Living in Equestria

Spike gave a painful groan and interrupted yet another one of Discord's displays of magical prowess as he put on a welcoming show for Ashley. This time, he'd summoned a whole marching band of self playing instruments and he lead them back and forth in front of us wearing a colorful cap and waving a baton.

We all turned and came towards him as he sat up in the cage. He already looked like himself again. His scales where the bright, healthy purple and green they normally were and despite their cloudy expression, his eyes were clean and alert. The front of his belly was smooth and clean once more, his member no longer showing for the first time in a while.

"Spike!" Twilight cried and ran over to him happily, gathering him up in a hug. "How do you feel? Are you alright?!"

Spike didn't return her hug and Twilight stepped back, her face worried as she surveyed the expression there. "Spike... whats wrong?"

The little dragon's face was hurt as he looked up at her. "Twilight... I- I heard everything." his raspy boyish voice was filled with disbelief, "Did this really all happen because you wouldn't listen to Discord? E-even when he was trying to help me?"

Spike's question flattened us all, even the irrepressible Discord. A feeling of tense confrontation rose around us and Twilight dropped her head.

"It... Yes, Spike." she said quietly, stifling her explanation awkwardly.

"You.. you put me in a cage..." he said his voice growing stern, "I got treated like a wild dragon because you wouldn't listen to somepony?"

"Please... Spike..." Twilight pleaded, her already fragile state being torn apart again by his words. "Please don't be angry with me. I'm so sorry..."

"Sorry!?" Spike shouted now, his anger becoming visible in his face, "Twilight... I was locked in a cage! You treated me like some crazy wild animal! I mean, I get you're a princess and all, and you're probably one of the smartest ponies around... but you really can't even accept somepony else's help when you're stumped?!" Spike whirled then, confronting an already teary eyed Rarity, "And Rarity... just because you used your magic on me, it doesn't take away the fact you ignored me for so long! I loved you, Rarity... with all my heart and you only came to me out of guilt!"

Rarity's face dropped in a shocked 'O' of surprise and Spike stood, huffing at us all. The anger didn't leave his face and it was a long moment before Twilight spoke again. "Spike... what's gotten into you? You don't sound like yourself..."

Twilight Sparkle probably couldn't have said anything worse at that moment.

"That's exactly what I mean!" he raged, "You don't understand me at all! None of you do!" Spike suddenly lunged, pushing Twilight roughly and even though she outweighed him by a good deal, the act of mild violence shocked her so much that she fell to the side with a dramatic flop. He didn't even look at her as he stomped past, walking away towards the gate of Sweet Apple Acres with visible anger in his march. Twilight covered her head with her hooves and a sad keening sound came from her throat. We all watched mutely as the dramatic scene played out in front of us.

All but Ashley.

"I told you!" her smug voice rang out in the tense silence, "That's what you get for treating a dragon like that!" she smirked.

"Shh.. Ashley..." I cautioned.

"What!? Don't shush me! You all did this to yourselves! I bet Spike's probably the only sane thing around here!" she said, turning away from us haughtily and following after the now running Spike.

"Ashley, wait!" I called but she didn't answer. Soon the two young dragons were gone, heading up the road with Spike far in the lead.

"I'll go get em..." Rainbow Dash slowly started to coil up.

"No!" Twilight's head came up, tears stained the purple fur under her eyes and on her cheeks. "Let him go... let them both go." she said miserably, halting Rainbow Dash in a crouch just before she had vaulted into the sky.

"Y- you sure, Twilight?" she asked, her face questioning.

"Y- yes..." she said and with that her head dropped again, her hooves returning to cover her eyes.

Scootaloo nipped gently at my shirt and when I looked down, her face was sad and worn with worry. "Is Spike gonna be alright?" she asked.

"I- I think he needs to just blow off some steam, that's all."

Her head dropped and she pressed into me. I knelt, taking her in my arms in a hug, burying my face in the soft fur of her neck. Sweetie Belle moved to comfort her crying big sister and that was how we all stayed for a long while, none of us sure exactly what to do. Even Discord shut up for a change.

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"Spike! Wait up!" Ashley called to him when they both had left the farm far behind.

The purple dragon continued to walk, but slowed his pace, not looking around. Ashley caught up to him and walked beside the sullen Spike for a moment, suddenly unsure of what to say.

"I'm Ashley..." was all she could come up with.

His head turned and he looked at her. "Yeah... I know." he said and looked back down at the ground.

The walked in silence together before Ashley said; "You don't speak Drakken?"

"I- I don't even know what that is..." he mumbled with out looking up.

"It's the language of our kind... I- I can teach it to you if you want! It's not like those stupid ponies ever could..."

"Yeah..." he snorted and gave a small laugh. "They can't do anything for me, I guess. Thanks... for earlier, by the way." Spike's cheeks turned red for a moment.

"Oh no problem!" Ashley smiled at him. "It's not a big deal..."

"Well, it was a big deal for them." he grumbled.

"That's 'cause they're dumb! Hey... us dragons gotta stick together you know!" her face was hopeful as she looked at him.

"I just can't believe I had to deal with that for so long because of Twilight! I mean... Eeergh! She never would have listened to Discord and if you hadn't come along..."

"... You'd still be stuck in that cage!" Ashley finished for him with a giggle. "I know, I'm pretty awesome like that!"

Spike's face lit up suddenly. "H-hey... do you like gems? I'm pretty hungry and I know where to get some good ones..." he offered tentatively.

"Gems?" she asked with a look of confusion.

"Yeah! Haven't you ever had a good emerald sandwich?" he looked at her with disbelief.

"No." she giggled again, "You mean you eat gems?"

Spike was flabbergasted. "No way! You're a dragon and you've never tried a gem before?! Aw man.. that's like the best thing about being a dragon! The taste... the texture... Mmmm, I'm getting more hungry by the second!" he rubbed his belly and licked his chops.

"Well..." it was her turn to grow sullen, "I.. I haven't been around other dragons much." she said.

"Neither have I... obviously." he smirked. "What happened to your mom and dad? Were you hatched by a pony like I was?"

"No... not exactly..." she began.

The two talked as they walked towards Ponyville. Ashley shared her story with Spike and when she was finished, Spike shared his. The two young dragons found it easy to tell each other about their lives, although Ashley couldn't bring herself to talk about her flame issue. When Spike finished, they looked at each other for a long moment and in that brief time span, they became friends with an almost audible click.

"We're both orphans... aren't we." Ashley said, "Neither one of us knows our parents..."

"I- I guess, yeah." Spike answered, his face turning red with a sudden awkwardness.

"So... can you get us an emerald sandwich?" she asked hopefully, "I kinda wanna try one now!"

"Yeah! Come on, I'm starving!" he grinned at her.

Without even thinking about it, the two young dragons, one born in the safety of a princess's embrace and the other abandoned in the fires of war, linked hands and began to run eagerly towards the town of Ponyville.

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"Where's Apple Bloom?" I asked Applejack as her and I cleaned up the cage and the area around it. The late afternoon sun was lowering on the horizon now and everypony had split up to go their separate ways. Sweetie Belle stayed behind but her sister, Rarity, had mentioned something about going to spend some time with Wilson. Fluttershy went off towards the east and her cottage with Discord in tow while Twilight wandered off to her library.

It had been an emotionally draining afternoon and I felt bad for the princess yet I could also could see where Spike was coming from. Discord had pulled me aside as the group broke up and actually had a serious conversation with me before he left with Fluttershy. Something that was odd in itself.

"Mason... I hope you do not bear any ill will towards me regarding this whole business with Twilight." he said sincerely, "It's true, I used you and Scootaloo as pawns but... oh can you blame me?! It was such a perfect set up! I couldn't resist the opportunity!" his arm came up in a dramatic fashion to press the back of his hand against his forehead.

"It was a pain in the butt..." I frowned, "And I don't really like being lied to..."

"Well.. I wouldn't say you were lied to! Even Ashley said the whole mating thing is a myth created by young male dragons... it's not like I just plucked it out of thin air!" his clawed hand came up and pinched something invisible. A popping sound like a cork being pulled from a bottle sounded when he jerked his hand back down. Discord batted his eyes at me innocently.

"You're crazy..." I said, unable to stay mad at him and letting a small chuckle out. I really did like the guy. I'd always been a sucker for random humor.

"Thank you!" he cooed and wrapped his arms around me in a tight, maniacal hug briefly. "Oh you do know how to compliment somepony.. don't you!"

"Yeah.. well. You stirred up a mess, you know." I said as he stepped away from me, "Not sure Twilight and Spike have ever fought before."

"Eh..." he shrugged, "Shaking things up is what I do, human. It's in my nature. Twilight Sparkle was being irresponsible and neglecting Spike. Perhaps now she'll think about him more as an equal rather than an object." his matter of fact tone said that he firmly believed in his choices. It also showed just how remarkably perceptive he was. "Besides, look at the outcome! Spike has another dragon to talk to now. That wouldn't have happened if I hadn't stepped in and worked my magic, now would it?!"

"That wouldn't have happened at all if Twilight wasn't such a caring pony. She's the one who decided to let her come along, don't pat yourself on the back too much, Discord..."

Discord whirled around, showing me his back and craning his neck to look over his shoulder at me. "Fine, fine... pull them off for me, would you?" he showed me three little disembodied paws gently patting him in various spots along his narrow back around his wings. "I can never seem to get them all!"

Thankfully, however, Fluttershy chose that exact moment to approach us and invite Discord for tea, leaving me with Applejack to clean up while Scootaloo and Sweetie went inside. It was then that I commented Apple Bloom's absence.

"Sugarcube... that filly's had a heck of a day, I'd imagine. You seen that big ol' tree in the south orchard? Tha one way off and real tall?" Applejack gestured vaguely.

"I've seen it." I said as I bent over to pick up charred pieces of blanket from around the cage while Applejack pulled the soiled blankets out.

"She thinks she talked ta it last night or something. Mason, that filly's on a tear and dun run off ta Zecora's this mornin'. She's been gone all day an it's been all I kin do ta not fret about her."

"Wait... Talked to her?" I stood up and looked at the tan pony with confusion, "That doesn't sound like Apple Bloom."

"Well, that tree ain't exactly normal, Mason. It's older than Celestia herself an yesterday I found something wrong with it. Apple Bloom went out there in tha middle o the night for some reason and came back a mess. She dun took off for Zecora's even before we finished breakfast!"

"What's wrong with it?" I asked.

"I don't rightly know, somethin's growin' on it an it looks like it's killin' tha leaves. That filly swore up and down it talked to her last night and now all of a suddden she kin talk ta trees! Said it called her a "Life Giver" or somethin'. I dunno..." she shook her head and continued the clean up.

We had just gone inside and both of us sat down for a late afternoon mug of cider, something I'd been looking forward too, with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle snuggled against me on the couch in the great room. Scoots looked like she wanted to tell me something. There was an eager anticipation on her face, but when I asked her about it, she simply said she'd tell me later. I had about five minutes to relax and enjoy the warm snuggles from the two ponies next to me before the kitchen door was flung open again.

"Applejack! Applejack!" came Apple Bloom's excited voice. "I made a potion! I made a potion ta fix Ol' Grandad!"

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack flew off the couch, her mug of cider somehow landing upright on the ground and not spilling a drop, "You bout had me worried sick! What potion are you talkin bout?"

The red headed girl came trotting into the great room, an exotic looking saddle bag was strapped to her flank that was too large for her but was obviously weighed down with something. She ignored her sister's fluster with a big hug instead.

"Ahm so excited I kin barely stand it!" she nuzzled her sister before spying me out of the corner of her eye. "Mason!" she cried and flung her hooves around me this time, "Ahm so glad ta see ya!"

"Hey Red..." I smiled, nuzzling her neck and smelling the strange odor of Zecora's ingredients on her.

"Again I say to all of you, a magical time, this afternoon!" came the rhyming accent of Zecora from the doorway. She stood, beaming proudly at all of us in front of Fluttershy and Discord.

"You guys are back?" Sweetie Belle said as she and Scootaloo climbed off the couch.

"Well, we met Zecora and Apple Bloom not far down the road, and... well... she just seemed so excited about her potion, we just had to come and see it in action." Fluttershy said, looking embarrassed at the whole situation for some reason.

"Yes! Potions are fascinating to me! The effects of magic without the magic? Sounds very chaotic to me..." Discord grinned, tenting his fingers together under his chin.

"What's this potion now, tell me straight Apple Bloom. No more crazy talk!" Applejack warned.

"But Applejack! I told ya that trees can talk! Zecora... tell her!" Apple Bloom's wounded face turned towards the Zebra.

"Applejack, your sister is right. She learned her calling late last night. For I have seen it with my eyes, the power in her long disguised." Zecora spoke.

"W- what power?" Applejack's eyes grew large.

"A life giver of apple trees is what she is. She has the power to make them grow and live. With potions a life giver has the key, to mix up ingredients meant for trees. And with them they thrive and multiply, a thousand fold better than just sun and sky. To heal, to grow, and mend anew... no greater a gift than to hear an Equ."

"P-potions? Mah sister kin make potions fer trees?"

"Yes. She has a salve for the Equ's distress. Complex and beyond me, I must confess. Long and far I have traveled to learn..." Zecora put a hoof on Apple Bloom's shoulders, "But this one's a natural, my respect she has earned."

"Applejack... I gotta use mah potion on the tree! Right now! Come on!" Apple Bloom tugged on her sister's hoof, trying to break her from the look of confusion on her face, "'fore it gets dark!"

We followed her outside where the gathering shadows signaled the final hours of the day. She took off at a run, leaving us little choice but to follow after her through the field and into the south orchard. The large satchel on her flank clinked and clattered audibly through the trees and we all caught up to her when she stopped suddenly at the first row of mature trees past the most recent planting, stepping up to the trunk of one seemingly at random.

Apple Bloom pressed her head against the tree's bark and closed her eyes. When our foot and hoof falls stopped, I could hear she was whispering something softly. I couldn't make out the words and I watched as Zecora put a hoof on Applejack's shoulders when she drew in a breath to speak, the zebra shaking her head slightly to silence the farm pony.

We waited and watched as Apple Bloom stood motionless, only her muzzle moved slightly as unheard words floated to the tree trunk. The sounds of the early evening settled in around us for a tense moment before a single, loud snap was heard from the canopy above and a young tree branch fell beside Apple Bloom. She didn't react to it, not even a flinch as the thin, short wooden limb, barely more than a green shoot, landed less than a foot away from her small frame.

"Thank you!" she cried suddenly, looking up at the tree with a broad smile.

Apple Bloom picked up the limb in her muzzle and took off again, heading south towards the edge of the orchard to where the massive apple tree stood alone on the rise in the darkening distance. We followed her to it's base where a ladder stood propped against the trunk. She dropped the limb and then shimmied out of the satchel.

"A-Apple Bloom?" Applejack said, "Did you talk... to that tree back there?" her timid question came from a muzzle that didn't seem to be working all that well.

"Yeah! I need a fresh limb ta put the potion on. How else am I gonna get it in ta the wood so it can soak in?" she said as if her sister should have known this all along, not bothering to look up from her work.

Myself, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Fluttershy, Discord and Applejack watched with a sudden intense reverence that seemed to seep up from the ground underneath as Apple Bloom opened the pack. From inside she produced a wide mouthed shallow jar with a cork stopper. The fluid inside glowed with a brilliant green color that looked alive and viscous in the dying sunlight. She set this carefully on the ground before diving into the pack again, this time coming up with a curious implement that looked like a drill mounted on a wooden handle with a crank. Apple Bloom took this with her to the ladder and began to climb.

"C-careful sugarcube!" Applejack called out, "Ya know ya ain't good on a ladder!"

Apple Bloom ignored her and continued to climb up into the sprawling deep green umbrella of the tree. Looking up, I could see the sickness that Applejack had mentioned. The limbs near the trunk had a thick black coating on them and the leaves of the underside were a pale, sickly green that was noticeable even in the failing light. She planted the large, broad drill end against the trunk with her muzzle and and stuck her hoof in the round crank. Applejack immediately became agitated.

"What in the hay are you doin?! Don't you dare put a hole in Ol' Grandad!" she said, making for the ladder but once again, Zecora stopped her with a firm stare.

Applejack's worried face bounced between Zecora's stern glance and Apple Bloom up on the ladder. She brought a hoof to her muzzle and began to chew on it anxiously as the drill began to turn. First small shavings fluttered down in a light flurry before larger twists of wood fell in a shower. We all stood silently, even Discord, as Apple Bloom worked the tool enough to create a deep pocket through the bark and into the living wood of the ancient tree.

She stopped when she felt the hole was big enough, checking it a few times by placing her hoof over it to gauge it's size, and then climbed back down, dropping the tool and working the cork out of the bottle with her muzzle. The liquid inside didn't seem to be affected by the darkening light and now faintly glowed with an eerie green color.

With the cork gone, she picked up the bottle and carefully poured some of the contents out onto the end of the limb she'd received from the apple tree in the orchard. We all watched with silent wonder as the thick green fluid seemed to come alive, sticking to the raw and exposed wooden knot at the end without running to the ground below. She set the bottle down after it was thoroughly coated and grasped the middle of the limb in her muzzle before climbing back up. With another inaudible whisper, she slid the green, faintly glowing end of the young limb into the hole.

The effect was instantaneous. A white light flared out brilliantly from around the graft and spread along the tree's trunk. We all shielded our eyes from the sudden brightness that soon took on an audible sound. It was like the wind suddenly had come up, rustling the leaves of the great tree even though there wasn't the slightest breeze to disturb them. I got the distinct impression that it was the sound of the tree breathing. It sounded as if it was taking a huge, gasping breath of relief.

The white light spread through the entire tree, lighting up the surrounding area as if the sun was rising for a moment. Then the glow sank into the cracks of the bark, vanishing quickly and leaving no sign of it's presence.

But Apple Bloom was gone.