The Destroyer of Worlds

Spike sat in the carriage, watching the clouds lazily drift by. His thoughts turned to last night, how Luna asked about his nightmares.

It was...odd, if he was being honest. She seemed so concerned over him. As far as he knew, it was just a couple of nightmares, but...

Spike shook his head, before looking over to see Fluttershy and Rarity talking between themselves about...mare stuff.

He drowned most of it out by the jittery movement of Rainbow Dash. He looked over to her, worried that she was about to have a heart attack in her seat. She bit onto the seat, her wings flaring up as she stared outside.

He understood she had a problem sitting still. Tartarus, he was bored out of his mind as well, but at least he was watching the clouds. He kept his mind busy.

"Dash, you okay? You look like you drank twenty cups of coffee." Spike tapped his foot against her hoof, snapping her out of her impatient look.

"Oh. Yeah, totally fine!" She replied, nonchalantly, before staring back outside, forcing her body to relax on the seat.

They sat there for a moment, before he leant forward, giving her a curious look. "Hey, you know what's up with Applejack?"

Rainbow Dash gave him a glance, opening her mouth to say something. She quickly decided against her, then huffed. "I dunno, man. All I know is she is crushin' bad on someone."

Spike hummed a little, before staring at the clouds. "You know who it is?"

Rainbow Dash looked sideways at him, before gaining a playful smirk.

"Oh? Gave up on Rarity, now looking for a bit of southern comfort?" She lightly teased, before, looking at Spike, immediately dropping her playful attitude at the look in his eyes.

She may not be Twilight or Pinkie, but she knew when someone had a lot on their mind. She looked at Fluttershy, who was sitting next to Spike. She walked over, brushing Fluttershy's wing with hers.

Fluttershy looked at her, then Spike, before nodding and moving over to sit next to Rarity. Rainbow Dash sat next to Spike, both Fluttershy and Rarity sparing them a glance, before slowly returning to their conversation.

Rainbow Dash sat next to him, trying to think if what to say. She wasn't much of a touchy, feely mare, but she was loyal. She gently wrapped an arm around him, pulling him into her chest, her wing also wrapping around him.

Spike was jolted out of his thoughts by Rainbow Dash hugging him. He looked up at her, her smile chasing away his dark thoughts. She was a good friend.

She immediately gave him a noogie, making him squawk out in surprise, then try and free himself from her grip.

"Nuh-uh! You in a bad place, little dude! I am gonna make you feel better!" She exclaimed, making Fluttershy and Rarity giggle.

"N-no! R-Rarity, Flutters, help!" He squeaked out, making the two mares giggle as he squirmed in her grip.

Applejack sighed as she stared at the other chariot, behind them. In their cabin was Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Luna, and Celestia. Pinkie was snoring loudly next to Applejack, much to the farm mares discomfort, though she was completely distracted from the whisperings of the Alicorns. Luna herself wasn't fairing much better than Pinkie, her head drooping every few moments, before jolting awake.

"I still feel kinda bad. I mean, lying to the girls is one thing. But lying to Spike? On his birthday?" Twilight said, staring down at her hooves nervously.

"You and I both know he needs a break." Celestia whispered back, then smiled at the young Alicorn. "Besides, some change in scenery for your gals would do some good."

"Yeah, but this is for a mission. Not a vacation."

"Yeah, not a vacation for you, Twilight." Celestia responded, before flicking one of her ears. "Haven't you noticed how odd Spike has been acting lately."

Twilight stared up at her, then responded, "He has been tired lately..." She looked up at Celestia, who shot her a questioning look.

"Luna said he has been having incredibly violent nightmares." Celestia said, catching Twilights attention, Luna nodding at the statement, though she was half awake.

Spike has been having nightmares? Why didn't he tell her? She was his sister, he should tell her what was wrong.

"He needs something like this." Celestia said, though, some part of this mighty Alicorns mind knew Spike wasn't telling them everything. "Just give him some time."

"I...I guess you're right." Twilight mumbled out, rubbing the back of her head in nervousness.

Applejack just sat there, staring back at the other carriage, her thoughts turning to Spike. Oh Celestia, she was head over hoof in love with him. She bit her lip as she thought about that dream. Pinkie awoke when Luna jolted awake again, before rubbing her eyes with her hooves. She peered around, before peering at AJ.

"Hey, Jackie!" Pinkie yelled at her, spooking Applejack out of her thoughts.

"Wuh?! Oh...ya scared me, Pinkie!" She took her Stetson and swatted her a few times with it, huffing as she set it back onto her head.

"Sorry! You were in deep thought and no one wants to tell me what we are doing!"

Applejack frowned, then looked at Twilight, her mind drawing a blank as well. "Hey, Twi, what are we doin' in Japony?"

Twilight hummed, then gasped, "You forgot already?"

"You kinda dumped a lot on us back there." Pinkie said, pulling a bucket of popcorn out of her hair, much to the confusion of Applejack and Twilight. Celestia just giggled softly, before returning to her reading material.

"Well, basically, we are going to a small town on the beach in Japony. The day after tomorrow, I shall reveal some...important information to you girls."

Pinkie sighed, then spoke, her voice muffled through the popcorn. "Twilight, you make an epic monster fight sound boring."

"What?"

"What?"

Twilight just stared at Pinkie, before looking at Applejack, "I heard the beaches there are beautiful this time of year."

"Ah wouldn't know. Never heard of...anything to do with Japony..." Applejack admitted, cringing as she realized what was going to happen.

Twilight gave a squeal, before pulling a book out, clearing her throat. Celestia smiled warmly, Luna dozing back into sleep, and Pinkie was busy stuffing her face with popcorn, so that left Applejack at the mercy of Twilight.