Prologue
“Why all the fuss, Spike?” Twilight had said, climbing up the steps and entering the plane. “The Isles is a peaceful tropical island, and we’re even taking a plane to get there. What could go wrong, you worry-head?”
Right. And then Twilight had to go and jinx it.
“Technology is advancing at a rate that we can trust its machinery. Besides, if anything goes wrong, you have wings to fly with! So just strap yourself into your seat and settle down, Spike.”
The hurling of the wind was clogging to the dragon’s ears, as the wind coaxed his back with its presence. Clouds were becoming temporary pillows – the most delightfully soft things to rest a head on – before he would go on to phase past them.
Spike groaned as his eyelids pulled back, allowing him to take in the late-afternoon’s soft, orange glow as he awoke. Pulling up a claw to shield his eyes from the light – the movement caused his body to twirl in the air and for him to yelp.
“Now arriving at twenty-thousands feet: seat belts may now be unfastened.”
Multiple clicks came from many seats, along with delightful sighs.
“Oh nelly, any more of that, and I wouldn’t have my guts.”
“Tell me about it! My ears are still ringing out from when we first took off.” Rainbow dug a hoof into her ear, and nothing came out from it.
“All a small price to pay,” Rarity added in, stretching out her limbs from the long flight, “for the beauty we are to experience! Laying out on the beach; learning the ways of a new culture – sign me up, anytime.”
“I just hope the apples taste the same there.”
“And of course you would be worried about that.”
A talon kicked around in the air as its owner tried to balance himself out. Claws reached out everything in hopes of finding an invisible edge, but such movements made the dragon’s twirls turn into rolls.
Hurl began to form in the pits of the dragon’s chest, but the wasn’t the only thing developing.
Green flames erupted out from his open mouth, burning the vomit as well as shooting the dragon backwards.
“So Celestia’s just wants us to get a signature?” Spike had said. “Why not just get Derpy to fly over and get the job done?”
“Because it shows that Celestia's has enough trust in the Island to send her heros to do a simple greeting: it’s a gesture call. And spending a few weeks on a tropical island doesn’t seem all that unpleasant to me.”
Pinkie nodded her head. “It’s like Celestia's giving us a free vacation.”
Free? Right. As long as that doesn't count the life of one dragon. It wouldn’t be long till his scales met the ground, and became a nice splat to see. Heck, that splat probably wouldn’t be missed for long, and could easily be cleaned up with a hose.
An item fell along with Spike, falling in the same fashion as he. The arising winds blurred just what the item was, but it was dashing around in movements that were not its own.
“You girls are the heros, not me,” Spike had said, crossing his arms. “So why am I here? I’d rather be home alone and taking care of the library, while you lot go save the world and relax.”
“Because I don’t trust you home alone,” Twilight had stated. “You’ve matured over the years, Spike, but still don’t think you're ready to—”
“Substance, unknown!” The robotic voice had called through the plane’s speakers. “Unknown substance found in both pillars; immediate assistance required.”
“What the—” Rainbow’s body went flying up from the ground to the ceiling, then slamming back down.
“Dash!” Everyone had cried, gripping to the handles of their seats.
Applejack bit her lip as her stomach felt queasy. That didn’t stop her from ejecting from her seat to go save her cyan-coated friend. Hooves planted on the ground, teeth biting on the fabric below for assurance, Applejack made it over.
“Rainbow, are you—” The plane began to dip. Applejack started to float. A breath suspended in the air, her back flew into the front of the plane, and onto the door leading to the pilot’s room.
Eyes were place on the unconscious mare in the corridor, but not a mouth moved, when all their hearts seemed ready to explode.
A small figure was attached to the item, bearing a resemblance to a little old pony. It floated around in the air at its own choosing, with streams of water falling below it. Whatever it was, it was getting closer to the dragon, whose eyes were beginning to close.
The drake couldn’t but help and scratch at his bloody back, and tried to feel the missing parts of his wings.
“Altitude lost. Please flush out the chambers on the sides of the plane.”
All who remained conscious had their eyes focused upon Twilight. The Princess whom had solved many a friendship problem, and even saved the world from more than one villain, must of had solution that would save them all.
Her horn charged up, a purple aura forming around the two sleeping mares – the magic canceled out, and Twilight was blown back into her chair, eyes closing all on their own.
“Twilight!” Rarity called, her horn charging a magical blue.
Spike saw the connection in a second. “Rarity, no!”
It was too late.
And Rarity suffered the same fate. Her body floated forward, but Spike leaped from his seat, and took hold of the mare while in the air. A claw gripping the handle of her seat, the drake pushed her against gravity to sit down one more.
Her belt came to click, and Spike’s head began to crash against the same door. The world became a blur, and his legs felt twice as heavy. A blob of orange slightly rose and fell upon it, and Spike didn’t hesitate to put the thing under his arm.
“Plane will soon commence a dive. Please assist in the mess in the two chambers.”
Spike threw his claw on the edge of the corridor wall, and pulled himself and Applejack up. Twilight's seat was just above his seat, so was his own. As was the belt that would prevent him falling anymore, and may save his scaly behind on impact.
Yet, he struggled to put Applejack in his seat, and fastened her belt as fast as he could.
“Spike!” Fluttershy called, causing Spike to turn his head. Just in time to see the crate knock him in the face, and force his back onto the wall. Sliding down its length, it was a fight against his own conscious to keep his eyes open.
“Spike?!”
“I’m alright,” Spike replied, wiping the claw off from his eye. He rose up with a limp, as the world began to spin around him, and Dash to slide down to him. She was looking to meet the door face-first.
Spike grabbed her by the neck, and brought her from the aisle to his side. With a pant, his head fell against the wall, as his eyes came to close.
“Gotta… keep it together…”
Something flapped before him. Inching his eyes open, Fluttershy’s face was before him, her head slightly tilted with a frown.
“Get. Dash.” Spike coughed out, as the world went for another whirl.
Fluttershy opened her mouth then slowly closed it. Sliding her head underneath her friends’ arm, she helped to fly them both back to their seats. That left everyone upon the plane safe, all except Spike.
But that would’ve been fine. It’s only a tragedy if something happens to the heroes.
Spike let his head fall right, and his eyes became acquainted with the contents of the box. It could briefly described as a yellow hose with a jug of water attached to the bottom of it. A leather belt lay in front of it, along with two brown pads paddling along its sides.
“Dive to come into effect. Please flush out the chambers.”
Spike took the device and stepped to the door next to him. A world of blue and clouds on the other side, and a large fall to occur if he were to slip.
“Wha… What do you think you’re doing, Spike?” Pinkie had called out, strapped safely to her seat.
“Going to go check out those chambers we’ve been hearing so much about; hopefully I won’t fall to my death.” He slid open the door and was almost pulled out of the plane. It was like windy hands were touching all throughout his body and trying to pull him along with their currents.
“You can’t do that Spikey!”
“Someone’s gotta. I’m in a much better place to do it; I have wings to help me fly if I fall, but if that happens, I won’t be able to catch up with the plane. I at least need to solve what’s wrong before that happens.”
Pinkie didn’t have anything to save, as she only nodded her head, and closed her eyes. A rise and fall in her chest, Spike had never seen her so peacefully before.
Fluttershy too nodded her head at him, as she struggled to just focus on her breaths as well.
Spike stuck his head out of the plane.
The creature came before Spike, still looking like a blur. A smile could be made out from its features, as splash of water came over the drake’s face. Eyes wide open, a device was placed into his claws, and the being was carried away with the winds.
High above, the being withdrew the brush that had been hanging on its side, and used it to paint the colors. It then flew towards its creation, as it sucked the old pony out from this world.
Spike examined the item in his claws: the same object that had helped him save the plane.
Bars ejected along the plane’s surface, and served as a side-ways like ladder. The clouds hovered before the plane, and the faint glisten of the water could be seen. All it would take would be one slip, and the howling winds would take him away.
One mistake, and he and all his friends would plummet to the ground.
Spike strapped the device around his waist and fasten the belt. The tank rested just an inch before his back; his fins rubbing against the device whenever Spike moved an inch. Activation handles rested just at his sides, but with a few moments of inactivity, they retreated back next to the tank, facing down.
Grabbing onto the bars, Spike legs were thrown to the sky. The tight grip prevent more of him from being taken, and all those sit-ups before bed were finally taking effect. Spike brought his legs back down to the side-ways ladder, and planted them firmly against the bars.
Spike crawled along the plane, and made it to the top. Trekking to the right wing, he hovered just above the chamber sucking away the clouds and air in its path. The sounds of gears stuck against gears seemed to be coming from it.
“The infamous chamber, eh?” Peering his head over, a goo like substance was clogging the area, and preventing the device to work. Nothing that a burst of flames couldn’t stop, but that may cause more problems than solutions.
Something came alive on Spike’s back.
Water? Not much of a help than fire, but better than nothing. Such a risk had to be taken, when the biggest risk of them all was to do nothing. Placing his faith on the feet on the bars, Spike took his claw off the plane, and onto the leather prongs on his side.
Jerking them up and down, water came the nozzle above Spike’s head. Water shot into the chamber, and the goo died away. The engine made a roar, though it still continued to run.
“Oh yea—” The winds proved stronger than his foot’s grip. Spike was ripped from the plane and thrown into the air. It was like he was gliding in the air’s surface, though he wouldn’t be suspended for long. Bits of the plane were starting to pass by him, and that second chamber still needed to be clean.
The tail of the plane came closer. The bars were much smaller. It was just in reach. With a desperate grasp, Spike reached out to the plane.
And missed.
“No!”
Wings extending out, claws resting on the prongs. Spike flapped his wings as hard as he could, flushed out as much water from the item, and with a twirl of his body, he gained some speed, and took hold of the plane’s tail.
Pulling himself onto it, he allowed a breath of relief, and crawled his way to the left wing. The wind kept howling past, desiring to take him in their grasp and fly with the current. There wish was almost met: the plane began to dive down, and half of Spike’s body flew up.
“No no!” Spike continued to pull himself along the plane’s length, with his legs dangling above him. Those push-ups seemed to be coming in handy as well, but they weren’t as important as the thing developing in Spike’s mind.
Something he wasn’t aware he even had.
A will to go on.
to help his friends.
He made it to the left wing, where the same type of goo persisted in the chamber. Only, Spike couldn’t grab at the proddles, or he would be ripped away into the sky in a second. But he couldn’t just hand on until the plane crashed.
“I said that I would need to solve the problem before I could even dare the thought of falling. But I said not believing that I would have to drop afterwards. But… let’s be honest. What’s the scare of one fall, compared to the lives of the Elements? Come on, Spike.
He edged his body over the chamber.
‘You can do this.’
He threw himself over the chamber, and allowed himself to get sucked closer to the chamber. Legs hanging along its side to prevent him from being consumed, his claws shot to the proddles, and shot water into the chamber.
And once again, the goo dissipate, and the engine became stronger than before.
“Oh crap.”
Spike tried to kicked off from the chamber before it could take him, and to take the fall. But as he began his fall, his wings carried him back up, and Spike could feel them enter into the chamber.
And he cried upon their entry.
The conscious spirit left his body, the strap became loose, and the item fell.
So too did the sleepy dragon.
But as wind rushed upon his back, and the sunshine in his eye. He caught the diving plane pull up, and maintain its height as it flew away without him.
They were safe. And that’s all Spike needed. His will existed for them alone, and since they were no longer in harm’s way, the dragon's eyes began to close on their own.
Spike strapped the device to his back once more, in-between his damaged wings. Most of his spines were missing, so the device rested most comfortably upon his bloodied-back. “If I use what’s left of my wings, and the water upon my decent, then maybe.”
He dived bombed down, and the ocean came into view. A piece of land looked not too far off, but to risk a landing there would not be wise. So the dragon unfurled his wings and took on the pain, as the glide helped slow his descent.
The water was close.
Jerking the nozzle, his speed decreased. Adjusting his body, Spike did all that he could to make the landing as soft as possible.
A loud splash came from the ocean, the waves rocking a nearby fishing boat. The fishers looked onwards, to the dragon floating in the water, with his blood tainting the water’s surface.
Sun.
Please shine upon me.
I carry a darkness in my soul.
And require your light.
Prologue – End
Chapter 1 – Divine Justice
“What do you suppose is wrong with him?” asked the small brown pony with a mustache, his line cast into the water.
“I don’t know!” The larger milky coated pony exclaimed, who also, had a mustache. “Diving?”
The brown pony looked up to the other. “From the sky?”
“... skydiving?”
“Ah, that a makes sense.”
The dragon’s body floated in the water, face submerged in the substance, with his legs ready to bog down to the bottom of the sea. The brown leather handles started to move an inch, and then another.
Soon the handles pushed the water in opposite direction of one another, creating a small current that flipped the dragon onto his back. Water sprouted from his mouth and slid down along his chest with bits of red and green.
Half of the waterpark was submerged in the water, with the nozzle resting just above the surface.
The pack began to shake as the nozzle rose up. “Power-up complete.”
Spike’s head fell back into the water, but the nozzle supported it back up. “Thank you for purchasing this item from Gadd Science, Department of Celestia’s…” The device fell short when it peeked at the dragon’s unconscious face.
“Scanning and classifying subject data… Subject identified as Spike, resident of Equestria, and currently suffering from blood loss from more than one area.” The nozzle rested on top of its tank. “Seawater has been subject to goo, and thus, bacterial – unadvisable for owner to stay in water for long.
“But owner seems unable to swim on his own. Would owner like for Fludd to swim to the shore?”
Spike didn’t answer. His head fell back again, though the nozzle propped it up one more.
“Answer understood. Preparing to fill tank with – error. Such action close to owner may draw out more blood than necessary.” The handles came alive once more, and began to paddle against the water, pushing the dragon and machine to the shore.
“Preparing to approach the shore manually.”
The fishers watched from their boats, their line being stolen without their notice. “Kid a has an adventure waiting for him.”
The larger pony nodded his head. “But I can’t help but feel like he’s stolen something from us.”
“Like what?”
“Our adventure.”
Trees cast their shadows on the scorching sands, while the waters rose upon the land, wetting it with its presence, before sliding down back into the ocean. Watching this effect is calming for the head and relaxing for the breath – though a sight of a dragon being palled to the shores may send some confusion to the mind.
The paddles along the dragon’s sides retreated back as the currents were strong enough to pull him up onto the shore and deposit him there. Face against the burning sand; a groan came from him.
“Owner Spike,” the waterpack said, “it’s time to awaken; your presence is frightening to the locals.”
No verbal response, though his brows did twitch.
“Commencing alarm clock mode.” The nozzle peered over his head and sprayed his face with a blast of water.
The dragon wagged his head as droplets slid down his scales. Eyes fluttering open, all looked to be like a steamy blur. “Wha…” His head fell back onto the sand.
“Owner Spike, adequate sleep has already been acquired.” Spike yelped as he flipped over and crawled backwards into a tropical-tree; head spanning everywhere for the source of the overhead voice. “Thus, no more of it is required.”
Spike’s head slowly looked to behind him until his eyes were laid on the machine. He jumped, yelped, and his claws scratched his body trying to find a way to tear the thing off.
“Elevated heart rate detected,” the device said. “Please calm down and gather your bearings, metaphorically speaking.”
The claw found the belt, hovering above it, before choosing to place itself against the dragon’s chest instead to repress his beating heart. Spike rose from the tree.
Lawn chairs and umbrellas populated the sandy shores. A lightower stood erect to Spike’s left, and a few buildings to his right. He had luckily been washed ashore on a civilized island, but where was its civilians?
Limping down the sand to the rising waters, Spike fell onto a knee before the waves, for they brought him his reflection. A dragon well over six feet looked him with scales of a much darker amethyst.
“Huh?” Spike said, looking over his shoulder. “When did I get so dark?”
His spines had come out more mane-ish over the years, but never had they been so short in number. They ran from his head to the back of his neck, went missing from his back, though some remained on his tail.
An eye twitched. A bottom lip bit. Wings unfurled from a back and punctuated the holes upon them.
Spike’s head fell right as a pained scream escaped his lips and rang throughout the island.
“Assessing owner’s damage. A mild-headache with great risk of a concussion; punctured holes and damage to the wingbones; open wounds on the back with high-possibility that goo has entered and affected the blood stream—”
“Just what are you!?” Spike said as he rose from his knee. The reflection captured the dragon as he stood, spotting the yellow waterpack upon his back.
“I am FLUDD– a Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device,” the nozzle said before resting. “I hope to be of assistance. Proceeding with user instructi—”
“HELP!”
Spike snapped his head to the buildings. Another pair of yells came. Spike looked back at Fludd, before nodding his head, and dashing off…
And clutching his left hip with pain painted across his face. He settled for a brisk walk instead.
A commotion was taking place in the plaza of Isle Defino. Ponies with tree like manes, and creatures that couldn’t be described as ponies, all shuffled around with their heads facing towards the descending statue.
Spike limped into the crowd and bore witness to the scene. Most inhabits had a strange goo covering them from head to hoof, while some of those tree-heads sprouted from the gooey ground. Cries; the shaking of fists; a blubbered language.
A pegasus with a black coat and mane stood next to Spike, being the first average pony he had seen. “Hey… what’s going on around here?”
“A mess. Or just your regular lunchtime, nowadays.” The pony turned his head. “A dragon, eh? I guess we all need our vacations; only it seems none of us will be getting one.”
Ponies and creatures were smashing into one another, while others were slipping on the goo and covering themselves in it.
“Say, is that a water gun of some sorts on your back?”
“I am Flu—” Spike silenced the nozzle with a hold from his claw.
“Something of the like,” he replied.
“Great. Can you do me a favor?” The pony wiggled his sides, showing casing the wings stuck to his fur by a black goo. “Care to wash me up?”
As if it had a mind of its own, the activation handles came alive to Spike’s sides, where his claws laid upon them. The nozzle shot to above his head and sprouted out water from his pushes; pushing the pony with water before squeaking dry.
“Water tank empty; please refill.”
“Yeah,” Spike whispered to Fludd, “later.”
“Refreshing. Thanks a b—” The pony snapped his head to the statue, where Spike looked as well.
A figure of blobby shadow flew down upon the thing with a brush in their mouth, flying past it while painting more goo upon it. It sliced the crowd in half as it flew by the lot, a claw attempting to reach out to grab it, before shooting back to a hip.
The figure flew back up and came down the statue a many more times, each pass faster than the last. Spike had never seen such speed before, only, on a pony, he knew a little too well…
IT landed on top of the statue as it was nearly consumed by the goo. While the being itself was a transcendent gooey blue mess with vacant eyes, Spike knew too well who the being was when it stuck out its tongue and lobbed it up and down.
Turning around, a lightning bolt cutie mark came into view, before shooting out of view.
“Dash!”
Everyone turned to Spike with eyes wide and mouths agape. But Spike shook his head and ran after his friend, pushing through the crowd along with the surging pain in his body.
“Dash…” Fludd said. “The Element Rainbow Dash, first mare to perform the—”
“Not now little buddy,” Spike gritted his teeth as his claw never left his hip. “I gotta find her first and find a way to get that blue stuff off her.”
“Blue stuff?”
Spike cut a corner and saw Dash off in the distance. She was down a pair of steps and painting more goo on a drawing of a sun-like object.
“Obviously it's not the real Dash doing this,” Spike said as he sprinted to the stairs, biting his tongue to stiffen the pain. “Either the thing covering her is affecting her, or its just a copy made out of her likeness.”
Spike leaped from the steps with an outstretched claw – she was within reach. Her eyes darted up, and with a flap of the wings, she shot left and past the second pair of stairs leading back up again.
Spike landed with a roll and went up to the stairs, the pain starting to seize all of his chest.
“I will have to reevaluate your IQ,” Fludd said. “Dragons are set at a low, but you’ve displayed a deduction that a calm, intelligent pony would make; you are unlike most dragons.”
“Unfortunately.”
Two set of stairs lead down to the nearby police station, and Dash was flying down the steps. Spike chose instead to sprint between the open gap and jumped from it onto the back of Rainbow Dash.
She had been fast. But didn’t choose the faster route.
His legs pinned down her wings as he hovered just above her tummy, his hands already set on Fludd’s handles. “Time for a wash, Dash.”
He yanked on the handles…
And nothing's came from the nozzle.
“Refreshing.”
Ah, crap.
Dash’s fiddled her wings out from under him as he struggled to pin her down.
Wait, I have my fire I can use! Though that’s all fine and dandy for exposing the fake that is here if this turns around to be Rainbow Dash… I can’t risk it.
Dash looked up to him as her blue mane draped over her eyes. She had the most adorable frown when she painted the goo upon Spike’s stomach, and a smile for when her legs bucked him off from her and into a wall.
Smacking a hoof on her flank, Dash dashed off once more.
Ain’t she just a tease, Spike thought as he unstuck from the wall, and stuck against the ground. A cold, slimy sensation washed over his back as his body felt like it was phasing through the floor.
“Owner Spike!”
“Please… Just Spike… Is fine…”
“Spike. You must burn the goo off from your back before you are sucked in!”
“It’s fine if I… go to sleep for a little while.”
“No one else will be able to use me to clean up the mess and save your friend.”
“You’ll find an excellent little hero to use you… the kind… that are supposed to save stuff…”
“Your body allows hundred percent efficiency with me; you are the best suitor to use me.”
The world felt cold and overwhelming. Like entering an ice bath and being sucked under the surface, being able to breathe the faintest of breaths.
“Please, Spike! You are the only one that can do this job.”
“Oh…”
“Spike?”
“I just remembered: I’d be a terrible number one-assistant if I didn’t clean up after Twilight’s mess.”
Just as the world became cold, a fire sprouted out from Spike’s mouth that wrapped around his entire being. Any sensation was burned from his scales as well as closing the wounds upon his back.
The rays of sunlight shined upon Spike once more.
Coughing out bits from his mouth Spike rose and looked onwards to the trial of goo left by his friend. “Never talk about this again?” he said to Fludd.
“Have you talked to a therapist before.”
Spike glared at it, before trudging off after his friend.
The plaza was filled, but half in numbers for the other half had been claimed by the goo and brought into the Cold World. Dash was nowhere to be seen as Spike sprinted to where the statue used to be: the suffering all around catching his eyes.
“Pull him out!” A mother said to her husband. “Anything, please! Just get him out!”
The husband threw his hooves into the goo to find his son – something latched onto his wrist and he was pulled into the goo.
The wife only cried.
“Recommendation of halting chase to help the locals.”
“Not much we can do,” Spike said, still frozen in the middle of the square. “You don’t have water, and I can’t use my fire.”
The nozzle looked over to the fountain sitting against the wall. “There.”
Spike raised a brow and did as he was told, not complaining about the chill of the water.
“Disabling safety limitations,” Fludd said, “you may now use suction: allowing you to soak up most liquids.”
“How do I—” The brown leather handles came to his sides, and Spike said no more. Taking hold of them and pumping, he felt his back become a little heavier.
“Tank full – please commence with the dispense.”
Spike took a stance and aimed the nozzle to the sky. “With pleasure.”
Water sprayed from the air and down onto the goo, defeating its very substance and rescuing those within its claim. Husbands and sons were brought back to mother's; wings returned to pegasus and horns to their unicorns.
The ground was wetted clean, and even that statue of the creature with a tree for many emerged from down under. And lapped around its head was a particular mare whose eyes began to open.
“Ah-fooey,” came a vibrated voice. “Best hiding spot.”
Spike didn’t hesitate to sprint to the front of the statue; the same place Dash had just leaped down to. Hold her up with one claw, douse her with water with the other – Spike had his plan set.
Only, he wasn’t expecting Dash to be pressing herself against the wall. Her expression of pain as her eyes looked over to him.
“..s..p..i..”
“Wha…”
The mare had a hoof behind her back and painted herself a giant S on the statue. A surge shook throughout her as the brush dropped from her hoof, and her hooves shot to her head.
Spike had his eyes wide. A claw hovered towards her, just as the other hovered over the handle.
The mare looked to the claw with eyes that couldn't be described. Another surge struck. The mare dipped her head, picked up the brush with her teeth, then exploded into little blobs of blue.
The S began to suck all the blobs into another dimension; ponies covered their faces with hooves in fear of the whole plaza being sucked in. But such was not the case as only the parts of Dash were brought in.
“The heck is going on here?” Spike muttered to himself, having to look back at Fludd.
“New forms of travel, to be studied later. For now, Spike, spray that logo.”
Spike opened his mouth but did as told. A reaction occurred in the letter, casting out to the world its sunshine from a blue world. And the world there was: parts of lands and trees could see past the liquid.
“H-How?” Spike shook his head as he stepped forth. A claw was hovering just an inch away…
“Stop!”
“Freeze!”
Spike snapped his head to the oncoming patrol of ponies dressed in uniforms. “You and that tank… you seem to know what’s going on around here.”
Spike gulped. “Only about a quarter of the story. But listen, I gotta save my friend—”
“You’re friends with the fiend that is polluting the island!?”
“I’m not sure if that’s the case just yet. Look, I’ll answer all your questions, but first I have to go save my friend.”
The pony shook his head. “I’m not allowing my only lead to leave without any assurance that you’ll be back. For now, I’m going to have to cuff you; do you know your rights?”
Ponies began to surround Spike as the ones whom he saved remained quiet. The sun hovered in the air and shared its light to all, while the breeze made it that all felt fair in its pleasure.
Back pressed against the stature, scales touched against the liquid. Like if he were dropped in a pool, Spike felt he could breathe a faint breath, as all he knew and felt became like water. He could see the world from many reflections as his body plunged forth into the drawing.
A tunnel that served as the passage of worlds.
Far off sprites chime away at the chance of their rescue.
They start up as if to help the being along with his way.
And watch him leave, entering a brand new world.
Spike landed on his rear and found it sliding down a wet slope, throwing his claws in the air as that’s where he found himself. Before gravity took its toll and dragged him down into the water.
He resurfaced with a long breath as he tossed his claw over the log of wood floating in the water. “What is up with this!?” He coughed out the water. “Weird creatures; heroes turned villains; physics being broken.”
“Not broken,” Fludd said, “mended.”
Pulling himself onto the log and balancing himself along its length, he made to the end and jumped to the land on the other side; a village of houses and few creatures lay here, as well as a wall that encased the area.
“Weird place to put a village,” Spike said as he began to walk along the buildings. “But it shows that we’re still on Isle Delfino.”
As he made it to the wooden-gate that served to allow both ponies and water in or out, Spike noticed the gate closed, and a creature being consumed by the goo – but not for much longer. Without a second thought, Spike doused the being with water.
“Whoa! Thanks a mister!” The Being said.
“No problem,” Spike said with a slight bow; Fludd went back to its resting state. “Say, has suspicious pegasus of blue flown by here at all?”
“You mean the one destroying out tower with her graffiti!?” The being exclaimed. “She’s still there. And if I didn’t know any better, then I’d say I’ve seen her before.”
“Rrrright.” The white wall which had been enhanced by the sun’s light was now dropping a black mess, which fell into the water and looked to be tainting the town’s supply of water. Window could no longer be seen through; kids weren’t safe to even step on the grass out of fear of being consumed.
“I’ll help you take care of her if you let me pass through this bridge.”
“Think you could help us with this mess first?”
Spike held his breath. The village was in desperate need of his assistance, but his loyal friend Rainbow Dash was in an even worse fate. If left to her own devices, there’s a chacne that she would cover this entire in goo.
That everyone would figure out her identity.
Blame the Elements.
Blame Celestia.
Trade negotiations wouldn’t be friendly.
And Equestria would be painted in a bad light.
But none of those are your problems, no? You cleaning after a Princess has nothing to do with how the trade is, or even her reputation.
The voice vibrated in his head but the source felt like from his heart. Was the creator of it the source of his own doing, or of something else?
“I’m sorry, but I must see to it that she’s stopped, before anything worse comes out of this.”
“Aye. I understand,” It said, walking over to a wooden well and began to it down. “Do what needs to be done, but you’ll have to do it alone.”
Spike nodded as the gate rose enough for him to duck under. It punctured the ground just afterwards. “Also, I can’t let you in until the threats out there have been dealt with. Hope you can understand.”
“Aye,” Spike couldn’t help but say with a wave of the claw. “Thank you.”
The sun continued to spread its rays down on the land, but their rays were reaching less lands. Large brown objects fell from the trees causing Spike to jolt out of the way as soon as he saw a shadow.
Weird creatures dug out of the lands and would stare with a smile: all yellow with pines sprouting at from their being, though the top of their head seemed soft enough.
Wooden platforms also stood above with tightropes connecting them all. And off in the distance, hidden away in the small mountain, seemed to be an entrance to a black, infinite cave.
At the end of Spike’s path lay an unfinished bridge. But that wasn’t what captured his eyes – it was Dash standing before a glob of black goo. “Enough courage to follow me, eh?” The figure spoke. “Tell me. Are you really that loyal, or are you just trying to get some flank at the end of the day?”
She wagged her hindquarters as if to articulate her point.
Spike’s claw twitched as he exhaled the nerves that plagued his body away.
“Not at all,” he said, which caused Dash to reel her head back. “I’m a dragon, so ponies naturally aren’t my thing.”
“Really?!” A voice said, unlike the illusion.
Spike furred a brow. “Y-Yeah.”
The blob shook her head. “How… how about Dragness?”
“Dunno.” Spike shrugged his shoulders. “Honestly, I’m not even doing this to be the good guy: it happens at the moment that I’m the only who could be doing this, plus, it’s a lot of fun as well.”
The blobb stood motionless before something seized over her being and brought her to the floor. After a second of cowering, the figure rose with a growl. “Do you find it fun to be eaten as well?”
“Say what?”
The mare laughed as she lept on the bridge’s wooden supports just as Spike began to ascend the small hill.
“ROAARRA.”
A plant like being shot out from the goo and sprouting a head as big as a boulder. Golpets of goo dropped from its razor sharp teeth, as it bit down on the air for fun. Despite it lacking eyes it still sprang before Spike – it’s support keeping it just a few inched away.
Spike black flipped and went immediately to clutching his chest, all the while Dash laughed away.
“Great, I have to take care of—”
A ball of goo fell from the sky. Spike had a moment to step back, before being blasted back. Goo covered his scales, which served to darken them by the passing moments.
“I see…” Fludd stated.
“What?” Spike wiped the stuff off from his chest.
“Focus on the ongoing conflict with the Polluted Piranha; I have a discovery to share with you later.”
Piranha branch expanded and size, a simple guess could explain why. Spike slid forward onto the goo and dodged the overhead trajectile. “Easier said than done.”
If I get too close then there’s a chance I’ll end up in its gullet. Stay too far and I may be covered in its slime.
Spike’s slide slowered as he reached the hill, shooting his claws to the handles and dousing the being in water; no effect except for it shaking its head. Pressing his claws into the goo, he pushed off before he could be sucked in.
No dice! Wait…
The being open its mouth, but instead of goo going out, it was water going in. It’s branch expanded in size and was being cleansed from within, until the whole went boomy!
The blast caught Dash in her laughs and sent her falling onto the bridge. Before she could roll her head, Spike’s claw slammed down next to her, while the other laid on a handle.
“Sorry Dash,” Spike said with narrow eyes and a tilted head, “wash time.”
The liquid beat against her shield as it shrunk in size. Screams rumbled the water's surface. But soon fur replaced the blue goo, and the mare could breathe deeply once more.
Dash was panting as Spike’s claws searched over her hooves and underbelly; making sure none of it stuck to her being. But try as he might, Spike’s couldn’t bring himself to look under her tail.
He left the mare be in the bridge and walked over the the brush laying at the end of it
“Scanning item.” The nozzle came alive above his head as Spike picked up the brush. “Scan complete. Recommendation of sourcing the brush—”
The crunch of the brush meeting Spike’s knee rang out through the village.
“Recommendation revoked,” The nozzle stated to itself.
Spike glanced his head over his shoulder at Dash, then shot his head back towards her. A green leaf like arm held her in the air, while a monster like plant stood well above the wooden supports for the bridge.
It screamed at the drake who defended himself with his claws. The creature jumped across the bridge, a few more after, until it landed at the top of the windmill; all with Dash clutched to its side.
“Petey Piranha,” Fludd stated. “Immediate action required.”
“Its mouth is big enough to eat Dash without a bite…”
“Action. Required.”
Spike turned his head. “You’re talking to me? Have you seen that thing?”
“You are the only one able for the task, and not only that, but a dragon.”
“A cowardly dragon,” he said, “try not to forget.”
“A coward does not come this far, especially if they deemed it all just for fun.”
Spike sighed the pressure away and let his head fall left. “I’ll let Dash have you after this.”
Throwing his head back up, he made his way to the windmill.
The ascension of the hill leading to the windmill proved slippery. A misplaced step would throw the drake into the air and have him sliding down to the bottom.
Plus, the rolling balls of goo forced Spike to sidestep out of the way, only adding on to the falling risk.
After being doused with water from a nearby sprinkler, Spike made it to the beginning of the tower and began to ascend its side. “Oh come on, parts of the windmill are missing!?”
“A simple jump should remedy this issue.”
“.. I’m not really in the mood for jumping around.”
“Neither am I to hear your whining.”
Spike glared backwards before making the jump. He made it to the other side with only a pin of pain in his side. Another gap appeared which was once again covered. But on the third gap, multiple branches with thorns barred the path, causing Spike to halt his speed just at the edge.
“That’s just great,” Spike said with a huff of a breath. “Normally, my wings could get me across it, but I doubt they even hold me up for a second now.” Throughout this little adventure, the wings painted in an amount akin to the rest of the body. Out of mind, Spike carried on his quest despite his fate.
Yet fate reminded him of the fact that he may never fly again.
“Solution acquired.” Spike turned his head to witness Fludd sprout another nozzle – both pointing to the ground. “A consistent water flow will keep both Fludd and owner suspend for a limited amount of time.”
“... and that’ll be enough to carry us both?”
“Ninety-one percent sure.”
“... better than nothing.”
Leaping from the edge. Claws pumping the handles faster than a nightly session alone. Water flew out the nozzle and kept the dragon airborne long enough for him to fly his back into the wall of the windmill.
Landing on his foot, Spike carried on with a wobbly head that could see faint stars swarming him. Making it to the top, he tripped on something wooden, and found his back placed upon it.
He rolled right and his claw dangled over the edge. The world below was becoming smaller, and butterflies in Spike’s stomach were becoming numerous. “Oh.”
Rolling left, the top of the windmill came to sight, as did Petey Piranha with Rainbow Dash clutched under his arm.
Spike rose from the plank and pulled himself together with a good slap to the face. With a few steps back, he burst forward and leapt onto the top of the windmill to claim him friend. A claw landing first, Spike pushed off it and faced the for standing at the top of it all.
Its entire body had a flow going on as it couldn’t stay still; arms waving about and the such. Though Spike’s eyes were more concerned on the mare whose own eyes were beginning to crack open.
Dash didn’t look hurt. And Spike meant to keep it that way.
Petey released a roar that shook the trees and hassled the walls of the windmill. Spike clutched his ear and looked away as the mare came alive from her sleep. There was also a loud crack as well.
Spike’s eyes shot wide open as he looked around him for the source.
A much louder crack struck his ears.
Both Petey and Spike looked down to the roof of the windmill, which was covered in many lines. They slowly looked to one another, and then, gulped.
The roof caved in and parts of bricks began to fall into the dark hole that was below. Petey fell first with a weirdly pitched scream, while Spike fell just after him with a scare of his own. All the while, Dash managed to pull out her wings before the ground came to meet her.
She took flight and slowed her descent, just as she smacked into a wall and slid down its small length.
Spike squirted what he could before his rear met the floor, a surge ticking every inch of his bone to his head.
Petey fell onto his back, shaking the pain from his head, and rising onto his plant like feet.
“That’s no fair,” Spike said as his head hung back. “You can take impact easier.” The view of Dash getting to her hooves came to Spike.
“Hey! You’re okay after all!”
“Spike?” she said. Then once more. “Spike!”
Spike faced forward and was met with a smack to the face, so strong, that it sent him flying back to the same wall with his falling right. “Hello... again.”
“Care to explain what’s going on?”
“Not partially at the moment.”
Petey raised his head to the sky and released a roar that shook the very foundations of the windmill. Spike and Rainbow rose from the floor and used one another for support, as the creature lowered its head to them.
“Got a plan?”
“... not partially at the moment.”
Rainbow sighed as she pushed off him. Not the type to stress over the details of everything, she had her eyes and mind focused solely on the threat before her, for that was the only thing that mattered at the moment.
I gotta give her credit – she doesn’t let little mental things affect her. Oh heck, what am I saying? I should focusing just like her.
The two circled Petey from opposing sides and begun to shorten the distance between them. Petey growled, stuck out his plant-like hands at the both of them, and then something began to fill in his mouth.
Spike and Dash paused.
Petey looked at them both.
Stopped.
Then fired a ball of goo at Spike, snapping back to then shoot the remaining pellets at Dash.
Dash sprouted her wings and took flight as the pellets belted against her tail. The trail of goo followed her as Peter leaned forward, but Dash just gained more speed and flew up and out of the windmill.
Peter snapped back at Spike. He rose back his head.
And was kicked in the back by thing resembling a speeding bullet.
Spike smiled as he had seen the familiar trail of rainbow shoot down from the sky – he had already hopped in the air and spun his body, so when the two met, it was Spike’s foot that Petey’s head first met.
The resounding kick sent him flying to the wall, which Petey’s became ingrained too, before he slowly began to unstick from it and landing onto the marble floor before. Another roar came as he pushed himself up from his hands.
“Yeah yeah,” Spike said.
“We get it already,” Dash added on.
Petey, instead of standing up, instead dashed forward at the pair like bullet train. Spike’s muscles tensed as his eyes widen, while Dash pushed him out of harm’s way and flew up before the stream could reach her.
Petey smashed into another wall, shaking the mill once more. More and more dust was starting to fall from the wall, and the bricks keeping the building stable were now becoming loose.
Dash’s landed next to the fallen drake and present a hoof before his huffing face. “Try not to become a deer in the headlights?”
Spike opened his mouth, but no sounds were capable of emitting from his throat. So he took the hoof and rose back up, nodding his head as it was the only thing he could do. Both looked to the monster-like plant rearing back around.
“This guy just absorbs whatever you do to him,” Dash mummered. “I’m not if hitting harder is going to keep him down for the count.”
The green stomach of Petey was sucking in and out at a great speed as liquid spilled into the monster’s mouth. A claw moved to the activation handle all on its own. “Actually, it might.” He looked to the mare. “Pick up some speed around the windmill, when I say now, I want you to pound against his stomach.”
Dash looked at him before nodding her head, and took flight around the windmill.
Spike walked across to Petey with a claw before his eyes and another resting on the handle. The plant rose to full stature and leaned its head back, for Spike stood just before him. And as its mouth opened to deal the blow…
Water filled his mouth instead. Cleaning the goo in his mouth and down his throat, even his very core was cleaned out, as well as gaining in size to.
Petey choked and coughed as he fell back, groaning in agony as his belly button popped out.
“Now!”
A bolt of rainbow flew down from the blue painted sky and clouded with the beast with two hind legs being the first to greet the being. A cry came; water sprouted out from his mouth. Dash backflipped onto the floor and watched as a reaction served to make Petey’s body both big and small all throughout his body.
Then Petey croaked.
A goo as hard as overcooked brownies begin to engulf his body, till he his entire surface was covered. The rays of sunshine beat down against such a creature and forced it into submission under the land.
Spike panted forth as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He looked to Dash and smiled a giant grin, before something shined to all of their ears. The two looked to the middle of the of the windmill, where it looked to be that a star had fallen from the sky.
Yellow, with its own glowing radiance. Black eyes were painted onto its front, with pegs sprouting all around it. Its top had the largest of them all, with a lure that captured the drake’s claw and pulled him forward.
A call as heavenly as Celestia’s whispered beckoned for the dragon to step forward. His claws felt dirty – his body covered in too much filth to dare touch something so majestic. Dash continued to stare from behind, mouth slightly agape.
Spike touched the sprite as it floated in his hand. A wave of warmth covered him both in and out as he reached a heightened peace, which light was all that was needed to be seen. Floating upon a cloud, the spirit lifted from the ground and twirled around him, before floating above.
A claw held out before the sun spirit, and the owner of it couldn’t help but smile.
Sun Sprite collected.
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