Chapter Three

Spike was running back towards Fluttershy’s cottage, paying little to no attention to the branches that were scraping his face and torso. The entire time he was running he could only think of one question.

What the hell did I just do!?

A few steps later, Spike was bested by a loose root that jutted out from the ground and tripped over it. Spike face planted in the dirt and mud. He lifted his head and started spitting out twigs, leaves, and mud from his mouth. As he looked back in the direction he was running from and he swore that deep in the darkness he could see Discord’s yellow eyes staring at him, but there was something…off… about these eyes, they seemed…normal.

Wait, Discord doesn’t have normal eyes, his are disproportional.

Spike squinted, hoping that he could get a better look at whatever was in the darkness. When he stood up and started to walk towards the eyes he heard a faint, but audible growl. Against his better judgment, he decided to step closer to it. With every passing step the growl grew louder and louder. Soon the pair of yellow eyes were joined by another…and another…and another. Eyes continued to appear in the darkness until there were dozens among dozens of eyes. Each pair eyeing every muscle on his body. Spike took one step back while the being before him took one step forward; revealing a long leg made of twigs and vines.

Timberwolves.

Spike was starting to panic a little. He could take on a few of the beasts, but not a whole pack of them. Fire or not these beasts could be very deadly. Spike took another step back, only this time every other timberwolf took one step forward, creating an audible thud against the forest floor. Taking another look around he thought escape would be worthless. Unless he could create a distraction long enough for him to exit the forest safely. Without further warning a timberwolf leaped from the bushes, mouth prepared to make a meal out of Spike.

With his quick wits, Spike lit the wolf on fire and blew a large, but controlled fire at the ground, creating a wall of fire between him and the wolves. Spike turned and dashed through the flora and fauna. Spike was still running when he heard a howl come from behind him. He looked back and saw timberwolf after timberwolf fallowing him. All were panting; they couldn’t wait to sink their teeth into the rare dragon meat.

Spike quickly shook his head; he didn’t have time to be thinking about this. Again, turning his head to look at a timberwolf he blew a flame that lit the lead dog of twigs on fire, reducing it to ashes. That only seemed to piss the tiberwolves off even more, watching their comrade fall. If the Timberwolves weren’t sprinting at full speed before, they sure as hell were now. With every step Spike took the timberwolves took two more. Taking the time to snap at his heels and falling over each other was the only thing keeping the wolves at bay.

He stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face the timberwolves directly. The site he saw would scare the most ferocious of beasts. The timberwolves were charging at him, fangs dripping with saliva and claws out stretched ready to attack. He had to time this right or else he would be killed here on the spot. He took a deep breath and released it slowly trying to control his nerves. He readied himself, the time was coming. He took in some air for the second time, but held it in. His chest was puffed out, waiting for the correct time to release the flame building in the pit of his stomach. The lead timberwolf leaped at Spike, baring his fangs preparing for its lunch.

Spike released the fire he had built up and unleashed it on the timberwolves. Setting fire to each and every one of them; however, Spike did not take into account that he would set a number of trees on fire. He looked around noticing that nothing was green from the vegetation, but instead red from his fire. He ran over to the closest tree and started to try to put out the fire. He heard a crack and snap come from behind him. He turned just in time to see a tree about to collapse on top of him. He quickly side stepped so the tree would not crush his bones. He took another look around and noticed animals, big and small, panicking.

He noticed a few birds trying to get their baby birds to fly so they would not get burned. A couple of squirrels climbing down a burnt tree at top speed. And finally a bear and its cub getting trapped behind a wall of fire. The horror of it all was too much for Spike to watch. He closed his eyes and turned around. Spike started sprinting trough the vegetation that was set aflame. He came to a screeching stop when a tree fell down in front of him, blocking his path. He turned to his left and started to run, but before he could take two steps another tree blocked his path. He spun around only to be met by another tree. He faced to his right, but instead of a tree blocking his path it was another form of sticks, three timberwolves emerged from the fire. All three had burns and singes on them, but they continued to approach Spike. He flashed his claws, wishing to frighten the threatening beast. Despite his best attempts to look fierce they continued to stalk their pray.

Without warning, one of the timberwolves jumped at Spike. Spike uppercut the dog knocking it to the ground, unconscious. Spike did not notice that a second dog had leapt at him, snapping its jaw shut on his ankle. Spike yelled in agony as he kicked the wolf off of him; he felt his ankle and came to the conclusion that it was broken. The second dog had enough velocity to collide with the first and become nothing but a pile of sticks. That still left one more and Spike was in no condition to fight it. Spike tried to stand, but to no avail he slumped back down to a kneeling stance.

Another snap and crack could be heard from behind Spike. Spike looked up and saw a tree falling in his direction. Spike tried to move, but was immobilized due to his broken ankle. Then everything went black…

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Fluttershy was on her way back to her cottage to relive Spike of his duty. She thought that a day at the spa would be a way to get away from the drama and stress, but instead it came to her with Twilight. She felt bad for poor Spike; she couldn’t even begin to imagine how Spike must have been felling, from the rejection from Rarity. What made it worse was that he didn’t even know she lied to him.

What would Applejack say?

She tried to forget the situation of it all and just enjoy the weather that the pegasus ponies had set up for today.

She was pulled from her train of thought at the smell of something burning.

“Oh my, is somepony having a cook out?”

It wasn’t very often that somepony had a cook out, but when they did it would be a lot of fun. The grilled carrots, lettuce, and tomatoes were a joy to all, especially the way Spike made his. The thought of Spike smiling behind the grill, with his kiss the cook apron, made Fluttershy laugh. Every time he wore that apron he would shuffle towards Rarity and try to test his luck with her, once again. Fluttershy’s happy session was soon ended at the thought of Spike and Rarity.

How could she do that to him? All that heartbreak for absolutely nothing.

Fluttershy looked up to see Angel rushing down the path to meet her. At first Fluttershy was happy to see her favorite bunny, but his expression showed one of horror.

“What is it Angel, are you hurt?”

Angel reached Fluttershy and started tugging on her leg and pointing in the direction of the forest. Fluttershy looked at the forest and gasped at the sight of trees set to fire and animals running from the forest.

“Oh my oh my oh my, what do I do?” She lowered her head and looked Angel in the eye. “You didn’t do that, did you?”

Angel quickly shook his head and started to point to something up in the sky. Fluttershy met where he was pointing and noticed a cloud with a rainbow mane peeking over the edge.

Fluttershy looked back at Angel and gave him a big smile. “Good thinking, Angel.” She quickly, but gracefully flew up to where the cloud was hovering. She was greeted by the sound of snoring. “Um…Rainbow Dash…um, if you could wake up…that would be nice.” Fluttershy started to gently poke Rainbow Dash with her hoof, but was swatted away by one of Rainbow Dash’s.

“What are ya cooking grandma, is it stew,” she said as she turned around, back facing Fluttershy.

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?” Fluttershy went around to look at Rainbow Dash face to face; when she did she realized Rainbow Dash was still asleep. “RAINBOW DASH,” Fluttershy screamed at the top of her lungs.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes shot open at the commotion and nearly fell out her cloud. She bolted up and looked at Fluttershy with an angry look. “Fluttershy, what the hell, I’m trying to get some shut eye!”

Fluttershy recoiled at Rainbow Dash’s sudden outburst. “Well…um…if you would, could you…please take a look at the Everfree Forest?”

Rainbow Dash sighed and looked over the edge of her cloud, and looked at the burning canopy below her. Her eyes grew wide with fear. She quickly shot up and bolted to the nearest weather station. She returned shortly after with a crew prepped and ready to put out the fire.

Nearly an hour passed until the entire forest was out, and everypony Fluttershy knew was on the forest floor looking for animals in need of rescuing. They had successfully saved birds, deer, and bears alike. They were about to call of the search until they heard something or somepony groan and a few logs clatter together.

“I’ll go see what that was,” Fluttershy said to the other girls. When Fluttershy approached the rubble her heart quickly sank at the sight. There, lying on the ground in front of her was none other than Spike. She shrieked and caught the attention of the others, whom rushed over to see why she screamed.

“Spike!” All at once the girls rushed him and started to help. Applejack and Rainbow Dash slammed into the tree repeatedly that lay on top of him. While Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie took hold of his claws and started to tug. Twilight and Rarity were too shocked to do anything; they just stared at the once healthy and happy dragon.

“Well don’t just stand there, help us,” Rainbow Dash snapped at them. Twilight shook the daze off and started to tug on Spike’s claw with Pinkie Pie. Applejack and Rainbow Dash got the tree off of Spike with one final slam. They rejoined the others and hoisted him on their backs; I’m not lying when I say it took all five of them to stabilize him.

“Ya know that woulda went a lot quicker with yer magic Twilight.” Applejack looked over at Twilight who was staring at the ground. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Applejack looked over her shoulder, and around the dragon, to look at Rarity who was still standing there looking at the spot where Spike used to be. “Are ya comin’, sugarcube?”

Rarity looked up at Applejack with her mouth still ajar. She closed her mouth and cleared her throat. “Of course, just give a lady a moment to collect herself.” She trotted next to where Applejack was standing and looked at the other girls, who were looking right back at her. “Shall we be on our way?”

“We can take him to my cottage…that is if you would rather take him home.”

“No, your cottage is closest, thank you.” Twilight looked over her shoulder at the dragon who looked like he had been through hell and back again.

Once inside the cottage, they all gathered around the couch and placed Spike, ever so gently, on it. Fluttershy had gathered her first aid kit and other medical supplies she used to treat other animals with. “Excuse me girls…if you wouldn’t mind.” They all parted like the Red Sea to let Fluttershy in. Now That she got a look at Spike without him being moved or having a tree on him, he looked much worse than before.

She looked over his wounds and was absolutely horrified at what she saw. He had multiple scratches and bruises that were probably not going to heal instantly; he had a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder. Fluttershy took one last look over him and noticed something that made her sick to her stomach. A gash in his neck that was still bleeding immensely, most defiantly from a timberwolf; how she overlooked something so crucial was beyond her.

She reached for the first aid kit and brought out some gauss, and wrapped it around his scrapes and bruises. Next she brought out a strap and put it around his broken/dislocated arm. Lastly she asked if the girls would be so kind to leave the room while she worked on his neck. They didn’t like it, but left none the less. Fluttershy took a sowing needle and some string and started to apply stitches to his neck. Before she could make it to the halfway mark Spike’s eyes shot open and his claw grabbed her hoof.

Fluttershy screamed and tried to pry away from Spike but his grip was too strong. The others heard her cry and rushed into the room. Applejack grabbed a hold of Fluttershy and started to pull while Rainbow Dash tried to pry Spike’s claw open. Spike’s eyes finally went closed and he collapsed on the couch.

“What was that all that about?” Rainbow Dash looked Fluttershy in the eye wondering if she was okay.

“I don’t know he must have had some kind of reaction to the stitches,” she said holding up the needle and thread.

“Well, what made him stop?”

Fluttershy was struck with realization and rushed to Spike’s side, returning to her stitching.

“Where’s the fire, sugarcube?”

“Spike’s blood loss.”

As realization struck the others as it did Fluttershy, they all gathered around Spike and tried to wake him up. Hoots and hollers could be heard through the cottage, and with the lack of response they started to get louder.

“Done,” Fluttershy called when the stitching was completed. They waited a couple of minutes, but Spike had still not woken up yet.

“Will… he be okay,” Pinkie Pie asked in a depressed manor.

“I don’t know…we’ll just have to wait.” Nopony took into account that Rarity was no longer in the cottage.

After a few moments of waiting a gasp came from Spike as he opened his eyes and shot up on the couch. When he was fully upright he felt a searing pain shoot through his arm and neck.

“Ow, what the hell happened to me?” Before he got an answer he was tackled by five ponies that were worried he had lost his life. As happy cheers and greeting were established, Spike felt the same pain course its way through his body, but he didn’t care because knowing that they were worried and that they cared was good enough for him. Spike tried to get up off the couch, but was met with pleads of disapproval.

“Spike, please don’t move, your wounds are still fresh and can be reopened.” Twilight placed her hooves on his chest and guided him back down to a lying position. She looked over at Fluttershy. “I hate to ask this of you, but Fluttershy would you please keep him here overnight in case his condition changes.”

Fluttershy looked down at Spike, who was looking right back, and gave him a friendly smile. “Of course I will.”

Alright so if you haven't already guessed the number one contender is Fluttershy. I'm going to tell ya why. A bunch of you are probably going 'what he miss counted', but the thing is...I didn't. I add the votes from FanFiction and Fimfiction, and there you have it.