Chapters Author's Note
Edit: So now that I'm wide awake, and not running on delirium, I went back to try to catch most of my grammar mistakes.
Also...I really should figure this site out...if I'm going to end up using it...
Prologue: 00
Color the Sky
00: Letting Go takes Courage
She could hear it all, the thunderous boom of a mighty force hitting the city, her city. Swallowing up the screams of fear and panic.
She can feel it all. The unbearable heat of flames encompassing everything in its path. The quaking of the earth as fire shoots like missiles to structures, creating destruction in its wake.
She knew this taste, this smell, of ash and death, she’s known it in years past.
You will know the greatest joys...
This is the battle cry of a great being, a god among gods.
An angry god, made of flesh and scales, of wings, claws, and tail, a being of massive size and great power.
She marvels at the sight, frozen in awe, not from fear but of true wonderment. She knows she too has powers that match the gods, many going so far as to claim her as such. She could end this all but she doesn’t.
She stands, facing this majestic being of great size, eye to eye. Tears unchecked, fall down her face. Her sorrow matches the sorrow she hears in his voice, matches the pain she feels in the unbearable flames of his attacks.
To her, this is no godly beast, but a child.
A child she’s tried so hard to protect, a child she’s failed.
Her child.
Her baby…her son.
She never falters as she sees the final blast come towards her. She will die with dignity and know this as mercy.
And the greatest sorrows…
The world goes dark before blinding light filters into her world. There is no kingdom on fire, no towering dragons flying above the carnage.
Violet eyes take in the large room she’s turned into an office, large bookcase behind her, long curved wooden desk and cabinets. Flowers arranged in vases on small decorative tables in pleasing formations of beauty to give the room a lovely touch.
She blinks her eyes, adjusting to the light of the afternoon sun coming through large windows to her left. Despite the soothing atmosphere, her face is full of distress, her thoughts focused on her fleeting dream.
It’s been a long time since I heard those words.
The echoes of the past, of two sentences she’s known all her life. Her salvation and condemnation, for those words never soothe her, only heighten her worries.
She stretches, relieving muscles and bones of their stagnation from sleeping in an awkward position at her desk. She walks to the sunlight, moving her long curtains further aside to bask in the warmth. A soft smile graces her thick dark rouge lips, she takes a deep inhale of breath before releasing.
A small noise catches her attention. Violet eyes shine bright and her smile grows, watching an interesting scene from down below in the gardens of her home.
And now I ask myself yet again, am I doing the right thing?
Still burdened by her thoughts; she turns from the window, making haste to the exit of her office doors.
You did tell me to follow my intuition and I have done only that over the years…
“We think you’ve done a grand job, Tia.”
‘Tia’ as she’s called by her young sister, but better known by Celestia, turned her attention towards a younger woman who seemed to never age over thirty. Her dark navy curls and jade eyes sparkling with amusement.
Celestia shook her head and sighed, smiling sheepishly at her sister, “How many times must I tell you not to read my thoughts, Luna?”
Luna matched her strides with Celestia’s as they headed towards the gardens. “Afternoon to you as well sister.”
Celestia saw the obvious gleam in Luna’s eyes, her red painted lips showing just how much she enjoyed teasing her older sister. “We have also told you many times to shield your thoughts so they aren’t broadcasted to those that are sensitive to telepathy. Fortunately, most telepaths aren’t as strong to hear your thoughts or have a sister that is an extraordinary telepath in her own right!”
The older sibling chuckled, amused by Luna’s playful use of the archaic ‘We’ and her fondness for gloating about her magical abilities. Of course, her sister’s propensity in telepathy was no joking matter. There were only a few in the world who could match Luna’s level for mind reading.
“I am forever in your debt Luna,” the smile slowly recedes, her brows pinched with worry.
Luna heard the weary exhale of breath from her sister, aware of her troubles, “You don’t have to explain, I already know. Your dream, you’re obsessively worried about nephew, more than usual.”
Celestia’s frown became more pronounced, “It was the first time in a long time, I’ve heard that voice.”
The sisters paused in mid-step, each lost in her own thoughts, the weight and seriousness of that sentence fell heavy on them, “All these years of searching, researching and preparation, I was so sure that everything up to now went right. Why now when things have gone smoothly, do I recall that memory?”
Luna watched her sister, fold her hands together, palms up, deep in concentration. A nervous habit, “The calm before the storm. Naturally, we are reaching a pivotal stage when things will get interesting from now on that relies on the path nephew takes. And I know as well as you do how that person’s prophecies are never wrong.”
“That is what I’m afraid of,” Luna watched her sister begin to pace back and forth, “I feel like we don’t have all the pieces together, a wild goose chase that never ends. As soon as we discover a clue, we’re left with more questions and there’s so much more that needs to be done and–”
A small squeeze on her shoulder stopped Celestia in her place. Luna patted her shoulder in a gesture of comfort, “Take a deep breath and relax.”
Celestia gave no argument as she did just that. When she was done, Luna continued their walk, “Yes, so much must be done, but first, you need to tell nephew about the new changes to his studies.”
A small smile brightened Celestia’s face at the mere mention of her joy. “You’re right Luna, above everything else I need to mentally prepare for another rematch. He’s not going to be happy about this.”
Luna raised a brow, not convinced of Celestia’s reluctance to verbal battle against a moody teenager. The smile on her sister’s face was too bright, too carefree.
“It’s your fault you raised and spoiled a stubborn drake.”
“Come now Luna, you’re making him sound more awful than he is.”
She gave a playful scoff, “That’s because we are not blinded by motherly love where the child can do no wrong. All jokes aside, I think you’ll like to know that Zecora called earlier. She got the paperwork completed.
Celestia’s bright smile lost its luminous flair, “Lovely. I have a bigger rematch to look forward to.”
There was a long pause in their conversation. With so much happening, Luna didn’t want to burden her sister more, “Is this a bad time to bring up politics?”
Sighing, she was doing a lot of that today, “What’s happening in Canterlot?”
“Sir Honor informed me of the usual. Dear Beauregard, being his charming self, slacking off in his studies and causing minor scandals with his female peers.”
Both sisters rolled their eyes. Beauregard, their lovely nephew who goes by the affectionate nickname ‘Blueblood’. A charming fellow if one can get over his…dramatics and uppity attitude.
“Which would be effective? Cutting off his allowance or forcing him to take public transportation for five months?”
“I am fond of public humiliation Tia, if he can gloat about his scandalous popularity in tabloids, I’m sure this will be a walk in the park.”
“Done, next?”
“The consul continues to show that they love to argue for the sake of arguing. Mainly they’re unable to come to an agreement over the plans for the treaty renewal with some of our current neighbors. So far, it’s a majority vote against the renewal but Cadence with support from Mister Pantalon and even a couple of representatives from Ponyville have been putting up quite the fight.”
“I suppose people’s prejudices remain after many years.”
“To be fair, most of the population has gotten comfortable with the status quo and I’m sure the same can be said for the other’s side as well. And while small increments of changes have occurred here and there, nothing’s really changed, no one’s really tried to make an effort to put their foot forward.”
“I know that…I feel like that is partially my fault.”
“Celestia, you can’t always feel burdened by human fallacy, we do the best we can to aid our citizens. Besides, the consul cannot move without our input when it comes to certain matters. I know you don’t like interfering, opting to take a back seat and allow them to make the choices…”
Celestia crossed her arms, “We agreed long ago not to get involved. Life should carry on as if we aren’t here.”
It was Luna’s turn to sigh, “Sister what did I just say about carrying the burden of responsibility?”
Celestia gave Luna a weak smile, tapping her fingers on her arm. It was an unofficial rule they made to stay out of the limelight after many, many years. A safety protocol, let people believe the princesses of Equestria were lost to the sea, to the skies, only memoirs added to the pages of history.
It didn’t stop them from keeping tabs on the happenings within the borders of their beloved country. They could accomplish this with the aid of very trustworthy people. A select few individuals sworn to secrecy, to be their eyes and ears and would give their lives to protect their legacy.
Luna stood, waiting for her sister to eventually cave in. Another few minutes passed and Celestia was giving her that innocent smile, like she didn’t want to intervene, “Another abuse of our influence in the political arena wouldn’t hurt, right? It’s for the greater good and it’s not exactly for personal gain, right?”
“Whatever makes you sleep at night Celestia.”
There was a pout to Celestia’s lips, “We still shouldn’t. Tell Sir Marshal Honor to go ahead with the majority, for now. We’ll need to set a meeting to go over everything, there’s still a chance we can come up with something within the allotted time frame that the consul would be in favor of. For now, I have a teenage Draco to confront.”
The two sisters parted ways, Celestia to her planned destination of the home’s backyard, Luna, to her own personal office.
“I’ll get started on our appointment with Sir Honor,” she paused and turned around, “Oh! Before I go, Cadence said hello and she finally said yes to Captain Shining Armor’s proposal!”
“It’s about time! We must visit her someday!”
Celestia watched Luna turn to go back inside the house. She smiles whimsically as she continues into the garden towards Spike. Coming closer, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. The young man was too immersed in his own world, practicing what she only guessed was a high-level fire spell.
All while burning part of his notes in the process.
A groan and mumbles of frustration caught Celestia’s ears.
“Tch! Oh man, three hours of note taking wasted!” There was shuffling of papers, pens, inks and other paraphernalia as the teen in question sought for a very valuable scroll.
“Ugh, please tell me I didn’t incinerate the scroll as well!”
Celestia couldn’t contain her laughter, witnessing her son’s meltdown over his organized chaos, as he called it, “If you would’ve just listened when I told you to use your computer, you wouldn’t be in this predicament.”
“Mom!” A teenager of average height, wearing ridiculous large thick glasses and a mop of messy long green hair turned around, startled by the voice piercing his little sanctuary.
“Not getting a proper haircut, having a bad habit of doing extensive magic around property that can be easily damaged and destroying another one of Professor Rules’ antique scrolls,” Without trying, Celestia found the scroll, holding it up high, where one can see the burned ends of the old faded out parchment.
“You’ll be a shoe in for the rebel poster child.”
Spike sweated, feeling mortified that he damaged his professor’s scroll on Ancient Draconic Calligraphy used in Spell Casting .
He waved off Celestia’s comments about his looks. Five years and he would think she’ll stop questioning his haggard appearance, “I feel comfortable with my hair like this,” he glared behind his glasses, cutting her off before she spoke another word, “And before you get on my case, I washed it this morning, just because I look like a bum, doesn’t mean I smell like one.”
That statement caught her off guard, “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“Of course,” he sighed looking at the scroll, “I wasn’t trying to burn a hole through the scroll…or the table but it’s all the more reason why I shouldn’t have any electronics around from accidental set-offs.”
He banged his head on the table, “And I just gave teach more of a reason to flip on me!”
Celestia sat next to him, her back leaning against Spike’s small workstation, “I know we’ve been down this road, but I really don’t understand why you hide behind your hair and these dreadful glasses, you’ve very handsome and only those in this household know what you look like.”
A sudden blush formed on his face. There was embarrassment but also a look of disbelief, like no matter what she said, he could never believe her words. He was recalling a few memories from the rare times he ever did venture someplace beyond the property of their home.
All he can remember was the awkward staring. No one tried to talk to him, but no one tried to run away either. They just stared at him, like they never saw a Dragonborn before and to their credit, they probably never have. But it was at that moment, Spike knew he would rather not deal with the unabashed stares and the long silences. Once the initial shock would wear off, the whispering would start.
Spike pushed his thick frames up his nose out of nerves, “I attract less attention…you know since I have these…” he pointed to his pointed ears, “And my eyes.”
Celestia lightly tapped her son on the head, “You silly child, did you ever think that maybe the staring was because of how handsome you are? Your eyes are gorgeous and you’re not the only human around with ears like these,” she playfully tugged on one of his ears.
He swatted her away, the blush on his face getting darker, “You’re only saying that because you’re my mom.”
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore, however, I’m very curious to know what you did to upset your professor that he’s making you– relearn fire transfer spells?”
A sigh of resentment and mumbling was all she heard before he spoke, the blood vessels in his face remained constant, “Teach thought I needed more discipline by learning this high tier dragon transfer spell in one of the old Draconic tongues. I thought old Canteltic was bad with its 200-rune alphabet!”
Celestia smiled, looking over his notes, “Ah, the beautiful script of old Yong, if you ask me I think they were overzealous in the art of creating the written word.”
She did well to keep in a snort, recalling buried memories, “I don’t think even the emperors of old knew all 5,000 characters.”
Spike groaned again, “Yeah, well it doesn’t make me feel better that I can’t even decipher between, heat, hot, steam and warm! And I burned his scroll…again!”
A sudden smile that looked almost sinister, touched his face and Celestia swore a twinkle reflected off his glasses. “Unless there’s a special lady that can use her ultra, awesome, get her bestest, favorite and only son out of trouble, restoration spell!”
She laughed and he sulked, “Spike, you know it’s wrong to use magic to cover up our mistakes! That restoration spell is only for emergencies with limitations. And you still didn’t tell me what you did to garner Mister Rules’ anger.”
He couldn’t help but be snarky, crossing his arms. Knowing there’s been plenty of times that mother dearest, used that very spell to ‘get out of sticky situations’ that wasn’t the least of emergencies, “Yeah limitations on most organic things found in nature.”
“Spike…”
Okay, so he likes living, even if his life is that of a hermit, he likes living. Spike likes to believe he falls into the category of those who learn from other’s examples.
His dear cousin, Blueblood, being a prime example of what one shouldn’t do or say to piss off his mother when she said your name with that warning tone in her voice.
He sighed, just when he thought the blush in his face was receding, it grew tenfold. Celestia’s curiosity and smile just made it worst, “Teach thought me asking to study with Moral Compass last Tuesday was an excuse to flirt with his daughter!”
A long string of silence followed that statement. Spike flushed, while Celestia looked nonplussed, “Is that all?”
If embarrassment could kill …He knew, oh gods did he know, his mother was deviously trolling him and she was milking every goddamn second of it.
She didn’t have to say anything, but he knew that innocent, ‘I’ll pretend not to make a fuss because I promised to back off but oh my god, he’s so cute and easy to tease look’ she was giving him.
Another long pregnant pause passed over them.
He caved, blurting whatever came to mind, “Sure, Moral is pretty but I swear ! I had no thoughts of flirting on the mind! All I wanted to do was fact check my gem physics essay! I wasn’t that in tune to know if Moral was attempting to flirt…I mean does accidental shoulder and leg bumps count followed by excessive winking? I’m sure Moral is into older guys anyway and Teach is just looking for a way to stress me out! Anyway! I don’t have time to be interested in girls, they’re a distraction! I mean I doubt any girl is interested in me anyway because of well- you know!”
Celestia’s nonplussed façade broke, giving Spike her million-dollar smile, “You’re adorable!”
“Mom please !”
“It’s partially your fault for asking a dedicated educator to challenge you for five years straight.”
Spike sucked in a breath and then exhaled. The conversation was heading in a new direction, one he didn’t want to deal with, “I guess I needed the distraction…”
“Yes, so much you’ve isolated yourself within this house. I admit to being at fault for allowing it, hoping with time you’ll move on, on your own.”
There was hesitation, “And I will.”
“When?”
“In four years. I did the math, when I’m eighteen I’ll have saved up all my allowance to move out and continue internship to help with the company by working at home.”
She frowned, “Leave one home only to do the exact thing in another, just by yourself without anyone around to try to get you to leave. Brilliant plan.”
“I think it’s foolproof, I do what you want by leaving the house and be in my own place!”
“And what happens if something were to happen within that four-year time frame? Anything can happen in four years, Spike.” He didn’t catch the worry on her face, only hearing the unyielding bite of her words, “Your plan is weak. There are always uncertainties of what the future will bring and while your book smart, you can’t function in the outside world by being a recluse all your life.”
He huffed, and this time, a small stream of smoke blew out of his nostrils. He sprinted out of his seat to start pacing about, “Here we go again!”
“Spike!”
“You do this every time and it’s always the same! I’m not going to some school!”
“Yes, you will. This is no longer up for debate!”
“I don’t see how sending me off to a boarding school is any different than me being at home!”
She knew, she, most of all knew why he wouldn’t leave. She had been there…and she hated that she must be the one to force him out of this small barrier he’s surrounded himself in.
“Give me one good reason why you won’t leave this house? You tell me with your own mouth why!” She hated making him say what he’s most afraid of, she knows she can’t continue to coddle him any longer, so many reasons why she had to do this now. There was no more room for excuses.
“At least here I’m assured there’s no chance of a repeat five years ago!”
There’s sudden recognition behind those thick glasses she can’t see beyond but she knows is there. The realization that he finally confessed his fears to her, to himself, warm droplets cascade down his face, “I…I can’t hurt anyone…I can hardly remember anything that happened before and during that time or how it happened in the first place!”
Even with those glasses and that wild green hair that tries to hide him from her, she can see it all. The frustration, hurt and pain, the fear of knowing he did something that can never be forgiven but unable to remember.
Her heart aches, she’s done this, she did this to her child. Before she knows it, she has his head in her lap, brushing her hand through his untamed hair.
The echoes of the past, haunt her subconscious; You will know the greatest sorrows…
Instinctively she holds Spike closer, “I know it’s been hard on you to face what happened five years ago but I can’t allow you to continue in your self-inflicted guilt. It’s unhealthy to let this continue eating away at you, especially when you can’t remember most of it.”
His breath quakes, the sounds of a person, doing their best to stop their crying in order to speak, “I-I never told you, mom…but I sometimes get this dull feeling of pain in my chest like I’ve hurt something special that only belongs to me…”
His hand squeezes her knee, a form of comfort, like a little child, making sure she’s still here, that she’s real.
“I can’t really explain it but whenever I try to think back on that day, that feeling resurfaces and I feel empty.”
Spike can’t see her eyes are wide with shock at the confession. It’s faint, but the voice from a time so long ago is one she can never forget. There’s a feeling of emptiness, a dull feeling of pain…
Amidst her son’s pain, a joy blooms a bittersweetness that makes Celestia hug Spike closer, tighter.
Could it really be?! I’ve always had a hunch…if it’s true, this changes everything ! A sad smile sets on her face, she gives Spike’s back, gentle pats, “My poor, poor boy. Why didn’t you tell me so sooner?”
His response is nothing sort of moody, “I didn’t want to bother you,” he sits up, looking her in the eyes, before turning away from shame, shrugging his shoulders, “I’m fine as long as I don’t think about it.”
“Every parent wishes they can shelter their children forever from the realities of life. But that’s a disservice to the child, you’ll never grow up,” she lifts his chin up to look at her, “Deep down I know you miss how things were before that trauma and I know you know things won’t change for you, staying the way you are.”
“I’m scared.”
“I know, but you know I have to let you go,” she hugs him tight before letting go, the symbolism not lost on either one.
He’s resigned, “I’m not going to win this time, am I?”
Celestia shakes her head no, “When you see miss Zecora, thank her for going to the trouble of taking care of everything you’ll need for the new school year.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Giving his shoulder one last squeeze, she gets up to go back inside the house, “I’ll see you at dinner and,” she stops to snatch the burned scroll, “I’ll handle mister Rules and his scroll.”
Spike turned around to his chaotic workstation, eyes wandering while he played with an ink pen, “Hey mom?”
He heard her footsteps in the grass stop. “Let’s do something fun with everybody before these two weeks is up?”
“Yes! Let’s do something fun!”
They didn’t have to see to know, that both had a small smile on the other’s face.
Well, that went better than I thought. It’s almost like he was expecting this .
Celestia groaned, I really need to learn a more powerful spell to shield you out, that was a private affair Luna .
Luna on her end sighed, We can give thy thine spell book sister but thou must learn to cook thine favorite dish without burning the house down .
Luna could feel her sister’s ire, Is there a reason for thou intrusion upon thy psyche ?
And just like that, she chose to ignore it. I’m very in favor of nephew’s ideas. Always had a great imagination that boy .
Luna…
You broadcasted again and I got curious . Really, under normal circumstances, Luna cares not for hearing the minds of common men or her sister. But can you really blame her for annoying Celestia, thereby putting herself in the position of making one think she invades their inner minds for her own amusement?
I have a hunch that everything will begin to fall in place once Spike goes to school. If I’m right about the timing of his birth, what happened five years ago than–
What we’ve been searching for all this time was already found years ago! This will change everything sister!
I’m going to call Zecora, some last-minute adjustments will need to be made .
Finally cutting the telepathic link with her sister, Celestia was once again alone with her thoughts, Please, you come to me in dreams after many years with a message from the past, making me remember how you told me to never doubt myself despite the odds.
Clutching her hands to her chest in a prayer, she calls for hope and guidance. Please, I beg of you now to guide me into the right direction.
TBC…
Color the Sky
01: Departure
Two weeks flashed by so quickly for Spike. One minute, he was confronted by his mother, telling him she’s sending him off to a boarding school, the next, it was time to leave for said boarding school.
He tried to make the most of it, going on trips with his family and the staff, visiting his cousins, Blueblood and Cadence in Canterlot. He smirked, contrary to popular belief, Blueblood wasn’t all that bad. The guy was a lot of fun if one got to know him when he wasn’t putting on airs.
He was also a lot of trouble as well, because…he loved putting on airs. Spike was never sure what it was his cousin wanted at times. The lad didn’t seem to mind the rumors that proceeded his pristine rep , whatever that meant, despite how much he complained.
Though it was funny, seeing the poor guy get unglued when told he was not allowed to ride his precious Noble Lady for five months. His mother didn’t pull any punches, making sure Blueblood’s car was without gas to run herself.
“No! Aunt Stella! I won’t touch the car, just don’t ruin the gas tank! No! That’s gonna cause a leak! Auntie, please! That’s gonna cost me 40,000 bits to get fixed!”
“If you don’t close your mouth, I might think about not removing these gaudy headlights! I don’t know much about cars but I bet having multicolor high beams is a hazard.”
“I swear to the First Mother, I won’t break curfew again! I won’t do anything to be in the tabloids just don’t destroy Noble Lady!”
Spike swore he broke after being told to either take the carfare offered or walk around Canterlot like normal people from Luna who couldn’t help the toothy grin plastered on her face.
“We think a luxury brand car is overkill for high school students who should be spending that time preparing for university entrance exams and bringing up their grades. We shouldn’t always count on nepotism to get us into high places without a bit of work…”
It was rather odd how his cousin’s parents couldn’t make him do anything yet one word from aunts Stella and Selene, suddenly Blueblood became a model of good behavior.
Cadence was always a delight, he didn’t get a lot of time to see her much. She had the important role of being Madame Cadenza Amore, House Speaker for the High Court in Canterlot. From what he gathered, Cadence always had to contest or agree with her peers when it came to bills the Common Court wanted to pass through as law.
However, Cadence was one of few members of the High Court that agreed with most of the bills with reasonable cause, most would think she was suited better being on the opposite side of Trottingham Hall’s east chamber.
“Aside from the fact that family part of the Upper Residency can never hold positions in the Common Court or the House of Superiors, because of the balance of power, who else would the representatives of the Common Court have on their side if I couldn’t get down and dirty arguing semantics with the best of them in the High Court…”
It sounded like a bunch of stuffy nobles or those with close ties to nobles got too comfortable with their positions in the Senate, becoming belligerent and too proud to consider fresh ideas that could move Equestria forward rather than remain stagnant.
Making those in the Common Court more often than not, adhere to the whims of the High Court. Sometimes they were lucky to get a bill passed. Spike assumes it was because of a few good people like Cadence and this mister François Pantalon that goes by Fancy Pants who took the time to consider all possibilities.
It was too much for his mind to take but his cousin seemed to love it and knew what she was doing.
He sighed, he felt restless, tomorrow he was leaving. He still was trying to come to grips with it.
Sitting at the far corner of his bed, tossing an old stuff toy, a white unicorn with a curled purple mane was how Luna found Spike. Those obnoxious fake glasses he wore all the time were resting on top of a dresser. His long unruly bangs still shielded most of his face, but she could see the pinched look that rested there.
She knocked once, “You have a big day in front of you.”
Spike sat up, ceasing his stuff toy toss, “Hey auntie.”
“There’s a lot on your mind,” she sat next to him on the bed.
“I can’t sleep, I don’t want to upset mom but I’m still not sure if I can do this…It’s been a long time since I’ve been around others aside from everyone here at home or Blueblood and Cadence.”
He looked to the side, frown becoming pronounced, “To be honest auntie, I’m afraid of what people will say about me. It’s no secret I’m not Equineborn, my eyes show that perfectly clear.”
Luna didn’t think she was the most affectionate person, at least where it counted and she wasn’t one for public displays but she wasn’t blind to Spike’s inner demons. Mind reading notwithstanding, it was clear he was in an endless battle with himself.
Part of that battle could be taken care of by a few choice words if only her sister would allow it, “So what? Do you hate your Draconic heritage that much?”
He shrugged, not answering for a long while. She deduced that was a yes but she didn’t make comment on it, “I dunno…maybe…at times I feel like an outcast like I shouldn’t belong here. I often wonder why I was adopted, I’m sure mom could’ve picked a better child instead of me.”
“Are you done?” she huffed, Spike caught her glare and immediately felt ashamed, unaware that Luna’s glare was not directed at him, regardless of her bitter tone.
“Huh?”
“I said are you done?” he flinched and she breathed in and out to calm herself before she let her mouth get the best of her. She didn’t want to start a War of the Ages III between mother and son.
“Listen, you are free to feel the way you do. However, you should never doubt my sister and her unconditional love for you,” she lifted his chin up, “You may be different but to us, your family, and we would go through hell and back for you!”
Spike did his best to smile, trying to ignore the tears that sprang from his eyes, “You’re right! Sorry if I made you feel like you don’t care for me. I didn’t mean for it to come out that way!”
Luna wiped at his face, he blushed, “I know. Let me tell you a little secret about your mom?”
Spike, never one to want to miss anything that had to do with Celestia, eagerly leaned forward as Luna met him halfway as if to tell a huge secret, “For all her bravado, Celestia is afraid of letting you go. She doubts and worries more than anything over you. You’re her baby, no matter how old you get.”
His laugh was genuine as if he didn’t know that already, “I should try to get some sleep now. Night Auntie.”
She swept some of his hair back before getting up to leave so he could ready himself for bed, “Both the mother and son are hopeless, what in the world am I to do with you two? Goodnight Spike.”
She left the room, closing the door as quietly as she can. She turned to face an anxious Celestia, wringing her hands together and failing to keep curiosity and worry from her voice.
“Did he finally go to sleep?”
Luna didn’t reply reading her sister’s nervous energy. The telltale signs of a worried parent not yet ready to let go but knowing they must. It was obvious Celestia overheard their conversation.
A tired frown of annoyance shaped itself on the younger sister’s face, “It’s going to be one of those days for me tomorrow, isn’t it?”
“What?” Celestia looked perplexed from that statement.
Luna gave one last glance at Spike’s bedroom door then pulled Celestia with her down the end of the hall. She didn’t stop until they were close to the moon room, Luna’s own personal section of the house. Entering the main room, she closed the door and locked it, casting a muffling spell over the room, to keep anyone coming by from eavesdropping.
She crossed her arms, exhaling a sigh, “Tia, I normally agree to go with your plans when it comes to nephew and I’ve been behind you 100% for wanting to keep certain things confidential.”
She knew the second she started this conversation, it was going to lead into a verbal spat. Already her sister was avoiding eye contact, freezing up and giving her a look of guilt and doubt. The secrets, their past, Spike…it was eating away at her sister.
“I’m sure you’ve realized, he’s developed a complex about himself. We should tell him the truth.”
Celestia shook her head, eyes burning holes in the ground, “Not until he’s ready,” she crossed her arms around herself like a barrier of protection, “I’m aware of the backlash and I’m prepared to face the consequences. But you know the risks are too high right now.”
“But Tia, the risks are always going to be too high! It was high five years ago because of‒” Luna stopped herself before finishing that sentence, knowing that incident was still a fresh wound for not just Celestia but for herself and Spike as well. She exhaled, fixing her older sibling with a withering glare, “It’s high now, now that we know he’s-”
“Not until I think he’s ready!” Celestia didn’t want this to become a shouting match. Why must Luna be stubborn about this? She knows it’s too soon yet . “Despite that, Spike must learn to accept himself.”
“And what of you? Are you fine with him learning to accept only half of what he is?”
She knew she had struck a nerve when her sister whipped her body around to pierce her with the sharpest glare. If she were anyone else daring to say the words she did, Celestia would’ve had her head.
“This conversation is over.”
“On the contrary,” and playing the role of the annoying, concerned little sister, Luna pushed. She wasn’t fazed at all by Celestia’s threatening look and tone, “Tia, I know you know this isn’t right, some of the lies were fine…In the past…This isn’t the past anymore!”
“All the reason more not to say anything yet!”
“I’m not saying to tell him everything all at once for obvious reasons! Just…tell him about his real parents!”
“NO!”
“Put your stubborn pride away for a minute sister!”
“I said no Luna, no!”
“If you continue down this route, it’s going to be you who gets hurt in the long run!”
“Ignorance is Bliss !” silence reigned. Celestia gaining some self-restraint, while Luna glare at the wall.
“Ignorance is bliss isn’t a saying that was made up on a whim! The moment that boy knows anything, about his parents, about the past before he’s ready to protect himself, his life is forfeit!”
Luna’s face softened, she could see her sister’s pride preventing her from breaking into tears.
“I never told you because I didn’t want to worry you, but that incident five years ago…I’m not as strong as I once was. I don’t have the confidence that I’ll be able to protect him a second time but more than that, all we have to go on is the scattered remains of a written prophecy of a woman no longer in this world, there cannot be any mistakes.”
Luna’s glared returned tenfold, resentful for a whole other reason, she huffed but refused to say anything more.
“Do I like lying? Do I like pretending that I’m fine with the way things are? Or that I don’t want to be selfish?”
“Tia…”
“I hate myself for swallowing the lies with a smile, I agonize over the day I will have to face the choices I made because of the lies and it breaks my heart knowing what Spike thinks of himself…but you know how I am.”
“Yes, I know.”
“The minute I put my wants first, I risk forfeiting every soul within Equestria, and perhaps the whole world,” if Luna hadn’t been looking, she would have missed the two trickling of tears rolling from Celestia’s eyes. “So, what does it matter that someday I risk a few hours of hurt feelings because I betrayed my son’s trust? It’s enough for now just having Spike near.”
“I pray to the First Mother you know what you’re doing,” warm arms wrapped themselves around Celestia’s body.
“All these secrets Tia,” Luna squeezed, “You’re not alone, you know.”
Celestia returned the hug, “I love you too, goodnight Luna.”
“Goodnight.”
~~~*****~~~
Breakfast that morning was somber, across from Luna sat a brooding nephew, picking at a half-eaten breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes. To her right, a sister trying to fool everyone into believing she was quite fine, nursing the same cup of black coffee since their meal started.
Celestia hated cold coffee and hated coffee without the milk, sugar, whip cream, caramel and chocolate shavings sprinkled on top.
And Spike never went without syrup and berries and that smooth whipped butter on his pancakes, never.
She felt a twitch in the lower corner of her lips. When I’m right, I’m right. Moon’s above I hate when I’m right .
Silence, breakfast was never this silent even on their most bad days. Luna took another bite of her omelet, looking back and forth between Celestia and Spike.
Stir, click, sip, chew.
Stir, click, sip, chew.
Stir, click, sip, chew.
Stir, click, sip—
“Alright that’s enough!” she banged her hands on the table, startling the silverware and her family.
The monotonous music of utensils stopped and Luna smiled. She knows she has two pairs of questioning stares thrown her way but her ears felt free from the noise. A smirk still graced her face as she regarded them, “The atmosphere is so melancholic. You two won’t see each other until the fall semester is over, the least you can do is take advantage of the small time you have left.
Mother and son looked at each other then turned to Luna, feeling sheepish. Celestia sat her cup down, “Are we really dampening the mood?”
Spike shrugged but he did reassess the situation and figured Luna had a point, “Auntie thinks so. Is it really bad?”
She scowled at them, “You two are awful and Celestia thought I was bad during my teen years.”
“Newsflash, you still are. You’ve just gotten better at keeping it discreet.”
“At least I don’t acquire smile lines around my eyes from excessive worry.”
Celestia scoffed, “I resent that comment!” She patted her face in search of her sister’s false claims. She turned to Spike with an innocent pout, “Spike, do I get wrinkles?”
A shudder went down his spine. He was fine being ignored as the duo indulged in their usual playful banter. It was nice sitting back seeing his mother smile and being carefree.
It wasn’t so when she did that look and that pout. Ill fortune follows the fool who falls for that façade. He should know, he’s been on the receiving end of that ill-fated stare. She’s going to tease me if I don’t take her side . Mom looks beautiful even if she did have wrinkles but I’m not going to get out this alive if I don’t say something .
Spike noticed that both women were waiting for his answer, he chuckled, scratching the back of his head, however before he uttered a word, Luna caught him off guard.
“Thou can take up for thine mother but we can read thou thoughts.”
He deflated, surprised and horribly outnumbered. How could I forget the mind reader ?!
He wasn’t going to win whatever charade he fell into, but he still had to pick a side. He sat up straight and mustered as much calm as he could, “Oh, she’s good.”
A faint sound of shock came from Celestia, “Spike! You’ll leave your poor mother to fend off such a mischievous opponent?”
He sweated, “Mom I love you, I really do but aunt plays a hard bargain.”
Holy First Mother! How does a woman her age manage to pull off the cute childish innocent look?! How?! What sorcery is this ?! She’s too cute ! Too cute !
“And just what kind of thoughts do you have that you rather my sister not say?”
Fearing that somehow, I’m programmed to be a sucker for pretty faces and crocodile tears ! That my future is going to be filled with nothing but older women who know how to play at my heartstrings !
I’m fucked either way and it’s your fault mom, it’s your fault .
Spike saw her lips quirk, he felt another shudder more intense reach down to his very soul. And…there it was, that goddamn, devious million-dollar smirk.
There was no surviving their attacks now.
Deadman walking .
“Yes nephew, what kind of thoughts?”
He flustered, his mouth and mind not able to conform together to give an intelligent rebuttal, his cheeks getting hot by the second, “Ah, that is-err-Morning Dandy Bell!”
A young woman, in her early twenties, smiled brightly as she walked over towards the family of three. She had on the customary maid uniform worn by the staff of the Luminaire family, only in a pastel green with extra frills and gold inlays. The signifier for showing her status as head maid.
Dandy Bell gave a proper bow, her wavy multi-strands of blond-orange hair bouncing as she did so, “Good morning young master, good morning madams, is there anything you need?”
“Um-I, I would like another refill of orange juice! A-and another serving of pancakes, if you don’t mind, your food is always the best!”
Blue eyes winked at Spike, making the blush on his cheeks grow further, “Of not young master, I’m here to serve!” She cooed as a small blush graced her face at the compliment, “You’re always so kind with your words young master! I’m sad this will be the last time I get to make my special recipes just for you!”
“W-well If it’s alright with you, I wouldn’t mind you sending some of those mini cinnamon rolls every now and then.”
“I’ll be honored to young master!” she winked again for good measure, withholding her chuckles at Spike’s expense. She turned to Celestia and Luna, all formal, without a trace of the flirty seductress just moments ago, “Is there anything you need madams?”
A demure smile and a raised eyebrow from Celestia greeted the head maid, “I could go for another cup of coffee, the usual this time.”
A nonplussed look from Luna bored into the young woman, “I’m quite fine, thank you miss Bell.”
If Dandy Bell were anyone else, she would’ve ran out of that room with how the temperature dropped twenty degrees. That or crumbled under Luna’s unnerving stare.
Or cry because one could never tell what Celestia was thinking when she gave you the smile. You know, the kind of polite smile one gives to someone that has overstayed their welcome but you don’t want to be rude in telling them so, lest you embarrass them, so you give the smile for the person to take a hint.
But Dandy Bell wasn’t a new hire or a pushover, having been one of the longest staff members who worked personally for Madams ‘Stella and Selene Luminaire’. She was bound to pick up some of her bosses’ quirks and knew it was all in good fun.
Though, it still didn’t make the smile-stare combo any less unsettling.
The head maid smiled, bowing once more before making her way out the family dining room to the kitchen, “I’ll return soon with your orders.”
Another shiver, Spike looked to his mother and aunt with caution, “What?”
Celestia pouted, remaining silent as she watched him drink the remainder of his juice, her mood souring with every second, in a high-pitched girly voice ever known, she spoke, “Is the orange juice not cold enough for you, young master?”
The choking was instant, he couldn’t breathe.
“For someone who claims girls are a distraction , you like giving them your undivided attention,” she taunted, “And an older woman at that.”
He choked, juice getting logged in his throat and being unceremoniously sprayed out of his nose. The strong smell of citrus acid pervaded his nostrils and it burned something fierce!
“What can we do dear sister? His mind is a raging sea of curiosity and hormones. You’ll be shocked at the things he reads in his spare time.”
More choking and erratic flailing for air and help went completely ignored.
“But older women sister?” Celestia sulked as if she didn’t hear her sister practically rat out Spike’s fondness for reading the more…sensual sides of literature.
“I know the women on our staff are beautiful but the head maid is at least ten years older than him . First Miss Moral and now Miss Bell? You know, I’m starting to dislike the idea of any girls around my sweet innocent son. He’ll be corrupted by the time he visits home for the fall break. Perhaps we should send him to an all-male academy? Certainly, he can’t be distracted there?”
Luna sipped her tea before responding, “Who’s to say his tastes won’t change while there? I’ve heard some stories back in the day-”
“Not on your life!” He shouted, having gained control of his bodily functions.
So relieved to be able to breathe and have the tangy smile of orange juice no longer hitting his nostrils, it took a second for him to realize what he said.
It took less for the chuckles to start and even less for his face to bloom scarlet, “Now I know both of you are pulling my tail!”
He groaned as the ‘Terrible Duet’ continued to laugh at his expense, “And I really need to learn a spell to block you out,” he pointed to Luna.
“Honestly, I do not go out of my way to read other’s thoughts. Depending on how strong the emotion, depends on if I can read it in the first place. Picking up other’s thoughts and feelings is rather exhaustive. Not very fun.”
“So, you haven’t read all my thoughts?”
“Let me put it this way, thoughts are meant to stay private for a reason.”
That, really didn’t answer my question .
“No Spike, I haven’t read all your thoughts,” there was an eerie glow to her smile, however. Spike shuddered, unsure if she read his mind or if she just was that good at knowing what one was thinking.
“Okay Luna, we teased him enough,” Celestia got up from the table, walking over to Spike, she patted his shoulder, “See me in my office after you’re done, tell Miss Bell I’ll be there.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Once Celestia was out of sight, he turned back to Luna, “You sure you–”
A demure smile greeted him, “Don’t seek answers to questions you don’t want answers to. Sometimes it’s best not knowing.”
“Touché.”
Already finished with her meal, Luna got up from the table a short while after Celestia. There was a sadness to her smile, looking at her nephew with a fondness she didn’t show in front of others. She hugged his head to her body, “Stay out of trouble, and visit us as much as you can, that way I don’t have to put up with your mother sulking about while you’re not here.”
He returned the hug, “Like I can stay away from this place.”
Luna smiled, giving his shoulders a squeeze before releasing him and going her own way, You never know, you may end up liking it there .
***** ***** ***** *****
Finishing breakfast, Spike made his way to his mother’s study, his curiosity growing with every step. Reaching the double white doors, he knocked twice and then opened them, entering the room, where he saw Celestia standing by her curved office desk.
“You wanted to see me?”
His mother nodded her head, “Yes,” she walked over to the right side of her study, where a baby blue walk-in armoire with sliding doors stood. He watched her take a few steps in, hearing a precession of clicks and beeping sounds and something like a metal door, opening and shutting.
She came out seconds later, holding an antique jewelry box, “I have something to give to you before you go.”
“Whoa! Look at the craftsmanship on that thing!”
Celestia held a moderate sized lacquered red chest made of jade, lined with precious stones and painted with dragons and peonies. On the top was some old script he recognized written in a bizarre combination of Yong and Cantelic.
“This chest predates the birth of Equestria, perhaps even before the first civilizations. It’s an old Dracone heirloom, a gift that’s been guarded by this family for centuries.”
It took a minute for Spike to process the meaning behind his mother showing him such a rare antique and he with good reason became startled, “Wait…You trust me to take care of a jewelry chest that’s over 100,000-years-old?!”
He could deal with this whole, ‘go to school and try to be social’ kick his mother forced him into. And he wasn’t tooting his own horn but he knew he was quite the responsible young lad, however, he cannot for the life of him think of any reason why his mother would decide to give him a family treasure that’s been around since before Equestria’s conception!
Though his curiosity ran wild. If one were to go by the history books, Dracones and Equines never saw eye to eye in the past. Some part him, aside from his limited experiences in public and being adopted by one of the most beautiful mare-bloods in existence, believes that still holds some truth. So how in the world did the Luminaire family managed to have such a find in their possession for centuries ? Spike knows every family has its fair share of secrets and knew his mother, as bright and social as she was, never shared much about herself, only what she wanted others to know.
His musing was cut short by her laughter, “By the praises of the first Mother, No!” His mother’s jovial attitude put him at ease a little, “I wouldn’t in good conscience allow you to travel with this chest.”
He released a breath, “That’s a load off my shoulders, what do you want to give me?”
“What’s inside it,” Celestia sat the beautiful chest down on her desk, opening the latch with an unlocking spell he never seen before. Inside, revealed the most beautiful gemstones he’s ever seen.
Seven gorgeous shimmering crystal orbs sparkled back at him in seven brilliant colors. Each linked to blinding gold and silver metal chains. The onyx silk backdrop of the case’s interior, which he noted was designed with the same patterns of the outside with white stitching, seemed to intensify their vibrancy!
“You can think of these as friendship necklaces for anyone that becomes your closest friends.”
Spike was too enthralled in his admiration of the gifts to listen to Celestia. Jade eyes focused on the ruby orb in the middle. He knew he fell in a trance, fingers moving of their own accord towards the middle crystal.
It was like a pulse vibrated inside his head, a pulse not his own but beating in tandem with his own. Not frightening but beckoning, an urge to be touched and held and claimed. To become one, his fingers brush lightly on the ruby orb and the change was instantaneous.
“Whoa!” Spike watched with intense interest as the orb transformed into a multi-faceted heart. A platinum dragon pendant, with green emeralds for eyes, materialized itself around the shape of the ruby. The pendant floated in the air before him, a flash of swirls like flames engulfed the ruby heart as well as Spike for a split second before disappearing. Before Spike knew it, he was already wearing the pendant around his neck.
“What was that?! It was incredible, like a sudden immense surge of power!”
Unaware to him, his mother’s eyes were calculating but otherwise she was calm about everything. Her calm demeanor put him at ease, he trusts her to know what was happening. He doubted Celestia would ever do something to put him in danger.
Besides, that rush of power felt great! His body still tingled from the after effects.
“It looks like this fire ruby has chosen you as its new owner, it transformed to how it read your soul,” Celestia summoned a smaller, unimpressive wooden case, setting the other six necklaces inside to give to Spike.
“But to answer your question, yes, these are magical stones with great powers stored within. On their own, these are nothing more than pretty baubles but when near one with certain requirements, they come to life, as we just saw with your fire ruby. These stones have a mind of their own and are connected to each other.”
“So, you’re saying whoever gets the rest of these, these crystals will do the same thing?”
“That’s the gist of it, yes, these stones are like protection talismans.”
He fingered the ruby that attached itself to his neck without warning, “There’s something I still don’t get. Why did it sense me? If these are part of the family then why–”
“The recipient of that stone doesn’t matter, it’s like I’ve said, it only chooses who it thinks worthy. If that were not the case, you wouldn’t be able to wear it, let alone touch it. Now that you and the fire ruby are one, it will be a beacon to those, based on your heart’s desires who will wear the other jewels.”
“My heart’s desires?”
“It’s somewhat complicated, these stones are rather fickle, having a mind of their own, however, while they do choose whomever they feel is worthy, it is ultimately based on whomever wears the fire ruby and whatever strong connection that person holds with six people who have the propensity to be chosen by the other stones.”
“It’s a lot to take in.”
She could see the wheels in his head turning, he was mulling over the information and he had lots of questions. She had to admit, she was nervous. Sure, this was just the start of opening up to Spike about the truth but she was nowhere near ready to spill everything.
At least not until she was sure, he could carry the weight of the burden she was thrusting on his shoulders.
His eyes went from the ruby heart necklace to studying his mother’s body language. It was subtle, her nervousness. Outwardly, her face looked serene, giving nothing away, even her body language was relaxed, but his mother had a habit of squeezing one hand over the other to quell her usual hand wringing.
He has a lot of questions, the most dominant being, What aren’t you really telling me about these gemstones ? But he knew she wasn’t going to be forthcoming with answers.
Instead, he asked, “Why are you giving these to me?”
She took his hands in her own, smiling down at him, “I want to feel some kind of security that you’ll be protected, I want you to leave here and begin journeying out into the world, I want you to make friends again and to be happy.”
That was better than no answer at all and it was a truthful one. Celestia caressed his face, he smiled and then hugged her tight, “I’m going to miss you so much, mom.”
“You better come visit me during fall break,” she returned the hug.
“It’s a promise!”
“It’s time to go, we shouldn’t keep Miss Zecora waiting,” even as she said this, she didn’t let go of him yet. She embraced him tight to her bosom one last time, moving his messy green hair away to kiss the top of his forehead, “I love you, Spike.”
“I love you, mom,” he kissed her cheek, finally breaking the hug. He smiled at Celestia one last time, taking the wooden box with the magical necklaces. She nodded to him to get going with an encouraging smile.
He turned around and left.
~~~*****~~~
Outside in front of the house, the young master was bombarded with farewells and little send-off gifts from the staff members.
A tall woman with teal eyes and braided black and white striped hair walked by Spike to the car, she smiled, “Last minute goodbyes always make for wet eyes. Tell me when you are ready to leave.”
“No problem Miss Z,” he blushed from embarrassment at all the attention, scratching his head, “Well this is it, I’m finally leaving home for the first time! Still feels surreal.”
“We’re all gonna miss you lots young master!” Flora, one of the maids proclaimed, she handed Spike a small gift bag with pretty wrapping paper, scented with potpourri.
“Things won’t be the same without you here!” Aqua Sweet smirked, handing him a box of candies.
“Have lots of fun and don’t study too hard young master!” Iridescence winked, her gift he could only guess was a collection of books.
“There won’t be anyone around to enjoy my sweet and spicy cinnamon rolls now,” Dandy Belle gave him a pastry box filled with all the treats he loved, “Make sure to eat proper meals, young master!”
A young woman by the name Moral Compass waved his way with a smirk. She adjusted her glasses, combing her hands through her long cyan and black twisted hair before pulling the boy by his hoodie close to her. Spike flustered, feeling her gloss painted lips whisper in his ear, “I’m going to miss our Tuesday study sessions. Don’t go replacing me with any pretty girls, you little nerd.”
Moral, satisfied that Spike was beyond looking like a ripe tomato, poked the boy in the forehead with a sly grin before heading back into the house.
A certain professor was not amused, giving Spike the dirtiest glare, immediately bringing Spike from blazing hot to freezing cold in ten seconds flat, “Do try to be more responsible with learning to hone your magic. Heavens forbid we hear the school caught ablaze from your recklessness.
There was a sinister glee coming from Professor Strict Rules. The type of bemused enjoyment one gets for knowing they can put the fear of the gods in their students, “You are lucky to have a mother that can repair 1,000-year-old burned scrolls. However, you no longer have that luxury so do mind your magic boy.”
“Y-yes sir!” Spike squeaked, he power walked towards the car, putting the gifts inside.
He turned around one last time before getting into the car, “Thanks everyone for sending me off, I’m gonna miss you all!”
Zecora revved up the engine, signaling Spike that it was time to go, “And I promise to try and have fun!”
He got in the car, seeing everyone wave to him as the car sped off, poking his head through the window, he waved back, “I’ll make sure to visit in the fall!”
From her vantage point, Luna saw the car disappear over the horizon. She stood by the upstairs balcony windows a little longer, addressing the other occupant in her personal sitting room, “So, this is what it feels like to let a child you help raise go, this house is going to be full of brooding adults for weeks.”
Celestia sat on one of the royal blue sofas in the room with legs crossed, “If it bothers you that much, just become a mother and lift our weary souls with the joy of a baby’s laughter.”
“I’ll pass thank you.”
Celestia sighed, she smiled but Luna knew her sister was trying to keep it together, “It’s going to be quiet without his accidental spells going haywire. Or listening to him read his favorite comics with the staff, or helping me try to cook…It hasn’t even been an hour yet and I already miss him, Luna.”
Luna chuckled, walking over to her sister. She leaned over the edge of the sofa, wrapping her sibling in a lose hug, “See, I can’t bring another child into this home, I’ll be too busy helping you cope with separation anxiety!”
Tears stream down Celestia’s face even as she laughed at Luna’s horrible jab at humor, “That’s not funny!”
“Who said I was joking?” she kissed Celestia’s forehead, letting her go, “I noticed he was wearing the fire ruby.”
Celestia dabbed daintily at her eyes with a soft cloth, “I gave him the necklaces.”
“Isn’t that considered high risk?” Luna raised a brow, just the other night her sister wanted to chew her alive for daring to suggest telling the truth.
“Yes, but you’re right, Spike deserves to know. I was being foolish but my stance remains the same.”
“However?”
“However, when the fire ruby chose him, there was no more doubt…he’ll learn it all in degrees. That said, you and I have some work to get to.”
Celestia watched with interest how the smug grin spread across Luna’s face, “In that case, I’m glad you see it my way.”
Luna sat across from her sister, organizing folders and paperwork, the grin never left even as she uttered the words, “Let’s get to work.”
TBC…
Author's Note
B-Empress: Hey guys, so here is chapter 1 of Color the Sky. I did what I normally do when it comes to chapters going pass the 11K word mark, I break them up. While the girls don't make a show this chapter, they definitely will in chapter 2! My stories tend to be on the slow burn side, so yeah...
In case anyone's confused about the government set up I have going at the beginning. I based Canterlot/Equestria's government to run like the US. But everything else is made up.
There's three/four branches of government: The High Court and Common Court are the Legislative Branch with the 'High Court' being the 'Senate' the Common Court being the Representatives. 'House of Superiors' is the Supreme Court, and there's the 'Auxiliary Command' which is like the executive branch.
Upper Residency is made of those part of the royal house, however, the Upper Residency has not been in absolute power; most of that power is presided over to Auxiliary Command. Those part of the Upper Residency cannot be appointed to the Common Court, House of Superiors, and Auxiliary (only under special conditions) because a careful balance between the High class and the common people need to be met. The only place they may take is the High Court and only those that are lesser nobles.
The only time the Upper Residency will overrule is in a time of crisis or when none of the other houses can come to agreement. The main job they do have is the power of appointing.
All this plays a role in the story and will make sense as time moves on.
Author's Note
Hokay!
So, I wasn't ready to put this out because I had wanted to complete this chapter with all the girls but again, I've been trying to curb stomp my tendency to upload ridiculously long chapters...probably nothing any of you mind but it's something that matters to me.
Two reasons it took me this godawful long to post a chapter (maybe 3)
I seriously had to rewrite this chapter over and mulled over several times how I wanted Spike's first meeting with each of the main six to go and how that ends, which leads into the next arc of the story. The first draft wasn't as impactful but hopefully the new revisions are better.
I've mentioned before that I had wanted to make this into a doujin of sorts and had been trying various things which were hit or miss...I did figure out a medium I could work with and thus had wanted to upload new material with my new method of storytelling...but I left this story for months and didn't want people to think I abandoned it, so...here, have a chapter!
Okay, so there's isn't a 3rd reason...except...I don't know when I'll update again but I'm working on it. Again, I'm one of those, 'slow burn' type of writers, and I tend to fuss over my world building so I don't end up having too many plotholes.
Also...MY GOD! Zecora bby, I love you, I do but I had a time of it with scrambling for ways to keep you in rhyme if not rhythm....ugh!
Well! Enjoy! Please let me know what you like...don't like...
02: First Impressions...
Color the Sky
02: First Impressions are Everything…
A comfortable silence filled the black sports car as Zecora cruise down the highway towards their destination. Spike turned his head away from the passing scenery outside his window to glance in the older woman’s direction.
Zecora Terrae had been with his family ever since he could remember. A young girl, paving a way for herself after moving far from her homeland. She had crossed paths with his mother during a windy winter’s night, just a month after the incident during his birthday.
He certainly found her interesting the first time he seen her, sure she was normal in appearance like everyone else, aside from himself but he knew right off she wasn’t your typical run of the mill Equine mare. Not that, that tidbit of scrutiny lessened her beauty.
While most of that time remains lost to him, a constant block his mind wasn’t willing to unlock because of his fear of what it would reveal, he knew he owed his life in part to Zecora for aiding in his recovery. She was a great potions mistress, truly one of a kind and he had loved learning from her (less stressful than being under Professor’s Rules critical eye) before she took on the job of being his mother’s personal assistant.
Ironically, he didn’t see her much because of the job and wondered for the hundredths time, just what in the world his mother and aunt weren’t willing to share. Normal secretaries usually stayed at their boss’s hip, ready to assist. Zecora’s job required her to be gone for weeks at a time before she came back for a brief moment and back out into the world she went again.
He likened Zecora’s job to that of an emissary…But that would be ridiculous, mom’s just a business woman of a small company. Still, mom and Zecora’s working relationship is odd .
“A bit for your wit?”
Spike blinked his eyes, looking at Zecora with a blank expression.
She smiled at him before continuing, tapping him lightly on the forehead, “Hard was your glare, I presume you want to share?”
He laughed, scratching the back of his head, “It’s nothing Miss Z, how you’ve been? Haven’t seen you in almost a month.”
Zecora smirked, keeping her eyes on the road. It was obvious a lie, but she wasn’t the type to press for answers, “It is a joy to see you are doing well, as for me, I am doing quite swell.”
She just made a swift turned back into the middle lane before continuing, “How does it feel to leave the place you’ve knew for one completely new?”
“Eh, nervous, having second thoughts but mostly nervous,” and he was. He might have been excited before he left home but now that this was becoming a reality for him, the butterflies were starting to make themselves known.
Spike could think of all the ways in which this was a bad idea from the start, of how this will all go wrong, but nothing outside of him contracting an incurable disease would deter Celestia’s mind.
To be fair, his mother despite her moments when she was too stubborn for her own good, had an abundance of patience. When he really thought about it, he doubts most parents would’ve let him get away with shutting himself up for five years in the hopes he could deal with his problems on his own.
“First day jitters can be cured with some healthy bitters,” he was brought out of his musings once again by Zecora. She was holding a metallic thermos up to his face and he could faintly smell something that reminded him of quartz mineral water.
He peered at the contents, hoping he could stomach the bitter taste of the drink. Best way to take it is by not thinking about it, works most of the time . Resign to his fate, he tipped the canister back, “Bottom’s up!”
His eyes lit up behind his glasses at the taste and before he knew it, the drink was gone, “Thanks, that was really good! What was it? It smells like the amethyst powdered health drinks I get, just less sweet.”
“What you have ate was a pinch of blue lace agate, a useful nerve calming remedy to keep Dracones in harmony.”
“Always looking out Miss Z,” he smiled, making a mental note to add blue lace agate on the list of gemstone mineral powders to his daily diet. She returned the smile and he sat back, feeling his nerves begin to settle.
Oh yea, definitely gotta stock up on this stuff in the future, it works fast . Silence dominated the car once more as Zecora continued their non-stop trip on interstate 71. The roads were sparse with traffic around this area even for an early Friday morning.
Considering where he lived, most things are sparse. The closest town near his home was Dodge City by three hours. If there hadn’t been other private houses and small businesses scattered about on the outskirts of the Everfree forest, leading a path to Dodge City, Spike would’ve thought his house was the only thing that existed.
And thinking of the nearest town, it dawned on him they were heading in the opposite direction, “Hey, Zecora, I just realized…I have no idea where I’ll be staying.”
Zecora chuckled, a quick glance in his direction told her all she needed to know. His face was flushed from embarrassment. She didn’t make comment on it, instead reaching over Spike inside the glove compartment, “Your mother thinks your suited best in Ponyville, compared to the hustle and bustle of Canterlot, she believes this to be the better deal.”
He took the offered pamphlet, pale blue and yellow in color, “Equestria Academia at Ponyville,” he opened it up, perusing through its contents. A genuine smile was beginning to form on his face as he continued to read the leaflet, “Maybe it won’t be so bad, they offer a lot of extracurricular activities, there’s no way students can get bored and it even has an accelerated independent study program!”
“Independent study sounds like a loner’s dream; mother dearest wants you to flourish among a team.”
He groans, “I know, don’t remind me.”
“No need to sound so grumpy, relax yourself so you don’t look so frumpy,” she pulled out an actual medium sized book from the compartment, dropping it in his hands, “Here, read this for more insight, it could help you later to feel alright.”
The Unofficial Guide Every Student Needs in Their Arsenal to Survive Equestria Academia ! Who wrote this, some young professor trying to be hip with the current generation ? That’s so cheesy ! He had nothing else better to do, there was so much one could take playing solitaire on their phone before it got stale, “How long before we get there?”
“I assure you we are close, give it another two hours or three at the most.”
With that, Spike settled in for what turned out to be an entertaining read about student rights and responsibilities. It wasn’t long before he started nodding off to sleep, that he felt someone nudging his side gently.
“Wake up Spike and be revived, for you now see, we have arrived!”
The teen rubbed at his eyes, trying to absorb the situation, “Finally! My legs were starting to get cramped–WHAT THE HECK! Is this a school or a palace?!”
A sudden case of whiplash snapped him out of his tired daze, his jaw hitting the floor. He took off his glasses to rub at his eyes and to clean off his lenses before putting them back on, “Yep, I’m not hallucinating.”
Huge was an understatement, red-violet and cream-colored buildings were everywhere, but it wasn’t so much that the buildings themselves were massive, just the entirety of the campus looked like it encompassed at least 350 acres of land if not more.
“I must admit, it is very grand, a new place to make your stand,” Zecora parked the car in front of the main building, “Come, young Spike do not be slow, through these doors to Mrs. Harshwhinny your guidance counselor we must go.”
Spike shook his head, still feeling awe about the whole thing, “R-right!” He hurriedly gathered his belongings and followed behind Zecora inside the school building.
Blue, Cream, and yellow seem to dominate the overall interior of the building as they walked towards the guidance counselor’s office. It wasn’t near noon, yet the school felt eerily empty, a lot of classrooms were void of people, save a few with students, immerse in their studies and teacher’s giving lectures.
They turned a corner and stopped in front of a pale blue door with a metal plaque that read ‘Guidance Counselor’. Zecora smiled at him, patting his shoulder, “This is where we must part, for here is where you begin your start. All things will flow in due course, best not to fight this with force.”
He sighed but smiled at the advice, “You’re right Miss Z, best to take things as they come.”
She nodded her head and walked off, waving back to him as she left, “Take care and in time you may like this new affair.”
He waved back, watching the last familiar face in his life, leave him inside unknown territory. A sigh escaped from him, nothing to do but face it. He was here and running away wouldn’t solve any problems, squaring his shoulders he prepared himself to knock on the wooden door–
“No!”
“But I didn’t even ask my question yet!”
Spike froze in place, his hand raised to knock on the door, “Okay…I guess she’s dealing with another student right now,” he wasn’t too worried as he was sure, Zecora informed this Mrs. Harshwhinny that he’ll be here to complete his enrollment for the school year.
“There’s no need, you’ve been coming here at the same time every day, asking the same questions ad nauseam. And I tell you the same thing, every day, no!”
He was starting to get second hand embarrassment, mainly due to how this conversation made him an unwilling eavesdropper. He decided to wait it out by sitting on a nearby bench in the hallway, pulling the hood over his face as far as it could go, This is going to take a while .
“Because it doesn’t make sense!” there was a sound of a bang on the desk, “I’ve looked at all the possible variables, I even made notes, twice! And I still don’t understand why I’ve been dropped from all my independent study classes!”
“Look on the bright side. All your classes will still get you college credit.”
Spike sighed, wincing at his sensitive eardrums, “Any louder and the whole building will be able to hear you two.”
Perhaps he was exaggerating just a bit, but having sharp hearing was a blessing and a curse for Dragonborns, at least in his case.
Inside the office, sat a very irate short haired blonde woman with tired bags under her eyes. Mrs. Harshwhinny took pride in knowing Equestria Academia produced some of the greatest minds in the world and it really is a delight to have dedicated students.
But the young girl sitting across from her desk took achieving above one’s means to the next level and dear First Mother ! Mrs. Harshwhinny really wanted to know what the hell went through the mind of the Headmaster for deciding to take the one student who actually cares, out of their independent study program.
The student in question seemed about on the verge of panicking. Her uniform was stained and unkempt, her dark hair messy and frazzled and her black rimmed glasses kept falling loose down her nose.
Most of all, she would not give up on this useless conquest of getting her independent study program back and it was driving the guidance counselor to an early grave, “True...however this school offers both IB and AP courses, with IB courses taking a higher precedence over the standard AP classes! For three weeks, I’ve been bored out of my mind because I’m already so far ahead of my classmates!”
Mrs. Harshwhinny sighed, keeping her hands clasp together to prevent her from facepalming. She was getting a migraine, “Those Advance Placement courses you’re so adamant about not taking Miss Sparkwell are not that lax as for you to feel your peers are so far behind you in the current curriculum. It’s obvious you made an effort to go above and beyond everybody in this school, even those in regular International Baccalaureate programs.”
There was silence, but that didn’t last long, if anything, Miss Sparkwell’s violet eyes widened and she looked more out of sorts than when she came in, “Is this because my test scores dropped by .02 percent last year?”
The guidance counselor gawked, Did she listen to anything I said ?!
“I knew I shouldn’t have caved in at the last hour by cutting out study time for just one extra hour of sleep! No wonder I didn’t get full credit on that bonus question–”
Outside, Spike didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the poor girl, “Over achiever much?”
Inside, Mrs. Harshwhinny looked about ready to bust an aneurysm, “That is preposterous! For a bright mind, you surely create high scaled allusions!”
“Exactly! We finally agree!”
“On what? Your overactive imagination?”
“On how ridiculous it is that you’ve dropped me from all my IB Independent Study courses without any creditable reasons, other than the Headmaster said so!”
There was only one way to get her out of here and goddess help her if it didn’t work, “Miss Sparkwell, stop this nonsense before I decide to put you in remedial courses!”
“Re-re-remedial?!” Stunned, she was stunned. Miss Sparkwell’s mind went blank as she sat in front of the guidance counselor, whose mouth was moving but a ringing noise drown the woman out. The word remedial echoing in her thoughts.
Spike winced, “Ouch, no consideration for honor classes,” that had to be a huge blow to someone who strived to be the best.
“Listen Miss Sparkwell I’m willing to compromise with you, if you can manage to power through the first half of the school year being among your peers in the curriculum I’ve given you, I will reconsider moving you back to your independent study program.”
Spike felt kind of bad for the girl, “If she’s smart, she’ll take that deal.”
Miss Sparkwell’s lips looked on the verse of quivering, desperation had finally sunk in, “Can I just have one back?”
Mrs. Harshwhinny gave the girl a deadpan stare, “Get out.”
“But-”
Not waiting another minute, the guidance counselor got up from her seat and pushed the stubborn student out of her office and slammed the door, “Get out of my office!”
Spike watched as the girl banged on the door like that would make the woman who just literally kicked her out, come back to welcome her with opened arms.
“This is a direct violation of student rights! Chapter 23, section 4, paragraph 2 of ‘The Unofficial Guide Every Student Needs in Their Arsenal to Survive Equestria Academia!’; clearly states that no student’s curriculum shall be tampered, altered or unjustly switched without legal and reasonable cause!”
The guidance counselor released a breath, rubbing both sides of her temple, “Sweet Celestia! I don’t get paid enough for this job.”
“Mrs. Harshwhinny!” the girl yelled again. Seeing she was being ignored, she slapped her hand one last time on the door, “Argh! This is so unfair!”
“Um, rough day?” Spike supplied. He was still wincing from his eardrums ringing.
“How about a rough first month back to school!” she shouted, finally looking his way and immediately feeling her face get hot that she embarrassed herself in front of another student, “Oh, sorry you had to see that. I’m not usually this…”
“High-strung? Excitable? Panicky? Obsessive compulsive to the point you memorized the student handbook with the cheesy title to state your case?”
The rosy hue in her cheeks darkened, she rubbed her arm, eyes looking elsewhere, “Heh, heh, yeah…that…um who are you?”
If she wanted to change the subject, that was fine with him, “Name’s Spike Drache! I’m new.”
“Twylana Sparkwell, but you can call me Twilight Sparkle! Welcome to Equestria Academia: Ponyville House, sister school to Equestria Academia: Canterlot House, home of the Wondercolts!”
“Thanks for the warm welcome!” He offered his hand and she took it. An instant spark of energy like magic passed through both of them. What in Equestria ?! I’ve never been able to sense someone’s magic ! Is this the work of my gemstone ? Or is she doing it !
Twilight was just as surprised, I’ve never felt such a strong magical presence like this before ! For such a harmless looking kid, he has a very strong magic signature .
Her curiosity hummed to life after feeling something so raw and new. Twilight studied the new kid, she couldn’t really see much of his face, other than huge blue tinted glasses and wild green hair, readying to burst out of his purple and black hoodie. He was a bit on the short side as well, but nothing out of the unusual, however, his magic signature wasn’t something she ever came across before, “You don’t happen to have Unicorn ancestry, do you?”
The question threw him off guard and he tensed, taking a step back, “W-why would you ask me something like that?!”
Could she sense I’m dragonborn ?! Can she see my eyes through these glasses ? Oh great! And here I thought Ponyville didn’t discriminate or scrutinize you as bad as everywhere else for being different !
Twilight flushed, feeling that her innocent question sounded insensitive, “Ah! I-it was a dumb question, forget I said anything! I didn’t mean to offend you! There’s nothing wrong with being an Earthbound or Pegasus!”
That…didn’t sound any better, Yes, Twilight let’s continue to make an ass out of ourselves in front of the new kid and project the assumption of being a high-strung illogical raving blood supremacist !
He waved away the concern, the girl looked just as embarrassed if not a bit ashamed, “It’s okay! Your question just came out of left field, way out…”
Earth-blood? Pega-blood? She doesn’t have the faintest clue that I’m far from any of that .
“I know, and I apologize, it was uncalled for. It’s just, this may sound strange, but I never felt magical energy like yours. Even in today’s society, while humans hardly resemble the appearance of our ancestors and we pretty much all look the same. Usually, one can tell right off if someone has Unicorn, Pegasus or Earth ancestry by their magical signatures but you…there’s like there’s two magical signatures…one of them feels faintly familiar but just as foreign as the second one…” she trailed off, trying to find the right words to explain what she experienced.
Everything she was explaining to him, he was already well versed in, which was why he panicked in the first place. Now that he was spending a little more time around Twilight, he felt awful. It really wasn’t fair to assume the worse of everyone because of his setbacks or the whispers behind his back of people who turned their nose up at anyone who remotely looked out of the ordinary.
He sighed, “I…you-it’s okay, I get it, there’s nothing to apologize for Twilight or explain, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just…not that good around people is all.”
The smile she gave him was soft and despite her frazzled appearance and the glasses that kept slipping down her nose, her eyes were shining with an inquisitive nature to want to know and understand what she couldn’t. If the conversation she had with Mrs. Harshwhinny gave him any clues, he was willing to bet, Twilight Sparkle was dying to solve the mystery of his origins.
He had inadvertently became her new science project and he could see she was buzzing with all sorts of questions but was being polite not to pry, it gave her a charming appeal and dare he think, made her cute.
Until he was a bit more comfortable with himself, sadly she was just gonna have to wait, given he ever crossed her path and got to know her better.
She coughed, disrupting the awkward silence beginning to seep in, “Well I think I stole much of your time with pointless banter, aha ha…hmm…You obviously came here to see Mrs. Harshwhinny. Hope you have better luck than me getting what you need.”
She groaned, forcing herself to head back where she came from, “Speaking of, I need to see myself to class, where it’s boring, because I already learned everything in the entire curriculum.”
“I know it’s none of my business, but I did…sort of…kind of, well I overheard your entire conversation with the guidance counselor.”
“Oh, that’s embarrassing.”
“Yeah, I know it’s gotta suck being dropped down a level without a reason but think of it this way. If you’ve already learned everything your classes have to offer for the entire year, and your bored, why not see about being a tutor? Not only could you help out your other classmates, but it can keep your memory refreshed about everything you learned by the time exams come around.”
Her eyes lit up at the suggestion, “That’s a great idea Spike! Why didn’t I think of that?”
He smirked, seeing her renewed with vigor to set out and put his idea to task, “You’re welcome.”
He knocked on the door, reaching for the handle and turning, “Nice talking with ya, maybe we’ll see each other around!”
She smiled, waving, “Maybe,” she left, leaving him to deal with the counselor from hell. As she turned the corner she couldn’t help but still be intrigued by what she discovered, she definitely wanted to know more about him and what his unusual magic signature meant, “What an interesting kid.”
Spike waited until Twilight made a turn down the hall and then he entered the office.
“Miss Sparkwell-”
“Sorry to break it to ya but I’m not your favorite visitor and its Spike Drache by the way.”
Mrs. Harshwhinny turned around at the new voice, looking surprised to see someone other than her daily visitor, “Ahem,” she gestured for Spike to take a seat, while she finished gathering folders she needed from her file cabinet, “You must be the new student our estranged headmaster was referring to.”
She looked just like she sounded, unenthused and annoyed, Well, she’s just a ray of sunshine , “Estranged?”
“Estranged as in never here, never seen their face but able to miraculously know everything to keep order in this fine establishment. Unfortunately, this means that I or the other assistant faculty members must play as headmaster and dean.”
Yikes, if he had to deal with an absentee boss, he probably would feel the same. She finally sat down at her desk with a black folder with his name on it. This time she managed to give him a slight smile, “Forgive my rudeness Mister Drache, I had been aware of your arrival from Miss Terrae and was preparing to meet you but…other matters came up.”
He had a guess as to who made her agitated, instead he remained silent.
“I looked over your records mister Drache, their quite impressive, your years of tutorship under a well-known professor such as Strict Rules has made you qualified to be placed in with the third-year class. Since Fridays here are treated as a half day and study hall period, there won’t be much time for you to participate,” she handed him a copy of his class schedule.
“Normally we allow students to choose their own class rosters for the year, but everything was handled by your mother through Miss Terrae as I’m sure you are already aware.”
He nodded his head, “Good, well everything is all set, starting Monday, you’ll be taking Advanced Placement courses with the juniors.”
The poor woman looked like she swallowed a bitter lemon when she uttered ‘Advanced Placement’. First Mother ! What did Twilight do to you ?
“Our dress code requires students to wear the customary school uniform during school hours and to have a neat and orderly image,” he shifted under her gaze, “Other than that, you’re free to be as casual as is allowed.”
“Oh! Before I forget,” She unlocked a glass shelf next to her desk and took out a set of card keys, “Here, these are yours, one is for you to access your dorm apartment, the other, for your own bedroom,” she handed him the cards and a paper where his new sleeping quarters is located.
“Should you find that you have lost or misplaced your keys, your resident live-in professors will have a spare. Also, there is a strict curfew, all students are to be in by eight on weekdays, ten on weekends, the doors to the dorms lockdown after the ten-minute grace period is up and no, your key card cannot help you then. If you happen to find yourself outside passed curfew, it counts as an infraction and certain privileges will be limited or a punishment enacted. But worry not, one of your professors will let you in, so you won’t be stuck to sleep outdoors. Any questions?”
“I got it, even have a copy of the student handbook…but I do need directions to my dorm.”
“That’s already been taking care of, one of our students has volunteered to give you a general run of the school today, they should be waiting for your arrival outside the main doors to the school.”
“Great! I can take it from here! Thanks Mrs. Harshwhinny!”
She nodded her head, trying to return his 100-watt smile as he left and failing. Her hands were already searching one of her top desk drawers for something strong enough to curb stomp her pounding headache. At least that went smoothly, the last thing I need is another student making demands .
As she searched in vain for an extra packet of migraine meds, she felt like there was something very important she forgot to tell Spike.
Something about his new living space but for the life of her she couldn’t think of what it was. Any thinking she tried to do on her part was met with extensive pain and she was dismayed to see she was out of pain medicine.
She got up from her desk, she had to see the school nurse and quick! If the reason behind Spike’s living arrangements were that important, she’s sure she would’ve remember, Maybe I’ve been overworking too hard today .
Yeah, that had to be it.
She hopes that’s it because she honestly doesn’t want to even imagine the alternative.
TBC…
