Ni no Pony: Wrath of the White Mare

Chapters

Chapter 1: Morning of Beginning
Chapter 2: Watched from Above
Chapter 3: The Incident
Chapter 4: A New Form of Comfort

Chapter 1: Morning of Beginning

The sun was beating down heavily during the early mid-morning, and Ponyville was absolutely bustling with the beautiful nature of the day. The skies were clear and cloudless, and birds sang wildly as they fluttered through the warm summer's air.

Big Macintosh, the eldest of the Apple siblings, was currently in town hefting large barrels of apples off his kart. It had been his turn this week to sell his family’s produce at their stale in the market place, while Applejack tended the farm. Using his powerful front legs, he hoisted yet another barrel and was near about to place it on the ground, when suddenly:

“Woah!”

Something small and scaly swiftly darted right under his raised forelegs. The sudden surprise nearly caused the large stallion to topple over.

Big Mac soon steadied himself, placing his barrel down so he could fall back onto his front hooves. In his shock, he searched the road to see what could have whizzed by him so fast. His gaze was soon met with that a little purple dragon giving him an apologetic look.

“Sorry, Big Mac!” The little dragon shouted before continuing off in the opposite direction.

Big Macintosh smiled good-naturedly. He waved back and shouted, “Eeyup!”

Spike was sprinting as fast as his little draconic legs could carry him. He was going to be late if he didn't. He silently chastised himself for not thinking to pick up Twilight’s order at Sugarcube Corner earlier.

Spike skidded to a halt upon reaching the famous bakery’s front door, nearly sliding passed it in the process. He leaped from the road avoiding the shop's steps and burst through its swinging doors with the force only somepony trying to avoid being late could manage. Spike rushed forward towards Sugarcube Corner's front counter.

“Good morning, Mrs. Cake!” Spike shouted franticly through heavy breath and a wide spread smile.

“Hmm?!” A quick sound of surprise resounded from behind the counter.

A plump blue earth pony mare, with a mane like pink and white frosting, quickly rose up to see the little dragon standing on the other side of the counter. She had been taking inventory of all the pastries in the counter’s display case before the exhausted drake had rushed in. The smile she gave him was as wide, if not wider, than Spike’s own.

“Oh, why good morning Spike.” She said warmly. “What can I do for you today, dearie?”

Spike reached his claws on the counters high ledge and stood on the very tips of his toes to better see over it, as well as better address the mare standing behind it. The adorability of the moment sent a warm feeling throughout the mare's chest.

“I’m here to pick up the ingredients Twilight ordered yesterday.” Spike asked politely. The baker mare smiled. “Well isn’t that sweet of you, rushing over here to pick up her delivery.” Spike blushed.

“I placed them right over there on counter, sweetie.” Spike looked toward the right edge of the counter and spotted a large paper bag of cooking supplies. He reached and grabbed the bag by its bottom and pulled it off the counter.

Mrs. Cake's smile grew larger. By the way he was holding the large paper bag, Spike was now practically hidden behind it. Only his adorable little legs and arms stuck out as he hugged it closer to his body.

“Thanks Mrs. Cake, I’ll see you around.” Spike turned and started to waddle back towards the bakery’s still swinging double doors. Mrs. Cake waved him goodbye. “Good bye, Spike. Say hello to Princess Twilight for me!”

“Sure thing!”

******
Spike quickly slipped between the swigging doors of the bakery, cautiously taking care not to let them clonk him in the back of the head as he left. At the steps back down to the road, Spike took slow and tentative movements for each step he climbed down. To avoid even the slightest jostle he held on closely to his paper bag, focusing on nothing else except getting to the ground safely.

“YOU FINISHED IT!”

A very sudden gaggle of cries caused the young dragon to stumble forward and nearly fall face-first down the stairs.

He danced and fidgeted awkwardly as he made his way down, all in his attempt to keep the ingredients safe. He had barely made it to the bottom of the stoop without dropping the precarious bottles of milk sitting on the top of his bag. He breathed a deep sigh of relief upon regaining his footing.

Righting himself, Spike repositioned his grip on the bag. He glanced around in annoyance. "Who’s shouting this early in the morning!" He grumbled. His gaze soon found a energetic trio of excited bouncing fillies to his right. Upon seeing them, he questioned how he didn’t realize the answer sooner; The Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Spike sighed, again in annoyance. “Okay..." He said mapping out the situation in his head. "So they’re squealing and giddy in the early hours of morning.” Spike mumbled, sounding nonplussed. “They've apparently also been working on something, which usually leads to fires and devastation if gone unchecked.” He placed his bag against the bakery’s front wall and started walking over. “For safety reasons, I'd better check this out.”

Cautiously, the young drake made his way closer towards the fillies, their joy-filled shouts still permeating the air. “So where is it now!?” Scootaloo asked as she bounced around with blatant excitement, her tiny wings noticeably buzzing.

“Ah hid it by the clubhouse away from Sweet Apple Acers.” Apple Bloom responded. “Testin’ it, Ah recon, is goin' to be a tad dangerous, seein’ as we can’t be havin’ the big ponies knowin' about it just yet. But it ain’t like it's nothin' we haven’t dealt with before.”

The other two fillies nodded in agreement.

“This is going to be so amazing!” Sweetie Belle said, practically singing with elation.

“Hey girls!”

An unexpected male voice startled the three fillies, causing them to turn. They saw that Spike was approaching.

“Aw shoot! It’s Spike!” Apple Bloom whispered with unease. “Do ya think he heard what we were talkin' about?”

“No way.” Scootaloo waved off her dismay with a laugh. “We been working on this project for months, and still nopony even has a clue it exists. There’s no way we’d be stupid enough to let it slip this close to completion.”

“You three have been working on something?” Spike asked nonchalantly. “What is it?”

“D’oh!” Scootaloo shouted in frustration.

Sweetie Belle ignored Scootaloo's outburst, and smiled innocently. “We don’t know what you’re talking about Spike.”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom continued. “We weren’t talkin’ ‘bout anythin’ important.”

“Oh really?” Spike asked. Apple Bloom nodded feverously.

Spike could see the visible sweat rolling like rivers down her brow. He could also see through the forced smile she was giving him. He smirked mischievously. “She's just as bad a liar as her sister.” Spike thought.

Wordlessly, Spike turned on his heels and walked back into Sugarcube Corner, much to the Crusaders’ confusion. He returned only a few seconds later with a freshly baked apple fritter, glazed with white frosting, held firmly in his claw.

Apple Bloom’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. She began to drool.

“Well, I believe you can make it sound important.” Apple Bloom narrowed her eyes hatefully. She scowled at the dragon, as Spike continued to smirk.

“That is unless, you don’t want this delicious apple fitter?”

The southern filly didn't answer, she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he found her weakness. Spike slowly brought the glazed apple treat closer to his mouth, his sharp teeth looked about readty to dig in. She couldn’t take anymore.

“Huddle!” Apple Bloom called.

The two other fillies locked forelegs with her and joined her in her auditable whispering match. To Spike, they looked like they were discussing the play that was going to use to win them the hoofball championships.

“So what do ya think, girls? Can we trust him?” Apple Bloom spoke only loud enough so Spike wouldn’t hear.

“I say we trust him!” Sweetie said with a smile. “I mean he’s been Twilight’s trustworthy assistant for so many years. His credentials are in his title.”

“You’re only saying that because you think he’s cute.” Scootaloo snickered as Sweetie Belle blushed.

“Shut up Scootaloo! It’s nothing like that. I just honestly think we can trust him.”

“Girls, girls, we shouldn’t be fightin’. Besides, I agree with Sweetie Belle, Spike has proven more than trustworthy plenty of times.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes at Apple Bloom’s words.

“And you’re only saying that because you want that apple fritter.” Apple Bloom smirked at her naysaying friend.

“Doesn’t matter, still two against one.”

“Yeah!” Sweetie Belle cheered happily.

Scootaloo sighed begrudgingly before she answered. “Fine.”

“Break!”

The three fillies broke from their huddle before turning back towards the dragon. “Alright Spike, ya win. We’ll tell ya all about our new super special secret project.”

Spike smiled victoriously, tossing the apple confection towards the filly. “Glad to see the Apple family’s weakness for apple related desserts is still effective.”

She began to mow down the treat as Spike continued to speak. “So what’s going on?”

Apple Bloom swallowed, smirked and wheeled away in the opposite direction, the other Crusaders copied her action. “Meet us tonight on the outskirts of Ponyville and find out.”

Spike was taken aback, then shot an annoyed glance at the escaping fillies. He gave chase. “That wasn’t part of the deal!”

“You didn’t say when I had to tell you about it, did ya?” Spike opened his mouth to make a remark, but gave a defeated sigh instead. He had to admit his curiosity was peaked.

“Alright fine, what time!” He asked pursuing the fillies for a short distance further.

“Midnight, and be quite about it. We don’t want to unveil anythin’ to anypony else before we’ve ironed out all the kinks.” Spike rolled his eyes before stopping, and watched the three fillies continue on their way.

“Okay, it’s a date!” Spike shouted. Sweetie Belle swooned.

“A date?! A date!!” she squeaked with joy, earning an irritated sigh from Scootaloo.

Once the three fillies had made it out of his sight, Spike turned to his left and saw a giant crystal castle standing before him. He was closer to home then he had originally thought. Rushing back towards the bakery, he retrieved his bag and started out on his way home.

Spikes mind began to wander. The true scope of the plans he had made were starting to dawn on him.

“Midnight?” Spike pondered.

“Twilight, would never even think about letting me go out that late.” An awful idea suddenly popped into his head. “Of course, she doesn’t really need to know I was out that late.”

He rolled the idea around in his head. Twilight would never know he was gone if he got back before she woke up. Even still, lying to Twilight was something Spike always tried to avoid.

“Lying to Twilight?” He repeated his thought. It made him feel a tad guilty admitting it. It wasn’t right, but his curiosity had to know what those three were building. Besides he needed to make sure they didn't get hurt, right? Finally, he came to a decision.

“This secret had better be good!”

Author's Note

The first chapter of my crossover idea, combining both Mlp and Ni No Kuni, one of my favorite games for the PS3. As always feel free to like and comment on how the story is progressing. Also please, if you spot any errors or problems in the story that you would like fixed tell me in the comment section below.

(Disclaimer: I do not own anything, all property belongs to it respective owners)
(The beautiful cover image is property of Radiant--Eclipse)

Chapter 2: Watched from Above

Spike backed his way through the castle’s kitchen door, his hands still were clutched tightly around the large paper bag.

“Hey Twilight! I got the supplies.” He said as he placed the bag on top the kitchen counter.

He looked towards the two mares standing in front of and next to the stove. One of them held a spatula in her magic and was using it to move something around a sizzling pan. The other was holding large a dinner plate aloft in her own magical aura. The alicorn mare suddenly flipped the spatula, and Spike finally noticed the pancakes she was cooking. The smell alone was making him drool, he hadn’t really had breakfast yet this morning due to the delivery. He hadn't assumed Twilight and Starlight hadn't either.

Twilight Sparkle turned her head back and addressed the dragon with a warm smile. “Thanks Spike. You don’t know how much that helps us. ”

She looked back towards the stove and lifted her frying pan from it. She placed the pancake she had just finished onto the plate Starlight Glimmer was levitating.

“I didn’t realize how much work goes into these big pancake breakfasts, Pinkie Pie likes to throw." She watched as Starlight carried the fresh pancake over to the numerous amounts of other stacks they had spent most of the morning making. "We nearly ran out of supplies just making the first twenty-four." Spike felt surprised by Twilight's statement. He looked to Starlight for confirmation, who nodded her head confirming the princess was not exaggerating.

"By the way, we made you some breakfast while you were out." Twilight added. "We decided to experiment with the pancake flavors a little bit, so please tell us what you think.” The pair of mares smiled at Spike like they were waitresses for the early-bird special.

Spike smiled back. He was always happy to help, especially when it involved eating pancake breakfasts.

He took his seat at the kitchen’s small oaken table. “So you two have been at this all morning?” He asked curiously.

“Yeah, but in truth it feels like we've been working at this since last night.” Starlight stated with an air sarcastic boastfulness. “We've finished the majority, I just hope we can finish the last few before the girls actually arrive.” Spike nodded understandingly.

The two seemed calmer then they usually did when faced with close-deadline situations like this, which Spike was more than happy to see. He did not want to deal with the Psycho-Lights today, especially considering what he planned to do tonight.

Spike chuckled to himself. “I don’t know how Pinkie Pie does it?” He said jokingly.

“It’s Pinkie Pie. No one knows, except Pinkie Pie.”

The dragon continued to chuckle, before looking back down towards the table. It was a significantly smaller table when compared to the one they usually used when they entertained larger meals, it only being a four-chair wooden dinner table. Spike knew it as the table mostly used for meals usually only pertaining to Twilight, Starlight and himself.

Twilight turned off the stove and trotted towards her young assistant. “So besides baking ludicrous amounts of flapjacks, what’s the plan for today Twilight?” Spike asked with genuine curiosity.

“You two practicing a new spell? Going to try and recreate some of Zecora’s potions?” Twilight levitated over a plate of pancakes and set them down in front of the dragon.

“Whatever it is, your ever-eager assistant is ready to help!” Twilight giggled warmly at the dragon’s vigor. "Just please don't turn me into a newt this time, okay?"

Starlight grumbled flatly. "You got better."

“No nothing like that today.” Twilight dismissed his assumptions with a friendly smile.

“Actually today, Princess Celestia needs some important documents gone over before she can actually finalize them, and with me being the newest Princess of Equestria, she wants me to read them over. They will be coming through the mail later in the afternoon.” She paused for a second to grab her own plate before taking a seat across from her assistant. "And Starlight is going to help me."

Starlight sat down next to Spike with her own breakfast, her expression clearly nonplussed.

"Yippee." She stated grumpily. Twilight didn't notice.

Spike raised an eyebrow in confusion. Not that Princess Celestia was sending her paperwork for Twilight to do (Twilight loved working with boring Equestrian documents), but that the princess was sending it to them through the mail.

“Why's she sending important legal documents through the mail?” He asked questioningly. "Wouldn't it be safer to send them each through me?” Spike felt more then a little hurt that he wasn't chosen to be purveyor of such documents.

Twilight smiled and stifled a giggle. “Well she could have done that. That is, if you wanted to burp up enough scrolls to fill a crate the size of our sofa.”

The though of that many scrolls gave the baby dragon indigestion. He did not want to have to repeat a similar role to the one he played back when Discord broke free from his stone prison in Canterlot.

“Point taken.”

Using a fork, Twilight placed a piece of her pancakes into her mouth. “It’s probably going to take us the rest of the day to complete when it finally gets here.” She said speaking through her full mouth.

Starlight silently groaned. Spike raised a curious ear.

“And maybe some time into the night?” He asked in obvious hope.

Starlight cocked a brow. "Why's that matter?" She asked curiously.

Twilight also gave the dragon a curious look. She replied, “I don’t think so, but I do intend to turn-in early considering how monotonous some of this paperwork can get over time. Why do you ask?”

Spike didn't answer immediately, and instead faintly nodded his head as he tried to avoid her gaze. “No reason.”

"Ooo-kay...?" Twilight said questioningly.

The dragon didn't reply and instead decided to remain silent, he seemingly wanting to drop the matter. The mares continued to stare at him in confusion, before ultimately shrugging it off. “Let’s just eat breakfast before it gets cold.” Twilight stated.

Spike nodded again in agreement and began ramming the cinnamon, banana, and cream cheese hotcakes down his throat. “And Spike, please chew before you swallow.” Twilight asked calmly, narrowly moving her head in time to avoid a dollop of whip cream and maple syrup from hitting her square in the eye.

******
Outside the castle, the crickets chirped loudly as the seconds ticked ever closer to midnight. Hours had passed since the big pancake breakfast was eaten by Twilight and her friends.

Spike slowly creaked open the door to his room as to avoid any sudden loud noises. He stuck his head out into the hallway and scanned to see if the coast was clear.

“They've got to be asleep by now…” He said sneaking into the hallway.

An unholy sound, like that of a dying animal, echoed loudly from the direction of Twilight's room. Spike smirked knowingly.

“Yep, out like a light.”

Spike slowly shut his bedroom door, producing a low “click” when it closed.

He crept through hallway silently, watching his every step cautiously to make sure his draconic claws didn’t tap noisily against the crystalline floors. Soon after a little navigation of the castle hallways, Spike finally found his way to the front door. He opened it as gently as he did his own bedroom.

“Okay now, let’s see what those fillies have been cooking up.” He quickly and silently closed the door behind him, before breaking into a sprint towards the outskirts of town.

“So, this is the child that will save the world?” A haunting feminine voice spoke. She sounded unimpressed by the little dragon’s visage running soundlessly through her crystal ball.

A colorful bird resting on a perch besides her also watched the ball intently, its green and blue feathers glowing like the embers of a campfire. It straightened a small black bow-tie that hung around its neck with its wing before answering its master.

“Or so says the crystal ball, Your Radiance.” The bird spoke in a proper tone, almost gentlemanly, if not for its womanly voice.

“Hmm… And the Dark Djinn’s power alone will not suffice…?” The mare's voice vibrated with an echo like rhythm.

“I fear not.”

The mare tapped her stripped hoof against her crystal ball. She asked her bird another question. “What is the hatchling’s name?”

“Spike, Your Radiance.” The mare remained silent. Her silence quickly spread to the rest of the room. The name somehow resonated with her, like it was important in more ways then she knew.

“Spike…”

On the outskirts of town, Spike had just reached the top of the tallest hill that overlooked Ponyville. He could now see every square inch of the town from his higher elevation, and yet even still he could not find any trace of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“Where are they?” He grumbled to himself. “Apple Bloom said to meet with them on the outskirts of town?!" Spike scratched his head in confusion, before noticing a bridge on the other side of Ponyville. "Maybe she meant the outskirts on the other side of town?"

He looked around. Not seeing the Crusaders anywhere near him, he began to think his new assumption was correct. Spike threw his arms up in exasperation. “But that means, I wasted all that time climbing up here!" He groaned and started heading back down the incline.

“I guess I shouldn’t be too mad about it, though.” He grumbled. "Its not like I asked where exactly we'd be meeting at."

Spike was annoyed, but he didn't fully blame the Crusaders. From past experience, he knew that the CMC were trustworthy, if only a little bit frustrating. Apple Bloom wouldn’t lie to him, and even if she did he’d know about it. If they said they’d meet him on the outskirts of town they would, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. He was certain of that.

“I just wish they’d figure out how to give more specific directions.” Spike muttered.

Before he could reach the bottom of the hill, a loud piercing whistle cried out into the night. Spike clamped his claws over the fins on head as he nearly felt his eardrums explode from the sudden appearance of sound. He turned around in surprise, only to see a little orange filly beckoning him back up the hill and further out of sight from the town's perimeter. Finally having his destination, Spike rushed towards the filly and only stopped once he was face to face with her. The guilty look she was giving him told the young dragon she could clearly see his own sour expression.

“So what happened to keeping quiet?” He asked with a furrowed brow.

“You were taking forever to find us, so I thought I’d find a way to get your attention.” Scootaloo stated matter-a-factly.

“By using a soccer whistle?” Spike questioned. “You could have woken up the entirety of the Everfree forest, let alone Ponyville.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes before turning away from the dragon. “Yeah well... it got you here didn’t it?” She started off down the opposite side of the hill. “Come on, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are waiting!”

Spike quickly chased after the filly, and soon the two came upon the other two members of the CMC waiting for them. Spike noted as he got closer, that two other fillies were standing around a large tarped object and that all three were illuminated by a rusty old lantern, their only light source save for Luna's moon.

“What kept ya, slowpoke?” Apple Bloom said with a smile.

“Sorry about that, I got lost." Spike answered sarcastically. "Apparently the 'outskirts of town' encompasses more then just one hill twenty yards off the southside." The fillies grimaced in response.

"Ah guess we could've been a little more specific." Apple Bloom said embarrassedly.

Spike signed. “That's true, but it isn't completely your fault. I didn't ask." He said apologetically. "But anyways, is this what you've been working on?” He pointed towards the large tarped object.

The fillies smirked at each other before turning towards the tarp. "Yes Spike, this is it."

Spike cocked an eyebrow. “And what is it?"

“This is she, Spike.” Apple Bloom announced. “Ah present to you!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle took the tarp in their teeth before pulling it from the object. Spike’s eyes widened in amazement. "The Crusader!!!"

“Name and design patent-pending by the CMC.” Scootaloo added.

Spike stood silent, his mouth agape at the fillies’ creation. It was a polished wooden kart carved and polished to make an aerodynamic design even Rainbow Dash would be proud of. It was made of smoothed and sanded apple wood with wheels more sturdy-looking then the wheels of any carriage Spike had ever seen. A large picture of the CMC symbol was painted on the hood of the kart. It looked so glorious, it was almost as if it was speaking to the dragon. It was saying: “Drive me~”

Spike could barely speak. “Is… is that…” Spike continued to stare at the red and gold painted kart.

“An applewood derby kart? Why yes, yes it is.” The fillies could barely say another word before the baby dragon shot towards their creation. He eyeballed it like a professional.

“Girls... have I ever told you how awesome you all are?!” Sweetie Belle began to blush. “You three really built this all by yourselves?”

Apple Bloom began nodding, but then Sweetie Belle quickly spoke up. “Actually it was Apple Bloom who did most of the work.” She complimented.

“Yeah it wouldn’t look nearly as nice as it does now, if it weren’t for Apple Bloom.” Scootaloo added.

Apple Bloom blushed humbly. “It was nothin’ really, the hardest part was finding a block of apple wood big enough without anypony noticing." She paused. “All Ah really had to do besides that was carve it out of the block. It was Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle who got her running and painted.” She spoke barely over a whisper, clearly sheepish of her friend’s praise.

You kidding!” Spike gushed. “This is amazingly designed Apple Bloom!” Her blush reddened.

“Shucks, Ah just know my way around wood working, is all.”

Spike looked back at the pride stricken ponies. He asked them quizzically, “Anypony have a chance to drive it yet?”

“Eenope!” Apple Bloom answered with her family’s trademarked drawl. “We were waiting for the two of you to show up before we hit the derby course."

Spike scratched the back of his head tentatively. “Won't the noise from the kart riding the course wake up everypony in Ponyville?” The crusaders nodded their heads in unison. Spike was confused. "But what about keeping it a secret?"

"It's a risk we have to take." Scootaloo explained. "The derby track is the only place in the area where we can truly test how well she handles. The track is practically all turns so it'll be a challenge for her. But if she can handle it, then we'll know for certain that she can handle anything."

Spike nodded agreeing with her logic. "Makes sense I guess. So then who's going to drive it?"

Sweetie Belle scratched her chin as she began to ponder .“I don’t think we ever decided.” She stated. “We might have been too excited to actually think about it.”

“Well in any case, we can’t do anythin’ unless we know for sure the coast is clear.” Apple Bloom spoke matter-of-factly. She turned her attention back towards Spike.

“Spike, could ya go back into Ponyville and make sure that the coast is completely clear for the Crusader’s maiden voyage. We’ll make our decision by the time ya get back.” Spike nodded, before taking off back over the hill.

“Don’t start anything without me!” He shouted back towards the girls.

"We won't!" Apple Bloom replied.

The girls smiled and huddled together like they had done earlier in the day. “Alright, so who driving this thin’?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Not it!” Sweetie said.

The two looked decidedly towards Scootaloo, who herself had an anxious look on her on face. “Hey don’t look at me, I’m not doing it! The three of us built that thing remember!”

******
Spike scanned his way through the silent streets of Ponyville. He didn't see any lights on, no ponies seemed to be walking the streets and all the doors and windows to the houses looked closed and locked. The coast seemed clear.

“It definently looks like everypony's asleep.” He stated, satisfied by his search. “Better go tell the gir-”

“Don’t go!”

Spike froze in place upon hearing a sudden voice. He could have sworn he was the only one out this late.

“Hello?” The dragon turned around to see a gray earth filly with a darker grey mane. Spike fell to his rump in surprise. She was about a foot or two away for where he was standing, and she was not there before.

“How did she sneak up on me?” He thought. “Where did she come from even?”

Spike got back to his feet, allowing him to see the filly more clearly. She wore a white unassuming dress, similar to a night gown, with light blue slippers on her four hooves. Her eyes, much like her coat and mane, were a dull grey with pools of black in their centers signifying her irises. She had a worried look about her as she continued to speak.

“It’s bad!” Her voice reminded Spike of a younger filly, not Cutie Mark Crusader age, but defiantly a filly around six or seven years old.

“Please, Spike… Don’t go!” Spike was shocked. He stepped back with concern.

“Who… who are you?” His voice carried a hint of a tremor. “How do you know my name?”

“Spike!” Spike turned to see his friends running towards him.

“We’ve decided who’s going to drive the Crusader!”

Spike quickly brought a finger to his snout, signaling the trio to shush. “Quite! Somepony saw me!”

The crusaders’ eager faces soon turned to that of worry. Did they just blow their own secret?

Sweetie whispered to the dragon before her. “Who was it? Was it anypony we know?”

Spike thought about the filly, about how she looked. “I don’t think so, it was just that filly over…” He looked back over his shoulder. The filly was gone.

“Huh?” Scootaloo followed Spike's gaze and stared in confusion. “I don’t see anypony.”

Spike was befuddled. “But I swear she was right there just before…”

Spike suddenly felt a soft hoof pat him on the back. He turned to see Apple Bloom. “Ya must be goin’ screwy or somethin’. Come on we have the Crusader set up already.”

The trio of fillies ran off back towards their creation, leaving Spike alone in his daze. “Just... my imagination, I guess.” He ran off after the fillies.

“Spike… the dragon who will save the world…”

The mare and her bird continued to watch as Spike chased after the young fillies over Ponyville's many grassy fields.

“But unfortunately for him, his light is nothing more than a mere candle in the blackness.” A light blue gloved hoof raised over the crystal ball. It seemed to caressing it, even though it never actually touched it.

“Indeed.” The glowing bird agreed. “He may be the child the prophecy speak of, but he is a child nonetheless.”

A serious hoof pointed towards the bird, regaining its attention.

“Yet even still he is a dragon, and dragons tend to be…” The mare paused. “...Disturbingly powerful creatures.” The glove she wore turned gold as the mare clenched her hoof.

“A single adult dragon alone has the capacity to terrorize an entire country for eons, and still live through that time with nary a scar.” The mare placed her hoof in her lap as she continued to speak. “He maybe young, but considering the prophecy, might this one not prove to be equally tenacious?”

Her body was light black in color and was shaped to have a slender mare’s physic. Her coat was covered in glowing tears, like long holes cut into fabric, making her look like she was sporting vibrant zebra stripes. They each shined with a pinkish red glow, similar to the glow of her gloves.

“And what would you have me do, Your Radiance?” The mare readjusted herself in her throne. A pair of light black wings fluttering a little before rejoining with her sides.

“Such saplings must not be allowed to grow.”

The bird bowed to the mare, its wings spread wide like it was about to take flight. “Very well, Your Radiance.”

The bird rose back up its full height, its wings still out stretched. Its pink eyes began to glow as a growing heat rose off its body. The bird burst into emerald flame that jumped from its pedestal like a snake striking from a tree. The head of the fire trail collided with the crystal ball and the flames evaporating as they slithered inside.

The crystal ball began to glow an ominous blood red as is images continued to play unobstructed. The mare turned back to the orb to watch her plan unfold.

“He who would try to save this doomed world…”

Her eyes narrowed hatefully at the small drake.

“Must die!”

******
The roars of a hideous beast continued to cry out through the hallways of friendship castle. Twilight snuggled deeper into her pillow as her snoring made way for her dreams. In her current dream, she was imaging herself in the place of a heroine in book she had recently read. She fantasied about her favorite scene from the book, where the heroic love interest, a handsome pirate stallion, took the heroine mare in his muscular front legs and...

“Mom! Help me!”

Twilight sprung to haunches as she looked around her room. The air was silent, but she was certain somepony had called out to her. She placed a hoof to her head and contemplated in the dead silence.

“Was it… Was it a dream?” She looked around her room again, she heard nary a peep. Stretching her legs, she let out a yawn before laying back to down in her bed. The sheets she had kicked off in surprise were slowly levitated back up to cover her body, her eyelids began to flutter shut. She was happy to be returning to her dreams.

“Mom! Please!” Twilight shot out of her bed to stand on the floor this time. The voice had called out to her again and it sounded so familiar.

“Spike?” She called out her door and down the hallway. She didn't receive an answer.

She moved through her doorway, using her magic to close it as she entered the hall. Her hooves clopped nosily on the cold crystalline floor, her tired mind chipping away at her current situation. “What does that dragon need so badly that he feels he needs to wake me up at the crack of dawn?” She thought irately as she rubbing her itchy eyes.

She stopped before her dragon assistant’s door once she reached it and stifled another yawn. The door was shut. “Probably just part of my dream,” Twilight mumbled. She reached for the doorknob. “He’s probably still asleep in his bed and I made the trek down here for nothing.” She opened the door. “Spike’s right, I need to stop panicking over every little things.”

After opening the door completely, she looked around Spike’s room, everything looked about the same. Especially, the breathing mass hiding under the covers of his bed. She sighed, her unfounded worry subsiding.

“See Twilight, nothing is wrong.” She mumbled to herself. “Just your dreams playing tricks on you.” She scrunched her face in thought. “Still though, it doesn’t explain why they made Spike call me mom?” She shrugged, believing that was matter better suited for morning. She snuck in closer towards the bed. She had made the trip down here, might as well check on her “quote-on-quote” son. She giggled a little bit, feeling a tad strange that she did.

Twilight stood over Spike’s bed inspecting the breathing lump. She smiled softly. “He was always so cute when he slept.” Twilight’s mind automatically went back to the memories of when she was a filly, and how an infant Spike would always find her whenever he was tired. He would always nuzzle up to her like an affectionate cat before he let out a soft yawn, then he curl up in her hooves to take a nap.

Pressure started to build in Twilight’s heart. She couldn’t take it anymore, she need to see her sleeping baby dragon again, if for nothing else than for nostalgia’s sake. Her magic's aura enveloped the cover as she gently pulled them from the sleeping form. Her warm smile sunk, and panic began to return to her once she saw who was under the covers. In place of her precious dragon assistant was a snoozing owl clearly enjoying the soft mattress.

Twilight shouted in surprise waking the owl from his slumber. “Owlowiscious! What are you doing in Spike’s bed! Where is Spike?!”

Owlowiscious groggily lifted himself from the bed’s warm embrace. It had been a tough morning for him. Not only was he supposed to be asleep at the time, but his master had him flying both backwards and forwards helping her sort documents from the other princess. To say he needed to sleep-in a little was an understatement.

He turned his gaze towards the princess his black orb-like eyes half lidded. “Hoo?”

Twilight furled her brow even harder. “You know who? Now where is he?!” The owl stiffened up at her frustrated gaze. He gave a shrug of his wings to better restate his answer. Twilight’s expression changed in an instant, from frustration to concern. She took to the air, darting back out the door and down the hallway.

Spike!” She called the echoes of her screams ringing down the castle's hallways. Again, she received no answer. She dove down the stairwell into the main foyer, landing just before the front door. Worry flooded her mind as she darted her gaze about the tiles of the crystalline flooring.

“Where could he…” Her eyes opened wide, memories of their morning coming back to her. She remembered him saying, “And maybe some time into the night?” She replied with. “I don’t think so, but I do intend to turn-in early considering how monotonous some of this paperwork can get over time. Why do you ask?” Then he said, "No reason."

The pieces of the proverbial puzzle soon fell into place as she mentally kicked herself for being so oblivious. “Spiiiiike!” She growled. The front door opened with a loud slam as it glowed in her aura.

"Twilight!" Twilight looked back over her shoulder and saw Starlight standing at the top of main lobby's stairwell. Using her magic, the unicorn pulled a pair of earplugs out of her ears before she continued speaking. "What in the hay is going on."

Twilight didn't answer and instead stomped out into the streets, one goal clear in her mind. In concern, Starlight darted down the stairs and out the door after the enraged alicorn. She remained silent as she followed her.

Twilight growled darkly as she trudged threateningly into the night. “Spike D. Dragon, you’re in so much trouble when I find you!”

Author's Note

This chapter took a while to figure out, but I've got to say I am very happy with the result. Basically this one is just more build up to the actual adventure, so I'm sorry if you wanted to see parallel worlds in this chapter, but as they say: "You can't build a house without nails and wood."

Who are they you may ask? Probably these guys:

Anyways, and as always, I own nothing, all property belongs to respective owners. Twilight's dream is directly based off the fic "The Buzzing Pest" by SirNinji. It's a great story right here on fimfiction.net and I suggest looking it up, it's pretty funny.

Chapter 3: The Incident

Spike chased after the trio of fillies until they had reached the top of the hill where The Crusader had been parked. Two large rocks were propped up in front of the applewood kart's front tires to keep it from rolling away.

They all stopped in front the kart and took a minute catch their breath. “Alright…” Spike huffed. “So who…is going...to drive it first?” The Cutie Mark Crusaders smirked through their equally labored breaths and each turned back towards the dragon.

“We’ve put a lot of thought into it...” Scootaloo wheezed.

“And we decided...” Sweetie Belle continued.

“That you should be the first ta drive The Crusader.” They all began breathing regularly again, as Apple Bloom finished their statement. Spike’s eyes widened with glee.

“You mean it?!” Spike exclaimed, prior thoughts of exhaustion now cleared from his mind.

“Eeyep!” Apple Bloom stated happily. “Just hop in the driver’s seat and we’ll get ya started.”

Spike didn’t hesitate. He leaped into the driver's seat of the fillies' applewood kart. He felt the kart's leather upholstery cushion compress against his tail as he sat down.

“Leather?” Spike questioned as he ran his hand over the seat.

“Yeah, we found a whole bunch of it just laying in the backroom of Rarity’s boutique.” Sweetie said, suddenly appearing next to the kart. “We're not entirely sure why she had so much of it though?” Spike grimaced at the filly's statement, but ultimately shrugged in acceptance. It was not his place, nor in his interests, to wonder were leather materials came from in world mainly dominated by horses.

Apple Bloom appeared on the opposite side of the Crusader. “The controls are very simple.” She explained as she pointed her hoof about the kart. “The wheel in front of ya is ta turn, and the pedal on the bottom is ta break.” Scootaloo suddenly popped up next to Apple Bloom, she was holding a small hoofball helmet in-between her hooves. The farm filly smiled. “And this is ta protect yer head in case of accidents.”

With a flurry of quick movement, Scootaloo then violently shoved the tiny helmet snuggly on Spike’s noggin. The helmet hugged the dragon's skull so tightly, Spike found he could barely see and he quickly tried to adjust it.

“Any questions?” Spike slowly shook his head from side to side as he tried to pry off his helmet. The three fillies' smiles grew wider with excitement. ”Well if ya don't have any questions, let’s start the countdown!”

The two other fillies cheered unison. "Yeah!"

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo quickly rush towards the front of the kart and each took their places by the big rocks in front of its tires. Spike, for his part, continued to struggle with the helmet.

“3…” Scootaloo lifted her hoof.

“2…” Sweetie Belle lifted her hoof.

“1…” The two fillies each kicked their respective rocks out from under the tires. "Go!" All three crusaders watched zealously as the Crusader began to roll. Slowly it reached the hill's incline, and gravity started to do its work. Quickly their applewood kart started to pick up speed and shot down the hill like a falling cannonball.

With one final tug, Spike lifted the confining helmet out from in front of his eyes. He could feel the kart moving. "Wait, are we starting?" He looked back expecting one of the fillies to answer his question, but soon realized how much distance the kart had traveled since its starting point.

"Aaagggghhhhh!!!" Spike screamed in utter surprise as grasped tightly onto the kart's steering wheel.

“And we're off!” Scootaloo shouted triumphantly. The three fillies raced down the hill after their creation.

The Crusader had begun veering less since Spike took the wheel. The ride became smoother, and an air of confidence soon overtook the dragon. The first turn of the Applewood derby course soon came into view. Spike smiled with conviction and narrowed his gaze at the oncoming turn. Upon reaching the turnpike of the course Spike pulled hard on the right side of the steering wheel, turning the kart so it shot down through the rest of the derby course.

Spike took the next few turns as skillfully as he did the first. He heard a couple whooping cheers. The dragon looked into the Crusader's side view mirror and saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo cheering for him just outside the course. He smiled, and turned so he could wave at the applauding fillies. Suddenly, he felt the car jump as it hit a large stone set directly in the Crusader's path.

The kart began to fly even faster as it veered wildly across and around the track. The fillies gasped. Only when Spike retook his seat did he notice how hard the stone he had hit, and by now it was too late. The right wheels had run over the large jagged stone causing the Crusader to bump and bounce violently on the dirt road. The back right wheel had been broken after colliding with the stone and it shook back and forth unevenly as the kart tried to remain balanced. Spike quickly went for the brake, slamming it with all the fear-addled might he could give. The applewood kart lurched at the sudden stop, and a loud crack sounded out in response. The back wheel had broken off its axel.

The three crusaders released another collective gasp as they watch their creation veer from its original path and careened off the derby track's set boundaries. The fillies continued to watch in shocked silent as the Crusader rocketed towards town. The dragon’s screams of panic finally struck their ears.

“Spike!” They shouted simultaneously before chasing after the drake.

Spike tried spastically to turn the applewood kart, but with the kart’s broken axel digging divots in an unbalanced lurch it did little to change his trajectory. He went for the brake again, it seemed to slow the kart down a bit, but sadly not enough as an oncoming tree suddenly came into view. The Crusader slammed hard into the truck of the tree and with a resounding crash, created a sound so powerful that there was no doubt everypony in Ponyville could hear it.

******
Twilight silently flew through the night like an owl searching for prey. She was deathly worried for her best friend's safety, but that still didn't mean she wanted to rudely wake everypony else up in the middle of the night. She dived and darted through every alley way, over every building, and even under every bridge to find her draconic assistant, but yet still to no avail. Her tempered mood had drastically cooled since she had first left the castle and started searching, leaving only her feelings of concern rather than her frustration.

Twilight gently fluttered back to earth, she noticed Starlight running towards her. A slightly hopeful expression overtook the alicorn. "Did you see him?" She asked expectantly. Starlight only shook head in response, and Twilight's slight smile fell.

"I'm sorry Twilight, I searched everywhere on the ground. I didn't seen him anywhere." Forlornly, Twilight stared down at the dirt road beneath her hooves. A few noticeable hairs where sticking up wildly from her usually well cared for mane.

"Spike... where did you go?" Twilight mumbled silently as if on the verge of tears. She never did like it when Spike went off on his own without acknowledging her. Ever since she befriended Owlowiscious and inadvertently caused Spike to jealously storm off into the Everfree alone, not knowing where he was at all times always created a pit in her stomach. Not knowing where to find him always scared her.

Starlight's look of concern deepened as she stared at the downtrodden mare. She raised her hoof and placed it on her mentor's back. Starlight rubbed Twilight's spine in the most soothing way she could manage.

Twilight looked up towards the other mare for comfort. Starlight frowned, her mentor was actually crying.

"Starlight please..." She wheezed through tearful eyes. "...I want my Spike back." Starlight, despite her deep concern, didn't know how to respond.

A load crash was suddenly heard by both mares. It sounded like wood collided painfully with more wood, and both splintered and broke as a result of the force. Around Ponyville lights in multiple windows and doors began to flicker to life. Twilight and Starlight quickly turned towards the origin of the sound.

Near the outskirts of town, a flock of birds had swiftly taken to the sky, as if recently frightened from their home. Twilight’s heart sank with fear. She couldn’t tell why, but she knew Spike was there. Of all the places he could have been, she knew that sound was a result of his actions.

Twilight galloped towards the crash as fast as she could, the fatigue and perspiration from her frantic searching no longer thoughts in her mind. Starlight was surprised by the alicorn mare's sudden burst of speed, but ultimately followed in pursuit.

"Please be safe! Please be safe!” Twilight repeated these words in her mind as if they were her new mantra. Her wings spread from her body as she took to the air. Starlight followed by engulfing herself in her own magic. Multiple dark outcomes began to race through Twilight's mind, most of them too fast for her to even pick up, as she speeded towards the once roost of the frightened flock of birds. “Please be safe! Please be safe!” Echoed again loudly in her mind, all but overshadowing one other prominent thought in the back of her mind, one far too quiet for her to hear.

“Don't worry Spike, Mama's coming!"

******

In an alleyway overlooking the crashed applewood kart, a small pile of combined refuse ignited. The flaming garbage soon grew as it burned until it resembled a decently sized, green and blue campfire. A pair of pink eyes opened within the fire and blinked. It watched intently as the three fillies from before scrambled towards the kart.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders surrounded the wreckage that was once their cherished Crusader, but at the moment their hard work being lost was the farthest concern from their minds. Their dragon friend was laying face down against the kart's steering wheel, his arms spread limply over the hood of the kart. Apple Bloom's words were shaky as she hesitantly prodded the dragon before her.

"Spike..?" She pushed the dragon back into the leather seat. What they saw made two of the fillies gasp and made Sweetie Belle want to cry. The helmet they had placed on Spike's head was severely dented from the crash and even cracked in multiple places. Spike himself was unconscious, thankfully not wounded, but clearly still was hurt judging by how his limbs hung uselessly at his sides.

Sweetie felt tears stain her ivory cheeks. She whimpered, "Is he...?" The other two fillies gulped fearfully. They looked towards the dragon and hoped to all the powers of Celestia that Spike was still breathing.

"Spike!" The Crusaders jumped in surprise when a sudden voice cried out from behind them. They turned, Princess Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer were staring at them and the wreckage with looks of equal parts shock and fear. The fillies could not hold back their emotions any longer. They rushed towards the alicorn and unicorn mares as tears flooded from their eyes like waterfalls.

"Twilight!" Apple Bloom cried as she an the other Crusaders clamped around Twilight's front forelegs. "We were testin' our new applewood derby kart on the course when the wheel broke off! Spike was drivin' it when it crashed!" Twilight's eyes widened in fear. The Cutie Mark Crusaders continued their wailing as they shouted in unison, "We're so sorry!" Twilight was no longer listening however. She quickly pulled her hooves from the fillies' embrace and bolted towards the crashed derby kart.

The fire squinted its eyes interestedly as it watched the alicorn mare pull the dragon from the wreckage with her front hooves. She cradled the dragon in her forelegs like she would a baby. She levitated the broken helmet off Spike's head to see his sleep-like undamaged form. "Spike..." She whimpered, fighting back her tears. Spike didn't respond, he didn't even flinch. Twilight's frown deepened. She pulled the motionless dragon into a deep hug. "Spike... please... I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you." Her bottom lip quivered, she was searching for the right words. "Spike... I love you."

Starlight and the Crusaders had gathered behind the crying mare as she finished her statement, they couldn't help but tear up at the mare's admittance. Starlight looked up towards the silent dragon resting his head on Twilight's shoulder. Her eyes widened, Spike's eyes were starting to flutter open.

"Tw... Twi-Twilight?" Spike groaned like he had hit his head after a minor spill. Twilight paused in her weeping, she held the dragon out straight in her forelegs so she could look him in the eyes. He smiled sheepishly at the alicorn mare. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?"

A smile spread across Twilight's face, it was the biggest smile Spike had ever seen Twilight give anypony. "Oh thank Celestia, Spike!" She pulled the baby dragon into another tight embrace and smothered his face with kisses. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

Spike blinked in confusion, he had never seen his friend act like this before, especially on his account. He always knew Twilight cared deeply for him, on multiple occasions he would even call her his best friend, but to see her on the brink of tears and turmoil because of something he did was an entirely new experience. He felt his eyes begin to water, it dawned on him that he had nearly killed himself and, what's worse, nearly broke his best friend's heart. All because he wanted to ride a stupid applewood kart.

Twilight felt the dragon wrap his claws around her barrel, he was crying. "I'm sorry Twilight!" He whimpered. "I never meant hurt you!"

The Princess of friendship smiled warmly. "It's okay Spike. I'm just glad your safe." She nuzzled the side of his head affectionately before placing the dragon back down on the ground...

...directly across from the dimly glowing alley.

The fire's eyes furrowed evilly. Now was its chance to strike.

A small trail of flame slither away from the larger mass of blue green fire. As the trail grew longer the fire became smaller, until nothing was left but the burning trail. The fires slowly extinguished revealing a slender slippery form leaving a trail of unburnt feathers in its wake, a snake with scales painted as black as ash.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed past the alicorn mare and quickly glomped onto their draconic friend. "Spike!" They shouted in unison as they hugged him. Spike blushed, since when did he become so popular. He suddenly felt a peck on his cheek, he didn't know where it came from, but fortunately no pony else seemed to notice.

Starlight trotted up next to Twilight, her looks of concern had not yet dissipated. "What were you four thinking?!" She stated authoritatively. "You could of all gotten yourselves killed!" The fillies and Spike broke from their embrace. They all now looked and felt incredibly guilty. "Don't think just because we're happy to see you all alright, will lighten your punishments." Starlight continued.

Twilight nodded. "That's right. Rest assured that we will be telling your sisters and parents about all of this." The children's looks of guilt soon turned to looks of impending doom. But solemnly they nodded in response. The elder mares' authoritative expression made way for warm smiles. "Come on," Twilight said, "let's get you all home. It's way past your bedtimes."

Twilight and Starlight ushered the fillies forward leaving Spike to pull up the rear. An audible hissing was heard, Spike turned back around. His eyes widened with fear. A snake roughly his size in height was cocked back in a striking positon. Spike could not voice his words, his terror kept him still and silent. Twilight looked back upon noticing Spike's absence from the group, she gasped upon seeing the scene playing out in front of her. The snake bared it fangs, Twilight charged, the snake struck and Spike let out a scream.

"Twilight!!"

******

Beep... Beep... Beep...

Spike felt sick to his stomach. He was ringing his hands nervously as the continuous beeps of the hospital's heart monitor rang out throughout the sterile room he found himself in.

Twilight was laying on a hospital bed in front of him, dressed in a blue patient's gown with an I.V. plugged into her left foreleg. A large pair of hole-like gashes were deeply embedded into her right foreleg. They made him feel sick, the fact he could still see them despite them being completely bandaged in gauze. She looked so peaceful, he thought, almost like the alicorn mare was sleeping.

Spike briefly turned back towards the opened hallway door behind him. Starlight was having a conversation with their friends, but he didn’t hear the words. Like his own, their eyes were bloodshot and red. They all had been crying since they had heard the news. He looked back at the pony resting before him, memories of better times were dancing in his head.

Spike squinted his eyes, he felt more tears starting to leak out. He whimpered, he didn't want to cry anymore. Spike clenched his fists at his sides. He bit his bottom lip trying to stay strong...

...but he couldn't take it anymore. He wailed, pointing his snout straight towards the ceiling, his arms hanging limply at his sides. The seven mares paused in their conversation and all looked towards the baby dragon standing alone on the medical floor, their hearts all but shattered.

Like a lost child trapped in the woods without his parents, Spike wailed out every inch of pain he was currently feeling. Pinkie Pie, the naturally most optimistic and hopeful of the group, sniffled. She fought against her own set of tears as she shot towards the baby dragon. She pulled him into the warmest most reassuring hug she could muster in this hour of grief. Spike seemed unfazed as he continued to release his anguish.

The other mares all began to tear, even Rainbow Dash and Applejack who were known for their strong wills, found they could fight against their emotions. Twilight's breathing was shallow and very weak, her chest barely rose and fell. But even despite the wailing happening right next to her, she continued to sleep completely unaware of the situation around her.

Spike screamed. "I don't want her to go!"

"She's not goin' anywhere sugarcube!" Applejack shouted in reply. She trotted over towards the crying dragon, and in a trembling voice said, "The doctors are doin' everythin' they can to make sure she doesn't go anywhere!" She grabbed Spike by the sides of his head and forced him to look her in the eyes. Her brows were furrowed, she was serious. "And if they say they can't do anythin' more, well they're gonna have to talk to me!" She grit teeth aggressively.

"And don't forget me!" Spike looked back over Pinkie's shoulder, Rainbow Dash was floating in their with her front hooves crossed over her chest. Her expression was just as ferocious as Applejack's.

Spike sniffled, his wailing stopped. He felt something soft and glossy rubbing up against his cheek. "Spike, precious scales, I'm so sorry." Rarity sounded about ready to start wailing herself, but continued to nuzzle her friend.

"I can't believe an animal would do something like this..." Fluttershy expressed dourly. "...Attacking a pony unprovoked." Rainbow Dash growled audibly and glared at butter yellow pegasus.

"Well it did Fluttershy! It did!" She shouted hatefully. "That slimy serpent poisoned our friend and then beat it like a coward." Tears were streaming from her eyes. "What I wouldn't give to show him the business end of a shovel!"

Fluttershy frowned, but refused to argue. Right now she didn't trust herself not make good on Rainbow's threats, if given the chance.

Pinkie felt Spike struggle in her grasp. She placed him back on the floor. He was calmer, but the tears never left his eyes. "Thanks everypony." He sniffed. "Do you... do you think she'll be alright?"

The mares were hesitant to answer. A sudden knock on the door pulled them away from the heavy question. Dr. Stables, a stallion with a lab coat, glasses, yellow fur and a finely combed brown mane, was standing in the doorway. His expression was unreadable.

"Can I talk to the seven of you for a minute?" The mares grimaced at each other, before turning to look at Spike.

"We're only going to be away for a minute, Spike. We'll you be okay on your own?" Starlight asked. Spike rubbed his arm tentatively. He faked a brave face as he answered. "I-I'll b-be alright." The mares could clearly note his tremor, but decided to follow the doctor out of the room anyway.

Spike sighed heavily once the mares were out of earshot. He felt about ready to start wailing again.

"Sp-Spike..." A weak voice called out from behind him.

Spike's eyes widened and he turned around. Twilight's head was turned sideways and she was looking at him with half-lidded eyes.

"Twilight!" He shouted in surprise.

******
The mares and doctor continued walking until they had made a good distance between themselves and Twilight's room.

"Now what's all this about." Applejack asked curtly.

Dr. Stables sighed. He levitated a manila folder over towards the mares. "I need one of you to sign this."

"Wh-what is it?" Starlight asked forebodingly. She didn't think she wanted to know the answer.

The stallion levitated his glasses off the bridge of his snout, and rubbed it forlornly. He hated this part of the job. "That is a form that will temporarily give one of you custody over Spike the dragon." The mares collectively gasped.

"But what about Twilight!" Pinkie shouted in shock.

"Whatever bit her is like nothing we've ever seen before here at Ponyville General." He stated. "The snake's venom is infecting her system faster then we can treat it." Applejack began to grit her teeth. "I'm sorry but there's nothing more we can do."

"That's horse-apples!" The doctor was legitimately surprised when he felt the farmer mare collide with his body and press him up again the hallway wall. "I promised the little darlin' in that room there, that you were savin' his best friend!" Dr. Stables noticed that mares wasn't as much angry as she was devastated. "Ya can't just give up on her now!" Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"Again, I'm sorry." He stated this time with a little more tact. "But we can't treat this." The mares' ears each pressed down broken-heartedly against their skulls. The doctor continued. "The most humane thing we can do now is unplug her and stop poison before it eats her completely from the inside out."

Applejack backed off from the doctor and let him fall back to his hooves. The mares were stunned silent, they didn't know how to respond. They looked to each other for answers, but sadly found none. Eventually, all their eyes fell on the manila folder laying on the tiled floor.

Rarity levitated the folder off the ground and held it in front of the group. Applejack looked towards her friends, silently they gave her their answer. Applejack downheartedly sighed. "When ya say unplug, how soon do ya mean." The doctor grimaced.

"I would say in at least a few days. I still need to contact the family of the princess." The mares nodded. The hallway was now dead silent as the doctor stared at their downtrodden looks. Again, he sighed. He really hated this part of the job. "I'll give you all some time to decide." The mares nodded again. Dr. Stables began solemnly trotting down the hall out of earshot.

The mare's looked at the folder. Rarity opened it with her magic. The form was covered in useless legal jargon, that could clearly be stated as "you taking the kid or not?" But what took up the most of the mares' attention was the large bolded line at the bottom of the paper, with a bolded statement next to it that said, "Sign Here."

The mares grimaced. "So... who wants to become a mom?" Rainbow Dash half-heartedly faked a chuckle. The other mares didn't respond. The hallway returned to silence.

******
"Twilight!" Spike shouted ecstatically as he rushed over towards the wounded mare's side. He dug his claws into the sheets of her bed as he smiled at her. "I'm so happy your okay?" He cried.

Twilight smiled warmly. "Your so brave Spike." Her voice was still weak. "First surviving a car crash, now trudging your way through this." Spike smiled back weakly.

"We wouldn't even be here right now if it wasn't for me." His voice was trembling. He lightly hugged her. "I'm so sorry Twilight! I'm so sorry!!"

Twilight lifted her hoof and gently caressed Spike's head. "Sh...Sh...Sh..." She whispered. "It's okay. The important thing to me is that you weren't hurt." Her smile grew wider as she leaned down kissed his forehead affectionately. Unlike the kisses from before, Spike could feel the love from this one. He blushed.

"Besides... if it wasn't for you, I would have never realized how much you really meant to me." She sorely rolled onto her side and wrapped her forelegs around the dragon's neck. She pulled Spike into a deep embrace. "I love you Spike!" She stated happily. "I love you so much, my darling baby boy!" Spike noticed warm tears streaking down his best friend's cheeks. Then a realization struck him.

"Her darling baby boy?" He thought. "What does she mean by..."

Spike felt another kiss pressed against his forehead. "Thank you..." She stated. "Thank you Spike, so much for calling me mom."

Spike blinked in confusion. "But I never..." He paused in his statement. The realization came back to him. "Her darling baby boy..." He thought. "...calling me mom." He remembered back to when she pulled him out of the wreckage of the Crusader. How worried she was, how glad she was just to see him safe. She was acting just like...

Spike put his thoughts on pause as Twilight rolled back onto her back. "Oh Spike sweetie... Oh sweetie..." Her speech sounded dreamy in tone.

"Twilight...?" Spike asked in confusion.

"You'll be okay... I know you will..." Her eyelids were beginning to droop. Spike's blood froze. "...You have our friends, after all."

"Twilight!" Spike shouted.

"Be good now...for me." Her eyes slowly drooped shut as her head sunk deeper into the pillow.

Spike felt the tears return to his eyes. He shook her. "Twilight..." No response. "...Twilight?!" He shook her again. The tears were now welling up on his lower lids. "Mom..." He whimpered. Again, no response.

"No..." The tears were now streaming down his cheeks. "No!" He looked around the room for something, anything that would wake up the alicorn mare. A remote sat on the nightstand next to her bed. He recalled that most hospitals gave their patients remotes, just like that one, in case something serious happened and patient needed immediate help. He rushed over and pressed the button. His sudden burst of speed however, sent him toppling down onto his rump. He continued to cry as he stared up at the mare he now called mom.

Spike could hear the sounds of an entire team of medical ponies rushing in his direction. If he was lucky they could save her and bring her back. Spike squinted trying to wipe away his tears, but sadly they continued to flow. Somehow he knew...

...he was never going to be that lucky.

Author's Note

And thus, the catalyst for our adventure has been sown. This was a very depressing chapter to write. I will not lie to you, I inwardly cried a little bit writing this. Nothing pulls at my sympathetic heartstrings more then childhood tragedy.

Tell me what you guys think, and as always feel free to comment and critique on my work.

Chapter 4: A New Form of Comfort

There was another cold and cloudy sky above Ponyville today.

No pony in town could remember if the weather team had scheduled rain, but in truth, no pony really cared. The weather had been like this for past three days, dour and without rain. By now everypony had just assumed it was the weather team's way of expressing their grief.

It had been three days since the announcement of Princess Twilight Sparkle's death, and the kingdom was still in mourning.

Inside the castle, Spike stared up at the dreary grey sky from the inside of his bedroom window. He was seated and slumped over a writing desk he kept in the corner of his room, it was a gift from Twilight from when they had first moved into the castle. Spike had his elbows on the desk with his head resting firmly in his palms. His eyes were bloodshot, and were feeling very itchy.

The baby dragon had been crying again...

...He had been crying for past three days.

"Why does it have to hurt so much?" Spike found himself asking that same question again. That same question he first asked during that horrible night in the hospital.

He hated himself for asking why. Twilight was his closest friend; his loving caretaker; his... mother. He knew it would hurt if he ever lost her, even before he saw her as more then a friend. Now she was gone forever, and he knew he was never going to get her back. It only made sense he'd be devastated. He scolded himself for asking such questions. He should not have been asking why it hurt, because he knew very well why it did.

In anger, Spike slammed his forehead against the surface of his writing desk, and bit his bottom lip to fight against the tears he felt coming. He was sure by now that all Ponyville was sick of hearing his howling, even if everypony was too polite to say anything about it.

Spike slammed his fist against the desk in frustration. He remembered how polite everypony had acted during Twilight's funeral three days ago. He remembered how droves upon droves of ponies migrated towards the service from all corners of Equestria. Ponies Spike had never even met, came to the funeral in their best black attire and, respectfully, sat silently in the soil when all the service chairs had been taken up.

He remembered how every one of his closest friends each gave their own heartfelt speech at the ceremony in memory of his mother. How no ponies' eyes were dry that day, not even the ponies who tried to stay strong for their friends and family around them.

He remembered seeing Shining Armor, Princess Cadence and Flurryheart, and Twilight's parents, Nightlight and Twilight Velvet. They were balling their eyes out the very moment they saw Twilight laying motionless in her black casket. He remembered being pulled into the deepest hug he had ever been a part of when he went to greet them. He felt like he had always been a part of their family in that moment, that someone other than Twilight saw him as more than just an assistant.

Spike remembered making so many new friends that day. He was sure Twilight would have been proud of him for befriending so many. He had met the Hooffeilds and the Mccolts, two rival families that Twilight and Fluttershy helped bring together after a terrible feud; He had met Sky Stinger and Vapor Trail, a pegasus couple Twilight and Rainbow Dash assisted to become Wonderbolt cadets; He had met so many ponies Twilight had befriended and helped. He had heard so many stories that day.

But the biggest surprise of the wake came in the form of Discord magically appearing before the deceased's open casket. Spike remembered seeing the lord of chaos wearing a finely pressed black suit, that may have been tailored specifically for the occasion. He had groomed himself to almost look presentable, despite his naturally chaotic appearance. His expression was one of dour feeling, even somewhat somber. Spike remembered him turning towards the crowd of guests, and giving a speech. He told no jokes, he pulled no tricks, he simply expressed his deepest most personal thoughts on a mare he had come to call his friend, one of the very few he had as he explained it.

To say the least, everypony was touched by the draconequus' words. Spike secretly hoped to himself, despite the grief he had felt on that day, that the actions Discord had performed at the funeral would help other ponies see him in a more positive light.

A sudden knocking at his bedroom door quickly pulled Spike away from his recollection.

"She's early!" Spike silently screamed as he shot his claw under his desk and towards a pile of comic books he had hidden away. He pulled one off the top of his pile, and held in front of him so he could read the title. Hopefully she wouldn't notice that it was the same comic he had been reading yesterday.

The door slowly creaked open, and a butter yellow pegasus walked inside. "Spike? Are you in here?" She called out into the room.

"Hey Fluttershy." Spike answered in the most commonplace voice he could muster.

Fluttershy hesitantly stepped back upon hearing the young dragon's tone. She wasn't an expert on the grieving process, but she did know when somepony sounded like they didn't want to talk. Despite this, she refused to leave the room right away and placed a wicker picnic basket she had been carrying on the floor.

She had been visiting her friends at their houses a lot as of recent. Each of them had found their own ways of dealing with Twilight being gone, and as a result many of them have been refusing to leave their respective homes. But Fluttershy was taking things differently. She cared too much about her friends to let her grief control her. She wanted to make sure everypony else was okay before she even began thinking about her own wellbeing...

...and right now, Spike needed support more then anypony else she knew.

"Hi Spike..." She reached into the basket and pulled out a small white plate with a dessert on it. "...I brought you some apple pie." Spike didn't turn his eyes away from the comic he was reading. "I had Mrs. Cake put some gemstones in it, just for you." Spike flipped to the next page. Based on the illustrations she could now see over his shoulder, she knew he was reading the same comic from yesterday. He was deliberately trying to ignore her.

Fluttershy breathed out forlorn sigh. Of all her friends, Spike had become the toughest to talk to, which didn't really surprise her. The others had resigned themselves to simple things to help ease away their pain. Rainbow Dash opted to ignore all talk regarding Twilight as she went about her everyday life; Rarity was more talkative and was willing bring up Twilight in conversation, but her behavior had become more overly social and somewhat clingy; Applejack refused to leave Sweet Apple Acers entirely, and has been working herself to near exhaustion almost everyday. Of Fluttershy's friends, she had also turned the most hostile; Pinkie Pie had resorted to stress eating to numb her pain; and Starlight has been sleeping more often then what was generally considered healthy. Though when compared to everypony else, she was showing the most acceptance of their situation. She would probably have her habits dealt with if given enough time to grieve.

Spike was different however. He had completely shut himself off from the rest of the world. Spike barely left his room anymore, after he and Starlight returned from the funeral. Food had to be walked to him to make sure he didn't go without eating. He refused to fully speak to anypony, except through some small exchanges, like saying "Thank you" or "Hello". Of all of Twilight's friends, Spike was defiantly taking the situation the hardest, and Fluttershy was growing more and more concerned about him every passing day.

A small table sat in the against the wall in Spike's room, probably for the use of decoration. Fluttershy silently sauntered over and placed the apple pie down so Spike could grab it at his leisure. "I'm going to leave it here for you, okay?"

"Thank you, Fluttershy." Spike stated, once again, in a commonplace tone.

With another sign, the pegasus mare turned on her hooves and began heading back towards her basket. She heard a sharp "SQUEAK" as she brought hoof down. She quickly looked down at the floor to see what she had stepped on.

A small pony doll, with mismatched button eyes and a pair of blue pants, was crushed under her hoof. When she raised it however, the doll quickly returned to it's normal shape with another sharp "SQUEAK".

"Is this...?" Fluttershy leaned down to examine the toy. "Ms. Smarty Pants?"

Twilight's favorite foalhood doll was laying in the center of Spike's room, almost as if it had been completely forgotten. She leaned further down to pick it up, but soon noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Spike had glanced at her, before quickly shifting back to look at his comic. It was brief, but she could clearly tell he didn't want her to mess with the doll.

Fluttershy quickly moved away from the doll and stepped over towards her picnic basket. She picked it up with her right foreleg and began trotting back towards the door. "I'll see you later Spike. Please enjoy the pie." Fluttershy stated warmly.

"I will. Thank you Fluttershy." Spike stated flatly.

With the saddest of smiles, Fluttershy looked back at Spike. She was at least a little happy that he was remembering his manners, even despite the grave events that have occurred. "Spike?"

Spike could sense she wanted to ask him something. Despite himself, he turned to look at the mare. "Yes?"

Fluttershy stared at Spike's face and felt her heart sink. She could see his bloodshot eyes and the areas were tears stained his cheeks. It took every ounce of her own willpower to not to rush to the dragon's side and pull him into a deep hug. She desperately wanted to hold him and caress his back. She wanted tell him everything was going to be alright, but she couldn't. Her words would have been meaningless now. She was only his friend, not his mother.

"Be a good boy, okay?" Fluttershy asked half-heartedly.

Spike raised an eyebrow in confusion. "O-okay?"

Fluttershy didn't blame Spike for being confused. It was an odd statement to make given their relationship. Quietly, Fluttershy left the room, shutting the door softly behind her.

Spike blinked contemplatively and started turning back towards his window. He stopped midway when his eyes caught the Smarty Pants doll laying in center of the room. Spike had forgotten where he had left Twilight's toy, and seeing it abandoned on the floor somehow didn't feel right. Once again, memories started to flow through Spike's mind as he stared at the ownerless doll.

******
Fluttershy solemnly stocked through the hallways of Friendship Castle until she reached the stairwell to the lobby. At the bottom of the stairs Starlight and Scootaloo were waiting. Starlight had been sleeping before Fluttershy arrived, and Scootaloo had accompanied the pegasus with permission from her parents. The three Crusaders hadn't been seen much around Ponyville lately. For reasons unknown to Fluttershy, the fillies didn't seem to want to leave their homes. Only Scootaloo made regular ventures out, and it was usually to check on Spike.

The mare and filly noticed Fluttershy standing at the top of the stairs and stared at her expectantly. "How is he doing?" Starlight asked.

Fluttershy shook her head solemnly. She glanced back down the hallway before turning back to her friends. "He's still not saying much, and he's still trying to avoid talking to me." Fluttershy thought about bringing up the conversation with Spike she shied away from, but decided to keep it to herself. It wasn't important, and she doubted it would have changed much, even if she had acted differently.

Fluttershy descended the stairs to continue their conversation. From closer proximity, she could see the bags hanging under Starlight's eyes, and tired expression that plastered her face. "Have you been able to talk to him?" She asked Starlight.

Starlight shook her head. "He's been completely unresponsive. I've been trying to comfort him, but he just doesn't want to listen to me. I'm beginning to fear what he may be doing alone while I'll not watching him." Fluttershy gasped and placed a her hoof over her mouth. She shuttered to think what actions Starlight might be implying.

Scootaloo looked up at the two mares and gulped guiltily. She wasn't sure what they were implying, but whatever it was made her sick to her stomach. She silently began to creep past the mares and towards the stairs. She wanted to talk to Spike.

"Scootaloo?"

Scootaloo froze and turned towards the mares, whom were both staring at her. "I just was going upstairs to see Spike?" She stated.

The mares grimaced. "I don't think he wants to speak with anypony right now, Scootaloo." Starlight voiced sadly. Scootaloo hung her head sorrowfully. Just like the other times she had visited, she had been denied the chance to talk to Spike. She was always stopped at the foot of the stairwell.

Fluttershy turned back towards Starlight. An idea that had been egging at her since she had left Spike's room suddenly popped back into her mind. She spoke hesitantly, "Starlight?"

Starlight turned towards the pegasus pony. "Yes?"

"Do... Do you still have that form Dr. Stables gave us?" Starlight cocked an eyebrow in confusion.

"Y-yes?" She said hesitantly.

"I... I was just thinking..." Fluttershy stammered.

"You were just thinking that you'd sign to be Spike's temporary guardian, right?" Starlight spoke as if accusing Fluttershy of murder.

Scootaloo stared at the two mares in surprise. This was the first time she had ever heard them have this conversation, and the first time she'd ever heard about this legal guardian form.

"I... I..." Fluttershy stammered again.

"Fluttershy, Spike isn't another new animal you can just adopt and care for in your cottage!" Starlight exclaimed. "He's a baby dragon, a child. He needs a bed; Warm meals everyday that don't come from a bag; Comfort and safety knowing his guardian will always be there to protect him!" Fluttershy was beginning to cry. "Do honestly think you can support yourself, your animals and a child?!" Starlight asked expectantly.

Fluttershy shouted. "AND WHY COULDN'T I!"

Starlight was taken aback at the mare's sudden change in volume. Fluttershy was tearing profusely. "Spike is miserable here at the castle!" Fluttershy looked devastated as she screamed. "He won't talk to anypony, he won't acknowledge our existence, I'm afraid someday he may just give up!" The way she said "give up" did not sit well with either Starlight or Scootaloo.

Fluttershy fell down onto her haunches and began wiping her eyes, much to Starlight's surprise. The pegasus mare stammered between gasps. "I know your doing your best...and I know you care as deeply for Spike as I do. But I can't live like this, not while I know one my closest friends are in so much pain!"

She was begging, Starlight didn't know how to respond. "Please, Starlight..." Fluttershy brought her front hooves together in front of her. "Let me be Spike's mother. Let me take him away to someplace I can make him feel happy again."

Starlight was unresponsive. Here she was standing before Fluttershy, the mare who had shown the most strength after Twilight's passing, and she was groveling at her hooves. It would be lying to say that her sympathetic heart wasn't tided into knots after hearing her friend's heartfelt plea. Scootaloo looked both shocked and confused, and was desperately waiting for an answer. Starlight herself, despite the situation, felt a little insulted. Fluttershy was out right trying to take Spike away from her. She was saying she could better take care of the baby dragon then she herself could. She had been the one who carried Spike home after the funeral; She was the one to talk to him the most, while Fluttershy only came around four times a week; She was the one feeding him, putting him to bed, and reminding him to clean himself.

Starlight knew Fluttershy deeply cared, she wouldn't have voiced that outburst if she didn't, and only wanted what was best for Spike. But what she thought was best, was not the best thing for Spike. Starlight's answer remained unchanged, but she wasn't deliberately going to hurt her friend for caring to much.

Starlight fought back against her sorrowful and angry tears before anypony could notice them. She helped Fluttershy back to her hooves and gave her an answer. "I don't think that's the best idea right now, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy looked destroyed. Starlight quickly voiced an apology, "I'm sorry Fluttershy, it's not because of you." She quickly racked her brain for a plausible excuse. "I can't just give you the form to sign because..." she paused. "...it's not just my choice to make."

A sudden realization hit Fluttershy. "The others..." She stated.

Starlight nodded. "Yes exactly!" She stated quickly. "What if one of our friends wants to take custody of Spike. It wouldn't be fair to the others if I just let you sign right now."

More tears could be seen escaping Fluttershy's eyes. She looked saddened, but despite this nodded. "I understand, we should discuss this with the others before we make any decisions."

Starlight smiled in relief. "I'm glad you agree."

Fluttershy began stocking towards the castle's front door with head hanging low. What she said next sent a chill down Starlight's spine. "I'll meet with the others individually tomorrow, and discuss with them a time when we all can talk about this."

Starlight was beginning to sweat and a cheesy smile plastered her face. "Great idea Fluttershy!" She cheered with fake enthusiasm. "I'll see you tomorrow."

As soon as Fluttershy had left and the castle door was closed, Starlight released the most aggressive sounding groan Scootaloo had ever heard. Starlight sighed deeply and her expression quickly became much more dour. Scootaloo silently stared at the mare in concern.

"I think you should go home now, Scootaloo." Starlight grumbled indignantly.

"Are you going to be okay, Starlight?" Scootaloo asked tenderly.

"I'll be fine." Starlight spoke rather defensively. "I'm going to go take a nap."

Starlight left the room, and without any further questions, Scootaloo started back towards the castle doors.

******

"Twilight!"

The caring voice of Twilight Velvet, Twilight Sparkle's mother, rang up the stairs to her daughter's room in their small house in Canterlot.

"Twilight the carriage to school is here. You're going to be late!" She shouted again.

Random thudding and the frantic skittering of tiny hooves played like music against the wooden floorboards of the house's second story. Twilight dashed from her room spastically and bolted down the stairs, her mane was a mess with worry and her school saddle-bags looked to be crammed haphazardly with all the materials she needed for her daily classes. Included was one item that was not so necessary, but it defiantly made the filly feel better when stressed.

Twilight Sparkle slammed into the front door with haste, and quickly opened it with enough force that it swung backwards and slammed against the house's entryway wall. Twilight saw the school carriage parked just in front of her house. She called back to her mom, "Bye Mom, I'm going to school! Please look after Spike for me!"

Twilight was just about ready to leap from the front doorway to the street in one bound, when suddenly something grasped her left hind leg. She turned and noticed a distraction she really didn't need at the moment.

"Tie 'ight!"

A purple baby dragon, roughly the size of a stuffed animal, was hugging her back leg with a surprising strength only a delighted infant could muster. He smiled expectantly at her, and the unicorn filly immediately recognized that smile. He wanted to play.

"I'm sorry Spike." Twilight stated apologetically. "I can't play with you right now. I have to go school."

She gently pushed her hind leg back, releasing herself from the baby dragon's grip and sliding him backwards a few inches.

Spike grasped at the air for a few seconds realizing he was no longer holding the filly's leg.

Twilight began trotting out the front door. Spike's face quickly began contorting with worry. Using his hands, Spike shakily lifted himself onto his legs and began waddling unsteadily towards the escaping filly.

"Tie 'ight! Tie 'igh—"

He did not get far, as his tiny feet slipped on the tile floor of the house's entryway and was sent tumbling forward onto his face.

Upon hearing the crash, Twilight turned around in alarm. She saw the baby dragon was laying motionless facedown on the hard tile floor. She gasped, and floated the infant over to her with her magic.

"Spike are you okay!" The baby dragon had his eyes closed as he was nestled in the filly's forelegs. His eyelids slowly creaked open, and a blurry image of a purple unicorn slowly came into view. As soon as he could see her, Spike began reaching out with his tiny arms to grasp the filly's face happily.

"Tie 'ight!" He cheered.

Twilight sighed. She really needed to apologize to the carriage driver for having to deal with this everyday. Twilight placed Spike back on the floor so he was seated. She called out to her mother, "Mom, can you please grab Spike! I'm going to be late for magic school!"

Twilight heard her mother call back. "I'll be there to pickup my grandbaby in minute Twilight, I'm washing some dishes right now."

Twilight grumbled under her breath. She called back to her mother, "He is not your grandbaby mom! I told you, I'm to young to be a mommy!" She could hear her mother chuckling in the other room.

Twilight turned back to Spike, who was happily content sitting on the floor staring at the unicorn filly. Twilight groaned. "Spike we can't keep doing this everyday." She explained. "I have to go to school. Princess Celestia has given me the honor of being her personal student, and being late everyday doesn't show that I respect that honor."

She furrowed her brows at the baby dragon and spoke seriously. "I can't be late anymore, and that means you can't keep stopping me at the front door." She moved her muzzle closer to the baby. "Do you understand?"

Spike only continued to stare at Twilight with a vacant expression. He soon lifted his arm and place his claw on Twilight's snout.

"Tie 'ight!" He exclaimed excitedly.

Twilight groaned. "It's Twilight."

A sudden voice shouted from the carriage outside. "Twilight I have many other fillies and colts to pickup on my route to Celestia's magic school, and your making me late!" A gruff sounding stallion shouted, he was clearly one of those school carriage drivers that parents didn't completely trust.

"Sorry! I'll be right there!" She shouted back.

Twilight turned on her hooves and again began moving towards the door. Spike became worried and raised his claws to grasp the filly who was increasingly moving farther away. Tears began welling in his eyes.

"Tie 'ight!" "Tie 'ight!"

Twilight tried to ignore the baby dragon as she got closer to the school carriage. The carriage driver opened the carriage door as she grew closer.

Spike couldn't take it anymore, he opened his mouth wide an began to cry.

"WAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Twilight felt her heart sink and she stopped immediately where she stood. The carriage driver groaned. "Twilight please get in the carriage. I have other stops to make."

Twilight didn't listen and immediately began sprinting back towards the house. The carriage driver growled and slammed his hoof down on the cobblestone street. If it weren't for Princess Celestia's specific instructions to stay put while picking up her prized pupil, he would not have been dealing with this on a daily basis. Friendship lessons had there merit and all, but not when they force him into unpaid overtime.

Twilight halted right in front of Spike and wrapped her forelegs around him in a deep hug. She caressed his back and whispered in his ear. "It's okay. It's okay. I'm right here, you don't need to be upset." Spike slowly opened his eyes and quieted his wails to a soft whimper.

Twilight still felt that her baby dragon was distressed, so she began to sing a lullaby that she knew tended to calm him down.

Music began to play as it usually did in Equestria when a pony was singing from their heart. Twilight had been researching this phenomenon for months since she had become Princess Celestia's personal student. Every scholastic textbook and magical tome she had read always gave her the same answer, unicorn wizards and magic scientists couldn't explain it. The music was described by professionals as a unique brand of Equestrian magic that only appeared when emotions were at their highest. It helped express to other ponies important points of view or feelings that a certain individual was experiencing at the moment. It had no source and no reason for existing, but it did never-the-less. It was a mystery of life that most Equestrian citizens had become accustom to expecting.

Once she finished her song, she notice Spike was no longer whimpering. She didn't know what the lullaby was about, even back when her own mother use to sing it to her, but it always seemed to make Spike happy with its beautiful melody. The baby dragon was smiling up at her while being nestled in her forelegs. He wasn't trying to grasp at her like before, and instead was simply content to just relax laying in the filly's embrace.

Twilight smiled at her dragon. "I guess somepony isn't feeling mopey anymore, is he?" Twilight said in her best attempt at baby talk. She booped Spike clean on the nose, and he baby dragon giggled slightly.

"Twilight!" The carriage driver shouted from the street. "We need to go, now!"

Twilight shot up in surprise. She looked back at the carriage, and once again began to fret about the time. "Ooooh, I'm going to be late for sure." Twilight dreaded.

She placed Spike back on the floor and quickly turned back towards the doorway. "Bye Spike!" She stated quickly. "I'll see you when I get home!" Twilight heard whimpering and quickly remembered what made Spike cry to began with. She needed to do something that made it seem like she wasn't really leaving, something that showed Spike she really cared about him.

A lightbulb suddenly went off in Twilight's head. Taking off her saddle bags, she began fishing through their cluttered pockets of books and scrolls. She found what she was looking for near the bottom of one of the bags and quickly presented it to Spike. Spike's eyes lit up in delight.

"Smuh Pah!" Spike waved his hands in the air excitedly.

"That's right, Spike!" Twilight said lowering her the tone of her voice to sound like an older mare. "Ms. Smarty Pants!"

Spike clapped his hands and giggled.

"Twilight asked me to look after you while she was away for the day." Twilight was using her magic to move the doll as if it were alive, moving it in conjunction with the voice she gave it. She floated the doll over to Spike so he could grab it. "I promise it will be the best day ever!" Spike grabbed Ms. Smarty Pants out of the air and hug her tightly to his chest.

"Smuh Pah! Smuh Pah!" He cheered happily.

"Well someone sounds happy." Twilight and Spike turned to see Twilight Velvet standing over them. Spike smiled and presented the doll to the mare.

"Smuh Pah!"

Twilight Velvet smiled back. "That is Ms. Smarty Pants." Twilight Velvet replied. "Aren't you smart?" She rubbed Spike on the head causing the baby dragon to giggle.

"I got to go mom!" Twilight explained. "I'll see you for dinner!"

Twilight Velvet chuckled. "We're having spaghetti! Make sure to be home on time!" The mare looked down at Spike, who seemed to be completely distracted by the Smarty Pants doll held tightly in his hugging grasp.

Using her magic she lifted Spike onto her back, and began trotting towards the kitchen. "How's about we fix you up a bottle for breakfast, cutie." Spike only continued to play with Ms. Smarty Pants.

"Tie 'ight!" Spike cheered.

"That is my name." Twilight Velvet replied.

"Tie 'ight!" Spike cheered again.

Twilight Velvet was beginning to think the baby dragon was addressing somepony other than herself.

******
Spike held Ms. Smarty Pants in his claws as the memory began to fade. He remembered how Twilight used to leave her doll at home for him to play with from that day onwards. Only when she thought he was old enough to care for himself did she take her favorite toy back. He remembered how he used to believe that the lifeless doll would take care of him, how it would watch over him until Twilight came back.

Spike began to tear up as he crushed the doll tightly to his chest. Twilight's mom was his caretaker when Twilight was away, Ms. Smarty Pants was a simple toy. No matter how hard he believed her words to be true, the Smarty Pants doll would never care for him like he thought it did when he was a baby. It was a plush toy, an inanimate object. It could never be the friend he thought it was.

Spike tears dripped downwards off his cheeks and onto the doll hanging in his claws. The tears soon began to drench the doll.

"Twilight...Mommy..." Spike whimpered. "Come back...Please..."

The tears that soaked the doll began to glow with a faint light. As more tears landed on the doll, the brighter it began to glow. Soon its entire body was cover in a faint glowing light, like that of a firefly.

Spike's eyes widened in shock. He stared perplexedly at the doll. The doll's body began to shift and jiggle wildly in the dragons claws, like a jelly mold exposed to the open air. It wiggled intensely within Spike's grasp, forcing the dragon to hold on tightly or risk dropping Ms. Smarty Pants to the floor.

Spike felt the doll body change within his grasp. The soft fabric he felt in his palms suddenly began to feel like actual pony fur. The stringy mane that covered the doll's head began to look like an actual manestyle, resembling dreadlocks where each string stuck out from the doll's head.

Ms. Smarty Pants began to grow within Spike's claws. It didn't grow much, but the sudden growth spurt made the button eyes on Smarty Pants' head pop off violently, revealing actual pony eyes.

"Aaaagghh!" Spike screamed and immediately dropped the doll onto the floor. The doll only laid on its back when it hit the floor, producing no sound or complaint as it's transformation completed. The doll blinked slowly once it fully resembled a tiny pony.

The tiny pony released a breath and inhaled. It slowly got up onto it hind hooves and stood bipedally. It glanced around the room, a wide smile spreading about its muzzle.

"The curse is lifted, is it?" Ms. Smarty Pants spoke in a voice that sounded oddly masculine.

Spike's jaw all but dropped completely onto the floor.

"Tidy! I'm free! Freee!"

Author's Note

...And thus our sidekick and mentor enters the story ready to send Spike down his hero's journey. I'm sorry this chapter took so long to write, but now its finally out! I'm also sorry its not longer, but to make it longer, I felt, messed with the flow of the story. More chapters are coming, and I promise the next chapter is were the adventure actually begins.

As always please feel free to comment and critique, it is the only way I'll improve.