Author's Note

I was too engrossed into a new novel i found recently, that i had no time to write anything. Sorry.

I feel that this chapter is weak, but i made a dumb joke at the end, so it's probably fine.

5. Dust, i guess

“Cheaters! Dirty cheaters!”

Grumbled Alex under her breath, laying on the ground. She was completely bound with a ropes, like an insect inside of a cocoon.

Naturally, the reason being, she lost. Not a big surprise. She never really fought before, and although she managed get a cool pose in the beginning, she was dogpiled by a bunch of girls and received a stun beam in the jaw.

Celestia just pointed at her and the thing fired instantly.

Well, thankfully, seeing her fold immediately did help to lower her threat level, so she did not receive any beating on top.

Still. That was unfair. Where was gradual rise in power level? Why enemies did not attack one by one? Games are so untrustworthy...

Being oneshotted by a single spell did make her wonder, when she woke up, that is.

‘Maybe I should have thought a little, before challenging a whole crowd and current country ruler on top in a battle, before learning how to fight or use any serious magic...’

Seriously. As much as logical that outcome was, she expected more from her dream.

Currently, she was trying to test whether her flamey hair could set the ropes on fire.

No such luck. It was as heatless as it felt before. In a process she painfully flopped on the ground with her face, and was forced to wiggle her way back into more comfortable position.

They also put some sort of ring on her horn, that seemed to take away her ability to use magic. Not that it mattered. She could lift a thing. But she severely doubted that she would be able to untie the ropes with it. She would rather tear them apart together with her clothes. Still a pretty good solution, but not available anymore.

She resolved to gnawing on the ropes with her teeth.

“It’s useless. They are enchanted.” She heard someone say nearby, and wriggled her way around in order to find the speaker.

It turned out to be a depressed looking young boy with a skin partially covered in scales. He wore dark-green themed clothes and had a snake-looking irises that she was recently informed to have now as well.

“Where did you came from?” She questioned the boy, in still irritated tone.

“It’s Spike.” Boy was unphased. “I was always there. Just waited outside. Not like I would be any help against evil flying goddess who can control the celestial body.”

“Heh. Celestial.” He chuckled, but continued. “But who are you - that’s the question. You look just like princess Celestia, budget version. Smaller, weaker, also you really suck at fighting.”

“You wound me.” Answered Alex with a straight face. “I think I have a self-esteem fracture and severe confidence loss. Please, someone, call me an ambulance.”

“So what’s your name?” Repeated Spike.

‘Should I continue with this farce?’ Questioned herself Alex. Stupid question. ‘Totally. It’s not like I have anything better to do.’

“It’s Daybreaker.”

“That’s a pretty... Unique name for a human. Usually you guys go with two words.” Commented boy. “So far only princesses had such a short name.”

“Why do some of the girls have short ones, then?” Asked Alex.

“They don’t. Rainbow just omitted their last name, since she is too lazy to speak them fully... Or remember.”

“What are you then, to say that?” Asked Alex.

“You don’t know? That’s weird... Or maybe not.” Spike showed surprise for a moment, then shrugged.

“Anyway, I’m a dragonborn. You know, dragon blood, all that stuff.”

“Actually, I don’t. I kinda expected to see two of your kind here, since everyone today came in pairs.”

“Well... I don’t really have a place in that party of theirs... They all bearers of the elements, and I’m just here because I came with my sister, Twilight.”

“Although you won’t find second like me either way.” He added after a few seconds.

“I’m kinda unique here. Since you don’t know, we dragonborns usually live in Dragon Lands. Well, I don’t really know, because I spent my entire life with my sister, but I pretty sure all other dragonborns are not at very good relationship with humans right now.”

Oh my, things are seemed to get more complicated as the time passed. If last hour had anything to go by, she might as well get into that place too soon. After all, things don’t just pop up without reason. That was what Chekhov said.

“And you are... Kind of my jailer now?” Asked Alex. " Did they left you to look after me, so I won’t escape?”

“Wow, how did you guessed?” Spike’s voice totally wasn’t sarcastic.

“I dunno, maybe the fact that I am bound and you seem totally okay with not helping me out.” Said Alex with the flat expression.

Boy shrugged again.

“Listen, I don’t know exactly what you did, but when I came here, you were already like that. And I trust Twilight, so you must deserve this, right?”

“Wrong.” Interrupted Alex. “They just attacked me because I «look evil» “. She tried to make air quotes, but lack of free limbs made it an insurmountable task. She had to make do with the eyebrows.

Spike scratched his chin in an exaggerated way.

“Isn’t that what all bad guys say?”

“Name the last bad guy who said that.”

“...”

Spike took a while to think.

“Well, in comics, Mad...”

“Real bad guy.” Interrupted Alex again.

“I don’t know, okay! However, it would be safer to wait until girls come back and decide for themselves. I’m not used to making such important decisions by myself.”

“So...” Alex desperately searched for a solution to free herself.

“Where is everyone?”

“Where are we, even?” She asked, looking around finally.

Room she found herself in wasn’t too spacious, but it was filled with old empty boxes and dust. A whole lot of dust.

“I dunno. It seems like a storage room to me. I don’t live in this castle, don’t ask me.” Answered Spike, looking around too.

“Anyway, girls just left to discuss princess Luna’s return... And you. In that order.”

“Are you trying to make jab at me?” Wondered Alex.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to see how would you react.”

“Well, little psychiatrist, why don’t you give me obligatory comfortable chair first, before analyzing me? Because this floor is not warm at all.” complained Alex.

Spike chuckled.

“I can give you a box.”

“Better than nothing.” She agreed.

Spike approached the pile of dusty old boxes and lifted one of them up in order to move it.

Sadly, they were so dusty that box slipped between his hands, while all that he managed to hold was a thick layer of dust.

Dusty box fell on top of other boxes, and they did not seem to be able to take that abuse at all. Maybe it was rot, or maybe dust was once the part of the box itself, but it folded down like a card house. And brought several neighboring boxes with it.

Did I mention how dusty they were?

Huge cloud of dust filled the room, and enveloped both people inside it.

“Ahh... I feel like I’m about to sneeze...” Said Spike.

“Wait, tell me first, do dragonborn breeze fire?!”

“Acho-ooom!!”

Loud explosion shook the old castle again.