CH.7-The Everfree Quest

Applejack fell to a sitting position, mouth agape and pupils overly dilated. A few uncomfortable minutes passed before Spike snapped a claw in front of her face. She shook her head and gritted her teeth as she became capable of coherent thought once more.

"H-he's kiddin' right?”

"Eheh, y-yer not serious, right sugahcube?” she asked finally. Spike puffed out his chest and smirked confidently. Applejack took that to mean he was as serious as Pinkie was about cupcakes. "What about Timberwolves?” Applejack asked desperately, “and Manticores? What if ya' fall off a cliff and die? W-what if"- Spike placed a claw on her shoulder.

"I'll be alright — thick scales, remember? Besides, manticores aren't usually hostile. And Timberwolves?" He snorted out a small jet of green fire to prove his point. "So I'm going to Zecora's to find me an age potion! You can come if you want to, but I understand if you're too scared." He waltzed carelessly over to the forest’s edge.

"Oh, don't ya' think fer ONE SECOND ah'm lettin' mah Spike go inta' tha' death-forest alone!”

She snorted and trotted up next to him, feigning a grin. "Ah ain't afraid a' nothin' in there sugarcube." Spike smiled ear-to-ear, "Aww yeah! It's AAADVENTURE TIME!" AJ giggled, albeit rather nervously, and the two set off into the rightly named 'Forest of Nightmares’.

After only an hour into their walk, the sun had been completely blotted out by twisted branches and restless leaves. Eerie noises sprouted from every tree and evil eyes watched the duo as they moved along, only to disappear at the slightest glance. Applejack was sweating like a waterfall by this point, struggling not to succumb to fear and break down completely. Spike, on the other hand, marched on through the distinct haze of rotting wood and glowing pupils, completely unperturbed.

"Oh no.”

AJ was just thinking of grabbing Spike by his tail and racing from the Everfree like a Flutterbat out of Tartarus when she saw something moving in the mist. Her pupils shrunk to pinpoints.

“Spike…” she squeaked.

“Don’t worry, AJ,” Spike grinned. “It’s probably just”-

That’s when a timberwolf leapt from the mist and pounced on him, throwing him to the ground.
“SPIKE!”

Not noticing that no real damage was being done by the timberwolf, AJ galloped up to the monster, reared back, and bucked it before it had a chance to run. The hit sent it flying, crashing to the ground a few metres away to skid along the ground. It wasted no time in climbing to its feet…before directing its attention to the Applejack. It growled, frothing at the mouth. AJ, sensing the power play, bared her teeth and snarled at the creature. Spike could almost see the flames in her eyes as the timberwolf yelped and scrambled away, tail between its legs.

AJ sighed in relief and turned swiftly to Spike, who was still slack-jawed from the display.

"Oh mah stars, are ya' alright?” she asked, not recognising Spike’s amazement through her concern. “Ya’ ain't bleedin' out are ya'? Do we need ta' get a doctor? MEDIC! MEDI-"

Spike clasped a claw over her muzzle and chuckled nervously.

"Heheh, AJ aren't you forgetting something?" He pointed to his hide for emphasis. AJ paused for a few seconds before blushing in embarrassment.

"Oh, r-right. Dragon scales 'r unbreakable." Spike's chuckle grew into a laugh and AJ eventually found herself laughing along. Spike's eyes grew wide once again,

"But holy shit AJ, that was the most epic thing I've ever seen! You were all like pyow! And then you sent the thing soaring! And then you just looked at it and it ran in fear! You must be the bravest pony in Equestria!”

Applejack’s smile complemented her apple-red blush. That little thing we call a heart was beating a little harder and faster too.

"Aw shucks, it was nothin' to it. Don't have ta' go an' worship me." He laughed at that before smirking pridefully once more.

"Well c'mon, we'd best get to Zecora's before nightfall…” he glanced up at the impenetrable tree canopy above them “…whenever that is." He began marching along the path once again.

”Uh-uh. Ain't happenin'. Ya' may have thick scales but ah can't stand watching you get remotely near hurt.”

At that, she scooped up the cocky dragon and set him down on her back. Spike grew confused and tilted his head downwards over Applejack’s head to meet her eyes. "Uh... What're you doing? Why're you making me ride you?" Applejack gazed at him seriously.

"Because, even with yer scales, yer still gonna be taken by surprise. An' ah don't wanna see ya' turned inta a chew-toy like that one time with Winona an' that spell." She shuddered at the memory and Spike silently nodded in agreement.

The silent answer sent AJ trotting once more down the eerie forest. Only this time, Spike was on her back, hugging her neck so as not to fall off... and instead of sweat, AJ’s face was plastered with a massive grin. She sighed contentedly.

"*Sigh* Ah wonder how everyone else is doin'..."

Rainbow angrily slamming her hoof down on the remote for the sixth time. John was sitting next to her on the couch, trying his hardest not to laugh. Rainbow grunted in frustration. "The buck, man? How do you expect me to use this — with my hands? Oh wait. I DON'T HAVE THOSE!"

John cackled evilly before taking the remote from her and turning it to the Saturday morning cartoons. "Well then I guess I'll just have to do it for you."

Rainbow grumbled angrily at that, steam literally rising from her head before sighing and slumping further into the couch.

Not a word was spoken between the two for hours after that…as if a silent agreement between the two had emerged as to pay tribute to the shows. Then, in the blink of an eye, The T.V instantly went to static. Rainbow facehooved.

"Are you kidding me?" She glared at John, who had an almost sickly expression.

"You mind explaining what just happened?"

John laughed nervously. "Well. Looks like my cable bill just skyrocketed,” he mumbled. He shook his head and flopped his ears. Then his eyes brightened. "But that's okay! at least it's not the”— but before he could finish the statement, the power went out. Only John’s glowing eyes were visible. A flick of his tail was the only sign of anger or frustration he displayed before he shrugged and climbed off the couch in search of some candles.

Rainbow sighed and landed on the couch. "Y'know, I'm almost used to this."

She started as a match flared and a candle flame blew into existence. She could just make out John’s smile by its light as he crawled over to her and sat down next to Rainbow. He smirked and pushed a blanket in her face.
“Hey!” She heard John’s muffled laugh through the fabric and she pushed it away from her head, wrapping it around herself. She tilted her head questioningly. John wrapped his tail around his waist and bit his lip.

"It's winter, it's night-time and we have no electricity. That means it's gonna get cold really soon. so I'd suggest you bundle up." And with that, he took his hoodie off and threw around Dash along with the blanket before climbing to his feet. Dash watched him walk away in surprise.

"But... what about you?" she mumbled, the sentence almost inaudible.

John (surprisingly) didn’t heard her. Suddenly, the silence was punctured by a loud “AHA!”

He bounced back to the couch and and threw himself into it, a water-logged, tattered book in his hands. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it and looked curiously at Dash.

"Have you ever read The Lord of the Rings?" Dash gave him a bored book, making him sigh.

"Of course you haven't...have you ever read any books?" Dash glared jokingly at him in mock offence before laughing and turning her head to gaze at the flickering candle-flame.

"Well I've read, like, all the books of the Daring Do series." John's ears flicked interestedly as she spoke.

"What genre is it?"

Dash pondered the question for a moment before answering. "Action adventure!"

"Of course."

"Well then you'll really like this book. It's got more action and adventure than any book I've ever read!" His ears tilted downwards sheepishly. "Then again this is the only book I've ever read…” He grinned again. “But never mind that! Here, I'll read it to you." John moved a candle closer so that the words were legible and began reading it to her. Dash smiled slightly and snuggled deeper into the hoodie/blanket. "I hope my friends are having as good a time as I am..."

"Stay away from us ya' varmit!"

Applejack was running awkwardly on her hind legs attempting to hold Spike in her fore-legs; her back had been torn by brambles a little while back and she could no longer have Spike ride her without experiencing considerable pain. The sight might have been hilarious had it not been for the three timberwolves chasing her. All were significantly larger than the one they’d seen before. Spike’s eyes widened as he noticed how much closer they were getting and he squirmed in Applejack’s grasp.

“AJ let me go!" She ignored his plead. "AJ drop me! You're not gonna outrun them like this!” Said AJ was too focused on getting them the heck outta dodge.

Spike grunted in frustration before squirming his way out of her forelegs. Applejack skidded to a halt before rolling on the ground and climbing to his feet. He then ran straight towards the wolves.

“Hey! Over here motherbuckers!" All three stopped their charge to focus on Spike. The young drake wasted no time in flipping both them the double bird, causing them to froth at the mouths in anger. AJ's eyes widened in fear as the timberwolves resumed their pursuit, far more determined than before.

"Spike! No!" She began galloping over but Spike looked over to her and breathed a small wave of emerald flame across the ground in front of her, causing her to rear and stop.

She could barely hear Spike over the flames when he yelled towards her.
"Not this time AJ! Don't worry, I got this!"

On the other side of the flames, two timberwolves were circling him while a third stood still in front. Spike inhaled deeply, waited nervously for the first strike. All of a sudden, one of the wolves sprinted towards him, its jaw seemingly unhinged. As soon as it happened, Spike unleashed a jet of green fire towards it. It promptly exploded into ashes. The other two seemed mildly fazed, but they quickly pulled themselves together and simultaneously went in for the attack, rushing towards the tiny dragon. Spike, expecting this, waited for the perfect moment before dodge-rolling out of the way just in time to have the two wolves slam against each other. They collapsed on the ground, stars encircling their heads.

Spike fell to his knees as the exhaustion he had been holding off overcame his senses. The flames died down enough for Applejack to leap over them and she rushed towards him, overcome by pride and worry.

“Well ah'll be doggone, ya' did it Spike!” she said, her voice overly-cheerful. “That was amazing! Ah di'n't even know you could do those things!” Spike’s breathing was getting heavier and Applejack bit her lip as he panted, placing a claw over his chest.

“Heh heh…I guess...this makes us... e-even..." And with that, he passed out onto the ground, making AJ go into Extreme Panic Mode.

"Nonononononoo! D-don't worry, ah'll get ya' ta' Zecora's quicker than green grass through a goose!" And with that, she slung him on her back and galloped faster than she'd ever before.

In less than five minutes, a tiny clearing with a hut came into view.

"Oh, thank Celestia!"

Applejack rushed to the door and banged crazily on it. Eventually, it opened revealing a witch-doctor zebra.

“Why, hello there honest AJ, what brings you to my hut today?"

AJ swiftly jerked her head towards the conked out Spike on her back. Zecora's smile faded and she motioned for her to come inside. She quickly shut the door before taking a glass of…something… and throwing it across Spike's face, instantly waking him up.

"Huh!? wudji? Gaaah!"

And with that, he fell off AJ’s back to faceplant into the ground.

AJ winced and helped him to his feet. Zecora cleared her throat.

"Now that that has all been fixed, is there anything I may have missed?" Spike shook his head and looked at her determinedly.

"I need a potion that can show me in physical form as I am in years."

Applejack winced — he sure didn’t waste any time.

Zecora raised an eyebrow. "Ah, you wish to finally grow up? Well then I believe that you're in luck!"

She trotted off to the other end of her hut and returned with a flask of glowing golden liquid and a few abnormal articles of clothing. "I believe that this amount should do, but you must be ready for the new you.” Spike’s face was flushed in excitement as he took the clothes, which included a pair of pants, some shades for style and a jacket with the letter S on it. A question suddenly popped into AJ's head.

"Hey wait just a darned minute. Where'd ya' get these clothes anyhow? And why does that jacket got an “S” on it? How did you know Spike would be coming here.” Zecora chuckled at that. “Convenience has a subtle glory. After all, it powers half this story.”

“Wha”—? Spike shrugged, unperturbed, and put on the clothes. They were extremely baggy on him.
He then glanced at the flask, then at AJ and laughed.
“Here goes nothing!” Before Applejack could object, he lifted the flask to his lips and chugged the whole thing down before handing it to Zecora. Applejack regarded him in terror.

He looked around, seemingly apathetic, and shrugged. "I don't feel any dif-ARGH!" And with that he flopped to the ground clutching his chest in pain. A bright light exploded around him and Applejack shielded her eyes instinctively.

Once the glare had died down, she padded uneasily up to Spike as he stood up…and stared at him. He was noticeably taller than the two mares by a head, at least. "Ugh... that really…ugh…” Apparently, the potion had also affected his voice. His role could have been performed by a male actor! He looked like…uh…the author has trouble with descriptions, so have this deviantart picture:
Spike 'older'

Spike flexed his claws and looked down at the two mares before smiling broadly and punching the air.

“Yes! It worked! Oh, thank you Zecora! What do I owe you?" Zecora simply smiled at him.

"Think nothing of it, Spike the Dragon. Think of it as a gift to a dear friend." Spike smirked and nodded his thanks.

"Alright then AJ are ya' ready to... go?" AJ was still staring wide-eyed at this “new” him, drooling slightly. Spike snapped his claw in front of her face, snapping her out of her trance.

“Huh? Wha? Oh, Spike! Ya' look mighty fine now!" She offered him a massive, nervous smile which seemed to work on the oblivious Spike. He started as Zecora handed him what appeared to be a bottle of deoderant.

“What’s this for?” he asked.

“Be weary of harsh attacks — we would not want your bones to crack.” Zecora smiled widely.

“Some sort of Timberwolf repellant?” Applejack asked. The zebra nodded and she smiled gratefully. “Thank ‘ya kindly, Zecora,” she said. She jerked her head towards the door. “‘Ya comin’, Spike?”

Spike finished spraying himself with repellant before setting the empty canister on the counter. Then, without warning, he lifted Applejack into his arms. She yelped, ignoring Zecora’s sniggers.

"W-what in tarnation is this for?" she asked, blushing furiously. Spike laughed. "Well, you carried me most of the way to Zecora's while I was unconscious, so it's only fair I carry you
back, right?" AJ considered protesting…but she couldn’t quite bring herself to. As they set off, she unconsciously (and somehow without Spike noticing) snuggled into his chest and took a nice little nap.

Author's Note

-Comments and Criticism are always welcomed!
-Any questions you have I'll answer!
-Thank you for reading!
-Picture by ss2sonic