It had been a week since the invasion of the Storm King, and Twilight and her friends were back in Ponyville. For the most part, everypony seemed to be doing just fine, but Twilight was concerned about Spike. For the past couple of days, Spike had been unusually quiet and mopey. He still helped out around the castle, cooked and cleaned at his very best like he often tended to do, but he didn’t seem to be as enthusiastic or cheerful about it like he used to.
A summit going on in the Changeling Kingdom, scheduled for the weekend, and Twilight and her friends had been invited to go. But Twilight didn’t feel comfortable about bringing Spike along in his current state. At the same time, however, she couldn’t just leave him alone.
“Come on, Twi. This is gonna be just what we need after all that’s happened.” Applejack insisted to Twilight, as she walked to Twilight’s castle with her.
“I know, Applejack.” Twilight replied. “But have you seen Spike lately? He hasn’t been the same since the invasion. And there are times I just see him walking around the castle like a zombie. I’m starting to get worried.”
Applejack looked down, remembering that she’d seen Spike earlier that day, sometimes just standing in one spot with a blank expression. “The poor feller.” Applejack sighed. “Well, ah ain’t forcing ya to go, but at least think about the offer, will ya?”
“I will. Thank you, Applejack.” Twilight nodded, as they reached her castle.
“Don’t mention it. See ya around!” Applejack called, then began walking to her own home as Twilight went inside her castle.
As Twilight trotted inside, she happened to notice Starlight glancing into the library.
“Starlight?” Twilight asked, walking towards her student. “What is it?”
“It’s Spike.” Starlight pointed to Spike, who was laying on the couch and looking depressed. “Ever since he made lunch, I kept finding him just lying there. He’s been like that for the past hour and I don’t know what’s wrong!”
"Oh, Spike..." Twilight commented. She walked over to Spike and began to pet his head, hoping that would calm him down. “Is there something you want to talk about?” She questioned the little dragon.
Spike looked up and saw Twilight (and Starlight) looking at him with concerned and worried looks. “No…” He flatly spoke. “I’m fine…”
“Spike, you’ve been acting this way for days!” Starlight spoke up. “Doesn’t look like everything’s fine to us.”
“It’s cool, guys!” Spike protested, raising his head. “We saved the day like we always do, Tempest is reformed now and everything. What are you all worried about?”
“We’re worried about you, Spike.” Twilight declared as she put her hoof under the baby dragon’s chin.
Spike sighed and put his head on the couch pillow. “I’m fine, girls. Really. You don’t have to worry about me. Please, I just wanna be left alone!”
Twilight didn’t want to get into an argument with Spike when he was like this. So she instead just put her hoof on his back and gently rubbed it. “If there’s anything you want to talk about, we’ll be here for you.” She offered, and then exited the library.
Starlight walked towards Spike and gave him a nuzzle on his forehead before exiting herself.
“What are we gonna do, Twilight?” Starlight asked her teacher, once they were both out in the hall. “We can’t just have him act like this forever!”
“Have you ever talked to him?” Twilight questioned Starlight. “Is there anything he might’ve told you that he wouldn’t want me knowing?”
“Spike and I always tell each other secrets, but even now he keeps telling me everything is fine,” Starlight replied with a shake of her head. “What are we gonna do? It seems like nopony can get through to him!”
Twilight looked down in sadness, devastated by that possibility. But then suddenly, her eyes widened as she got an idea! “I know one pony who can.”
“Really?! Who?” Starlight asked.
A couple minutes later, Twilight walked back in the library. Spike was still on the couch. “Hey, Spike!” Twilight walked up with a scroll. “Could you send this letter for me really quick? Please?”
Spike took the letter and without a second thought let out a fiery breath as the letter disappeared. “Sent.”
“Thank you!” Twilight grinned. She then exited the library with her head held high and proud.
“Did it work?” Starlight asked Twilight.
“Yep!” Twilight nodded. “All we now have to do, is wait. It may take an hour at best, but we must-”
BURP!!!
Twilight heard the loud fiery belch in the library. “Already?!” Twilight scrambled inside and saw Spike about to open the new scroll he’d just belched. “No, don’t!” Twilight protested! She immediately grabbed the scroll and told Spike. “Don’t mind this, it’s private! For my eyes only!” Then she exited the library. She proceeded to open the scroll, and read what it said. It went as follows:
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
It sounds like young Spike really needs some help now, and I would be more than happy to help the little dragon. You go enjoy the Changeling summit, I will watch over Spike while you’re gone. I’m sure he’ll be better by the time you get back.
Your Princess of the Night, friend, and appointed Dragon Sitter,
Princess Luna.
Being a princess herself, Twilight didn’t mind how silly it looked when she held up her hoof in victory. “Yes!”
It was now late at night, Twilight and Starlight were getting ready to join the rest of their friends on the train ride to the Changeling Kingdom.
“You guys almost ready?” Rainbow Dash asked from the window.
“We’ll be right out, girls.” Twilight called.
Starlight, meanwhile, took notice of Pinkie snoring on Applejack’s back. “What’s going on with Pinkie?”
Applejack giggled. “She’s so excited for the summit, she decided to go to sleep earlier so she’d be ready to party like crazy...Ah’m kind of anxious as to how and when she wakes up.”
The girls all shared a laugh at that, as Twilight then spoke up. “Well, Starlight and I just need to do one more thing and then we’ll be right out.”
The two ponies found Spike sitting by the window, looking up at the stars.
“Princess Luna will be here soon.” Twilight raised the dragon’s chin. “I hope things go well for you two.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.” Spike innocently replied.
“See you after this weekend!” Starlight cooed, as she rubbed Spike’s scales. As they began to leave, she added. “We’ll tell Thorax you said ‘Hi’!”
“Thanks, and tell him I’m sorry I couldn’t make the summit. Personal issues, you know what that’s like,” Spike happily replied as the two ponies opened the castle doors. “See ya!”
Once the castle doors closed, Spike looked back to the stars. He noticed how a couple of them were shining brighter than others. After a couple of minutes, a thought entered his mind, a thought that made him feel uneasy. Spike tried to shake it off. “Everything’s fine, Spike,” The dragon tried to tell himself. “There’s nothing wrong...Yeah...there’s...there’s nothing wrong...nothing...nothing wrong…” Tears began welling up in Spike’s eyes as he looked down.
Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock-knock-knock!
Spike heard the sound of knocking on the castle door and quickly wiped his tears away. He ran to the castle door and opened it, revealing the Princess of the Night herself!
“Hi, Luna!” Spike greeted his dragon sitter.
“Hello, little dragon youngling,” Luna cooed, as she leaned her head down and nuzzled Spike’s head. “It shall be very nice to spend time with you again.”
“Yeah.” Spike nodded as he wiped his eyes to make sure any new tears wouldn’t fall. If Luna noticed, she wouldn’t stop prying until she got answers.
Luna took notice of Spike wiping his eyes, and her warm smile turned into a concerned frown. “Young Spike,” She asked. “Were you crying earlier?”
“No,” Spike forced out. “Dust got in my eye a couple minutes ago, that’s all.”
Luna leaned down and stroked Spike’s cheek. “Twilight Sparkle told me you’ve been very down for a while now. Is that true?”
Spike sighed and confessed. “Yeah, it’s true. Should’ve figured she would tell you.”
“But,” Luna smiled, putting a hoof around Spike’s shoulder. “We can always talk in the morning if that makes you feel better.”
Spike couldn’t help but snuggle his head in Luna’s neck. “Thanks.” A yawn began to escape Spike’s mouth. He forgot how late it was.
Luna chuckled. “Looks like sleep is trying to claim you. Come,” She levitated Spike on her back and walked up the stairs to his room. She placed Spike in his bed and covered him with his blanket. “Sleep well, little one.”
The princess then exited Spike’s bedroom and began to walk to Twilight’s bedroom. Once entering it, she let out a relaxed sigh. Twilight always welcomed her bedroom to Luna whenever she dropped by. In fact, Twilight’s home had become almost like a second one for Luna since she began dragon sitting Spike after returning from the moon.
But now, it was that time for Luna. This was that time where she performed her dreamwalking and watched over the dreams of ponyfolk. Tonight, however, she didn’t have her eyes on a pony.
Luna climbed into Twilight’s bed and closed her eyes. Her horn began to glow and in an instant, she found herself in the dream realm. All around the alicorn were portals into different dreams. She took notice of one portal that was brown in color and had dark looking clouds. Emerging from them was something dark. It looked very familiar, and she felt there was an unfortunately good reason why.
“Don’t worry, dragon youngling. Your nightmare will soon cease.” Luna declared, as she held her head up high and flew inside that very dream, preparing for the worst.
But from the clouds, emerged an enormous cake! And it fell to the ground in front of Luna. Luna raised an eyebrow.
Suddenly, Pinkie Pie jumped in from behind her. “HOORAY!!!” Pinkie cheered. “I thought it would never get here! I’m sure glad it did! Oh, hi Luna!”
“Uh…” Luna spoke. “...Is this Spike’s dream?”
“No, it’s mine, silly!” Pinkie spoke, taking a huge bite of the cake. “Spike’s dream is usually the second one ahead of mine on the right! Sorry for the mix-up.”
Luna’s eyes widened. “Wha...but...how did you?”
“Oh, every now and then I poke my head in and see which one is which!” Pinkie grinned. “It’s okay, I never pry into the dream’s contents! That would be rude.”
Luna was speechless. “But..how is that-?” Luna then paused herself. It was usually best not to question whatever Pinkie did. If she did, Luna knew she was going to be there forever.
“Want some cake?” Pinkie offered, as she held a huge, gooey piece in front of Luna.
“Um...no thank you,” Luna grinned rather nervously. “I’ve got to be somewhere else. Farewell.”
Luna then flew out of the portal and back into the dreamscape.
“Okay, see you around!” Pinkie called out from her portal.
“How does she even-?” Luna paused again, knowing where this was going to lead. Then, she suddenly heard the sounds of ponies screaming and monsters roaring! Luna looked and saw that it was coming from the second dream ahead of Pinkie’s on the right.
“I hope this isn’t as I feared.” Luna whispered as she flew towards that portal!
Once Luna flew inside, she saw the city of Canterlot as it was a week ago: Blimps of the Storm King had been arriving, and minions of his by the numbers appeared in every direction, chasing and attacking different ponies throughout Canterlot!
Luna turned and saw what made her almost fall back in shock and horror. It was Cadance, now as a petrified, crystal statue!
“Cadance! Noooo!!!” Luna heard Spike yell! She spun around and saw Spike reaching out to Cadance, only to be pulled back by Fluttershy.
“We have to go, Spike!” Fluttershy held the little dragon firmly. “It’s what she wants us to do!”
“Cadance!” Spike cried out, as both Fluttershy and Applejack pulled him away.
Luna was about to follow Spike, but a voice made her stop in her tracks.
“Luna, quick! Go south, beyond the Badlands!”
Luna turned around and saw Celestia giving orders to her past self. But she suddenly saw Tempest Shadow running towards Celestia with a green orb.
“No…” Luna dreaded what was going to happen. But she was powerless to intervene.
“Seek help from the Queen of the Hippo-GAAAUGH!!!” Luna shielded her eyes with her wing, as Celestia was struck by Tempest’s orb and turned into a statue, just like Cadance!
A tear streamed from Luna’s clenched eye, she hated being reminded of that horrible memory. A green light flashed and she noticed her past self struck by an orb too, slowly turning into a statue before being caught by Twilight’s magic, just like in the past!
“Fluttershy?! Fluttershy! Where are you?!” Spike’s voice shouted. Apparently he’d somehow been separated from the shy pegasus.
Luna saw Spike in the distance calling for help, and trying not to get trampled! With only two mighty flaps of her wings, she immediately pulled Spike close to her and made a forcefield to protect them both!
Spike looked up and saw Luna! “Luna!” Spike threw himself in Luna’s belly as the alicorn continued holding him. “It’s awful! Cadance and Celestia are gone, I got separated from the others, and I can’t find Twilight!”
A green flash of light blinded Spike’s eyes for a couple seconds. But when his vision returned, he gasped. Twilight was now a statue too!
Luna gasped herself, she knew this had never happened. So why was it unfolding like this in Spike’s dreams?!
“TWILIGHT!!!” Spike cried as he shook his head! “No! No! They can’t take Twilight, they can’t!”
Luna curled her neck over Spike, and rubbed Spike’s back. “Nopony has taken Twilight…”
“What?” Spike questioned.
THUD!!!
Spike yelped as the statue of past Luna landed in front of the forcefield. This only made Spike clutch Luna tighter!
Just then, realization hit Spike and he looked back up at Luna. “You...you’re still here! I’m dreaming!”
“Indeed you are,” The princess declared. An orb hit Luna’s forcefield and instead of breaking the shield, it disintegrated into oblivion. No nightmare was a match for the Princess of the Night. “You’re safe with me, Spike. We will get through this.” Luna spoke, stroking the baby dragon’s cheek.
Spike gently hugged Luna’s hoof close to him for comfort. “...Okay…”
“Twilight!” Spike heard Rainbow Dash yell. He turned and saw Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy by Twilight’s statue!
“I wasn’t fast enough!” Rainbow gasped as she put her hooves to her face!
Suddenly another orb smashed down between the two pegasi. “No!” Rainbow yelled as crystal stone engulfed her! “Get it off me! Get it o-!!!” But it was too late, Rainbow was now turned into a statue!
Fluttershy crawled on the ground as stone began trapping her too. “Somepony...please!!!”
She screamed, reaching a hoof out to Spike. “Heeeeeeellllp meeee!!!!”
Within seconds, Spike found himself staring at Fluttershy’s statue. “Nooo!!!” Spike yelled, covering his eyes, as the alicorn herself cringed at the sight.
“It’s going to be okay, Spike!” Luna spoke up. “Remind yourself that this is all a dream!”
“I… I can’t!!!” Spike sobbed, his whole body shook with fear! He happened to glance and that’s when he saw Rarity and Pinkie Pie being struck too and slowly turning into statues. “It looks so real!”
“But it isn’t,” Luna declared, as she looked into Spike’s eyes. “You can do this, I know you can. You’re a very strong dragon.”
Spike slowly nodded and tried to avoid looking at Applejack getting petrified. He buried his face into Luna’s fur. “It’s only a dream, it’s only a dream, it’s only a dream!”
Pulling himself away from Luna’s fur, he noticed a couple of guards surrounding Twilight’s statue and felt fear rising in him again. “It’s only a dream! It’s only a dream! It’s only a dream!”
All of a sudden, everything in Canterlot became distorted and all over the place. Everything began fading into oblivion as Spike’s yells turned into mutters. “It’s a dream!...a dream!...a dream!...a...dream…”
Spike woke up in a cold sweat! While panting, he looked around. He wasn’t in Canterlot, he wasn’t in danger! He was back in his bed, back in his room. After a couple of seconds, tears welled up in his eyes as he began to cry quietly. Soon, he felt a shadow over him. He looked up and saw Luna, looking at him rather empathetically.
Luna opened her forelegs. “Come here, dragon youngling.”
Spike could no longer hold his emotions in as he hugged Luna, and buried his face in her fur while sobbing. “It’s like you’re back from the dead!” Spike cried. “I...I can’t lose you guys like that!”
“Shhhh…” Luna spoke in a soothing voice as she stroked his scales. “It’s okay, Spike...the nightmare is over...I’m here...Shhhhhh…”
Spike laid his head in Luna’s embrace, He sobbed for what felt like an hour before he began to slowly calm down. He looked up at Luna with red, watery eyes. “Th-thanks…”
Luna nuzzled Spike’s head. “It was no trouble at all. I’m happy to help.”
Spike sniffled and asked Luna. “...When will it stop hurting?”
Luna gently told Spike. “It’s difficult for me to say. But I do know this. You need to talk to Twilight and the rest of your friends. If you tell them, they will help you in your time of need.”
“You’ll still help too, right?” Spike asked.
Luna used her muzzle to tickle Spike’s cheek, making him giggle. “Of course,” She looked up at the starry sky and let out a relaxed breath. “Now then, Twilight’s bed has room for both of us, you’ll be sleeping with me for the rest of night.”
Spike nodded and yawned as he snuggled himself in Luna’s embrace.
Luna kissed Spike on his forehead and continued holding him in her forelegs instead of levitating him on her back. She softly flew to Twilight’s bedroom and laid on her bed, still holding Spike as he drifted off to sleep. Luna smiled at the dragon in her arms and felt proud. Another job well done for his dragon sitter on duty.
THE END
