7 Days of Macro Dreams

Contains: MLP, micro, conversation, mouth play, soft vore, tease

Spike found himself sitting at a pink girlish table occupied by a pale purple teapot. Two places were set with multiple spoons, sugar, saucers, and teacups. A marble gazebo shielded the setup from a bright sun and the smooth tile floor was raised several centimeters above the grass around it.

Encircling the garden was a dark hedge, but everything else was gentle to the eyes. There was an apple tree loaded with delicious red fruit that hung boldly over a small pond of crystal clear water. There were long twisting gravel paths that cut across the fields of green and dozens of flowerbeds near bursting with color. It was a paradise complete with roaming butterflies and happy singing birds.

Spike squirmed uncomfortably in his seat as he searched for Luna, but she was nowhere to be found. It was just him, his thoughts, and a teapot.

Spike could do nothing while he waited but reflect on how confused he felt. He was excited after his first victory and eager to win another, but he was also terrified of losing. Luna was his friend even though they only spoke two or three times a year, but now she was blackmailing him and threatening to expose his secret. Last, but certainly not least, there was a moment during the last game that made him feel good, but for all the wrong reasons.

Spike grumbled, frustrated by the swirl of thoughts running rampant in his mind. How he had gotten through the day without it all bubbling to the surface was beyond him.

Spike eyed the teapot. "Why not?" he mumbled.

Taking the full pot in one hand, and his empty cup in another, Spike poured himself--

"What the!?"

Spike pulled his cup back and watched the liquid that sloshed around inside. It shown with a bright light and smelled like honey. The mere steam that wafted up from it tickled his taste buds and made his senses swirl.

"Liquid Sunshine?" Spike whispered in surprise.

Spike had indulged in this rare drink only once before, during a diplomatic visit to Saddle Arabia. The sultan lived an exceptionally lavish lifestyle and had quite expensive tastes. He also spoiled his guests positively rotten. Liquid Sunshine was made from Liquid Rainbow through a complex process of distillation, purification, and enchantments. It was a tea more expensive than any wine and had gone by another name for several millennia: Nectar of the Gods.

"Don't start the party without me!" Luna's cheery voice called.

Spike's wide eyes were pulled from the glowing liquid to the princess as she pranced up the gazebo steps and into the shade.

"It's good to see you again, Sir Spike. How are you feeling tonight?"

Spike followed Luna's movements silently as she sat opposite him. "I don't know," he eventually admitted.

Luna's positive demeanor was quickly replaced with a frown. "Tonight is only the second game, surely you are not exhausted already?"

He looked away.

Luna sighed. "Spike, do you remember my first Nightmare Night?"

He scratched his head in thought. "Oh boy, that was over ten years ago."

She nodded. "Do you remember what Twilight and yourself did for me?"

"We helped you connect with the ponies in Ponyville."

"You taught me that, while it is important to take one's duties seriously, it is also important we let ourselves unwind from time to time. To allow ourselves to have fun." Luna carefully poured herself a cup of Liquid Sunshine.

"You're welcome."

Luna shook her head. "Spike, I have grown in that philosophy while you have abandoned it." She took a generous sip of her tea.

"Pardon?"

"As a princess, it is my duty to guard the realm of dreams. However, there has been little to do as of late. So here I am, with a close friend, trying to enjoy myself with a few games." Luna took another sip.

"Games? You're holding me hostage!" Spike barked.

She held her ground. "You are too tense to see clearly. Relax, drink, and enjoy another's company." With that, Luna raised her cup and had yet another mouthful of tea.

Spike stared at Luna, but she said nothing else. She just carried on enjoying her drink and letting her ears be tickled by the song of a lone robin. A breeze drifted between the columns of the gazebo and her mane fluttered. Luna was a picture of serenity.

Spike finally regarded his own cup, ignored since the princess's arrival. Shrugging softly, he dared to take a sip. At once the overwhelming flavor punched him right in the jaw and made him recoil.

Luna giggled. "Good?"

"Yeah," Spike managed to get past his tingling lips. "That's... wow."

"It's even better in the real world. Here, have some more," Luna offered, lifting the pot to fill his cup properly.

Spike reluctantly thanked her and took another sip. Again he flinched. Liquid Sunshine was good, there was no questioning that, but it was also powerful. Even a dragon who regularly enjoyed gemstones had to be ready if they were going to indulge in this brand of tea.

A few minutes passed where neither of them uttered a word. Spike began to feel awkward. Should he say something? Nothing was happening. Were they simply going to enjoy a tea party tonight? Was this a test of his manners? Should he add sugar to his Liquid Sunshine?!

"So have you been studying recently?" Luna ventured unexpectedly.

"Huh?" Spike blurted, derailed from his mental panic.

Luna smiled. "Have you read anything interesting lately?"

"Uh," Spike droned, his mind grasping for an appropriate reply. "A few weeks ago I began reading about... Cannonade."

Luna blinked in utter confusion. "Cannonade? You've been reading about cannons?"

Spike chuckled nervously. "No, the ancient dragon king. The one who had himself reincarnated as Fulminate."

"Ah!" Luna's eyes lit up with recognition. "A fascinating story indeed. What do you think of him?" Luna poured herself a new cup while Spike racked his brain.

"Well... he was a powerful dragon who ruled for centuries. Despite his right to the throne being challenged hundreds of times, he dominated in every battle. I guess I'm a bit jealous. He was a real dragon."

Luna nodded. "He was a remarkable beast indeed. Is he the dragon that dueled with Discord?" the princess asked, rubbing her chin in thought.

"Yeah. One of the few to ever challenge the God of Chaos and win."

"Well," Luna stopped him, "Discord was still young and inexperienced at the time. I seriously doubt even the great Cannonade could have fought on equal footing with Discord in his later years."

Spike nodded back as he swallowed some of his drink, still cringing at the strength of it. The conversation was just... right. Like old times. For years the two of them had sat down at tables like this one and discussed everything from philosophy to law. It was familiar territory. It was calming. It was normal.

"Discord didn't establish a nation though. Against Cannonade's organized forces, even after Discord's training was complete, Cannonade would still have had the advantage in numbers."

The princess hummed. "That is a fair point, Sir Spike. However, Cannonade gave up his vast powers in the end. At that point there is no question who would have won." Luna took a sip from her cup.

"After a few years his power would have been restored though."

Luna watched her glowing drink as she carefully swirled it around. "Tell me, Sir Spike, what do you think of Cannonade's tragic fall?"

Spike looked down as well. "It wasn't fair."

Luna sighed. "All things in this world are destined to end eventually. Cannonade feared the loss of his brute strength, and by extension his throne, to the unstoppable wheel of time. In his fear, he attempted the impossible. Cannonade tried to halt and even completely reverse that flow. And he paid the price."

"I may not know much about his second life as Fulminate, but I still don't think he deserved to lose his memories and his throne."

Luna met Spike's gaze. "Why do you feel that way?"

"He was just afraid."

Luna gave him a sad smile. "Cannonade allowed his cowardice to direct his actions."

Spike bit his tongue. "What should he have done then?"

Luna analyzed Spike for a moment. "He should have stepped down. He still had one or two hundred years ahead of him. Cannonade should have appointed a new king and stood beside them as an adviser. With his 800 years of experience, Cannonade had so much wisdom to bestow upon this world. Tome after tome could have been filled with his vast knowledge. He merely had to embrace his new destiny and it could have been a pleasant one."

Spike quietly finished his tea and poured himself more. "Did you know him?"

Luna grunted in the negative. "I believe I was merely six years old the day Fulminate was buried on the opposite side of the world. Though I grew up hearing stories of his travels, he wasn't considered an important figure back then." Luna gulped down the last of her current cup. "I believe his journals are stored in the royal Neighway library."

Spike jumped to attention at that. "He kept a journal!? In Neighway? The land of reindeer? I didn't know that. I've been looking everywhere for more information about Fulminate."

Luna poured herself a new cup of Liquid Sunshine. "If you'd like, I could arrange for you to read them."

Spike's mouth drifted open in shock. "THE firsthand accounts of Fulminate? Really?!"

Luna smirked. "Don't get too excited. Reindeer are stubborn and highly protective of their history. They could very well refuse my request."

"Thank you Luna," Spike gushed. "I'd really appreciate learning more about Fulminate's personal journey as a dragon."

Luna paused mid-sip, a smile stretching across her lips. "You're welcome, Sir Spike. Now, let's enjoy the rest of our party!"

Spike snorted once as he stared into his cup. Of course, Luna was the type to leave him energized and eager to get back to the real world.

The minutes passed in peace. At least until Luna experimentally shook the teapot only to hear the faint slosh of one more cup's worth of Liquid Sunshine.

"Would you like the last of the tea?" Luna asked politely.

Spike shrugged. "Yes please."

Luna's voice rung with joy while she poured. "This is good news. We can finally play the next game!"

Spike felt his mood drop like a stone. Suddenly the glowing drink didn't seem as appealing. "Okay," he relented.

Luna grinned. "This game will be simple." Her horn flashed and three identical black bottles appeared on the table. There were no labels and there was no way to see what was inside. "I am going to enjoy these three mystery drinks and all you have to do is avoid my lips."

Spike choked on his own tongue. "W-w-what?!"

Luna held a hoof over her mouth as she tittered. "The look on your face."

Spike could feel the crimson blush covering his cheeks. "What do you really mean then, Princess?"

Luna's response was another flash from her horn. In an instant, the teapot was replaced by a single large elegant chalice.

"What do you think of your new swimming pool?" Luna asked cryptically.

Spike blinked at her, then the bottles, then the goblet. Mechanically, he raised his cup and took a sip of the remaining tea while his mind worked. Swimming pool? Avoiding lips? What was she talking about?

Then it all clicked.

Spike stared at Luna in horror as his claw slowly lowered the nearly empty teacup to its resting place on a saucer.

"Finished already?" Luna asked cheerfully. "Then let's get started!"

Spike jumped back in his seat as a powerful blue glow surrounded his body. His size began dwindling away and the world seemed to expand in all directions. Next, before he was even done shrinking, Spike was sent flying through the air toward the chalice at the center of the table. Vertigo combined with his wild spin to render his vision nothing more than a meaningless blur of colors. Then he crashed into a smooth shiny floor.

"Ugh. What happened?" he groaned, rubbing his head. Spike was dazed for a moment and his eyes couldn't find any familiar landmarks.

"You look so cute down there," a booming giggle echoed around him.

Spike's gaze drifted up to an enormous smile filled with pearly white teeth that hung beyond a rim of glass. Around him was a stadium-sized bowl whose slick walls would be impossible to scale without slipping. He couldn't see through the goblet either thanks to the crazy designs that decorated the outside.

"Most mares would probably be screaming right now. Poor Spike, at only three millimeters you're like a helpless ant caught in my drink. I hope you're a good swimmer!"

"Wait!" he called desperately. What was most surprising was that Luna actually returned with a concerned frown. "You're not going to... eat me, are you?"

Luna grinned, eyes looking away mischievously. "Maybe."

Spike stared at the rim as Luna's face disappeared. Then his eyes went even wider as a huge black bottle materialized in the heavens, cork already gone. Its dark opening was tilted upwards, but that quickly changed as it moved into position. The bottle's head dropped and clear water plummeted down the glass cliff.

Spike had no time to strategize before a wall of water slammed into him and sent him flailing backwards with the monstrous current. His claws sliced at the cold liquid as he fought the mad waves that threatened to wash over him and drag him down. Despite his struggling, Spike's head was forced under more than once as the endless torrent rushed around him. In one instant he was at the crest of what seemed like a mountain, then everything switched places and he was surrounded by rolling hills that advanced on him from every direction.

"BAH!" Spike coughed as he paddled in place, the wild flood having eventually calmed. His limbs were already tingling with the onset of exhaustion and his breath was rapid.

"Here comes the best part," Luna sang.

Spike felt the unique sensation of a lake wobbling. Water gently lapped at the walls as Luna lifted the glass. He gulped as one side of the rim seemed to rise while the opposite side fell. The chalice was tilting but the liquid remained level.

Luna's eyes had slipped closed and her nostrils flared as she inhaled. The princess's mouth was a cavern of smooth, pink, slimy walls. Her tongue lay flat, providing a straight path to the back of her throat where not even light could reach. Spike found himself staring into the abyss. Then the sound of rushing water reached his ears and a current began to tug on his minuscule body.

The drake literally dove into action as he spun around and pumped his arms forward in a crude front stroke. His feet kicked desperately with no pattern and his chest heaved with each thrust of his forearms. Incredibly, his manic swimming kept him just ahead of the tide as the goblet emptied into the gargantuan maw behind him. Spike's instincts raged at him to swim as though his life depended on it. As far as he was concerned, it did.

Then, without warning, the suction vanished and the glass carefully righted itself. Luna had pulled away to breathe. Spike cringed at the roar such a simple action produced. Everything was eerily still for a moment and he took the opportunity to rest and look down. Spike thought he could see the bottom only a few meters below. Which meant he might only have to out-pace Luna's sip once more to win the game.

He floated there while Luna reclined in her outdoor chair, the scent of pollen lolling her mind into a hushed tranquility. A quick check assured her that Spike was still safe in the chalice and that she hadn't missed swallowing him. It struck Luna that she might have overfilled the glass and given herself an edge, but she banished the idea. Spike was a dragon. Dragons were tough.

Spike's peace left as quickly as it had arrived when the goblet levitated back to the princess's lips. The stream began to flow and Spike started to paddle. However, this time his head was clear and his strokes were much cleaner.

Right arm forward, like an arrow, scoop the water. Left arm forward, like an arrow, scoop the water. Spike's mental chant repeated over and over as he actually managed to advance against the current. His head bobbed down under the water, then up out of it where he took a quick breath, then down under it again. It was rhythmic. Perfect form. He silently thanked Applejack and Rainbow Dash for being such good teachers.

Before Spike knew what had happened, his claws found purchase along the bottom of the chalice and he was crawling out of the water onto a makeshift beach of sleek glass. As he shuffled to his feet, arms hanging by his sides, he panted from the excursion. His head turned to watch the last bit of water slip over the ledge and into Luna's muzzle. The princess's upper jaw came down with a loud click and the goblet levitated away. A noticeable bulge formed in her neck and passed down into her chest. Spike shivered at the sight.

Luna's gaze met Spike's and she grinned. "Round one goes to Sir Spike," she chirped. "You're unnatural at this."

The dragon groaned. He forgot. The second game was divided into three rounds. "Do we have to keep going?" he huffed. "Can't we just say I won?"

"Oh come on," Luna scoffed with a roll of her eyes. "You can't tell me that wasn't fun."

"It was scary."

In response, Luna began to right the goblet and Spike found his world tilting. The ground was too smooth to get a grip and his claws scraped at the glass to avoid tumbling. It was hopeless of course, and, like nails on a chalkboard, a horrid screech dug into the sides of his head. A few blinks later and Spike was seated at the center of the stadium-sized bowl once again.

Luna's voice rung throughout the chalice. "Relax Spike, this is only a dream. Nothing can hurt you here. Now get your strength back. The next drink is going to be a bit more aggressive than water."

Spike stood with a grumble. There was nothing he could do. Luna was going to play this game with him whether he agreed to it or not. All he could do was prepare, but how?

It was then he noticed the lingering beads of water that clung to the walls, each as big as his head. Spike approached the nearest drop and stooped down. After taking a greedy slurp, he stood yet again and stretched his arms high over his head.

"There's no way I'm going to be able to repeat that performance," he grunted, muscles already aching.

Spike clenched his fists. No. He couldn't afford to think that way. He had to win. His future in Ponyville depended on it. Puffing out his chest and raising his chin high, Spike resolved to give this game his all. Thinking about it further, the odds were in his favor. There were only three rounds and he had already won the first. A smirk slowly wormed across his face. Yeah, he totally had this game in the bag. And the rest of the games too!

"Ready?" Luna's gentle voice thundered.

"Bring it on."

Luna quirked a brow, but said nothing. A moment passed and the head of the second black bottle clanked against the rim of the chalice. The resulting boom made Spike flinch involuntarily. Then she began to tilt it and a golden-brown liquid filled with bubbles dribbled out.

Spike braced himself as best he could before he was pummeled over by a river that smelled suspiciously of apples. This time however, Spike was determined to save his energy and kept his struggles to a minimum. He allowed himself to be carried under and swirled about as the glass filled, only breaking the surface when he desperately needed air. After what felt like several minutes, but was really only a few seconds, Luna finished pouring. She giggled as soon as Spike emerged from the depths.

"I know you're a big fan of apple cider, so I thought this would make a nice surprise."

Spike floated in place with a curious expression. "Apple cider?"

The dragon lifted a claw and brought it to his face for a quick sniff. Then he licked his fingers. Sure enough, the taste of apples and alcohol greeted him. He was swimming in a lake of cider. Spike couldn't help himself and started to laugh at the ridiculousness of his situation. And these weren't small chuckles either. These were full blown belly bouncing, throat drying cackles that would quickly leave anyone winded.

Luna watched from above with a smirk of amusement. "That's the spirit, Spike. I told you these games could be fun if you simply let them."

The drake failed to register her words as he wheezed, an impressive feat considering how loud Luna was. Spike was far too busy imagining what Rainbow Dash might do if she were in his place. But he was soon forced to pay the giant alicorn his full attention when the goblet began moving towards her lips.

Immediately his eyes were drawn to the fleshy cave that prepared to devour his lake of apple cider. He could see strings of saliva connecting the roof of Luna's mouth to her tongue. A hot gust bellowed over him. Then cider cascaded over the edge and seeped into every nook and cranny of her gaping maw. Spike did his best to get into proper swimming position, but cider didn't act quite the same as water. It was thicker, the smell made his nose itch, and it stung when a drop got in his eyes.

Spike was so focused on keeping his arms moving that he failed to notice the mound of bubbles coming his way until his claws dug into them. A pop rang out in front of the young dragon and spattered cider along his face. Startled, Spike veered off course and began to swim at an angle from Luna rather than straight away. Unfortunately, the drake failed to notice thanks to the random bubbles that now kept him busy dodging.

Gradually, the current pulled Spike backwards. His feet came closer and closer to the princess's lips. The flow became rough and uneven. Spike's adrenaline surged, his arms pumped, his heart beat. Got to swim faster! his mind blared.

The dark alicorn released a pleased hum which vibrated the chalice and the liquid within. To Spike it felt like a thousand spiders had just crawled over him. Luna then pulled her mouth away from the glass to swallow. The dragon immediately seized his chance to rest and turned over, floating limp on his back while a wave carried him towards the center of the cider ocean. His arms pulsed from the workout.

"You would make an excellent competitor in a triathlon," Luna commented. Spike merely grunted far too quietly for her to hear.

Suddenly, the glass was rising towards the princess's muzzle again while the young drake looked about frantically. That was it!? I need more of a break than that! Spike mentally screamed. But Luna failed to read his mind and put her lips back on the rim of the goblet.

Spike sloppily flipped over onto his belly just as a swarm of fizz engulfed him, blinding him. Spike lashed out with his claws in a mad panic, popping as many of the pesky bubbles as he could. The current gathered a disturbing degree of strength before he was finally able to break free from his sweet prison. Spike's terror intensified when he realized he was only a meter ahead of the falls.

His limbs begged for rest, but Spike ignored the pain and thrust his arms forward. His feet beat furiously and his head bobbed up and down. He had to move. He had to win. He had to swim faster!

A shadow enveloped him and an instant later Spike was plummeting into Luna's waiting maw. It was a short drop, yet it brought so much humiliation.

The stirring waters didn't immediately carry Spike away, instead allowing him to float in place and watch the cider pour over Luna's gargantuan incisors. Suddenly, he was rendered helpless as a meaty organ plowed into him and pinned him against the smooth teeth. It was the princess's tongue and it held Spike firmly in place while the last of the bronze lake filed in. What little light there was in Luna's mouth then vanished as she sealed her lips. The alicorn tilted her head and a gurgling emanated from the back her cavernous throat as she went to work slurping everything down.

Spike's body had been coated in the weak alcoholic beverage, but now he was being drenched in saliva which oozed from every pore of the massive tongue that restrained him. Despite its bumpy surface, his claws merely slipped when he tried pushing it away. Spike grunted as the pressure on his chest shifted and the walls undulated.

Once the delicious drink was safely drained, Luna's tongue pulled Spike away from the front of her jaw. It snaked backwards and angled itself so that he rolled along its rough surface. Somehow he managed to find an indent in the appendage that provided just enough room for him to lay in. However, his safety was short lived as the muscle next thrust upward at stomach churning speed. Spike didn't even think to throw up his claws before he was violently slammed into a bony roof.

He growled and pushed with all his might, but the fleshy tongue morphed around him and oozed yet more slick equine spit. Spike squirmed as he searched for some kind of leverage, but he couldn't find anything his claws didn't effortlessly slide off. It was then the giant alicorn began to suck. Saliva tore past him in the cramped space and ran over every inch of his body. What little juice might have been left on him was quickly taken.

Finally, Spike was shown mercy when Luna abruptly dropped her jaw. Light blinded him and he threw a hand over his eyes to shield his delicate retinas. The princess, in a very undignified manner, allowed her tongue to hang from her open mouth, which caused Spike to slip. For a moment the dragon was in free-fall along with a glob of saliva. Then he was, yet again, trapped in the chalice.

"Ugh," he groaned, sitting up with a disgusted wiggle of his fingers.

Luna licked her lips. "You sure do make apple cider taste better."

"Luna! Are you trying to drown me?"

She snorted, the cold breeze making him shiver. "I already told you that this is a dream. No matter what happens you'll wake up tomorrow as though nothing did. Do I really have to keep explaining the nature of dreams to you?" she sassed.

Spike scowled as he wiped a handful of spit from his forehead. Then the drake jumped to his feet and shook himself like a dog. It was moderately successful, but a thin coating of moisture still clung to his scales. Strands hung from his fingers and wings that made him gag. "This is so wrong," he mumbled.

Luna sighed contently. "It's all or nothing now, Sir Spike. If I catch you in my mouth again I win."

"You need to give me a break!" Spike shouted.

Luna looked up in thought. "Perhaps that would make the game more fair. But don't forget that I too am struggling. The royal stomach can only hold so much," she whined with a cute pout while rubbing her belly.

Spike rolled his eyes. Yeah, she was really suffering. She must have been near to bursting from the Liquid Sunshine, water, and apple cider. Meanwhile he'd just been swimming for his life, nearly drowned, and sucked on by a giant monster like he was a piece of candy.

Thankfully, she obliged his request and summoned a miniature towel for him.

"Bah," he gasped after cleaning his face. While Luna yawned above him, Spike rubbed down his arms and legs with only the occasion grumble of revulsion. Though a small cramp in his left shoulder made him grit his teeth as he went about the task. But the dragon fought on, determined not to show any signs of weakness. The final round was coming and it was his last chance to claim victory.

Spike tossed the towel aside and quickly began rolling his shoulder. He needed a plan if he was going to win. The key wasn't strength. The key was brains. The young drake just had to outsmart one of the oldest and wisest beings alive.

Spike chuckled sadly. It sure would be funny if I pulled it off, he thought bitterly. Then his face lit up with an idea. Maybe I could swim to the opposite side of the glass before Luna starts drinking.

Luna finished a quick prance around the garden and returned to the gazebo's shade with that ever present joyful smile. She inhaled deeply and plopped down in her seat. Then she leaned forward.

"Well I think that's enough break time."

Spike rubbed the back of his neck, but couldn't think of anything to say. His muscles were still shot and his breathing was a little labored. The sparse few minutes of rest he'd gotten hadn't been enough and it wasn't likely the princess would give him any more.

So he stared at the glass rim as the third and final black bottle descended. Carefully, the blue glow that held the container aloft began to turn it and dark red water washed down the goblet's walls. Spike turned his head away just before the brunt of the wave hit.

The crimson liquid turned and bubbled like the rapids of a mighty river. The tiny dragon was churned about like a top let loose in zero gravity. Up was down, right was left, and nothing but red filled his vision. Spike was dazed and confused as he scanned for a light that would point him towards the surface. His eyes burned, but he managed to spot a few rays that cut through the darkness.

Spike suddenly found his head above the rolling swells of red water. For a few seconds he floated there in shock, the gentle sways of the ocean acting like a cradle. His mind was empty, clueless to the identity of this drink. Its smell was strong and familiar like the apple cider, but it made his thoughts melt. Spike couldn't seem to keep his mind on target as it strayed from one idea to another. His gaze was wobbly and his stomach tingled. Something was off.

"I know it's a cheap brand, but I just have a soft spot for Eniw Der Paeh," Luna whispered high above him, though it still vibrated his eardrums.

"Red wine!" Spike gasped.

This was bad. Apple cider was alcoholic, but it was weak. Wine, on the other hand, was not a foal's drink. At his size the fumes alone would render him drunk in minutes if not sooner. He had to keep his head and hope Luna moved fast. The longer he was down here the more his mind would cloud over.

Spike blinked in confusion when his view was abruptly filled with the sight of a long narrow cave. A gentle current began to tug on his limbs and a sound like falling water tickled his ears. What was happening?

The dragon shrieked as his handicapped brain finally connected the dots. Luna was already downing the wine at an impressive speed. How had he missed the movement of the goblet?

The intimidating lips of the colossus were already on top of him when he began to furiously pound at the water with his arms. His legs moved so fast he wasn't sure they were still connected to his body. Strangely, his wings instinctively extended from his back and slashed down into the red ocean like an extra set of paddles. All of Spike's untamed dragon fight proved just enough to keep him beyond the reaches of Luna's massive teeth.

But time wasn't on his side. Every part of his body was ready to collapse and there were still untold thousands of gallons left to go. With every breath he took his lungs seemed to tear in a new place. His chest felt like it was about to burst. His thoughts dulled with each moment that passed from intoxication. Gulping booms echoed from behind him. The wet slaps of a tongue moving about. The rush of falling water. A bird's call. There were so many sounds. So much was happening around him.

It hurt. It hurt so much.

But he gave up.

Spike let the relentless tide yank him back into oblivion as his limbs burned. Cold liquid dragged him effortlessly over the slithering tongue. The last ray of light disappeared with a snap of Luna's enormous jaw. Freedom and victory were now well beyond reach.

Finally, he was falling...

"Ah!" Spike flew up in his bed, throwing his sheets onto the floor. He panted several times before his manic eyes locked onto his claws as he opened and closed them experimentally. The fatigue and drunkenness that had crippled him in the dream were gone.

"She swallowed me," Spike uttered in disbelief. "That... wasn't nice."