When Spike woke up, he was face to face with Celestia, she was still asleep, but then it dawned on him that she was in his bed, and two things popped into his mind. 'Fuck!' and 'I fucked my mom!' So, the appropriate response to do is scream, reel back, and pray you didn't get her pregnant. With Spike doing all three at the same time. "AHH, please, please tell me I didn't sleep with my mother." Said Spike as he was back to the headrest with the bed.

"Eh, I thought she had a little more class than to sleep with her own son, but it's not like you two are related, aside from adoption." Said a voice.

Spike looked around for the owner of the voice. "Fate is that you?" Asked Spike as he looked to the heavens.

"Yes, and I'm not there Spike, I'm in the doorway." Said Fate. Spike looked at the doorway to the room and standing there was a... Spike was at a loss, there was no way to describe who he was looking at. Fate giggled as she walked over to Spike. "Here let me fix this, tuck this in here, go for a little bigger, and there." Now standing in front of Spike was a very tall woman, with long green hair, dressed in an elegant white gown that contained a heavenly pair of breasts. Spike dropped his jaw at the sight of the woman. "Well, it's nice to finally meet you, Spike, I'm Fate, and don't worry, nothing happened last night between you and Celestia, well aside from a bit of cuddling."

Spike sighed. "Oh, thank god."

Fate sighed. "Well, I wouldn't thank the big guy, it was more me, but I'm now wondering, what would have happened if your coin landed on good or bad instead of on the edge."

Discord then popped into the room. "Well, I had money that good would have seen Spike get laid, and bad he would have gotten them both pregnant."

Fate hummed. "Maybe, but I think the bad would have been he went on a lust-filled bender and fucked the two until they were pretty much his for life. Don't get me wrong, I love Murphy, but he's human, and Spike has 2 arms in his slit. Death is going to have a field day when he dies."

Discord hummed. "Oh, you think she'll let me name the little bone dragon?"

Fate chuckled. "Dream on Dissy, Death will probably have your head if you do."

Discord shrugged. "Probably." He looked at Spike. "Sup."

Spike nodded. "Discord, why are you here?"

Discord smiled. "Well, I just wanted to check out Celestial Breaker, I already talked to Lunar Night."

Spike was confused. "Who?"

Celestia sighed as she woke up. She looked around and noticed the two cosmic beings in the room and her son. "Ok, I'm not sure where this is going but, Discord leaves and Fate can stay."

Fate smiled as she puffed up a cup of breakroom coffee. "Hey Tia, drink this." Said Fate.

Celestia groaned as she took the cup of coffee. "Thanks." She chugged the drink down in one go and looked right a moment later. "Aw, much better, good morning everyone." Said Celestia.

Spike blinked. "What the hell?"

Fate giggled. "Temporal rift coffee, strongest known cup of mud in the world, one sit makes you feel like you got a full 8 hours, a cup makes you feel like you slept for a week, and a pot, allows you to transcend the physical plane and view into other realities."

Spike sighed. "I want my manual." Said Spike.

Discord shrugged. "I'm working on it, it takes time to write something that large."

Fate smiled at Celestia. "Tia, how is she doing?" Asked Fate.

Celestia sighed. "I had to tie her up in my mind, just so she wouldn't jump Spike in his sleep, please tell me she gets easier to deal with?"

Fate sighed. "Tia, I'm good at telling the future, but there are a few things that I cannot see. Like Spike, he only has one coin with Mal just tied up with his, you and Daybreaker share a coin. But even if I could tell her fate, you know I can't just tell you what's going to happen."

Celestia sighed, she knew fate was steadfast when it came to telling mortals the future, she can only do it as long as it's less than 5 minutes from happening, and only to a few creatures. "Very well, let me get cleaned up and we can play our yearly bridge games." Said Celestia.

Fate smiled. "Of course, I'll meet you in the gardens as always." Said Fate as she disappeared with Discord.

Spike sighed. "Well, I need to go to the kitchen and start making a cake for her." Said Spike as he got out of the soft confines of his bed.

Celestia looked at Spike, she was confused. "What cake?"

Spike sighed. "She may have gotten me out of a situation because I offered to make her my 7 filling cake."

Celestia smiled. "Oh, can I get a slice Sweetie?"

Spike smiled. "Of course, mom, now go get cleaned up, and I'll have the cake done before you leave." Said Spike.

Celestia nodded as she teleported to the closest bathroom. Spike sighed as he got out of the bed and made his way to the kitchen.

30 minutes later Spike was finishing the decorations on the cake that he worked hard to recreate after 10 years. "And there." Said Spike as he finished applying the last of the frosting flowers to the top.

Celestia walked into the kitchen and smiled at seeing that Spike was back in his element. She walked over to the cake and tried to get a taste, but before she could her hand was slapped away by Spike's tail. "Really mom, I worked hard on the cake, and you try to taste my back?"

Celestia giggled. "Well in my defense, it's been over 2 years since I last had a taste."

Spike sighed. "Well, you're lucky I decided to make 2 for today." Said Spike as he pulled out the second's cake from the fridge. He brought it over to Celestia who was giggling like an idiot at the sight of the second cake, it was a little smaller than the first, but it was already finished. "I made this as a practice cake, and it turned out as great as ever."

Celestia smiled at hearing that the cake will be great. "Thank you, Sweetie, I'm sure it will be as great as ever. So, do you have any plans today?"

Spike hummed. "Well, I want to go check on Wilhelm and the family. Make sure everyone is behaving. I might bring Zecora too, she told me that she can make a lot of strong potions from Hydra saliva and scales."

Celestia nodded. "Well, that sounds like a lovely day, and I hope it stays like that, but knowing you, it won't."

Spike laughed. "Yeah, it never stays like that, does it?"

Celestia shook her head. "No, but it always turns out for the best." Said, Celestia.

Spike nodded. "Yeah. Well, I'm going to head out. Don't eat both cakes mom." Said Spike as he walked over to Celestia, he wrapped Celestia in a hug. "I love you, mom."

Celestia smiled and hugged him back. "Love you too Spike, have fun."

Spike nodded. "Will do, have a good time with Fate."

Celestia released Spike and lifted both cakes into her magic. "I will, and if you want, come by the castle later, I and Luna might need your help talking to the citizens about all of this." Said Celestia as she motioned to her new form. "We don't want a panic."

Spike nodded. "Sure, and just to make sure, Cadance doesn't have one as well right, I don't remember her talking about her parents, and it would be really weird to find out that she is a hybrid as well?"

Celestia giggled. "No, she's all pony, I met her parents 50 years ago, when she was still a filly, but before she became an alicorn and gained the long life of one."

Spike sighed. "Good, I don't think I could deal with a lust filled princess of Love."

Celestia purred. "Really, I highly doubt that Spike, we both saw what you're packing, and dragons have great stamina." Said Daybreaker.

Spike sighed. "And now you just made it weird." Said Spike as he took a few steps back, he shot a gout of flames at his feet and sent himself to Zecora's.

Celestia sighed. "Really, I didn't need to see them as well."

Daybreaker smirked. "Oh, hush you, I was in your dreams last night, I saw the glances you shot at Spike's crotch, every so often."

Celestia blushed. "Seriously, stop making it weird."

When Spike reassembled at Zecora's hut, it was clear that something was wrong. The front door was wide open, books were scattered and open on the ground, and Fluttershy was carrying Zecora on her back. But it didn't look like Zecora, this zebra had large orange dots on her body, and her mane was covering her face, but he sent himself to Zecora. Meaning that the mare on Fluttershy was Zecora. Spike ran over to his friend and became worried. "Zecora, what happened?"

Zecora looked at Spike and he noticed the lack of energy in her eyes. "Spike, stay back."

Spike stopped in his tracks. "Zecora, what's wrong?"

Fluttershy sighed. "Spike, I asked Zecora to help me in the swamps, we found a tree with some very vibrant flowers and she got fit with some spores. I rushed her back to town so we could go to the hospital, we're just about to head there now."

Spike nodded. "Ok, let me help you, I still remember you teaching me about plant-based diseases." He took a look around the witch doctors' home, it was filled with more books than it was years ago. But it was easy enough to find some reference books. Spike carried a stack of a dozen books to the sitting room and started looking looked through them. "Ok, so you got it from a plant in a swamp, meaning it's not going to be desert-based or mountain-based. That leaves about 6 dozen possible illnesses." Spike tossed a few books aside that didn't contain what he was looking for. "How long ago was she exposed to the spores?" Asked Spike.

Fluttershy thought for a moment. "Less than an hour ago, and her symptoms appeared rapidly."

Spike nodded as he ignored the diseases that needed a long time to show symptoms. "Ok, that leaves 3 possible illnesses." Spike groaned. "And going off of the symptoms, it's the one that I really wished it wasn't." Said Spike as he grabbed a book and found the illness in the pages. "She has Swamp Fever."

Zecora gasped and a few bubbles were coughed out. Zecora shook her head in despair. "No, no, no, no, no, no, this is very bad, it can't be Swamp Fever?"

Spike sighed. "Zecora, I'm sorry but it looks like it."

Zecora sighed. "But I had a long life ahead of me."

Fluttershy looked serious. "Then I'll go get the cure for Swamp Fever."

Zecora sighed. "Fluttershy, I wish it were that easy, but I learned about this disease from Dr. Horse. It has no cure, and the only reason it is so unknown to this day is that it was thought to have died away."

"Yes, long ago, there was an outbreak of Swamp Fever that plagued the lands. Many ponies were turned into the very tree that spread the disease. But I remember a story that mom told me about an herbalist that was able to help, the legend of the Mystical Mask." Spike hummed but then he came up with an idea. "I'm going to the hospital to get some help, but if there is any place that has some information it would be the old castle." He looked to Fluttershy and Zecora. "Zecora, you just stay calm and rest."

Zecora gave Spike a small smile as she nodded. "Thank you Spike."

Spike smiled as he sent himself to the local hospital to get some real medical professionals.

Sitting at the large receptionist desk, was one of the 2 dozen staff at the Ponyville Hospital. She was a pure white mare with a pale pink mane. "Red, your shift is almost done, do you want to knock off a bit early and get some breakfast with me?" Asked another nurse, this one was yellow, with her mane of gray and white.

Red Heart sighed as she was stuck with the night shift and it was completely dead, but she was dedicated to her job and stayed up for it. "Thanks, Snow, but I still got another 30 minutes."

Snowheart sighed as she joined her coworker behind the desk. "Fine, but maybe some company would be welcomed?"

Red Heart nodded as she yawned. "Yeah, just nothing about sleeping."

Snowheart giggled as she took a seat. "Fine, but it's not like something is going to happen in the next 30 minutes."

Red heart sighed the moment that came out of Snowheart's mouth. "Doctor Horse please be on standby." Said Red Heart through the intercom.

"Why did you do that?" Asked the mare.

"Wait for it." Said Red Heart.

Soon Spike flew into the greeting room of the hospital and popped back at his full height. "Hey Nurse Red Heart, Nurse Snowheart."

"Hello Spike, I'm glad to see you are back, but is there a reason you are here?" Asked the tired mare.

"Yeah, Zecora has Swamp Fever, I'm no medical professional, but I don't want to watch my friend turn into a tree, so I'm going to check my mother's old castle to find a clue about the cure. So, could you get Doctor Horse?"

Red Heart sighed as she nodded. "Doctor, we have a problem."

Soon a tall stallion with a large curled mane and a lab coat ran into the room to see the problem. "Ok, prep the O.R and get sterilized."

Spike smiled at seeing the stallion. "Doc, long story short, Zecora has Swamp Fever, I'm going to look for a cure. Can you look after her while I do it?"

The stallion nodded. "Of course, let me get my equipment ready." He ran off to get his equipment ready.

He soon returned with a bag full of his equipment. "Ok, let's go, Red, you and Snow are with me." Both mares ran around the desk and nodded.

Spike smiled at seeing the group of medical ponies. "Well let's go pick them up and then we'll go to the castle." They all nodded, and Spike shot them back.

Once the group returned to Zecora's hut, they quickly gathered the mares, and Spike sent them all to Bell.

The trio was just waking up for the day. Sophie yawned, her long tongue slithered out of her mouth. "What a great night's sleep." This woke up her sisters, and they agreed.

"Yeah, so much better than our old cave." Said Eve.

Belle nodded as she bleated. "Yeaaaah." She cracked her neck, and that's when she noticed the large plume of smoke enter the room they had made theirs. "Master?... Master!" Cried the goat when she woke up fully.

Spike and the group landed in the room and started his plan, he looked at the girls. "Girls, trouble, find Char." Said Spike.

The trio nodded and ran out of the room. Spike sighed and placed Zecora on the bed. "Zecora, rest for a bit, me and the family will go search the library for a clue."

Zecora nodded. "Very well Spike, but please do not run yourself ragged."

Spike smiled. "Sure, but right now, I'm perfectly composed." He looked to the medical ponies. "Can you guys do your thing while Shy and I search the library for a clue?"

Doctor Horse nodded. "Yes, we'll take great care of her, but please hurry, she might not have a lot of time."

Zecora smiled at hearing that she was being looked over and closed her eyes. Spike looked at Fluttershy. "Shy, we're going to the library, if we're going to find a clue, that would be the first place we should check." Fluttershy nodded at the plan. The two walked out of the room.

When they reached the basecamp, they found the trio with Char and her swarm. Spike walked over to the trio and rubbed their heads. "Good job girls." Spike looked at Char. "Char, Zecora is ill and we need to look through the old library for some information. Set up the web and look for any reference to Mystical Mask, or Swamp Fever." Char nodded at her orders. She turned around and informed her swarm about their orders. They all nodded at the mission. Char nodded and led her swarm to the library. Spike smiled at seeing the group set off to work. "I'm really glad I taught them how to read." Spike looked at Fluttershy. "Shy, we're going too, the more eyes we have, the quicker we'll find it."

When Spike and Shy arrived in the library, the whole room was already alive with the largest information web in Equestrian history. Char was forming a web on the main table, with each of her Bolamites attached. Each Bolamite was searching the shelves for medical books or books about Mystic Mask, while having a thread of silk attached to their legs. Spike walked over to Char. "Good going, Char, tell me when someone finds something." Char nodded. Soon the threads started to vibrate, meaning someone found something that related to the search. Char looked at the string, she then looked at Spike and signed where that Bolamite was located. "Got it." Said Spike as he walked to the Bolamite in question. When he arrived at the location, a Bolamite was sitting on a book. Spike smiled at the Bolamite and took the book. "Thanks, keep doing a great job." Said Spike.

Spike walked back to the table and noticed that Fluttershy was gone and another string was vibrating. "Char, did Fluttershy go grab the book?" Char nodded and Spike nodded back. "Good, I'll start looking through this book." Spike took a seat at the table and started looking through the book.

Soon more and more books arrived thanks to Fluttershy. But each of the books only mentioned Swamp Fever or Mystical Mask. Nothing helpful, but Zecora's life was on the line, so stopping was not an option.

Spike sighed as he grabbed his 17th book and started reading.

In ancient times, many plagues threatened the lands, many ponies sought the aid of the master healer Mage Meadowbrook, and her potions thought to cure any illness. Her aid was in such demand that she was given a mask in hopes of preventing the sickness from infecting the healer herself. Researchers have discovered the location of her workshop, it resides in the middle of the Hayseed Swamp.

Spike looked at the book. "Well, this is the best place to start, but why does the name Meadowbrook sound familiar?" Asked Spike, but he shrugged it off for now. Spike grabbed his next book and cracked it open.

It is thought that the Mystic Mask had a workshop where she crafted her healing brews, in the Hayseed Swamp.

Spike sighed. "Ok, Mage Meadowbrook was the Mystic Mask, or at least they were in the same location." Spike looked at Char. "Char, we have a lead, call them back." Char nodded and plucked all the strings, telling her swarm to return. "Fluttershy, I found a lead."

Fluttershy flew back to Spike and looked over his shoulder. "You did, great, where are we going?"

Spike pointed to the 2 books. "It looks like the Hayseed Swamp is our first stop."

Fluttershy looked at the book and grew a serious expression. "I'll get ready." Said Fluttershy as she took the book and flew off.

Spike walked back to Zecora in the trio's room. Sophie, Belle, Eve were watching over Zecora, as the doctors were checking her condition, just like Spike wanted. He walked over to Belle and scratched her head. "Girls, thanks for doing this for her. She's a good friend of mine." Said Spike worried for his old friend.

Eve purred. "She's someone close to Master, yes?"

Spike nodded. "Very, we share a strong bond, 2 creatures not from here and ostracized for just being different than ponies, who found each other and became friends."

Sophie hissed as she tasted the air. "She's not running a fever, but I'm not sure how long that will last."

Spike nodded. "Yes, girls make sure nothing happens to her." All three heads nodded, Spike walked out of the room, he needed to go talk to something really quick. Spike equipped Char and shot 6 other Bolamites. "Char, gather everyone, we're moving out, meet in the front." Ordered Spike. Char nodded and the 7 Bolamites moved out.

Spike walked to the front of the castle and took a narrow staircase down the canyon, he walked to the bottom and headed for a cave that housed something important. Sitting inside of the cave was a large crystal tree, Spike looked at the tree and sighed, it's been 3 years since he was last in the presence of the tree. He walked up to it and placed a hand on the trunk. "I'm not sure if this will even work, but we share a connection from long ago, I seek your aid now."

The tree started glowing as the area around Spike became a void. "So, you finally know the truth brother." Said a voice.

Spike nodded as he looked around the empty void. "Yes, are you the Tree of Harmony?" The voice remained silent. "Fine, I'm just going to assume yes. I need your help?"

Soon a figure was approaching Spike in the void, it was a pony, but this one was not normal. Her arms were crystal with the element of Honesty in her left shoulder, and the element of Laughter in her right. Her left leg had the element of Generosity, and her right had the element of Loyalty, but they seemed to be floating in the legs made of pure magic. Her body was normal with Fluttershy's element embedded in it, and her head was ghost-like with the element of Magic on her forehead. The mare walked over to Spike and looked at him. "You have grown Garyx, wait, no, you go by Spike. But that matters not, you have changed much in your time away, dear brother."

Spike looked at the mare. "Brother?" Asked Spike.

The mare giggled. "Oh, it seems you don't know it all, please allow me to explain. Long ago, Grogar wanted to control the world, but Lilith and your parents defeated him, sadly at the cost of you and Tiamat. But what our brother the Blood Stone did not reveal, was that I am in fact not what gave the elements life, but they gave me life. Long ago, before Grogar went mad with power, he was a just and fair ruler and a powerful magic-user. But he was dying, so he divided his power into 6 items that he believed were what made magic. Kindness: The desire to help others with the power, Honesty: The knowledge to help, Loyalty: To stand up for what is in the best interest of others, Generosity: Willing to spend everything to help others, Laughter: The ability to ignore the pain and move past hardships, Raw Magic: The focal point of all magic in the world, and the conduit of which he based his theory. From that, Grogar forged 6 items, the 6 elements, but in turn, he sacrificed who he was, as for when the last element was finished, Grogar the king did indeed die, only leaving Grogar the tyrant. Seeing that their creator was gone, they left to find a new master. They chose 6 different ponies, who would be the first generation of Element bearers. The Element of Magic was found by Star Swirl, Kindness went to a healer named Meadowbrook, Honesty went to a legend named Rockhoof, Generosity was gifted to Mistmane, Loyalty went to Flash Magnus, and Laughter went to Somnambula. But they were unaware of the element's meaning, it mattered not, for even the elements were unsure as well."

Spike looked at the mare. "Wait, why do I know all of those names?"

The tree mare sighed. "I would hope you would, but Blood Stone is terrible at telling the story. Spike, didn't he tell you that Star Swirl gave Lilith the elements to use in the fight against Grogar?" Spike nodded. "Good, he always forgets to mention them though. Spike the elements can freely change owners if the previous wielders desire. So, in times of such crisis, with Grogar's power threatening the world, Star Swirl and the others forfeited their elements to Lilith in hope of saving the world. For the first time since their creation, all the elements were together under a single bearer. At that moment, a single object was formed, a seed, my seed. Everyone looked at my seed and Lilith returned it to Star Swirl, ordering him to plant me where I am sitting now."

Spike nodded. "Ok, but what about Twilight's castle?"

The mare shrugged. "What, I wanted something cool. You can talk and move, Blood Stone can control dragons, all I have are rocks. Plus, Twilight was kinda homeless after losing the library, but I didn't want her living above me, she would be up all night and even if it doesn't look like it, I do sleep."

Spike laughed. "Yeah, that was the plan after the girls defeated Tirek, then you popped the castle into town. But what happened to the first bearers?"

The tree hummed. "I cannot answer that for you yet, just know that they will return."

"Fine, but the reason I am here, Meadowbrook, the healer, did she have a cure for Swamp Fever?"

"She did, but the answer you seek is not here but can be found in the Hayseed Swamp. There you will find her workshop, search for what you seek there."

Spike nodded. "Thank you, Harmony, and thanks for giving me a throne, but did you need to make it so small?"

The tree giggled. "Spike, if it was any larger you couldn't have jumped up to it, you were short back then."

Spike sighed. "Still, thank you for helping me."

The tree smiled as she wrapped Spike into a hug. "I finally got to hug you brother, I hope you find what you seek."

Spike smiled as he returned the hug. "Thanks, Harmony." The void disappeared and Spike was now hugging the tree's trunk. Spike released his 'sister' and walked away to get back on task.

30 minutes later, Fluttershy and Spike were flying across the sky, with the third wheel, Twilight. Spike looked at Twilight. "Why are you here?" Asked Spike.

Twilight shot a glare at Spike. "I'm here to help, Fluttershy told me what happened to Zecora."

Spike nodded. "Ok. I talked to Mom, and Aunt Luna, they have come to terms with Daybreaker and Nightmare, so be ready for when you see the change it brought to them, also they are half-dragons, so they technically molted, but I'll explain later. But first, it's going to take a few hours for us to make it to the swamp by air and I really need to tell you that I talked to the Tree of Harmony."

Both mares looked at Spike in shock. "You did?" Asked Twilight.

Spike nodded. "I did, she's my sister of sorts, I also know about the true origins of the elements and the tree itself. Grogar was the one who created the elements, and that was what caused him to change."

This caught both mares off. "But that's...How?" Asked Twilight, she wasn't sure if that was even possible.

Spike shrugged. "No clue, but the tree told me about how her seed was born from the elements being used by Lilith, so I'm betting since you girls are the current bearers, you should be able to learn the truth. But that can wait until we save Zecora."

Twilight nodded. "Ok, so from what Fluttershy told me, we're looking for a Mage Meadowbrook’s workshop, where we could find a cure for Swamp Fever."

Spike nodded. "Yep, turns out Mystic Mask and Meadowbrook were the same, and the tree told me that she did have a cure for Swamp Fever, so when we get there, I'm going to send Char to search. Twi you interpret what we can’t make sense of and Fluttershy, once we have a list ready, you and I are going to gather what we can. Once we get it, I'll send us back to Zecora to treat her. Once we know she's fine, you're going to show me where you found this tree, and I'm going to burn it into nothing. It's clear that if this returns, it could be devastating to the ponies."

Fluttershy nodded. "Right, but oh the poor tree, do we really need to destroy it all?"

"Shy, the library was very detailed, this isn't a virus, this is a plague, that killed thousands of ponies in a matter of years. Now account for how many more ponies there are now, and the fact that records only counted pony cases, think of the number of dragon cases, griffin cases, diamond dog cases, and the number jumps up fast." Said Spike.

Fluttershy gulped. "Right, there is too much danger for it to stay. Oh, I just hope it doesn't affect animals." Fluttershy started to cough.

Spike stopped flying and turned to Fluttershy. "Shy, are you ok?"

Fluttershy coughed more, but she nodded. "Yes, just fine." But soon Spike noticed orange spots on her fur.

Spike sighed as he used his tail to grab Fluttershy. "Shy, Zecora infected you, or you got a smaller dose."

Twilight gasped as she put a magical bubble around herself. Spike looked at Twilight. "Really? It's probably too late for you already."

Twilight sighed as she dropped the shield. "So, what are we going to do now?"

In Hayseed Junction, Spike was looking around for the healer’s workshop, and he was using his knowledge to narrow it down. 'Ok, a healer, someone who works with sick ponies, meaning they normally set up outside of the town, to ensure that they are less likely to get infected themselves. But it can't be too far from the town, or ponies wouldn't be able to seek them out. Ok, so we need to start looking right at the edge of town.' Thought Spike. "Ok, we can forgo searching the town, Mage's shop won't be there, so I suggest this." Spike then pulled out the Bolamite and Stingbee tubes, he released both swarms and waited for them to get ready. Char and Queen took their spots on Spike waiting for orders. "Char, have your group set up a short-range, 1-mile search perimeter around the town. Queen, you, and the hive are transportation to the other side of the town, then setting up a 2-mile search perimeter past Char's. We're looking for anything that resembles a workshop, so books, plants, anything that looks like Doc’s would have in his shop." Char and Queen nodded at the orders. "If someone finds something, report back to me immediately." Queen left Spike's head and picked up Char, the 2 then flew off along with the search teams to complete their mission.

Spike looked at Fluttershy. "How are you holding up Shy?"

Fluttershy gave Spike a weak smile. "I'm fine Spike, don't worry."

Spike laughed. "Shy, coming from you that shows me that you're fine, but Char and her swarm are the best at what they do, I'm sure they will find something quick."

Fluttershy smiled. "Thank you, Spike, and after this is over, maybe we can have some tea like we did back in the old days."

"Sure, I'll make some nice tea cakes for us, but we might need a lot of cups. Or at least one giant one for all the family."

Fluttershy giggled at the idea of all of Spike's ammo drinking tea. "I'm sure Twilight can make a teacup large enough."

Spike looked at Twilight. "So, once we find the workshop, Twi, you're in charge of preparation, I'll be gathering the ingredients." Twilight nodded.

Spike sighed as he looked to the edge of town. "I just hope we can find it."

5 minutes later and the first group of scouts started returning. Spike motioned them to land and report in, the Stingbee placed her Bolamite teammate on Spike's shoulder. "Report." Ordered Spike. The Bolamite started to sign what they had found. "Ok, so about 3 quarters out of town there is a tree with a door, windows, and a walkway. Did you look inside?" The Bolamite nodded and continued to sign. "A cauldron, books, plants in containers, and an old mask." Spike nodded, they just found their workshop. "Great job you two, get us there and then go get everyone." The pair nodded as the Stingbee grabbed the Bolamite. Spike looked to Twilight and Fluttershy. "We found the workshop." Spike used his tail to pick up Fluttershy, and Twilight was ready to fly to the location. So, with their destination set, the group started following their guides.

When they arrived at the location, it was a large mangrove tree with a door in the trunk, right in the search zone that Spike set up. The group landed right in front of the door and without a second thought, Spike walked into the building. It was just as the team described it, the whole place was filled with potion-making stuff, books, plants, and an old chipping mask was hanging near the door. Spike looked to the team. "Get everyone back here." Ordered Spike. The team flew off to complete their task.

Spike placed Fluttershy on the ground, as Twilight walked into the workshop and started looking around for any clue for what they needed to get, there would be plenty of time for book worming later. "Ok, I'll start looking in all the books, Spike, for now, get the caldron ready." Said Twilight as she levitated 8 books around her.

Spike nodded as he walked outside to get some wood for the fire, but when he did, Spike ran into a large short older earth pony stallion, with a large styled mane and beard, an image of a pair of cattails crossed under a symbol of a sun, and a vest on his light brown coat, he was looking at Spike and he was not looking happy. "What do you think you're doing in my house?" Asked the stallion.

Spike gulped as he looked at the stallion. "Sorry, but we have an emergency, two of my friends have contracted Swamp fever, and we need to find Mage Meadowbrook's workshop for a cure."

The stallion's eyes went wide. "What, fine, introductions can wait, let me see." The stallion walked past Spike and into the home. Spike followed the stallion back into the house.

The stallion looked to Fluttershy and sighed. "Ok, your diagnosis was correct, as much as I wish it weren’t. My name is Cattail." Said the stallion, now known as Cattail.

"Spike Solaris, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy." Said Spike as he pointed.

"Greetings. Now, please listen to me, I am a descendent of Mage, and I have combed the entirety of her written knowledge, please tell the princess to return the books and get the large tombs in the cabinet." Said Cattail.

Twilight snapped out of her searching and heard the last bit of the conversation. Twilight returned the books to the shelf and used her magic to pull out 3 large tombs from a cabinet. "These?"

Cattail nodded. "Yes, they are my aunt’s personal journals, if the cure is anywhere, it's in there."

Twilight nodded as she started reading the journals, at bookworm speed. Cattail looked at Spike. "Go gather wood for a fire and be ready to gather everything we will need." Spike nodded as he walked out of the house to gather the wood.

When Spike got back, he was carrying a large pile of wood in his tail, he placed all the wood under the cauldron and set it on fire. "Ok, did you find the recipe?" Asked Spike.

Cattail sighed as he was looking through his aunt's second journal. "We got through the first one, I'm reading the second, and Princess Twilight is reading the last one, we need a little more time."

Spike sighed as he looked at Fluttershy. "So, I was thinking of raspberry tea?"

Fluttershy giggled. "Really, raspberry is always your choice, in your time away, didn't you at least try a new type of tea?"

Spike sighed. "Tea wasn't really a thing on Modus, it was water, booze, or coffee, but raspberry tea is still the best."

Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "Black tea with sugar is nice."

Spike smiled at Fluttershy. "Sure, that sounds nice."

"FOUND IT!" Cheered Twilight.

Spike shot up and looked at Twilight. "Ok, I trust you, just tell me what we need."

Twilight nodded. "6 drops of Hydra saliva, the root of ginger, a feather of a male phoenix, can be used more than once, Flash bee honey, and lemon for taste."

Spike was surprised. "Really?"

Twilight nodded as she showed the notes. "It says so."

Spike sighed as he knew exactly where to get almost all of that. "I'll be back." Said Spike in a deep Austrian accent before he sent himself back to Ponyville.

Spike's first stop was the local Ponyville market and to the mare that has ginger roots. Sitting at her tea stand was a dark red-maned unicorn mare with white spots on her fur. She was looking around bored, not many ponies were into tea, but still, she had some loyal customers. But then she noticed a wisp of smoke coming for her stall. Soon Spike popped out in front of the mare. "Home Brew, I need some ginger root." Said Spike frantic.

Home Brew looked at Spike. "Spike, calm down, and tell me if you want it whole, dried, or ready for tea."

Spike took a deep breath and calmed down. "Whole."

Home Brew smiled at the dragon, she made all her tea by hand and so she had all the ingredients ready. She found her ginger and placed it in a bag. "Here you go Spike, I'll get payment for it later, you seem busy."

Spike grabbed the bag and blew it to Twilight. "Thanks, now I need to go see my hydra." Said Spike as he sent himself to Wilhelm.

Wilhelm was sitting in the castle's main hall waiting for his master to come to see him for the day. Spike flew into one of the many holes of the building and landed right in front of Wilhelm, who was happy to see his master. All 5 heads lunged to Spike and Spike happily accepted the love. "Hey Wilhelm, sorry about taking so long, but a few friends of mine are sick, and I'm helping them get better." Spike scratched the middle head lovingly. "Say, would you like to go for a walk?" Asked Spike. Wilhelm nodded his head and wagged his tail. "Good, now, we need to be good, no running off and no hurting anyone." Wilhelm nodded again. "Good." Spike shot Alvin onto the ground. "Alvin, go find Zecora and the trio, tell them that we found the cure, and we're making it right now."

"Ai sir." Alvin hopped off to inform the commander's allies of the newest development.

Spike smiled at Wilhelm. "Good, now let's go see Peewee and Kenna." Spike got on Wilhelm and sent them off.

Peewee was watching over Kenna's nest when he noticed the same smoke that Spike used flying towards him, but it was much larger than last time. Peewee squawked at Kenna as he flew through the smoke to investigate. Spike and Wilhelm popped out on the ground and Wilhelm was dizzy from the trip, 5 heads had some drawbacks. Spike looked around for Peewee. "Peewee, where are you?"

Spike could hear squawking coming from one of Wilhelm's mouths. "Wilhelm, open your mouth." The hydra opened all of his mouths and sitting in the second left head was a very confused looking, and very drenched Peewee. Peewee shook his head and quickly flew to Spike for assistance with the hydra that tried to eat him. Peewee was squawking frantically and tried to get Spike to help. "Peewee, calm down, Wilhelm is not going to eat you, you just flew right into the smoke, and that turned into his head." Peewee took a deep breath and calmly squawked, Spike nodded. "That's right, he's with me. But we need some help from you bud, Fluttershy and Zecora are sick, and the cure needs a feather from a male phoenix." Peewee nodded as he plucked out one of his tail feathers for his father. "Thanks, bud, and tell Kenna, hi for me." Said Spike. Peewee nodded as he returned to his nest.

Spike smiled at getting all the ingredients they needed. "Ok let’s head back." Spike sent them both back to Twilight.

Spike and Wilhelm popped out right beside the house. "Wilhelm, stay for a little until I can get a jar for your ingredient." Said Spike as he ran into the workshop and found the largest jar for Wilhelm's saliva. He ran back outside, and Wilhelm let some of his spit fall from his mouths, Spike collecting every drop.

Once the jar was filled Spike smiled at his friend. "Ok, go run around for a little while, but behave." Wilhelm smiled as he ran off into the murky water.

Spike sighed as he returned to the group. "One jar of hydra saliva." Said Spike.

Twilight sighed. "Spike, we just needed the ginger, and the Flash bee honey, everything else was here."

Spike groaned. "Really, what am I going to do with a gallon of hydra saliva?"

Twilight shrugged. "No clue, but right now, we need to get the honey."

Spike sighed as he placed the jar full of saliva on a counter. "Ok, so where is everyone?" Char and Queen both landed on Spike's shoulder and head. "Ok, get everyone back into the tube." Spike pulled out the tubes and watched as every Bolamite and Stingbee went back inside.

Cattail sighed. "I just have no words, and right now we need to head to the closest Flash beehive." Cattail walked over to a chest and pulled out a few masks. He put on a dog-shaped one, as he handed Twilight got a bird-shaped one, and Fluttershy got the old bird shaped mask. Spike looked at Cattail, expecting a mask. But he shook his head. "Sorry Spike, these bees are not fond of dragons, this is an ingredient that we must gather alone."

Spike sighed. "Fine but take Queen with you." Said Spike as he equipped Queen. "Queen, go with Twi and the others." Queen nodded. Spike shot her into the air, and she landed on Twilight's horn, adding more to her mask's look.

Spike looked at the group as they walked out of the hut to get the last ingredient.

When the honey group arrived at the nearby Flash beehive, Fluttershy gave the mask to Cattail and flew up to the hive to ask for some honey. Soon a large swarm of bright blue and yellow bees flew out of the hive and looked at Fluttershy. "Um... Hi, my name is Fluttershy, and I was wondering if you could part with a small amount of honey to help me and my friends?"

The bees weren't impressed they were annoyed at the pony, so they started to sting her. "Ow, I'm sorry, but I really need that honey." This seemed to anger the bees more, as the rate of their stinging increased. Fluttershy tried to reason with the bees but even her patience had limits. "That's enough, I don't like doing this, but I really need that honey." Said Fluttershy as she used her stare on the bees. But somehow, they seemed immune to its effects and buzzed even louder. Fluttershy gulped, that was her last hope, and now she had nothing. Fluttershy turned around and flew away from the angry swarm. "Twilight help!" Yelled the mare.

Queen buzzed angrily as she flew up to the bees to protect Spike's friends, the bees stopped flying after Fluttershy when they noticed Queen in front of them, but then they went back to Fluttershy and started pursuing the mare again.

Fluttershy noticed how the bees reacted to Queen and determined that something about her was able to calm the bees for a moment. 'Think, Queen was able to stop them, but why? She's female, but she doesn't match the colors, and bee's communicated by movements...That's it.' Fluttershy flew over to Cattail and quickly put on the mask. She looked at the pursuing swarm and watched in joy as they stopped chasing her and calmed down. "I figured out why Mage Meadowbrook was able to cure Swamp Fever, this mask must look like their queen, and mostly when a worker sees their queen, they become calm and passive, I don't know how long it will last before they figure it out, so please hurry." Said Fluttershy.

Twilight and Cattail ran over to the hive, and they found Queen was already inside, but now she looked different. Queen now looked like a large version of the Flash bees. "Queen, what happened?" Queen buzzed to explain, but without Char, it fell on defy ears. "Queen I don't understand you, tell us after we get the honey." Said Twilight as she stuck her hand with a jar into the hive and scooped out a jar worth of honey. "Fluttershy, we got the honey, just hold their attention until we get clear." Fluttershy nodded, giving Twilight, Cattail, and Queen a chance to run.

Once the group was clear Twilight singled for Shy to get back, she nodded. "Ok, why don't you all head back into the hive for the day?"

The bees nodded as they started flying back into the hive. Fluttershy sighed as she flew back to the group, but her flying was very off, but thankfully Twilight was able to catch her with her magic. Twilight looked at her friend. "Cattail, we need to hurry, she has a fever." Cattail nodded as the group ran back to finish the cure.

Spike was tossing a large log into the swamp, soon Wilhelm popped out of the water and used his heads to grab it. Spike smiled at seeing Wilhelm getting the log. "Good boy." Said Spike as Wilhelm brought the log back to Spike. Wilhelm had grasped the idea of fetch very quickly, and he seemed to love getting the log. Spike scratched the middle head when all the head's dropped the log next to Spike.

"SPIKE!" Yelled Twilight as she was running back to Spike.

Spike looked at Twilight, but more importantly at Fluttershy. "WE GOT THE HONEY!" Yelled Twilight.

Spike nodded as he walked to the door and opened it. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Cattail ran into the house to start making the cure. But Queen decided to stay with Spike. Spike looked at Queen's new appearance, but he wasn't worried. "So, you good?" Asked Spike. Queen nodded as she looked at her new colors. She started buzzing and to both his and her surprise, she was buzzing super-fast. "Queen, did you get powers?" Asked Spike. Queen shrugged, she was just as clueless as Spike right now. Queen crawled into the crossbow launcher and buzzed, Spike nodded as he readied the bow. "I agree, the best way to find out is to test it." Spike launched Queen and the crossbow snapped the moment she was gone. But Queen was flying the fastest she had ever been launched. "MOTHER FUCKER!" Yelled Spike as he was gripping his arm in pain.

"Fuck Spike, the hell did you do, our arm is broken in 3 places, it'll take me at least 30 minutes to fix." Said Mal once he noticed the broken arm.

Spike huffed. "Queen got an upgrade, don't know how, and I don't care." Said Spike as he grabbed his arm. Spike took a seat against the house Wilhelm looked at Spike worried. "Don't worry Wilhelm, I'll be fine, but could you go find Queen for me?" Wilhelm nodded as he licked Spike's body and swam off.

Spike sighed as he looked at his busted crossbow. "Well, fuck, any clue on how to fix this?"

Mal sighed. "Spike, I think it's time we build our own, clearly what happened with Queen caused this, and it was only a single shot."

Spike sighed but he nodded. "I know, but we've had this thing for 9 years, and Stranger trusted me with it." Spike detached the crossbow from his arm and looked at it. "9 years of memories, 9 years of hard work, 9 years of trying to get home, it's fitting I guess, little over a week after getting home, and it finally craps on me."

Mal sighed. "You know it's made from weak steel, crappy parts, and junk, right?"

Spike chuckled. "I'm pretty sure everything on Modus was made like that, but maybe we can make a halfway decent one."

Mal laughed. "Yeah, but maybe not tell Mom, she'd add a cannon to it if she could." Spike laughed at the comment. "But, maybe, we can piss him off more by doing that?"

Spike laughed. "You want to make our own Steef High Guard crossbow?"

Mal shrugged. "Might as well, besides, I'm pretty sure we would have earned it by now."

"Fine, just patch us up and I'll start looking for stuff." Said Spike.

Soon Twilight and Cattail walked out of the house and smiled. "Spike, we got it done." Said Twilight as she held a vile of the cure in her hand.

Spike smiled at hearing that. "Great, is Fluttershy doing better?"

Cattail nodded. "She is, her condition worsened because of the Flash bee stings, everything about them is quick, from venom to flight, they are quick."

Spike laughed. "You're telling me." Said Spike as he showed his arm and the crossbow. "Queen somehow got Flash bee aspects and I tried to launch her once, I broke my arm and Wilhelm is looking for her right now. Also, I'm kinda sure this thing is trash now."

Twilight got close to Spike. "Spike, are you ok?"

Spike nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine, just wasn't expecting my day to turn out like this." Spike looked up to the sky. "I wonder how Fate and Mom did?"

Fate huffed as she tossed her cards on the table. "How the hell do you keep winning?" Asked Fate.

Celestia smirked as she took the last slice of Spike's cake as her prize. "I bring the skill Fate."

Fate sighed, she had lost the cake Spike made on a game of gin, and she just lost the last slice. "I can't believe I lost my whole cake."

Celestia smirked. "My Baby's cake is worth more than bits."

Spike laughed. "Well, I'm sure everything is fine."

Wilhelm popped his heads out of the water and opened his mouth. Queen was sitting in the mouth and she looked normal. She flew over to Spike and worriedly buzzed. Spike nodded as he showed his arm and crossbow. "Yep, we're pretty much on break for a while until I can make a new one for me." Queen buzzed and wept, but Spike rubbed her head. "Hey, don't worry, it wasn't your fault." Queen buzzed again and Spike smiled. "Besides, I think this beats power mode." Queen sighed and Spike laughed. "Love you too girl, why don't you head inside, we're going to be heading back soon." Queen nodded as she went back into the tube. Spike looked at Twilight. "So, you want me to head back and give the cure to Zecora? I'm fairly sure I can get there."

Twilight smiled. "Sure, me and Shy want to stay here a little longer to learn about Mage Meadowbrook from Cattail."

Cattail smiled. "It would be an honor to talk about her to somepony, and to pass down her knowledge."

"Cool, Wilhelm we're going home." Said Spike. Wilhelm nodded as he let Spike get onto his back. "Twi, the cure?" Asked Spike as he stuck out his good hand, Twilight levitated it to him. Spike smiled at Cattail. "It was nice to meet you Cattail."

Cattail nodded. "The same to you, your highness."

Spike nodded as he was ready to get back. Spike blew his fire on Wilhelm and himself and sent them to the old castle.

After arriving, Spike walked up to the room Zecora was in, she was sweating but her eyes were open, her arms were turning into branches, and her mane was turning into leaves. "Spike, you're back." Said Doctor Horse.

Spike nodded. "Yeah, we got it done."

Spike smiled as he got to the bed. "So, how are you doing Zecora?"

"I'm a bit greener than I remember, but aside from that, I'm not doing so bad." Said Zecora.

Spike chuckled as he pulled the vile out of his wrist strap. "Good, I'm pretty sure, Swamp Fever won't be a problem anymore. But I prefer you to stay a mare, not a tree, so down the hatch."

Zecora smiled as she opened her mouth, Spike popped the cork and slowly gave it to Zecora. She gagged at the flavor, but she kept drinking it down, and once the last drop was in her system did, she voiced her opinion. "Dear Celestia, that stuff is the vilest concoction I have ever tasted."

Spike laughed at Zecora. "I don't doubt it." Spike watched as Zecora's spots disappeared. "But I worked."

Zecora smiled as she looked at her body, it was spot-free, and her energy was returning. "Thank you, Spike."

Spike laughed. "Don't thank me, all I did was get ginger, thank Twilight and Fluttershy."

Zecora sighed as she looked at her friend. "Spike, you're the one who found out about the cure, and because of that I can wake up tomorrow, so thank you." Said Zecora as she hugged Spike.

Spike smiled as he returned the hug. "Don't worry Zecora, I'll always help my friends."

Author's Note

Sorry, for the long wait. Here it is.