I watch the sun rise. It's beauty always takes my breath away. After a while I get up and climb out of the tree that I have slept on. Making my way towards the river I have memorized saying morning to the pack of Timberwolves I meet along the way. I lay down a meter away from the river. I was going to jump in but after last time I don't want a repeat. I shiver at the thought of the sea dragon crying about his mustache again. Took me a day to clam him down. Instead I focus my mind and watch as a trails of water leaves the river. It then rise up into the air and into a bubble. I quickly bit the bubble causing it to release the water.
I feel a poke in my side and I turn my vision to notice a line of different animals behind me. I let out a sigh and nod to the animal at the front of the line. It was a Manticore but it didn't look hurt. The Manticore walks over put doesn't use his right paw. Oh not this again. He walks up to me and flips over his right paw. I see a huge stone sticking out. "Really again?" I speak to the Manticore. He nods but looks away. I raise one of my two tails and warp it around the stone. Before I pull it out I pull his paw closer and lick it. As you see the reason animals come to me is because of my healing ability. I do this by using my tongue. The reason this Manticore wasn't on a rampage was because my tongue also adds a painkiller. I tighten my grip on the stone and pull it away. The Manticore looks at it's paw and nods it's head. It turn and starts to walk away. "Don't let it happen again!" I hear a snort from him. I knew it was going to happen again. Next up walks a pack of Timberwolves. However the one in the middle is limping while leaning on the right Timberwolf. The group spread apart but the middle one sits on the grass. I get up and walk over to it while it whimpers. Once I am close enough I notice it's right hind leg. It's leg was trapped in a trap. Heh. I look close and let out a sigh. Royal guard trap. I lean close and lick the Timberwolf hind leg. I use one of my tail to gently stroke the wolf. I put my two paws over the trap and rip it apart. I see that the trap has almost rip of her leg. I bend down again and lick her leg. I watch as it slowly mends itself. I help the wolf up but keep him still. I send a tail into a tree and rip out a vine. I warp it around it's leg as an support. "It will be weak to walk on but you should be good." The wolf walk up and down the river to test it out. He limps back to me and licks my muzzle. "Thanks?" I speak before looking back at the line. Crap...
I slowly climb up a tree and make myself conformable. Today was busy but I had worst. I had healed the line of animals that came to me and caught my food in the river easily. I yawn as I watch the moon rise.
However this reminded me off the Royal trap today. Damn those guards. They go after the creature that live in this forest because of their Princesses. Why can't they live us alone! I feel the forest agree with me. Soon will be safe. That one reason I don't show myself to the ponies. A different reason is I'm scared they will turn me into a weapon. I know they will. They took the Elements from the forest and made them a weapon. With my abilities they no doubt try to use them. I let out a long sigh. "They already took my friend discord away."
I felt the forest let out a vibe of energy. "Yeah I do have you." You see the forest itself is a female living thing. Took me awhile to find out. "How is the spell coming along?" I feel the response. "Soon eh?" I let out a small snort. Soon these ponies won't be able to enter the forest.
I slowly feel the magic of sleep take over. "Night." I let my powers take control as they hide me from sight.
Spike kept on looking out the window. He watched as the Royal guards leave the Everfree forest. They had went in to set traps to reduce the risk. It didn't feel right to him. He agreed with Fluttershy when he heard the news. No one should have to watch out for traps in their own home. They tried to get their friends to call it off but everypony was with the idea. He manage to hold his ground even when Rarity told her side.
"Tomorrow..." He mumble to himself. He and Fluttershy were going to go the forest and get rid of many traps they could. They knew it would be dangerous but if Fluttershy was willing to do it then so would he. Spike crawls back into his bed. Twilight is not going to be happy.
"Spike I got some jobs for you today!"
Spike heads towards the door while Twilight reads a book. "Sorry Twi but I got something to do."
Twilight was too lost in her book. "In the bathroom." Spike look and Twilight and lets out a chuckle. He opens the door and see Fluttershy. "Oh hey!" He runs up to Fluttershy while she starts walking to the forest. "I'm pumped! We are going to be the hero's of the forest."
Fluttershy tuts at his comment. "Spike we are not doing this to be hero's." She drops her head. "Those poor animals..."
Spike jumps upon Fluttershy. "Don't be like that Shy. Just remember we are going to save as much as possible."
Fluttershy looks at Spike with a smile. "Your right." She stops when she notices she at the entrance of the forest.
"Good thing no guards are here. As nopony wants to enter the forest with animals and traps to worry about." Fluttershy nods and enters the forest with Spike.
A while of walking and Fluttershy stops in her tracks. "Shy why are we stopping?" She doesn't answer. He see Fluttershy staring in one direction. A stream of tears down her muzzle. He look to where she was looking and almost lets out his lunch. In his sight laid a Manticore. Expect this Manticore was different. It laid on the floor with a trap around its belly. Blood pouring out while it laid motionless.
Spike jumps off Fluttershy and leads her away. "Shh...It's not suffering any more." Fluttershy nods.
He see Fluttershy eyes widen. "SPIKE LOOK OUT!" Before Spike could responded a spike of pain surges his legs and tail. He couldn't move. He looks down and this time couldn't stop his lunch coming out. Spike was caught in a trap. It had clamped around his legs and tails. Blood was flowing out and Fluttershy could see his bones. Spike was in a state of shock and couldn't scream.
Spike tries his best to not look at the trap. He shivers when he feels blood dropping on his feet. He tries to turn but it will increases the pain. "Fluttershy get help!" She didn't move. Spike was starting to feel the pain. "GET HELP!" He shouts out. Fluttershy turns and runs off in a speed that would make Rainbow jealous. Spike is suddenly hit by a way of dizziness and losses his balance. He falls over and hits a tree root. His headache just got worst. He screams out in pain hoping someone would hear him. Just before his eyes shut from the pain he see's to shining yellow object in the distance. They looked like eyes...
"I wonder where Spike?" Twilight was wondering around her home while her friends watched. "He wouldn't just leave without telling me!" She stopped in her tracks by Applejack. She was about to talk when.
SLAM!
All eyes turn to the door. Well what left of it. The door was ripped of its hinges with Fluttershy standing in it's place. Expect she was covered in dirt and crying freely. Fluttershy rushes over to Twilight and tries to speak. Instead she is talking too quickly. "Fluttershy calm down what wrong!" Rarity runs over and hug Fluttershy. Fluttershy relaxes in her embrace but cannot seem to talk.
"Oh..." All eyes turn to Pinkie. "I understood all of that." Her mane deflates.
"What is it Pinks?" Ask Twilight.
"Spike and Fluttershy went to the forest to get rid of the traps but Spike got caught in one and..." Pinkie couldn't talk any more.
"WHAT!" Rainbow flies out of Twilight house and towards the Everfree forest while Twilight is in a state of shock.
"I finally got the gal to sleep." Applejack comes down the stairs in Twilight home. "Poor girl. It's been two days." Applejack join the rest of her friends in the Kitchen. A knock is heard and the gang rush to the door in hope of good news. They manage to open the new door to see two Royal guards.
"WELL!" The girls cry out. The guards look at each other then back at the girls.
They shakes their heads. "We have search the forest and have not found him. We also..." The girls keep on staring for the rest. "We found this." The guard drops a broken trap. "We found it like this and we guess this is the one he was caught in." He points to one of the points of the trap. A purple scale stuck out. They thank the guards and shut the door. Silence fills the room. Until they all broke down crying even the one known as Rainbow Dash
It's been five days since I found this little dragon. I heard him crying and found him caught in a trap. I broke it apart and brought him to this cave. I have healed his injures but that poor dragon. He shouldn't have seen those injures. He had fallen unconsciousness for five days. I stayed here looking after him. I kept a small fire near and my tails warped around him to keep him warm. His heart was beating normally and was having dreams of one named Twilight. When I first brought him here I sensed something enter his dreams. I forced it out and kept him in a magical shield. Nothing should force it's way in ones dreams.
I felt the young dragon stir. I kept a firm grip on him so he doesn't freak out. I look at him and see him slowly open his eyes. He couldn't see me as I was covered in Darkness but he could see my tails. He looked around his surrounding them suddenly back down to his feet and tail. He stared to panic as soon he saw my two tails warped around him. "Shh. Young one. There is no need to panic."
"Who are you! Where am I?"
"I will answer those question but first clam down." After a little waiting he seemed to calmed down. I let go of him and come out of the shadow. He stares at my form. I had a look of a wolf. Black fur on top with white fur underneath. I was longer and bigger than the average wolf. I was around the height of two Luna's on top of each other. I had pure yellow eyes, too many sharp and long teeth's. I was a omnivore. I had two tails coming from behind. They very long as they were twice my length. They had two very sharp point at the end of the tails. I had a tongue that could become as long as I want. Finally were my powers. To explain them. Cool.
I hear the dragon gasp at my sigh while I let out a chuckle. "Who am I? I do not have a name but I have a title. 'Healer of the Everfree forest.' As you can see my work on you." The dragon quickly looks down and notice my words were correct.
"OH MY GOSH!" He jumps onto his feet but quickly falls back down. I use my tails to sit him upright.
"Relax. You been asleep for a while so you need to take it easy."
"H-how long have I been asleep?"
I lay down next to him. "Five days." I hear the dragon let out one more gasp.
"Five day! Oh no Twilight!" He tries to walk but falls over. I help him up again.
"Whoa little one your too weak to continue. You need a little rest." The dragon turns to me with tears in his eyes. I bring him close. "Shh you go back to this Twilight soon." I wipe the tears away with my paw. After his crying dies down I set him back down.
"So...what are you?" He asks. I was about to reply but his belly speaks instead. "Sorry guess I'm hungry."
"Of course it's been five days!" I let out a chuckle. "Turn around." The dragon looks at me confused but does so. I let out one more chuckle once I see his face. I had collected food for him and set them behind him. He dives right in the pile of gems. "Eat as much as you want!" I watch him slowly eat away all the gems in the cave. The dragon was on the floor holding his belly. "Enough?" He lets out a burp. "Just ask for more if you need so." I help the dragon up again and bring him near the fire. "Now to answer your question. Ancient being." He stares for me to go on. "That it." The dragon faceclaws. "May I ask a question?" He nods "Who are you?"
The day was spent me listening to who he was and his life. I was enjoying the story until he mention the Princesses and his friends. "What wrong?" He asks me.
"Your friends with the ponies. Especially the princesses."
"What wrong with them?"
"EVERYTHING!" I snap at Spike. He trembles under my remark. "Sorry Spike." I move closer and press a paw on his shoulder. He calms at my touch. "Your not a pony so don't worry. I shall tell you what wrong with the ponies. Now there are two parts to this story. The ponies and the Princesses. The ponies because you see how they treat the forest. They agreed with the traps!" Spike nods at my comment.
"But me and my friend Fluttershy tried to get rid of them."
"I never saw this Fluttershy when I found you."
"Oh."
"As for the princesses..." Spike is watching me with worry. "Celestia tried to remove the Everfree long ago." I stare Spike right in his eyes. "Do you know what it's like to watch the power of the sun try to remove your home? While the other animals burn alive?" Spike looks at the floor. "Of course when I try to help the forest and get back on the Princesses what do we get? More pain. Luna came to give it. She didn't give us night." Spike looked at me with confusion. "She made night appear everywhere but here. The punishment lasted for thousands of years. Were dying slowly." I feel a tear drop down. Then I feel a claw place on my shoulder. "Thanks. Then the worst came. They came into our home, killed all who they came across and stole our hard work."
"What was it?"
"The Elements of Harmony." I hear Spike gasp at the comment. "We kept them safe from anypony but they came in and stole it!" I saw Spike was speechless. "Let's not have this info bring us down." I feel a poke in my side and see a Timberwolf. I lean closer and listen to his words.
"What is it saying?" Spike asks.
I nod at the Timberwolf while It walks away. "More ponies have been seen in the forest. Soon..."
"Soon? What soon?"
"If the ponies keep on acting like this then the shield me and the Everfree are making will be used."
"Shield?"
I turn back to Spike. "Yes a shield. A special type. The shield will allow animals and other creatures to enter the forest. However Pegasus, Unicorns, Earth ponies and Alicorns. Won't be able to."
"Whoa."
"Yeah..." I notice that night fall has came quickly. I look back at Spike. "It's time."
"Time for what?" I lift up Spike and put him on his feet. "Whoa! I can stand!"
I nod. "You have healed. Now Spike I must ask you a favour before you go."
He runs around the cave. "Sure thing bud."
"Oh so we are friends. Good. Now I need you to keep the Shield info and me a secret because of the ponies."
Spike walks up to with an smile. "Sure bro." He raises his claw. "Broclaw?" I let out a chuckle and bump his claw. "See ya!"
"Until we meet again young one." He pout but we both laugh. "Don't worry the animals in the forest will not harm you unless you harm them, help the ponies or they are hungry." He nods and leaves the cave.
Well I made a friend.
Crap I forgot to tell him of the spell.
I manage to get out of the forest without a trouble. Just like my bro said I would. I walk towards my home and try to open the door. Locked. I knock. "Who is it?" Huh that sounds like Celestia.
"The one and only." The door burst open and in it's place is Twilight. Her mane and fur were messy. She had bags under her eyes while they were bloodshot.
"S-Spike?" She mumbles out.
I put my claws on my hips. "Who else because what other dr-OFH!" I got the wind knock out of me as Twilight hugged me. She was gripping tightly as she could while she cried into my chest.
I hear a barrage of hooves and voices inside. Twilight picks me up but doesn't let go. I watch as I'm dragged inside home. "SPIKE!" I hear all around me. I see my friends inside. The rest of the elements, Cadence, Shining, Luna and Celestia. "YOUR ALIVE!" I'm set on Twilight lap as she sits down and hugs the life out of me.
Celestia was the first to approach me. She glows her horn while looking at me. "It's Spike all right." Twilight hugs me tighter. I mite need my bro to heal me again.
Fluttershy approach next. "Your...injures...are gone."
"Oh yeah. All healed."
"How?" This was Rarity. I wanted to hug her but Twilight wouldn't let go.
"Can't say. My lips are sealed."
"But...you didn't dream." Luna asks.
"Oh I did."
"But..." Luna was speechless.
"Tell us of your adventure Spike!" Rainbow flew up to me.
"Can't."
"What! Why!" She replies.
I act out zipping my lips. I notice Celestia horn glowing. After a few second of it glowing she flinch back in pain. "What is it sister?"
Celestia rubs her horn. "I tried to enter his mind but I was thrown out."
Twilight lets me go. I turn and see that look in her eyes. "Twilight wait!" She looks rejected. "It's best to not do test on me to find out what happened. It's better if you don't know." Twilight struggles but nods.
"You know what this means!" All turn to Pinkie. "A party!"
I watched from a tree as a party broke out in Ponyvillie. I was happy for Spike but I move away. I didn't want to watch the ponies. They party while we suffer.
Oh Spike lets see what side of the battlefield your on. Hopefully I can fully call you a friend.
Author's Note
Thanks to Cool Wrighter for the help!