. She was unsure of how to feel, only that she was happy to see Spike again. She found herself longing to hold him once more. Sadness crept over the farm pony as she realized that she would truly never have that chance again.

She resolved to give this dark dragon’s insides a good bucking all the way down. He would rue the night he messed with this filly!

“NO!” Spike bellowed as he ran toward the dark dragon. With a single leap, he landed upon the idle free claw nearest the ground. From there, another leap saw him atop the dark dragon’s crest adorning the side of his head. With a third and final leap, Spike leapt toward the falling Applejack. Before he could reach her, he found himself suddenly shrouded in darkness, deeper than the night. He could not recall for how long or specifically when, but he felt his consciousness fade. The last thing he remembered was seeing the same darkness engulf Applejack. He could no longer breathe, so he sighed with a sudden exhaustion that threatened to overtake him.

If this was death, at least he wasn’t alone. At least he had gotten to see her one last time.

He closed his eyes.